Ordered new Brompton M6L
 

After a few months of commuting on my Tikit, I decided that the fold doesn't cut it on the bus. The ride is great and I love how the bike looks. Now I just need to wait for the M6L and to decide which bag to get for it.

Thanks

plodding along on my 94 era Mk2, i got last year, this year, they replaced the touring bag with the T.
now its black , lined with yellow..

somewhat smaller are 2 bags that Carradice makes, distributed independently ,
1 using traditional Duck-canvas and leather buckles ,
and the other Carradry construction, silvery and seam welded.

in addition to several bags in the Brompton line up .. including a leather briefcase ,
boardroom ready . at a CFO price.

Thanks for the info. Right now, I'm honing in on the Carradice City Folder or the C-bag. They seem to be about the size I need and want. I'm also exploring the avenue of having a local bag maker do something custom. I'm still waiting to hear back from them.

You should be able to get the bag frame , from SJS in UK it's listed,
if not thru your dealer.

a sleeve on the back of a messenger style bag pattern, with a couple velcro strips across the bottom opening would work.

thats common to most bags made for the rack, I think the O bag integrates the mount in the bag, but as
it is almost $300, I havent seen one, and its only the volume of 1 Ortlieb front roller pannier.

the 2 pockets on the back of the bag are handy, I have Water bottle in one , puncture fix tools in the other,
a battery head light , stows in there too..

Congrats on the new bike! Please post pix when you get it.

Everyone, I think we have a convert from BF to Brompton. Welcome to the dark side.

I used to have a Tikit and a Brompton. After a few months of head-to-head comparison, the Brompton also won out. I just found that I preferred to take the Brompton wherever I went because of the small package. The M6L rides very nicely for its intended purpose. And even though the Tikit might have an edge in "sportiness", I concluded that I didn't need that for city riding. So, it now belongs to a guy who does a long commute everyday via train.

Have fun with your Brompton, and hope the wait is not too long... :)

Welcome to the fold! You'll be happy with your Brompton; it's a friendly, capable little bike that can go anywhere. My Brompton has already put down many more miles than any bike I've ever owned; granted most of those it's been a passenger like me...

I got the T bag for my bike, P6 type Brompton, and would heartily recommend it. The geometry of the Brompton front luggage block only allows for so much room, and the T bag uses all of that room. Normally packed, its capacity isn't much greater than a C bag; the difference is you can overstuff it, and it has the back pocket and water bottle pouch. I love the water bottle pouch and use it all the time; Dutch design, it just exactly fits a 750ml bottle of wine while keeping it clear of the handlebars. Convenient for grocery runs!

I have found that the T bag, properly packed, can serve as carryon luggage for a lengthy trip. Clip it to the bicycle and wheel it to the gate, check the bike like a stroller and walk on the with T bag. It's edge cases like this where the extra capacity of the T bag can come in handy, as well as grocery shopping. Which is fun on the Brompton, by the way: I generally put the bike in a shopping cart and push it around with the groceries. Basically I can't imagine the T bag being too much bag for anyone, and unless you like/need the more classical messenger bag look of the C bag, I'd go with the T. Keep in mind with the C that it still has a rigid metal skeleton and won't carry like a messenger bag at all unless you remove it; it's this skeleton that attaches to the bike, and repeatedly removing it and putting it back into the bag is doable but cumbersome.

I would explore custom bags further. If the bag maker is not interested in doing bags for you, any decent, well rounded local seamstress or tailor could do it as I sewed all of my bags on a simple basic mechanical 2 stitch household domestic sewing machine. I have done several now for all my folding bikes; past 2 Dahons, present Raleigh Twenty & of course my own C type Brompton. By the way, all bags offered by the major manufacturers, Brompton itself, Dahon, Carradice, and the rest are basically the same....a bag is a bag is a bag as far as style or type is concerned. It is the construction details (how durable & reliable), fabric used (water resistant, also durable & reliable), and fits whatever you need the bag to do, is what sets itself apart from the rest. Besides price (I find the ready-made bags made by the major manufacturers way too expensive for my limited budget), I don't have to worry about soiling the bag as I can always do another one in case of crushed eggs, dripping milk....you get the idea. Or make them in fabrics that are machine washable & dry-able.

