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TECH NEWS

Brompton launch new rims, brake levers & tools for 2013

Lots of Brompton updates including new brake levers, wheels, cranks and a magnetic water bottle

Brompton have been busy with their 2013 range and have updated many of the smaller parts that are essentiall to the ride experience. They've improved ergonomics with a newly reshaped brake lever, stronger wheels, a magnetic water bottle and a smart integrated toolkit.

The brake lever has been redesigned. A new aluminium lever replaces the old plastic/aluminium brake lever so it's lighter and stiffer. It's also off-set with a new cam profile that changes the leverage ratio: you get a higher leverage when you first pull the lever for improved pad clearance before the power gradually ramps up the more you pull it. The lever also takes up less space on the handlebars.

Changing tyres on small wheels can be difficult (I know, I've tried). Brompton have designed a new double wall rim – previously single wall – that not only makes the rim stronger, but the deeper well in the rim makes fitting and removing tyres a little easier.

At the rear wheel are new angled spoke drillings. With small wheels and a hub gear the angle between the rim and spoke is very tight and this places a lot of stress on the spoke. The new angled drillings decrease the spoke tension in the wheel making them stronger and more durable.

The new cranks use a regular 130 BCD five-bolt design so it's easier to fit any size chainring you want. You could even fit a non-circular ring if you wanted to imitate Bradley Wiggins on your commute. The cranks are also stiffer, and will be fitted to all 2013 bikes.

Brompton have partnered with Vincero Design to produce their own magnetic water bottle. Using a retrofittable clamp allows them to be easily fitted to the handlebar support and makes for much easier bottle removal.

This neat toolkit fits inside the main hinge of front triangle of the frame and houses all the essentials you need to get your Brompton back on the road after a mechanical.

It even includes patches. So no excuses for forgetting spares then.

Other smaller changes include new profile grips and a new all-black tyre. It's still dual-compound underneath.

All of these new upgrades will feature on 2013 bikes.

David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes

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6 comments

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sonyjim | 11 years ago
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As usual they are about three years behind the times did most of this a long time ago. It's good to see them trying to improve the quality but I did take my front wheel off again the other day and it never ceases to amaze me how crap the bearings are for the £900 I paid!! I then spin one of my campag wheels just to reassure myself it can be done

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pwm_dcc | 11 years ago
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Patches? We don't need no stinking patches! (Unless there are also some sort of telescopic uber tyre levers that might stand a chance of getting a 16" Marathon Plus off and on).

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A V Lowe | 11 years ago
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M Type

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workhard | 11 years ago
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a chainset someone over 13 stone can use and brake levers that might actually work. fitted from the off? Wow, innovation is good stuff innit?

Toolkit is a nice idea, and the waterbottle could be a welcome addition to my Brommie.

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ped | 11 years ago
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Yay for new brake levers! I long since replaced the godawful Brommie ones with Shimano R550s, which are infinitely better, but it felt dirty adding them.

No update to the equally awful plastic gear shifter though by the look of things.

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John_the_Monkey | 11 years ago
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Excellent stuff, although a change in the bloody awful rim tape would have benefitted tyre changes on the old wheels too  1

The water bottle is interesting - I've become used to putting one in whichever bag I have with me at the time, but obviously this is more readily accessible. Whilst the tool kit is nifty, I know quite a few people already use that space for an emergency cover when your transportation insists that the bike be folded and bagged  1

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