Dahon finally releases their Brompton "killer"!
#152
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I use an telescopic post with the top half swoped for a suspension seatpost.
This means on my mezzos I can swop between ridgid and suspension setups quickly . With a spare set of wheels one can swop ratios and tyres quickly due to qr skewers. Perfect to alter a fast commute bike for touring.
Agree folding bikes elvoving too slowly. Often too many compromisers unless one custom build or upgrades
Last edited by bhkyte; 06-05-13 at 11:47 AM.
#153
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I'm not sure where this thread is headed (does it matter after a while ?), but I really like how my Brompton has come in so handy in many different situations. The integration of the luggage system, the compact fold, and just the overall "fit" really come together.
But that being said... I wouldn't mind some flexibility and perhaps some changes. For example, I swapped out the EZ wheels for inline wheels. The EZ wheels are easier to turn the bike when towing it, but are barely sufficient for any smooth rolling or stability. I wouldn't mind a Brompton with a 20" tire version so that I could swap in Big Apples for some better suspension: I'd be willing to tolerate a slightly larger fold footprint for some more cycling versatility. And while the 6 speed gearing works well, why not have a 11 speed option from Shimano or others?
I know that such changes mean the original design gets tampered with, but I'd be willing to accept such changes.
But that being said... I wouldn't mind some flexibility and perhaps some changes. For example, I swapped out the EZ wheels for inline wheels. The EZ wheels are easier to turn the bike when towing it, but are barely sufficient for any smooth rolling or stability. I wouldn't mind a Brompton with a 20" tire version so that I could swap in Big Apples for some better suspension: I'd be willing to tolerate a slightly larger fold footprint for some more cycling versatility. And while the 6 speed gearing works well, why not have a 11 speed option from Shimano or others?
I know that such changes mean the original design gets tampered with, but I'd be willing to accept such changes.
#154
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D'oh! Why didn't I think of that? Oh,that's right,they don't make Mezzo's any more. They changed to Ori,which while very nice,are impossible to find around here,and expensive to boot. I actually tried to get a leftover Mezzo from one of the local shops,but wasn't quick enough.
No it isn't;the Brompton had a better fold,the Mezzo was a better bicycle. It rode better,handled better,had better brakes,better gearing(one shifter,no big jumps between gears),and the wheels came off without tools. The Brompton is good for folding,the Mezzo was good for riding.
No it isn't;the Brompton had a better fold,the Mezzo was a better bicycle. It rode better,handled better,had better brakes,better gearing(one shifter,no big jumps between gears),and the wheels came off without tools. The Brompton is good for folding,the Mezzo was good for riding.
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C'dale BBU('05 and '09)/Super Six/Hooligan8and 3,Kona Dew Deluxe,Novara Buzz/Safari,Surly Big Dummy,Marin Pt Reyes,Giant Defy 1,Schwinn DBX SuperSport,Dahon Speed Pro TT,Brompton S6L/S2E-X
#156
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No it isn't;the Brompton had a better fold,the Mezzo was a better bicycle. It rode better,handled better,had better brakes,better gearing(one shifter,no big jumps between gears),and the wheels came off without tools. The Brompton is good for folding,the Mezzo was good for riding.
complaints i find to be legitimate are regarding the crappy plastic shifters and the aluminum frame clamps. i wonder what the designers at brompton thought when they saw the brompfication clamps? surely, they had already thought of this. if one shoulder of the clamp is 4mm longer the clamp won't spin. solved!
Last edited by smallwheeler; 06-06-13 at 10:08 AM.
#157
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I also put new housing: https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/I...inal/23407.jpg
misplaced the brakeshoes I bought so those plus calipers are old.
Had a "near death experience" innside a hedge in Copenhagen in the middle of May as I was riding fast I decided to take a U-turn trough a hedge (in fear of being late to catch the boat/ship) just to find there was already a Cristiania bike innside the hedge. Brakes worked just fine, would have ended up in the C`s box with my B on top of me if they did not.. (Cute guy riding the C so maybe not so bad..)
They need to be properly adjusted- if they are they`ll stop.
#159
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does anyone know what we technically call the sort of, "double-vertical" stem riser? is such a thing generically manufactured? i've been looking for such a thing but dont know what to properly call it..
#160
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I've only ever ridden modern Bromptons. My Mezzo had a caliper front brake and a V rear. Both had superior feel at the lever,and both could be opened for easy wheel removal(also both wheels had QR's and there was no shifter cable or chain tensioner to remove).
