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-   -   Brompton 3-speed hub (https://www.bikeforums.net/folding-bikes/917456-brompton-3-speed-hub.html)

badmother 07-17-17 10:57 PM

IMHO if you do not buy what you want now you`ll just end up buying another one and that is not saving any money...

I rarely lock up my older regular 5 speed B so if I had the TI model I would not leave it for 10 sek. I keep a Dahon Curve for the times when I need to lock up a 16" folder.

BassNotBass 07-18-17 05:00 AM


Originally Posted by rsanchezsaez (Post 19725397)
...And I'm also not sure if I should get the dynamo or not. One of them had it, and it was a nice touch...

I've often considered dynamo hubs and even fabricated a tire-contact generator to recharge my smartphone and lights when touring but have found that a solar battery pack in conjunction with a AA (blinky lights) and 18650 (headlight) battery recharger fits the bill nicely for my smartphone and lighting needs and it's also useful when traveling without a bike. The battery pack also came with two USB LED 'reading' lights that are useful when camping.

Something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Portable-1000.../dp/B013WKTI16

rsanchezsaez 07-20-17 12:07 PM

badmoder: Thanks, that's great advice. Yeah, I'll never lock the bike, it'll always go with me.

BassNotBass: Thanks!

CHenry 07-23-17 06:00 PM


Originally Posted by rsanchezsaez (Post 19709583)
rec, funny that you revived the thread, I was just reading it.

I'm considering getting a Brompton (my first foldable, and first bike really), and I'm trying to decide between 3 and 6 gears. I'm leaning due to the 3-gear due to simplicity and easier maintenance, but I live in a hilly area so I have doubts.

I understand how the internal 3-gear one works. Could you explain in newbie terms how the 6-gear one works? Are there 3-gears in the back wheel and 2 additional gears elsewhere? If somebody can post detailed pictures of the 6 gears that would be much appreciated, I'm curious about how they look.

Cheers!

I recommend you get a six for hills, and consider the -12% chainring (44t instead of 50t) option. Another option would be the Schlumpf Mountain Drive, which when engaged gives you an additional bank of gears (six more for a 6-speed) 40% of the standard gear range. In the present 6-speed with a Schlumpf, there are practically 10 useful gears, given a 2-gear overlap, but a huge 760% range. On the old SRAM/Sachs 6-speed systems, there is no overlap, 12 useful gears, but only a 540% range (but still more than on a Rohloff.) If you go with the Schlumpf, it's best to go with the +8% (54t) chainring for most useful range.

Winfried 07-23-17 06:27 PM

The SpeedDrive is also built by ATS from Taiwan under license.

https://dqzrr9k4bjpzk.cloudfront.net.../366629094.jpg

https://bikegang.ecwid.com/#!/Brompt...tegory=9803294

badmother 07-24-17 01:24 AM


Originally Posted by Winfried (Post 19740075)
The SpeedDrive is also built by ATS from Taiwan under license.


https://bikegang.ecwid.com/#!/Brompt...tegory=9803294

"ATS speed drive will not be shipping to US or EU address, please be noted!"

rec 07-29-17 08:25 PM


Originally Posted by badmother (Post 19740641)
"ATS speed drive will not be shipping to US or EU address, please be noted!"


Listed on ebay albeit with the same disclosure no sales to EU and Americas:

ATS Speed Drive Internal Gear crankset 2 speeds, 170mm, Brompton,w/tool | eBay


Strida variant does not have the EU and Americas restriction:


fietsbob 07-31-17 08:51 AM

The Swiss companies, bike division, has shifted its manufacturing and sales to Germany to sell in Euros,

rather than CHF.

