[Closed] Ordering a Brompton - things to consider?

M3L. Nice and easy off the lights and fast enough to annoy the MAMILs on the Etape du Embankment.

Pick a colour you like. Front bag clip. Don't bother with the rear rack or lights.

I have pannier bags already - are front bags loads better? Thanks.

S2L is my preference. 2 gears; 1 to accelerate with and one for when up to speed. A bit lighter than the 3 speeds as well. Replaced my handlebars with some 620 risers 45mm high though for £15 from tredz to make a bit more comfy. Yes the front bags that go on the bag clip are excellent.

I found this thread really useful when ordering my Brompton - http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/buying-a-brompton-options

I've since bought the luggage block and game bag, which are excellent. Plus the Brompton IT chair for carting kids around

I love mine!

Personally, I'd opt for a two speed. The extra gear will be helpful and the weight increase is small compared with the SA three speed hub.

My favourite is the S2LX. I had a six speed with 18% gear reduction. The gearing was great and I rode 200km on it in one go.

Forget the rear rack.

Rear rack makes it a lot more stable when folded but adds weight and is rarely any use for carrying anything. It wont take conventional panniers - only a rack top bag - and of course you have to remove that to fold the bike. I've carried all sorts of weird things on mine but usually end up knocking heels on them and they're never very secure. Clip and front bag FTW.

It's an expensive option, and adds weight, but I find dynamo lights really useful on a commuter/city bike. Yes, LEDs are cheap and work but it's something you've got to take off any time you park up and you've got to remember to charge them.

Abus Bordo lock works well on a brompton. Another way to add a load of weight but mine lives on the bike all the time.

Lock? For a Brompton?

Take it with you. That's sort of the point!

I'm with Andy - S2L with riser bars. I would strongly advise against the 3 or 6 speed, a rack, or dynamo - they all make the bike more convenient except in the crucial respect of adding weight - you'll curse every gram when lugging it over the station bridge when you have to run between trains in a hurry! I've had a 3 speed and a 6 speed in the past, and prefer the 2 speed anyway, and I pretty much never used the rack when I had one. I never carry a lock thus never lock it up, so no need to worry about having to take off my Exposure Trace/TraceR set as the bike is always with me (the TraceR sits on a saddle rail bracket as the diameter of the Brompton seatpost is so big).

The block and bag combo is one of the best things about the Brompton: it's a really convenient way to carry stuff, avoids getting a sweaty back, and it also improves the stability of the bike. I have had an S bag and an Ortlieb O bag, but just bought a C bag and I reckon it's the best of the lot - it's very like the S bag, but a bit bigger, and the Velcro closure for the flap is less hassle than the clips on the O bag. You may be told it isn't compatible with the straight bars on the S, and if you are worried about that the smaller S bag may better, but if you fit risers (I got mine from [url= https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/handlebars/humpert-fixie-riser-handlebars-254mm-clamp-500mm-black/ ]SJS Cycles[/url]) it's absolutely fine.

I also have a Bordo on mine - just in case I'm not allowed inside with the bike

I've got a Morpher folding helmet to go in my Game Bag, makes it even easier to travel with it on public transport.

I did 27 miles on my Brompton yesterday with my son on the IT chair. Got there by tube and came home by tube. No way that would have been possible with another bike

Lock? For a Brompton?
Take it with you. That's sort of the point!

Sometimes it's easier to lock it. Crowded shops, the post office. Sometimes we lock our Brompton together inside a pub so we can tuck them out if the way and forget about them.

Depends what you use it for. Commuting weight is everything. Think about a really simple cable lock so you can lock it to something on a train. Stops anyone grabbing it at a station if you can't stand right next to it.

just in case I'm not allowed inside with the bike

To date, I've never been refused access with mine. I do rather assume the "I shall be coming in. Regardless of what you think." attitude, though!

My favourite is the ROH, who, after a light persuasion, admitted that they don't accept folding bikes. Only Bromptons. 8)

What colour bow tie to wear

What colour bow tie to wear

A Brompton can be had in myriad colours. A bow tie comes in only two.

Black or white, with appropriate jacket and trews for each version of course. Anything else is punishable by death.

Ordering a Brompton - things to consider?

Life?

😉

Nah - I'm beyond considering life; just bow tie colour for the next opera. Thanks for the spiffing tips so far.

Agree the rack is pretty useless. Even if just putting a briefcase across the top, it catches your heels.

