Get the one you're really into. The 2-speed non-Black Edition ti bike may be the lightest and at a reasonable price, but I'm not sure you're going to love the looks or gearing. I love the looks of both other choices, and would be inclined towards the Black Lacquer, but the CHPT3 is also very cool. No fenders on that one, though, which would be a negative for me.

I would get a 6 speed all steel. Further research shows that aftermarket J&L ti fork weighs less than the Brompton one. Then there are several rear swingarm options in ti including disc brake versions. Ultimately if you replace everything with aftermarket parts you can have a light bike, but replacing standard Brompton ti parts seems a waste of money. It can be a nice project upgrading and coming from a heavier bike will be appreciated more.

I saw a Prototype, not made by Brompton, made by eliminating the hinges in the main frame tube and handlebar mast..

rear fold retained .. those 4 pieces gone, saved weight..

it was a Spanish company, that sells aftermarket stuff,, obviously custom..





....

Thanks. Yeah, I keep telling myself to be sensible and just get a basic non-black edition, but I know myself... I'll ride it more if I love the way it looks too. Right now I am leaning towards the black lacquer Black edition 6 speed. I can pretty much get it for $1875, whereas the CHPT3 version comes in over $2600... They also have an all black bike (Black Edition) in 6 speed for about $250 less than the black lacquer one but that darn black lacquer one looks so much nicer in person. Thanks for everyone's help!

You want the 6 speed. Ignore any advice that says otherwise.

According to Brompton a S6Lx with carrier block, the shortest seat post and w/o (!) lights weights 10,9kg and as far as I can judge this is realistic.

1. S-Typ 10,3kg 1089,00€
2. 6 Gang 920g 281,00€
3. Version L - Schutzbleche o. G.-Träger 371g 85,00€
4. Superlight Rahmen -740g 825,00€
10. Trägerblock, einzeln 93g 39,00€

Summe 10,9kg 2319,00€

So your bike seems to be lighter than normal for some reasons. What one can see already from your picture is that you have an aftermarket titanium seatpost that is much lighter than the factory steel version and furthermore get's rid of the pentaclip as well (~100 g saved alone through getting rid of that). You have a 3rd party saddle as well that may be lighter than stock and possibly some other bits in the non-visible area. So while it is easily possible to get a 6-speed to the 10kg mark it is clearly not what comes from the factory and in comparison to the 2-speed the 6-speed adds about as much weight as the ti version saves over the steel version.

The question is wether the quality of the J&L parts is at the same level as factory from Brompton. It does not seem to be cheaper and buying a steel to upgrade it to titanium with 3rd-party parts of unknown quality does seem a bit weird if there is a ti-version with known quality available from the factory for in the end less money.

That's correct. Therefore I'd go for 1. or add fenders to 3. if it was a 2-speed. It should be no issue to order a CHPT 2-speed or a black-raw 2-speed. It will just need a couple of weeks of lead time. Regarding the CHPT3 you should be aware that you pay for the looks - technically it is the same as a ordinary S2lx with special color, an upgraded saddle and black edition parts. The CHPT3 will weight a bit more than the normal S2Lx due to the heavier but beautiful red Cambium-saddle, the colored ti-parts and the probably minimal heavier grips. No problem to add fenders, even with the titanium stays - both available from Brompton as a spare part.

However, the 2lx is the most attractive Brompton from a rider's perspective that does not want to do loaded touring. Make sure that you will be ok with the S-handlebars, otherwise the CHPT3 is not for you. Think about upgrading the seat post to titanium via an aftermarket version from china via ebay - it is cheap and saves a lot of weight. Make sure you get the correct length of the seat post for your size - many need the longer version and those should think about the telescopic version as it compacts, saving on folded size. However a bitter tradeoff in terms of weight. There is a slightly lighter telescopic version from Joseph Kusoac but it is still heavier than the non-telescopic ti-versions.

Pricewise check what is the price difference between a 2ex (w/o fenders) and a 2-peed CHPT3. Substract the price for the Brooks-saddle and judge if the difference between the two bikes is worth it to you. Typically the special editions are not more expensive than the normal ones if you substract the price for additional more expensive parts like a brooks saddle. It may however be different with the CHPT3 due to the colored ti-parts.

Did you ever ride a 2-speed extensively to be able to compare?

Berlini, assuredly.The two speed is not a good choice unless it's for commuting in flattish cities only. Besides, you're always better off future proofing your bike at purchase. If I hadn't got a Brompton with the lot, I wouldn't have been able to take it touring in Asia and Oz.

Sadly your advice is ill advised in this case.

As said before: I've been happily touring with the 2-speed, even in the Alps and know some people that have done the same. Each year a group of Brompton riders does the Berlin wall way on Bromptons - 165km on a single day. Some of them on 2-speeds and they are just average riders. Admittedly mostly flat terrain but I would not call this exactly commuting in flattish cities.... Each year in autum a group of Brompton riders climb the Brocken, a mountain in the German area of Harz. Some of them on two-speeds, some of them with an additional 39t granny gear. Not directly commuting in the flat either and no city around.

A useless discussion anyway as the OP did not say what he intends to do with his Brompton - I'd assume if he wanted to go touring he would have mentioned it.

You are superman. To the OP, get the 6 speed:)

I don't want to spend time/money modifying, which is why I want to make the right decision up front. I'm almost convinced that I should get the 6 speed black edition/black lacquer bike but my only hangup I still have is whether I should be going with a superlight/titanium instead...

If you have the cash and like the looks of the CHPT3 - I think it's killer - get that one and have the shop slap some black fenders on it. It's cool!

