[Closed] Brompton on CycleScheme / lead times

I’m not 100% sure what’s going to fit through the rear hatch of a mk6 Golf Cabrio

Not much worry on that score. With a folding pedal installed they're less than 30cm wide. If you can get a small suitcase in the boot, and Brompton will fit easily. There's a Brompton store in London or even a cheap hire scheme for trying them out. It's all on their website.

The Brompton dock is only 3 quid per day and they 're all over London. I was going to buy another new one but reckon as an occasional user I am better renting one. Also, I can pick up in London and drop it off in the suburbs.

I know you get tax advantages on cycle scheme but nearly new bromptons are starting to appear on fb groups at decent prices.

Last time I looked Brompton did an offer of refunding your hire costs if you went on to buy a new one, capped at 100 quid.

B folded fits in an aygo boot.

Great stuff, thanks both. Will see about trying some out then.

I had given some consideration to just occasionally hopping on a ‘Boris bike’ but with the high income child benefit charge, the married couple’s tax allowance and the 40% tax point all being in or around the £50k mark, the actual cost to me is going to be minimal in comparison to losing out to various forms of taxation.

Cycle Heaven in York deal in Bromptons and are a folder specialist. They're folding bike branch is on York station so could be worth popping in if you change trains there or stop off on a return.
https://www.cycle-heaven.co.uk/contact-us/cycle-heaven-at-york-railway-station

I can just about squeeze my SL2 with longer seat post into the boot of the wife’s MX5 mk3. Reckon into a Golf should be fine.

Thanks all. It’s a cabrio Golf so the rear boot is more akin to a saloon car, I’ll measure up the opening though.

Take it there’s not much else on the market that folds up as small? The Rad Mini 4 looks much more bike for the money but I doubt I’d find one of those on cyclescheme.

Kinetics in Glasgow do a load of folding bikes and also take cycle scheme vouchers, worth a look. Dunno how easily you could demo but they certainly do mail order and all manner of customisations for the Bromptons.

https://www.kinetics-online.co.uk/folding-bikes/

https://www.kinetics-online.co.uk/about-us/cyclescheme/

Not worth another thread so sorry for jumping in - would Mrs S and me be able to share a Brompton (or other folder?). 5'3" and 5'11" respectively.

You should be fine but depends a bit on leg length, normally as you get over six feet the standard seat post can reach it's limitations, easy fix with longer post or telescopic post though.

Looks like the boot opening is 34cm max, obviously have something of an angle to contend with too, but at least it’s more than the 30cm mentioned I suppose

[url= https://i.ibb.co/JjcbDVK/8-F47924-B-A7-BB-4-F90-9269-B4-E6-E7-DC0020.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.ibb.co/JjcbDVK/8-F47924-B-A7-BB-4-F90-9269-B4-E6-E7-DC0020.jp g"/> [/img][/url]

Have found some more threads on here to pour over with regards seatpost size, handlebar type, gearing and poor brakes lol

Right, think I’m done researching.

Brompton aren’t currently taking custom orders, there’s a shop vaguely local that has some in stock but obviously I can’t do anything beyond put a deposit down as I can’t get another voucher until December.

It looks like £1300 will get me an H3L (racing green) with the addition of a telescopic seat post, Brooks saddle, and taking the gearing down 12% to a 44t.

Hopefully I can get a test ride nearer the time/the whole covid situation will have subsided.

Is there anything else obvious I’m missing?

Don’t forget the front bag, they handle better with a bit of weight up front.

Cheers, reckon that's worth wrangling on Cyclescheme or try one of those bolt on frames for your own bag on etsy?

I have an official Brompton bag (old enough to be aluminium framed, newer ones are plastic I think) but the official Brompton mounting block bag combo works brilliantly. Not cheap but I’d buy another.

Although a Brooks saddle looks nice check the Brompton one first. They aren’t bad and are way more comfortable if you have to carry the bike as they have a special bit of plastic underneath for that purpose.

Also H bars are very high. Again do try first. It’s all a bit weird as they do different handlebars stems with different bars. I wish I had gone for the H but for a different reason. I chose the S bars but replaced them with bars a couple of inches wider. It doesn’t affect the folded size. The problem is that there isn’t really enough slack in the cables and it is expensive replacing them whereas shortening cables isn’t an issue. I think the S and H use the same stem.

I don’t know how tall you are but I use the long seat post and I’m 6’ 1”. You don’t need the telescopic one unless you are about 6’3” depending on your proportions of course.

Good call on the 3 speed. I went for 6 and have regretted it. The derailleur system is temperamental.

Thanks that’s all really useful.

