Easy wheel replacements

[Deafie]

My friend is looking to buy a rack for her Brompton and wants to upgrade the easy wheels to something a little more robust, does anyone have experience with after market replacements?

This is what happened to her old ones

 

[brommieinkorea]

Those are the stock non-easy wheels, and they just saved the frame serious damage by giving like that. I would at least consider stock Brompton easy wheels as they're a little flimsy and might offer the same protection.

 

[gizmo1994]

That bike has had a serious bash at the back end to achieve that amount of damage to those wheels. But they saved the bike from serious damage in doing so. Replace them with the same or Brompton's own easy wheels which are slightly larger diameter but will still protect the frame.

 

[shingwell]

Did someone sit on the bike while folded eg. on a crowded train? I've done it and been ok (I have a rack so 4 wheels) but I have been warned this can happen.

 

[berlinonaut]

This looks more like the consequence of a massive drop of the bike.

 

[Deafie]

This looks more like the consequence of a massive drop of the bike.

It might be, I don't know, I daren't ask. It was mine and she borrowed it a few times, she did some very creative folds and then dropped it down a staircase, so for my own sanity and the sake of our relationship I gave it to her and bought myself another.

Anyway, I bought the rack today and will stick with the standard roller wheels for now. I was looking at the Litepro wheels and seem to remember there was a company doing titanium replacements as well. Anybody have any experience of these?

 

[Deafie]

Did someone sit on the bike while folded eg. on a crowded train? I've done it and been ok (I have a rack so 4 wheels) but I have been warned this can happen.

It's possible!

 

[berlinonaut]

I was looking at the Litepro wheels and seem to remember there was a company doing titanium replacements as well. Anybody have any experience of these?

As others have aready said: They will do more harm than good. If you are willing to sacrifice the Brompton for a little bling - your decision. But given that the wheels already safed the frame once it would in my eyes be a stupid idea to get rid of that safety line for a little bling.

A little bit of background about the wheels:
https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/project-m6l-to-m6r-on-a-budget.282618/page-2#post-6639948

 

[Gunk]

I’m after a replacement early style conical roller if anyone has one spare.

 

[Deafie]

As others have aready said: They will do more harm than good. If you are willing to sacrifice the Brompton for a little bling - your decision. But given that the wheels already safed the frame once it would in my eyes be a stupid idea to get rid of that safety line for a little bling.

A little bit of background about the wheels:
https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/project-m6l-to-m6r-on-a-budget.282618/page-2#post-6639948

Okay, thanks, that has answered all my questions and more.

I shall use the wheels that come with the rack. They are the sensible choice.

Much appreciated!!!!!

 

[Deafie]

She wrecked the replacements too so at her request I installed these. Your advice re saving the frame aside, I quite like them.
Online skate wheels off Amazon for $10.87.
They are great for wheeling the bike folded in a station etc

 

[brommieinkorea]

I am real curious to know how this is working out. If someone has trashed 2 sets of Brompton roller wheels, it's obvious abuse. There, I said it so you aren't responsible ( of course if you show this to the girlfriend, you'll still be in the doghouse). Maybe convince a couple of her female friends to explain that throwing and dropping the bike is bad for it?

 

[Deafie]

I am real curious to know how this is working out. If someone has trashed 2 sets of Brompton roller wheels, it's obvious abuse. There, I said it so you aren't responsible ( of course if you show this to the girlfriend, you'll still be in the doghouse). Maybe convince a couple of her female friends to explain that throwing and dropping the bike is bad for it?

So far the roller blade wheels are a hit ( not from a great height, yet ). It is very stable when folded and parked on it's bench with the seatpost brake on. I will report if/when she drops it down the stairs again

 

[brommieinkorea]

Can't say the aftermarket stuff doesn't roll well, sure it does. One thing that drove me nuts was that the roller wheels already stick out, and I have been keen to not make it worse. Is that a problem?

 

[CycleCat]

Aftermarket skate wheels do work well (as already said above), but there can be issues using them with the standard Brompton rack (I only have experience of the Advance rack). One of my second-hand P-Lines came with an extremely light weight triangular shaped rack and massive skate wheels. There were no heel-strike issues with this combo, but I wanted compatibility with my other P-Lines so I replaced the rack and then found issues with heel-strike and the skate wheels.

Now I am using the advance rack on three P-Lines with G-Line roller wheels. Note that the G-Line uses 70mm for the frame and 80mm for the rack. This combo rolls really well and feels sturdy, so I would recommend it. Only issue is the cost, significantly more than aftermarket.