4 Exclusive Problems With The Brompton P Line

Рет қаралды 4,458

Күн бұрын

Today we walk about 4 problems I have noticed on my Brompton P line. The bike is less than 6 months old and these issues stand out above all else.
I love this bike very much but great to know these things incase you are thinking to purchase one.
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Thanks for watching…
Chapters
0:00 What to expect
1:44 Hinge Pin
3:23 Chain
5:19 Derailleur
7:31 Roller Wheels
9:19 Conclusion
#brompton #thebromptonguy

Пікірлер: 52

@TheBromptonGuy 2 ай бұрын

I just wanted to add this information is based on owning the bike for 5 months and it has covered 1000km in all weathers. I can also assure you I maintain my bike to a high standard. Please feel free to share your experiences below.

@salkjshaweoiuenvohvr 2 ай бұрын

You should reach out to Leonard Rubin. He built the perfect Brompton already. Look up Bike stuff Leonard Rubin. His is a titanium folding bike with 30 speeds. If you can reach out to him you will find the perfect bike Brompton is too afraid to make.

@adamhunt397 2 ай бұрын

I worked as a bike mechanic for many years and one upgrade I found that helped the performance of the Bromptons I worked on was replacing the OEM molded plastic brake levers with good quality metal brake levers. They don’t need to be fancy but the change will dramatically help your braking performance.

@TheBromptonGuy 2 ай бұрын

I’ve been looking for the right brakes for a while as the deore xt brakes on my m line are fabulous

@peterwillson1355 2 ай бұрын

The current brake levers are very good. Since at least 2017

@veyrethomas3934 2 ай бұрын

I own a P line (12 speed), and so far I haven’t experienced any of the problems you have encountered, even though I’ve used my Brompton for touring. Regarding the chain, I use wax and not oil, maybe it helps.

@KevinDewane 2 ай бұрын

Same with me, 10 months old no issues like this. Oil chain. Sometimes not used for a few weeks.

@TheBromptonGuy Ай бұрын

I truly am grateful for peoples input stating they haven't had issues cause I think that is really important.

@pootlingalong8928 2 ай бұрын

You said “upgrade from C Line to the P Line”. I would say “downgrade”. I bought a three speed M3L in Jan 2015. Best money I have ever spent. It has never been serviced other than by me replacing tyres, tubes, cables, brake pads. It has successfully done LeJog carrying me, my dog and all our camping equipment, a tour of the Lake District, a tour of the Cotswolds and The Way of the Roses and has been ridden almost every day for commuting and leisure since I bought it with NO mechanicals or issues other than one of the pedals came loose on our Roses ride and had to be removed and spannered back on. Not one mechanical! I hate derailleurs and will never buy a derailleur-geared bike. Brompton used to build bombproof bikes, now they’re going down the toys for boys route. So disappointed. 🤷‍♀️

@RvanLaar66 2 ай бұрын

My P Line Electric is a little over 6 months old and has covered about the same distance as yours. No issues with the hinge(s) at all. Neither with the chain and not with the derailleur/shifting either. Your issues with the chain seem particularly odd as the "SL Advance 4SPD Chain" as Bromton named it, is the YBN SLA10. Tested and rated by Zero Friction Cycling (quite an authority in this field I'd say) as *the best* 10 speed chain in the world today. I'm impressed that Brompton selected this chain as standard fitment on the P & T Line and shows their attention to detail imo. Just wash out the factory 'lube' thoroughly and use a good drip wax lubricant. It will be as good as it gets with this chain size.👌 I do agree on the Brompton roller wheels. They are cheap, rattling, nasty things that are also too small. I've replaced them with 80mm rubber wheels on sealed bearings and now it rolls almost as good folded as unfolded. 🙃

@TheBromptonGuy 2 ай бұрын

Great input indeed! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and I feel I need to get onboard this wax train 🤔

@bird1lives 2 ай бұрын

No probs here with my hinge pin; had the chain seize up on me and the gear cable stretch when new. I really like the P, it's the best brommie I've owned! That green is beautiful BTW!

