Originally, I thought that the mint green color ... since I am writing to someone in Great Britain ... colour was something to gag on. But after a week, it has grown on me.

Of course, it may be the case that since I have a Mini, I might as well enjoy the colour.

What does a Steve Parry 8-speed Brompton cost? Anyone?

NB is like the weather. If you don't like the price, wait a few days. It will change.

Nashbar has free shipping now. No minimum. It might make up the difference.

It truly looks a great little bike. If it wasn't for the color, I'd be sorely tempted. I could use a low gear in the twenties. My bottom on the merc even with my dual chainring adaptation is 39". Top is about 79". This is fine around town, but I have a hankering to go touring and then there will be long hills and weight. I could always just take the car and ride day circuits then move on. That way, there'd be no gear to carry.

Looking at an early comment from Dr Yan in this thread, I'm not certain that I wouldn't get charged tax if I bought one in the UK on top of the price.

As for a Steve Parry Brompton, I guess they're expensive. I have a Steve Parry front derailleur bracket on my Merc for my six speed conversion. Let's face it, any Brompton is VERY expensive. I think the cheapest one is £400.

Very cute mother-in-law, SC!

Ok - she's cute. Nice smile too.

I'm working backwards through this thread hoping to find some tips on setting up this new SA 8 speed hub (not on a mini), which just loves to go into what I thought was freewheel mode, but is probably first gear, in between gear shifts. Glad I started on this page, thanks - made me forget about those gears for a while. This picture would make a great DT advert. :-)

EvilV:

As you're contemplating touring, here's an interesting link for an English speaking Russian, living in the US, who's done some amazing tours on a Brompton, so I suppose would be feasible on your Merc too:

https://www.foldabikes.com/CurrentEvents/Story/Alex.html

Some useful tips there.

I wonder if that huge $190 shipping charge could be reduced if the mini could also be sold as a "kit" bike? Most of the folk on BF are modifying it in one or several ways, & some are very experienced in this kind of thing. There used to be - don't know if still the case - a "kit" form of cars you could buy in the UK & they attracted a much reduced taxation rate.

I had a look at the USPS website. The Mini is a shade under 25lbs and the postage with them should be in the region of $100-120. I don't know where Yan get's his $300 postage quote from, but it's horrific!

Yeah how about it Yan, start using USPS instead of those robbers that call themselves UPS! I got the same postage answer as ningnangnong weeks ago.

The UPS quote probably includes a customs broker.

Not sure how it is in your country, but if you send USPS you might have to meet your package at the border for it to clear customs. It can be extremely complicated to figure all this stuff out and part of the service from UPS is that you don't have to.

Now is the time! With an 8-10 week delay on Brompton, with congestion charge (£8 per day to drive into London), with the massive increases in prices of tickets on public transport and with the Tube unreliable and up to 49 degrees C onboard in summer(!)... you're missing a trick not making it easy for us. Don't believe me? Read on; our quality daily's even cover it.

https://business.guardian.co.uk/story...529413,00.html
https://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/..._feature.shtml
https://www.bikebiz.co.uk/news/23874/...r-cycling-city
https://www.lcc.org.uk/index.asp?PageID=111
https://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/medi...ntre/3666.aspx

Even a Govt report:
https://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloa...or-cycling.pdf

makeinu - you would think so wouldn't you. But I got hit by UPS and the courier required payment there and then.

Packages marked as "Gift" are not subject to tax.

Cyclistjohn:

If you haven't already found the technical manual, here is the link:
https://www.sturmey-archer.com/pdfs/XRF8.pdf

I agree, the picture of my niece on the Mini would make a great advert. They're very well matched. If I was a really good uncle, I'd get one for her.

Would the customs situation be any different if it were a used bike? I mean, it wouldn't be that hard to ride a mini around a little, get some mud splattered on the tires, and sell it on ebay.... but what do I know.

Let's move the discussion about import/export here.

Yes I've seen that. Someone posted it the other day and I read the lot. If you go to the foldabikes website home page, there are links to more than were posted on here. That guy is amazing. He's ridden that Brompton everywhere.

Not sure. In the early part of this thread Dr Y said he would not be charging tax, but the thread originated a long while ago and I think it has changed and that the $190 includes VAT. I certainly hope so, else it would be a great deal for merel;y shipping 30 pounds of box around the globe. All trade with China would cease of that was the cost per bike box sized parcel.

Where does Yan get spokes that are ~110 mm long for the Mini's rear wheel?

Yan?

I doubt that most goods from China come in individual bike boxed sized parcels, but rather boat loads.

All wheel builders custom cut spokes. I know wheelsmith will sell any sized spokes....but they are backed up right now.

Thanks,
Yan

Our $190 price assumed we have the bikes in the UK. It would cover shipping+anti dumping duty+VAT.

FYI Our shopping cart only accepts one monetary unit, dollars, not pounds. Hence we needed a proper way to charge for the extra expenses incurred by importing into the UK. $190 fee may seem high to customers, however it's a bargain.

My tax bills in the US vary from 8-11% of the cost of the cargo. Tax plus shipping is usually about 20% in the US. I got a 120% bill for cargo in the UK. Charging $190 is well less than 120% of the cost of a bike.....therefore is it a bargain???

Thanks,
Yan

Really? Do you mean wheelsmith fabrications? According to their website, the shortest they produce is 174-310 mm.

https://www.wheelsmith.com/index_files/wsspokes.htm

Jay Gaerlan writes that the shortest spokes he cuts is 120mm.

Do you have a source that you could pass along?

Thanks.

-G

EDIT: Looks like this place might sell super short spokes. Anyone with any experience with them?

https://www.icyclesusa.com/catalog/st...eel-spokes.htm

Thanks for the clarification.

The bike is still competitive and looks great.
Thank