Brompton Titanium worth the price?

[ubringliten]

Hello folks,

I am planning to order two Bromptons, one for my wife and one for me. We are not strong people. She's petite and I am a skinny dude. I am a little concern about the weight of the Bromptons, albeit it is one of the lightest folders around. I have always like the simplicity of a bike and weight is a big factor when I consider buying but shelling out extra $800 USD (40% of the total price) just for 2 lbs lighter (<10% of the total bike)? Do you guys think it's worth it? Any regrets for not getting it down the line?

Thanks!

[ccmfolder]

Hmmm. I can't speak specifically to the Brompton but when I stripped down all the extra bits on my Halfway it dropped a couple of pounds. I didn't notice any difference riding. It felt a bit better carrying up stairs crossing bridges for transit. If I had to carry the bike a lot I think a couple of pounds of weight would be appreciated.

My lighter non folder seems easier to get going. Probably a combination of better hubs and weight.

[CabezaShok]

Hello folks,

I am planning to order two Bromptons, one for my wife and one for me. We are not strong people. She's petite and I am a skinny dude. I am a little concern about the weight of the Bromptons, albeit it is one of the lightest folders around. I have always like the simplicity of a bike and weight is a big factor when I consider buying but shelling out extra $800 USD (40% of the total price) just for 2 lbs lighter (<10% of the total bike)? Do you guys think it's worth it? Any regrets for not getting it down the line?

Thanks!

My wife is very petite, and im skinny. She's perfectly happy with her standard all steel 6-speed Brompton. She does wish we ordered the rear rack with the big roller wheels....it makes it a lot easier to cart around folded. She can lift it up into a grocery cart no problem (she knows how to lift proper with da knees)
It will be hard to notice the 2lb. weight savings unless riding up a steep hill IMO.

BTW, Make sure you study which gear ratio you need to order for YOUR needs (do you live in hills or flatland). We bought the "standard" gear ratio, but i think we should have gotten a lower ratio as we hardly use the top gears even when going downhill.....well I use the top gear on downhills/tailwinds.... but she doesnt.

Hope this helps

[alhedges]

Whether titanium is worth the price depends a lot on how much money you have to spend, of course. But $400 does seem like a lot to save 1.75 lbs.

One way to think about it is to consider the bikes you are ordering - if you are getting a 6 spd with a rack and fenders, you are already at 28 lbs or so; reducing the weight to 26.5 lbs won't make much of a difference. On the other hand, if you have already done as much as you can to minimize the weight (no fenders or rack, 2 speed or even 1 speed bike , then maybe titanium would be worth it to you because you could get the bike weight under 20lbs (I think)).

[chagzuki]

I think the general notion is that if the bike is a perfect fit for you, if it integrates perfectly into your lifestyle and you find yourself taking it with you everywhere you go, then the additional ease of carrying a lighter bike will justify the cost. Or to rephrase, if you it's the perfect bike for you bar the weight etc..

I've seen no information that contradicts my view that using hi-tensile steel for the Brompton frame is ludicrous, the bikes should be chromoly and that would provide the weight saving that the available titanium bits do at none of the cost. Having ti parts on a frame made of type of steel that isn't used on even the cheapest bikes highlights the absurd position of the Brompton company; their fold is currently so unique that other aspects of the bike can be entirely neglected and at stupendous price premium.

The other issue is whether you're comfortable carrying around such an expensive item, it's almost like wearing a diamond brooch.

[pacificcyclist]

Hello folks,

I am planning to order two Bromptons, one for my wife and one for me. We are not strong people. She's petite and I am a skinny dude. I am a little concern about the weight of the Bromptons, albeit it is one of the lightest folders around. I have always like the simplicity of a bike and weight is a big factor when I consider buying but shelling out extra $800 USD (40% of the total price) just for 2 lbs lighter (<10% of the total bike)? Do you guys think it's worth it? Any regrets for not getting it down the line?

Thanks!

2lbs lighter is probably useful for transporting the bike in buses, trains and taxis or taking it on planes as part of a check in luggage rather than the riding itself. That savings will be negated as soon as you are carrying water, food, lock and what have you when you ride.

