Terrific 18-speed Brompton Mod.
03-11-08, 03:44 AM
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Terrific 18-speed Brompton Mod.
A member of folder community in SK just completed his brompton MOD. It's the second best-looking brompton I've seen so far (excluding UFB :] )
He started with secondhand taiwan brompton (Which is sold at around $300), disassembled & re-painted the whole frame, got custom 130mm-spaced rear frame for cassette hubs (ordered from japanese custom shop) and custom FD clamp to build a 18-speed brompton.
Wheelsets are built using 355mm birdy rims and 74mm/130mm AM classic hubs. (Also available from japanese shop) 18" stelvio tires are fitted.
The bike look damn cool with all black outfit.
Custom FD adaptor and double crankset
cassette rear hub and 9-speed cassette
wire chain retainer is used (ala birdy)
paul levers / thumbie/DA shifters
Yes, it does fold.
He started with secondhand taiwan brompton (Which is sold at around $300), disassembled & re-painted the whole frame, got custom 130mm-spaced rear frame for cassette hubs (ordered from japanese custom shop) and custom FD clamp to build a 18-speed brompton.
Wheelsets are built using 355mm birdy rims and 74mm/130mm AM classic hubs. (Also available from japanese shop) 18" stelvio tires are fitted.
The bike look damn cool with all black outfit.
Custom FD adaptor and double crankset
cassette rear hub and 9-speed cassette
wire chain retainer is used (ala birdy)
paul levers / thumbie/DA shifters
Yes, it does fold.
Last edited by Raxel; 03-11-08 at 03:55 AM.
03-11-08, 05:58 AM
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Raxel,
You gotta stop posting all this bike bling, mate.......my jealous heart can only take so much, you know....
You gotta stop posting all this bike bling, mate.......my jealous heart can only take so much, you know....
03-11-08, 06:19 AM
#4
Raleigh20 PugFixie, Merc
s w e e t . Is it fast then?
What is the 'best' looking one then? (I don't know what UFB is)
What is the 'best' looking one then? (I don't know what UFB is)
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Last edited by LittlePixel; 03-11-08 at 07:26 AM.
03-11-08, 06:33 AM
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Hi
That’s a piece of art. Rear derailleur seems to be very low when in low gear. The handle-bar fitting isn’t very clear – seems interesting. And those rims are lovely. Great work!
That’s a piece of art. Rear derailleur seems to be very low when in low gear. The handle-bar fitting isn’t very clear – seems interesting. And those rims are lovely. Great work!
03-11-08, 07:32 AM
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Very nice Brommie (the FD mod is nuts, so is the wire retainer)... I don't know about that saddle though...
Any weight figures for the weight weenie's Raxel?
Any weight figures for the weight weenie's Raxel?
03-11-08, 07:57 AM
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03-11-08, 08:10 AM
#8
Raleigh20 PugFixie, Merc
Are those BikeFriday bars?
I like the idea of 355 (used on Moultons too I believe) wheels - just that wee bit bigger than standard. I was considering that size for my fixie one (link in my sig if you haven't already seen it) but it was a gamble too far with an already tricky conversion. And I couldn't find rims with the right drilling. But they look mean here - esp with no machined braking surfaces.
Any hints on how much the wider rear triangle cost?
I like the idea of 355 (used on Moultons too I believe) wheels - just that wee bit bigger than standard. I was considering that size for my fixie one (link in my sig if you haven't already seen it) but it was a gamble too far with an already tricky conversion. And I couldn't find rims with the right drilling. But they look mean here - esp with no machined braking surfaces.
Any hints on how much the wider rear triangle cost?
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03-11-08, 09:34 AM
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https://homepage.mac.com/lenrubin/PhotoAlbum1.html
UFB The Ultimate Folding Bicycle UFB
Raxel, keep posting your mates bikes, really nice
03-11-08, 09:51 AM
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Yes the handlebar used is bike friday H-bars.
He also used satori stem (the one used in dahon speed pro TT) to set proper reach of the handlebar.
355 size is Birdy wheel size. (Moultons use 369 sized ones)
Upsizing to 355 has many benefits. You can use light and strong DA16 rims, 355 stelvios are much easiers to get(At least here in SK), and you can use better brakes with shorter reach. However you probably have to remove the fenders due to clearance problem. (like this bike)
Wider rear frame is sold at around $200 in japan. Although you can widen the frame by force as they are steel, that may lead to chain rubbing problems. But it works great with fitting 5, 8, or even 14-speed hubs to brompton.
He also used satori stem (the one used in dahon speed pro TT) to set proper reach of the handlebar.
355 size is Birdy wheel size. (Moultons use 369 sized ones)
Upsizing to 355 has many benefits. You can use light and strong DA16 rims, 355 stelvios are much easiers to get(At least here in SK), and you can use better brakes with shorter reach. However you probably have to remove the fenders due to clearance problem. (like this bike)
Wider rear frame is sold at around $200 in japan. Although you can widen the frame by force as they are steel, that may lead to chain rubbing problems. But it works great with fitting 5, 8, or even 14-speed hubs to brompton.
