chagzuki

No, it's a lot more than half the weight, altogether nearer 1200 grams with the alfine 8 and 11 only 1500 or thereabouts.
I've not ridden a six speed but I've owned a Brompton for two and a half years and have messed around with the gearing quite a bit. I'd like to give a 6 speed a go but I tend to think I'd prefer the old SRAM version.

dynaryder

I believe the Mezzo would have(any current Mezzo owners that can confirm?). Also,a Brompton with a different drivetrain wouldn't fit? Finally,I have no intention of taking a folder on a plane anytime soon,so that argument is pretty moot to me.

chagzuki

That's another thing for Brompton to improve, the brakes need a QR. Currently I need to take a brake block off to get the rear wheel out. The entire procedure is a little too involved, particularly with a 5 speed hub which needs precise cable adjustment after putting the wheel back on. Tektros that cost a fair bit less than the Brompton brakes are superior... perhaps Brompton should switch manufacturer (as they seem to have done for many of the 2013 parts).

smallwheeler

the design of the brompton drivetrain is dictated by the fold. after 30 years of refinement, don't you think they would have thought of that?
well, that's what it really comes down to- if you are not really interested in exploiting the unique features of a particular bike, then of course, a different bike that excels in an aspect that is useful to you will be superior.

kind of like buying a swiss army knife and then complaining that its not really good at cutting box tops... buy a box cutter..

dynaryder

Srsly? They just started using cranks with replaceable chain rings. Paradigm anybody?

BTW,Harley used to be like that. The Evo was an upgraded Shovel,which was an upgraded Pan,which was an upgraded Knuckle. Then they went back to the drawing board and made the Twin Cam. Esthetically appealing to their core customers,while a huge leap forward in terms of performance and reliability. Brompton should take notes.

fietsbob

Hard to think of something more reliable than a 3 speed hub.

BTW Tikit rear fold is ahead of the BB , but not as compact, as a result.

blakcloud

As I have said here many times, I hate my Brompton. Sure it folds nice but it rides like crap. So far this year I have ridden it three times and that was because I needed it to fold. My wife has ridden hers once. Now that she has a Rivendell Betty Foy, she doesn't even think about the Brompton. But as someone else said they are great for guests and the odd time I need a fold, so they won't be sold.

Glad to hear others are loving their Bromptons.

smallwheeler

pretty cool that you have 3k to spend on "guest bikes". i'm envious...

blakcloud

Thanks, but the two were closer to four thousand than three thousand.

antonyfhilliard

I doubt it, the Mezzo folds abour 3" wider (taller?) than a Brompton. The rear wheel and front wheel are stacked like pancakes, so the front wheel QR pokes out a bit.

Scooper

I absolutely love my 2006 M6L. I've been riding it for seven years, mostly for local transportation from small airports to destinations up to 20 or 25 miles from the airport and back.

The fold is superb, and everything else about it (fit, comfort, gearing, ease of maintenance) have met my expectations, which weren't trivial considering what I paid for it.

smallwheeler

alienbogey

jur

smallwheeler

oh.. my sides....

BruceMetras

Boy, am I thirsty, next round's on me!

DoubleDiamonDog

How am I liking it? I'm liking it a lot. Hilarious....

Still Pedaling

Boy, ask a simple question . . .

chagzuki

I'm loving mine, thanks.

MrSchwinn

Wow! Someone responded to the OP instead of debating bicycle design!
A Brommie is next on my "bucket list"...

Still Pedaling

Yes. Much appreciated. I don't know what happened, but whatever it was, it sure got off track. Funny, all I asked was a simple question.

I hope you are able to get one before a "Bucket List" is necessary.

bhkyte

Small wheeler quotes
other words, backlash. backlash = haters.

Possibly unfair if you look at my post and the favourable comments about my own brompton. I have just recomemded a brommie to 2 posters.

And.......
you wouldnt say to a guy on his trek madone, "nice for racing, but crap at fitting in the subway."

I may well say exactley that to the guy!!!

DoubleDiamonDog

For fast long distance rides I prefer my other bikes.

I love mine for the way I use it - mainly to enhance travel. Wish I had gotten one long ago. I have felt no need to tweak it, modify it or whatever, to try to make it perform like other bikes. For my purposes, it is ideal. I am sure the design will continue to evolve, however, and it will be interesting to see what's next.

bhkyte

[QUOTE=DoubleDiamonDog;1I
I have felt no need to tweak it, modify it or whatever, to try to make it perform like other bikes. [/QUOTE]

Yeah, I ment to leave mine standard.
I got a mk 2 for next to nothing in good condition. .....
But I accidentally fitted......

kelva outer brake and gear cables.
Extended seat post.
Koolstop pads.
Bull bars and road race levers
5 speed S.A shifter inside bars near brakes
Dahon andros stem extender
Welgo clipless detachable pedals
Larger transit wheels
And removed rear rack and mudguar.

I don't like the way a brommie fits, steers, or preforms out of the saddle, but this mod rids all these issues for me.

I like this bike, except the lack of gears, ability to use with proper road shifter, and the way that the extending seat post sticks up. However, its fits me really well and folds to the same size as a standard brompton, it take a bit longer, but the ride and riding position is excellent, a revelation for me. It feels very like a road race bike , except for the lack of gears and brifters.

The bike is still an unfished project really.
The main area of disappointment is the gear change at junctions is so clumsy compared to the brilliant sram dual drive matched to brifter on my mezzos.



I have been disappointed with my previous 3 speed brompton and 6 speed merc (clone). Which I sold after owning for 3 months each.

Hope this answers op question comprehensively !! Lol.

smallwheeler

damn. so, all the criticisms that you routinely offer on this board of the brompton bicycle are based primarily on a version that was made in 1987 and a cheap alloy copy (merc)???? ugh...