BikeRadar review of Brompton M6R-X

[rogerzilla]

Brompton M6R-X Review - BikeRadar

The new 6-speed with wide-ratio hub.  Stupendously expensive (£1189) and all that titanium doesn't seem to help much with the weight, which is said to be 26.5lb* in old money, so about a pound more than my steel 3-speed with dynohub, bar ends and a Brooks.

[TimO]

Since Brompton have always done bespoke solutions, I imagine you could just order a normal bike (ie no titanium bits) with the BWR hub.  Looking at their website, it looks like it'll cost you another £120, although I expect it depends on what base model you are tweaking.

[MercuryKev]

I'm waiting for a new M6L to arrive.  It's spec'd with the new wide range hub and with a brooks, it comes to about £800.  I must admit that I didn't think the extra cash for the ti bits would be worth it.

[rogerzilla]

It's not.  You can get a lot of the weight saving from just the Ti (now Al) seatpost, and the Ti one misses out the pump, which is a cunning way to save another 1/3 pound or so.

[Sigurd Mudtracker]

Thanks for the pointer.  I'm on the threshold of going out for a S6L myself - being a shortie the M-style bars are a bit too high for me, and I do prefer a bit of forward lean.  I'm used to half-step gearing - in fact prefer it - so don't think the shift pattern will pose any problems.  I have wondered if those triggers could be replaced with twistgrips, though - I'm sure I've seen a S-A three speed twistgrip, and a standard front shifter gripshift could operate the derailleur, given it only has two positions.  Or is there something I've missed?

[rogerzilla]

The bars are standard diameter so you could, at least in theory, fit other shifters.  They are a bit narrow though, so a Raleigh Grifter twist shifter (the only SA gripshift I know) would leave no room for a normal grip.

The standard Brompton triggers work OK, they just look rubbish.  I thought about replacing with a 1970s chromed SA trigger, but although it's an infinitely higher quality item, it wouldn't suit the bike.

[LittleWheelsandBig]

The bars are standard diameter so you could, at least in theory, fit other shifters.  They are a bit narrow though, so a Raleigh Grifter twist shifter (the only SA gripshift I know) would leave no room for a normal grip.

The standard Brompton triggers work OK, they just look rubbish.  I thought about replacing with a 1970s chromed SA trigger, but although it's an infinitely higher quality item, it wouldn't suit the bike.

Modern SA twist grip

The Brompton shifter is a little lighter than the SA trigger.