Brompton owners

Yes, don’t think you would have the clearance to flip this type, you can definitely run it 180 Though

Looks suspicious, also looks like a POS.

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https://youtu.be/zOC-uqgRoRI?si=WuGsjG4MALWHGdtC

Underbiking much? 😂 looks great fun, do like what Ben at Kinetics and Eerder Metaal are doing with the MTBrompton / Stretch Brompton, always think it’s a functional steampunk-esq vibe going on

They look brilliant but I feel like they should build the whole frame, they are almost there and
it would spare you going through the faff of having to buy and replace half of a bike.

Hear hear - I'm as guilty as others, cough on this thread, of unneccasary upgrades but £1.3k for the kinetics kit in that video above.

Would make a lot of sense but more than an ‘homenage’ that would be a full copyright infringement and difficult to justify. It might well be that they are currently ‘allowed’ to produce aftermarket modifications because it doesn’t affect the sales of the company and they actually add to the brand’s visibility and reputation. A full frame could be a step too far

The amount of design time in a Brompton is several, several many times that in any other bike though and largely it is as optimised as it can be. The adaptions are there for the bits that matter, the bits that remain the same do so because there’s not much/nothing to be gained. Like, from the rear pivot to the headtube, what do you need to improve? So why would you remake it?

So why would you remake it?

Maybe so you don't have to throw away brakes, wheels, shifters, mudguards, half the frame and a fork.

one tiny thing about the eerder metaal bikes is that he cuts 1-2cm off the bottom of the headtube - you can maybe see on this photo that it's missing the little B-shaped protusion thing on the NDS. (I had the pleasure of visiting his shop last year & he showed off the trophy drawer of all the tiny headtube rings...)

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I guess that Kinetics, Eerder et al have bargained on/done the research and know most of their sales are to people who have bought a stock bike and are looking to upgrade as opposed to to people who are fresh to the world of Bromptons and want an off-road capable and/or disc brake bike straight off the bat.

Think they used to be in Chobham on the mini roundabout.

yeah i think you are right! so odd

also the 'hill test' they do is up a particularly steep hill up to the golf club...

This is doing the rounds. Every group I'm seeing the biggest comment is on the price - might as well buy another Brompton or half decent gravel bike for that money.

To me this looks kind've fun, very niche, yet almost pointless (at least for mtb). That said, I wouldn't mind having a more gravel/bridle path capable Brompton as it would open up more options for commuting, but would hate having to clean it. Cleaning a Brompton after a few wet commutes is bad enough.

Ok I am being thick but can I use any chainring on the Brompton to go down to 44 from 54 teeth. My knees can't take it

I think the belt drive alfine 18” could be a really good compromise. With a small front electric motor and a removable front rack it could be pretty functional without adding much to the fold size

And @infmz I will admit I’ve got a road biased one (disk brakes, alfine 8, but chain not belt) as I just wanted something that give a bit more confidence at stopping (disk brakes) than the normal Brompton, and I always liked the alfine 8 (less so 11). Having owned a 6 speed bromton previously I’d completely agree it’s unlikely to be a first choice and is a bit of a vanity product, but I certainly don’t regret it when it’s likely my most used bike!

@recycled I want to add at some point eerder metaals full metal jacket, which replaces the stock plastic block for a screwed and clamped metal luggage rack that looks (on his IG reels) to easily take a full sized human standing on it (albeit static load). I think that plus basket and the rear rack would make a pretty good foldable shopping bike, not unlike a Raleigh 20 in some respects

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This is great, 18”? What’s your feedback on the conversion overall? And why 8 over 11?

Yes any as long as it’s 130 BCD.

Thanks

One of the best bikes I have built! Wish they didn’t drop the purple.

No, still standard 16” so can use all the normal accessories (rack/mudguards etc) Still wanted it to be compatible enough to Brompton stuff!

Overall night and day, but mainly cos of the disk brakes. It weights a fair bit more (or feels like it, which is the main thing). I’ve ridden my fathers more modern 2speed and the only difference I can really tell apart from the 2sp being a lot lighter to carry is that the braking is no way near as direct. Makes me wish for an n+1 of weight weenie disk Brompton which I think would be perfect.

8 over 11 as when I specced this a fair few years ago 11 speed still had a bit of a reputation of spunking oil everywhere and not being as reliable. And I have a couple of other 8 speed hubs which just work so it made sense for me. Baller move would be rohloff, but couldn’t justify it at the time.

I agree! Think I’ve only seen a couple of purple ones over the years, definitely more unique, and in the sun chef kiss

Glad to hear I'm not the only one who finds the brakes abysmal. If a disk Brompton ever drops I would consider it. Not sure if I would go for a custom job though.

I think that plus basket and the rear rack would make a pretty good foldable shopping bike, not unlike a Raleigh 20 in some respects.

I love the Eerder stuff but you know that for just the cost of the full metal bracket you could but probably 3 Raleigh twenties right?!

I know, probably why I haven’t bought one yet! But would a Raleigh 20 pass the train guards approval at rush hour…