My wife say's...

[Gunk]

I’ve read that is recommended, but I didn’t do it. It doesn’t make sense to me, presumably if one has worn the sprockets to the point of changing them, then surely the chain ring needs replacing too.

I’ve changed many chains on bikes over the years, never replaced a sprocket yet. ( except once when I upgraded a whole group set).

Anyway, I’ll see how it goes, if the chain starts to slip I’ll change the sprockets.

I had no choice on my 2011 Brompton, the rear sprocket spacing didn’t match the replacement 3/32” 8 speed chain I fitted. The 3/32" sprocket was introduced in 2012, mine was still fitted with the original 1/8" sprocket which is no longer available.

 

[Kell]

I suppose a lot depends on how hard you are on the drivetrain.

I’ve tried to get away with it before and the chain jumped so much the bike was almost unrideable.

I used to change chain, sprockets and chainring twice a year on mine. Cost a total of £50 each time.

Now I still do the chain and sprockets twice a year and just rotate the chainring forward by one arm so the same teeth aren’t in the wear zone of the pedal stroke. Then that normally gets changed once a year.

It’s one of those things that isn’t that expensive on a Brompton and, for me, is worth the expense.

Just as a backstory to that, a good number of years ago, I snapped a chain while trying to get a few more hundred miles out of it.

At that time I had a full-size Dahon and landed on the cross-bar, breaking my coccyx. I was off the bike for a good three months. The extra money I spent on driving to the station, parking and having to get a tube at the other end would have bought a new bike in that time.

So for me, it’s worth it because it’s much cheaper than being off the bike. And it’s a lot less painful.

YMMV.

 

[EltonFrog]

With reference to folks warnings about the chain slipping if I didn’t change the sprockets, you were right.

The chain did slip, annoyingly whilst I was cycling around Stanley Park in Vancouver ( alright, show off) , anyway I was going to put up with it, but in a quiet moment, having a look on the engine of searches I found a Brompton dealer, JV BIKE a couple of miles from where we were staying, so I popped along.

ME: Hi, I put a new chain on my bike last week and….
JV: … your chains slipping.
ME: um, yes.
JV: Bring it in the workshop.

20 minutes later two new sprockets fitted, no more chain slip.

Lesson learned.

 

[EltonFrog]

A milestone.
Turned over 2000 miles today. 2000.19 to be exact, 727.17 for the year.
I went out for a fifteen mile pootle and a coffee and cake, on a lovely cool, sunny day on mostly dry roads and tracks.

Since I’ve had the bike, it’s been to 7 countries, 3 USA States, Hawaii, Washington and Alaska. Gawd knows how many U.K. counties.

It’s been trouble free, I’ve had one puncture, I’ve changed the chain and sprockets and that’s it.

Upgrades, Brooks saddle, Brooks handle bar grips, an Off yer bike carrying handle, the little plastic things that stop the clamp spinning. That’s it.

On my ride today. Little Plum was not at home.

 

[Deafie]

A milestone.
Turned over 2000 miles today. 2000.19 to be exact, 727.17 for the year.
I went out for a fifteen mile pootle and a coffee and cake, on a lovely cool, sunny day on mostly dry roads and tracks.

Since I’ve had the bike, it’s been to 7 countries, 3 USA States, Hawaii, Washington and Alaska. Gawd knows how many U.K. counties.

It’s been trouble free, I’ve had one puncture, I’ve changed the chain and sprockets and that’s it.

Upgrades, Brooks saddle, Brooks handle bar grips, an Off yer bike carrying handle, the little plastic things that stop the clamp spinning. That’s it.

View attachment 747202 On my ride today. Little Plum was not at home.

My Brompton is probably my favourite thing, I put off buying one for many years because of the negative stuff I read about them on cycling forums, you know, basically everything on them is garbage except the frame and that needs to be repainted coz their paint is garbage too. I wish I had bought one 30 years ago.

Anyway, I am curious how you take it on a plane

 

[tds101]

Give me disc brakes like the upcoming G Line and I'm totally on board (annoying American here)...

 

[EltonFrog]

<snip>

Anyway, I am curious how you take it on a plane

The trips to Hawaii, Austria, and Sevill we used THIS Brompton bag, it was ok but zips kept breaking, one bag was replaced under warranty another bag the Fragrant MrsP repaired the zip. It seems now that Brompton do not recommend this bag for flying, but when we bought them the label clearly states it’s for air travel.

For the lates trip to Seattle, Vancouver and Alaska we used the B&W case, much more sturdy, and easier to manoeuvre. Not perfect though, if you have a bike with the non standard saddle, Brooks for example, you have to remove it, which is a nuisance.

With both bags they are checked in, at no extra charge.

 

[Schwinnsta]

For the lates trip to Seattle, Vancouver and Alaska we used the B&W case, much more sturdy, and easier to manoeuvre. Not perfect though, if you have a bike with the non standard saddle, Brooks for example, you have to remove it, which is a nuisance.

A telescopic seatpost simplifies this.

 

[EltonFrog]

A telescopic seatpost simplifies this.

I’m not sure it will, but I’ll investigate.

 

[Drago]

Give me disc brakes like the upcoming G Line and I'm totally on board (annoying American here)...

I'm looking forward to trying one out. I've been quite disappointed by the standard weakling sized Brompies so I'm trying to keep an open mind about the 20. I'm hoping it's good, but it's got a lot of high performance competition so I'm not taking that for granted.

 

[Kell]

I’m not sure it will, but I’ll investigate.

No guarantees but...

When I hired a Brompton before buying mine, it came with the telescopic seat post.

When trying one out for size however I didn't think I needed it and got a bike with the extended post instead.

I used to put the hire bike in the back of our Mini and it was a very tight fit, but went under the hood and into the boot fairly easily. Even leaving the top part up*.

When I got my own bike, the folded package with the extended seat post was taller and took a lot more effort to get into the same space.

I sometimes see people with a 'normal' seatpost and their Bromptons fold up way smaller than mine does.

* Pre all Bromptons coming with plastic shim to set the seat height, I worked out that the best way to ensure the seat was always set correctly on the hire bike was to pull out the bottom part all the way, and adjust the top part to suit me. Once that was set, I left the top part at that height and only ever put the bottom part down to fold.

 

[tds101]

I'm hoping against all hope that the disc brakes will show up on a standard 16" wheeled Brommie... Please pray for me! 🙏

 

[Gunk]

I'm hoping against all hope that the disc brakes will show up on a standard 16" wheeled Brommie... Please pray for me! 🙏

It’ll just add weight and complexity, I’ve never found the rim brakes lacking

 

[T4tomo]

I'm hoping against all hope that the disc brakes will show up on a standard 16" wheeled Brommie... Please pray for me! 🙏

Existence of god's aside, you do need praying for, but no for the reason you think🤣

 

[tds101]

It’ll just add weight and complexity, I’ve never found the rim brakes lacking

Complexity? I require disc brakes. I own multiple folders, all with discs, and I've never had issues with any of them. Even my non-folding bikes are almost all disc. Weight is irrelevant if you're not a weight weenie...

Existence of god's aside, you do need praying for, but no for the reason you think🤣

And what reason is that? I have quite a bit of experience with folding and non-folding bikes, as well as multiple ebikes. I "pray" that your criticism comes with facts with the next reply... 😏