The Brompton debate.

[Accelebrate]

Has the rear tyre not just worn away at the lacquer? I have to touch mine up where the tyre touches from time to time.

[Zigster]

I think that's probably what it is (at least for the main patch around the bottom bracket. How do you retouch the lacquer? Where do you buy it from and presumably it is pretty easy to apply?

[Accelebrate]

There's a clear option here:

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/brompton-matt-touch-up-...

Although I'd probably just use the lacquer that comes with car touch up paint, assuming you also have some lying around.

[Kell]

Anyone got - or seen anyone with - a Bickerton Docklands?

Looks identical design to the Tern Joe, but I prefer it for some reason. The only thing is, it says 30 seconds to fold, but the Tern says just 5. Wondering whether the Bickerton needs the front wheel to come off. Though I can't see why.

[Accelebrate]

The Bickerton was originally a floppy aluminium folding bike that pre-dated the Brompton. The son of the inventor worked for Dahon and then Tern. I suspect that all Bickerton products are now essentially just badge engineered Terns.

[anonymous-user]

I have a six speed S type. The gears aren't that intuitive though, as you have to do left right combinations to move up the gears. Also I find the standard gearing far too low as I don't often cycle up Everest.. Next time I'll go for a 3 speed with higher gearing option..

[bakerstreet]

I have had a Tern Link d8 for three months now and as soon as my CTW voucher turns up, I shall be ordering a custom Brompton. I'll sell the Tern when the Brompton arrives.

I use my Tern on a main line train everyday and the nature of the design jeans you really have to lash the bike to a pile in the train to stop it falling over. Brompton owners just plonk their bikes down and sit down whilst I faff with bungey strapping 😞.

Not been hugely impressed with the quality of the tern. Rear mech is garbage as is the cable routing is terrible.

[anonymous-user]

AyBee said:

Kell said:

I've specced one up though and it's coming in £1,250 - but the lacquered frame does look good.
......the initial build was over £1500.

That's a £250 saving in my book - get it bought
.

I do not believe that it is possible to get £250 discount on a Brompton. Just how its worded (unless cyclescheme with 40+ % off!)

[bakerstreet]

Kell said:

Well it seems like it's not too much of a debate. Everyone that has one loves them.

My only gripe will be that, currently, I sometimes get an earlier train and do extra laps of Hyde Park to up the mileage. Doesn't sound like the sort of thing I'd enjoy doing on a Brompton.

Also, to all of you that ride them, how's the rigidity? And does the lack of a top tube cause problems later down the line?

They aren't as rigid as a Tern or a Dahon, this is purely because there is a hinge where the BB is and their is a quick release at the top of the rear frame. I've ridden a Brompton and I follow them every day and you can actually see the back flex under power.

However, I'm not letting that put me off as I only have a two short inclines on my cycle through the city and the compact fold will more than make up for it

I can't wait to order mnine. I will be able to get on the train, dump bike by the doors and find me a seat. Also, I'll be able to keep it in the porch at myt house, which is mutter better than the front room. The Tern is too big to fit in the porch.

[dick_turpin]

Jimboka said:

AyBee said:

Kell said:

I've specced one up though and it's coming in £1,250 - but the lacquered frame does look good.
......the initial build was over £1500.

That's a £250 saving in my book - get it bought
.

I do not believe that it is possible to get £250 discount on a Brompton. Just how its worded (unless cyclescheme with 40+ % off!)

What he means is, if you do an initial build spec that comes out at £1,500, but then change a few things so the build now costs £1,250, you've just "saved" yourself £250!

[louiebaby]

I like my Brompton. I bought a 6 speed raw lacquer superlight, with Brooks and telescopic seat post.

Then moved from London to Devon. My commute went from 4.5 miles of urban to 9 miles of lumpy rural. There are few better feelings in this world than overtaking roadies, on a long drag of a hill, on a Brompton with a rucksack on.

I lied above. I love my Brompton.

[Kell]

dick_turpin said:

Jimboka said:

AyBee said:

Kell said:

I've specced one up though and it's coming in £1,250 - but the lacquered frame does look good.
......the initial build was over £1500.

That's a £250 saving in my book - get it bought
.

I do not believe that it is possible to get £250 discount on a Brompton. Just how its worded (unless cyclescheme with 40+ % off!)

What he means is, if you do an initial build spec that comes out at £1,500, but then change a few things so the build now costs £1,250, you've just "saved" yourself £250!

Yeah, that's exactly it. I put on all the things I thought would be useful to begin with, and then removed a lot of them when I saw the final price.

I'm going to try and get to the Brompton Junction store today and have a look.

I've never ridden a Brompton, but tried a small wheeled Dahon before I ordered my first full sized folder. I think I do put a lot of lateral stress on my bikes and I noticed that the Dahon flexed really badly. It will be a case of try it and see.

[TwistingMyMelon]

louiebaby said:

I like my Brompton. I bought a 6 speed raw lacquer superlight, with Brooks and telescopic seat post.

Then moved from London to Devon. My commute went from 4.5 miles of urban to 9 miles of lumpy rural. There are few better feelings in this world than overtaking roadies, on a long drag of a hill, on a Brompton with a rucksack on.

