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    Got a pretty bad scratch on my Brompton today — what would you do?


    Hey everyone,

    Bit gutted about this.

    I had to put my Brompton in the luggage compartment of a bus because there were no more trains home. Someone had stacked their road bike on top of it and got off one stop before me, so I didn’t see anything happen.

    When I picked my bike up, I noticed this pretty nasty scratch on the front fork/frame area. I’m guessing a metal pedal or something rubbed against it.

    It’s probably “just cosmetic” but I’ve always taken really good care of this bike, so it honestly hurts a bit 😅

    Does this look repairable to you?

    Would you:

    – leave it as is,

    – do a paint touch-up,

    – get the fork repainted,

    – or replace the part entirely?

    Would appreciate any advice or experience from other Brompton owners.

    by AccountSolid3161

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    24 Comments

    2. aychtothebee on

      I’d choose option (E) – don’t think I about it, and if you do, be proud of it

    3. yuusharo on

      Bikes are tools, not jewels. Gives it character and shows it’s actually being ridden.

      You could probably get some touch up paint or a marker in the right color, I’m sure Brompton would help you with that. When in doubt, stickers always work. Or just live with it, I know it sucks, but you’ll get used to it and move on after some time.

      Take care man.

    5. slimejumper on

      take it easy and reflect on how a bike still rides just the same even if the paint is worn.

      it’s impossible to avoid scratches and chips if a bike is used. just part of the experience.

    6. Jorge-Esqueleto on

      If its gone through to the metal, a little clear coat will seal those scratches and reduce rust risk, or Condor Cycles sell touch up paint in Brompton colours, but you’ll never match the original finish without having the fork stripped and re-powder coated. If it annoys you, touch it up, otherwise leave it as patina for the bike.

    7. Deviantdefective on

      I personally think scratches suck I hate them so you’ve a few options. Concord cycles sell touch up paint you can use them, secondly get a bag for travel this will massively mitigate any future damage, thirdly you can get frame wrap in high risk areas like this which will protect the bike. I fully wrapped my Brompton and it’s basically been scratch and chip free for over two years now.

    9. Brompton-Explorer on

      I hate scratches, but they happen so I feel your pain. You can get brompton paint or you can get the paint matched in a spray can and wet and dry, 2pack clear coat, wet and dry and see it patch it up, or get someone to do it.

      Other choice is live with it, im afraid more scratches and wear marks will happen, but obvious ones, well if I have the time I’d probably at least t-cut

    10. biking_and_gaming on

      i just put stickers over mine. gives me a good excuse to put all the free ones from buying products and merchandise to use and just lay there

    11. BentoOtaku on

      I hadn’t thought about this actually.
      If it’s out of warranty I’d touch up the paint to prevent it from rusting.
      In your position I’d go to to a car dealership and get those paint pens in a similar color.
      As for me, I bought a quart of my car’s paint to diy a repair a long while ago. It’s a totally different color but waste not want not, I’d use that of it’s still good.

    12. Hopeful-Tax7416 on

      I’d honestly just leave it as it is. My 2022 C Line has gone through a crash, and the rest are typical wear and tear from riding.

      As long as you’re riding it, it will not be in a pristine condition no matter how careful you are.

    15. PorblemOccifer on

      Brutal, sorry you went through this. I suggest preventing further harm by encasing your brompton in glass and mounting it on a pedestal in your home with some tasteful downlighting. Sure, you’re gonna have to walk everywhere but at least your bike won’t accumulate wear and tear

    18. pareto_optimal99 on

      Just to prevent oxidation, touch up paint is a good idea. You can also use clear nail polish.

    19. dioramic_life on

      I would just shrug it off. I might whine for a second and that’d be it.

      When I first bought my bike I considered having the frame wrapped. I put forth considerable effort in researching products. I even called a local shop that wraps motorcycles.

      Ultimately I just wanted to ride my new bike and did not want to delay any further my enjoyment of it.

      Anyway touch up paint? If you can find matching solutions?

      Or just stick a bandaid on it. Ouchie! 😉

    20. antiundead on

      I also have a racing green Brompton that is a bit scratched over it’s first winter.
      Trust me, I hated the first scratch I noticed. I immediately bought touch up paint. Now I don’t care.

      While I waited for the paint to arrive, I also bought some clear helicopter tape (precut patches from Zefal ‘skin armour’). I applied a clear patch and it protected the area from exposure to moisture so it can’t rust. The next day I scratched the bike even more, so I put more patches on areas that are a high risk to scratching.

      By the time the paint arrived, I didn’t care anymore. The patches are hard to notice and keep the bike protected from future damage on those areas. It was winter so I didn’t have the energy to fully clean the bike down and properly touch up the various minor areas of wear. I’ll possibly do it this summer, but for now the clear patches have held up almost a year and I guess they will for a long time.

      Also around where cables touch the bike, both folded and unfolded. Also flip the bike upside down and look. The underside of the bike where the wheel touches the frame in fold mode, and on the chain stay arms of the rear triangle above and below the chain, as the chain can slap the framework paint when you are folding and unfolding (the chain briefly goes slack and can slap the paint which can wear it).

      You could always get it fully repainted in a few years bike a bike painter, especially the racing green is a fairly easy colour to match as Brompton published the standard paint colours on their site.

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