PDR

I wonder if anyone can confirm what is involved in this conversion?

I let my Dad have a ride of my S-Type 2 speed Brompton last Sunday and now he wants one. I asked him about the S bars and he said he really liked them and says that is the type he wants.

The problem is that I have phoned all the local dealers and none have got any S-Types in stock. I’ve mentioned the B-Spoke option but he is not willing to wait the 6-8 weeks... when he sets his mind on something he wants it now! So I’ll be at the Brompton dealers with him first thing Saturday morning.

So I’m considering buying him an M type and if he does not like it I will change the bars.

I know I would have to buy:
S-type stem
S-type bars & grips
S-type brake levers
S-type brake & gear cables, or might I be able to shorten the existing cables to S-type length?
S-type cable gatherer (not required if I use original cables)

Is there anything else that I have overlooked?

The S-type bars are far and away my preferred choice but my Dad has not tried an M-type yet, so he may find that he likes them once he rides an M-type.

I have even been looking on e-bay but it seems to me that even second hand bikes are fetching prices near to what I can buy a new one for.

Folder4life

Wow, that seems like alot of work and extra money because your father wants it now! I would test drive the M-type, not buy it. It is completely different from the S-type.

PDR

I test rode some M-types myself last year and did not like them as much as the S-type bars. I’m going to take my S2L-X along to the Brompton dealers so he can test ride one of their M-types back to back with my S-type in the car park.

If he like the M-type I will buy it for him, if not I’ll contact one of the online dealers and try and get a 3 speed S-type for him.

I’d really like to go the B-spoke route but I know he just does not have my level of patience (I waited 10 week for my S2L-X Raw Lacquer Brompton to arrive).

My Father was 75 last month and is still fit and healthy so I think he will enjoy riding the bike. We both shoot at military rifle ranges and it involves a lot of walking so the Brompton will prove useful.

bykerouac

Hi PDR, instead of a flat S bar why not try a 2.5 inch MTB bar riser? If you go this route all you have to replace is the bar and nothing else, check out my mod here.

PDR

Thanks for that suggestion, it is certainly gives me another option.
Did you have to shorten the brake and gear control cables at all?
Regards,
Paul

bykerouac

No shortening at all. The cables seem a bit slack but if you pull them and redistribute the curves (if you know what I mean) the bike shifts, brakes and folds perfectly. At the very least I would regrease the cables while you're at it, and think about adding the V-brake noodles.

I compared it with an S bar Brompton and the handlebars are about the same height.