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C'dale BBU('05 and '09)/Super Six/Hooligan8and 3,Kona Dew Deluxe,Novara Buzz/Safari,Surly Big Dummy,Marin Pt Reyes,Giant Defy 1,Schwinn DBX SuperSport,Dahon Speed Pro TT,Brompton S6L/S2E-X
C'dale BBU('05 and '09)/Super Six/Hooligan8and 3,Kona Dew Deluxe,Novara Buzz/Safari,Surly Big Dummy,Marin Pt Reyes,Giant Defy 1,Schwinn DBX SuperSport,Dahon Speed Pro TT,Brompton S6L/S2E-X
#161
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I guess fairness and balance goes both ways. Some of my critisms in the past may have been out of ignorence. Brompton Brakes are fine on modern versions , rear is better than a d9 but not a d10. The mk2 brakes are weak, but they can be upgraded to be ok. Mezzo handling is differenct, and ride different from brompton.- find a brommie wobbles and fits badly, but I have never had a bespoke version. Generally feel mezzo stiffer and faster, not as smooth certainly as brommie.
I prefer mezzo luggage options, but brompton front bwag is convient
Mezzois more adjustable.
Nearly all brompton advantages I have negated by cheap upgrades.
Suspension, gearing,front bag (ori)available, 4 wheels on rack ori upgrade or made one.
Brompton upgraders will opt to try to achive mezzo or other competitors advantagers.
I prefer mezzo luggage options, but brompton front bwag is convient
Mezzois more adjustable.
Nearly all brompton advantages I have negated by cheap upgrades.
Suspension, gearing,front bag (ori)available, 4 wheels on rack ori upgrade or made one.
Brompton upgraders will opt to try to achive mezzo or other competitors advantagers.
Last edited by bhkyte; 06-06-13 at 01:26 PM.
#165
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the ones we have are copper color, quite nice
darn that thing is small ..it fits very easy into the back of my miata ( mx5 Mazda ) almost certain I can get two in there ...
It fits EASY in the lazarette of my boat with lots of room to spare ...
Yes its one speed and 5.9 is pushing it ... although taller people have testride mine and they were impressed.
I will loose the silly fenders on my personal one ....
Now I am thinking of selling my Curve SL (internal gears) ... its a different bike and somehow rides even nicer, but I have too many bikes and having the jifo in the box on my boat will be better than having the Curve sitting at home ... ( no its not going to be cheap ...lol )
thor
darn that thing is small ..it fits very easy into the back of my miata ( mx5 Mazda ) almost certain I can get two in there ...
It fits EASY in the lazarette of my boat with lots of room to spare ...
Yes its one speed and 5.9 is pushing it ... although taller people have testride mine and they were impressed.
I will loose the silly fenders on my personal one ....
Now I am thinking of selling my Curve SL (internal gears) ... its a different bike and somehow rides even nicer, but I have too many bikes and having the jifo in the box on my boat will be better than having the Curve sitting at home ... ( no its not going to be cheap ...lol )
thor
#166
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^ the fenders on that Jifo looked pretty inadequate, probably as well off as on.
I'd love a Brompton and am sure to end up with one some day, but the heavy hi-ten frame puts me off a little. The Jifo looks cute as a button, it has to be said.
I'd love a Brompton and am sure to end up with one some day, but the heavy hi-ten frame puts me off a little. The Jifo looks cute as a button, it has to be said.
#168
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I don't know what it is called..... but look at it... its is a hideous looking contraption
#169
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For me the added weigh of mudguards just isn't worth it... plus I think the bike looks so much better without them.
Last edited by PDR; 06-11-13 at 03:42 AM.
#170
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^^^
I was almost called a weight-weenie by a chum at the weekend for riding my bike without rack or mudguards. 'Makes it lighter' I said. The real reason is that the stays get bent chucking the bike into the car and the rack scratches the car interior. Doncha just hate that?
I think bikes look better without them. Unless it's a Mezzo when they have a structural function.
As a possibly non-relevant post-script I sold my brilliant Mezzo earlier this year. I thought its design and engineering made the Brompton's construction look like it came from the Flintstones, and the ride quality at the front was much better for me.
But freed from the need for multi-modal use, I prefer 20" wheels on something I can still chuck in the back of the car. (I live in the sticks.) If I had to use the Tube in London twice a day, I'd probably still have a Mezzo.
I was almost called a weight-weenie by a chum at the weekend for riding my bike without rack or mudguards. 'Makes it lighter' I said. The real reason is that the stays get bent chucking the bike into the car and the rack scratches the car interior. Doncha just hate that?
I think bikes look better without them. Unless it's a Mezzo when they have a structural function.
As a possibly non-relevant post-script I sold my brilliant Mezzo earlier this year. I thought its design and engineering made the Brompton's construction look like it came from the Flintstones, and the ride quality at the front was much better for me.
But freed from the need for multi-modal use, I prefer 20" wheels on something I can still chuck in the back of the car. (I live in the sticks.) If I had to use the Tube in London twice a day, I'd probably still have a Mezzo.
Last edited by snafu21; 06-11-13 at 02:32 AM.
#171
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What would be interesting is if there was a fashion for dahons.
