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My Brompton is getting old

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Started 5 years ago by fimm
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fimm
Member

My Brompton is 10 - 12 years old and has been my regular commuter for that time; ridden in all weathers, 4 or 5 days a week. So it is not surprising that it is somewhat battered. I took it in to BikeTrax yesterday and the mechanic reckon just by wiggling the frame and hinges and stuff that I'd be looking at a £400+ repair bill...

So I need to decide what to do. I could
- pay up and get a bit more time out of it
- ask for the minimum needed to get it back on the road and accept that the frame is on its way out, giving me a bit more time to save up for a replacement

If I'm going to replace it (or when I do replace it), I could
- go for another Brompton. A quick play on their site suggests a like-for-like (3-speed, same kind of handlebars) would be about £1000. (I kind of have the money but it is supposed to be being saved up for something else... work also has a Bike To Work scheme (which is how I got the current Brompton) which I'm going to look in to on Monday).
- get a cheaper folder. Opinions on alternatives to a Brompton particularly welcome
- get a full size replacement. This has storage implications (we have a bike storage problem anyway

I'm mostly thinking aloud here, but would appreciate thoughts/opinions/sympathy for the demise of my beloved Brompton

Posted 5 years ago #
gembo
Member

@fimm, does not sound like it owes you anything?

Get new one on bike to work scheme and donate old one to Bike Station?

Posted 5 years ago #
I were right about that saddle
Member

@fimm

Good to hear of bikes being ridden to death. That is how it should be.

Is the frame so wobbly it's unpleasant to ride or is the problem cosmetic?

Posted 5 years ago #
crowriver
Member

It sounds like an excellent advert for the reliability of a Brompton. There are other nice folders out there but I doubt any of them will last as long in daily use as your Brompton has except maybe a Bike Friday.

If it costs you a grand and lasts another 12 years that's only £83 per year.

I'm with gembo on this.

Posted 5 years ago #
14Westfield
Member

£400 should cover pretty much everything bar rebuilt wheels so would go for repair (all new components) rather than replace with a whole new bike.

If you like, get a second opinion, but assuming your intention to replace like for like (rather than a differnt style of commuter) then stick with what you have?

Posted 5 years ago #
Greenroofer
Member

You know the advert on the telly where people keep saying the car is "just like a Golf", but with the implication that it's not quite as good...

I suspect that if you don't stick with a Brompton you're always going to be wistfully noting to yourself how the fold of your new bike is nearly as quick and nearly as compact.

If you get them to repair your current bike you will save yourself £600. Any worthwhile folding bike will cost more than £400 new. I'd say stick with what you have.

Posted 5 years ago #
Arellcat
Moderator

the mechanic reckon just by wiggling the frame and hinges and stuff that I'd be looking at a £400+ repair bill

Take your Brompton to Ben at Kinetics in Glasgow, and he'll sort, with enviable ease, either or both of the pins in the frame/stem clamps, and the rear swing arm bearings. It'll also cost you a lot less than £400.

As long as your frame isn't rusting to pieces, you can fix all of it. Even a broken plastic insert for the seatpost isn't a deal-breaker.

Posted 5 years ago #
ih
Member

I like BikeTrax but it seems from your description that the mechanic was being a bit vague about what would need repair for the £400+ fee. Could you get them to break down the cost and then you could better decide whether the repair is value for money, or whether you could prioritise certain repairs to give you a few more years.

Edit: I don't think 10-12 years is old for a bike.

Posted 5 years ago #
tammytroot
Member

Biketrax are notoriously expensive.
Get a second opinion.
My son was quoted > £400 for repairs to his Brompton.
LBS did the lot ( including wheel build ) for less than half.

Posted 5 years ago #
crowriver
Member

"I don't think 10-12 years is old for a bike."

True, most of mine are much older than that. But they are not used 5 days per week, most weeks of the year. 10-12 years of that on most of my bikes would have required pretty much everything except the major components (frame, forks, seatpost, stem, bars) to be replaced before the 7 year mark. Drivetrain well before that point on most of them (except the hub geared bikes).

On a folder, the frame comes under more strain and is more likely to get dents and damage from the folding and lugging around, bashing into luggage, steps, etc. So I reckon the Brompton has done well considering.

Posted 5 years ago #
crowriver
Member

Good thread here on almost exactly the same topic:

https://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12957007

Posted 5 years ago #
LaidBack
Member

Bromptons are 'almost indestructable'.

Dave Halliday's one is possibly the most used one I've seen. I think it has a 65T chainring just to keep speed at top end. Magura rim grinder brakes possibly.

I have an Airnimal Joey which is a stiff fast riding folder but requires front wheel removal - so more a riding bike than 'hop on / hop off' transport one. 520 24" wheels.

