Should you Buy a Used Brompton?
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- Опубліковано 5 сер 2024
- Have you been considering to purchase a used Brompton? This video will help highlight things to look for and what to steer clear from.
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Thanks for watching…
Video Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:29 The Seller
01:03 What to look for?
01:52 Learn from my mistakes
03:46 Let’s talk seat posts
04:52 Handlebars
05:27 Gearing
06:31 How much to pay?
07:20 Why to buy a later model
08:29 Would I buy this model again?
09:06 Should you buy a used Brompton?
09:54 Wrap Up
#brompton #thebromptonguy
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Also if the Brompton has been used in winter the tubing of the rear triangle rusts from the inside as it is open. Ideally when new ACF50 needs to be sprayed inside them to protect them.
Also that torpedo gear selector is good. It's far better than newer plastic ones.
Agreed the brakes especially the levers are crap and need replacing with newer ones.
The suspension block - all you need to do to stiffen it up is to fit two stainless steel jubilee clips around it and tighten them. How much you tighten them will determine how firm or soft you want the ride to be. You don't need the 'performance' block. A couple of SS jubilee clips only cost £2-3.
Also on that 2004 model you have it has the awful SRAM hub. After the second year the seals on mine failed and water got in corroding the bearing surfaces of the hub. It was as good as scrap. I had to buy a new rear wheel with the much newer BWR hub which cost £200, but the newer Sturmey Archer BWR hub is far better than the older SRAM one which as I say was awful.
Also later Bromptons have a much improved chainsets which have separate cranks and chain rings so you can fit different sized chain rings to alter the gearing. I fitted a 39T front chain ring to mine which came in handy on Gran Canaria, Valley of Tears and climbing the Pico de las Nieves the highest point on the island at 1,949m carrying luggage.
Also fitting a front dynamo hub and dynamo lights is great upgrade. I resisted for many years but finally did so a couple of years ago fitting the SP dynamo hub and it makes the bike totally self reliant. Wish I had done it years ago. Brompton sell the front wheel with it already in.
Bromptons are great bikes but in std spec particularly with the very high gearing with a 50T front chain ring they are pretty limited in what they can do. Stupidly over geared for anything but very flat urban terrain.
This is an amazing comment!! Thank you for the input, you’ve stolen the thunder from my follow up video lol but will certainly give you a mention.
I agree with the frame (Mine did rust)
After cycling a 2018 Brompton I can conclude the Torpedo IMO is better
Glad we already agree on breaks :D
I didn’t try that with the sus block but can honestly say the JK Firm block is amazing but does cause £20 (Spoiler my next video out tomorrow is about the block)
Agree hub is awful (Have a teardown video coming later) but the hub actually wasn’t to bad compared to some rusted and worn parts
39T certainly can’t be official brompton I suppose? I opted for a 42t which I love atm
Suppose the only downside is weight right! And apparently they roll less efficient
Agree with the standard spec and strongly recommend people to use the hire scheme before purchasing there own bike.
Again great comment and input, please stay tuned cause I have a video coming out in a couple of months I would love your input on. You’re either going to love or hate it but either way good to know.
@@TheBromptonGuy Thank you for taking the time to make such a full reply to my comment. No a 39T front chain ring is not produced/supplied by Brompton, yet. I fitted a Shimano Ultegra one from a new old stock Ultegra triple chainset I had surplus to requirements. I initially tried a 42T Brompton chain ring but for me, the gearing wasn't low enough, especially for cycle touring loaded up with luggage. It's a fairly common modification for Brompton owners to do.
There is a lot in your video that is good advice and I agree with especially buying as newer Brompton as you can afford simply because the frames corrode from the inside and also because of brake wheel rim wear although Brompton rims are pretty robust. Newer bikes do have a better rear hub, brakes, etc, but I don't like the newer plastic gear shifters, they seem cheap and flimsy and no where near as strong as the Torpedo era shifter which is metal.
Maybe I shall try the performance rear suspension block you mention but my std block with jubilee clips around has worked well now for many years. Mine is a 2006 bike. I've upgraded or had to replace components but this is the way with most bikes after time if you ride them regularly. I do have other bikes but I still find myself really enjoying riding my Brompton when I need to. They are just so practical and great at what they can do.
Good luck with your channel. You seem to be a natural at presenting.
No problem I love Brompton talk and this channel gives me a vent without boring everyone in my day job so thank you for engaging. I have a couple of ideas were a 39T would maybe be needed but think my legs will hold out at 42T (Fingers Crossed) However for touring its a no brainer right.
