Customising Bromptons | Behind the Scenes at Kinetics Glasgow

Today we look at some behind the scenes footage from my trip to Kinetics Glasgow to Interview the one and only Ben Cooper. I thought this footage was to good not to publish at some point for people that enjoy custom Brompton talk and for people to see into the amazing one man operation in Kinetics.
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[@TheBromptonGuy]

Thank you for bring the audio to my attention!! I was unable to upload a new audio track do cut the sections to keep the video flown. Thank you again for all the support

[@kavanobrien6547]

Do you know if the gentleman has bikes so one could take a test ride = 11 speed Alfine and 14 speed rolloff ,

[@earlbee3196]

A superb look behind-the-scenes of Kinetics ., You're a superb Brompton guy.. thanks for Sharing.

[@TheBromptonGuy]

always bring a smile to my face 😁

[@earlbee3196]

@@TheBromptonGuy :-)

[@andyfairchild2383]

I could listen to Ben for hours. Thanks for another fascinating video.

[@TheBromptonGuy]

I could have sat there for hours but felt like I already took up enough of his time 🤣

[@andyml1]

Nice to “meet” the man behind Kinetics - Ben, a true cycle engineer! 👍

[@TheBromptonGuy]

I very much agree with the statement "True Cycling Engineer". Was brilliant to see his work space

[@markhooper5824]

Ben is a genius. True professional without doubt.👍

[@simonjohnson2897]

Ben made a Rolloff belt drive 18" Brompton for me. It's a fantastic bike: The ride is so much more comfortable due to the larger diameter and tyre volume. It is a bit heavier than a C-line, but well worth it for a 14-gear range and an end to cleaning & oiling. Ben gave very useful advice and I feel I've got my Bompton for life.

[@davidhunternyc1]

Wow, congratulations!

[@finncarlbomholtsrensen1188]

How do you integrate a Belt into a bike frame? I normally have to open my chain to be able to use it on my bike?

[@simonjohnson2897]

@@finncarlbomholtsrensen1188 The rear triangle has a break in it. Just take off a couple of bolts. Hopefully, with 10,000 mile life the belt won’t need to come off too often

[@finncarlbomholtsrensen1188]

@@simonjohnson2897 Eventually a weight penalty then? My 2019 Brompton weighs hopefully 8 kilo in a short while, with mudguards and a little more work on those?

[@TheBromptonGuy]

They are beautiful bikes indeed

[@SingaporeUntold]

Awesome video.

[@TheBromptonGuy]

Thank you! Glad I decided to share it.

[@samuraiS30v]

My bike just got there!!!!

[@TheBromptonGuy]

What you getting done my friend?

[@samuraiS30v]

@@TheBromptonGuy rohloff hub with Gates carbon belt drive. Hope XCR hydraulic disc breaks front and rear. The main frame will be Matcha Green the rear triangle will be bumble bee yellow, and the front fork and stem will be Coral Orange. I spoke with ben this morning and he has just developed a frame that can accommodate the larger 20 inch tires whiteout giving up the integrated rack, which is something I have to have. I was going to get the 18 inch big apples but more is better. Im also getting that upgraded dynamo generator for front and rear lighting. It will be a tri-colored belt driven touring beast! With this new frame design and the multiple colors on the bike there will be none like it in the world….for now.

[@kavanobrien6547]

Some of the sound was missing from the video, Does the shop in Glasgow have a couple of Brompton bikes to tryout examples 11 speed Alfine and 14 speed Rolloff and with different wheel sizes, also never been a fan of disc brakes so does the gentleman make the front fork and rear triangle that allows for rim brakes or are they all made with discs in mind.

[@finncarlbomholtsrensen1188]

Not a fan? Well I rebuilt and modified an originally old traditional, well braking MTB, - new frame, into a new top disc brake version with Shimano XTR 9120, double caliber, hydraulic disc brakes, and I would never, ever change back again to traditional brakes! My also oversize disc brakes function that much better, than any traditional brakes would ever be able to!! At first I was afraid they would be too effective, but they are so sensitive in spite of their size. Finn. Denmark

[@petergilbert72]

The advantages of traditional brakes are low weight and ease of maintenance. But as brakes they have really bad stopping power, particularly in the wet!

[@kavanobrien6547]

@@petergilbert72 I was thinking about the Magura rim brakes not any normal rim brakes, when you think that 70% of any braking on a bike is on the front wheel thought the Magura would be as good or better than the disc.

[@kavanobrien6547]

@@finncarlbomholtsrensen1188 when I was talking about the rim brake I should of given a better explanation, I should of said I was referring to the Magura rim brake not a normal rim brake , when 70% of braking is on the front wheels having a Magura rim brake on the front would be as good if not better than disc , as yet not seen any comparison maybe the disc manufacturers are scared to do a comparison, can you imagine with the amount of money they have put into the industry with the brainwashing people thinking the disc brakes are the nirvana of cycling the manufacturers would be crying for a hundred years.

[@finncarlbomholtsrensen1188]

@@kavanobrien6547 I think I have seen an hydraulic version of ordinary brakes also? But I'm personally only able to judge from first a GT Zaskar, with hydraulic brakes, and latest my own specially hand built bike from scratch, with the Shimano "Super-brakes"! There may be a weight penalty, but from my opinion, the function is so much better than my, finely braking former system, that at least I won't consider anything else! At least I will never again buy or consider an Mtb with ordinary brakes! As now 76 I doubt it will be an option!😄 Finn

[@davidhunternyc1]

Wow! This video is kismet. I'm talking to an incredible Brompton mechanic, Paul, who also has a KZbin channel, Velo Works, and when I read his email just now, he suggested I look into Kinetics. Then I clicked on KZbin and here you are... at Kinetics. It seems as if... all roads lead to Kinetics. I'm interested in customizing a T-Line but who can I trust to do it? I live in NYC. There doesn't seem to be any custom builders here. I basically want to get Hubsmith carbon wheels and everything from H&H and use Brompton Kitchen to buy all the parts. On KZbin, there's this channel, 781 Brompton Premium Parts, and their build is exactly what I'm looking for. So where would Kinetics come in. I'd want 20 inch / 50 cm wheels. That would mean a new rear triangle. What do you think of this idea?

[@TheBromptonGuy]

Thanks for finding me here and aware of the other channels. Ben doesn't really to any work on the t line so don't think he'll be your guy for that and yeah for the t line you would need new fork and triangle but these would be made of steel rather than a carbon fork and ti triangle. Hope that helps and good luck with the build.

[@davidhunternyc1]

@@TheBromptonGuy Thank you for the heads-up about Ben not working on the T-Line. Using a steel triangle and fork on a titanium frame would kind of defeat the purpose of having a 20" wheelset. Best to just purchase the 16" T-Line and build out from there. Let's stay in touch! You're awesome.