[fietsbob]

I got my M3L from someone who wanted an M2LX instead,
so for some people it is worth it..

I understand they have those subcomponents contract made,
Russian rear portion, China for the fork
seat post is now Aluminum Rather than Russo Ti.

[Taipei Tony]

Hmmm. I can't speak specifically to the Brompton but when I stripped down all the extra bits on my Halfway it dropped a couple of pounds. I didn't notice any difference riding. It felt a bit better carrying up stairs crossing bridges for transit. If I had to carry the bike a lot I think a couple of pounds of weight would be appreciated.

My lighter non folder seems easier to get going. Probably a combination of better hubs and weight.

I live in Taiwan and there are quite a few Halfways around here. The Taiwanese Giant site lists the Halfway at 11.4kb(~25lbs)http://www.giantcyclingworld.com/web...d-a1630d8bbcf4. But I've checked out a few different ones and they all felt much heavier, definitely not 25lbs.

Two questions:
1) What was the stock weight? I'm assuming you weighed it before you made all the modifications.
2) What exactly did you strip/mod to make it lighter?

Thanks!

[PDR]

I've had my Titanium 2-speed S-type for 3 years now and I think paying the extra was well worth the price not only in weight saving, but also in looks and the fact that those parts aren't going to rust. I opted for no mud guards, rack or other heavy items. I tend to carry my Brompton a reasonable amount so I do notice the difference. I don't think the titanium option makes sense if your going to fit racks, guards, dynamo lighting, locks and 6 speed gear options etc.

[Ozonation]

A lot of dealers I inquired at a couple of weeks ago mentioned that Brompton had temporarily suspended the titanium option due to quality control issues. Not sure if this is still the case. Of course, some dealers might already have a titanium variant available.

[elzy0000]

I love my standard brompton. That said... Unless you have money to burn those two pounds are pretty expensive. I say opt for the steel version and loose the pounds off of your waistline. Spend the cash on a gym membership. But if you have the cash to blow and can find the titanium version go for it. The snob factor is easily worth the cash.

[jerrysimon]

Loosing a couple of pounds off your waistline will make no difference to the carry weigth of the bike!

A very timely thread. On Friday I pick up what is probably the last available new Titanium Brompton made in 2011. Mine is a white M3LX. 2012 models are listed but as yet are not available and no one knows when/if they will be. The 2012 listed price is also now £200 higher than the 2011 models!

From what I have gleaned from suppliers the problem is that Brompton are trying to source a new supplier of Ti as the existing supplier has proved less than reliable. Then again this might all just be a rumour.

Anyway back to why I have decided to get one. I have owned a M3L for just over two years now. I use it pretty much daily for my 10.5 mile round commute. I love my Brompton. It has transformed my working day. I purchased it on a cycle to work scheme and paid less what £500 for it. It weighed 11.5kg stock. From the moment I purchased it I started thinking about the Ti models. I don't recall if I knew that Ti models were available before I purchased mine, probably not given I just purchased my M3L from shop stock.

My application is slightly different in that I have health issues and have fitted a small (2kg) hub motor on the front. For me it is ALL about carry weight. I am always carrying the bike in and out of work, shops, post offices, coffee shops. With the motor, marathon plus tires this took its stock weight up to just over 14kg (a small 1kg battery and electronics are all in the bag about 3kg carried in the other hand). I set about putting it on a diet. First to go was the three speed down to a two speed which I think saved 0.5kg. I also swapped the MP tires for Kojaks again another saving of 0.5kg. I love these super fast tires and am prepared to take the hit on puncture resistance, one puncture in ten months so far. Anyway its now sitting at around 13kg. This is fine for short distance carrying but starts to get heavy pretty quickly the further you carry it.

My new M3LX will weigh under 10kg once I carry out the same treatment as above i.e. turn it into a M2LX with Kojaks. I have now source a 1.4kg motor so that will take it to just under a stock M3L at 11.5kg. So for me it is definatley worth it.