Another S2L user here. A singlespeed Brompton has no real advantage as it still requires the tensioner, and the shifter and extra cog are only a few grams.

Rack doesn't seem seem useful so low to the ground. Dynamo? On almost any other bike I'd evangelise about one, but you'd have to either have the lights extremely low (making them at greater risk of being obscured in traffic) or have a complete cable mess to allow folding, so some decent USB-rechargeable lights on the bars and top of the seatpost seem better.

The only reason I don't lock mine up like a normal bike isn't because it folds, it's because the black market in them is pretty healthy by all accounts, so they're very nickable. Frankly, taking it round a shop or a pub (a) makes you feel a right **** and (b) is a royal pain in the arse, or rather someone else's legs, if the place is packed.

S2L here too.

Going from 1 speed to 2 adds 190g, and is worthwhile just to have have a lower gear for the odd hill. Going 2 speed to 3 adds 550g and the lower gear isn't a big benefit unless you're doing big long hills regularly. You need to spend on a lot on lighter bits to lose that 550g again.

Rack is extra weight and useless for carrying anything. Wheeling it around folded is stupid - you either unfold or carry it. The front bag is great though, and it's where you want some extra weight so it doesn't feel like it wants to wheelie so much.

Also agreeing with many on lights - dynamo is good in theory but modern USB-charged LEDs are lighter, can be put up higher and are almost as convenient.

Get extended seatpost if you need it (if you're approaching 6ft, it's likely), and get the hard suspension block unless you're feather light. I'd swap the regular tyres for Schwalbe Marathons too - small weight penalty but much less puncture-prone. Punctures on a Brompton (especially rear ones) are a pain best avoided.

Kinetics do a frame for the front carrier which can be used for panniers if you want to reuse your existing ones

I just changed my chainring 54 to 44, massive improvement. Also greased up the suspension bung as it was so noisy. If i was buying again i d go 2 speed bigger frame raw finish.

Ridden mine everywhere i never leave it unseen, fits between seats on virgin pendolino.

Marathons too, plus back, normal front.

Good point re Marathons. Oh, and keep them pumped up.

Have you got the blog ready to go?

Marathons are great, and the Plus on the back is important; a rear puncture on a Brompton, in work clothes, is a serious hassle.

I completely agree with Bez about it being a pain to lug around, but having had one stolen despite a strong lock, broad daylight, and crowds of people, I'm no longer prepared to take the risk. I've never had mine refused anywhere, and I've taken it to some pretty smart places...

And once you get round to pimping it the [url= http://www.brompfication.com/40-hinge-clamp-set-titanium.html ]Brompification hinge clamps[/url] are easily the best upgrade, in fact the only one that really matters.

lorax - Member
And once you get round to pimping it the Brompification hinge clamps are easily the best upgrade, in fact the only one that really matters

😀 way cool! I want a Brompton! No need but I wants so bad... 😆

Two speed user here, bought it second hand from a colleague- they hold value well! Great bit of kit , only changes on mine are a firm rear suspension block and the front bag. There's an occasionally interesting Brompton thread on lfgss where someone in the trade said marathon pluses aren't approved by Brompton anymore due to clearance issues on the rear

I have an S3L. It's brilliant. I've done over 20,000 miles on it and replaced every component except for the rear hub!! Don't get a rear rack. As fitting a bag there interferes with your heels. Better to have a front pannier as the extra weight makes the bike handle so much better.

If your commmute is flat an S2L might be better as it's lighter. But the SA rear hub is reliable and you can fur a twist grip which makes the bars look better.

Kinetics do a frame for the front carrier which can be used for panniers if you want to reuse your existing ones

I'm working on a rear one too, for the long-distance tourers 😉

I heard that the clearance isn't enough for marathon+ tyres, can anyone confirm? I'm on marathons, already had a puncture on the rear!

Oh yeah, definitely get the firm block

I'd also like to counter the two speed argument, mainly because I have the 3 😀

I use all 3 gears, but I found I wasn't using 3rd much. So I had the gearing reduced, can't remember if it was 8% or 12%, dropped one tooth on the rear. It made a big difference, I now use 3rd a lot more. My reasoning is as follows:
- I'm rarely tanking it anywhere on the clown bike, it's more for pottering
- I take my son/daughter on it, and need a lower gear for anything steep
- I'm often wearing normal attire on it, rather than cycling clothes, so having an easier gear means I can cycle the 10 miles home without getting too sweaty (there's a hill in the way)

The bags are excellent. I went for the game bag as it's smart enough in the office or meetings, and it's less common than the regular Brompton bags. I can carry MORE stuff on my brompton than I can on my regular bike when I have a child. It's an amazing little thing, really

I wasn't expecting to be so evangelical about them

replaced every component except for the rear hub!!

