£1000
Low-mileage Electric Brompton M6R+ with spare hub motor wheel, two 36V batteries, front bag, upgrades, accessories, tools
This is my beloved e-Brompton which I have owned for nearly 20 years now. It is a 2006 model which I upgraded with some 2007+ parts.
Reason for selling: I bought a full-size bicycle and I cannot afford to keep both.
This Brompton still looks pretty good cosmetically, but more importantly it has been looked after mechanically and it runs smoothly through its 6 gears (2 derailleur, 3 hub).
I service all my bikes myself, and last year I completely dismantled every part, nuts and bolts on my Brompton in order to clean, grease, oil and run checks on all systems (including the gear hub internals). I fitted all-new inner cables and outer housing as per Brompton specifications (quality Jagwire suitable for the folding bends). This sale includes a few spare parts, inner tubes, and Brompton-specific tools.
I am providing an online photo album with 50-ish pictures. Please take a look at the close-up shots and do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.
I originally purchased this M6R+ as a non-electric bike, but soon after I decided to "electrify" it in order to help me pedal up the hills. I was one of the few original DIY Brompton modifiers who documented their builds publicly at the pedelecs.co.uk forums (I laced the wheels using quality rims and spokes). This was just around the time the Nano company was selling their early conversion kits. Unlike today, there wasn't much competition back then. As such I am fairly experienced and I will be happy to pass on some tips to the new owner.
This is a genuine low-mileage example as I rode it only for some grocery shopping trips and a few leisure rides in my local area. The chainring, cassette sprockets and chain are original, their low wear and tear give an indication of usage.
Upgrades:
- front and rear brake calipers (the pre-2017 variants were useless) with dual black/salmon pads
- 4x rear rack roller eazy wheels (which are now starting to show signs of dryness / cracking, but still roll smoothly)
- expandable Litepro roller wheel wide axle (stabilises the Brompton when folded)
- ergonomic handlebar horn-style bar ends (massive improvement in wrist comfort)
- SRAM quick-release chain link (essential to facilitate maintenance)
- softer suspension block (original one included in this sale)
- quick-release spring-loaded lever to keep the folding rear frame locked
- hinge bolt spring-loaded plastic guides, to keep the clasp/jaw straight when (un)screwing.
- Schwalbe Marathon Plus puncture-resistant kevlar tyres and higher-quality tubes too (spares provided as part of this sale)
I did upgrade the pedals with quick-release detachable ones, but I decided to keep them for my new bike so I refitted the original Brompton ones.
Note that the sale includes the original bottle dynamo and official Brompton lights, but I have long removed them from the bike as I prefer battery-powered lights.
The original bungee cords on the rear rack perished, but I am providing a stronger replacement.
Cosmetically, some areas of the black main frame tube are "faded" (worn lacquer) but there are no deep scratches. The rubbing was caused by my Abus D-lock mount and by the padded jaws of my bike repair stand. The Brompton logo lettering has long been removed (looked tatty). There are 2 small areas (less than 5mm) of surface rust elsewhere on the frame, not noticeable and absolutely not structural (easy to patch with touch-up paint, but I didn't want to "cheat" / hide imperfections just for this sale).
The usual surface rust is present inside the frame tubes and seatpost, but again totally superficial and best left alone (covering it can trap moisture). Please see photos.
As for the "electric" part of this Brompton:
This is a legal 250W ebike, 25km/h maximum assisted speed with a pedal sensor. There is also a throttle control on the handlebar to help take off at junctions, but please do not expect this to behave like a moped (if you're worried about conforming to the strict letter of the law, you can easily disconnect the throttle control and rely solely on the pedal sensor). There are 3 power levels controlled with a mechanical switch on the handlebar, power level 1 is very convenient to walk alongside the bicycle (very limited speed but plenty of torque to pull some weight such as grocery shopping), power level 3 is essentially the maximum (10A rated controller) and power level 2 is useful to save battery / maximise range / exercise more
There are power cut-off brake switches.
The hub motor laced in the front wheel is the famous silent-running Tongxin friction roller type (no noisy planetary gears). The spare wheel is also fitted with a Tongxin, albeit a slower RPM one (there are tradeoffs in terms of maximum speed, torque, energy consumption etc.). I personally like to use the faster-rotating motor on power level 2 most of the time (full power only occasionally in order to preserve battery), but I used to ride my original slower hub motor on full power and it felt right.
Just in case you heard / read that friction rollers have a reputation for slipping: I personally have never experienced any issues at all (I think some people expect low-power e-bikes to behave like mopeds when really they just assist during pedalling). The motor is not only silent but also lighter compared with geared hubs. I did build another Brompton wheel (sold a few years ago) with a noisy heavy Bafang/8-Fun geared motor so I have first-hand experience of what the tradeoffs are.
