Dogtrousers
Kilometre nibbler
My Brompton
Let's See Your Folding Bike
- Thread starter Rockn Robin
- Start date
-
- Tags
- folding bike
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
12boy
Guru
- Location
- Casper WY USA
I like your white bike. Mine is a 2010, I believe, although bought as a one speed in 2013. l am guessing that is a FAG cartridge bearing bottom bracket, not a cup and ball. Here' s a few things I have done with mine :
A Shimano UN25 bottom bracket
Sugino 110 BCD cranks with a 38 and 58 tooth chainrings. I have two rear wheels, one with a SRF3 SA hub and the one speed it came with, which itself, thanks to BikeGang has a 3 speed option as well. I also have 2 front wheels. At the moment the onespeed is in play with studded tires but I can switch to the 3 speed SA in about 10 minutes for a Marathon Racer set up.
I bought some Tektro clone brake levers with a hinge clamp which work fine. The shifter I wound up with is an SA shifter indexing for a three speed. When I go back to the Bike Gang 3 speed in the Spring, I will use an old Suntour mtn bike friction shifter.
I also have a Chris King Gripnut cartridge headset which hasn't needed any attention for maybe 20 k miles.
Mine is a S model and I like the cork Ergon grips on it and there is a narrow leather saddle from Velo Orange as well.
You have a luggage block on the headtube which will allow you to use a variety of bags. Carrying heavier on the front actually improves the ride, although I have a seat bag for light loads. A big bag on the front is not very aero, but sure can take some weight.
Bromptons are very much fun to tinker with, and easily modified for different riding scenarios. And changing gearing by using a different rear sprocket, as berlinaut suggested is a cheap and easy way to go.
A Shimano UN25 bottom bracket
Sugino 110 BCD cranks with a 38 and 58 tooth chainrings. I have two rear wheels, one with a SRF3 SA hub and the one speed it came with, which itself, thanks to BikeGang has a 3 speed option as well. I also have 2 front wheels. At the moment the onespeed is in play with studded tires but I can switch to the 3 speed SA in about 10 minutes for a Marathon Racer set up.
I bought some Tektro clone brake levers with a hinge clamp which work fine. The shifter I wound up with is an SA shifter indexing for a three speed. When I go back to the Bike Gang 3 speed in the Spring, I will use an old Suntour mtn bike friction shifter.
I also have a Chris King Gripnut cartridge headset which hasn't needed any attention for maybe 20 k miles.
Mine is a S model and I like the cork Ergon grips on it and there is a narrow leather saddle from Velo Orange as well.
You have a luggage block on the headtube which will allow you to use a variety of bags. Carrying heavier on the front actually improves the ride, although I have a seat bag for light loads. A big bag on the front is not very aero, but sure can take some weight.
Bromptons are very much fun to tinker with, and easily modified for different riding scenarios. And changing gearing by using a different rear sprocket, as berlinaut suggested is a cheap and easy way to go.
a.twiddler
Veteran
So many responses! So many nice paint jobs! I have to say that white wouldn't have been my first colour choice but it is beginning to grow on me now. I missed @roley poley's post yesterday otherwise I would have posted the frame number on here. As it happens I had a look for the serial number behind the seat tube and it wasn't there. There was an oblong sticker with the BS and EN numbers, and a squarish one with the emblem and "The Queen's Award for Endeavour 2010" but that was it.
After looking on line I saw that the Brompton Zen Desk might answer queries. I looked them up, sent an email with the frame number about lunch time today and had a reply back by tea time. Not only did they respond with the manufacture date of October 2012 but also gave me the serial number linked to the frame number. I was rather pleased to find that it is towards the newer end of the time frame I had estimated. It is probably even more gratifying for @berlinonaut as his estimated timescale was even closer.
I still have no idea what item of luggage that strap on block under the saddle is meant for. Anyway, the Brompton saddle has bag loops for which I have just the saddlebag. It's a Carradice Longflap. As long as the Brompton saddle is tolerably comfortable I will make use of it. I will have to resist the temptation to overload the bag or I will end up with the tail wagging the dog. It should do the job until I get sorted with a suitable bag for the front block when I will be able to balance any load more evenly. My original intention was to find another saddle which matches the one on the Viking, as it was so uncannily comfortable that I bought another one on ebay and replaced my Revolution Tourer's 30 year old Middlemores leather one with it. The drawback is, no bag loops on those two.
I did manage to escape for half an hour this morning to confirm my first riding impressions. It makes all sorts of clicks and rattles from the rear frame catch when you're poking and prodding it, all things that you think might be loose have their sound source from that area when in fact all frame joints are quite firm and solid. I might try unclipping the catch just to see if it makes any difference -after all, early models didn't have a frame catch at all. When riding it it's smooth and practically silent, not even a squeak from the suspension block. The only thing that is intrusive is that the bell does ting briefly if you hit a particularly noticable bump or stone. No play in the steering or anywhere, it feels just as you would expect a small wheeler to feel -quick steering, easy if conscious balance, goes where your gaze goes.
All the alarming possibilities that the imagination goes into overdrive over when you buy a used bike have been calmed. Awaiting the arrival of my bits now so I can make it more the way I want it.
After looking on line I saw that the Brompton Zen Desk might answer queries. I looked them up, sent an email with the frame number about lunch time today and had a reply back by tea time. Not only did they respond with the manufacture date of October 2012 but also gave me the serial number linked to the frame number. I was rather pleased to find that it is towards the newer end of the time frame I had estimated. It is probably even more gratifying for @berlinonaut as his estimated timescale was even closer.
