Best looking brompton I've seen so far.
#1
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Best looking brompton I've seen so far.
Actually this brompton is not my mate's. It was built for a bike show by a japanese custom shop.
Their homepage address is https://bike.gn.to/
They build lot of interesting products for folders as well (Ti spokes, bladed spokes, anodized rims, 74mm front hubs and so on)
Anyway..
Bullhorn bar makes a very racy look. BTW the black seatpost is made of carbon.
Vision carbon bullhorn bar and STI levers.. Satori stem is used (a la speed pro TT)
FSA carbon crank and carbon-wrapped TT chainring (55-44T)
It has a front derailleur too.
Custom 130mm spacing rear frame with derailleur hanger.
Wheels are built using american classic hub, Titanium spokes and 18" rims.
There are 10 cogs... so 2*10 speeds.
As the rim diameter is bigger, standard ultegra caliper brake can be used.
This bike does fold. (you will need hex wrench to fold the handlebar though)
Their homepage address is https://bike.gn.to/
They build lot of interesting products for folders as well (Ti spokes, bladed spokes, anodized rims, 74mm front hubs and so on)
Anyway..
Bullhorn bar makes a very racy look. BTW the black seatpost is made of carbon.
Vision carbon bullhorn bar and STI levers.. Satori stem is used (a la speed pro TT)
FSA carbon crank and carbon-wrapped TT chainring (55-44T)
It has a front derailleur too.
Custom 130mm spacing rear frame with derailleur hanger.
Wheels are built using american classic hub, Titanium spokes and 18" rims.
There are 10 cogs... so 2*10 speeds.
As the rim diameter is bigger, standard ultegra caliper brake can be used.
This bike does fold. (you will need hex wrench to fold the handlebar though)
#2
Part-time epistemologist
Here is the translated page specific to folding bikes ...
https://www.google.com/translate?u=ht...&hl=en&ie=UTF8
Neat hubs. Although I wonder how low those handlebars are ...
https://www.google.com/translate?u=ht...&hl=en&ie=UTF8
Neat hubs. Although I wonder how low those handlebars are ...
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A narrative on bicycle driving.
A narrative on bicycle driving.
#3
Raleigh20 PugFixie, Merc
That's a really nice conversion - I love white bikes!
Funnily enough - I just fitted a Syntace stem extension similar to the Satori you mention this weekend so I can have a more forward riding position. Naturally - it means the bars don't fit into the clip anymore so I have two options I'm considering at the moment. One is adapting some seatpost quick-release bolts to fit instead of the current allen-key bolts so I can rotate the bars when I fold; The other being the fabrication of an extension to the protruding part on the stem that attaches to the clip so the bars can still fasten shut in a fold with the bars still in their forward position (my bars just have bar ends - this wouldn't work with bullhorns or drops).
The main problem I'm finding with a lightweight Brompton with things on the bars is balance when it's folded - the bar side of the fold is a lot heavier than the other without a rack or mudguards fitted so it isn't exactly happy to sit on it's base without being up against a wall.
Thanks for the links - I look forward to perusing them in good time.
Funnily enough - I just fitted a Syntace stem extension similar to the Satori you mention this weekend so I can have a more forward riding position. Naturally - it means the bars don't fit into the clip anymore so I have two options I'm considering at the moment. One is adapting some seatpost quick-release bolts to fit instead of the current allen-key bolts so I can rotate the bars when I fold; The other being the fabrication of an extension to the protruding part on the stem that attaches to the clip so the bars can still fasten shut in a fold with the bars still in their forward position (my bars just have bar ends - this wouldn't work with bullhorns or drops).
The main problem I'm finding with a lightweight Brompton with things on the bars is balance when it's folded - the bar side of the fold is a lot heavier than the other without a rack or mudguards fitted so it isn't exactly happy to sit on it's base without being up against a wall.
Thanks for the links - I look forward to perusing them in good time.