Strangely that feels like it's going to be the first thing to fail on mine. It's a SRAM 3 speed and now has a habit of slipping in the lowest gear when pulling away from lights. Not good.

Brompton pedals are made of cheese, mine lasted the whole of 12 months. I put some spds on mine they dont interfere with the fold, got them off here. Thanks vortex they are tops

And got the pivot points renewed as i ride on a canal and the towpath eats the joint. You can tell they are going by wiggling the rear triangle, if theres any play they need doing

I heard that the clearance isn't enough for marathon+ tyres, can anyone confirm? I'm on marathons, already had a puncture on the rear!

I fit loads of them, but only to my own rear triangles - clearance on mine is a couple of mm more, but I've also fitted studded Marathons to conventional Bromptons with no problems, so I don't think it can be that tight.

I've got Marathon+ tyres on my S2L-X and there's no clearance issues at all.
Just about a year ago I replaced the wheels with new and used the opportunity to go Schmidt dynamo hub and LED lamps (I leave these on all the time) which means I don't have to worry about charging lights and also helps with the ever present car pulling out of a side road...
I also upgraded to the new style brake levers which have made a big difference to the feel and actuality of braking.

Yes m+ fit my s3 easily. Tight fit on the rim but as above its fit and forget. The ride is terrible, but so is fixing a puncture if you dont. I grease up the bolts every year so if i have to take the wheel off i can. M+ rear, m front, mudguards. No punctures in 3 years.

Hmmm, interesting. I think it was a thread on LFGSS that mentioned the tight clearance

I quite like the idea of the Tannus solid tyres to be honest. Fit and forget!

Colleague had the tannus on his bromptonthey squared off quite badly, to the extent he was sent a new set, he didn't bother fitting those.

That's a shame. Good to know though, thanks

Top tips - thanks all. Revised order will now be: S2L, with "C-type" bag and a question about whether to upgrade the tyres to Marathons or Kojaks.

Another vote here for the S2L.. Light.. enough gear spread for everyday commute. Personal view really but I've always found the M type bars look very dated.

I N R A T S but was going to say M bars are high!

Just check your choice won't limit you for what riding you may end up doing (you have probably thought this through too).

S bars definitely look better. But I found they were way too low for me (I'm 6'3 and using a telescopic seat post)

I'd definitely upgrade to marathons if I were you. Lowers the risk of a flat, and flats are hassle, particularly on the rear

6' here and fine on s bars, but I am used to a road bike position.

Not found punctures to be an issue with std Brom tyres, YMMV.

S bars are about 1 inch too low for me at 6ft3, i dont notice on just short bursts but once relaxed in my stride i find i start wanting to raise the bars. Telescopic seat too.

6' 5" M bars work well for me. S bars felt very very wrong.

The old S bag is the worst of the ones we've got. Doesn't hold much and opening is smaller than the base so you can't get things, that it's big enough to hold, into it.

IME, the C Bag is the one to go for.

Meh. T-bag here, you can get loads in.

Things to consider: the enormous weight, terrible ride and hideous unreliability.

In which case you won't like one, so don't get one

Meanwhile THOUSANDs of people really quite like them!

Go for the game bag, you're worth it. The Tweed one looks particularly cool I think (I have the blue, mustard interior is particularly helpful)

I even had to buy a Vulpine jacket to make me feel properly attired for urban cycling 😀

the enormous weight, terrible ride and hideous unreliability

Okay, I'll bite:

Weight - 10-12kg, maybe 13.5kg with all the bells and whistles, that's not excessive for a commuting bike - or any bike come to that.

Terrible ride - I'll give you half a point for that, it's never going to feel the same to ride as a big-wheel bike. But it's comfy and stable, and easy to get on and off.

Hideous unreliability - definitely not. I've been tinkering with Bromptons for more than 20 years, and they put up with more abuse than pretty much any other bike. Things do wear out, but they are very solid wee bikes.

I find my Brompton feels lighter when it's in bike mode. Somehow feels heavier when it's folded up. Even when lifted with one hand

Little wheels and no stem make them very 'twitchy', but I quite like sometimes. Also makes them amazingly manoeuvrable in traffic, more so than any other bike I have

Okay, I'll bite:

Weight - 10-12kg, maybe 13.5kg with all the bells and whistles, that's not excessive for a commuting bike - or any bike come to that.

