Fastpedaller
Über Member
- Location
- Norfolk
And with what warranty?
My new Bromptnot
- Thread starter dimrub
- Start date
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And with what warranty?
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dimrub
Über Member
P.S. I did find one issue: the pedals do not rotate freely. It's a known issue with Chinese pedals, for some reason they bath them axles in what appears to be bitumen. It's not extreme - I've seen worse - but I'll probably take the pedals apart, degrease and regrease at some point.
Fastpedaller
Über Member
- Location
- Norfolk
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dimrub
Über Member
I waxed the chain now. It was my first time doing that - it wasn't easy, or fast. But finally it was done and I was ready to ride. It was magical. Such stark difference with the original. The handling, the brakes, the drivetrain - oh the drivetrain is amazing. Not having to faff with 2 shifters with different behaviors. That double tap shifter is so precise and easy to use. The range is amazing. I'm loving it, and can't wait for my first commute. The only thing I'm not sure about is that lightweight saddle - but I'm willing to give it a try, given the short trips. If it doesn't work out, I have a Brooks I can use instead.
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dimrub
Über Member
Some photos from my first commute.
The bike rolls a treat. The gearing is ever so slightly lower than the optimum, but I don't mind. I don't need the lowest 2 gears on my commute it seems, but who knows what hills will the future bring. The shifting and the brakes are brilliant. I'm not a fan of the saddle: it's very light, but also, rather flimsy, and lacks the amortisation of the Brooks. I'll give it a week, then decide whether to replace it. Still over the moon with the reduced weight, and wouldn't want to spoil it.
Also, the seat post is not limited like on the old Brompton, where I used to just pull it out fully - here I'll need to mark it.
Oh, and the seat clamp. It's pretty, but the seatpost rotates under pressure. I have an excellent one on my old Brompton, an after market Titanium one, I might swap them.
The bike rolls a treat. The gearing is ever so slightly lower than the optimum, but I don't mind. I don't need the lowest 2 gears on my commute it seems, but who knows what hills will the future bring. The shifting and the brakes are brilliant. I'm not a fan of the saddle: it's very light, but also, rather flimsy, and lacks the amortisation of the Brooks. I'll give it a week, then decide whether to replace it. Still over the moon with the reduced weight, and wouldn't want to spoil it.
Also, the seat post is not limited like on the old Brompton, where I used to just pull it out fully - here I'll need to mark it.
Oh, and the seat clamp. It's pretty, but the seatpost rotates under pressure. I have an excellent one on my old Brompton, an after market Titanium one, I might swap them.
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brommieinkorea
Senior Member
- Location
- 'Merica darnit
I would love to hear that a clone is holding up over time and all. But why not get one with brakes if you're not going for the rather limited original ? Rim wreckers are a substitute for a gloved hand and some cursing, not actual brakes.
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dimrub
Über Member
I don't need disk brakes on my commute. They are not adding anything to my experience, except costs and maintenance overhead. I'd consider them if I went for carbon wheels (though even there rim brakes are a reasonable option - with proper pads), but with the alloys - no need at all, the braking power is sufficient for avoiding pedestrians on my commute, and I don't have any hills that would pose a challenge.
That is not to say that I oppose disks on principle: I have them on my gravel bike, and they've earned their place there fair and square.
P.S. Bona Bikes do have an option of a disk brake frame, and I considered it briefly before discarding it.
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CycleCat
Active Member
Can you share the make/model of the front bag and helmet please?
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dimrub
Über Member
Sure. They're both from Aliexpress.
This is the bag. It's of decent quality, quite spacious and convenient. No rain cover, so I'm using one from a previous bag. The side pockets are too smal, but there's an internal compartment where my water bottle fits. There's a laptop sleeve. It only has one serious drawback: the frame is not integrated, but rather held in place by a single strap. If you pull on the bag by the loop at the top, it pulls straight off the frame. They could have prevented it, by attaching a velcro strap to the bag, which could then be used to hold the frame in place. I'm thinking of sewing it in myself.
