Brompton owners

A fleet/flock/squadron/etc 6 Brompton riders in full nodder gear went past me (on foot) a few hours back on Creek Road.

Awestruck!

Don't forget to cable tie the folding rear triangle to the seat tube before installing a Brompton in a cycle stand ! at the LBS that I worked at all Bromptons were dealt with this way (and before doing bunny hops up and down the shop floor)...most Brompton owners were unable to go through the complex engineering required to fix a puncture on their machines.

Is it not possible to replace the block with the newer one that lock the rear triangle?

Dom what are those bars? Me want, but I would have to chop them down.

Fasih, they are the MK2 Comfort Handlebar by Thorn / SJS Cycles; absolutely perfect alternative handlebars for the Brompton M-type IMO. :)

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/page/find/?name=mk2%20comfort&page=1

I take it they fit the clamp without needing a shim, right?

If anyone would like to buy a Brompton, I have one for sellz.

^ I think Iain (Chainbreaker) was after one the other day... drop him a pm

will do, cheers!

Edit: he's got one now. If anyone else is interested then fire me a PM.

I take it they fit the clamp without needing a shim, right?

No shim required, perfect fit :)

Saw this, thought of y'all;

http://31.media.tumblr.com/cb816d41caa8931992848b5eb77570a3/tumblr_msf06qFk3D1s46a4ao1_1280.jpg

Those MKS EZY Urban pedals?

Fucking sweet..

Flip backwards for flats, forwards for cleats.

Did I say how smooth they are? They really change how the Brompton feels. If you're still on the stock pedals then I highly recommend getting off them (especially when I felt the crunchy motion that their bearings produce).

I got my MKS Ezy Superiors this morning (went for Superior mainly due to the fact that there isn't a yellow circlip for me to lose).

I echo the sentiments about smoothness above. They're also a boat load stiffer, takes the scary crunching feedback the plastic spindle body gives to the standard none folding pedal. Noticeable power transfer when out of the saddle giving it the beans. Highly recommend switching out your Brommy pedals with something in the MKS Ezy range! (unless you really need to fold the pedal everytime: My only negative comment on the Ezy is that you either have a yellow circlip to lose, or a mechanism on the superiors which is difficult to use with gloved hands).

Also a few days after purchasing my Brompton, I put a Miche crankset on it after taking it off my trackbike (ugraded that to Omnoms). Mainly for aesthetics! The new Brompton chainset is actually pretty stiff and only 30grams heavier than the Miche.

It's up for sale. It's off a standard geared 3speed so is 50t. Let me know if you're interested otherwise it's eBay next week.

One thing about those MKS Ezy pedals... check the bolt that holds the cleat in place. If you lose one (as I have), then you lose the holding plate for the cleat spring and cannot get a replacement.

I don't mind... the pedals still surpass the originals and give a little more room for tight corners without pedal strike.

Anyone flogging a Brompton? Looking to pick up a winter ride I can stash in my flat.

Hello all,

I'm looking for some advice on what to consider when buying a second hand Brompton. I normally ride a hybrid but have wanted a B 'just in case' for a while. I'm not at all techy, but obviously don't want to buy the cat in the bag, so what's important: miles ridden? Age? Which parts normally need checking? Any particular models that have got flaws/advantages? What should I expect to pay depending on all of these factors?
And of course, if anyone's got one to sell, do let me know! Am currently looking here and on Going Going Bike (where you buy before seeing the bike - so not a good option? Anyone got experience with this?)

Thanks!!

Check the rear triangle bearings. With the bike unfolded and wheels on the floor, press sideways against the bottom bracket and see if there's any play. If there is, walk away or ask for a significant discount. Replacing the rear triangle bearings is a fairly major job, which requires either lots of time or specialist tooling.

Slightly OT for this ^ but does anyone any experience of the www.bromptondock.co.uk yet?

