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.

Nice work!

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.

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.

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…

Have subscribed as I am thinking of buying a Brompton.

Helpful video. I did not know that the serial number always starts with the year, followed by the month.

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. 👍

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.

Ace mate.

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.

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.

Yes.

A BMW R80/100 motorcycle air filter housing clip is a much cheaper way of locking the rear triangle in place.

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.

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.

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 😀

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

is there a Brompton or a different model (no e motor) for heavier dudes?

Is your handle lying to forward position still can fold?

Didn’t like the look of your rear derailleur setup. Are you sure it’s correct?

If you buy an e Brompton , the app records total mileage ..so you can easily check total since new and charge cycles completed

What is a "Bromton"?

Pretty sure you cant just change the handlebars, you;ll need a new stem as well and new gear and brake cables :(

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 keep looking for a used clone, but no one is selling. So much for them being "garbage". 😂

I paid £18 for my Brompton.

my serial number starts with 1902 ...