Terrible ride - I'll give you half a point for that, it's never going to feel the same to ride as a big-wheel bike. But it's comfy and stable, and easy to get on and off.

Hideous unreliability - definitely not. I've been tinkering with Bromptons for more than 20 years, and they put up with more abuse than pretty much any other bike. Things do wear out, but they are very solid wee bikes.

Suitable only for people who haul boat anchors for a living, they keep rides exciting by rattling out your fillings and handling more nervously than a turkey at Christmas. Then bits of it fall off and the hub gear disintegrates.

I think the same gearhub is used by other bikes, but troll away.

Once you stop looking at a Brompton as (or expect it to be) a normal bicycle, you'll discover it is quite a useful little thing in its own right.

10 miles running errands around Reading today reminds me how brilliant my S2L is. And to think silly me was thinking of selling as it spends long periods in the under-stairs cupboard neglected and unloved like Harry Potter.

6'2" so I do like the 45mm 620mm riser bars on the S stem. I found the flat bars too low.

I think the same gearhub is used by other bikes, but troll away.

Once you stop looking at a Brompton as (or expect it to be) a normal bicycle, you'll discover it is quite a useful little thing in its own right.

I suppose it's inevitable, that having spent so much in return for so little, owners are reluctant to acknowledge the obvious.

I'm teasing, just a bit. But we have one at work and it's absolutely hideous.

I didn't think my S2L-X was so very expensive, but I use it pretty much most days and its usefulness outweighs some of its other handling foibles and deep wooden-ness of the marathon+ tyres.
Mine has been very reliable in every other way though, except until the rims become heavily worn after 5 years of riding it most days.

But we have one at work and it's absolutely hideous

You're missing something. Maybe it's been badly mistreated by people who didn't treat it like their own bike.

Once you stop looking at a Brompton as (or expect it to be) a normal bicycle, you'll discover it is quite a useful little thing in its own right.

Exactly. It's probably the most useful bike I own. As a bike in the city, not having to lock it and leave it makes it so much more convenient. The same goes visiting friends - no-one objects to a pair of folded bromptons in their hall but a couple of full size bikes are often an issue.

You're missing something. Maybe it's been badly mistreated by people who didn't treat it like their own bike.

You misunderstand me: there's nothing actually "wrong" with it, and it's serviced by a local Brompton specialist. That hasn't made it any less hideous to ride.

Exactly. It's probably the most useful bike I own. As a bike in the city, not having to lock it and leave it makes it so much more convenient.

I have a choice: ride and lock a proper bike, or ride and fold a Brompton. Proper bike every time.

I have a choice: ride and lock a proper bike, or ride and fold a Brompton. Proper bike every time.

I'm guessing the big bike's not yours either, so if it's stolen or damaged it's not your problem?

If I've got secure off street parking at both ends of the trip the full size bike usually wins out for me. If not then it's usually the brompton.

Secret is to wheel it and fold at last minute rather than carry it folded on the platform, my rims are worn too but it is 6 years old. Paid for itself many times over i love mine.

On a tangent, as Brompfication hinge clamps were mentioned on the previous page: according to the [url= http://www.brompfication.com/ ]home page[/url], the founder/owner has closed down the business, so if you "need" these you might want to look for the remaining stock.

kojak tyres made mine handle a whole lot better - and no punctures!

Update!

Having settled on a custom order for a racing green S2L, I am actually now the proud owner of an "off-the-shelf" spec black M3L. It's a 2017 model, which gets a new gear shifter.

My Cyclescheme voucher took a few weeks longer than expected and, meanwhile, I have been doing a lot of trips by train for work. I didn't think the custom colour was going to be worth another 8-week wait - so took a bike from stock.

I collected the bike at 7:30pm on Monday night - and was using it in anger at 6am the following morning. By that time, it had already given me 30 minutes more in bed, because I could cycle to the station rather than walk (it was a 2-day trip and I don't like leaving a bike at Bristol Temple Meads overnight).

Honestly, it's made the biggest impact of any bike-related thing I've bought in over 20 years. I may be getting a bit excited, but I do think that only getting my first MTB back when I was 14 compares.

I've used it on 10 individual trips in Bristol and central London this week, including 6 train journeys and a total of about 30 miles. I absolutely loved taking some routes along some of central London's quiet streets, seeing the sites and riding London's actually semi-decent-in-places cycling infrastructure. (I've been using the Cyclestreets mapping to guide me).

