Wow - amazingly the original bike here was my old bike!!! Loved that thing and regretted selling it. Now have another one but sadly not British racing green...
Came and skipped the video for the quick upgrades and eventual weight. Ended up rewinding and watching the entire video for the brilliant editing and cinematography!
I think the easiest and cheapest components for weight reduction are the seatpost, handlebars and bottom bracket. I think these represent best bang for buck.
Could you please make a video guide on how you upgraded your gearset? My igh is heavy and i can't find a good guide on external gear upgrade. THANKS and very good vid. I'm subscribing
How are the Ali express parts going after a year ? anything broken ? be good to hear which were most effective per cost ? I guess perhaps seat post, saddle and mud guards ?
New subscriber. Finally I found the kind of video I was looking for. I just purchased my 4th Brompton (don't ask why I've got 4, it is a disease) and the latest would be the perfect bike for a similar modification. What I still don't get after viewing you video several times is how the 7 speed external shifter process works. Any chance of a more detailed video? I don't need a slick production like this one, just a view of the shifter process and the parts involved.
A very well made video. As a former Brompton owner, there were two shortcomings with the bike, the lack of gearing range, and the weight. I used to commute by bike and subway, and keep my bike under my desk at work. Navigating two Tokyo subway stations and their countless stairs was a little difficult carrying the Brompton. Then there was the lack of gearing, which made some of Tokyo's hills impossible to get up without dismounting and pushing the bike up to the top. In those days there weren't many options available for upgrading gearing or using ligher parts, so I ended up getting a Birdy, which was lighter, had more gears, and which folded quite small, if not as small as the Brompton. But, now that there is a much larger aftermarket for the Brompton, I've bought a fixer-upper bike, and am looking forward to seeing how far I can go with it.
I have a Birdy too, and I can say it doesn't come even close to the folding size of the Brompton. Similarly, the folding procedure with the Birdy is not as close as smooth as with the Brompton (actually it's a pain while dirty hands are guaranteed afterwards because one has to grasp the fork by hand). Birdy just rides better, so if you don't have to fold often and don't have to take the bike on the train often and never on the bus, it might be the better choice.
Kudos to you for making a great video about the Brompton. It's good that you found such a great second-hand option. That said, I don't think 1300 pounds for a new Brompton is an outrageous price for a bike that can last literally decades. A carbon road bike won't last anywhere near that long, and will be more much expensive. Regarding weight, all steel bikes will be somehwat heavier, but I think most commuters would value durability over weight savings.
It is worth it, the issue is the sticker shock to someone who has the correlation of bike = easily stealable. You are buying the Brompton to avoid it being stolen, yet it is still a mindset you need to get yourself out of Also, here he has upgraded it to a 6 gear, so the comparison would be to the £1900 bikes
The editing skills and bike workmanship in this video is amazing! Thank you for sharing. If you have time, do you mind adding the weight savings and purchase costs on each part in the description too? Or if you don't have time, just the purchase cost of the most weight saving parts! I would like to make my brompton lighter but the parts are incredibly expensive! Would be interested to see how you converted from a Sturney Archer 3 speed internal to an external 5 speed as well. Thanks again!
Thanks mate. The most weight saving is on the new wheels. I paid £190 for the wheels + £70 for the tyres + £40 for the tubes. The next one would be the saddle and the seatpost. Seatpost cost me just £20. Used saddle was £140, but saddles are really a personal preference and comfort is more important than weight, so I’d suggest that you go with the model you like.
@@TwistedWheels Such an inspiring video! Do you or any of the followers here know where to purchase the Silverock wheels? I couldnt find them available online. Cheers!
hahah if you think Brompton bikes are expensive in the UK you should see how VERY VERY expensive they are in Australia. But or city apartment living they are fantastic and the best bike I've owned.
This is truly inspiring. I have a 6-speed Brompton, and I need to carry it around quite a lot when commuting, getting on and off the train, so I appreciate the idea of weight reduction. I'd love to know more about the replacement of the internal gears with a deraileur, perhaps you could post some more info on the exact components used and whether any modifications were necessary.
Best Brommie video ever!! May I ask you if 5 speed has any negative effect while (un)folding? Which cogs did you use? Do any of third parts fail so far? Thanks again for the great video!
Saw a guy on a Raleigh RSW 16 today. Same story as the Nokia versus the iPhone. If only....... First time viewer here and as others have said, well edited and engaging video. I don't have a Brompton but you have sold it to me in 13 minutes.
I was waiting 12 years to buy my bike in London. I found Brompton really expensive, but I had no space in the flat and at work for a full size bike. In April on a day off I calculated how much I've spent on TfL since I was thinking about getting a bike - minimum £15K - and I went straight to the Brompton shop to get my bike.
BRAVO! exactly the video i was looking for but couldn't find as I'm building my own brompton now too! Only difference is i started out with purchasing a titanium frameset... now i'm going to see if I can get exactly the same rest of the parts as you did for the same cost :D
@@TwistedWheels avec plaisir. Vous parlez aussi le français ? Comme vous parlez français, me conseillez vous quelle marque vélo pour un budget entre 500 et 800 euros. ? Merci
@@hmat7472 I have to google translate it :) I’m selling this if you are in the UK www.ebay.co.uk/itm/314278182634?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=ffy4duueqw2&sssrc=2051273&ssuid=ffy4duueqw2&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
@@TwistedWheels hello monsieur Merci pour votre réponse. Je suis en France et vis à Paris . Je mesure 1m 60 , il me faut un vélo taille S ou 48 mais si j'étais un peu plus grand en taille , j'aurais été tenté par votre proposition. J'avais pensé à un vélo orbea carpe 20 me le conseillez vous ? Merci encore pour réponse. Amitiés
@@wingcreator thanks! I specifically wanted the rack to be able to roll it and the flaps are staying for British winter (even though I’m not a big fan of how they look). I believe Ti seatpost would be about the same weight as the aluminium one that I have.
