I started my week looking at my Brompton bike handle bar and noticing that a friends bike had a different one. Same model type but with a different design shape.

Brompton handlebar

My Brompton version is a 2017 model however my friends model is a 2015 model.

2015 Brompton handlebar

Notice the length of the central U shape arms. Smaller?

2017 Brompton handlebar

In my bike version there was a reduction of the length of the straight tube and the two bending zones are pretty near .

I have to mention that this  changes a bit how the Trigo Brompton bike acessory fits. Why? On the first design (2015 version) the accessory at the bike folded state will be positioned much higher far away from the wheel axel giving space. In my version it gets aligned/touches making my life just a bit more difficult to fold the bike with the go pro attached.

I am wondering why they made the change. Was it due to reduced stiffness? Cracking of the handlebar?

I really liked the biking handling the new handlebar offers it feels great and allows me lean a bit when curving.