Two 36V batteries are supplied.
The large one is 9Ah which is a standard vertical aluminium case with quality cells (unlike cheap Chinese imports which make me anxious!) that have been trouble-free and have had few discharge cycles (this was from my previous folding e-bike, which unfortunately broke). This pack has a key lock, and a wall charger. In the past I placed the battery inside the front Brompton bag but I have since relocated the controller on the seat post so I use the rear rack (I will show the buyer how to safely arrange things).
The second battery pack is my favourite but it is less "plug and play" and it requires some technical knowledge. The cells are high-quality A123 LiFePO4 (safe chemistry) and the total capacity is 2.3Ah. It is obviously a lighter and smaller battery pack which provides less range but offers the enormous advantage to fit inside the controller bag on the seat post. This pack has no BMS circuit board but has a small dedicated USB-C powered balancing charger (fantastic piece of technology). I still have my old 12V-powered Turnigy 6S balancing charger which I will include in the sale (it is hardly usable now because of worn push switches, but "it works" otherwise).
I recently added a discrete isolating switch under the saddle to disable power to the hub motor, but the controller remains live and therefore the Cycle Analyst computer display remains active.
...speaking of which: my e-Brompton is fitted with the famous Cycle Analyst computer display (via a shunt on the main 36V power supply, plus a wheel magnet). This provides very useful statistics: voltage sag under load, ground speed, peak amp, etc. The boxy design of the Cycle Analyst looks a bit dated nowadays, but it works great. Because this is connected via a shunt it can easily be removed (basic soldering / wiring skills), but frankly I think it is essential especially with the small A123 battery pack which doesn't have a BMS to monitor low voltage in each individual cells (the 36V voltage range gives a useful indication of the state of charge of the pack, which tends to remain fairly balanced).
Phew...there's probably more I could tell you, but I assume if you've read this far you are probably interested so feel free to contact me for more information
As you can see this e-Brompton is perhaps for somebody who is open to learning / tinkering (and potentially customising), this is not as "plug and play" as more polished commercial kits.
Collection from Crowborough TN6
Inspection welcome, test ride for serious buyers only.
Low-mileage Electric Brompton M6R+ with spare hub motor wheel, two 36V batteries, front bag, upgrades, accessories, tools
This is my beloved e-Brompton which I have owned for nearly 20 years now. It is a 2006 model which I upgraded with some 2007+ parts.
Reason for selling: I bought a full-size bicycle and I cannot afford to keep both.
This Brompton still looks pretty good cosmetically, but more importantly it has been looked after mechanically and it runs smoothly through its 6 gears (2 derailleur, 3 hub).
I service all my bikes myself, and last year I completely dismantled every part, nuts and bolts on my Brompton in order to clean, grease, oil and run checks on all systems (including the gear hub internals). I fitted all-new inner cables and outer housing as per Brompton specifications (quality Jagwire suitable for the folding bends). This sale includes a few spare parts, inner tubes, and Brompton-specific tools.
I am providing an online photo album with 50-ish pictures. Please take a look at the close-up shots and do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.
I originally purchased this M6R+ as a non-electric bike, but soon after I decided to "electrify" it in order to help me pedal up the hills. I was one of the few original DIY Brompton modifiers who documented their builds publicly at the pedelecs.co.uk forums (I laced the wheels using quality rims and spokes). This was just around the time the Nano company was selling their early conversion kits. Unlike today, there wasn't much competition back then. As such I am fairly experienced and I will be happy to pass on some tips to the new owner.
This is a genuine low-mileage example as I rode it only for some grocery shopping trips and a few leisure rides in my local area. The chainring, cassette sprockets and chain are original, their low wear and tear give an indication of usage.
Upgrades:
- front and rear brake calipers (the pre-2017 variants were useless) with dual black/salmon pads
- 4x rear rack roller eazy wheels (which are now starting to show signs of dryness / cracking, but still roll smoothly)
- expandable Litepro roller wheel wide axle (stabilises the Brompton when folded)
- ergonomic handlebar horn-style bar ends (massive improvement in wrist comfort)
- SRAM quick-release chain link (essential to facilitate maintenance)
- softer suspension block (original one included in this sale)
- quick-release spring-loaded lever to keep the folding rear frame locked
- hinge bolt spring-loaded plastic guides, to keep the clasp/jaw straight when (un)screwing.
