Originally Posted by
fietsbob
The trail is a proportion of the wheel diameter.
Trail is a function at least three factors: wheel size, rake or offset, and steering angle.
Originally Posted by
chagzuki
Should Brompton be changing the geometry very slightly so as to add trail and slow the steering response? Or is this a loveable characteristic quirk of the brand?
The Brompton's trail (a way-too-low 24mm) could be improved to 30mm or more by simply eliminating the fork rake. The main hinge would have to be moved back a touch to compensate, which means they'd have to tweak the handlebar fold. That's tricky but no doubt engineer-able. In fact, they could give the bike a much bigger trail still by *reversing* the fork offset! Might look weird though.
Originally Posted by
chagzuki
Although the more forward riding position puts weight over the unsuspended wheel and there's no option for wide tyres.
This one really gets me. The B can't accept 40mm tires on its rear wheel because of a really stupid design error: the chainstay bridge is too far back by a few millimeters. Surely Brompton could evolve the bike there.