Cycling UK Forum

Or just buy some nice Q/R MKS pedals?

jimster99 wrote: ↑27 Sep 2024, 5:02pm I have a used Dahon and it's awesome, and far cheaper than a Brompton. I would recommend getting one of those used as a test, and if you like it THEN get a Brompton.

I had a used Dahon before my Brompton. They mostly have 20" wheels, so they do handle significantly differently. Not sure about them as a test therefore.

The Dahon snapped near the frame hinge, dumping me in the road. Not sure that's a common failure though.

geomannie wrote: ↑25 Sep 2024, 12:54pm If buying second hand, my concern (apart from the usual caveats with second hand bikes) would be to check that the hinge for the rear triangle wasn't worn. If it is, the hinge will have lateral play. The hinge busking is replaceable but best done by an authorised dealer.
https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/consumables ... -comments/

I second this. I had the hinge replaced on my 2004 Brompton (owned from new). It is a job which must be done by a workshop authorised by Brompton using their fitting tools. In Germany they are lent out by the distributor. It is an expensive repair you would want to factor into the cost of a second-hand bike if it has any noticeable side-to-side play in the hinge.

If the bike is old like mine you would need to replace the old silver-coloured brake levers with a bulge on the end with new Brompton-logo ones with black levers which have a bend in them. The reason is that the old levers require a cable you can't buy any more.

My bike has three gears. I tried my sister's one with six gears. If you like messing about with two gear levers and confusing gears, ok. For most cycling three is fine.

I use battery lights. They are a bit lighter than the dynamo.

I have no rack, also a bit lighter. The rack is too low for most panniers and how many times would you put anything on top of it? Save the weight and use a rucksack occasionally. For all else get the front luggage block and a big bag to fit it. You can carry heavy weights easily. I use mine for shopping quite a lot.

Try riding a Brompton before you decide to buy one. It has a very "twitchy" feel to the steering compared with a bigger bike. It responds more quickly to turning the handlebars and must be handled more carefully when cornering. You need to understand this and be confident that you can get used to it. If you've ridden bikes a lot you'll have no problem - if you're new you'll need more practice, particularly with braking and cornering.

Can you lift 11kg? Find a Brompton bike somewhere and try lifting it, then carry it 100m. Lift by the frame, not the saddle. Lean the saddle against your arm to steady the load. Go to the gym.

Try dragging a Brompton on its little wheels over some typical surfaces. It becomes unstable on anything other than glass-smooth and level station concourses. The tiny wheels are too close together, so it starts to oscillate from side to side. I don't know if the rack helps with this, but it won't go over any bumps. I carry mine or wheel it as a bike.

If you accept its idiosyncrasies a Brompton is a brilliant bike. I have done tens of thousands of km on mine since 2004 commuting, shopping and generally getting about the city, taking it on trams, trains, buses and in the backs of cars.

drossall wrote: ↑27 Sep 2024, 10:13pm I had a used Dahon before my Brompton. They mostly have 20" wheels, so they do handle significantly differently. Not sure about them as a test therefore. The Dahon snapped near the frame hinge, dumping me in the road. Not sure that's a common failure though.

Sorry to hear about your experience. Any folding bike (including Bromptons) can fail at the hinge but I think it's pretty rare with decent brands. As for wheel size, 20" & 16" both have pros and cons (and Dahon do a 16" version).

Yes, I'd agree with all that. I have a Tern of similar construction to the Dahon (but lighter 'cos it's much posher), that I like very much.

But most Dahons are 20" and nearly all Bromptons are 16", so care would be needed with the suggestion of using the former as a cheap try-out before buying the latter. I don't think they handle that similarly really.

plancashire wrote: ↑27 Sep 2024, 11:09pm....I second this. I had the hinge replaced on my 2004 Brompton (owned from new). It is a job which must be done by a workshop authorised by Brompton using their fitting tools. In Germany they are lent out by the distributor. It is an expensive repair you would want to factor into the cost of a second-hand bike if it has any noticeable side-to-side play in the hinge.....

IMHO the usual method for doing this is utter madness. When you get them, the bushings are a perfect fit on the shaft, and have a nice thick polymer coating. However, once they have been interference fitted they usually collapse so much that they need to be reamed which can cause loss of most of the polymer coating. IMV it is a much better idea to make the bushings a sliding fit on the OD, and adhesively bond them in place. The OD can be SG'd to size. This can ensure perfect alignment with no polymer loss, every time. There is of course no need for specialist workshops or reamers etc.

Hmmm… my ancient Brompton felt a bit wobbly to me the other day and I thought I ought to work out if it was an underinflated back tyre (it wasn't), the rear wheel bearing collar getting loose (it was) or else - dreaded thought - the triangle bushes needing replacement.

I get the remark about the instability the Brompton demonstrates when rolled on its ‘guard/rack wheels but in practice The Fold is so easy that when the user is anywhere but the final approach to the train doors, along the smooth & level platform, you just flip it open and wheel it like any other bike. Thank goodness.

I have a Tern Link D8 (converted to a D16). I've ridden my brother's 16" wheel Brompton and my wife's Dahon mu XL. The Brompton is by far the twitchiest to ride at first, but you soon get used to how it handles and the initial twitchiness goes. The two 20" wheeled folders feel more like a 'normal' bike from the start. The Tern especially so. I think the increased stability of the Tern is down to the qr-adjustable Andros stem. The Dahon has a tiny short tool-adjustable stem and the Brompton none. The mu XL is easily the lightest and fastest of the three but I prefer the Tern because of how it rides like a full sized bike. When it comes to folding the Brompton takes the prize but the other 2 fold well enough.

simonineaston wrote: ↑29 Sep 2024, 9:13am Hmmm… my ancient Brompton felt a bit wobbly to me the other day and I thought I ought to work out if it was an underinflated back tyre (it wasn't), the rear wheel bearing collar getting loose (it was) or else - dreaded thought - the triangle bushes needing replacement.

Replacing them isn't that hard with the correct tools.