Brompton owners

Sorry if it's a silly question, but does the ti frame clip

do the same as the plastic one?

...or does it just replace one bit of metal for another?

looks like it replaces the black plastic lever bit and the metal hook bit...maybe the metal spacer bit, next to the nuts.

So you'd need both?

Just thinking it's a pain getting the bike up and down steps so a locking rear would be useful. The Ti one is the same price as the retro kit...

... although I'm guessing as it's an old model it would need the retro kit and the frame clip?

yeah that image you posted seems to be just the clip bit.
This is the pack with the other bits at a nice gaspy price
http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/ti-parts-workshop-titanium-rear-frame-clip-set-prod36519/
check out the related products.
If you have 6mm seat post QR clip, you wont need it so this pack may be right for you
http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/brompton-rear-frame-clip-exc-seat-post-qr-clamp-prod20916/

Fancy mine? It's black and pink though. Hot pink...
It's from late 2014 and practically brand new (like 99%), so not cheapo though.

I'm going to be taking my Brompton away with me this weekend (flying with Virgin). It'll be in a padded but soft bag with clothes packed around. Any tips on what bits may need extra protection?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjZ7eRn0UD4

The video is pretty much what you have done already. Now this is where I think you are better of making it obvious what is in your luggage. So it is handled with care, rather than just being treated like other items. Put a sticker or sign saying 'BIKE' and 'THISWAYUP' so it doesn't get thrown around.

If you have replaced the standard Brompton pedals, then you should consider taking the drive side pedal off. In the video he has removable pedals, which he has taken off. Off course this means have to take a pedal spanner with you.

Cheers. Brompton has come out the other end fine.

I used one of these http://www.vincita.co.th/products/b132b-soft-transport-bag-for-brompton-bike with a C bag stuffed down one side, a rucksack down the other and one of these on top http://www.vincita.co.th/products/b206b-garment-bag-for-b132b (all stuffed with clothes). The only bits I bothered bubble wrapping were the frame and bar clamps which stuck out at the end.

All worked pretty well, the only problem was keeping the weight down, I could have fit more in if I wasn't keeping under 23kg.

Glad to hear you and your bike got there ok.

When I travel with my Brompton on flights I've always taken it as hand luggage. Handed it over at the gate and then collected it at the arrivals gate at the other end.

Just did it this weekend flying down to London from Aberdeen on Virgin Little Red.

@motoko that is my preference as well for short flights. easyJet were the only ones so far that have been funny about doing that. For long haul like @aggi's flight I imagine it would be different.

Has anyone used one of these j&l ti seatposts?
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=291342551838&alt=web

I need to replace the seatpost in the telescopic one I have, so I thought it might be worth upgrading.

These ones look like they don't have a flared end.

@hugo7
i have one. they do not have a flared end. gauging the minimum insertion point is tricky without a felt marker or similar.
they are lighter than the original brompton titanium post and clamp combination

Cheers. I think I might go for it.

I was thinking if I wrapped a bit of tape around the bottom, or if I could find some way of scoring a grove near the base, and then glue a thick round rubber band at the base...

...I have a cheap pipe cutter which I'm guessing won't have the strength to cut, but it might be able to score.

Those posts are priced way cheaper than the other 3rd party ones available. Going to look for more possible mods on ebay. I really want one of those fancy chaintensioners, but ~$200 for them is way too much.

On my brompton I have a couple of wraps of duck tape around the seatpost so when I pull it up it only goes to the height I want it to, works fine to stop it pulling out any further.

Such a great simple idea.

@fasih have a look at the eBay feedback as I think some of the light parts they sell don't sound amazing. I just figured a long ti tube is a fairly simple bit of kit.

Was talking to one of Bromptons engineers, he said Ti bars are too Clegg, and I'd be better off buying carbon.

Edit, iPhone turned flexy to Clegg, seemed appropriate so did not edit.

I haven't used any Ti handle bars, but after using a Ti stem I'm a bit dubious about using it for anything in that region.

Did he recommend a set of carbon bars that work well? I'd have thought size options are a bit harder nowadays, plus you want fairly flat ones with minimal sweep for the fold, right?

I had some Easton bars on mine that were ok until I realised that, in pushing the brake levers in as far as possible to get the neatest fold, I had scored a line in the carbon on both sides with them. It probably would have been fine but, given I regularly have to honk a SS up Muswell Hill, I couldn't escape the visions of both sides snapping and the stem piercing me through the heart at the point of maximum gruntage.

I like my bars narrow though - someone with normal sized shoulders (and less obsessed with fold size) probably wouldn't have the same issue...

my titanium handlebars came from an old mtb

Not worried about bars. I am one of those Brompton owners that regrets getting an M over an S. So I solved my problem by getting the stem adaptor, and I am running an old Easton riser bar. No fold issues as such, my light has to rotate around until the plastic thingy gets clipped. But that is fine.

I want a slightly longer seat post. Was thinking the telescopic one, but I also want to put a Cambium on. The telescopic is a bit of a mixed blessing. If I lock the bike up somewhere then forget to take the saddle - I'm making it easier to get pinched. I could just get the longer normal seatpost then pitlock (or other) the saddle. Any thought or am I worrying about the wrong thing?

The ti seatpost seems like a good alternative to the standard one - which is why I was thinking about that too.

I've got some J&L Taiwanese Ti handlebars on my bike, and I can't say I find them flexy in the slightest. And on the run up Mount Ely of an evening, the last section I usually do out of the saddle averaging around 330 watts, so I think any flex would be reasonably noticeable.

Anyone here interested in a pair of Brompton brake leavers for £5 plus postage? Changed over to Aluminium ones then I gave bike to a friend. So not in need of a spare pair anymore.

1 Attachment

It's all gone a bit wrong in the freewheel department on my 2 speed:

I noticed that it was skipping and this is why.
The larger cog is all wavy-in-and-out, one of the teeth was bent right over, and when I took a pair of pliers to it it snapped off with little effort.

Obviously I just put down too much power for the crappy cogs.
Brompton will sell replacements for a tenner, which says everything about their quality really. Can you buy better ones? are they standard? Could I put better gearing on it?
And what's that retaining ring - what tool do I need to get that off?