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My Raleigh Twenty site | foldr : A flickr pool | #6460, #5632 & #3407 on the fixedgeargallery
My Raleigh Twenty site | foldr : A flickr pool | #6460, #5632 & #3407 on the fixedgeargallery
#4
Raleigh20 PugFixie, Merc
Oh - a query - you mention it has bigger rims - are these the Moulton size or maybe the Birdy?
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My Raleigh Twenty site | foldr : A flickr pool | #6460, #5632 & #3407 on the fixedgeargallery
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Hi
Best looking Brommie I’ve seen too.
I converted Merc to a ti-version too, and noticed also that when the bike is folded the front and rear wheels are not on the same level – the folded bike tends to fall on the front wheel side. All I can think of is that the ti-front fork differs from Merc’s fork. The difference is about 5mm.
I also had the following experiences:
- Rear triangle wasn’t assembled properly. When I dropped the wheel axle into the slot of the triangle, there was like 15mm distance between the triangle and the rim on the left side, and 25mm on the right side. There wasn’t play enough to turn the wheel so that it would be in the centre. So I filed off some material from the axle slot. The package was intact, no marks of harsh handling. For the price one should get good quality. I didn’t send it back to the British bicycle shop, because it would have meant a month’s waiting. And before that a couple of weeks e-mail correspondence trying to convince them that I’m not a monkey.
- There is only 1 mm – or even less - distance between the tyre and the triangle’s vertical short tube when the axle is seated against the end of the slots.
Best looking Brommie I’ve seen too.
The main problem I'm finding with a lightweight Brompton with things on the bars is balance when it's folded - the bar side of the fold is a lot heavier than the other without a rack or mudguards fitted so it isn't exactly happy to sit on it's base without being up against a wall.
I also had the following experiences:
- Rear triangle wasn’t assembled properly. When I dropped the wheel axle into the slot of the triangle, there was like 15mm distance between the triangle and the rim on the left side, and 25mm on the right side. There wasn’t play enough to turn the wheel so that it would be in the centre. So I filed off some material from the axle slot. The package was intact, no marks of harsh handling. For the price one should get good quality. I didn’t send it back to the British bicycle shop, because it would have meant a month’s waiting. And before that a couple of weeks e-mail correspondence trying to convince them that I’m not a monkey.
- There is only 1 mm – or even less - distance between the tyre and the triangle’s vertical short tube when the axle is seated against the end of the slots.
#9
Raleigh20 PugFixie, Merc
I've noticed this too.
I have to say I'd doubt a part so strong and mass produced is 'assembled wrongly' - these things are made on a jig. Perhaps there is a built in offset you weren't expecting compared to the Merc part or maybe the problem is to do with the dish of the wheel? Did you put in the Merc rear hub or something else?
When I got my track hub for mine I was momentarily dismayed because I thought all track hubs were positioned dead-centre on the axle (mine isn't as it's not a flip-flop) and it seemed like it just wasn't going to fit in the frame; at least - not with a centred rim. But then I took a deep breath built the rear wheel with the correct dish (my first dished wheel) and the rim is dead-centre while the flanges are offset slightly to the left to allow for the sprocket. It's a tight fit but it works.
When I got my track hub for mine I was momentarily dismayed because I thought all track hubs were positioned dead-centre on the axle (mine isn't as it's not a flip-flop) and it seemed like it just wasn't going to fit in the frame; at least - not with a centred rim. But then I took a deep breath built the rear wheel with the correct dish (my first dished wheel) and the rim is dead-centre while the flanges are offset slightly to the left to allow for the sprocket. It's a tight fit but it works.
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My Raleigh Twenty site | foldr : A flickr pool | #6460, #5632 & #3407 on the fixedgeargallery
My Raleigh Twenty site | foldr : A flickr pool | #6460, #5632 & #3407 on the fixedgeargallery
#10
Raleigh20 PugFixie, Merc
I'm hoping to experiment with exactly this idea with a seatpost QR in the next few days if it's the right size.