My requirement is slightly different, but if I was hopping on and off trains/buses everday I would not hesitate in getting either a M2LX or S2LX (I prefer the more upright riding position).

Also after two years of daily use in all weathers, as others have stated I too have noticed that the two frame extremities, and the tubing on the rear frame do have a little rust on them. So as others have pointed out another advantage of the Ti upgrade.

Three speed with MP tires.



Two speed with Kojaks.



Regards

Jerry

[blakcloud]

I went to order my Brompton yesterday and the dealer said Brompton had stopped taking orders on the ti version due to a titanium shortage. Since I really want the super light version I may just hold out and hopefully they will get it sorted out. I know if I buy the all steel version I will always regret not getting the ti version. I figure I have the money, it is a bike that I will keep for a long time, I thinking saving weight is important when carrying the bike and I like the look.

[ccmfolder]

I have an older halfway which weighed about 29lb. Shed the fenders and rack and it was down to about 27lbs. I suppose I could get away with more by removing the kickstand and grinding off the excess tabs and blocks. Tire change and a few components could drive the weight down to a respectable level. I'm not following that path as the bike was just a proof of concept for me which I fortunately got for a good used price. It will eventually get unloaded.

[ubringliten]

Thank you all for your great advices! We went without titanium, going with 3 standard 3 speeds and figured we won't be carrying the bikes much. It's more a recreational bike not a commuter bike. My wife got a hot pink and mine's a turkish green. We both are ecstatic! It will open up to more ways of cycling.

[Purpleorchid]

Congrats ubringliten! Pics please!

[jerrysimon]

Yes congrats ubringliten.

Just to complete my part of the post here are some pics of my White M3LX which I picked up last week. The pics show it stock as it came. I am still playing with the white balance on the camera as this bike is very white!







I am very pleased with it. I really like the unpainted Titanium parts which I think look great. I have been playing with retro fitting the two gear option and Kojaks, which brings the weight down to 9.8kg

Had a quick spin round the block and it rides nicely. I also like the titanium bolt on the folding pedal that can be undone with an allen key.

Regards

Jerry

[fietsbob]

It's nice that they began fitting a steel version of the LH pedal hub,
now with an allen socket, too..
I Ground down the edge of a 24mm socket,
to get a good grip on the prior hex bolt.

[jerrysimon]

It's nice that they began fitting a steel version of the LH pedal hub,
now with an allen socket, too..

That sounds like a worthwhile change. Not sure if mine is steel or Ti ?

The only other change I can see from my 2009 model, is the badge design and two rubber bands/O rings on the seat post just under the saddle. To set the correct height maybe ?

Oh and I think they use more locking nuts especially after the complaints of the chain tensioners falling apart. I emailed them about that when mine did and they said they were changing them.

Regards

Jerry

[chagzuki]

That's just the ti 'badge', isn't it? Presumably the seat post is steel now too?
Any revealing pics of the new pedal would be welcome

[jerrysimon]

Ah I didn't realise the Ti badge was different lol

Yes steel seat post alas

I will do some pics of the pedal later.

Regards

Jerry.

[fietsbob]

The rubber O rings would keep the telescoping post from banging down too hard.
when Folding.. they are on the 7/8" section. not the 1.25" part..

[Purpleorchid]

The rubber O rings would keep the telescoping post from banging down too hard.
when Folding.. they are on the 7/8" section. not the 1.25" part..

Interesting. So they are essentially useless on my extended seat post. When the bike is vertical, the ground prevents the seat post from going that low. Are the o-rings standard on all three seat posts (standard, extended and telescoping)?

[ubringliten]

Just to complete my part of the post here are some pics of my White M3LX which I picked up last week. The pics show it stock as it came. I am still playing with the white balance on the camera as this bike is very white!

That is the best 2 colors match I've seen on any Brompton. Beautiful! Thanks for the pics.

[HGR3inOK]

That is the best 2 colors match I've seen on any Brompton. Beautiful! Thanks for the pics.

+1

-HANK RYAN-
Norman, Oklahoma USA