Brompton with Sparticle Extreme Kit

[Jonah]

A generally good condition for age Brompton about 2003 vintage. 3 speed hub gear and with new rear rack fitted a couple of years ago. Professionally converted with a Sparticle Extreme Ebike kit about 5 years ago. Very powerful kit operated by a twist throttle. The kit has a front wheel hub motor and comes with a 48v 18ah Lithium Polymer (Lipo) battery. Unlike Li-on batteries, Lipo can last up to 10 years. In full working order, wiring updated by Electric Transport Shop last month. Range will depend on many factors. If throttle is used only when needed and you pedal most of the time you can expect to easily cover 50+ miles. On throttle alone, maybe 20-25. The battery and controller is located in a Carradice canvas front bag with space for additional items. I can supply the original front fork and wheel and various other extras if required. Includes original fast charger. For reference, a new Brompton with this kit fitted today would cost you around £2400.

Offers over £800.

As the Brompton is a small wheeled bike and this is a very powerful kit, this is for confident cyclists only.

 

[Jonah]

Any offers at £725?

 

[Ibot260]

Any offers at £725?

Hi mate, you still selling the bike?

 

[Jonah]

Hi mate, you still selling the bike?

Yes, still for sale at the moment.

 

[Ibot260]

Yes, still for sale at the moment.

Does this Brompton not fold up? Newbie here..

 

[Jonah]

Does this Brompton not fold up? Newbie here..

Take the bag off the front and it folds as a standard Brompton. Two cables to unplug first.

 

[RedTomato]

Hi Jonah,
Thanks for your post saying kit has been removed from bike. I have a few questions sorry.

- Is there any chance of fitting a Pedal Assist sensor?
- I read some older reviews of the Sparticle saying it doesn't suit short people because the kit does something with seat post to make it taller. I'm quite short at 5 foot 7, and my partner who borrows my bike sometimes is 5". Is this still an issue with your Sparticle kit?
- How much for the kit + widened forks? I'm assuming this includes bag, frame, charger etc. Tyre not needed, I have my own slicks.

 

[Jonah]

I don’t know what the issue with the seat post could be. There is definitely no restriction with the kit I have.

As regards fitting a PAS, I don’t know for certain. I believe it was an option but the shop in Bristol didn’t seem very keen. There is not a lot of room on the crank arm for the magnet disk so it may need some ingenious solution. I’m reasonably sure the controller would support such functionality but there is no screen to adjust settings or levels. In all honesty although possible, I think it might be difficult.

Yes, everything would be included.

I would take £200 o.n.o.

 

[RedTomato]

Thanks for getting back to me. I'm definitely interested - Might I ask why you are selling it?

I will contact Sparticle to see if they can sell me a PAS. Sending me the kit including the 14Ah Lipo by post might be a problem - I live in London, so am not sure how we can meet up. You're in Bristol?

The 14Ah battery will be good for longer rides. I wonder if I can use 4 x Bosch 2Ah 12v drill batteries in series for a lightweight li-ion 2Ah 48v battery for shorter local rides? (or 4 x 4Ah 12v) or is this a silly idea?

 

[Jonah]

I’m selling because my wife doesn’t use the bike anymore (I also have another) and I’ve replaced the kit with a much lighter Swytch kit for when I do less hilly routes. This way I get another bike to choose from that is different to my main bike. The Sparticle motor and battery are much more powerful but much heavier.

I live in Devon but would be prepared to meet you somewhere between London and Devon (perhaps Bristol?).

I’m not a battery expert but in theory your suggestion should work. I think the amp draw will be high so the cells in the Bosch power packs would need to be able to support this. They might only be able to deliver a more limited output, but this may be sufficient for lower assist levels.

 

[RedTomato]

Hi Jonah,

I asked The Electric Transport Shop re buying a PAS, & they got back to me asking:

- How old is your system? Does it have the integrated display and throttle, or are they separate units?
- We'd need to know what plug type you'd need, there have been a few different ones over the years.

Jonah, could you get back to me on that?

& also could you list the different parts of the kit you're selling so I know what's included (e.g. brake sensors for turning off the motor when braking). Photos of the kit on its own would help. Is there anything else I'd need for a full fit of the kit to my Brompton?

RE meeting up: I might be taking my kids to Bristol around about 7th/8th April to meet their friends there, does that work for you? Another option is you could drop off the kit at my Bristol friend's place before that date.

 

[Jonah]

Kit is approx 5-6 years old. There is no display, only a throttle with on/off switch wired in.

Contents:
Pre-spread fork
Carradice canvas bag
Mounting frame for bag
Controller
Throttle
Motor wheel
Battery
Charger
Cable to connect battery to charger
Cable to connect controller to battery
Cable to connect controller to motor
Cable to connect controller to throttle

The controller has lots of other wires that are not connected to anything. I guess they would include connections for PAS, display unit and brake cut-offs. These weren’t available / provided when I had the kit installed by the ETS in Bristol.

It is a complete functional kit as is but if you added a PAS you would likely need a display and optionally a brake cut-off. These are not required on the kit as is.


Pictures of everything attached.

I could 7/8th April.

 

[RedTomato]

Many thanks for all the pics and details, sorry I've been busy this week. I'm gonna fw to the bike shop and see what they say.

Sorry to bother you - if possible could you give me a pic of the connectors on the unused wires on the controller? - I can see the wires in the pic that shows the bag frame & controller, but not what type of connector they have or how many wires are unused.

I suppose the motor still runs & freewheels smoothly? what sort of wear does it have?

Many thanks

 

[Jonah]

There seem to be 3 unused cables. Two have flat 3 pin connectors and the other is covered by some shrink wrap so can’t tell what is under that. I’ve tried to show these 3 cables in the picture.

The motor was replaced approx 2-3 years ago, I forget exactly when. Everything was working perfectly when I took the kit off the bike last month. I had the ETS in Bristol check (and replace as needed) all the wiring last summer.

 

[afia2k8]

There seem to be 3 unused cables. Two have flat 3 pin connectors and the other is covered by some shrink wrap so can’t tell what is under that. I’ve tried to show these 3 cables in the picture.

The motor was replaced approx 2-3 years ago, I forget exactly when. Everything was working perfectly when I took the kit off the bike last month. I had the ETS in Bristol check (and replace as needed) all the wiring last summer.View attachment 29679

Hi,

Has it been sold?

 

[Jonah]

Yes, sorry it was sold in 2019.