Brompton with 8 speed hub

[mulleady]

A company called Kinetics, based in Scotland, are offering a Brompton with 8 speed hub for an additonal £200 on the a la carte menu.

I have 2 downtubes but need a compact folder sometimes. I'm very tempted to opt for a front hub dymamo and the 8 speed rear hub option in raw lacquer, gorgeous finish. Yes these are expensive options but i can get them on the UK cycle to work scheme and get 40% tax relief. Are these mad options? Opinions and advice welcome.

[ShinyBiker]

I've seen pix of it and it looks sweet. I subscribe to the brommie Yahoo groups and the owner of that shop has a mixed reputation. Doesn't return emails, calls etc. There was a funny post of someone who had left his brommie there for 6 weeks, showed up, the guy said, "Yes, almost ready, um, come back in two hours." Turns out they hadn't even touched the bike for the past 6 weeks. The bike was ready when the owner returned.

[doco]

I also tried to contact, 4 times b email..no response

this place was posted last month? or longer and really wanted to buy one with the s/a internal mod

no reply, no buy

[mulleady]

That's bad then. i can understand someone being busy and eventually replying. Also sititng on work and not letting people know not so good. I guess not worth the risk of buying there and getting the modification. What a shame.

[LittlePixel]

My own experiences with Kinetics have been good so I guess you need to catch them on the right day!

I'm guessing that as a specialist shop with a large customer base they get a bit overrun at times and aren't best at coping with this. I'd advise using the phone as a preference over email for initial contact as it's harder to be ignored if you are on the line waiting. Kinetics sold me both the SRAM 7 for my Twenty and the Pantour suspension hub for my Merc/Brompton and both times I never had problems with mails or any feeling of lacklustre customer service from Ben.

Perhaps it's as much about the mails people write? I always to endeavour to endear myself to possibly-grumpy-bike-shop-owner™ by being a bit humble, succinct but clear about what I want to find out.

Often I find the problem with Local bike shops and online stores is getting this balance right. You need to sound knowledgeable enough to earn your stripes and not appear like a timewaster/dreamer, but also not try not to sound arrogant or make the owner feel like you might know more than them, as this intimidates them and can get them off on the wrong foot.

That's my hugely generalistic view anyway. Apologies to any bikeshop people who aren't at all like this - I'm not singling you all out as one breed!

Huw :)

[mulleady]

My own experiences with Kinetics have been good so I guess you need to catch them on the right day!

I'm guessing that as a specialist shop with a large customer base they get a bit overrun at times and aren't best at coping with this. I'd advise using the phone as a preference over email for initial contact as it's harder to be ignored if you are on the line waiting. Kinetics sold me both the SRAM 7 for my Twenty and the Pantour suspension hub for my Merc/Brompton and both times I never had problems with mails or and feeling of lacklustre customer service from Ben.

Perhaps it's as much about the mails people write? I always to endeavour to endear myself to possibly-grumpy-bike-shop-owner™ by being a bit humble, succinct but clear about what I want to find out.

Often I find the problem with Local bike shops and online stores is getting this balance right. You need to sound knowledgeable enough to earn your stripes and not appear like a timewaster/dreamer, but also not try not to sound arrogant or make the owner feel like you might know more than them, as this intimidates them and can get them off on the wrong foot.

That's my hugely generalistic view anyway. Apologies to any bikeshop people who aren't at all like this - I'm not singling you all out as one breed!

Huw :)

No good advice littlepixel I will ring Ben. I always value your comments and insights and will give it a try. I'd covet a 8 speed hub based Brompton and £200 is reasonable.

[invisiblehand]

Considering the alternatives for getting a Brompton with an 8-speed hub, I would call the shop.

Good luck!

[somnatash]

Hi,
just as an info: for 333,- Euro you probably can have the mod from this small "Folders only" shop in Berlin - Germany. (The website is a bit odd but Christoph Beck has - in the internet - a good reputation within the birdy-people)
http://www.faltrad-direktor.de
A bit more money but other than kinetics they also do the mod to your already existing brompton. I dont know if the prize is less if you order a new bike there. There modification is a bit different from that of kinetics. E.g. they seem to use the brompton cranks (-12% = 44T Chainwheel) and a larger than 19T rear sprocket.

BTW: I am waiting for a 8Speed Hub brompton from Kinetics. I have been visiting the shop to discuss my before placed internet order and Ben has been very friendly. He has the tiniest shop full of treasures. I hope and look forward to give more information as soon the bike has arrived and been examined.

[mulleady]

Fantastic Somnatash. I look forward to hearing about your new Brompton. What spec did you order?

[somnatash]

Hi mulleady,

I ordered the bike in turkish green, marathons, rack, pantour, S-type-stem (maybe I will later change the bar to a moderate riser and add bar horns). I fancy also longer trips.
what are your plans?

[invisiblehand]

Hi,
just as an info: for 333,- Euro you probably can have the mod from this small "Folders only" shop in Berlin - Germany. (The website is a bit odd but Christoph Beck has - in the internet - a good reputation within the birdy-people)
http://www.faltrad-direktor.de
A bit more money but other than kinetics they also do the mod to your already existing brompton. I dont know if the prize is less if you order a new bike there. There modification is a bit different from that of kinetics. E.g. they seem to use the brompton cranks (-12% = 44T Chainwheel) and a larger than 19T rear sprocket.

BTW: I am waiting for a 8Speed Hub brompton from Kinetics. I have been visiting the shop to discuss my before placed internet order and Ben has been very friendly. He has the tiniest shop full of treasures. I hope and look forward to give more information as soon the bike has arrived and been examined.

Wild ... makes me think about the German I learned (or failed to learn) in high school.

[mulleady]

Hi mulleady,

I ordered the bike in turkish green, marathons, rack, pantour, S-type-stem (maybe I will later change the bar to a moderate riser and add bar horns). I fancy also longer trips.
what are your plans?


Cool Somnatash

I would love
Front Son hub dynamo but would like front lamp to have standing light as well as rear. Always loved hub dynamos since a young lad when I had a Raleigh Esquire in the 70's with 3 speed SA and front hub dynamo.

Love raw lacqeur finish and of course front luggage option, eaziwheels and
8 speed hub gears!

[mulleady]

I spoke to Ben today, a very nice guy. Recommended to use phone as point of contact.
Offering a hub geared option for £200 is great value. He also particpates in the Cycle to Work Scheme (CTW) and even the www.cyclescheme.co.uk (http://www.cyclescheme.co.uk) who act as an intermediary for the CTW. Many dealers insist on adding the 10% charge and my employer insists on going through the cyclescheme. Ben at kinetics doesn't apply the surcharge, he absorbs it. Therefore Ben's options come out at great value when you can get the tax relief.

I currently have the Sturmey Archer 8 speed hub on my Downtube VIIIH and its a great gear set. The twist grip is also way better than the 2 gear shifters with a total of 4 levers on the Brompton 6 speed.

It looks like my dream of a Son hub dynamo and 8 speed hub Brompton in raw lacquer finish is going ahead. Will keep you posted!

[brommie]

Somnatash,

Just wondering, did you receive the bike already?
I'm curious of it's drive abilities...

Jos


Hi mulleady,

I ordered the bike in turkish green, marathons, rack, pantour, S-type-stem (maybe I will later change the bar to a moderate riser and add bar horns). I fancy also longer trips.
what are your plans?

[cosmodc]

A photo of the 8-speed Brompton on Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cycleologist/2272585286/