To save money, I'm looking at buying a Brompton second-hand, but
obviously it's hard to find one with the exact spec I'm after, so I
might need to carry out some upgrades. Mind you, looking at the prices
second-hand Brommies fetch, it might work out cheaper to buy a new one
built to my spec...
Anyway, if I were to go down this route, key items I'd want to add would
be the front pannier mounting block, and the dynamo lighting system
(possibly the SON version).
What's the procedure for such upgrades - buy the parts from a Brompton
dealer and fit them yourself? Or is it a return-to-manufacturer job? If
you are fitting the pannier mounting block yourself, is it obvious where
it goes? Is there a built-in bracket for the dynamo?
Are the Brompton-specific lighting systems even worth getting? If I
already have a spare bottle dynamo knocking around, is there any reason
why I couldn't use that?
And if I were to use battery lighting instead, how do the Brompton
branded lights compare with other LED lights of similar price? What are
the specific advantages of the Brompton lights? If I had, say, a Cateye
AU100 mounted on the seatpost under the seat, would it compromise the
fold at all? How about the implications on folding of having a front
light mounted on the handlebars?
Answers to any of these questions much appreciated.
d.