In the uk there are some shops that stock mainly bromptons. This is mainly market driven, but I feel a lot of this is brand fashion. I realise brompton is good at what it does, however. ....
If a shop stocked all the dahon range and parts it would be fantastic. Jifo throught to matrix tern 30.
Ori has a potential to offer a carbon fibre 20 inch 30 speed bike, to a 16 "city. Not quite as impressive as daohons extensive range and upgrades like beam saddle and thudbuster.
When I go to my preferred local biike shop its nearly all brompton, thry have only just started getting dahons in after tern spilt. It would be nice if some shops/manufactores had more of a range with a long term view. Proportionally a greater share of all bikes sold could be folding bikes if they were visable and available.
In the uk there are some shops that stock mainly bromptons. This is mainly market driven, but I feel a lot of this is brand fashion. I realise brompton is good at what it does, however. ....
If a shop stocked all the dahon range and parts it would be fantastic. Jifo throught to matrix tern 30.
Ori has a potential to offer a carbon fibre 20 inch 30 speed bike, to a 16 "city. Not quite as impressive as daohons extensive range and upgrades like beam saddle and thudbuster.
When I go to my preferred local biike shop its nearly all brompton, thry have only just started getting dahons in after tern spilt. It would be nice if some shops/manufactores had more of a range with a long term view. Proportionally a greater share of all bikes sold could be folding bikes if they were visable and available.
#172
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Sanfu "I sold my brilliant Mezzo earlier this year. I thought its design and engineering made the Brompton's construction look like it came from the Flintstones, and the ride quality at the front was much better for me."
I am surprised at your ignorence, you have also owned a Brompton. Surley by now you have realsied from thew weight of evidence that your preference is incorrect !!
Lol
I am surprised at your ignorence, you have also owned a Brompton. Surley by now you have realsied from thew weight of evidence that your preference is incorrect !!
Lol
#173
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^^^ Yes, I appeared to have erred somewhat. Moreover my Mezzo was pink. How utterly wrong was THAT?
The new bike is a funny shade of red. This too, make be a mistake. But I didn't want a British Racing Green bike. :-)
The Brompton-only shops are a bit odd. Fudges in London stock Dahons and much else, Moultons, and Pacific Reach. My local LBS, where I bought the Brompton was near the railroad station, so they sold mainly to commuters. Bromptons only. Although I'm a Cytech accredited bike-mechanic, they wouldn't let me take the Brompton without them doing a pre-delivery inspection on it. When I got it home I had to reset the brake shoes and gear cable tension.
Tut-tut. Although the Mezzo bottom bracket developed a wobble last year. Tut squared.
The new bike is a funny shade of red. This too, make be a mistake. But I didn't want a British Racing Green bike. :-)
The Brompton-only shops are a bit odd. Fudges in London stock Dahons and much else, Moultons, and Pacific Reach. My local LBS, where I bought the Brompton was near the railroad station, so they sold mainly to commuters. Bromptons only. Although I'm a Cytech accredited bike-mechanic, they wouldn't let me take the Brompton without them doing a pre-delivery inspection on it. When I got it home I had to reset the brake shoes and gear cable tension.
Tut-tut. Although the Mezzo bottom bracket developed a wobble last year. Tut squared.
Last edited by snafu21; 06-11-13 at 05:13 AM.
#174
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What would be interesting is if there was a fashion for dahons.
In the uk there are some shops that stock mainly bromptons. This is mainly market driven, but I feel a lot of this is brand fashion. I realise brompton is good at what it does, however. ....
If a shop stocked all the dahon range and parts it would be fantastic. .
In the uk there are some shops that stock mainly bromptons. This is mainly market driven, but I feel a lot of this is brand fashion. I realise brompton is good at what it does, however. ....
If a shop stocked all the dahon range and parts it would be fantastic. .
By contrast I know that when I see another person with a Brompton the least I will get is a "knowing wink" and probably a wave / "hello" too. Even if I don't have my Brompton with me I know that I can pretty much walk up to any other Brompton owner for a quick chat about their bike. I have NEVER yet met a Brompton owner who didn't like / love their bike.
Four years on I still get plenty of complete strangers of both sexes and all age groups, looking and asking about the Brompton...... people are just drawn to it.
I've chatted to Moulton, Bike-friday and Birdy owners, all positive.... its just Dahon owners that seem a sad bunch.
#175
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'Its just Dahon owners that seem a sad bunch.'
Y'know, most of us just can't be bothered with another time-wasting Brompton nerd boasting about riding a piece of over-priced rusting luggage.
Many Dahon owners have much better bikes designed in the 21st Century. :-)
Y'know, most of us just can't be bothered with another time-wasting Brompton nerd boasting about riding a piece of over-priced rusting luggage.
Many Dahon owners have much better bikes designed in the 21st Century. :-)
Last edited by snafu21; 06-11-13 at 09:00 AM.