@TheBromptonGuy Ай бұрын

I would also agree! The P lIne is simply amazing. Even with these issues its the bike I also go to.

@alfonsodam 2 ай бұрын

The hinge thing is defiitely an issue with your unit, I'd totally go to Brompton and ask for them to check it, I've had nothing but good experiences at my junction. I did have a bit of a rough time with the handlebar hinge, but nothing a bit of 3 in 1 couldn't resolve. Have you tried that? Also, regarding the chain, as a lot of people have stated, the chain is actually really good, but badly oiled it will be absolutely horrible, and there is a reason for it: it's a good chain! It's meant to be properly oiled, not with muc off stuff or the likes. If you don't want to go the waxing route, I do recommend Silca Synergetic. It transformed my 12 speed (same derailleur). At the junction on the first month check up they put muc off and yeah... that was grose and as you said made the chain really stiff. With the Synergetic I've gone through patches of mud, gravel routes, coblestone, under rain this whole week... it's still silent and clean like you wouldn't believe. Roller wheels... yeaaah, they are garbage. Installed SON wheels on mine (66mm) and they have been awesome. Also improve cornering a lot, I recommend them even if they are awefully expensive. They are really thin, yet more stable than stock ones.

@TheBromptonGuy Ай бұрын

Thanks for the input, yes did try 3 in 1 but doesn't make is as smooth as new! Still awaiting a response from Brompton but getting to that point I'm due to send a follow up email. Spoke with a couple folk about it and does appear to be one of the more common in warranty issues Brompton address. Thanks for the advice with the chain! going to go down the waxing route and have no doubt its a good chain just appears to have teething issues with me.

@samuraiS30v 2 ай бұрын

My bike just showed up to Ben at Kinetics in Glasglow Scotland for extreme modifications.

@illiniEE 2 ай бұрын

I enjoy your videos and appreciate the effort you put in for the Brompton community. As a counter point - I also have the Emerald Green P Line for 9 months. I have not had any of the problems that you have. But, I just ride on the city streets and bike lanes in Paris that are cleaned multiple times a week and not in the country or on dirt and gravel. 1. Folding - I do not have any hinge pin folding issues. 2. Chain - I don't have any issues with my chain. 3. Derailleur - I did have to adjust the derailleur when I first received it after the first month of riding, but not since then. 4. The roller wheels aren't great. I don't hit the roller wheels when I pedal, but you look tall and must have bigger feet. 5. Weight - I think it is very easy to carry. I carry up and down 6 flights of stairs - I'm 59 and fit.

@TheBromptonGuy 2 ай бұрын

Thank you for the counter points and always great to have other peoples experiences. Can I ask how many km or miles you've clocked on it so far?

@illiniEE 2 ай бұрын

@@TheBromptonGuy Unfortunately I don't track my distance. I could go back into Google maps and see if I can work it out. During warmer months, I have been riding my P line 3-4 times a week for 1-2 hours each ride. During the "winter" here in Paris I have only ridden when it is warmer, so less than 3 times per week. I ride for pleasure and exercise, so I do not ride it if it looks like rain (although in Paris the forecast is useless) and I have been caught in a number of downpours. I ride in very clean conditions since it is normally dry when I ride. I try to clean the bike and chain about every 2 months using simple bike cleaner/degreaser and then re-oiling the chain. I do dry the bike off if it does get wet when I return to my apartment and store the bike inside in temperature regulated conditions. I did go on a group Brompton ride to Versailles and we went through some tall grass, mud, gravel, and bumpy conditions. I had to stop and pull leaves out of my derailleur and later stop and adjust my front brake which had been knocked out of alignment and was rubbing against the rim. It was then that I concluded that this is a great city bike, but it was the last time I was going to ride it off of smooth pavement because that one ride knocked the crap out of the bike and me. I have seen how you use the bike to the fullest in the outdoors - it looks like a lot of fun, but I don't think my Brompton would survive that use case. I prefer road bikes for touring and hybrid bikes for off road and rough terrain.

