Author Topic: Brompton Brake Quality (Read 18821 times)

Martin109 · « **on:** 15 October, 2009, 02:44:56 pm »

A female acquaintance owns a Brompton, but tends not to ride it, as she's mistrustful of the brakes.

She states she took it for a test ride before buying it, and found the brakes pretty ineffective. The previous owner stated that the brakes had been serviced properly, ie they weren't faulty. She bought the bike.

This person doesn't appear particularly mechanically-minded, so it's hard to assess, and I'm not in a position to view the bike.

Are the standard brakes fitted to Bromptons OK and, if not really, are there suitable upgrades? Are the standard ones single or dual pivot? How would you improve the braking? Perhaps the cables get damaged by an injudicious fold. Not being a folder afficionado, I don't even know whether the small wheels help or hinder braking effect.

Tim · « **Reply #1 on:** 15 October, 2009, 02:49:44 pm »

Brompton brakes are poor.

I can't believe that a number of owners here haven't felt the need to upgrade them.

My response to test riding a Brompton was to put it back in the showroom and buy a Dahon instead.

Zipperhead · « **Reply #2 on:** 15 October, 2009, 02:54:08 pm »

I bought my Brompton about 5 years ago. The brakes have always been good, they stop our combined mass of over 100kg without problems.

The only time that they weren't good was when I tried replacing the blocks with some Kool stops (I think). The dis-improvement was very noticeable, bought a new set of Brompton blocks and happy stopping resumed.

LittleWheelsandBig · « **Reply #3 on:** 15 October, 2009, 02:55:29 pm »

No easy upgrades. EDIT: except to newer model Brompton brakes.

Dual pivots are standard now, previously single pivots.

The performance has progressively improved over the years from woeful to reasonable. The latest brakes have brass bushes and Fibrax pads. I have a strong handshake and have never had problems stopping, even with the legendarily-weak Saccon single pivots. YMMV.

Torslanda · « **Reply #4 on:** 15 October, 2009, 02:58:06 pm »

Mr 'Zilla (of this very parish) is the acknowledged Guru of Bromptonology.

I believe he is also a follower of the 'Alhonga Big Dog' doctrine which states that wherever two or three are gathered together then they shall 'Slag the Stopping Power in a Royal Fashion' before communing with the *bay in search of their 'Dual Pivoted Saviour'

I'm not taking this seriously, am I?

J

Is there another bicycle out there that costs as much and rides as badly as a Brompton?
I suspect I might be in a position, very shortly, to find out!

Martin109 · « **Reply #5 on:** 15 October, 2009, 03:01:02 pm »

Thanks for all the responses - and so quick!

Martin109 · « **Reply #6 on:** 15 October, 2009, 03:49:42 pm »

So, let's say she's acquired an older Brompton with single-pivot brakes; would it be straightforward to upgrade to the latest, dual-pivot, most effective (OK, least ineffective!) brake design, or are there design and model detail issues which might prevent such remedial action?

andygates · « **Reply #7 on:** 15 October, 2009, 04:11:47 pm »

AFAIK it's a straight swap. Where's Rog?

The dual pivots, as supplied on Hannibal, are good. They're actually good in the dry, and in the wet, not bad -- all small-wheel bikes suffer a bit more than big-wheels in the wet as the whole wheel is immersed in spray.

Torslanda · « **Reply #8 on:** 15 October, 2009, 04:22:08 pm »

SJS sell the dual pivot Brompton branded calipers for £23 each + p&p

HTH

J

border-rider · « **Reply #9 on:** 15 October, 2009, 04:26:11 pm »

I'm with LWaB - mine still has the original crappy single pivots, though not the original levers, because I've just never had cause to change them - I can stop on the proverbial sixpence as it is. I have changed the blocks over the years, of course, which may be a factor.

LittleWheelsandBig · « **Reply #10 on:** 15 October, 2009, 04:50:17 pm »

Quote from: andygates on 15 October, 2009, 04:11:47 pm

AFAIK it's a straight swap.