I honestly rate the block but only comparing it to the standard one so hard to say I have a massive degree of experience but I would say for tarmac riding it makes sense. I have an event called battle on the beach next year and thinking to go back to a soft sus for that event.
Thank you so much!!! as someone starting out it means a lot to get feedback and input. My mum for years said I was a natural entertainer so here is hoping she was right.@@alexmorgan3435
As a Dane we have very few steep serpentine roads at places, and I - now love my low gears, of 6, to ride those, and I even had to walk at times, also passing "cattle protection bars" crossing the road! At first I did wonder what to use them for?
I bought a second hand 3-speed with high handlebars and stem on eBay. Came from Britain. Turned out great. I added a Go-rack and the Grin Technologies electrical package. Rides like a dream.
The 3 speed as an amazing solid option for sure and great add ons. Hope you got a good deal my friend.
@@TheBromptonGuy I believe that I did. No problems so far. Pedaling to around 18 MPH is easy. Beyond that I probably need a larger chain ring but I can work with what I've got. 18 MPH is reasonable.
At least you didn't get completely lemoned and console yourself with the knowledge that you're restoring a vintage piece of cycling history and for stealth camping green is the best colour.
Thanks for the comment and watching… that is very true it was overall a wise investment that turned into a monster off road bike.
a) In 2016 I was in London and there I did have the opportunity to make a test drive. On the wrong side of the road, of course.
b) Back in Germany, I ordered a brand new Brompton in British Racing Green and with six gears. I’m happy with it since then.
c) Understanding this kind of English brings me to another level…
Thanks for the comment and watching the content. When I recently did my London to Paris challenge that was the first time for me cycling on the wrong side of the road also!!
Great colour choice! When I was looking 2nd hand getting a nice colour was important.
As in my accent makes my English hard to understand 🤪
Nice work!
Thank you very much for the comment and support.
Have subscribed as I am thinking of buying a Brompton.
Welcome to the world of Brompton!! It's an interesting world but once you find the right Brompton for you I have no doubt you'll fall in love with how practical these bikes are.
Paid £30 for a battered old one last year. Spent £180 on parts and bike shop labour. Working ok, only used for train trips and shortish rides. Probably better to pay more initially, mine needs constant tinkering. Thanks for the video.
Great video, bought a used one from 2018 that had been used a handful of times and then parked in a closet all these years, literally brand new and i saved a good 6 or 7-hundred pound, not a single scratch, tires absolutely brand new, you couldn't tell the diference between this and one in a shop really.
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You can certainly find some absolute steals on the market and glad you managed to snag one. You also managed to get a really solid year of build so well done. I personally got my vintage Brompton because I wanted to strip it back to its core and see the damage 20 of years has on a bike :D. Thanks for watching.
Same, I just a bought a 2019 one from someone who said used it for 3 times. It's immaculate, even the tyres look brand new and she was so clueless about how it worked, opened, closed, had a pump on the bike frame (she didn't notice it), I wonder if she even used it three times. :) Cost me 720 and came with a large, new Brompton canvas bag.
@glasss1978 Sweet deal, made me laugh that she never noticed the pump on the frame, lol.
@@20Kilogram bless her, she didn't even notice that the tyres were completely flat when I went to pick it up. Lucky the small pump was there lol. She was very sweet though and sent me a refund of £30 on ebay for the trouble, after I left (I didn't ask for any). Not sure I'll keep the bike though, I found it weird to ride. It has an M handlebar with normal seat post, I'm 5'9 and it felt the handlebar was unnaturally far from me. If I can't get used to it, I'll just sell it on. I'm sure I can make a profit on it even. :)
@glasss1978 I think you found the last honest person in earth, lol, yeah give it a go for a few days, it definitely feels diferent than a "normal" bike at first but depending on the usage it may be convenient, diferent bikes for diferent situations.
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Helpful video. I did not know that the serial number always starts with the year, followed by the month.
Thank you 😊. Yeah knowledge is power right. Planned video down the line to explain all the different serial number labels and changes over the years
Although £500 to £700 may seem like a good deal, if you have access to a cycle to work scheme, that is all you may end up paying for a new one. As it is quite an unusual bike, buying secondhand can be a bit of a minefield if you haven’t owned one before as you don’t know what issues to look for.
I started with a six speed but eventually turned it into a single speed. It saved a lot of weight and a fair bit of maintenance. The Sturmey Archer hub was no bother but the two speed derailleur seemed to be very temperamental and was only happy when kept very clean.
Good point Jezza.
Completely agree on the mind field and the more and more different bromptons I’ve rode now makes me even more like “You have way to many options for a bike that to most people just looks the same”. I went with the used bike cause I knew I wanted to strip it back so made sense for me.
I agree also with regards to temperamental! I have an excellent video coming out shortly that I feel address this issue.
Thanks for watching
I am the very happy owner of two Bromptons and cycle about 7,000 miles a year on one of them. The advice here resonates with my experience. The 6 speed is very good but a 3 speed may suit your needs better and save a bit of money and, over time, significant maintenance.
Great comment and thanks for the input. I agree on the maintenance side for sure!!
The more I've used different Bromptons the 3 speed is a very good introduction to Brompton and people new to cycling on flattish roads.
Very good. Had my first Brompton in 2002. Didn’t realise about the serial number. Thanks for that. I see you’re cycling in Cardiff Bay and that seems to be one of the Welsh valleys at the end? Not far from me you appear to be.
Yeah Cardiff based myself for the last 10 years but now moving to Newport so all the same sights should still be incoming.
Ace mate.
I believe that changing the handlebars is not as simple as you think, flat bar bikes have different front end (stem) versus an M and different length cables, if you just change the bars, when you collapse the front end the bars hit the ground and cables will be too long/short. You need to change the bars, cables and stem to ensure they all align.
Interesting I always said the stem on the L handle bars was high but when at a Brompton shop they said it was the same!! But yes it’s easier changing from the H bars to low because you can cut the cables or accept extra slack where as going from Low to High would be expensive and timely. That said I think most bromptons are M or H.
Thanks for your input
Please try to remember the 'P' in "Brom-P-ton." Thanks.
A BMW R80/100 motorcycle air filter housing clip is a much cheaper way of locking the rear triangle in place.
I’ve screenshot this comment and will follow this up. No ideal what it looks like but interested to find out. Thanks for supporting Dave
Yes.
😂 thanks! I would also agree after dismantling it. Thanks for watching
I'm not sure if they were doing it in 2004, but at least on later models the person who brazed the main frame puts their initial on the bottom of the frame near the hinge on the right side. Mine is a 2014 model year.
That is true and just watched them talking about it on a Brompton documentary I watched. Will need to look at my frame when I return home to check but I imagine it would be a tradition that’s been going for a while.
Thanks for watching and supporting the channel
During Covid19 (what was else to do in 2019?), I went in to buy a Top, Flame Painted "SuperlightM6LXBrompton", which they had as finished bike in the shop, for our travels (and with a Scandinavian length, 600mm seat posts as Standard)! As by then 71, my similar age wife didn't quite agree, so We decided, not to take it on long travels!! But I'm still a former craftsman, so I have taken it mostly apart and changed most loose items on the bike to Titanium, besides the fork and back triangle, which came from titanium (Also a titanium, Ceramic Crank), so for now it is very close to 9 kilo, and still with mudguards (I'm a Dane!!!) The clamps holding those and the original titanium stays are definitely "Heavy Metal" from the Factory, so I also have a set from carbon and two alu holders for the guards, to be changed, for even less weight! And that will bring it - very close to the weight of a T - line - with mudguards and only 4 gears, but for about half the price but + all the extra titanium parts!
The "lock, bolt and nut" for the fold I have changed to Titanium parts, a "skeleton key", and a Hard, Joseph Kuosac rubber-block, for a better and less suspended ride!
It is still a "Horrible bike" on the small, hard rolling wheels, but the ingenious fold gives it a reason to be made!!
Finn. Denmark 😀
I have just seen Your film about the Joseph Kuosac, hard rubber block!
Great comment and thanks for your input to the channel.
You picked what IMO is the best finish to the bike.
What 600mm as standard!!! It makes perfect sense cause I’ve been across that way multiple times and your country makes me feeling like a short at 6ft 2 🤣
Damn your Titanium knowledge sounds extensive!! I would kill for a 42t Titanium crack, mine is currently steel and horrible. Also having 175mm crank length would be amazing to have again because all I can see in 42t was a 170mm 😒
Again this was amazing to share so thank you and have bike envy now.
