Amuro Lee

All models of Brompton selling in Hong Kong here are in 6-speed specification. The selling price of models in different handle bars are the same.

The selling price of Brompton in normal specification here is HK$8000 (US$1025.64) and the selling price of Brompton in superlight specification here is HK$15000 (US$1923.08).

Do you think the above selling prices are resonalble?

Is it worth buying the bike in superlight specification for almost double the price of the bike in normal specification?

makingmark

I sure as hell don't think so. It's not superlight. If you have the exact same components on both bikes, you save 2lbs from the titanium parts. For $900+???

Now, if you're trying to get to the lightest bike possible - say a single or two speed - then it makes more sense to me, but certainly only if you have the money. My experience with a steel M3L is that I found it annoyingly heavy for a few months...then I just got used to it.

The Brompton is not a light bike. I can't ever see it being unless they make some major mods.

PDR

It would seem that by using the superlight options you can save a total of 915gms over the standard bike.
Superlight frame option ( - 790gms)
Titanium seat-post ( - 100gms)
Titanium folding pedal axle (- 25gms )

Even the lightest current model the S2L – X “superlight” Weighs. Kgs: 9.65 (21.23 lbs) which is a kilo heavier than my Dahon MU SL @ 8.7 Kg (19.4lbs).

Most of the 6-speed bikes seem to be around the 11.65 kg mark so a superlight 6 speed will weigh around 10.7 kg I would have thought?

I am waiting until January when all the new options are available. I will then have to decide if I go for the new BWR hub or 2-speed and the superlight option.

invisiblehand

I think that is roughly what the titanium versions cost here.

IMO, the titanium version only has value if you have to pick up and carry the bike long distances or stairs.

Amuro Lee

Thanks!

Other than weight, rusting is another problem for the steel extremities.

Do the steel front fork, rear frame and seat pillar rust easily?

Squall

Titanium parts??? Now thats light.. I wonder how light it is.. Now that its titanium, you definitely gain more speed and agility

timo888 

Well, prices don't have to be "reasonable" they just have to be attractive to buyers in numbers large enough for the Seller to make a profit

To play devil's advocate for a moment: what real advantages would there be in a super-light Brompton? [emphasis on Brompton] The bike is far too flexy to be a racer. For climbing, the money would be better spent on gearing than on shaving a few pounds, IMO. A couple of pounds less might make a Brompton slightly easier to carry, but it is already easy to carry. Do you see other real advantages I'm overlooking?

Regards
T

invisiblehand

Easily? No. Just some steady maintenance and you will be fine, IMO.

folder fanatic

I am not against putting more features in a bike. I just have to remember that I have to ride with/carry all that extra weight on the bike. So when it comes to Bromptons (and other bikes), I use the simple approuch and not buy a light exotic metal frame or part of the frame (and pay far more than needed to). I just don't load it up with weight as the real determining weight factor is the overall amount of parts on the bike, not so much as a frame or individual bike part.

Fear&Trembling

No

bykerouac

At nearly double the price, the main frame should also be made of titanium. That would bring down the weight considerably.

bepoppie

hi amuro, did you buy Brompton finally?

14R 

Go for combined overall weight:

Is the combo [bike] + [rider] + [accessories] too heavy?

Try upgrading the weight of the [rider]. You might be able to have an overall weight upgrade of several pounds without spending a dime.

Everytime I think I need to upgrade my Brompton to a Ti version I lose 4 pounds.

Now....with that said...the blue seatpost looks really nice.

Folder4life

Haha, a popular upgrade in Japan, is to just get the titanium seat post. If you get the titanium fork and rear triangle then the bike will flex more than the steal. The flex is suppose to absorb more bumps, but when I think it flexes too much. I didn't really have a problem with it since I am very small, but alot of heavier and taller riders might.

PDR

I have now owned my Brompton raw lacquer titanium 2-speed S-type for nearly 5 months. I do carry the bike a lot around the train station so any weight reduction helps (I don’t have rack or guards).