@eegaugh 2 ай бұрын

As an old-style Superlight user I am sorry to hear of your woes. I wonder whether the derailleur cable stretch is actually in the outer (or both). I wish Brompton were more responsive about this sort of thing.

@finncarlbomholtsrensen1188 2 ай бұрын

As a "Rainy Dane" I hardly use my Brompton bike during Rain (As a Pensioner I luckily don't need to, and it is only if bad luck that I will meet some rain!), and I of course use Mudguards on my bike from that, also as a weapon against the notorious "Brompton Stripe" and stones and loose fruits on a pass! But I could imagine that a very thin, penetrating oil used on/in the hinge eventually could stop the rust and the heavy functioning? I managed to make a "Repair Stop" for a water line function again after years of non functioning, in my wife's flat, by using this kind of oil! In the Good Old Days a "Grease Nipple" would make it function! After all a Brompton is an ancient type bike in many ways. I use a combined Graphite Oil for my chain and I think it functions, but maybe a bath in Hot Wax could also help? My combined 2 times 3 gears functions fine , but maybe it is a fault from adjustment, making the end stop too/so tight that the chain can't stay in place? I also do intend to change to some kind of Teflon Cables, so maybe also a cable with a Teflon Insert could make it function more easy 🤔? Finn. Denmark

@iainwade 2 ай бұрын

I have a pline that has sat for months between pickup without the seizing, while my cline has had that issue. I just added boshield t9 to the maintenance schedule and it’s fine. With chains: I started waxing since I make contact with it more with a folding bike when carrying.

@TheBromptonGuy 2 ай бұрын

Thanks for the input and very useful! I feel I should start looking into wax 🖐️

@keithevans5667 2 ай бұрын

Hi is it ok to share you on my Brompton Custom Worldwide page?

@TheBromptonGuy 2 ай бұрын

Absolutely! Feel free to and thanks for checking first 👌

@mynameisntbobbybob 2 ай бұрын

all of mans problems with the bike are down to lack of maintenance. Ive cleaned / lubed my chain once in 8 months of ownership and had no trouble with it.

@TheBromptonGuy 2 ай бұрын

I can 110% assure you that I maintain the bike to high standards! I reckon it's because my bike sees higher milage and all types of weathers which a bike should. The bike is just 5months old and I've already covered just under 1000km. If you've only cleaned it once in 8months it surely hasn't covered great distance or multiple weathers? cause brompton themselves recommend to clean and oil once a month! If I left my chain unclean for 8 months with the amount of usage I put into my brompton it would be completely black.

@mynameisntbobbybob 2 ай бұрын

@@TheBromptonGuy I have the same bike as you ( even the great metallic green) and have had none of the same problems, you've probably done some more miles but mine really hasn't been looked after and has been just as reliable as the c line it replaced. Maybe time will tell! I am thinking of either getting a 12 speed upgrade for it or a bigger front ring though as I find I bottom out quiet alot.

@HolgerNestmann 2 ай бұрын

Maybe there is a bit luck of the draw as well. Are you for instance sure they changed the hinge pin vs. the c-line? That‘d be an odd choice to save what - 5grams?

@platypushatstand 2 ай бұрын

The hinge pin joints are to be oiled not greased. Though yours does seem to be a potential manufacturing fault. When my H6R does that a tiny drop of 3-in-1 oil on each end and some repeat opening & closing action sorts it out (plus wipe any excess off). As for the roller wheels: have you tried thinner aftermarket Eazy wheels? If that doesn’t work how about increasing the Q-factor? If you put spacers to push out the crankset, you may gain sufficient heel clearance, also possibly in combination with thinner aftermarket Eazy wheels.