Here are some of the bags I already sewed for a Dahon (shown), Brompton (these bags are interchangeable with it), and my Twenty (shown):

I am planning to finish a really nice T Bag/O Bag-actually called a Roll Top bag in the rag trade-of my own unique design & interpretation next week. I just have no time recently to sew this up, along with photographing the steps, and write the instructions out clearly as I am the sole caregiver in my family. Now that I have the time, I will do it and put the instructions (of course with lots of color photos) on how to easily make one for yourself or as a quick-to-make gift on my new Artfire Website that will go up this November. If I do say so myself, it will be the best one I have done yet!

There are only two other bikes in my opinion that are better than the Brompton for the bus and that's the Strida and CarryMe. However, these are ultra-portables designed for short commutes and the Brompton better for longer rides.

The BF Tikit is a faster bike overall and ideal for train commuting each day. The bus is a whole other subject and city buses do not have room for a large package. This is even more true during rush hour.

I test rode a number of folding bikes in 2008. Dahon, Airnimal, Birdy, Pashley TSR and Brompton at various bike dealers. I distinctly remember a conversation with a Staff member of Bicycle Doctorhttp://www.bicycledoctor.co.uk/ The guy pointed to a Titanium S-Type 2-speed Brompton in the corner of the shop and said "if you want the best folding bike then I would recommend one of these, this is the shop bike and we all run errands on it, fantastic little bike" I took that bike out for a test ride and really liked the riding position and the way it handled.

As I have said elsewhere, I got side-tracked by a Dahon MU SL (big mistake) .... but early in 2009 I put in an order for a b-spoke Brompton titanium, 2 speed, S-type in raw lacquer. I love this bike, best thing I have ever bought (apart from this MacBookPro Laptop). I use it in conjunction with the train and it fits perfectly between the seats on Merseyrail trains.

I can fold this bike quickly (around 10 sec) and it often draws conversation from people on the station platform.

I have not had ANY problems with this bike, it still looks great and there are no nasty squeaks, rattles, slipping seat posts or clamps / hinges that wear or develop play (as I had on the Dahon).

The other nice thing about Bromptons is that they are made in the UK and all the spares are available form the likes of http://www.sjscycles.co.uk

I'm sure you will love your new Brompton as so many other owners do.

That's what I am hoping on both accounts as I already have the MBP.

Would love to hear about the bag. It sounds great!

Roll top bag made out of truck tarp stuff rather than Cordura would take a commercial sewing machine , maybe thread waxing, theres a tray that the thread drags thru to lubricate the needle. [works on old innertube sewing too.]
but wouldn't really need much of rain cover, if any.

Ive sewn Cordura on a regular machine, you just need a sharp needle..

Cordura can be sewn on a regular domestic household machine. Besides the right size & type of sharp needle (and a new one installed before use), I always use a lighter weight fabric and a good 100% polyester thread (better than even the all time favorite cotton for synthetics). It is the motor's power or strength that pushes the needle through the layers of fabric no matter what type of sewing machine it is. For water resistance, I would look into the the Scotchgard™ Protector Repellent finish here and similar brands offered out there after completing the bag or whatever it is construction. Then you won't be limited to just Cordura or nylon. Of course the inverted upside down plastic bag tied over the bag itself would do in a pinch-I usually do this if caught out in the rain and have bags to completely protect from water damage, check for holes though.

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/Scotchgard/Home/Applications/Apparel/Manufacturer/Types/Repellent/

One of the nicest things I have learned in my time at the CA garment district is using the simplest possible solutions or production in mass marketing all sorts of samples I had to churn out quickly after the presentation of sketches and pattern drafting. Since I had to sew all types of products (not just one type like a bag) usually women's and children's clothes, I used many things usually found around a typical house or purchased inexpensively at most any store in the workrooms in order to keep costs down. So I still do this at home now with the exception of an industrial single needle sewing machine (cannot fit one in the space I occupy at present).