Having since bought my Dad a steel 2-speed M-type (with guards), I will admit that the difference in weight is noticeable but not that great.

One good thing about the titanium version is that there is no paint on the forks / rear triangle to scratch and then turn rusty.

Having ridden both bikes I can’t say that I have noticed much difference in the ride quality (the M and S type bars feel different due to the riding position) I will have to make note of it next time. I have not noticed any flex in my titanium bike and it feels nice and stiff (unlike the flimsy Dahon MUSL I had)

Is it worth the extra money of the standard metal version? People say that I “always have to have the best” and I see the Ti S-type 2-speed as top of the range of sporty Bromptons ...... and if I had bought the standard bike, I’d forever wonder what it would be like to own the titanium version... as it is, I do know.... and it’s great I certainly don’t regret paying the extra.

echotraveler

i bet you could diet and exercise enough to shed the 4 pound difference between the bikes...with the great advantage of you getting some......

Diode100

I think it is always wise to buy what your heart wants, there may be a very good case for only buying the standard bike, but in the future everytime you look at it, you'll know it wasn't what you really wanted, you'll be kicking yourself & regreting that you didnt get the SL version - we know from experience this to be true.

Azreal911

That's actually very true Diode!

You'll always look at it and wish that was the one you got if you are looking at it in the first place! That's exactly how I ended up with my folder (my silly strida), even though I found cheaper and better alternatives with dahon's and even a tikit was within the same price range! It's the techie in my needing something unconventional. And you know what? even though I spent alot, I'm actually having fun and really happy with my purchase.

Sooooo Amuro you might want to really touch and feel that titanium bike and straddle it in the store before you buy the steel version. Cause it'll always be bugging you in the back of your mind "what could've been". You can always make the money back but once you have the steel version and then you want the Ti selling the one you didn't want then buying the other will be more costly.

Sorry to mess up your decision making some more

gringo_gus

Thanks for posting this thread Amuro, I was puzzling over the same q myself. The guy in the lbs, when I said, well, once I put 6 gears and a brooks saddle and fenders on an ultralite the benefit is lost also said titanium is more "responsive". Does that mean flexi?

ddez

Sorry but i dont see how benefit is lost.It will still be lighter than all steel which is a benefit if you carry alot.I chose to go all steel cause my bike is the minimal S1E single speed which is already lite enuff for carrying and didnt need extra expense for my style of bike.

gringo_gus

ddez, you're right, but in two ways. Of course, a brompton with titanium and a brooks saddle six gears fenders and a rack is going to be lighter than the same thing only steel. But is still going to be relatively heavy, and if you want lightness because you don't want to be lifting too much weight then it seems you only get that with a barebone 1 or 2 gear S type; and if you are going barebones, maybe steel is acceptable weight anyway...

Chop!

Eat lots of roughage, a few pints of Scrumpy (rough cider) & a vicious curry should lose you one hell of a lot more! But don't ride too far from a toilet!

ddez

OK im going to really mess op up now with this confession.You guys are rite about regretting not getting certain stuff.If i had to do it again id get titanium and clear bare metal.I debated this for quite some time and was trying to be practical,the heart isnt so practical often,so ended up with what i have which i like for me but???I do like my flat black and it is lite.
And Gringo Gus i did break my minimalist thing with my old( very broke in) Flyer on it, but my old butt has to be comfy vs.lite weight.

14R 

Another thing to consider (and please forgive me since I haven't done it on paper down to the grams):

How much weight can you save with US$700.00 on upgraded replacements?

Brakes

Bottom bracket

Cranckset

chain

wheels

handlebar

saddle

Anyone with some spare time to invest on the possibilities?

pibach

I don't think the Brompton is stiffer than the Mu Sl. Why should it? Probably you just had a bad hinge setup? From the Alluminium material with a higher top tube plus bigger tube diameter of the Dahon I would expect it to be stiffer. And it is quite stiff indeed. Flexiest part is the handlepost. But as fas as I know, it is already stiffer than the one on other folders.