the 8 speed weighs almost twice as much as the brompton wide range hub and the smallest cog the 8 speed takes is 20t. plus, from what i've read, it has alignment issues.

i've never really understood the complaints about the brompton 6 speed system. granted, it's the only one i've ever known for the brompton. but, i actually like the way it functions and if you go with 12t and 15t cogs you will get equal spacing of approx. 25% across a 307% range. for me, this is brilliant. i've got a low gear that will handle most bridges and hills and a top gear for bombing down 2nd ave like an escaped mental patient (i am one). i find that all 6 gears are useful whereas with the 8 speed hubs i find that the close ratios (14%) sometimes feel so close as to be redundant and i find myself skipping over gears so that i'm using it like a very heavy wide range 4 speed.


for an even wider range on the BWR hub. 3 speed ti cog cluster 12/15/18.