Bromptons

I have a 2-speed and it is perfect. Fast enough to chase, catch and drop almost anyone on the flat*. A bit spinny down notting hill towards S-bush but on the whole its great. The little gear is great for getting away from the lights and the bigger one is just right on the flat. I have never been overtaken on it. ever. My mate has the 6 and he reckons all but 2 of the gears are supurfluous.

Oh and when you master it - you look very cool doing a trackstand on one.

*Obviously you need to put some effort in.

I have a 2009 M6R that I bought for my rail commute from Surrey into London Bridge. I have a couple of very steep hills on the way to my home railway station, so I do make use of all the gears. I hired an M3S for a couple of days to see how it worked for me, but I'm glad I chose the 6 speed. YMMV.

The interleaved gearing took a couple of weeks to get used to, but I barely think about it now. It's a bit like learning musical scales on a guitar and becomes second nature pretty quickly.

It certainly isn't as fast as my other road bikes, but it's a fun ride with good visibility in traffic. My first two 'proper' bikes when I was a nipper had 16" wheels, so there's a small element of kid-ness creeping in too :)

I'm 5'11" and I think the standard seatpost is just a teeny bit to short for me after living with it for a few months. I could do with an extra inch, but can't be bothered to change it . Maybe when I'm flush (if ever?) I'll replace it with an extended titanium one, though you lose a little bit of the compactness when folded.

One thing I've found invaluable with the 'R' version (with a rear rack) is that fitting the Ezy Wheels (larger diameter rollers with bearings) makes moving it around folded a doddle. No worries about how heavy it is (plus the contents of my bag which stays on the bike). I can nip through the regular barriers at London Bridge instead of having to go through the manned gates:

YouTube - Brompton Rolls When Folded in Train.wmv

it also means I don't catch my ankles on them like standard small roller wheels they replaced, which project out sideways a bit more

I was once told that there was no Brompton that could fit me, as I have a 36" inside leg and am 6'2". Is this true or are there custom builders who build longer bits?

Mind you, this was years ago and I haven't checked it out since.

Felt a bit short.

You're quite tall, Skully. Get over it.

I was once told that there was no Brompton that could fit me, as I have a 36" inside leg and am 6'2". Is this true or are there custom builders who build longer bits?

Merc make an aluminium version of the Brompton folder, so I think it's pretty likely to have it custom build, have you tried ringing Brompton up?

http://foldingbikes.wikispaces.com/Merc

I was once told that there was no Brompton that could fit me, as I have a 36" inside leg and am 6'2". Is this true or are there custom builders who build longer bits?

Mind you, this was years ago and I haven't checked it out since.

I'm 6'6" with long legs and fit a brompton fine. You have 2 options, you can get an extended seatpost which means when its all folded down the seat will stick out further, not sure by how much, or you can get the telescopic seatpost which will give you at least an extra 6" and slides into itself so its only an inch or 2 longer when its all folded up. I've got the telescopic seatpost and it works great for me.

Someone else is using mine at the moment as I don't really need it all the time now otherwise you could of had a go of it. I got mine in cycle surgery and they had all the stuff there for me to try without them having to order it in.

I'm 6'6" with long legs and fit a brompton fine. You have 2 options, you can get an extended seatpost which means when its all folded down the seat will stick out further, not sure by how much, or you can get the telescopic seatpost which will give you at least an extra 6" and slides into itself so its only an inch or 2 longer when its all folded up. I've got the telescopic seatpost and it works great for me

I am 1m87, and the telescopic seatpost works great for me too.
I would be curious trying the latest Bromptons with a longer frame base... But I am enjoying it a lot already.
Oliver, I can't see why you could not get a Brompton, without going in the trouble of custom build (I mean just for a folding bike). You are welcome to try mine if you want...

Szia

Loic

Cheers, guys, I thought it was probably a myth.

I don't have any need for a folder now, but a couple of n+1s later ...

I rode a Birdy at the last Cycle Show and totally loved the ride quality. I'll make sure to try out a Brompton sometime.

you can get an extended seatpost which means when its all folded down the seat will stick out further, not sure by how much

The extended post is 60mm longer.

and to continue this thread : 2010 changes announced.

Summary:

• 2 new hub dynamo systems
  
• Tyres down to 2 types. (Kojak replacing Stelvio - it's not 'new' it's been available for over a year)
  
• Flight bag with straps
  
• high end laptop case and a new front 'O' bag - made by Ortlieb.
  
• Alu seatpost replaces the titanium post. (lighter, and availability better)
  
  

so no real changes to the bike it seems.

http://road.cc/content/news/9085-cycle-show-preview-brompton-announces-new-products-2010

and to continue this thread : 2010 changes announced.
Summary:

• 2 new hub dynamo systems
  
• Tyres down to 2 types. (Kojak replacing Stelvio - it's not 'new' it's been available for over a year)
  
• Flight bag with straps
  
• high end laptop case and a new front 'O' bag - made by Ortlieb.
  
