Leonardo

 

I bought the 3 speed Bromptom. I found that it was geared too high, so I fitted the reduction chainwheel. I still found it lacking in range so I then fitted the 6 speed conversion (supplier:Whites) replacing the standard Brompton sprockets with Highpath Engineering's 12/18 welded sprocket. The bike is lovely to ride now with only the steepest hills a problem. I think it would be awesome with the electric motor.

 

Hoping this helps.

 

Steve

Nigel, I haven't read the review: what does it say the power & hillclimbing ability of this bike is, and do the AtoB reviewers specify how much of each comes from the bike and how much from the rider? As I said, the figures I've seen for 16% gradients aren't realistic unless the motor:rider power input is around 1:1?

 

Leonardo, I should tell you that these two threads raise questions for me over the reliability and hillclimbing ability of the motor, . I don't know the accuracy or truth of what is said.

 

Stuart.

I've read it Stuart and A to B say it's very competent on hills. Of course David is a very strong rider, but he says a restart on 1 in 6 is quite possible, so it must be pretty good. I've scanned and mailed it to Leonardo in Italy so he should have the test information now.

 

I should tell you that these two threads raise questions for me over the reliability and hillclimbing ability of the motor, . I don't know the accuracy or truth of what is said.

 

Stuart.

 

Those wouldn't surprise me Stuart. Personally I don't like the powerband on that motor, the peak sitting too high for my liking. It seems it will pull at low climb speeds, but is very energy wasteful then. A to B got an extraordinary 48 miles range, but their area is very flat and they did say that with less rider help it could have been as little as 20 miles.

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The information on top speed and peak torque speed in the thread I said I came across the other day, were in line with what I'd expect, and I agree on the likelihood of energy waste on hills.

 

I also expected the usual flattish AtoB test area must have been used for that range. I think it would struggle in hills without major rider help and with motor energy inefficiency, 20 miles on that battery size would be optimistic. Plus you'd be tired out. Reminds me of another, faster bike with a powerband too high for big hills... except that one can do 20mph+ on the flat!

 

Stuart.

Edited June 26, 200718 yr by coops

Many thanks Steve, Stuart and Flecc. All very precious info. Now I have to think and study... and to earn some money as well if I still want that bike, since prices are unfortunately higher than reported by A-to-B!

Yes Leonardo, as I read the A to B report, I thought those prices seemed too good to be true. I didn't see how Tony Castles, the chap who is producing this, could possibly make a profit on them, or even break even.

 

A to B used to be the Folding Society magazine, so they have a strong folding bike bias, and have for years wanted a good folding electric that could be carried. They are also fans of Brompton folders, and turned up at the Presteigne e-bike rally as a party of four all coming by train with their Bromptons!

 

So I think enthusiasm might have meant them getting carried away on the details.

 

Let's just say they want it to be successful.

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Edited June 27, 200718 yr by flecc

You're most welcome as ever Leonardo . And congratulations on becoming a senior member now .

 

Stuart.

Careful Stuart, the power might go to Leonardo's head!

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Careful Stuart' date=' the power might go to Leonardo's head! [/quote']

 

 

The latest updated AtoB bike price guide has it listed as a conversion kit, is that right?

Edited June 27, 200718 yr by coops

Mmm…Senior member: I’m quite proud of it. I’ll make an effort to remain the same as I was though!

 

AtoB price guide is wrong unfortunately: the price nano-motor sent me is £ 629.69 + shipping, i.e. 26% more than reported. If I follow my plan and Steve’s suggestion and take a 6 speeds Brompton with gearing reduction and the front luggage for storing the battery, the total would be more than £ 1300 for the complete bicycle. It is still less than a Flyer Faltrad (by the way, I think that A-to-B should test this brand: the folding is very similar to the old Panasonic and better I think than the Dahon Roo-El) but weight is comparable: the Brompton folds much better and splitting the weight can be an advantage, but I think it cannot beat the uphill ability and the comfort of the other one… Anyway a super-folding like the Nano-Brompton would be a much more sensible add-on to my Giant Twist.

 

I have to understand better. In Italy we have now a new brand (it says to be Belgian) called E-Move, which I suspect to use the same Tongxin motor (it pretends to be a 250W but I don’t believe it): its folding Mini-Move seems to be not so bad but hill-climbing is not its argument… I’ve also found this blog which could be interesting to follow.

 

@ flecc: I don’t know the Boulton folders, may be you have a link?

 

 

@ flecc: I don’t know the Boulton folders, may be you have a link?

