Brompton owners

Bit of a bugger to weld, isn't it? Do they make their own Ti forks and rear triangles, or do they buy them in? Could be the investment in kit and skilled labour isn't worth it for the number they reckon they'd sell.

I've done a factory tour a couple of times. Apparently they're made in Russia. As is a lot of Ti stuff. But then you have whole towns in Russia where the life expectancy is 10 years below national average (which is already quite low compared to Europe) due to the metalworks.

I shouldn't imagine its impossible to get someone in Russia or China to make you a custom Ti mainframe. Just send them yours to copy.

This guy (Len Rubin) built one over 10 years ago:
https://ufbusa.ishopserver.com/
Unfortunately his old website appears to be down.

Brompton bought a share in a British titanium factory a couple of years ago and will probably be setting up for in house ti manufacturing. Just a matter of time now

Interesting, thanks. Its at least 5 years ago since I was last at Brompton so my info is somewhat outdated.

The main issue with a titanium Brompton frame is the cost. The main frame on a Brommie is unbraced and needs to be really stiff, and is made from heavy gauge tubing, which is why the steel frame is relatively heavy. To get the equivalent in titanium you'd need to get custom-drawn tubing, and that's where the cost comes in. Most titanium tubing is commercially made for aircraft hydraulic and pneumatic lines, which is why early ti frames were quite skinny. I knew of a guy in the US who had some ti tubes custom drawn for him to make a ti Brompton, and it tho it worked and looked great, it was phenomenally expensive.

phenomenally pointless

Not sure it's wholly pointless. The Brompton frame and stem are heavy old lumps, and you could lose a fair bit of weight with titanium. Whether the £/g ratio would be worth it is another thing.

Just a matter of time now

Given it took +50yrs for them to add a little clip to lock the rear pivot and 20 odd to put brake levers that didn't look like they came from a kinder egg...

... I'm gunna say it's going to be a very long matter of time.

Andrew Ritchie who invented it didn't think you needed something to clip it open and I speculate that he dug his heels in on this, that's why you can turn the suspension block around 180 deg to stop it from locking out. The new brake levers are nice though!

Big fan of the S-bag so far.

Does anyone have an front bag @Howard and I could borrow from Sept 17-Sept 26? We are borrowing @mands brompton for a cheeky brompton tour in the south of france, but need some luggage (I think the bike has an M bar).

I have one you can borrow...

Pretty sure it's one of the original s bags.

That would be great, where are you based for pick up?

Down in Bickley but i could strap it to my motorbike and bring it centrally.

It's currently in my parents garage but i'm seeing them this weekend so can pick it up and meet next week.

Do you need the block as well?

I think we've got the block, but maybe best to bring it along just in case. Happy to meet you centrally. I work at London Wall, near the Museum of London.

On a similar mooching for equipment vein, does anyone have one of these bag covers that they would be happy to loan out for a week (Sept 17-26)?

https://www.cyclesurgery.com/p/brompton-saddlebag-cover-P5274009.124.html?gclid=CjwKCAjwlrnNBRBMEiwApKU4PJ57W725IlyZ8XB3OGPP7eXT9HWZ1NxJ7-Q5tjT1ly9ac8bxMez9LxoCBy8QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

told you so..

If possible its not a great idea to remove and refit the block. Unless you're using a torque wrench of course. Its actually surprisingly easy to bugger the threads on the frame. Which can be an expensive repair.

Bag will be with me from Saturday...

Do you have the block?

Pretty sure it does, as I've seen a front basket attached to it.

Having to finally actually sell this now:

https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/310134/#comment13839782

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*Throws Brompton in bin *

• Deletes search for orlebar brown swim shorts *
  

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Best bag for a Brompton - thinking one of the Carradice city range, tote bag or roll top

S bag