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My Raleigh Twenty site | foldr : A flickr pool | #6460, #5632 & #3407 on the fixedgeargallery
My Raleigh Twenty site | foldr : A flickr pool | #6460, #5632 & #3407 on the fixedgeargallery
#11
Senior Member
- Rear triangle wasn’t assembled properly. When I dropped the wheel axle into the slot of the triangle, there was like 15mm distance between the triangle and the rim on the left side, and 25mm on the right side. There wasn’t play enough to turn the wheel so that it would be in the centre. So I filed off some material from the axle slot. The package was intact, no marks of harsh handling. For the price one should get good quality.
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I used the Merc rear wheel.
I can’t explain without a picture (This is not the ti-version). The clearance in A between the wheel and the frame tube on the left side was almost 1 cm greater compared to the clearance on the right side. But in B the clearance differences were vice versa – left side clearance was 1 cm less. This asymmetry is not present with Merc.
I did ask the question some months ago in this forum – “Are the Merc and Brompton frame parts identical?” The answer was “Yes”.
I did ask the question some months ago in this forum – “Are the Merc and Brompton frame parts identical?” The answer was “Yes”.
#13
Part-time epistemologist
I can’t explain without a picture (This is not the ti-version). The clearance in A between the wheel and the frame tube on the left side was almost 1 cm greater compared to the clearance on the right side. But in B the clearance differences were vice versa – left side clearance was 1 cm less. This asymmetry is not present with Merc.
I did ask the question some months ago in this forum – “Are the Merc and Brompton frame parts identical?” The answer was “Yes”.
I did ask the question some months ago in this forum – “Are the Merc and Brompton frame parts identical?” The answer was “Yes”.
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A narrative on bicycle driving.
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#14
Raleigh20 PugFixie, Merc
Sorted out my quick release this afternoon - works a treat - (I love the smell of dremel in the morning)
I could fit any bars now - moustache, bullhorn, risers; Drops would be a bit of a push though what with the width.
I could fit any bars now - moustache, bullhorn, risers; Drops would be a bit of a push though what with the width.
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My Raleigh Twenty site | foldr : A flickr pool | #6460, #5632 & #3407 on the fixedgeargallery
My Raleigh Twenty site | foldr : A flickr pool | #6460, #5632 & #3407 on the fixedgeargallery
#15
Part-time epistemologist
Sweet. How did you get it to work?
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A narrative on bicycle driving.
A narrative on bicycle driving.
#16
Raleigh20 PugFixie, Merc
I cut off the 'rocker' half of a spare seat release clamp to use on one side of the stem's clamp, so that the lever still applied tension in the desired incremental manner, and used the same bolt as well, with a little of the head removed so that the bars can actually rotate over this setup when you want to fold. I might put the bolt in a drill chuck and sand off a bit more of the inner shoulder for a more snug fit at some point but it all works for now. Stem 'risers' are Syntace. Pictures below:
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My Raleigh Twenty site | foldr : A flickr pool | #6460, #5632 & #3407 on the fixedgeargallery
My Raleigh Twenty site | foldr : A flickr pool | #6460, #5632 & #3407 on the fixedgeargallery
#18
Part-time epistemologist
LP ... excellent instructions.
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A narrative on bicycle driving.
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#19
Raleigh20 PugFixie, Merc
This is a possibility
Was just working with the parts I have to hand. If it was totally countersunk it'd be harder to finger-tighten on the knurled end if it gets loose for any reason though so this is pretty good. Just need to 'lathe' off some of the shoulder and I'll be happy...
Was just working with the parts I have to hand. If it was totally countersunk it'd be harder to finger-tighten on the knurled end if it gets loose for any reason though so this is pretty good. Just need to 'lathe' off some of the shoulder and I'll be happy...
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My Raleigh Twenty site | foldr : A flickr pool | #6460, #5632 & #3407 on the fixedgeargallery
#20
eight spokes
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Sweet Pics on nice work again Littlepixle!