Because the Swiss Currency is higher valued. All those Swiss bank deposits push it up.

kego 08-26-17 10:18 AM

Hello,

Bromie's 3-gear (with std hub) has 13t sprocket and with 44t crank. Any idea if this hub can handle 16t sprocket for better 3 gear span? Since I am not after speed, trying to get better hill ability with 3-gears...

thank you

badmother 08-26-17 11:13 AM


Originally Posted by kego (Post 19819424)
Hello,

Bromie's 3-gear (with std hub) has 13t sprocket and with 44t crank. Any idea if this hub can handle 16t sprocket for better 3 gear span? Since I am not after speed, trying to get better hill ability with 3-gears...

thank you

As far as I remember the problem is not the hub but the Bromptons chain tensioner.

If you scroll down and look at the left side the two cog combo (for the modern 6 speeds) 16t is the biggest. For the one cog hubs it looks like 14 is the biggest stock cog.

I use a 15t on mine becouse I do not always accept what I am told :thumb:

If yur frames are new enough to have the braze on for the rear shifter (shifting between two cogs) you may be able to put the B two speed der instead of the chain tensioner. May be cheaper and easyer to do something in the front instead.

Somebody recently linked to this page:

fietsbob 08-26-17 11:43 AM

for the 6 speed it still needs a chain tensioner, but it is a different one, because the derailleur fork pushes the pulley back and forth

by flanges on it on either side of the toothed pulley .. and there is a lot of chain slack to take up when the rear is folded under.


Aftermarket has gotten their CNC machines making aluminum replacements that are pretty, but may bend , deform,
when the plastic one will bend and spring back.
Double chainrings and greasy finger shifting between them is possible..
I have a Swiss made Mountain drive crank on my M3L, the low range is running thru the 3 hub speeds another time

In 123 the crank arms turn more often than the chainring, then 456 is in direct drive on the crank.. they turn at the same rate.

;)




Originally Posted by rsanchezsaez (Post 19709674)
Do both cables go into the same internal hub?

Old 5 speed Mk2 era, had 2 cables going to opposite sides of the hub.
the current 6 speed has 2 cables to 2 different types of shifting 1 the right goes to the internal gear 1,2,3

the left lever to the 2 'speed' A or B cog external , thre internal you pause pedaling to shift it ,

the external you keep pedaling but let up on the pedal force to let the chain jump from one to the other..

:foo:



...

Joe Remi 08-26-17 02:58 PM

Your best bet is to look for a 130 BCD singlespeed ring for the cranks. 42t is easy to find, and 40 is out there, too, if you search a while (Blackspire makes one). You'll need to take a couple links out of the chain.

kego 08-27-17 02:03 PM

Hello,

Looks like first action will be to change 13t to 15t (or try 16t - need to discuss the mechanicher guy in the bike shop) and second 42t crank... They should optimize...

Or improve my condition :))

fietsbob 08-28-17 09:09 AM

On my Mk2 15t was as big as would fit before the teeth hit the rear sub frame tube end..

1nterceptor 08-28-17 09:28 AM


Originally Posted by kego (Post 19821664)
Hello,

Looks like first action will be to change 13t to 15t (or try 16t - need to discuss the mechanicher guy in the bike shop) and second 42t crank... They should optimize...

Or improve my condition :))

I bought a used 3 speed Brompton. I found the standard gearing too high. 50T chainring, 13T rear sprocket.
I swapped the rear wheel with my 6 speed temporarily; using the 16T sprocket & the tensioner for der. Also
swapped crank/chainring, 39T. Pretty common size with Shimano:

kego 08-29-17 02:34 AM

What I understand is better to play on smaller (39t or so) 130 bcd chainring than rear sprocket. Best fit seems Alfine's 39T with chainguard default... thanks to all...

desastar 08-29-17 06:12 AM

I've tried those Litepro chain rings. You'll have to fit them backwards or the chainline would be out due to the teeth being behind the build-in chainguard.

BromptonBikeFan 09-01-17 01:00 AM

I had to choose at buying time if i would go for a 3 or 6 speed Brompton bike. Fortunately I went for the 6 speed. For me it is perfect. Never had something as good.


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