Custom lots-of-titanium Brompton

customspiration

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Brompton-/171137007571?ViewItem=&clk_rvr_id=576958031275&item=171137007571&nma=true&si=Py6SYomw5E2lJwDwNCQQn9dsWF0%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

drill

Only half the spokes fitted.? All looks a bit bodged - seatpost clamp, seatpost?

customspiration

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Brompton-/171137007571?ViewItem=&clk_rvr_id=576958031275&item=171137007571&nma=true&si=Py6SYomw5E2lJwDwNCQQn9dsWF0%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

drill

pretty awful, mine weighs about 10kg and i've not done half the shit to it this guy has - amazed someone purchased it for that much!

I'm not sure anyone did. In the first auction it went for £1,800 but it looks as though that sale fell through, and it was relisted at £2,200. That was withdrawn too, due to 'an error', after 6 offers, the highest of which was £1,000.

Have you finish the Brompton yet?

Nearly. Just need to add cables. Then it's good to go.

I'm being a noob and, although I have read all of the thread over a few days, I can't remember any saddle talk. If you want to save a goodly amount of weight over the standard Brompton offering, try one of THESE. I was sceptical at first, but have been riding one for a couple of months now and it's actually quite comfortable. Granted, I only ride 8 miles a day, but that should be enough. Some other saddles I've tried have made my arse hurt in 5 minutes (yes, I'm talking to you Boardman road bike saddle!).

Excellent thead BTW - a gem for a new Brompton owner who likes to faff. I have the Brompfication hinge clips and seat post clamps and have another few ideas in mind....

The only saddle I'd slap on it is Brooks Pro Team.
First thing I did to my folder was to fit a carbon cranks with an external BB. Then swapped the seatpost for a lighter CNC machined one.

Hmmm, maybe, but I was just looking at the weight saving - the Tioga is nearly half a pound less than the stock saddle.

Having said I hadn't noticed a saddle mentioned previously, I just went back to page one - d'oh!

Oh, can I recommend gold Jagwire outers for your cables? They look deeply cool with that frame - I have them on mine :o)

Yep, the saddle's a Charge Knife. Guaranteed bottom friendly, as my backside seems to get on with Charge Spoons, titanium rails to go with the prevailing theme, and reasonably light. Black cables rather than gold though. Cycliste (SWMBO) says no more gold bling. Especially after seeing the brake calipers which I'm just about to post some pictures of.

So, brake calipers. I got a bolt kit from Ti Parts Warehouse, with a full set of titanium bolts, some anodised gold. It is a very comprehensive kit. Even the tiny bolts holding the pads in place, the grub screw which does side-to-side adjustments and all the hardware on the brake block carriers were included.

So, original front brake:

Original rear brake:

Front brake with ti bolts:

Rear with ti bolts:

Check out those mighty weight savings. I think they look rather good too:

Apologies for the crap phone pics - my 'proper' camera had run out of electrons. Again.

I'm a Charge Spoon fan too - I have one on the road bike and a special edition (with lairy green detail) on the hardtail mountain bike. I did think that if I didn't get on with the Tioga on the Brompton that I'd put a Spoon on it... maybe one day.

You should do the gold outers as they really complement the braising (sp)... just sayin'

Ooh, I want those anodised bolts!

Thinks... must get a life one day :(

Can you post details of Ti Parts Warehouse as Mrs Google isn't being very helpful...

You'll kick yourself - it's http://www.tipartsworkshop.com. Takes you to their Facebook page. Also some stuff here. I got in contact with them via Facebook to place the order. They have lots of nice titanium stuff.

What an epic "man house".

Munchin corn flakes with abandon in dungarees....

len rubin

Ultimate Folding Bike Video by Downtube - YouTube

len rubin

Ultimate Folding Bike Video by Downtube - YouTube

"hey len lets do a piece to camera please - you can tell us all about your bike.... how about just next to this massively distracting noisy water fountain to ensure a truly pointless video"

the bike was stolen a few years later too - not sure they ever found it?

yes they recovered it after a social media campaign to get it back.

the person that handed it in said that they bought it innocently and refused to accept the $400 reward

Well, it's finished and I rode it into work and back again today. Compared to the Rat Brompton it's much faster, stiffer and quieter but then so would pretty much anything. Anyway, pictures.

and the obligatory Scoblebrick photo:

Just under one Scoblebrick. And yes, I know, the saddle needs the nose pointing down a bit. Work in progress.

Looks amazing.

Any final thoughts? "would do differently", "would do again", etc. ?

Very smart, not too blingy. Love the cockpit, wheels and cranks.

Just love the fact it still has a chainguard and mudguards. It's never quite a Brompton without those.

Front tyre wrong way round though.

face of disapproval

Any final thoughts? "would do differently", "would do again", etc. ?

Well, there's still things I'm going to change/add/tweak on it. It needs the front luggage block adding, and I'd like to add a height stop to the seatpost. Generally though it's what I wanted - a lighter and faster Brompton than I had already. There are a few niggles at the moment, which I don't think will take me long to sort, but the only real doubt in my mind at the moment is the 5 speed hub. It seems very sensitive to cable tension adjustments and while I've now managed to get all 5 gears I'm still not entirely happy with it. But other than that, it's all good.

Front tyre wrong way round though.

face of disapproval

It's on the same way as the rear tyre, which I thought was right. Will check though. Still unconvinced it makes the slightest bit of difference on road tyres, but I might as well get it 'right'.

The "arrow" should point forward.