Jepp, just checked a merc and a new b.: the ti-rear-triangle is asymmetrical with the wheel while the merc steel triangle is not (at least not as far as I can see). The parts of the two bikes are not identical. I believe, it was said here that the merc is an almost one-to-one copy to pre 199x bromptons. The Ti-parts definitely have slightly different measures. But does it matter in terms of fitting the ti-triangle to merc frame? Did others need to file also?
Jepp, just checked a merc and a new b.: the ti-rear-triangle is asymmetrical with the wheel while the merc steel triangle is not (at least not as far as I can see). The parts of the two bikes are not identical. I believe, it was said here that the merc is an almost one-to-one copy to pre 199x bromptons. The Ti-parts definitely have slightly different measures. But does it matter in terms of fitting the ti-triangle to merc frame? Did others need to file also?
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I cut off the 'rocker' half of a spare seat release clamp to use on one side of the stem's clamp, so that the lever still applied tension in the desired incremental manner, and used the same bolt as well, with a little of the head removed so that the bars can actually rotate over this setup when you want to fold. I might put the bolt in a drill chuck and sand off a bit more of the inner shoulder for a more snug fit at some point but it all works for now. Stem 'risers' are Syntace. Pictures below:
[/IMG]
[/IMG]
Jepp, just checked a merc and a new b.: the ti-rear-triangle is asymmetrical with the wheel while the merc steel triangle is not (at least not as far as I can see). The parts of the two bikes are not identical. I believe, it was said here that the merc is an almost one-to-one copy to pre 199x bromptons. The Ti-parts definitely have slightly different measures. But does it matter in terms of fitting the ti-triangle to merc frame? Did others need to file also?
#22
Life in Mono
Nice White Brommie, definately not one to leave outside, even for a nano second .. what is the overall weight ?
Very Nice Syntace Mod Little Pixel ... is the adjustment worth the extra weight ? (how many precious grams does it 'cost').
Very Nice Syntace Mod Little Pixel ... is the adjustment worth the extra weight ? (how many precious grams does it 'cost').
#23
Raleigh20 PugFixie, Merc
I haven't weighed them but they're pretty chunky seemingly made from cast aluminium; I dunno - 150g each?
Is it worth it? It's not much more reach but it does help - especially when out of the saddle. Makes for a more sporty, purposeful side profile too.
I've actually just ordered some of the Zoom/Satori clamps as they look like they've got a bit more reach, are a bit more elegantly put together and you can take the bars out without having to remove all the levers/grips. I might run drops every now and again so this will be ideal for hot swapping them.
Is it worth it? It's not much more reach but it does help - especially when out of the saddle. Makes for a more sporty, purposeful side profile too.
I've actually just ordered some of the Zoom/Satori clamps as they look like they've got a bit more reach, are a bit more elegantly put together and you can take the bars out without having to remove all the levers/grips. I might run drops every now and again so this will be ideal for hot swapping them.
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My Raleigh Twenty site | foldr : A flickr pool | #6460, #5632 & #3407 on the fixedgeargallery
My Raleigh Twenty site | foldr : A flickr pool | #6460, #5632 & #3407 on the fixedgeargallery
Last edited by LittlePixel; 04-24-08 at 05:37 PM.
#24
Part-time epistemologist
Where did you order them from? Please let us know how it turns out.
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A narrative on bicycle driving.
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#25
Raleigh20 PugFixie, Merc
Ordered from here: https://www.bicyclerepair.co.uk; Branded Zoom not Satori but they're the same. If you search for the product name 'Aberhallo' you should be able to find a US stockist maybe?
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My Raleigh Twenty site | foldr : A flickr pool | #6460, #5632 & #3407 on the fixedgeargallery
My Raleigh Twenty site | foldr : A flickr pool | #6460, #5632 & #3407 on the fixedgeargallery