03-11-08, 10:32 AM
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The merc frame is an aluminium one, machine welded. Brompton's is steel (i don't know what spec) and is more or less hand brazed in jigs. The Merc frame may differ in tiny ways from Merc dimensions. I found that I had to spring the Steve Parry front derailier clamp that was made for the Brompton. I felt that my Merc frame may have been about 1.5 mm larger on the down tube where the clamp fitted. Obviously steel frames have a longer fatigue life than aluminium, but having said that, properly dimensioned alu frames will last an exceedingly long time. I doubt I'll ever break my Merc frame.
Brompton made agreements with a far eastern firm called Neobike who they later fell out with over quality and contractual matters when neobikes began to leak into Europe which was never supposed to happen. Neobike sold the drawings and tooling to others. Grace- Gallant now make them in the form sold as Merc here, but as Flamingobike elsewhere. I notice that Flamingobike have now dropped the Brompton lookalike frame and have a strange pressed alluminium girder in more or less Brompton shape, but it could never be confused for a Brompton now, unlike the Merc, which could if people didn't look closely and see what it was made of.
Flamingobike girder frame ->
Earlier Flamingobike Brompton type frame ->
EDIT:
I have changed an error in the original post which implied that Raxel's frame was probably a merc one. It isn't.
Last edited by EvilV; 03-11-08 at 12:58 PM.
03-11-08, 10:51 AM
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Beautiful. That whole job must have caused a pretty penny. The rear derailleur looks like it might scrape the ground on turns on the small cog.
03-11-08, 12:49 PM
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No.
The merc frame is an aluminium one, machine welded. Brompton's is steel (i don't know what spec) and is more or less hand brazed in jigs. The Merc frame may differ in tiny ways from Merc dimensions. I found that I had to spring the Steve Parry front derailier clamp that was made for the Brompton. I felt that my Merc frame may have been about 1.5 mm larger on the down tube where the clamp fitted. Obviously steel frames have a longer fatigue life than aluminium, but having said that, properly dimensioned alu frames will last an exceedingly long time. I doubt I'll ever break my Merc frame.
When Raxel says the bike has a Taiwan Brompton frame, he must mean a merc one I think. Brompton made agreements with a far eastern firm called Neobike who they later fell out with over quality and contractual matters when neobikes began to leak into Europe which was never supposed to happen. Neobike sold the drawings and tooling to others. Grace- Gallant now make them in the form sold as Merc here, but as Flamingobike elsewhere. I notice that Flamingobike have now dropped the Brompton lookalike frame and have a strange pressed steel girder in more or less Brompton shape, but it could never be confused for a Brompton now, unlike the Merc, which could if people didn't look closely and see what it was made of.
The merc frame is an aluminium one, machine welded. Brompton's is steel (i don't know what spec) and is more or less hand brazed in jigs. The Merc frame may differ in tiny ways from Merc dimensions. I found that I had to spring the Steve Parry front derailier clamp that was made for the Brompton. I felt that my Merc frame may have been about 1.5 mm larger on the down tube where the clamp fitted. Obviously steel frames have a longer fatigue life than aluminium, but having said that, properly dimensioned alu frames will last an exceedingly long time. I doubt I'll ever break my Merc frame.
When Raxel says the bike has a Taiwan Brompton frame, he must mean a merc one I think. Brompton made agreements with a far eastern firm called Neobike who they later fell out with over quality and contractual matters when neobikes began to leak into Europe which was never supposed to happen. Neobike sold the drawings and tooling to others. Grace- Gallant now make them in the form sold as Merc here, but as Flamingobike elsewhere. I notice that Flamingobike have now dropped the Brompton lookalike frame and have a strange pressed steel girder in more or less Brompton shape, but it could never be confused for a Brompton now, unlike the Merc, which could if people didn't look closely and see what it was made of.
It was made in taiwan by Neobike under licence, and sold only to eastern countries.
TW brompton is made of steel, and they are almost the same as old (pre-2000) bromptons.
It uses very cheap components but is 100% compatible with modern brompton parts.
(Even front/rear frame assembly can be swapped)
Compared to modern bromptons made in UK, they are slightly smaller and has slightly larger main tube.
Many people choose TW brompton for modification because they are so cheap.
If you are lucky you can get one less than $100. I used to own one myself for which I paid $250.
Last edited by Raxel; 03-11-08 at 12:58 PM.
03-11-08, 12:51 PM
#16
Part-time epistemologist
That isn't bad. Getting a regular rear triangle from Brompton will probably be in the same ballpark.
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03-11-08, 12:55 PM
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No, so-called TW brompton is NOT merc.
It was made in taiwan by Neobike under licence, and sold only to eastern countries.
TW brompton is made of steel, and they are almost the same as old (pre-2000) bromptons.
It uses very cheap components but is 100% comparible with modern brompton parts.
