stevegor

Sorry if this has been asked before, but....

I'm looking at an early Moulton, which I will restore and mod. Can I fit 406 mm rims into this frame?

jur

I'm looking at it too. Will beat the price up for you.

Joking only! I think it is too beat up. I'd rather pay more for something in better shape. Dunno about the wheel size issue, sorry.

yangmusa

I've had a Mk1 and a Mk2. As you probably know, the stock wheel size is the same as a Brompton - 16 * 1 3/8, or ISO 349. I had the stock mudguards/fenders on the bike, but I highly doubt that there would be room for 406 rims even if you took the mudguards off. Someone who currently owns an F-frame would have to double check to make sure, but I'd say "no it can't be done" with 90% certainty...

arctos

As far as I know NOT in the F-frame models[349 rims] 1962 through 1974 nor the AM models [369 rim] of any year.

Only the Moulton ATB and the Pashley licensed APB use 406 wheels.

LWaB

Not if you are planning to put tyres on those 406 rims...

LittlePixel

Just apply some matt black paint - that should do it (Lol)

stevegor

Thanks guys...and very funny

LittlePixel

Don't be afraid of sub-406 wheels... 349 isn't much smaller really and velocity do some very nice rims in that size.

With 'skills' you could probably make some sort of franken hybrid fork out of the stock moulton and a Raleigh Twenty piece with some hacking and brazing, but as far as I can see the clearance at the back is pretty tight so I don't think it's gonna be a goer.

griftereck

If I had one I would build a box section swing arm like a motorbike.
as the original is peely wally.

or not very strong and cracks at the brake bridge.

not much chance of getting a 406 in the front.

stevegor

LP,
My son is doing engineering at school and one of the classes he attends are building a steel prototype of a racing recumbent, (that next year will be made from carbon fibre), so I figure that frankenbiking the front and rear forks to fit 406 rims is not out of the question.
As I have a set of 406 wheels with a SA 8 spd hub already built and plenty of old frames to scavenge from I was hoping to save money and use my son's skills as cheap labour

LittlePixel

If it's a success I think you might be able to set up a wee business making Moulton forks for the Raleigh Twenty!

The forks on the Moulton Mark 3 are basically Twenty-with suspension anyway so it'd be a real period 'almost kosher' upgrade and a lot more elegant looking than a chunky pair of kids' RST forks.

Could your son emulate the New-series forks? That would be suweeeet!

LittlePixel

I meant to also concurr with the rear - I reckon with the right tooling it'd be pretty straightforward to canibalise some 20" front forks to become a new trailing rear end; new dropouts at the tips and flatten them at the top end - hell you could even upgrade to a birdy type elastomer or something similar

D'you know what - why don't you go for the 451 size if you're going to all this trouble...?
Or would that be too big?

jur

So, did you win the auction?

stevegor

As per usual, Jur, I bid, then all these crazies outbid me and win the damn bikes I want....Ah well, I've got enough projects going on anyway...and not enough money. Back to the wife's R20 rebuild and my 24" tourer.

I will get a Moulton one day....and a Bike Friday Pocket Rocket Pro...and a Swift...and a.........