All the best from Wales
Least it proves we both have good suspension taste
@@TheBromptonGuy When looking at Chinese A.E. I found some wooden "suspension blocks" and wondered, but now I know why! Myself I'm a "weight challenged" guy of a little past 100 kilo so pushing at the pedals gives some force! And besides that. When I got my bike I wanted to give it an Autopolish all over and found the, useless small clear tape, from the Factory, an insult, being worn through and close to the paint at one point (After two or three folds!), so I immediately ordered a set of "protection" for all the known week spots on the bike (We have an offer you can't refuse!!!)! I have complained to the Factory, why they have made it a solid Chinese Business to supply Brompton Protective Parts? I even have a Ceramic Balls cage in my headset, as a Josef Kuosac set and titanium bolt and wedge for holding it together. Also a black Titanium axle and - security parts. Finn. Denmark 😄
@@finncarlbomholtsrensen1188 Ceramic Ball cages!! Proper luxury
Where do you advise on buying used Bromptons in the UK? I see many on FB market place but get the assumption that they're stolen, would love to buy my first Brompton
That’s a great question and maybe I should do a video on that subject. I got mine from FB marketplace but most are located in London. When I think Brompton I would assume less are stolen because they tend to travel with their owners. EBay is a safer bet just from a buyer protection POV. Thanks for watching
is there a Brompton or a different model (no e motor) for heavier dudes?
Unfortunately not! All models would be relatively close to the same. The C line would be the best suitable bike for a heavier rider as it’s all steel. Still reckon about 140 to 150kg would be its upper limit.
Didn’t like the look of your rear derailleur setup. Are you sure it’s correct?
Thanks for the comment. I think you might be referring to the chain tensioner. It came broken (Guy said the jockey wheel popped off during a ride) but has been repaired with a replacement jockey wheel.
Is your handle lying to forward position still can fold?
Well noticed!! No it can’t fold that forward but I rarely fold it and when i do travel with it I just adjust the handlebars. Having them so forward is the only way for me to have a proper fit without customising some kind of stem.
Thanks for watching and supporting the channel. Dave
If you buy an e Brompton , the app records total mileage ..so you can easily check total since new and charge cycles completed
That is interesting… now I would assume that’s only the miles completed on battery (yes battery is probably used all the time instead of without) but say I ride 100,000 miles then change the battery I wonder if it would look like a new bike cause the battery cycle count is low 🤔
The cycle count is calculated from energy use not number of times you have plugged battery in charger ..so a new battery would probably display total charge cycles of bike 🤔
@@davet3804 yea correct!! So beg’s the question can you make a heavily used bike look like a new one 🤷♂️
Sticking a heavy motor and battery on it defeats the whole purpose of the bike all because you can't be bothered to pedal for yourself.
My person feeling is that I can see it's place and will certainly end up getting one to use on the channel for content but personally not in a rush@@alexmorgan3435
What is a "Bromton"?
Ain’t the first time I’ve made that mistake 🤦♂️
Pretty sure you cant just change the handlebars, you;ll need a new stem as well and new gear and brake cables :(
No you're ok changing them with the exception of going from a low hand bar to a high as the length of the cable is to short. In my case I have High bars so I was all good to change them without drama.
I was toying with changing a mid bar to flat, but thought the stem would be the wrong length ?@@TheBromptonGuy
Is it time for Brompton to expand their range like the other British bike manufacturer Pashley, who made post office bikes, Butchers bike, the govnor , the speed 5, the sovereign, the princess, the tricycle , the unicycle and many many more ...
Does anyone belive Brompton will survive 97 years as pashley have if they stick with a just one product , a folding bike designed for short distances?
I completely agree with you on this but unfortunately don't see them changing anytime soon! Have watched over 8hours of interviews with the CEO and it's clear their only mission is URBAN FREEDOM! I could rant on this topic for a good while but promise I have a whole content section coming that's dedicated to this area. Thanks once again for the support.
I keep looking for a used clone, but no one is selling. So much for them being "garbage". 😂
Tbh never seen a clone myself!! I think that’s the benefit of having the manufacturer in the UK rather than Taiwan 🤷🏻♂️
I paid £18 for my Brompton.
I’ll give you £36 and let you double your money 🤣
@@TheBromptonGuy I found it at the local dump. Best find I ever made, little rusty but everything works, I'm going to ride it round Thailand next month.
Proper jealous!! Love hearing stories like these
@@TheBromptonGuy currently in Phuket, bike is great but struggling on the big hills, next trip I will run different chainring and sprockets!
Mine cost £30 initially last year. But I spent £180 replacing parts and bike shop labour. It's very old/worn so only used for train travel and shortish rides. I consider it worthwhile nonetheless. Thanks for the video.
my serial number starts with 1902 ...
I’d be happy with that personally 😬
Well … 😂