It's news to me as well.

I am looking to have a bar set up like the mezzo using road racing lever so I have 2 hand postions. One on the hoods and one on the bars.
Lever is the problem. 10 speed brifters 2 clicks each for 5 speed SA hub??
retroshift Tektro R200A lever?? (below)
one bar end shofter as suggested,
just mount Brompton changer somewhere near by,
Suggestions.
Or go for 8 speed SA hub and brifter??

I wonder if it's possible to get a 10 speed brifter, dig into it and modify it to remove every other click... potentially changing it from a 10 click to a 5 click? Is that possible maybe? (I've never opened up a brifter to see the internal mechanism.)

Oh I really dont fancy that!!
These things are like swiss watchers!!
But thanks for left of centre idea.
I think 10 speed with two clicks would be perfectly adequate. there is a redundant click in the dual drive using Brifters. This is a feature of brifters to clear the chain on extreme chain lines when using a front mech, this is no issue at all in usage.
I need to find out if the indexing is otherwise compatable??

Wish Bromptons were 135mm rear axle.
I would just use a spare dual drive hub I got for next to nothing.

My 5 speed hub is slipping sometimes in secound, think it might be the adjustment rather than the hub? So I might consider the 8 Speed SA conversion kit.
Anyone know about long term reliability of this hub?

Ohhh.... you have a spare DualDrive hub?! Are you interested in selling it?


Also.... I'm curious, when you first were considering this Andros stem project, did you come across this stem below in your research? I wonder if it's any good?

Link >Promax 1 1/8" Ahead Adjustable Stem with QR -10 / +90 Deg 25.4 mm Clamp - 110 mm

I understand the Scottish Brompton Dealer in Glasgow does custom modifications..
Alfine hubs and such..

a Caprio Cassette, dual drive would be a clever product..

high is a 9t.. (otoh 12 from the 2 speed hub can go on the 2 x3 hub ..
though the 13-15 combo half-steps better, )

That would be interesting.
But I dont think you need cespro with dual drive. My 56t front to 11 rear Mezzo is fine with dual drive somewhere between 108 or 112 inch gear I seem to recall. Its about tje same as secound top gear on a road race bike with 52t.

I have looked at a simular adjustable stem for mezzo before for braompton would need some enginerring work to get it to fit. Also it folds up but not down, wrong way for slim folding

Spoken to my local bike shop who made a query to dahon.
They say the tt bars are likely to slip with the andros stem.
Maybe but I don't intend fitting both, one or the other, It did slip when I first tried the set, but after tightening up it seems ok , just very firm to close.

LBS thinks 10 speed not compatable due to low tollerace of SA 5 speed. but there is a SA bar ens shifter.
Another idea is going for a Steven Perry front mech mount and 2 or 3 speed brifter, giving 10 or 15 speed that should be fine and not too expensive?? Sp mount around £50 plus campaqnolo shifter and doulde chain set, plus left hand brifter. Sub £200

Got some cheap drop levers today.
Its slow progress i know but I feel lazy! less of a headache this way.
tryijng to show unfolding stages, picture 2 folded, picture 3 loosen andres clamp and pivot bars so they clear hud guards etc. unfold rest of bike 4th clamp andres stem down.
Ordered SA bar end shifter,
still need to either cut down striaght bars or get alternative 90-100 mm wide section for brompton stem bit ,
Need something like picture 8 to hold both sets of bari inline when andres clamp loosened.

If you google image "bike bar stops" one gets pictures of bikini clad women from behind !!

I don't think it would. IGH's have a different cable pull than derailleurs. Given the price of Alfine 11's,and 11spd brifters(only ones I know of are Campy,don't think Shimano DA is out yet),I'd do some research first.

Hi tinkering again !!!
I got the SA 5 speed bar end shifter and 2 tefon coated longer tandem cables for the brakes
Problems again
1)i need to cut of a v section to mount brake lever.) pic2
2) SA barend lever is stuck 1/2 half in at moment!! , If I did again i should have got the bull bars cut to a right angle on a straight section. Debating wether to force it in with plastic hammer. Then it will differently not be coming out! (unless it breaks) you can see this on picture 3. Currently my plastic hammer is in at the other end of my flooded garden in the shed!!
3) not sure about position of lever. I will have to move my hands from the hoodws to change, but it looks feels OKish.
Making a meal of this!

