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349 Alloy rims

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  • September 8, 2013 at 7:02 pm #2462
    Mike
    Participant

    Hi, New to the forum and looking for some advice on wheels.

    I have an F frame moulton and am considering wheels specifically rims. Options are SUN CR18, Velocity, or Brompton alloy rims.

    Front Hub is an American Classic and rear is SA 4 speed.

    Any experiences or advice would be most welcome.

    September 9, 2013 at 3:47 pm #3867
    Mike
    Participant

    So following some threads on Brompton website forums it seems that the SUN rims are very strong but are very tall making tyres very difficult to put on or remove.

    Today I had some practical experience mending a puncture on wheel fitted a SUN CR18 rim. Three levers required and a lot of effort. Impossible to replace the tyre back onto the rim by hand without levers. This would not be a great rim to get a puncture on far away from home without some serious tools.

    I am now hoping some one has experience of the Velocity rims in the 16 inch wheel size.

    September 9, 2013 at 4:02 pm #3868
    Ian
    Participant

    The new Brompton rims look pretty decent and well made plus they are not overly expensive @20 a rim. At least double that for Aeroheats.

    There used to be a supply of decent enough budget 349 rims at @£8 a pop, but they seem to have disappeared.

    September 11, 2013 at 3:52 pm #3869
    Pandora
    Participant

    Warning re Brompton wheels (not rims), Brompton use an front wheel axle length of 105 mm, F -frame Moultons require a front axle greater than 120 mm.

    You could buy a new old stock Brompton wheel for £25 to £30 on ebay, and swap for a longer axle.

    September 11, 2013 at 7:40 pm #3870
    Ian
    Participant

    I was under the impression that Brompton front wheels used 77mm axles and F-frames were 100mm.

    I haven’t got a Brompton to measure but the F’s I have here are definitely 100mm (well, the one I measured is 98.9mm on my digital vernier – was more likely 4″ when designed I guess!)

    September 12, 2013 at 2:28 pm #3871
    Mike
    Participant

    Thanks for responses, I have done even more research and have decided on SUN CR18 rims a little more expensive than brompton at £35 but just seem better made to me. Brompton has no spoke eyelets just plain alloy. I will put up with the SUN CR18 slightly tall rim edge and always take three tyre levers with me!

    The Velocity Aero rims are expensive and look good in pictures on bikes with larger wheels however the depth of the black 16 inch rim with black tyres make the wheels look like they are tiny toy wheels. Some Brompton owners have cream sidewall tyres to break up this tiny visual effect. Overall I was not convinced by the Velocity rims.

    Regarding the comment about from axle yes the Brompton has a narrow width about 75mm approx my F frame forks are 4 inch (100mm) approx so the American classic hub is a perfect fit. Rear will be the old Sturmey Archer 4 speed.

    September 17, 2013 at 8:28 pm #3872
    RoyB
    Participant

    Hi mike
    I had both wheels rebuilt for my Mk3 using Sun rims. I put Kojak tyres on, and they are very tight. However, I read somewhere about a VAR tyre lever, which pulls the bead over the rim more easily than using ordinary levers. I think I go mine for about £8. Well worth a go in my opinion.

    September 18, 2013 at 8:07 am #3873
    Sam Benson
    Participant

    Its possible to buy something pre-built. I have used this to source 369 wheels and they were extremely well build and finished.
    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BRAND-NEW-16-x1-3-8-349-Sturmey-Archer-White-5-speed-Wheelset-Brompton-/141043269846?pt=US_Wheels_Wheelsets&hash=item20d6d580d6

    September 20, 2013 at 9:17 pm #3874
    Pandora
    Participant

    Tyre fitting:, please check your technique, alway start a tyre (removal) and finish a tyre (fitting) at the valve, the tyre bead needs to sink deeply into the rim well to give maximum clearance for an easy mount, You then have a better chance of slipping the bead over the rim without recourse to tyre levers,.
    It is the valve fitting in the tube which causes issues, obstructing the bead from popping over the rim.

    September 21, 2013 at 5:30 pm #3875
    Pandora
    Participant

    Ian, the Brompton front hub is about 77mm OLD for the cones, and the Moulton is 100 mm OLD for the cones ( as you correctly point out)
    There are some bargain NOS Brompton wheels on ebay at this moment.
    The problem for the unwary is you cannot mount those Ebay bargains in the Moulton, the axle is simply too short.

    THe planned fix is a longer axle with spacers to fill the 23mm OLD gap

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