• *Alu seatpost replaces the titanium post.* (lighter, and availability better)
  
  
  

Pfff!!!... aluminium!!!
Aie Aie Aie... Maybe it works, but it does not sound as good as titanium, whatever the reason behind is...

Loic

Titanium aren't always the lightest, a triple butted titanium frame for example weight 1400kg, but cost over a thousand quid, whether a normal 7005 alu frame weight only 100kg more and a lots cheaper, even £300 (spes langster's frame weight that much).

the reason people went for titanium is because of the ride quality, whether alu is stiffer.

an alu seatpost will be just as light as titanium, frankly, a titanium seatpost isn't necessary on the brompton.

Only just noticed this.

If I were to get another Brompton, I would make damn sure that it had more than 3 gears. Skully, as you found out, there is a massive difference in GI between 2nd and 3rd. A real pain when you're cycling into a head wind, or riding up a shallow climb. Fortunately I can spin like a idiot, so I get away with it. Just.

The best folding bike out there IMHO.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8309975.stm

got a medal off old foot in the mouth

Titanium aren't always the lightest, a triple butted titanium frame for example weight 1400kg, but cost over a thousand quid, whether a normal 7005 alu frame weight only 100kg more and a lots cheaper, even £300 (spes langster's frame weight that much).
the reason people went for titanium is because of the ride quality, whether alu is stiffer.
an alu seatpost will be just as light as titanium, frankly, a titanium seatpost isn't necessary on the brompton.

I never said titanium was lighter...

Anyway I don't disagree about what you say on Titanium vs Aluminium...
What disappointed me was the cheapness feel about it... Aluminium is cheap and common. Titanium is un-necessary and therefore paramount, imperious...
Bromptons are beautiful objects, they like nice things... nice carradice front carriers, brooks saddles...
Otherwise, you might as well get a Merc instead of a Brompton, cheaper, lighter, kind of do the same job...
Szia

Loic

I never said titanium was lighter...

Anyway I don't disagree about what you say on Titanium vs Aluminium...
What disappointed me was the cheapness feel about it... Aluminium is cheap and common. Titanium is un-necessary and therefore paramount, imperious...
Bromptons are beautiful objects, they like nice things... nice carradice front carriers, brooks saddles...
Otherwise, you might as well get a Merc instead of a Brompton, cheaper, lighter, kind of do the same job...
Szia

Loic

Brompton dropped the titanium for the main reason that they had severe supply problems. To the extent that you had a huge wait to get one. One has to guess that the price of titanium may also have helped. Either way it's a commercial availability decision - 'want a lighter seatpost sir? here's the option' and most brompton buyers could not give a damn - plus it's lighter so.. win win.

Good quality Alu is a lovely thing.
(Case in point to alu vs stuff is the Thompson seatpost range - superb quality Alu lighter than many Carbon seatposts let alone Titanium. I lust after the Moulton 953 speed 953 seatpost, so so light...)

The new lighter front wheel is far more interesting anyway :)

Brompton dropped the titanium for the main reason that they had severe supply problems. To the extent that you had a huge wait to get one. One has to guess that the price of titanium may also have helped. Either way it's a commercial availability decision - 'want a lighter seatpost sir? here's the option' and most brompton buyers could not give a damn - plus it's lighter so.. win win.
Good quality Alu is a lovely thing.
(Case in point to alu vs stuff is the Thompson seatpost range - superb quality Alu lighter than many Carbon seatposts let alone Titanium. I lust after the Moulton 953 speed 953 seatpost, so so light...)
The new lighter front wheel is far more interesting anyway :)

All right then... pfff... why was I being so fussy, my seat post is steel anyway on my Brompton...

Thanks for the clarification...

Szia

Loic

I was in Straton Cycles (Wandsworth) last week, buying a saddle post of a rare diameter (and it's where I found it after looking in many shops around), and they have one of their customer's brompton for sale, an immaculate red Brompton (not the one that has been stolen afer the tweed run just in case you are wondering...). They were supposed to give me a call to confirm the price but they did not so I just called them and it's £400 as it is, £450 with a front shopper bag and frame and £475 with new Schwable tyres.

It is a very old Brompton (maybe from 1991, by the look of the sturmey archer 3 speed hub at the back) but it had very little use and is in really amazing condition. It almost looks like one of the new bike they sell. M type (the straight bars did not exist I believe at the time) 3 speed as mentionned above, the shorter wheel base, as pre-2002 / 2003. Very traditional brompton colour, red with black forks and rear folding base.

A really beautiful thing, and vintage / NOS style... Brompton lovers should be tempted.

I don't follow prices on ebay really for bromptons, but I think that, if not a bargain it is a decent price, and some money (I don't know how much of the 400) is going to a charity. But call Straton for more details I don't want to badly repeat what they told me, in case I got is wrong.

L