Anyone regularly use a Brompton?
Discussion
funinhounslow said:
Apologies didn’t realise. Bit off that a six year old bike is no longer supported, there must be thousands still in daily use…
tertius said:
WPA said:
Parts are an issue for the older bikes, massive update in 2018 and nothing is available for the older bikes new all discontinued now.
Just not worth the hassle of buying an old one.
In what way is nothing available? I have a 2009 bike and have not run into any problems. I agree some things have changed so for example if you wear out the chainring you need to replace the whole crankset and BB, but that is mainly because the original crankset didn't have removable chainrings so a new chainring was never an option.Just not worth the hassle of buying an old one.
Edited to add, even if the original part isn't available you can always fit the new version - the basic bike is still the same. Plus of course lots of parts branded "Brompton" are nothing of the sort and you can use standard equivalents.
Edited by tertius on Thursday 27th June 18:22
Also when they changed to the spider chainset they also switched to 3/32 from 1/8 chains.
The issue is really with the older bikes which ran Sachs and old SA hubs with steel shells, no spares available and you cannot get sprockets anymore plus cables etc, the alloy shell SA hub is fine however.
The changeover bikes with spider chainsets are not too bad but anything old is a nightmare.
Plus it is not as easy as you think to use other parts, it is nearly always to Bromptons specs with no 3rd party supplies.
It really is complex to explain as they have had so many changes over the years but given the choice I would always pick a later bike with integrated shifters which is still current spec.
Edited by WPA on Thursday 27th June 23:41
WPA said:
funinhounslow said:
Apologies didn’t realise. Bit off that a six year old bike is no longer supported, there must be thousands still in daily use…
tertius said:
WPA said:
Parts are an issue for the older bikes, massive update in 2018 and nothing is available for the older bikes new all discontinued now.
Just not worth the hassle of buying an old one.
In what way is nothing available? I have a 2009 bike and have not run into any problems. I agree some things have changed so for example if you wear out the chainring you need to replace the whole crankset and BB, but that is mainly because the original crankset didn't have removable chainrings so a new chainring was never an option.Just not worth the hassle of buying an old one.
Edited to add, even if the original part isn't available you can always fit the new version - the basic bike is still the same. Plus of course lots of parts branded "Brompton" are nothing of the sort and you can use standard equivalents.
Edited by tertius on Thursday 27th June 18:22
Also when they changed to the spider chainset they also switched to 3/32 from 1/8 chains.
The issue is really with the older bikes which ran Sachs and old SA hubs with steel shells, no spares available and you cannot get sprockets anymore plus cables etc, the alloy shell SA hub is fine however.
The changeover bikes with spider chainsets are not too bad but anything old is a nightmare.
Plus it is not as easy as you think to use other parts, it is nearly always to Bromptons specs with no 3rd party supplies.
It really is complex to explain as they have had so many changes over the years but given the choice I would always pick a later bike with integrated shifters which is still current spec.
Edited by WPA on Thursday 27th June 23:41
Regarding the chainset/BB yes, they changed from ISO to JIS, but the JIS BB will fit the frame, so you just need to change the BB at the same time. And they are all readily available.
Re. the chain, yes, they changed to 3/32 but if you have a 3-speed bike, you can use a 1/8 chain on the new chainset. If you have a derrailleur bike you'll need 3/32 anyway. Plus of course chains are plentiful and peanuts to buy.
Re. the Sachs hub, well I've never had one so can't comment from personal experience, but if you have a Sachs hub and it really can't be fixed, wouldn't you just change to a wheel with a Sturmey Archer hub? Yes, you'll need a new shifter, but other than that a straight swap.
Regarding other parts, you'll have to give some examples of Brompton specific old parts you can't get? I'm struggling to think of anything that isn't available from Brompton and has no suitable alternative.
numtumfutunch said:
In for the AliExpress upgrade story!
Ti seatpost, wheels........ and????
Cheers
The first Ti seatpost managed to arrive as an empty bag with a hole in! Ti seatpost, wheels........ and????
Cheers
I've gone for carbon bars (less rise than the standard M ones), lighter pedals, 2nd attempt at Ti seatpost and the chainring so far.
Next order will likely be hinge clamps and brake levers, though need to have a play around with getting a 3 speed indexed shifter working first.