I borrowed the Cycle Service 20" wheeled Dahon the other day. Nice fold and ride. Not as compact but not huge either. Steering column folds down with neat hinges.

Posted 5 years ago #
chdot
Admin

“Bromptons are 'almost indestructable' “

Mostly.

Household Brompton has had two frame bits replaced.

Part of rear triangle rusted through and also main frame had a crack (very unusual).

Posted 5 years ago #
chdot
Admin

To address original Q -

Stick with a Brompton, anything else might have better features- inc (maybe) cheaper & lighter - but you are likely to miss compact fold (and probably other things).

Yes, get a better idea of what you would get for £400.

Posted 5 years ago #
gkgk
Member

Kinetics guy is a good tip, but I'd also run the bike past EBC on Rodney Street - their guy was very confident-sounding about the ease of replacing pivot bits, re-drilling the frames etc.

But I'd vote for selling and replacing. It'll get 300+ on ebay, while the new one is £700ish iirc after basic rate tax cycle-to-work or 500ish if you know anyone not using their Vitality healthcare Evans discount.

You might find the new ones are an improvement - longer wheelbase (I read), the BWR wider hub gearing, the better brakes, wheels, the clippy seat post release lever thing to stop unplanned folds. Colours are a bit boring at moment though.

Posted 5 years ago #
chdot
Admin

These may or may not be current colours.

https://portapedalbike.com/blog/what-your-favorite-brompton-color-says-about-you/

Posted 5 years ago #
fimm
Member

I think there is rust in the frame.

The bike hasn't been very well looked after - cleaning or maintaining a bike when you live in a top floor flat is a major PITA. It tends to get neglected and then thrown at the bike shop.

BikeTrax sold me the bike and have done all the servicing. I'm happy to support them. I have not got the time to lug it all the way to Glasgow.

The mechanic was giving me a rough, expectation-setting, figure when he said £400. He is going to ring me up with a proper quote today.

Posted 5 years ago #
chdot
Admin

If it’s surface rust, on most parts it shouldn’t be a problem.

The rear triangle is generally thinner and can rust through (not common).

Posted 5 years ago #
Trixie
Member

If you do the repairs, will it last you another 5 years at your level of usage? If not, get a new one.

Posted 5 years ago #
paolobr
Member

@chdot

My Brompton is Turkish Green - only selected that colour as it looks very like Bianchi Green...

Posted 5 years ago #
gembo
Member

The tension is killing me.

Posted 5 years ago #
I were right about that saddle
Member

I just want to get hold of the bike, strip it, have Hendersons shot blast and paint it, knock in new bushings, rebuild and full service. I genuinely want to do this. I'd maybe design 'Fimm' branded decals too.

Posted 5 years ago #
fimm
Member

BikeTrax didn't phone yesterday. I'll chase them up today.
I'm leaning towards getting a new one, but we'll see. One thing I definitely won't be spending money on is fancy paintwork. Black is just fine, thank you.

Posted 5 years ago #
fimm
Member

Just spoken to BikeTrax. Not economical to repair. I can't even keep it on the road as a stop-gap; the rear rim is toast, apparently.

<Weeps into her mug of mint tea>.

I'll be getting it back. Will probably flog it on eBay for parts (once I've stripped one or two things off it) - I don't think the Bicycle Works would be interested in a dead Brompton, would they?

Posted 5 years ago #
Arellcat
Moderator

A rear rim is £20 and an hour or two's work for an ex-bike mechanic. What else does the bike need?

Posted 5 years ago #
chdot
Admin

“I don't think the Bicycle Works would be interested in a dead Brompton, would they?”

Well anyone would!

Never that dead.

Replacing rim, pretty cheap.

“What else does the bike need?”

Exactly.

Worn out folding bits doesn’t actually make it unrideable.

Posted 5 years ago #
tammytroot
Member

As above.
I would strongly recommend a second opinion.
I used to take our bromptons to bike trax but no longer.

Posted 5 years ago #
chdot
Admin

Might be worth more than you think -

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=brompton%20spares%20repair&LH_Complete=1&LH_Sold=1&rt=nc&_trksid=p2045573.m1684

Posted 5 years ago #
ih
Member

@fimm Did you see IWRATS offer? http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18875#post-284057

Seems genuine to me. You could still have it black.

Posted 5 years ago #
fimm
Member

The pins in the hinges have worn the hinges to such an extent that the holes the pins go through are oval and getting bigger. That's the big issue. Mechanic doesn' think it is worth repairing.

There's rust in the frame.
I know there's something wrong with the bit where the seat post goes up and down because you have to pull it really hard to get it to go up.

Probably needs front as well as rear rim. New cables and brake blocks, no doubt.

Posted 5 years ago #

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