I’m 6’ 2” but all my height is in my torso (I’m barely a 32” leg in trousers). So I thought the H bars would probably be best?

If it’s any help for guidance, my old 26” Specialized hard tail is a 21” frame and my Pinnacle Arkose 2 (cx/gravel) is an XL.

I figured the three speed with reduced gearing was probably the safest bet, both of the bikes above are running 1x10 and I only spin out on the mtb at nigh-on 30mph. I’ve only tried changing a sturmey archer rear wheel once and couldn’t figure it out so need to read up on that.

Thanks for the info on the saddle, I loved the contrast of the Brooks against the racing green so I’ll give it some thought.

Again with the telescopic, it was more with an eye on reducing the overall folded size? Though if it’s money better spent towards a bag, can do that instead.

I have an S2L and I now wish I went for 3 speed, because I moved so went from flat to a hilly one (when back in office). I would get the lowest handlebar position you are comfortable with as they can get pretty flexy (esp when braking) and it's a bit disconcerting (I've tested the h type and at 5'9 it's a bit high for my liking, and I usually don't like a full on race position. Then again I'm not a lightweight.

Having worked in a bike shop I would avoid terns and Dahons like the plague.

I have an s3 and struggle with the reach, was sure I wanted an h but then I tried one. It really gives you an upright position.

Good tip 're 6 speed, I ride a muddy canal tow path and am forever cleaning it. Mud clogs up the gears and under the mudguards.

I would quite like a single speed but everyone puts me off.

Finally got around to having a look and a couple of test rides and sits in the Covent Garden store.

I was really surprised but the H is (IMO) too upright and as a result, more skittish. I preferred the flat bars but they’re too low for me so M it will be.

The staff put me off going for the lowered gearing, admittedly I’ve only been on the flat road outside but it was useful to see how easy the 1st gear was on a 6 speed. Appreciate the standard 3 is further up as a starting point tho

Forgot to book-end this thread with the outcome.

Ended up getting a really good deal on a 2021 M6L from Evans. £1250 but included the cambium C17 saddle (went for £60 on eBay), a metro messenger medium bag (currently trying to sell on eBay) and obviously is 6 speed rather than 3, for the same money as the C-Line 3 speed.

Only had a couple of rides out due to lousy weather but was surprised on a few counts - the standard seatpost is spot on for me at full extension, though it does seem to gradually slip. I've also found all 6 gears quite a good range, though might still do the 44T downgrade. The Cateye Rapid Mini is a straight forward swap for the rear deflector upon purchase of a £4 Cateye bracket, and I've got an Ampp 500 on the front using a combination of the Brompton dynamo and Cateye fork brackets.

Used the savings (and money left on the C2W voucher) to re-kit a couple of other bikes round the house with new tyres, seats etc. I've also picked up a non-derailleur rear chain tensioner, in case I ever fancy the 6 speed to 3 speed 'downgrade'.

standard seatpost is spot on for me at full extension, though it does seem to gradually slip. I’ve also found all 6 gears quite a good range, though might still do the 44T downgrade. The Cateye Rapid Mini is a straight forward swap for the rear deflector upon purchase of a £4 Cateye bracket, and I’ve got an Ampp 500 on the front using a combination of the Brompton dynamo and Cateye fork brackets.

Used the savings (and money left on the C2W voucher) to re-kit a couple of other bikes round the house with new tyres, seats etc. I’ve also picked up a non-derailleur rear chain tensioner, in case I ever fancy the 6 speed to 3 speed ‘downgrade’.

The seat post bolt just needs a little tighten every so often - can be a bit tricky to balance between easy to open/close and not slipping.
Can't see why you'd drop to 3 from 6. minimal weight saving and just means big jumps between the gears.
Mine have always been lowered ratios.

That's a good deal, bromptons rebranded so probably last of the old stock. Try dropping seat post to ground and cleaning with solvent, tighten retaining bolt half a turn too.

I just bought an a line, add mudguards and a decathlon folding pedal it's bout 950 quid, looks good, yes I know it's from the old parts bin.

're new bromptons tape up the cable rub areas before it's too late, I just used pvc tape.

Thanks will do, I’ve got a torque wrench just slightly scared of causing an oval tube or breaking the frame. I’ll see how it gets on once cleaned again. I’d read about helicopter tape but hadn’t considered bog standard insulation

Re: three speed, the benefit of getting the six was getting the more expensive BWR rear hub if I ever made the jump in the future. Both my other bikes are 1x10 so I’m used to not having a left shifter. Appreciate it’s a different setup on the Brompton but watched brilliantbikes’ YouTube video on 6 to 3 and it’s an interesting prospect.