The P Line isn’t your ordinary Brompton. Although it has the same three-fold design, it is much lighter with a minimum weight of 10kg, thanks to a titanium fork and rear triangle, plus other lightweight bits.

Does this actually make a difference in the real world? Thankfully, I was able to find out when a friend lent me his Brompton P Line for a week.

Riding the Brompton P Line is quite simple. You adjust the seat height, mount the saddle, and start pedaling. The controls come in the form of two brake levers and a gear shifter on the handlebar.

Go on flat and smooth road, shift into high gear, and you’ll feel like you’re flying with the Schwalbe One tires. And upon arriving at your destination, you fold the bike and bring it indoors. Parking is no problem, and so is lifting it.

The beauty of trifolds lies in their flexibility. If your destination is far, you can bring the bike inside another vehicle—whether it’s a bus, a train, or a car—to get to your destination more conveniently. This is a game-changer as it opens up your transport options.

This unit has a model code of S4L. I’ll be going through what this means in Brompton-speak.

The S-Type handlebar is straight and flat with no rise. This puts the rider in a lower position that’s sportier and more aggressive.

The rear has four gears, shifted using a proprietary derailleur. Unlike some Bromptons, this doesn’t have a three-speed internal gear hub.

The “L” means this model has fenders but no roller rack. However, since this bike is primarily used for commuting, the owner put a rack and a kickstand.

As wonderful as this folding bike is, not everything is smooth-sailing. The 16-inch wheels are small, and the tires are thin at only 35mm wide. The handling is nimble and responsive, but you’ll have to be on your toes on rough terrain.

And when faced with a steep climb, there’s no choice other than to pedal with brute force or dismount and walk up with the bike. If you live somewhere hilly, you’d be better off with the 12-speed variant.

The Brompton P Line is roughly 2kg lighter than the all-steel C Line. The weight difference is significant, but it’s more noticeable when carrying the bike rather than pedaling it.

This particular unit was purchased from Bikeary Bicycle Lifestyle for P150,000 without the accessories. For those who can afford it, this model offers the timeless convenience of a Brompton in a much lighter package.

The price isn’t attainable. But if this were the one bicycle that convinces you to give bike-commuting a chance (or if the bike encourages you to do it more), the price tag will definitely be worth it with the time and the money you can save from skipping traffic.