- Schwalbe Marathon Plus puncture-resistant kevlar tyres and higher-quality tubes too (spares provided as part of this sale)
I did upgrade the pedals with quick-release detachable ones, but I decided to keep them for my new bike so I refitted the original Brompton ones.
Note that the sale includes the original bottle dynamo and official Brompton lights, but I have long removed them from the bike as I prefer battery-powered lights.
The original bungee cords on the rear rack perished, but I am providing a stronger replacement.
Cosmetically, some areas of the black main frame tube are "faded" (worn lacquer) but there are no deep scratches. The rubbing was caused by my Abus D-lock mount and by the padded jaws of my bike repair stand. The Brompton logo lettering has long been removed (looked tatty). There are 2 small areas (less than 5mm) of surface rust elsewhere on the frame, not noticeable and absolutely not structural (easy to patch with touch-up paint, but I didn't want to "cheat" / hide imperfections just for this sale).
The usual surface rust is present inside the frame tubes and seatpost, but again totally superficial and best left alone (covering it can trap moisture). Please see photos.
As for the "electric" part of this Brompton:
This is a legal 250W ebike, 25km/h maximum assisted speed with a pedal sensor. There is also a throttle control on the handlebar to help take off at junctions, but please do not expect this to behave like a moped (if you're worried about conforming to the strict letter of the law, you can easily disconnect the throttle control and rely solely on the pedal sensor). There are 3 power levels controlled with a mechanical switch on the handlebar, power level 1 is very convenient to walk alongside the bicycle (very limited speed but plenty of torque to pull some weight such as grocery shopping), power level 3 is essentially the maximum (10A rated controller) and power level 2 is useful to save battery / maximise range / exercise more
There are power cut-off brake switches.
The hub motor laced in the front wheel is the famous silent-running Tongxin friction roller type (no noisy planetary gears). The spare wheel is also fitted with a Tongxin, albeit a slower RPM one (there are tradeoffs in terms of maximum speed, torque, energy consumption etc.). I personally like to use the faster-rotating motor on power level 2 most of the time (full power only occasionally in order to preserve battery), but I used to ride my original slower hub motor on full power and it felt right.
Just in case you heard / read that friction rollers have a reputation for slipping: I personally have never experienced any issues at all (I think some people expect low-power e-bikes to behave like mopeds when really they just assist during pedalling). The motor is not only silent but also lighter compared with geared hubs. I did build another Brompton wheel (sold a few years ago) with a noisy heavy Bafang/8-Fun geared motor so I have first-hand experience of what the tradeoffs are.
Two 36V batteries are supplied.
The large one is 9Ah which is a standard vertical aluminium case with quality cells (unlike cheap Chinese imports which make me anxious!) that have been trouble-free and have had few discharge cycles (this was from my previous folding e-bike, which unfortunately broke). This pack has a key lock, and a wall charger. In the past I placed the battery inside the front Brompton bag but I have since relocated the controller on the seat post so I use the rear rack (I will show the buyer how to safely arrange things).
The second battery pack is my favourite but it is less "plug and play" and it requires some technical knowledge. The cells are high-quality A123 LiFePO4 (safe chemistry) and the total capacity is 2.3Ah. It is obviously a lighter and smaller battery pack which provides less range but offers the enormous advantage to fit inside the controller bag on the seat post. This pack has no BMS circuit board but has a small dedicated USB-C powered balancing charger (fantastic piece of technology). I still have my old 12V-powered Turnigy 6S balancing charger which I will include in the sale (it is hardly usable now because of worn push switches, but "it works" otherwise).
I recently added a discrete isolating switch under the saddle to disable power to the hub motor, but the controller remains live and therefore the Cycle Analyst computer display remains active.
...speaking of which: my e-Brompton is fitted with the famous Cycle Analyst computer display (via a shunt on the main 36V power supply, plus a wheel magnet). This provides very useful statistics: voltage sag under load, ground speed, peak amp, etc. The boxy design of the Cycle Analyst looks a bit dated nowadays, but it works great. Because this is connected via a shunt it can easily be removed (basic soldering / wiring skills), but frankly I think it is essential especially with the small A123 battery pack which doesn't have a BMS to monitor low voltage in each individual cells (the 36V voltage range gives a useful indication of the state of charge of the pack, which tends to remain fairly balanced).
Phew...there's probably more I could tell you, but I assume if you've read this far you are probably interested so feel free to contact me for more information
As you can see this e-Brompton is perhaps for somebody who is open to learning / tinkering (and potentially customising), this is not as "plug and play" as more polished commercial kits.
Collection from Crowborough TN6
Inspection welcome, test ride for serious buyers only.
Last edited:
