How to Upgrade your Brompton DIY - Remove Front mudguard with H&H fender and mudguard stay

mistertrumpet.com
Instagram: / digiliuxman
If you would never bring your Brompton into jungle or extreme adventure, you may consider removing both mudguards to safe some weights. In my example, the removal saved about 104g for just USD60. I also took the opportunity to remove the front reflector and saved another 23g.
Finally, I think racing green matches perfectly with gold. Happy Bromptoning !!!

[@luhvisa6556]

Great work!!

[@kkllbaba]

Thanks for the appreciation !!! Happy Bromptoning

[@mauricesvay]

Nice video, but why the suspenseful music? Do you plan to use removable mudguards for rainy days?

[@kkllbaba]

Thanks for comment Maurice. For the music, I just randomly picked from KZbin music. Sorry if not fit the video. I tried to ride on slight rain situation which was fine for me. And I normally don’t ride during rain pour.

[@jazzfan7491]

Great music! Sounds like an exciting adventure!

[@finncarlbomholtsrensen1188]

No but the cable is still able to scratch the paint on the fork, so my similar, protector-version is a model also going round and protecting the fork. And you are able to get lighter discs, nuts and parts for the axles (As I have done). I have changed my front axle to a titanium version with one Allan end (As also the original) and a bolt. Living in usually rainy Denmark I do like and prefer my mudguards on my bike, as they prevents me from the wellknown "Brompton Stripe" up my back. But I have found a set of carbon clamps, with bolts, to replace the original metal ones holding my mudguards, as they do "weigh" a lot also, even with my original, titanium struts holding them in position.

[@kkllbaba]

I see. Many thanks for your suggestion. How much does it cost in total then? I also intend to change the front fork to titanium as I found cost per grams saved is quite worth it.

[@finncarlbomholtsrensen1188]

@@kkllbaba I normally buy mail order parts from China (A.E.), as the choices are rather extreme also for Brompton, 360 and many other clones. My LigthweigthH6LXBrompton has a titanium fork and back, and - struts for the mudguards, but the plates holding them fixed on the guards are just basic, "heavy metal"! But as I found the factory protection (Small clear tape strips🤨!) rather pathetic and - ridiculous, and nearly worn through after only - two folds (When I gave my bike a full autopolish!), I at once ordered a full set of protective plates for the known weak spots on my bike! ("chrisbybike", experienced a plate, below the changer, which was too thick and had it removed in N.Y. but I have never had problems with mine!). I have complained directly to Brompton, that even after all those years of production, they still haven't found out to give the bikes frame a decent protection against scratches during normal use! 🤔

[@finncarlbomholtsrensen1188]

@@kkllbaba You are able to buy a (Non Brompton)Titanium fork for a disc brake and wheel in front, and I thought about changing my front brake, but going down a very steep serpentine road, here in Denmark, with frequent cattle prevention tubes across it, and a full stop each time, from high/extreme speeds, to be able to cross those on foot, my brakes never failed me and functioned very impressive (I had serious doubts before that!)!!! And you are always able to block the wheel in the back, even on an asphalt road. Going up I had to walk much of the time, even though my bike is a 6 speed with seemingly very low gears for ordinary use.

[@finncarlbomholtsrensen1188]

And this is why I would never consider buying a T line with only 4 gears. I would rather change my frame and - stem post to titanium, from a non Brompton factory. Being a large 100 kilo person I would take care about buying a new frame from Eastern factories, but I know of a Russian, former military producer of titanium parts, which may be able to deliver a decent frame. But during the present and aggressive war in Ukraine it isn't politically correct to buy anything at all from Russia!!!

[@peetiegonzalez1845]

I don't care about the weight saving, but for me that huge flap at the bottom of the mudguard acts like a parachute. None of my other bikes have mudguards, I'd happily remove them. This looks like a decent solution. Except for the cable rubbing on the fork. I would want to wrap the cable at that point.

[@kkllbaba]

Totally agreed. Thanks.

[@effyleven]

Removal of a mudguard is a serious DOWN-grade! It is not an "upgrade."

[@kkllbaba]

Understood. To those people including me who consider weight saving is an upgrade. That’s an upgrade.

[@effyleven]

@@kkllbaba But you are reducing the bike's usefulness. You cannot use it in the rain without soaking your clothes with more than the mudguard weighs in water! It seems to me your philosophy is in error. Taken to its logical conclusion, you could take everything the bike has, off of it.. and store the pieces in a box. You wouldn't have the facility of a bike anymore, but you could walk instead...and that's the lightest "bike" in the world!! I am sure you can see what I am getting at. Lightness isn't everything.

[@SM-dt1pr]

I'm taking mine off for the summer, in preparation for the London to Brighton... I appreciate this means I won't be able to use it in wet weather. I also realise that this will curse the weather for the L2B.