Today alone, I've cycled through Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace, seen Big Ben etc. Perhaps the novelty will wear off, but it's a completely new way to see things and there's no way that I'm going to be using the Underground again. I just makes me happy. 🙂

My other bikes are all custom, so I expect I may change a few bits - but I'm glad I actually got a 3-speeder and the M-bars fit me better than the S-bars I tried.

Anyway - it's a fabulous bit of kit... and thanks for all the advice on this thread.

WHERE'S THE BLOODY "LIKE!" BUTTON, EH?

WHERE IS IT?

🙂

Wise move on the gearing.

Love my Brompton although it doesn't get the use it so much nowadays. Cycling five miles up two steep hills after a 3.5 hour commute back from London in the Welsh winter weather is just too much when you only want to get home asap.

Belatedly, I will offer the following advice. Put some kind of antipuncture gunk in the tubes. Learn to take off the rear wheel. Seriously, it is a real ball ache compared to other bikes. Ditto removing tyres. There is a knack - especially for marathon ones. Once you've done this, you'll realise why I suggest antipuncture gunk.

I do have the rack, but agree with others on its general usefulness. It has proved its worth for large objects - I've had firewood & a microwave on the back of mine.

A tip about carrying stuff. Standard carrier bags of shopping over the handle bars work surprisingly well. They will hang low and in my experience actually stablised the handling.

Glad you're loving it. I love mine too... worst thing are punctures. Gunk is a good idea.. I have fitted swalbe kojak tyres which roll well and are pretty resistant to punctures, but eventually tiny bits of glass work through the rubber and the Kevlar and puncture the inner tube. Getting the rear wheel off and then the tyre is a super ball-ache. That when you wished you'd gunked up!

Anyway enjoy... I think the best upgrades are a spring loaded clamp set for the fold I got mine from brompfication. Stops you faffung around and they have a lock nut in the inside so you can't lose them. And a 3 speed grip shifter. Shifts better and looks loads better. Decent grips for my white knuckle mtb hands and a Ti seatpost good too.

Might be too late, but if you haven't bought a bag yet have a look at Demano bags specifically for Brompton use. Well finished, very durable, something different and sensible price.

I bought an S-bag and I've been impressed with it so far.

I do need to spend a little more time looking at the mechanical side of things: I'm a home bike mechanic, so all these new bits excite me! I've already needed to adjust the Sturmey Archer hub after the chain adjuster fell out and I'm not convinced I understand it.

I'm sure getting the wheels off will help.

@ransos I do get your point of view. On the surface, the Brompton is very expensive for something that's been well designed, but generally uses indifferent to poor components. Even designwise there are some changes eg improving the aforementioned backwheel removal which would improve the experience hugely. It feels like a typically British solution because of this.

The ride is also quirky, but in my opinion - fun.

Overall, it's probably better to think of the Brompton as less of a bike, but more of a niche transport solution. If you have a commute that suits it, it does the job very well indeed. If I could only have one bike in my life - it might very well be a Brompton for all of its faults. The flexibility and fun factor counts for a lot.

Couple of tips from me - if you have young kids consider getting an IT chair, it's unbelievable fun heading with the kids on it (and a very different experience to having them on the back of another bike). I actually added the handlebar brace to my S bars to give the kids somewhere better to hold onto (and warmer, the bars are cold!)

Learn to adjust the little threaded screw that adjusts the indexing of the gears, mine comes loose every now and then

Keep the tyres topped up with air, I find they need more topping up than my other bikes

Little lights front and rear are good, lots of options though but you should probably leave them on the bike all the time. I use Alpkit Tau lights

Be prepared to talk to a few randoms or get admiring/odd looks. I've had more conversations with strangers on/with/about my clown bike than all my other bikes combined

Keep the tyres topped up with air, I find they need more topping up than my other bikes

Makes a big difference. High pressure and low volume means they drop pressure quickly

Be prepared to talk to a few randoms or get admiring/odd looks. I've had more conversations with strangers on/with/about my clown bike than all my other bikes combined

Agreed in full!

More smiles than miles.

Other brompton riders are really friendly and usually ask weird questions like what gears are you running, or is that just me...thats outside london. In london theres so many noones ever said anything.

When folded i put mine in supermkt trolley and do the shopping. Pretty much guarantee someone will ask where the bikes are, ie, they think i ve just bought it in the shop.