The CHPT3 version will end up costing me an extra $975 due to a deal on the black lacquer one... That's a lot of dough! I guess it depends on how much I want it. I can almost get another single speed brommie for that price...

You will never regret having a lighter bike. And in a year or two you won't think about the money spent. Every single time I have "cheaped out" on something in the beginning, I've ended up wishing I had done it right in the first place. Have you ever experienced that? If you get what you really want you'll be happier. Save the upgrading for gearing and the like. Get the basic frame you want now; it will be less expensive than upgrading the frame later on (prices go up, labor goes up, etc.). Unless you don't have the $ now, in that case, get what you can afford and save up to make the changes later.

This happened to me with my last Brompton. I found a good deal on a Stardust Black model, but really wanted something more colorful. The sparkly black looked great, but it didn't make me want to grab it and go so I ended up not riding it much. I should've held out for the grey w/rasberry extremities I really wanted.

Yup. I know we are supposed to be adults and really the components and configuration should matter more than anything, but truth is....we ride the bikes that make us smile (on the inside or outside). Buy the bike that makes you happy. Even if it means waiting a bit to save more for it. Aesthetics mean a lot. If they didn't, everyone would just drive base model Toyotas, lol.

That $975 will get you a round trip ticket to Amsterdam. Buy the ti if you will lift/carry the bike often but not otherwise as weight really doesn't matter much when riding.

Buy the 6 speed unless you will mainly ride flatland and/or short distances.

Great advice. Thanks!

Was showing Op it's possible for a 6 speed ti to weight the same as a factory 2 speed ti.

After a few mods/parts swap. :D
-front & rear reflectors/brackets removed
-Brompfication ti seatpost(went out of business)
-Selle Italia SLR carbon base/ti rails seat
-Expedo R Force titanium clipless pedals
-Shimano Dura Ace 10 speed chainring/wheel
-Shimano Ultegra 10 speed chain
-various tianium nuts and bolts from NOV, Brompfication, Ti Parts, etc:
rear wheel nuts, handlebar mast, cranks, front skewer, seatpost QR, etc, etc.
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8178/...971cf11bbd.jpgRear lites test, East River path NYC by 1nterceptor, on Flickr

Going with the Black Edition, black lacquer bike in steel, 6 speed... will post pics when it arrives! For my needs, the titanium was overkill and I really wanted black edition components...

I've got to disagree. I've never seen a better headlight for riding at night than the B&M IQ-X. No other bike light provides such a wide beam with a cut off to not blind oncoming traffic. I suggest the IQ-X to anyone getting a Brompton or any other bike they're going to ride around at night time. And thank God they don't flash. How are you supposed to see where you're going if your headlight is flashing?

Excellent choice. I currently don't have much use for a folder (or another bike at all), but MAN that thing is cool!

Now I need to figure out what cool grips I can put on there to replace the foam ones... Any ideas? Ergon GA2 in black? Anything I need to know about the length of the grips for the new M bar? Thanks.

But vital when you cycle on the other side of the road :)

Seriosly, bicycle lights these days have a number of different modes, which includes flashing as well as normal continuous beam, so not a problem. The Brompton front light is mounted too low, turns off when you stop and the dynamo increases resistance when you pedal. At night I have both sets of lights on, and it is the USB that lights up the road, though it is on more for visibility, as we have street lights everywhere here, until 23:00h anyway.

You're good to go with GA2 grips. Pre-2017 Brommies used short grips, but the bars have been redesigned to use the standard 130mm length now. GA2 is 132, which is close enough.

I prefer the GP1 model with the paddles in Small for my small hands; the GA2 looks to me to be a more traditional round-ish grip which probably works better for trail riding.

Do not forget: You have an outdated halogen front-light on your Brompton that has been exchanged on new Bromtons aready six years ago. The BuM IQ X has standlight, lightsensor and daylight-lightening, near-field light and offers 100 Lux of bright white LED light. The picture of the light fieled from BuM is typically on the very optimistic side of life but still gives an idea:

https://www.bumm.de/assets/theme/ima...ts/lux_100.jpg

Your's offers ~15 Lux of yellow halogen light and has no other features. So it is obviously not possible to judge on an IQ X if you only know your halogen light and it is close to impossible not to offer better light than your current one, even with a candle...

The light-filed-picture of an 10 Lux halogen-light from BuM is again more than just optimistic (from my experience the Brompton's factory halogen-lamp is far worse than that) but offers a bit of a relative comparison to what the IQ X offers:

https://www.bumm.de/assets/theme/ima...ts/lux_010.jpg
(both pictures from here)

Dynamowise you have the low end shimano dynamo (the lowest end dynamo that shimano offers) that is heavy and has a lot of drag in on- as well als in off-mode. The SON has no noticable drag in neither mode and is a lot lighter and bullet proof (but expensive). The SP8 and SP9 as possbile alternatives are in between.

With a IQ X or an Edelux2 nothing is left to desired lightwise, even with the low mounting point on the Brompton. If you wish you can mount both on the bars as well, then offering an even better field of light but possibly leading to the same issues with the fold that battery light on the bars habe. Of the two I clearly prefer the Edelux2 because of longer warranty, less blinding and better build quality. My IQ X failed after only 10 months while my Edelux 1 + 2 lamps have been running strong already for years. Plus the IQ X is very (!) sensive for correct adjustment otherwise it will blind other traffic very badly.

Do you enjoy posting uninteresting posts at great length? I stopped reading after the first oversize graphic. It must be annoying to have to be right all the time.

Nevertheless, the fact is the dynamo in the hub and the lights are a waste of money. I paid 380THB for front and rear USB lights and 15 € in France.

No doubt you'll wish to prove this wrong, but I suspect that's a fair bit cheaper than the Brompton product.

Much obliged...