Aussie on a Brompton

How did 3 Bromptons purchased become 5?

Read on…

12/2012 Ralph S11E

• #1 – a used 2011 Alfine 11spd

11/2014 Clarence S6L

• #2 – a new Claret 6spd

5/2019 Rudolph S6E-X

• #3 – a new Chpt3 v2 6spd

1/2020 Clarence S6R converted to S2E

5/2020 Clarence modded to S2E-X

• with progressive tweaks to become S5E-X

8/2021 Ralph S11E converted & renamed to BB as S3E-X

2/2022 Rudolph modded to S9E-X

11/2022 BB morphed to BromTi (full Ti & 7spd)

• #4 – Full Ti, 7spd

7/2023 BB mainframe (ex-Ralph) resurrected as S5E-X

• #1 re-lifed

9/2024 BB morphed to BMBN (full Ti & 5spd)

• #5 – Full Ti, 5spd

7/2025 BMBN modded & renamed to Iggy (15spd BWR)

8/2025 BB mainframe (ex-Ralph) resurrected to S2E as Dan

• #1 re-lifed (again)

11/2025 Rudolph modded to S15E-X

My Chpt3 (v2) has now got the lowest gearing I can wrangle. Aside from various bits to lower the weight, I’ve tried to retain the Chpt3 look but keeping the gearing as low as possible. My 9speed setup of 38T chainring & 13/15/18T cogs a few years ago was very effective but with the lowest gear being only a smidgin below my 7speed lightweight, the porky Chpt3 needed some tweaking.

In theory, an X4UniBody cassette in the BWR wheel should be a simple 12speed upgrade, with BrommiePlus providing a 4speed pusher & shifter conversion. However the big 21T cog didn’t mate well with the pusher capability & the result wasn’t ideal; workable but not so livable?

Upgrading to 15speed now provides the ultimate gearing combo to help my weakened climbing capability, via an X5UniBody cassette (11/13/17/21/25T) & with H&H derailleur & sequential shifter. The component weight comparisons balance out on aggregate & the Chpt3 weight remains at 9.8kg with the GI range now 90-16.