Brompton Colour Configuration Help: Its all about the look of RED

[12boy]

My Brompton is mixed silver and black and I have no problem with the silver parts. I have found touch ups on the forks and rear triangle easier than matching the red on the frame, and a chrome seatpost will look the same after 10 years while I doubt a black one will if it's powdercoated. I did get some new Ergons which were black, and having a black saddle, put that on. Other than keeping it reasonably clean my concerns have always been how it fits and how it works. Of the variants shown I would probably like Gunk's the best.

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[12boy]

Went for a short Brompton ride to pick up a weekly paper for Mrs 12. It's about 3 miles away so of course I went 16. Had spent a couple of hours spading the garden in prep for rototilling as the damn tree roots are so thick it would br tough for an 8 hp rototiller and had other delights waiting so the ride was a bit short. I had planned to just work on stuff today but after looking at all the Bromporn I couldn't resist going for a spin. Always puts a smile on my grumpy old face.

 

[cheys03]

Option E: option A with black items, mudguards etc for me

 

[simongt]

Always puts a smile on my grumpy old face.

Yup, whizzing around the city on my Brommy always makes me smile - !

 

[Kell]

My black cranks are worn down to the silver in many places where the shoe rubs.

I have black/dark grey cranks on my road bike (2008 model) and they don't look too bad for 12 years of use. There is some heel strike, but maybe it's less than you'd expect as it used to belong to my brother in law and he rode it with SPD-SL pedals where there's very little float.

Now I've got it, and use SPDs it may get worse a little quicker, but still not as bad as if you're using flat pedals.

 

[norbachev]

Hey everyone. A big thanks for all of your input. I wasn't expecting such a robust conversation. Very appreciated!

Coming from a road bike / touring background (my loaded C3 image attached on a recent Vancouver-Toronto ride) I agree with KELL that silver can sometimes feel a little more retro. Although there is nothing wrong with that I am leaning toward adding some black parts on the my new used Brompton. (pictured ) Certainly I don't think black parts will wear as well as silver, especially the cranks as noted by many, which won't be replaced right away anyways.

I looked into powder coating my handle bars and seatpost. Was quoted $60 CAD total. However, interestingly they did not recommend doing the seatpost as scratches and fading would be an issue. He suggested anodizing instead which essentially forms a boned layer on the alloy with a deeper black which does not chip as there technically is no "paint" layer on the metal when anodizing just a hard coating. After a little research I noticed that the original black edition Brompton parts are anodized.

It's so strange how quickly I have bonded with my new Brompton. Although my road bike has been with me on my 4,700km ride I think its getting a little jealous.

Thanks again for the feedback! I will post a final image when I add some of the new black parts.

 

[Kell]

You've fallen for its charm.

It is funny, I actively resisted going for a Brompton as it seemed the default choice in London, but after a series of other folders, I think it's by far the best of the ones I've tried.

 

[12boy]

The winds are 25 mph with 41 gusts today. I need a ride badly and will take the Brompton. Seems better in the wind. BTW, I have heard of anodized AL but never chrome plated steel.