Brompton owners

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/

Brompfication does not sell brake levers.

so... after a rear end shunt from a delivery driver and subsequent insurance payout, my brompton is currently stripped down and forks / rear triangle being rebuilt by kinetics with Hope x2 hydraulic brakes. Hubs will probably be Hope pro 2s.

should be interesting....

how is a head tube a small part?

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

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

Head tube is a small part in size that can also be replaced. Not a reference to importance.

I have spoken with him again and I misunderstood what he meant. He took it to someone who did some aluminium welding for him on another job, hence why he told me he had sent it to the aluminium welder.

Brompton have said they can't help unless he buys a new frame off them so taking it to the welder first made no difference.

I think the answer is, he will need to take it to a frame builder to build a custom part.

so... after a rear end shunt from a delivery driver and subsequent insurance payout, my brompton is currently stripped down and forks / rear triangle being rebuilt by kinetics with Hope x2 hydraulic brakes. Hubs will probably be Hope pro 2s.

should be interesting....

That sounds a bit insane.

Hope you're OK too... sounds like the bike will be great.

Brompfication does not sell brake levers.

no but the hinge clamps are brilliant

I just did my first commute on my new Brompton (a black S3L). Brilliant fun. Not quite as fast as a decent track bike but I'm quite enjoying the extra work. Only thing I notice is that people are more prone to walking out in front of me when I'm on a Brompton - perhaps I look friendlier and less likely to bellow like a maniac.

You look very upright as if you're running toward them than cycling.

Yeah I think that's it - hunched over, a cyclist can look quite aggressive. On a Brompton it looks as though one were out for a morning amble rather than the flat-out, balls to the wall, 100%, 24-carat-gold fistfuck that is the daily commute.

I also think that the Brompton aren't quite visible due to it's smaller size head-on, big fuck-off light that make peds think you're a motorcyclist should solve this.

or use the bell....

Bell doesn't work. Not as well as a good bellow.

That sounds a bit insane.

Hope you're OK too... sounds like the bike will be great.

it was a comedy collision - his front bumper went over my rear triangle and jammed the wheel, leaving me stationary and upright (and a bit startled) :)

Does anyone here know if a Sunrace/SA friction shifter (this sort of thing) would work on a 2spd Brompton? As far as I can tell some of the 3spd indexed thumb shifters work on the hub gear models but I haven't seen any alternatives for the derailleur yet.

I presume there are limit screws which could be adjusted to make it work but has anyone done anything similar or have any alternative suggestions?

Hi all,
I've been a long standing member of LFGSS but know very little about Bromptons, I'm about to get £1000 to put towards a Brompton via the Cycle to Work scheme. I will use it to commute 5-7 miles a day.
A few questions:

1. Where is the best place to buy?
   
2. Which one should I go for?
   
   

cheers

I've lent my brompton to my brother and now I`m sad.

Hi all,
I've been a long standing member of LFGSS but know very little about Bromptons, I'm about to get £1000 to put towards a Brompton via the Cycle to Work scheme. I will use it to commute 5-7 miles a day.
A few questions:

1. Where is the best place to buy?
   
2. Which one should I go for?
   
   

cheers

Unless you want a reduced 2012 model (which i wouldn't as theres been significant upgrades to the 2013 one) then everywhere is pretty much the same price for bromptons. Find out who has the stock version you want so you don't have to pay for b-spoke and buy that.

2 or 3 speed are both fine for commuting, with 2 speed being a little bit lighter.
definitely buy a bag.

1. Where is the best place to buy?
   
2. Which one should I go for?
   
   

1. You're probably a little limited given you'll have a voucher. Most shops will sell them at the same price anyway. I'd just pick one you've had positive experiences with in the past.

2. Depends what your commute is like. I've had an M3L and an S2L and both were fine in and around London.

I have an M2L. Would have ideally had S2L but needed the M bars for the missus's more upright position.

2 gears are significantly lighter and plenty to get around. I went reduced gearing (again so that the missus can get up the Col de Leigham Court), which is fine though spins out quite quickly.

So upshot of that - i'd go S2L regular gearing + bag, no lights, firm suspension. (Ti if I was feeling minted.)

S3L-X here.

When picking between S and M I'd say test it. Ideally for a few days (Brompton '3 cog' dealers now have Demonstrator models they can lend you for a few days against a deposit).

Gearing, just go off your current bikes. I'd say 2 speed is fine for most people, I went for 3 because I want to use the bike for not only completing rail journeys, but also as my main commuter. I need the 3rd gear on the long straights my current commute has. I could've probably been happy with 2speed 'raised' gearing but... I dunno, I just like having that range and as I have a ti one, it's not a massive weight to carry around.

Oh yeah and firm suspension and a bag is a must. I also changed the saddle for something less sofa.

Mine is single speed. I get a good quad workout going up the hills in Colchester and I like to keep things simple!

S2L has been brilliant for me.

Light, nippy, simple - although you do spin out a bit on long flats. Definitely get 2013 model. Bags are handy too.

Bought mine from Condor - very happy. I think they take most ride to work vouchers.

I had a good experience buying from Condor, I love my s2l and ortlieb brompton bag, get the marathon tyres, I've added a set of shimano m530 pedals as the folding pedals are more hassle than they're worth (I've got the scars on my shins to prove it from walking it between a set of red lights) and if I can't wear my cycling shoes then I don't need to go far.

Another very satisfied S2L owner here.

Definitely replace the pedals and get Marathon tyres. I've got a pair of MKS Ezys with some solid half toe clips on mine. Also consider an extended or telescopic pedal if your are a bit more leggy.

I own an S3L here. Definitely recommend the three speed - for me the slight weight gain was nothing compared to the reliability of hub gears and the ability to blast along at top speeds. Wouldn't recommend getting the rear rack, it's pointless weight, esp when you can put a bag on the front - who really wants to rock three bags on a brompton?

I got the S bars which I thought would be good for me as a track bike rider, but actually the thing still feels like a sit up and beg, so if I had to go again I'd go for the M3L - at least it's hones about what it is. They're sold all over the place too.

selling some brompton parts

http://www.lfgss.com/thread119010.html