British folding bike brand Brompton has issued a recall notice on its G Line gravel bikes; based on a report of a hinge spindle failing, it will swap the part on all existing bikes. Customers are being notified directly by the brand from today.
The affected part is the spindle in the primary front hinge that enables the main frame tube to fold. Brompton says that it has identified that corrosion is the cause of the failure and will be swapping out the original spindle with a more durable version.
In a customer information release, Brompton tells customers: "If your G Line bike was produced before December 2024 then then [sic] it will likely need the fix."
The information page includes a serial number checker, which can identify if a bike is affected; those bought in December are said to be "likely" to already have the fix, identifed by a blue marker on the head of the hinge spindle.
The front hinge is integral to the structural integrity of the bike
(Image credit: Future/Simon Fellows)
“We understand that there has been one incident of a spindle failure in the field, which did not result in any incident or injury,” said Will Butler-Adams, CEO, Brompton. “While the G Line had over five years of development and rigorous testing, after this incident was reported we decided to increase the durability further. We have been around for nearly 50 years, founded on quality and trust, and customers have always been our priority. We will always look to improve our products where we can, and this update to the G Line continues this commitment.”
Brompton has not issued a stop-ride notice, but is advising G-Line owners to contact their local Brompton Junction or Brompton Accredited Retailer to have the part swapped out. Brompton Customers will also receive a £20 voucher to spend in the brand’s webshop.
Brompton has not disclosed when it first learned of the issue or how many bikes are affected.
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I reviewed the Brompton G Line on launch back in September and was impressed with its performance both on- and off-road. I praised it for its secure and stable ride on everything from finely groomed gravel to mildly technical trails. It was also amazing fun to ride. However, the spindle is an integral structural part of the bike, and failure could lead to the frame collapsing.
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Simon spent his childhood living just a stone’s throw from the foot of Box Hill, so it’s no surprise he acquired a passion for cycling from an early age. He’s still drawn to hilly places, having cycled, climbed or skied his way across the Alps, Pyrenees, Andes, Atlas Mountains and the Watkins range in the Arctic.
Simon now writes for Cycling Weekly as a freelancer, having previously served as Tech Editor. He’s also an advanced (RYT 500) yoga teacher, which further fuels his fascination for the relationship between performance and recovery.
He lives with Jo, his yoga teacher wife, in the heart of the Cotswolds, with two rescue cats, five bikes and way too many yoga mats. He still believes he could have been a contender if only chocolate weren’t so moreish.
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