Inexpensive Alternatives To The Brompton Easy Wheel Upgrade Explored & Accomplished

[folder fanatic]

Hello Fellow Brompton Owners & Other Interested Parties,

I finally completed the upgrade to change out those awful little stock Castor wheels on my own Brompton to something far better without going into too much money. I think I succeeded. I bought my Easy Wheel more inexpensive subsitute Razor A & A2 98mm Replacement wheels quite a while ago. I put away the brand new wheels while I recovered earlier this year. Now that I am ready to ride far more, I took my bike over to a new Brompton dealer nearby my residence with my pre-purchased scooter wheels last Wednesday. The mechanic had most of the inner parts except for a Bronee Sleeve to fit the bolt & wheel bearing. It had to be the same width as the wheel. So I went over to the nearby hardware store that the mechanic directed me to and bought what I needed. You may see the full results on my World Of Folding Bicycles Flickr Website @:

Complete Set:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/world-o...7594461421431/

Specific Photos On This Particular Topic:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/world-o...7594461421431/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/world-o...7594461421431/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/world-o...7594461421431/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/world-o...7594461421431/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/world-o...7594461421431/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/world-o...7594461421431/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/world-o...7594461421431/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/world-o...7594461421431/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/world-o...7594461421431/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/world-o...7594461421431/

Some Previous Posts On This Alternative Upgrade:

http://utilitycyclist.blogspot.com/2...grade-for.html

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...Wheel+Brompton

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=527502

http://www.boox.net/topics/bicycles/...pgrade_castors

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=596315

[Foldable Two]

Nice job. Looks very clean.

The 'softer' wheels have got to be better on hard surface floors in the home, and also on carpets where there larger size won't totally sink in up to the frame.

Lou

[folder fanatic]

Thank you. The wheels seem to work well for the indoor surfaces that I usually roll the bike on. This bike is an "indoor" one; simply means that I keep the bike indoors when not in use or out and about not locked up somewhere likely to be stolen or vandalized. My previous upgrade also included a Seat Pillar Rubber Bung that prevents the seat post from marring surfaces too. That part was actually from Brompton-and inexpensive too.

[nekohime]

I do have scooter wheels on Vendetta too, and I love em! They're such an inexpensive yet extremely functional upgrade. When they wear out (and they are close to it, since they were actually from my brother's old scooter) I'm going to buy a lime green pair to match the brommie.

[chagzuki]

Hi,
I'm resurrecting an old thread here as I just acquired a second-hand m3l brompton and I've been considering the rolling issue. It seems to me that the bike ought to overbalance sideways with wheels as large as those that folder fanatic has installed but I guess this isn't the case? Or perhaps to make the bike stand more securely the wheels have to extend further laterally. . . but this would increase heel-strike. Or perhaps eliminating the play that the stock wheels have through being bearing-less would increase stability enough that it sits happily on larger wheels?

[14R]

Mine works fine. Third Brompton using inline Rollerblades wheels (purchased used @ Play it Again US$1.99 each in the USA). They do very well on the floor of Rio de Janeiro's Subway system.

[chagzuki]

And what about when the handlepost is folded down; this adds to the lateral weight imbalance?

[chagzuki]

Plus the absence of a fender would change the angles. . . perhaps that effectively lowers the front wheel meaning larger skate wheels fit better?

[Lao]

I know this is an old thread but my question seems new..
Are the inner holes of the rollers the same as for all inline wheels? If not how do I know that I buy the right size?

[badmother]

I know this is an old thread but my question seems new..
Are the inner holes of the rollers the same as for all inline wheels? If not how do I know that I buy the right size?

Measure the screw on your B (or read about it if you can find the info) and then read on the package you want to buy or measure.

Looks like the bikes without a rack could have some problems over time becouse of rolling on only two wheels. This site offers repairs and strenghtening before anything breaks. I have seen several sites on this but can not find them at the moment.
http://www.eerdermetaal.nl/brompton_...satiebrug.html

[Lao]

It's just that I live far from everything and webpages with inline wheels don't even write that out. Of course I can (and will) ask but if there are differences between wheels one might think that it would be important enough for the sellers to mention.
But thanks for the answer. Haven't heard of that problem before. I will keep an eye on it and maybe do something about it later on, but everything has its time.

[fietsbob]

I got a brace Made, that goes between the 2 frame wheels,
then took the regular roller
which has a recess to where it fit over the j bend, a bit, cut the edge off,
so it was flush, then bolted it back on.

The Bolt for the frame wheel mount, is 6mm, if you have a rack,
the bolt for that is a 5mm.
so when shopping for aftermarket skate wheels
the bearing ID has to be considered..

[chagzuki]

The bolts are 6mm and 608 bearings typically used on skate wheels have 8mm cores, so you need to find something to act as a spacer. I found some pvc tubing on ebay that worked fine and was easy to cut with scissors. Something like this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/6mm-ID-8mm...item3cc020726d

With the official Brompton wheel set you get a rubber stopper that affixes inside the seat post and stops the bike from rolling around when folded. Unless you can get some skate wheels very cheap or have some already it may be better to get the official Brompton version. However the Brompton wheels are around 60mm diameter and I find them a bit small to roll on uneven surfaces.

[badmother]

This bikeshop in Stockholm is listed as a Brompton dealer. http://www.gamlastanscykel.se/ I think I remember I found 11 bikeshops listed as Brompton dealers in Sweden. You could e-mail one of them and buy from there also.

This UK based shop has got 19 pages of Brompton stuff, this is where I buy most of my B stuff. http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/brompton-shopbrompton_pg1

I bought the B wheels for my sons B since it is safe and easy. Mine has some inline type wheels picked from a wheelchair (monted on the corners to keep it from scratching walls and similar) that I got from my bf. Perfect fit and I could try it out, that is not possible when you buy from a shop. Is there no flea marked or similar in your area? Often inline skates is not worn much.

[Lao]

Thanks again. Yes, I know where I can find Bromptons own Eazy Wheels but after reading a bit many likes a bit bigger wheels. I'm browsing around for inline wheels every now and then and hopefully I will find something that fits. It's not about the money, it's about functionality and simplicity. (Hm, why do I get the impression that I sound rude and short when I write in English?) But I think I know what is needed if I decide on inline wheels (spacers is key).

[badmother]

A bit bigger could be good I agree. First I put kickscooter wheels on mine and could not get it to work. Too big I thought at that time and I remember they were broader than the original so I tryed fiddeling with the bearrings but could not get it to work. I remember looking in the Biltema catalouge and finding something I wanted to try but then got bored since you really need those wheels so I went the safe way.
You have stated Sweden so English is not your native language. You should be excused for many mistakes for that reason but some peopel has got nothing else to do than to comment on spelling and sentences so in time you may get your share. Be strong.

[Lao]

Haha. Surley rude and short (or atleast rude) must not be necessary just because this is my second language. (Now you made me curious, why were you looking in a Biltema catalogue? Are from the Nordic region as well?)

[badmother]

Just psychic. Are you on the Yahoo Brompton talk group? http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group.../message/80757

[Lao]

Nice skills... No, I try to minimize the number of places where I have to sign up (it's hard really hard).

[Barrakulyan]

Tried to send you a PM FF but I dont have a high enough post count . Anyway What is this Bronee Sleeve your refeering to? I cant seem to find it on the web anywhere, is there another name for it?