Makes a strong man weep to see such a thing !
 

The thought of sending those to the tip is criminal!:eek:

They look like they have been left outside in the rain. He has to buy a new one every 3 years. He does an 8 mile commute each day and bounces up & down kerbs. In other words he is a Brompton abuser.:mad:

I’d probably enjoy restoring those (with new bits from SJS).... but I'm in the middle of a Moulton at the moment.:)

That is the job of a commuter!

Probably not left outside for all of that time but certainly used heavily ... without fenders. :eek:

on a related subject - there is someone selling his Brompton 3 speed for $750. is this a good price. should i jump and buy it ? appreciate the input from a Brompton specialist....

thanks,
vic

Yes It would be wastefull and immoral to throw these in the tip. He should phone up a local cycle exchange ,who will do them up and sell them for a good cause. It is selfish behaviour the amount of people who do not give good items to charity shops and the like, which are usually closer than a local tip. I know charity shops do not accept bikes ,but come on put more effort in to recycling good resources.


However the asking price has gone over what I payed for a perfectly good Merc with accessories,or a new Downtube. Crazy the price people pay for used or badly damaged Bromptons. I have also seen crash ones sell for similar amounts!

Depends on age, condition and model. The cheapest new Bromptons in the US go for about $1K. Bromptons do tend to hold their value, but if the bike is particularly old or in poor condition you shouldn't expect to pay a super premium for it. If it's in good shape and relatively recent, $750 is a good price.

--sam

. . . with a flair for language. Has all the makings of a gripping short-story.

So this brings me to a question... I am at 2.5 years, 3000 miles and 350 round trips (8.5 miles daily) on a $300 Downtube, in all sorts of weather including snow / rain / salted roads. Just yesterday I was in a shop looking at bromptons casually as a possible replacement when my standby finally gives up the ghost.

Is 3 years a typical lifetime for ANY folder used in daily commuting? Are Bromptons just not up to daily rigorous cycling? I'd hate to spend $1200+ on a Brompton and have it last only three years as well.

I think some TLC would extend the life of a Brompton considerably.

Brommies are best when ridden hard and put away wet. You fix what breaks. Nothing should break.

IMHO a dirty brommie is a happy brommie. No sense whatsoever to have a spanking clean one.

I do hope you are joking:(

There are plenty of old Bromptons still going strong so there is absolutely no reason why a well cared for Brompton should not last 10, 20, 30 years or more.

I ride mine to the station, fold it and fit its little cover before taking in on the train. I wipe it down each time it gets wet from the rain and regularly give the bike a good clean. The bike does not even have a single scratch on it after 4 months of daily use.....

A Brompton bike may be a “tool” to get you from A to B but there still is no excuse to abuse them.

They went for £450! I think I would sooner have al new bikes for this! It is crazy the price people pay for second hand Bromptons ,good for sellers however!

Therefore I feel the best think about Brompton ownership is selling it!