Brompton owners

For anyone who has flown with their brompton, have you checked it in as special "sports" luggage, or just as a normal piece of hold luggage. I've got the soft bag ( https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/--PZG-MRh2-Y/VSl9MtvQX2I/AAAAAAABAuE/D7EH_HGj2h8/w769-h577-no/DSC_0672.JPG) but will that be enough protection? Or should I try to get something like this:
http://www.cyclesurgery.com/pws/UniqueProductKey.ice?ProductID=CPLR0019KK&gclid=Cj0KEQjwkv-rBRDwoMLav-2l9KIBEiQAUTkDUweh1dyr8OyJq6h_fRiBJXW-1hyQDmSObQKrIZNiEdIaAvUX8P8HAQ&gclsrc=aw.ds

I had the B&w hard box and checked it in as normal luggage (just under the permitted 24kg but it was packed with clothes etc in all the gaps )

Depending on the airline and the length of flight I thought the idea was to be able to take it as carry on. In which case the softbag is probably fine. @Doctor_Cake - Who are you flying with?

Urban Challenge has just been announced - Not sure I am going to be around. But I am sure others will be interested.

https://www.brompton.com/Events/Posts/2015/Event-BUC-London

They're so much fun. Side note- is there supposed to be a clip to lock the back end on the suspension ones?

Nearly came a cropper to a mini tank slapper earlier on Euston rd. Was a bit sketchy.

They're so much fun. Side note- is there supposed to be a clip to lock the back end on the suspension ones?

Only the recent model come with a clip.

It's an easy retrofit to older models though.

Was wondering why the rear was feeling a bit wobbly this morning and have discovered the sidewall is splitting all the way round, no doubt to catastrophically fail shortly.

What are preferred tyres? Care more for puncture protection than weight - Marathon Plus?

Marathon Plus are excellent for puncture protection. They're heavy, and they ride like they're filled with concrete, but I happily roll over the sea of broken glass outside KGX every morning without a care in the world. Well, that's not true, but I'm not worrying about punctures.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/brompton/rear-frame-clip-ec008815

Brompton Junction will fit for you, if you want.
I went in last week for the Seat QR as I didn't have that bit (6mm vs my old 8mm) and guy GAVE it to me for free.
I love you, man in Brompton Junction shop!

And then you can upgrade to the titanium frame clip. And it'd be rude not to fit the titanium suspension block bolt at the same time.

The guys at Brompton Junction are really helpful. My seatpost had been slipping a lot, happened to be around Covent Garden one afternoon so I popped in. They looked at it and changed out the plastic collar - for nothing.

They loved my alternative riser bar and clamp adaptor combo.

The Marathon Plus is hard too beat. I have been toying with the idea of getting a set of the solid tyres from Tannus - a bit steep though.

I also considered the tannus tyres but I keep hearing mixed reports. Some guys rave about them while others say they handle like crap. Unfortunately I live in durham so if I want to try before I buy i'll need to head down to the smoke. Im hoping some poor bugger buys them up here and i'll blag a turn before I part with yet more cash.

I was hoping that someone had already bitten the bullet as well. Having said that at SpinLdn I spoke to people from Tannus. The word I got from them is that the Brompton CEO himself is rocking them. Brompton is apparently using the Tannus tyres on their rental bikes so to reduce maintenance issues with the bikes. The price is the only thing holding me back, I think I have a couple more months on my current tyres - so I have some time to decide.

Got some mad euro folk staying with us next week who are touring the UK on Bromptons...

The price is the only thing holding me back.

Tannus claim it can last up to 6,000 miles before replacing, so a couple years out of it, not too dissimilar to a Marathon Plus lifespan I reckon.

Having said that, it sound like a great choice on a Brompton that already got a suspension block to take less road abuse.

I get around 2 years out of the front and a little less on the rear with the Marathon Plus. I weigh more and I do skid a little from time to time.

For that price I would want at least 4 years out of them. Its too soon for any lifetime data, they have only been going a couple of years, and I believe the 18" tyre only launched last year.

It probably benefit people who used their Brompton sparsely, rather than everyday like you.

Cheers @mands will look into it!

what's the going rate for a secondhand brompton s3l

purchased in late 2011 but has been ridden probably less than 400 miles all in though could do with a clean/service i'm sure.

@HatBeard Can't help with pricing but I'm in the market to purchase and this could save me the hassle of using a friends cycle to work scheme. When you know what you'd like for it drop me a PM please...

someone has asked me for first refusal if i sell so I will run it past them when i figure out how much and let you know if they don't want it (high likely tbh).

btw it's black and currently has +8% gearing to give it more top end, firm suspension block & marathon tyres.

Cheers bro

Ruby Wax has a Brompton, I saw her trying to assemble it, then the next thing I knew she was getting in a taxi...

I need to sort out the indexing on a 3 speed hub and the shifter has lost the attachment bolt.

So I was thinking about re cabling and replacing the old fashioned 3 speed shifter.

Worth it? Any 3 speed shifters that people would recommend?

And does anyone know of any particularly good online guides for Bromptons and/or indexing 3 speeds before I search through them?

Cheers.