(Even front/rear frame assembly can be swapped)
Compared to modern bromptons made in UK, they are slightly smaller and has slightly larger main tube.
Many people choose TW brompton for modification because they are so cheap.
If you are lucky you can get one less than $100. I used to own one myself for which I paid $250.
It was made in taiwan by Neobike under licence, and sold only to eastern countries.
TW brompton is made of steel, and they are almost the same as old (pre-2000) bromptons.
It uses very cheap components but is 100% comparible with modern brompton parts.
(Even front/rear frame assembly can be swapped)
Compared to modern bromptons made in UK, they are slightly smaller and has slightly larger main tube.
Many people choose TW brompton for modification because they are so cheap.
If you are lucky you can get one less than $100. I used to own one myself for which I paid $250.
I thought that neobike had collapsed. Someone told me that. I believe that the Flamingobike / merc copies came from neobike material from their collaboration with Brompton. Someone told me they sold tooling and production drawings. This could just be a rumor though.
Last edited by EvilV; 03-11-08 at 01:02 PM.
03-11-08, 12:55 PM
#18
Part-time epistemologist
Do you have an online source for such a rear triangle?
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03-11-08, 12:57 PM
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Its wheel size is the same as birdy, which also uses long cage rear derailleur.
So the bike has the same ground clearance as birdy bike.
The owner says there are no clearance problem even in conering.
I don't know about its weight.. but it must be pretty light compared to original one.
(I guess 9~10kg range)
Stock Brompton parts are DAMN heavy.
I almost fainted out when I put my brompton rear wheel on the scale.
Geared rear wheel alone weighed roughly two kilograms....
Compare that to new 406-sized Tyrell AM7 wheelset which weighs only 970g for F&R.
So the bike has the same ground clearance as birdy bike.
The owner says there are no clearance problem even in conering.
I don't know about its weight.. but it must be pretty light compared to original one.
(I guess 9~10kg range)
Stock Brompton parts are DAMN heavy.
I almost fainted out when I put my brompton rear wheel on the scale.
Geared rear wheel alone weighed roughly two kilograms....
Compare that to new 406-sized Tyrell AM7 wheelset which weighs only 970g for F&R.
03-11-08, 01:01 PM
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Here:
https://page2.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/b82271374
My memorry was a bit incorrect. It was sold at 29500 yen.
I am not sure the rear frame is still available or not.
https://page2.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/b82271374
My memorry was a bit incorrect. It was sold at 29500 yen.
I am not sure the rear frame is still available or not.
03-11-08, 02:19 PM
#21
Raleigh20 PugFixie, Merc
Thanks for the info. I'd guess the weight it more nearer 10/10.5kg than nine. My fixie one (also a Flamingo frame) is 8.9kg and that has Titanium EVERYTHING, carbon cranks and no mechs or rear calipers.
I'd definitely be interested in the wheels sometime - though I just built my Velocity aeroheats and have no complaints so far. Don't quite know how I didn't think of the birdy size. Pfft!
I'd definitely be interested in the wheels sometime - though I just built my Velocity aeroheats and have no complaints so far. Don't quite know how I didn't think of the birdy size. Pfft!
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03-11-08, 03:27 PM
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No, so-called TW brompton is NOT merc.
It was made in taiwan by Neobike under licence, and sold only to eastern countries.
TW brompton is made of steel, and they are almost the same as old (pre-2000) bromptons.
It uses very cheap components but is 100% compatible with modern brompton parts.
(Even front/rear frame assembly can be swapped)
Compared to modern bromptons made in UK, they are slightly smaller and has slightly larger main tube.
Many people choose TW brompton for modification because they are so cheap.
If you are lucky you can get one less than $100. I used to own one myself for which I paid $250.
It was made in taiwan by Neobike under licence, and sold only to eastern countries.
TW brompton is made of steel, and they are almost the same as old (pre-2000) bromptons.
It uses very cheap components but is 100% compatible with modern brompton parts.
(Even front/rear frame assembly can be swapped)
Compared to modern bromptons made in UK, they are slightly smaller and has slightly larger main tube.
Many people choose TW brompton for modification because they are so cheap.
If you are lucky you can get one less than $100. I used to own one myself for which I paid $250.
03-11-08, 03:52 PM
#24
Part-time epistemologist
Hey ... why is there a Brompton logo on your bike?
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03-11-08, 06:17 PM
#25
Raleigh20 PugFixie, Merc
Because it basically is one - like the one at the top of the page!
Ok so the frame is a clone but the stem, triangle, seatpost, brake-calipers, tighteners, forks, pentaclip are all Bromptons finest...
Ok so the frame is a clone but the stem, triangle, seatpost, brake-calipers, tighteners, forks, pentaclip are all Bromptons finest...
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My Raleigh Twenty site | foldr : A flickr pool | #6460, #5632 & #3407 on the fixedgeargallery
My Raleigh Twenty site | foldr : A flickr pool | #6460, #5632 & #3407 on the fixedgeargallery