Hit the stuck barend plunger with hammer and yes it did break, however I tried the 5 spd standard lever next to the hoods and this seemed a better setup. Good on the hoods, less so on the drops.

Need to find an alternative bar mount as chromed ones don't clamp securely.
Need to cut some outer cables, anyone recomemd a reasonably priced tool as my chep one has given up?
Should I just swollow the cost of a park tool?

Used a stee unchromed 25.4 mm seatpost tube as a bar mount. This seems to work well. More or less finished need:
1)Cut longerbrake cables
2) 4X bar end clamp to stop bars moving leterally when not clamped
3) bar end plugs and bar tape.

Nearly done, bits and bobs only left. sorry about cluttered pictures will post better compairision pictures when weather better.
need bar ends, restrictors, bar tape when happy with set up, and cables tiding up. left brake cable not in photo but same as right set up.
Not happy with gear lever postion (pic1) . I tried it inside on bars right next to right brake lever which was ok to use but it catchs on mud guard when folding ( not enought clearence pic3 and 4). Its not a problem with lever mounted on left. I have seen a left handed 5 speed SA lever on ebay so might get that.

I insintively tried moving the levers to change levers last night several times on a test ride. I am used to brifters on drops. Shame about bromptom lack of gear options. Might consider a Steven perry front mech changer mated to a brifter to get somewhere near this. Like the ride other than the lack of Brifters compatibly
, which I love on my dualdrive bullbared Mezzo.
I suppose i need to spend loads of cash to get this on the Bromnpton to get a 135 rear axles rear frame, and then get the bits. Much sooner put money in to another bike like a birdie where these sort of customisations are straight forward and cheaper.

Really good discovery is that using a Dahon androes stem on a Bromptom does not make the fold any bigger.

ANy suggestions on cable routing??
bar end internal and drill hole near stem for it to exit??
using cable grove on bars requires an acute curve and cable tries to secure under bar tape, not sure about that one either.

SHould I use bar end levers??? (might look better but dont want to lose hood hand postion )

Considering trying the andres with straight bars on my sash dual drive gold Mezzo ( and add bull bars 3X7 brifters??)

However I tend to keep at least one folder as a compact, simple folder for town/shopping and the andres does add a little time to folding. 10 -20 secounds. Therefore I might try on my go faster black Mezzo to get more forward reach and more compact fold with with bullbars I have fitted.

Very interesting.

I'm still absorbing the setup since it's so different. From what you write, you use both the handlebar and the extra hood position on top of the brifters. It would be interesting to see your position on this bike relative to your other bikes. What does this Brompton add relative to your Mezzos?

I dont think the set up is different, as its the third time I have done it !!!
Guess I am sticking to what I know, and what I have found works.

I have also done a 8NS Downtube with bull bars and right sided ulterrga brifter. The bull bars made from drops folded much better than basic drops.(picture 3 bullbars and 4 )

The bull bars I cut down for the brompton and the Downtube were drops turned upside down and cut down.
The drops converted to bulls on the mezzo were put on their side and cut down. ie they have shorter forward reach. This was required to get a reasonable folding size. See previous pictures of it folded. It adds about 3 inches to folded width. (picture 5,6,compired to standar mezzo)

The mezzo is similar in postion to a droped bar road bike, but not quite as extended due to above point. When did the MEzzo the fold reallly required something high or shorter to fold compactly. Else it would have been close to a roadracing set up I feel. Don't own a road racing bike anymore, so might borrow neigboors bike for some compairative pics.

What does the brompton add relative to the Mezzo, early days yet.
intial impressions.
1) Needs Brifters
2) More compact, but slower fold than Mezzo
3) Andres set up on Brompton can be set up so children can ride it, but i would not trust the children to fold it now.
4) rear suspenion should mean more comfort.
5) Brompton now good riding postion, I find all standard Brompton postion drive me crazy, and I dont feel safe in traffic.
6) I think the gold mezzo will stay my work horse.

