Mods to my wife's Brompton

[Bicycle Repair Man]

I thought the assembled multitude may be interested in this project. We both have Bromptons in our collections. Not sure which model, had them for about 15 years with not a lot of use. Both are 3 speed hubs and since I retired we are using them more in conjunction with the caravan on trips away. She found the gear range restrictive so we looked at aquiring a newer model with more gears. Long story short the G line with Alfine hub seemed just the job, then we looked at the price!!! I made the mistake of saying "why dont I modify your existing bike to take an Alfine hub" 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
4 months and much head scratching later the project is 99% complete and the "customer" is happy. I have to confess at this point that I have spent the last 40+ years building frames so I did have a bit of an advantage for something like this. Not sure if I can post pics yet, I will try but if not I will do so once allowed.

 

[TC99]

How much did you spend on the project?

 

[Fastpedaller]

Any particular reason you chose a disc brake on the rear?

 

[Drago]

Im sure front will be next...?

 

[Gunk]

That’s a lovely bit of engineering, well done!

 

[Drago]

That’s a lovely bit of engineering, well done!

Aye, its a very neat job.

 

[brommieinkorea]

Made the rear triangle yourself, not a Kinetics? Yeah, rim brakes suck. Keep us posted on how this holds up.

 

[tinywheels]

makes you wonder why Brompton never thought of it.

 

[Fastpedaller]

Aye, its a very neat job.

The OP has 'a head start' on the rest of us I'd certainly like to have had him build a frame for me.

 

[simongt]

makes you wonder why Brompton never thought of it.

I emailed Brompton a few weeks back to ask if they plan on a city version of the G Line, i.e., narrower, faster rims & tyres.
The answer I had alluded to some disagreement among the design team and and there being no plans in the foreseeable future for a city version.
Make of that what you will.

 

[Drago]

there being no plans in the foreseeable future for a city version.

Translation: they've had a go, missed the bulls eye, and cant be arsed any more, theyre quite happy with mediocrity. Thats a bit of an insult to their potential customers really,

As mentioned elsewhere, they do now sell the G Spot with road biased tyres but it doesnt make much difference.

 

[tinywheels]

That slooshing sound you hear is Brompton circling the plug hole.
Wonder what the factory door price is for a Brompton?
As the European car makers are discovering, the competition are about to roll over them.
Hopefully something stirs in the Brompton factory, it's soon gonna be too late!

 

[Fastpedaller]

Is it? I hope not, as they have a great design. It may not be to everyone's taste or expectation, but are competitors as good?
All very well having more gears but inferior fold if it suits the buyer, but how many of these Bso's (Brompton shaped objects ) will be used as much as Bromptons, and still be going after 20+ years? As a concern is how many of the 'clones' are welded together and may break? Bromptons are brazed to minimise the inherent risk of heat damage to tubing caused by welding.

 

[TC99]

If Brompton go bust they will get bought and reborn.

 

[CXRAndy]

If Brompton go bust they will get bought and reborn.

By the Chinese probably. They name will likely live on (MG), all manufacturing will be if not already in China.