Absolutely for brakes. Most components on the current Brompton can be retrofitted to earlier models.

rogerzilla · « **Reply #11 on:** 15 October, 2009, 05:24:50 pm »

The dual-pivots are very good. Models from 2002 and thereabouts have a dual-pivot front and a single-pivot rear (optimistically called "high leverage") - these work just as well.

plooifiets · « **Reply #12 on:** 17 December, 2010, 01:35:50 pm »

This is the brake that really makes my Brommie stop!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/plooifiets/3671516172/

Biggsy · « **Reply #13 on:** 17 December, 2010, 01:45:16 pm »

I'd only bother with a hub or disc brake if often riding a lot in heavy rain. Otherwise the dual-pivot calipers on my Brommy are more than good enough. In fact they work better than my road bike's, which surprised me given the size of the wheels.

Tewdric · « **Reply #14 on:** 19 December, 2010, 01:37:25 am »

I've never really given it any thought. The brakes on my nearly new one are fab, but the ones on my last Mk 3 were perfectly adequate.

Mind you I never actually go that fast on it..

aidan.f · « **Reply #15 on:** 19 December, 2010, 09:06:07 am »

Before you buy, strip down the dual pivot brakes and make sure all pivots are free, and lubricate.

I serviced a friends bromptom (before borrowing it), and the front pivot was completely siezed

border-rider · « **Reply #16 on:** 19 December, 2010, 09:52:09 am »

Quote from: Tewdric on 19 December, 2010, 01:37:25 am

I've never really given it any thought. The brakes on my nearly new one are fab, but the ones on my last Mk 3 were perfectly adequate.

Mind you I never actually go that fast on it..

The OEM brakes on the Mk1s were pretty awful.

Nightfly · « **Reply #17 on:** 28 December, 2010, 09:17:48 pm »

Quote from: Sleepy on 19 December, 2010, 09:06:07 am

Before you buy, strip down the dual pivot brakes and make sure all pivots are free, and lubricate.

I serviced a friends bromptom (before borrowing it), and the front pivot was completely siezed

Yep Brompton brakes can be pretty alarmingly in their lack of stopping power. However strip them down lubricating the inner cables with grease or whatever plus as you say the pivot points of the single calipers and as sure as the answer to a folding bike is Brompton, they will then stop you on a 5p piece if you so wished. I think the problem is because Brompton assemble them dry and there is so much friction resisting smooth easy movement of the the inner brake cable and calipers.

plooifiets · « **Reply #18 on:** 01 January, 2011, 11:08:33 am »

Before I got the drumbrake I used these.http://www.flickr.com/photos/plooifiets/2693243101/
IMO they did a good breakjob. Now I only use them on the rear wheel.

nobby · « **Reply #19 on:** 22 January, 2011, 06:14:00 pm »

Quote from: plooifiets on 01 January, 2011, 11:08:33 am

Before I got the drumbrake I used these.http://www.flickr.com/photos/plooifiets/2693243101/
IMO they did a good breakjob. Now I only use them on the rear wheel.

Does that mean you have a front hub brake in a Brompton?

plooifiets · « **Reply #20 on:** 22 January, 2011, 10:29:10 pm »

Yes, it's a hub brake and it's in the front wheel.

Nightfly · « **Reply #21 on:** 22 January, 2011, 11:06:15 pm »

Quote from: plooifiets on 22 January, 2011, 10:29:10 pm

Yes, it's a hub brake and it's in the front wheel.

There aren't any on Bromptons made recently, certainly not after 2004, so front hub brakes must be on vintage models.

LittleWheelsandBig · « **Reply #22 on:** 23 January, 2011, 02:38:00 am »

Not a factory option, Greenspeed significantly modify drum brake hubs to fit into a Brompton's narrow fork.

nobby · « **Reply #23 on:** 23 January, 2011, 06:20:00 am »

Quote from: LittleWheelsandBig on 23 January, 2011, 02:38:00 am

Not a factory option, Greenspeed significantly modify drum brake hubs to fit into a Brompton's narrow fork.

Any details of the mod? The Greenspeed Trike hubbrakes look like they are Sturmey Archers wich are significantly bigger OLD than standard Brommy front hub.
cheers

plooifiets · « **Reply #24 on:** 23 January, 2011, 07:16:25 pm »

Details? You might take a look at Hub Brake Wheel
and
Hub brake for Brompton | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Author Topic: Brompton Brake Quality (Read 18821 times)

Tim

border-rider

border-rider

Nightfly

Nightfly