The Bromptons role for me might be when I want faster riding in the rain as black Mezzo has slicks and I keep the dual drive away from the mud ,rain generally. I am mainly commuting rider, but longer pleasure rides might be better accommodated on the Brompton.

Ahhhh ... for whatever reason, I remembered something different with regards to bull-horns. Although I think the brifters at the end is somewhat unusual, but it makes sense once you see it.

Thanks for the pictures.

I think you should forget about that lump of steel and just enjoy the Mezzos instead
The Nexus hubs do require more cable pull than drailier shifters can offer, I assume that Alfine hubs are the same. I can imagine something similar to a Travel Agent might allow STI levers to actuate Shimano gear hubs. It's more engineering through, just ride the Mezzo, you know it makes sense.

I think you might have a point !!
Whats the lowdown on forcing the Brompton frame and reducing washer width??.

Only really started this due to a riduouly cheap Br#mpton and a sussessful ebay search for Andreos stem. For longer pleasure rides, I would opt for a birdie or ridigid bike. Birdy looks like next victum for dualdrive bullbar treatment.
What is birdie bar diametre ??
Ie would androes be suiitable. Or better options available like gubb,,satori,,zoom?

What do UK posters think the value of this bike would be when finished ?

I will add gear lever next to hoods and finish bar tape, and cable routing.
Older MK2 ? Bromptom 5 speed standard except extended seatpost, rollerblade coaster wheels, kelvar brake outers and koolstoP Pads,plus front bag. Not Cat eye cube rear light

Sorry I will add a final finished picture and review soon, when snow clears.

i think answer is folderitus!!
Original had idea that 4 folders meant family outings without racks and more security, but its not worked out that way!!
Thought I would also compare birdie with the Dahon Andres stem ( not sure about it on birdie yet),
(Brommie in slightly lower ground in picures)
Brommie now has Quick adjustment, so compared to mezzo I can get a more upright position for touring and I can get lower and further forward also if I want. generaly feels like road bike position than my bullbar mezzo,
Its quite similar generally.

Just an update.
Review of upgrades after a few weeks use.
Riding postion over standard brompton feels loads better. This is how a qood folder should feel in this respect. Its also adjustable , which is a bounus. Wish brompton offered something like this as standard, or mezzo for that matter. It takes longer to fold, but I have taken it shopping a few times and its ok. Forgot how fast mezzo fold is by compairasion. I transported 10 litres of paint offer day in front bag off road and it coped reallly well. In the rear bag of mezzo would have been unwise. Its much slower than my mezzo, yes its got rear suspension and standard tyres, but i have ran them on black mezzo before also.
Real let down is the lack of brifters and more speeds, the set up I have with gear next to left lever is fiddly but managable. Brompton is also better out of the saddle than mezzo due to mezzo stem arrangment means you need to keep arms very stiff.
Had problem with stem slipping on extention bar at first, but changing to anodised one from a satori hallo sloved this. It is very stiff to close and I have removed the saftey clip from the dahon stem as it makes it hard to fastern. This is a problem if you want to lock the bars in the folded postion. Problem is pressure on rack as forcing it closed.
Still need to tidy up cable routing , but it works the way I have it set up now
Overall big improvement over standard brommie ride and fit,it folds as compactly as a standard brommie, but is an upgrade deadend without spending a lot more money on frame wheels and levers to get brifters to work to compete job.

Dahon stem removed from birdie as adds to steering issues on this make. Bullbars would make a birdie handle very badly I feel.

TTTinkering again. Broke 3 out of 4 rack supports from pressure of undoing the androes stem qr. Had to set qr to be very stiff to stop the bar s from moving.
Since then swoped bar extention bar to the one in santori bar extender. Maybe I could loosen it and still be ok?
On changing rack struts I got fed up and removed the rack and rear mudguard instead. I have also removed the safety catch from the andres stem as its makes its harder to open and close fully. Ie more dangerous! And this may reduce pressure on rack that I removed lol.
Swopped seat to a non sprung one.
Done some large loads on this bike recently and this seems good reationale for keeping?
This bike is improving. It handles very well, great out of saddle.

Latest idea is to go for brommie 6 speed wheel and use brifters. Right to change ihg. Using a middle gear as 2. And left brifter to operate drailer. Will also remove front mudguard.