@@TwistedWheels Yes, the rack is functional but adds weight. I too put an original Brompton rack on my Barbour which didn't come with a rack as I need to carry camera gears, tripod, and drone.
@@wingcreator as mentioned in the video, the goal was to build a light Brompton without removing any functionality. So mudguards and rack are essential
Brilliant Build! Subbed. I Hope to do this same thing; find a used Older model Brompton, upgrade So-So OEM parts with quality affordable components, & ride it like I stole it. You rock, Amigo. Thanks for this Guide to a "Better Brompton"! Looks Sweet.
Superb effort! My mountain bike shrunk by 1kg just by going tubeless and summer tyres. Amazing that I noticed it vs 13kg start weight so yours is staggering. I’m N+1 on motorbikes too. It’s a tough sell where N=9……..
After one year of riding my brompton rebuild, inspired by this rebuild here, I can say: the effort, time and money ain't worth it at all. Many parts broke due to low quality (these broke: titanium folding hook (twice after re-ordering it!); the front mudguard's mounting plate; the 52 tooth chainring (this is a design problem since some areas are too thin); the aceoffix pedals keep falling off while riding; and the gear shifting system is too poorly designed (suncord 7 speed) so that it gets ruined by use while riding. so, as much as I adore the lightweight rebuild and think this is a great idea, as much am i frustrated to constantly having to repair sth. my original 2010 brompton never had any real issues besides maintenance and some oil, so i strongly recommend to really consider if you want a quality brompton original or some customizing parts of low quality. I fear that my health is at risk here. I decided to un-do the whole rebuild and mount back all the original parts but the titanium fork (hopefully this won't break),.
Fair enough. I didn’t have any issues with the bike in the 4 months that owned it. If I was to build it again, I’d go for Rhum rear derailleur (that didn’t exist at the time I built it) that has the same design as P/T-line rear mechs and probably different cranks. This would increase the cost by another £300 though. But the rest of the parts would probably stay the same.
Amazing. I got myself a new c-line brompton and its even more heavy. But I still love it. But yours was an inspiration to maybe get a second hand or chinese knockoff and convert it into a superlight
This is a superb video, you came up on my recommended list. Very well put together and you answered all the niggles I was thinking about as I was watching... I recently got a P Line and am trying to improve the gearing on it. Would love to hear your experience of the shifting in detail, in particular how the SRAM shifter works when its designed for so many more gears than 5?
Wish I could be like you but I don’t even know how to change a tyre and I am waiting for my second B this week my first one, BE got it last two months and it’s almost 16kg ;(
My LightweightH6LXBrompton has an original fork and backframe from titanium (If brompton had come with the new Titanium model a little before, when I bought mine as a new bike in 2019, I would have bought that, as the price is now about the same, it seems, as mine then, at least here in Denmark!) , and a new titanium seatpost (Sadly a long 600 mm as I'm a rather tall person), with a ring instead of a clamp for my new seat, Selle San Marco. I have fittet two ordinary "plastic wheels" on my, new AceOffix lightweight tensioner, as I don't like the noise that the metal wheels make (It was, luckily possible, but most likely not intended, to buy it without the wheels!) And I have a new J.K. headset to be mounted ( + the proper tools for the job!). And the heavy metal "clamps" for my mudguards titanium struts, to - carbon! The original metal ones actually weighs a lot, I found out by changing the one wheel to a double, and larger wheel set, for better transport when folded!
Hi - that was great! I currently have a second hand S2 (2015?), and have been eyeing up the new full titanium Brompton. But now I'm thinking that a set of upgrades like this, coupled with switching out the forks & rear triangle for titanium might be fun and a whole lot less money!
Awesome video! Got my Brompton a year ago and loved every minute of it. Just got that same kind of rack for the back have not attempt to put it on yet 🤔 came with no directions but I'll figure it out LOL 🍻
Awesome video. Great editing skills. Being on the heavier side I wonder how your modifications effect the maximum load? Good tip on lowering the number of gears however to getting the weight lower (you can live quite easily with only 2 gears in my experience on London roads/bridges).
As a Brompton purist the thing with Sturmey Archer internal gear hubs it that they are more robust and last longer (less maintenance) than derailleur gears. I’m no expert but that’s what I have been told. I also prefer the original rear rack because the bungee cords fit exactly on the rack. Yours you have to remember to take a tiedown. But hey it's good to tinker. And it does look nice.
If you want to keep Sturmey Archer but more gears, we usually do a simple 3x3 setup into a 9-gear one in HK so we can climb uphill much easier without changing the back wheel.
Easier to change the chainring up front to a 44 or even a 40t. Easier climbing and less weight. Lower top end, of course, but Bromptons aren’t about speed.
Awesome production & give us so much valuable info on how to build a lighter bike!! May i just know why u opt to just put 5 speed instead of the full 7 speed on the cassette? Izit becos it will affect the folding?
Incredible video. So well made. The bike too. Definitely going to consider a bunch of these changes once I run my current drivetrain / wheels into the ground. (really worried about rapid wear on stock Brompton wheel rims.).. Definitely curious how the 7sp will work. The stock 2sp doesn't shift well in bad weather.
Great video. Makes me wonder about the fesibility of just building a complete Brompton copy from a Chinese made Titanium frame. I suppose a person living in Asia could save time and money by just building it there.
Thank you very much for your experimental and informatice video! I am trying to follow you with several things with my brompton M6R, and I am curious which wheels that you changed to front and rear based on the information around 6:00 in your video. Have a nice day with your upgraded brompton:-)