 

Apologies for that Leonardo, it was a mistake. I'd just been involved with a matter concerning a Boulton company and absent mindedly typed Boulton. It should have been Brompton of course. :o I've edited out the mistake.

 

The Flyer Faltrad is interesting but would be too expensive here, probably twice the price of the tested Brompton-Nano. It's the same with all those models. I think it would have a short range too, perhaps 30 km at best?

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Edited June 27, 200718 yr by flecc

I think the Faltrad should cost auround £ 1600 in your country Flecc, so very expensive but not so much more than the Nano-Brompton. The size folded, the weight which is not splitted as the Nano and the lack of a towing system like the rollers on the Brompton, make it however much less suitable for intermodal commuting. Even tough "cyclistic" may be not at the same level of a Brompton, overall quality is very good and you know better than me the advantages of the crank drive Panasonic unit. Reports of its use that we have on our Italian forum attest a surprisingly good range of more than 40 km, in a collaborative pedelec use of course .

Edited June 27, 200718 yr by Leonardo

Leonardo,

 

Nothing else folds quite as compactly as the Brompton (I have an S2XL), but you might like to have a look at other folders. The new Bike Friday Tikit, the Pacy, the Birdy, the GoBike... all in some ways easier to electrify than the Brom....

 

Miles

Edited June 27, 200718 yr by Miles

Reports of its use that we have on our Italian forum attest a surprisingly good range of more than 40 km, in a collaborative pedelec use of course .

 

That 40 km does look good Leonardo. I was going by the older tests on the Panasonic folder which seems to use the same battery size but is reported to have the lower range, plus the Twist with larger battery which only does about 35 km at best. Maybe Panasonic has improved that since.

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I’m still studying…

 

Thank you Miles for your suggestion: a couple of models that you named are new for me (academically: what do you think of the Downtube as a cheaper donor bicycle?), but anyway I’m interested in the Brompton for the folding, that as you say has no comparison.

 

I have a few questions more, about battery issues…

 

The power tool battery idea, that Tony Castles tried… Do you think it could be improved using the Dewalt nanophosphate 36V 2.1Ah batteries (the A123 with the very fast recharge)? On the French forum I’ve seen that they can give a 10km mixed range with a Crystalyte hub motor, which has surely higher peak power consumption than the Nano.

 

On the other hand, would a 24V instead of 36V Nano-Motor have really poorer performances, particularly regarding the hill-climbing? I ask that because I have already the 24V battery of my Lafree and a friend of mine who is interested in the Nano-Brompton too has a couple of 24V batteries for his Flyer.

 

@ flecc: it may be of some interest for you: a chap of the Italian forum changed the motor of his Flyer Faltrad with the third generation Panasonic motor of his broken Flyer T8. He is reporting increased uphill ability and lower power consumption.

 

@ flecc: it may be of some interest for you: a chap of the Italian forum changed the motor of his Flyer Faltrad with the third generation Panasonic motor of his broken Flyer T8. He is reporting increased uphill ability and lower power consumption.

 

Thanks for that information Leonardo, it fit's with what I'd heard about improvements to the export motors, illegal in Japan of course. It's a pity that this wasn't done for the Lafree Twist series in the first place.

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Will's Brompton Nano-Motor has broken

I think this is the problem with that motor Leonardo. There have been many adverse reports online on its lack of reliability, and even that favourable A to B test hinted at question marks concerning it's reliability.

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I’m still studying…

Thank you Miles for your suggestion: a couple of models that you named are new for me (academically: what do you think of the Downtube as a cheaper donor bicycle?), but anyway I’m interested in the Brompton for the folding, that as you say has no comparison.

 

Thanks, Leonardo, I hadn't come across the Downtube bikes before.

 

They look quite interesting and not too expensive, either.

 

The "mini" looks the most suitable - there's not a lot to be gained from having front suspension, with a bike like that.... just adds weight...

 

I'm planning on electrifying my Brompton, at some stage, but not with a hub motor - the rear triangle will need to be modified, but that will have other benefits, as well..

Edited July 8, 200718 yr by Miles

I'm planning on electrifying my Brompton, at some stage, but not with a hub motor - the rear triangle will need to be modified, but that will have other benefits, as well..

 

Cyclone Miles?

 

Not the Currie!

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Cyclone Miles?

 

Not the Currie!

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No, not the Cyclone or the Sunstar and certainly not the Currie

The mystery deepens.

 

Great, I like surprises.

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The mystery deepens.

 

Great, I like surprises.

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It won't be for a while, anyway....... only just started on the present project

Ditto!

 

My latest just started and some way off, but two clues laid in the forum.

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