I'm not sure about tyres yet. I've read the Schwalbe Kojaks are about half the weight of the Marathons, but I don't want constant punctures.
tertius said:
WPA said:
funinhounslow said:
Apologies didn’t realise. Bit off that a six year old bike is no longer supported, there must be thousands still in daily use…
tertius said:
WPA said:
Parts are an issue for the older bikes, massive update in 2018 and nothing is available for the older bikes new all discontinued now.
Just not worth the hassle of buying an old one.
In what way is nothing available? I have a 2009 bike and have not run into any problems. I agree some things have changed so for example if you wear out the chainring you need to replace the whole crankset and BB, but that is mainly because the original crankset didn't have removable chainrings so a new chainring was never an option.Just not worth the hassle of buying an old one.
Edited to add, even if the original part isn't available you can always fit the new version - the basic bike is still the same. Plus of course lots of parts branded "Brompton" are nothing of the sort and you can use standard equivalents.
Edited by tertius on Thursday 27th June 18:22
Also when they changed to the spider chainset they also switched to 3/32 from 1/8 chains.
The issue is really with the older bikes which ran Sachs and old SA hubs with steel shells, no spares available and you cannot get sprockets anymore plus cables etc, the alloy shell SA hub is fine however.
The changeover bikes with spider chainsets are not too bad but anything old is a nightmare.
Plus it is not as easy as you think to use other parts, it is nearly always to Bromptons specs with no 3rd party supplies.
It really is complex to explain as they have had so many changes over the years but given the choice I would always pick a later bike with integrated shifters which is still current spec.
Edited by WPA on Thursday 27th June 23:41
Regarding the chainset/BB yes, they changed from ISO to JIS, but the JIS BB will fit the frame, so you just need to change the BB at the same time. And they are all readily available.
Re. the chain, yes, they changed to 3/32 but if you have a 3-speed bike, you can use a 1/8 chain on the new chainset. If you have a derrailleur bike you'll need 3/32 anyway. Plus of course chains are plentiful and peanuts to buy.
Re. the Sachs hub, well I've never had one so can't comment from personal experience, but if you have a Sachs hub and it really can't be fixed, wouldn't you just change to a wheel with a Sturmey Archer hub? Yes, you'll need a new shifter, but other than that a straight swap.
Regarding other parts, you'll have to give some examples of Brompton specific old parts you can't get? I'm struggling to think of anything that isn't available from Brompton and has no suitable alternative.
I work with Brompton's every day and know how difficult / impossible it is to keep the older ones on the road.
You are trying to make it sound easy but it is not.
WPA said:
The gear cables have a special inner that is only available from Brompton, I could go but I have no desire to get in to an internet row.
I work with Brompton's every day and know how difficult / impossible it is to keep the older ones on the road.
You are trying to make it sound easy but it is not.
My S6L black edition is a 2016 - when you refer to 'older ones' I read that as maybe 1980 or 90s bikes, not ones as recent as mine. Or am I utterly wrong? I thought the only substantive change since I got mine was to the newer shifters. It certainly wasn't a problem to replace the chainring alone.I work with Brompton's every day and know how difficult / impossible it is to keep the older ones on the road.
You are trying to make it sound easy but it is not.
Jobbo said:
WPA said:
The gear cables have a special inner that is only available from Brompton, I could go but I have no desire to get in to an internet row.
I work with Brompton's every day and know how difficult / impossible it is to keep the older ones on the road.
You are trying to make it sound easy but it is not.
My S6L black edition is a 2016 - when you refer to 'older ones' I read that as maybe 1980 or 90s bikes, not ones as recent as mine. Or am I utterly wrong? I thought the only substantive change since I got mine was to the newer shifters. It certainly wasn't a problem to replace the chainring alone.I work with Brompton's every day and know how difficult / impossible it is to keep the older ones on the road.
You are trying to make it sound easy but it is not.
WPA said:
The gear cables have a special inner that is only available from Brompton, I could go but I have no desire to get in to an internet row.
I work with Brompton's every day and know how difficult / impossible it is to keep the older ones on the road.
You are trying to make it sound easy but it is not.
OK. To be clear I'm not suggesting it's easy (though I've certainly had no problems) but I am saying it's not as impossible as you were saying.I work with Brompton's every day and know how difficult / impossible it is to keep the older ones on the road.
You are trying to make it sound easy but it is not.
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