This is the helmet. When folded, it fits inside the above bag, which is nice on a crowded train. I have a big head, so the helmet rides a tad high, but it's ok. The folding is reasonably easy once I got the hang of it. There's a blinking red light on the back, which is a nice bonus.
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dimrub
Über Member
A whole week of commuting is done and dusted, and preliminary results are in.
The bike is brilliant. Stiff, handles well (I'm not sure how and why, but better than the original), rolls extremely well. I've got used to the saddle, I'm keeping it. The waxed chain wore in and is silent as a mouse.
The only issue - and a minor one at that - is the seatpost, that is rotating, and, what's worse, keeps sliding in. I think I'll try to tighten the clamp just a bit. If that doesn't work, I'll try to wrap it in tape, and if that doesn't work - maybe working on it with sandpaper.
Ah, I had an issue with the steerer tube catch. I asked to put a metal one, not the plastic springy thing that the original has. They did that, but the opposing thingy was still plastic, and it was too wide for the catch. But the catch has sharp edge, so this issue pretty much resolved itself. I've ordered a proper replacement anyway, but again, it's a trivial issue.
The bike is brilliant. Stiff, handles well (I'm not sure how and why, but better than the original), rolls extremely well. I've got used to the saddle, I'm keeping it. The waxed chain wore in and is silent as a mouse.
The only issue - and a minor one at that - is the seatpost, that is rotating, and, what's worse, keeps sliding in. I think I'll try to tighten the clamp just a bit. If that doesn't work, I'll try to wrap it in tape, and if that doesn't work - maybe working on it with sandpaper.
Ah, I had an issue with the steerer tube catch. I asked to put a metal one, not the plastic springy thing that the original has. They did that, but the opposing thingy was still plastic, and it was too wide for the catch. But the catch has sharp edge, so this issue pretty much resolved itself. I've ordered a proper replacement anyway, but again, it's a trivial issue.
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dimrub
Über Member
I've been riding it for long enough to trust it, so today I did a thorough maintenance to the old Brompton. Put on a few of the original parts while at it, rolling back some of my after market experiments. Waxed the chain, oiled the seat - a thorough one before conservation.
As far as the new one is concerned, I just washed it, and installed today the new catch for the steerer tube. I'm still having issues with the rotating seatpost. If I tighten the clamp a bit more, the seatpost stops rotating, but then the return spring on the catch won't work anymore. I'm not sure what is the proper solution. It's not too bad - my trips are short, so I end them by the time the seatpost slides enough for it to cause inconvenience. But I don't want "not too bad" for this bike, which is otherwise perfect.
As far as the new one is concerned, I just washed it, and installed today the new catch for the steerer tube. I'm still having issues with the rotating seatpost. If I tighten the clamp a bit more, the seatpost stops rotating, but then the return spring on the catch won't work anymore. I'm not sure what is the proper solution. It's not too bad - my trips are short, so I end them by the time the seatpost slides enough for it to cause inconvenience. But I don't want "not too bad" for this bike, which is otherwise perfect.
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dimrub
Über Member
I believe I've mentioned that the bike is slightly undergeared and that I don't mind that. Well turns out I do. See when I ordered it, I asked for a 58T chainring, but they could only find a 54. I assumed it's plenty and rolled with it. Well... I spin out on the flats, let alone declines, and I hardly use the second lowest gear, and the lowest - never. So I went ahead and found me a 58T. It's en route now. It's golden and has an integrated guard, so an extra win. I'll need to sort the chain, so here's a cheeky plan for that. I'll get a new chain, but rather than replacing it, I'll chew a couple of inner plates off it, and elongate the existing chain with quick links. The new chain will then be kept for later.
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dimrub
Über Member
The chainring has arrived, I've installed it, and it's sick.
Need to readjust the derailleur, since the crosschain angle is out of whack now.
I did have to make the chain longer. Vandalized a spare chain - took an inner link from it and a second pair of quick links.
Need to readjust the derailleur, since the crosschain angle is out of whack now.
I did have to make the chain longer. Vandalized a spare chain - took an inner link from it and a second pair of quick links.
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