I lied above. I love my Brompton.

haha my mate who rides a Brompton in his suit, hes a bit handy on the pedals and he says how he loves racing roadies on his

[sjg]

Accelebrate said:

I love mine. My only regret is getting the 2 speed to save weight - I'm going to convert it to a 6 speed soon.

I'm the opposite, a 2 speed has been fine for me for typical folding bike use. The simple little derailleur saves a few hundred grams over the 3 speed. You get a low gear that will get any average cyclist up most hills fine, and a high gear that's good on the flat. Only very occasionally get a downhill where I could go faster but I'm spinning out, but it's not quite steep enough for gravity to take over.

The 3-speed gets you both lower and higher gears. The 6-speed even more so (it's effectively a 3-speed with the 2-speed derailleur). I'm not convinced any of it is worthwhile unless you're going to ride up big long hills heavily loaded.

The laquered finish looks good in the shop, deteriorates much faster though and can't be touched up so easily. Black hides the dirt nicely. Make sure you spec the hard suspension block (recommended unless you're very light) and longer seatpost if you need it, they're free swaps.

No regrets with mine. The prices keep going up (as they seemingly can't make them quickly enough) so they barely depreciate. I'm not using it daily any more but it's still handy to have around.

[bakerstreet]

sjg said:

I'm the opposite, a 2 speed has been fine for me for typical folding bike use. The simple little derailleur saves a few hundred grams over the 3 speed. You get a low gear that will get any average cyclist up most hills fine, and a high gear that's good on the flat. Only very occasionally get a downhill where I could go faster but I'm spinning out, but it's not quite steep enough for gravity to take over.

The 3-speed gets you both lower and higher gears. The 6-speed even more so (it's effectively a 3-speed with the 2-speed derailleur). I'm not convinced any of it is worthwhile unless you're going to ride up big long hills heavily loaded.

The laquered finish looks good in the shop, deteriorates much faster though and can't be touched up so easily. Black hides the dirt nicely. Make sure you spec the hard suspension block (recommended unless you're very light) and longer seatpost if you need it, they're free swaps.

No regrets with mine. The prices keep going up (as they seemingly can't make them quickly enough) so they barely depreciate. I'm not using it daily any more but it's still handy to have around.

Also, ordering a custom build through Evans or similar can sometimes be cheaper overall. For instance, the optional Marathon tyres are £25 on Wiggle etc etc, but if you spec the Marathon tyres when building the bike, they are only a tenner each.

I've kind been forced into custom build as Evans are no longer showing the S3L on their site, so I shall have to go for a custom build.

Should get my voucher through in the next week or so. Excited about ordering it, but not looking forward to the wait. Rumor suggest its anything from 6 to 12 weeks

I've been looking at red coloured frame with black rear sub frame and fork as I think that will hide the dirt better. I like brightly coloured bikes, but as a commuter, it will get filthy and I don't really like spending my evenings cleaning it.

[Kell]

I may or may not be doing this through the ride to work scheme.

Pretty sure my company have stopped doing it, but my wife's may still run it.

It's a pisser as the bike's too expensive (for me) to buy outright, but not expensive enough to buy for 0% on Evans' 0% scheme (value has to be >£1,499).

[Accelebrate]

sjg said:

I'm the opposite, a 2 speed has been fine for me for typical folding bike use. The simple little derailleur saves a few hundred grams over the 3 speed. You get a low gear that will get any average cyclist up most hills fine, and a high gear that's good on the flat. Only very occasionally get a downhill where I could go faster but I'm spinning out, but it's not quite steep enough for gravity to take over.

I felt that way initially. The low gear isn't quite low enough for my hilly commute, and the high gear isn't really high enough going down the other side. Around central London it's about right.

It's all personal preference. There's a great calculator to help:

http://xldev.co.uk/bgc.html

[Zigster]

The rear triangle doesn't flex (I think) - I suspect what you're seeing is the suspension block doing what it's meant to. It's a big rubber bung where the rear triangle meets the main frame and gives the Brompton a quite bouncy ride over bumps.

Re gearing, I have an S3L (i.e. 3-speed hub and flat bars). I specced a slightly smaller rear cog so gears 2 and 3 are the same (in gear inches) as gears 1 and 2 on a 2-speed. So, in addition, I get a really low gear for hills - I live in the South Downs so do have some hills at that end of the commute and, given I ride it in a suit, I don't want to get sweaty going H4L to get the train on a morning. In practice, I find I don't use the lowest gear that often - usually only when there is a strong headwind and I have the bag on the front bracket which acts like a reverse sail!

[louiebaby]

Accelebrate said:

The low gear isn't quite low enough for my hilly commute, and the high gear isn't really high enough going down the other side. Around central London it's about right.

It's all personal preference. There's a great calculator to help:

http://xldev.co.uk/bgc.html

I have the regular 6 speed, and the range is broadly the same as my roadbike on 50/34 and 11/28, give or take.

The main difference is the yawning gaps between the ratios, as there are 6, not 20 of them!

[croyde]

I bought a new one a year ago after realising that the secondhand prices were not much lower than brand new.

Looks great as a piece of folded art in my lounge and just so bloody useful. Also it's the only folder that is officially allowed on the tube.

Comes with me on jobs away as it easily fits in the boot too.

I have the 3 speed which I have never found lacking.