@TheBromptonGuy Ай бұрын

I'm pretty sure it's some kind of manufacturing fault and currently following up with Brompton atm. I do oil it but honestly doesn't help much which is surprising but I remain optimistic it will somehow just fix itself 🤣

@simonjohnson2897 2 ай бұрын

My P-line and , later my T-line with 4-speed all needed frequent gear adjustment than my previous C-line with 6-speed. It seems to have higher tollerances and, therefore, it goes out of adjustment far quicker than the old system. It wasn't terrible, but I presumed that they would improve gears not make them a bit worse in some respects. I asked the guys in the Brompton store and they were well aware of this weakness.

@kavanobrien6547 2 ай бұрын

Not forgetting the other problems with the P Line = price, having chain rather than belt ,

@mynameisntbobbybob 2 ай бұрын

it would need hub gears which goes against the point of the bike

@kavanobrien6547 2 ай бұрын

@@mynameisntbobbybob I disagree = the new 12 speed has hub gears , every other bike manufacturer has seen their belt drive system increase 30% over the last 5 years,

@mynameisntbobbybob 2 ай бұрын

@@kavanobrien6547 it has a three speed hub from the older Bromptons bolted onto the derailer 4 speed system from the p line.

@TheBromptonGuy 2 ай бұрын

I personally feel all Bromptons are costly and was trying to cover what I would be considered exclusive issue but for sure it's a very pricey bike and yes belt drive would be a good option if people wish to chose it 😆

@kavanobrien6547 2 ай бұрын

@@mynameisntbobbybob I DO KNOW THAT.

@BrownPeterAnthony 2 ай бұрын

I do enjoy your videos, as all owners do. The issues you highlight are valid, however "brompton" the company are more concerned what type of bag and colour the bikes should be to sell now a days as they have come to the limits of what can be done to a 16" folding bicycle with the current development team, the "T" line is a bit of a joke too ( so I wouldnt wait on a email) Theoretically the buyer will customise their bike to suit their needs as ""Will said, so the price is subject to what the buyer can calculate or justify it is worth to them. You and others who put 20" wheels on was a step forward as well as the 14" wheel version in Asian countries, making a bike to suit your/peoples needs. You'll have to spend a bit more money to solve your problems on the "P" line, but in return you get a bike you'll enjoy to ride.

@TheBromptonGuy Ай бұрын

Great comment and agree fully on ever word said! Thank you for your support of the channel and a true pleasure to make brompton content

@simonclare7133 Ай бұрын

No offence pilgrim; however, I suspect your maintenance schedule might be the issue; e.g., you should never experience seizing of the hinge joint if you are looking after the parts properly. Also, wax your chain brother - period. Also how on earth does it take ‘half a day’ to degrease a chain. Lastly, cables stretch - I am a bit lost why this stuff is an issue for you.

@TheBromptonGuy Ай бұрын

No offence taking my friend. Can now confirm after an inspection Brompton have decided to replace the hinge joint under warranty which is good and yes the wax has really helped for the chain for sure but never had to Wax any of my other chains. Sorry might have said it wrong I left it soaking in degreaser for half a day but certainly normally only takes me 10mins to 20mins to degrease and clean. I’m surprise with the amount of cable stretching in a very short amount of time that is all. Hope that helps answer some of my thoughts and thanks for the input

@worldtoday9244 2 ай бұрын

Sounds like cheap inferior components u get on the Boeing 787. Quality not a priority with Brompton anymore

@TheBromptonGuy Ай бұрын

The only think I can comment to that is my 2004 hinges are still absolutely fine and is anything get abused way more.

@woodybeck8077 2 ай бұрын

Those roller wheels suck! They rattle big time. Replaced mine with some nice Asian wheels.

@TheBromptonGuy 2 ай бұрын

I completely agree and they only stock them with these wheels cause of their weight. However somethings are worth gaining weight on and these wheels should be one of them.