I still have no idea what item of luggage that strap on block under the saddle is meant for. Anyway, the Brompton saddle has bag loops for which I have just the saddlebag. It's a Carradice Longflap. As long as the Brompton saddle is tolerably comfortable I will make use of it. I will have to resist the temptation to overload the bag or I will end up with the tail wagging the dog. It should do the job until I get sorted with a suitable bag for the front block when I will be able to balance any load more evenly. My original intention was to find another saddle which matches the one on the Viking, as it was so uncannily comfortable that I bought another one on ebay and replaced my Revolution Tourer's 30 year old Middlemores leather one with it. The drawback is, no bag loops on those two.
I did manage to escape for half an hour this morning to confirm my first riding impressions. It makes all sorts of clicks and rattles from the rear frame catch when you're poking and prodding it, all things that you think might be loose have their sound source from that area when in fact all frame joints are quite firm and solid. I might try unclipping the catch just to see if it makes any difference -after all, early models didn't have a frame catch at all. When riding it it's smooth and practically silent, not even a squeak from the suspension block. The only thing that is intrusive is that the bell does ting briefly if you hit a particularly noticable bump or stone. No play in the steering or anywhere, it feels just as you would expect a small wheeler to feel -quick steering, easy if conscious balance, goes where your gaze goes.
All the alarming possibilities that the imagination goes into overdrive over when you buy a used bike have been calmed. Awaiting the arrival of my bits now so I can make it more the way I want it.
Last edited:
Schwinnsta
Senior Member
- Location
- New Orleans, LA USA
I think that the block on seat post is for a U-lock.
berlinonaut
Veteran
- Location
- Berlin Germany
There's a rectangle shaped silverish sticker above that - that's it. It is visible in your photos. It may however be that the number on it is not readable any more. In case you ever need to date a Brompton again based on the framenumber alone: In the German Brompton forum we created a collection of frame numbers and manufacturing dates for that purpose: http://www.bromptonauten.de/phorum3/read.php?1,19789
Kell
Veteran
- Location
- High Wycombe/London
This looks almost identical (from memory) to the carrier for my Kryptonite lock.
I never used it as I leave the lock at work. But pretty sure it looks like that.
I never used it as I leave the lock at work. But pretty sure it looks like that.
Kell
Veteran
- Location
- High Wycombe/London
In fact:
If you weren't gifted the lock, I'd remove it and bin it.
If you weren't gifted the lock, I'd remove it and bin it.
Last edited:
a.twiddler
Veteran
also @shingwell, @Kell
Aha.Thanks. Definitely brand specific. Or as some may say, "A lock? on a Brompton?" It didn't come with it, anyhow.
a.twiddler
Veteran
This is what's on the seat tube:
No sign of the 10 figure serial number, just the 6 figure frame number which is stamped on the bottom plate.
berlinonaut
Veteran
- Location
- Berlin Germany
Interesting. Brompton invented the sticker with the serial number at the beginning of 2002 and replaced it with a glued plate in late summer 2015. The positioning of the sticker on the seat tube changed a couple of times from top to bottom and in between. So possibly on your bike someone has pulled it off for whatever reason. No drama.
a.twiddler
Veteran
It's a mystery.
a.twiddler
Veteran
I've dug out my Carradice saddlebag together with the quick release frame of the same vintage made by either Carradice or Karrimor. At the time they were bought Karrimor was a solid cycle gear manufacturer, not the generic name attached to imported goods it is today. I'm pleased to see Carradice still holding out though the stuff I've bought from them over the years has lasted so well that I'm not exactly keeping them in business.
The bag doesn't hugely overwhelm the bike as I thought it might.
The bottom bracket which I initially thought was a cup and cone set up with lock rings does seem to be a FAG item, possibly a cartridge as described by @12boy. More specialised spanners needed? As it has the old pattern integrated chainring, I wonder if it is also ISO standard? As long as it continues to work smoothly, I won't disturb it unnecessarily. Some of my bits and pieces have started arriving. Maybe have a session getting the jobs done before Christmas (unless Mrs T has other plans).
The bag doesn't hugely overwhelm the bike as I thought it might.
The bottom bracket which I initially thought was a cup and cone set up with lock rings does seem to be a FAG item, possibly a cartridge as described by @12boy. More specialised spanners needed? As it has the old pattern integrated chainring, I wonder if it is also ISO standard? As long as it continues to work smoothly, I won't disturb it unnecessarily. Some of my bits and pieces have started arriving. Maybe have a session getting the jobs done before Christmas (unless Mrs T has other plans).
12boy
Guru
- Location
- Casper WY USA
Perhaps you are familiar with the bike info supplied by Sheldon Brown, RIP. He indicated an ISO crank arm can go on a JIS bottom bracket but not the other way around. I have found the ISO crankarm does go on JIS bottom bracket just fine. I liked the Brompton one piece just fine and I recall it is a bit lighter than my two piece cranks. As I have mentioned I use a 110 BCD Sugino crank with 58 and 38 tootgh chainrings, but I put the one piece on my Xootr Swift, another folder I have. It is a good bike but I prefer the Brompton although I ride the Swift sometimes for a change. Here's a pic of the Swift.
berlinonaut
Veteran
- Location
- Berlin Germany
It is a cartridge and it is ISO. Change to JIS came in March/April 2013 along with the arrival of the spider crankset. FAG spanners are no too common any more today but any bikeshop that has been in business for many years should have one.
