Thoughts/Advice on Brompton hub on ebay

[Claireysmurf]

I have a Brompton M3L and love it but would like more range to the gears. There is a Brompton 8 speed hub wheel on ebay (obviously an after market conversion). Does anyone have any thoughts on a conversion such as this (e.g. likely performance, how seamless a conversion it would be etc)
[url http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Brompton-8-Sp ... 4602a39e7f][/url]

[rualexander]

I believe that as this hub has a 130mm width, then you would need to have the rear triangle of your Brompton frame widened to accommodate the hub, and that this may lead to other necessary alterations.
Kinetics in Glasgow offer a converison to an 8 speed SA hub which does not require the rear triangle to be widened as it uses a different version of the hub than the one in that ebay advert.

[Russcoles]

I think this is also the older version of the 8 speed XRD8, they have a bad reputation and were superceded with the XRD8(w) which as well as having wider gear range is much more reliable. To get a narrower hub you would not be able to have the drum brakes. Drum brakes on small wheels are amazing

[Claireysmurf]

Thanks both, great advice.
I think I should maybe save my pennies and wait then