Brompton Rollers - A Cautionary Tale

[Gunk]

Saw this on FB this morning, a Titanium rear triangle fitted with what looks like scooter wheels as rollers, damaged on a flight.

Apparently if it had been fitted with Brompton Eazy Wheels probably wouldn't have happened as they are designed to be sacrificial.

Hope they’re insured!

 

[rafiki]

if it had been fitted with Brompton Eazy Wheels probably wouldn't have happened as they are designed to be sacrificial.

That's interesting. I didn't know that.

 

[Drago]

Not a terribly clever design feature on an item liable to lead a tough life if it needs sacrificial parts to protect it.

 

[EltonFrog]

Saw this on FB this morning, a Titanium rear triangle fitted with what looks like scooter wheels as rollers, damaged on a flight.

Apparently if it had been fitted with Brompton Eazy Wheels probably wouldn't have happened as they are designed to be sacrificial.

Hope they’re insured!

View attachment 701043

Ouch! That’s gonna hurt.

And

Why the feck can’t people take photos without their grotty feckin feet in them?

 

[Cycleops]

I expect he was left feeling a bit of a tit.

 

[berlinonaut]

Apparently if it had been fitted with Brompton Eazy Wheels probably wouldn't have happened as they are designed to be sacrificial.

The Eazy Wheels are not but the standard wheels are.

That's interesting. I didn't know that.

Background here in Postm #25: https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/project-m6l-to-m6r-on-a-budget.282618/page-2#post-6639948

 

[T4tomo]

Not a terribly clever design feature on an item liable to lead a tough life if it needs sacrificial parts to protect it.

Er well its, far better to crack a cheap piece of plastic rather than a Ti or Steel frame piece like the in the photo.

Similar concept to a mech hanger.

 

[berlinonaut]

Not a terribly clever design feature on an item liable to lead a tough life if it needs sacrificial parts to protect it.

Good starting point for a discussion about bike-helmets.

 

[T4tomo]

Good starting point for a discussion about bike-helmets.

just No.....

 

[berlinonaut]

BTW: with the new design of the rear triangle on P-line and T-line Bromptons the probability for this classical damage is reduced.

 

[404 Not Found Anywhere]

Alarmingly my Brompton has similar wheels, they were a very early mod I made as my feet kept catching on the originals. Having said that, i switched them over about 14 years ago, no issues so far 🤞

 

[berlinonaut]

Just don't drop it in folded state.

 

[Gunk]

Just don't drop it in folded state.

Good advice!

 

[u_i]

There is a secondary line here: It is relatively easy to repair steel - essentially any framebuilder will do it and mine repaired the ears to a better state than original. However, it is next to impossible to repair titanium.

 

[berlinonaut]

As a last resort there's always the repair bridge from Vincent van Eerd. Has been available for ages already, possibly for a reason. Aesthetically not the most beautiful add on, but pragmatic and simple: https://www.eerdermetaal.nl/brompton_reparatiebrug.html
For less damaged Bromptons there is the stabilizer bridge that follows the same principle: https://www.eerdermetaal.nl/brompton_stabilisatiebrug.html