I'm wondering if I'm missing something obvious but it would appear that you can borrow one for short periods very cheaply - just £2.50 for every 24 hours in fact. Which makes my potential plan to ask one of you 'orrible lot to loan me (an additional) one for a few days fairly redundant - if it would only cost £7.50 for a long weekend, without the additional concern of using someone else's 'baby'!

Just to complete the CSB here... I paid the optional £20 membership for this a while ago as I figured it was worthy of some support regardless of whether I actually got round to using it.

Anyway, last week I picked up a Brompton in South London (a practically new 3spd with mudguards, dynamo lights and a pump) and used it for a long weekend - then returned it to a North London dock 4 days later. All for the princely sum of £10.

Would use again...

Has anyone had any problems with the head tube of their Brompton. My dad managed to get a serious crack in the head tube on his. He took it to an alu welder who welded the crack. My dad wasn't fully happy with the work so he brazed a steel band around this to help support it. Sadly its gone again.

After speaking with Brompton he said they will do a full service for £280 however the part that he needs work done to is an old design which they don't stock and so they would have to move all his parts over onto a new frame. This seems daft for such a small part.

Does anyone know of a place that might be good for spares or would it be a case of keeping an eye out someone breaking a frame? I can't believe it will be a write off for having to replace such a small part.

Any help?

I can't see any reason why a decent framebuilder couldn't braze in a new headtube. It'd need recoating afterwards, and the total cost may well end up being close to the cost of a new frame. However, I'm a bit confused by the reference to aluminium welding - the headtube on a Brompton is steel?

Check the rear triangle bearings. With the bike unfolded and wheels on the floor, press sideways against the bottom bracket and see if there's any play. If there is, walk away or ask for a significant discount. Replacing the rear triangle bearings is a fairly major job, which requires either lots of time or specialist tooling.

Thanks! What should I ask the seller about before asking to view the bike in person that will tell me about the state of the bike and value for money?

Has anyone had any problems with the head tube of their Brompton. My dad managed to get a serious crack in the head tube on his. He took it to an alu welder who welded the crack. My dad wasn't fully happy with the work so he brazed a steel band around this to help support it. Sadly its gone again.

After speaking with Brompton he said they will do a full service for £280 however the part that he needs work done to is an old design which they don't stock and so they would have to move all his parts over onto a new frame. This seems daft for such a small part.

Does anyone know of a place that might be good for spares or would it be a case of keeping an eye out someone breaking a frame? I can't believe it will be a write off for having to replace such a small part.

Any help?

how is a head tube a small part?

Well it finally arrived a couple of weeks ago, and I am finding myself riding it even when I could of ridden the 'non-folding road bike' is that normal? :-)

Angel at Condor was very helpful and patient as he showed and got me to try the 'fold'.
10 minutes later at Charing Cross, on the platform somehow it took me another 10 minutes to get the bag off and folded, Doh.

Disappointed it took so long to arrive as I missed the ^ ride, looks like it was a great time, well done all.

The design is very good indeed, the workmanship is brilliant, some of the parts are a bit pants though...

My only regret, I should of got one ages ago....

Again, many thanks to all for contributions, advice and real life tips in all things Brommie.
If I'm clever enough to come up with a "wow" tip I'll pass it on.

The obligatory pic of course.

Titanium raw lacquer! Very nice and I'd love one, but I'd be terribly nervous about locking it up anywhere even for 5 mins.

how is a head tube a small part?

Even more so, why was it taken to an alu welder? Crazy.

Titanium raw lacquer! Very nice and I'd love one, but I'd be terribly nervous about locking it up anywhere even for 5 mins.

Why would you need to leave it outside?

Surely the point is you cav take it inside with you virtually anywhere?

Very pretty! Another common upgrade is to change the brake levers, which feel a bit flimsy. If you really want to go to town, this is a good site to check out: http://www.brompfication.com/

Even more so, why was it taken to an alu welder? Crazy.

And secondly, why did he not contact Brompton after it happened?