Folding Bikes - R 20 weight?

I`d like to know more about the weight of the famous R 20. Reason is I managed to pull out an old folder that my mother owned at the time of her death. Do not know where she got it, but after reading alot (and looking alot) about the R 20 I wanted what the other children had. Realised that old bike is much the same system. Small difference in the hinge on mine, it is 90* on the tube. Pix is still on my sons mobile, I`ll post soon.

Rode it the other day, decided I like it alot, but work to do ofcourse. Bothe rims has been damaged, so it was quite "wobbely" to ride. Steel rims, cracked tires, missing front brake, "loose" feel both in bottombracket and hubs and so on. No alu, all steel. Could not fold it on the test day (it is ok now) but it could still fit in the back seat of my Toyota Starlet. A search on the net made me realise it is produced in Poland!

Decided to weigh it before stripping, it is 15 kg`s. Not finished yet so I do not know the frames weight.

Could somebody plse tell me the weight of the original R 20, and also frame`s weight + and - fork? Also present weight is interesting, after modifying that is. Just like to know to compare.

Struggeling with the crank, think it has not been adjusted in a long time, so it is stuck at he moment. Thinking about pulling the angle grinder out today, but it is snowing outside...

bb system is same type system as the R 20. Worryed about what sort of replacement is awailable here, this country is a "third world country" when it comes to modifying and rebuilding bikes. Alot of people on bikes these days but all is "stock" , 60% is offroad (80% two three years ago) is my impression.

I had some Polish shopper bikes.

Mine had alloy rims so I fitted the wheels to other bikes.

They had very thick seat pins....cause theres a tyre pump inside the seat tube.
Yours might have that too. Worth a look.

I'm a bit busy this exact moment but can likely weigh a (non-folding) stripped Twenty frame and forks for you later today. I'd guess a folding one can't weigh much more - add say 1/4 to 1/2 a pound for the hinge plates and bolts.

Ok so I just braved the cold london winds and can relay these weights to you - this for a non-folding but totally stripped Twenty;
Sadly - I can't give you the 'stock' weight as this one was a real fixer-upper with nothing much but the frame salvageable from the melee of rusted, bent or broken parts.

Frame:
2.92 kg [6.44 lbs]

Forks:
0.50 kg [1.1 lbs]

Total:
3.42 kg [7.54 lbs]

Hope that helps!

Thank you for feedback both of you! I think my folder is quite old, no alloy rims and no pump. Seat posts main part is just slightly thicker than the top part of same, where the seat is clamped on. Hope to find a new one in alloy, this one is heavy!

Thank you for the weighing, it is a big help. Need some more time before I can compare. BB is still in.trying to get it out "the nice way", but I am impatient. My fear is that nothing is standard, and that a replacement is impossible to find.

If I am careful maybe I can put a new axel and maybe bearrings and keep the cups.. Problem is metal is soft so attacking it with a chissel is just causing damage to the ring I am trying to unscrew. Looks like there is threading on the axle itsself and the ring is screwed on.

Not sure of threading innside (as on a normal modern bb housing) and I`we not done this type of axel before. Need to do some reading and find some pix or drawings or as a last solution ask my friend who is older than me and much more used to old bikes. He can do this with his eyes closed and one hand in his pocket I think. I always just use him for information and do it myself since I want to learn.

Weight of original (or almost) anyone? What about weight of modifyed`modernised bike?

I had a Chelsea Capitol folder was red

It had a threaded BB Axle think its called Thomson.
They are ussually on German bikes maybe other central europe countrys to

Think the BB shell is smaller than normal so cant be replaced with a more normal type.

Ok so I just braved the cold london winds and can relay these weights to you - this for a non-folding but totally stripped Twenty;
Sadly - I can't give you the 'stock' weight as this one was a real fixer-upper with nothing much but the frame salvageable from the melee of rusted, bent or broken parts.

Frame:
2.92 kg [6.44 lbs]

Forks:
0.50 kg [1.1 lbs]

Total:
3.42 kg [7.54 lbs]

Hope that helps!Hmmm. Interesting. I weighed my R20 folding frame when it was stripped for painting, and I recall something close to 5kg all up. Unfortunately that thread was killed when the server had a hiccup.

Just got rid of some serious kg`s by remowing the bottom bracket and heavy pedal arm and chainwheel. The cups is still in the BB housing, need to read some more and find out. Cups for headset (I think it is called) also still in, keep them there so I do not loose or mix them up. Total weighy just frame is 2,75 kg. That is impressive, you shouls se the size of that hinge! Fork is 0,85 kg. There is a metal cap on it I might remowe, looking good maybe but heavy.

Got some BMX forks but they are heavy so I think I`ll stick to the original one or maybe if I find a not to heavy suspensionfork I`ll be tempted. I`ll try to post some pix of it later today. Butt ugly but a sweet ride.

The factory weight of a complete Twenty was, IIRC, 34 pounds / 15 kg and just a wee bit lighter than the basic Raleigh Sports 3 speed which hits the curb at around > 40 pounds.

My 1978 Raleigh Superbe 3 speed weighs 42 + pounds and would have been the heaviest of the 3 speed models due to it's it's extras like the; Dynohub, lights, and rear rack.

Not all old folders are R20's! The hinge of a R20 is unique and is in large part why the bike feels solid. It sounds to me like yours is one of the "others". You should consider if it is really worth spending the money on, when there are probably so many other "ordinaries" out there (in better shape).

Of course, the fact that it was your Mothers may make a huge difference :-)

I think the OP said his bike was not a Twenty...

We have a number of other old folders down at our shop and they feel as if they are of similar weights and most do not have a hinge anywhere nearly as solid or well designed as the does the Twenty.

One bike with a vertical hinge shouldn't be classed with the 'others' I think as it's still a pretty stiff and long-lived frame is the Dawes Kingpin from the same era. Easily spotted by the elegantly curved strengtheners that from the head-tube and BB shell to the main tube.

Pics on this page - along with plenty of other small wheelers (lots of twentys under various names too - Nova, BSA, Triumph...)

http://www.renaissancecycles.co.uk/gallery.htm

senseamp: Think i did not speak clearly. The hinge is HUGE and solid as a rock, that is why I am now suprised about the weight. Hinge must be 1/2 kg on its own so I expected it to be heavier. That is one of the reasons why I want to spend time and money on it.

Hinge is much the same as the one on the "Universal Uni-Sport" found in the link, but the frame piece it is on is straight all the way.

Must post pix tonight, but I struggle..

Finally, pix!
:D

Thats a cool little bike, deserves to be sorted out. I own a 1980's Tensor Elite that has pretty much the same hinge setup. I think foldies are good fun bikes myself. Im not a small fella 5ft8inces tall and just over 15 stone in weight but i dont care. My 13 year old son offered me a race, me on my fold up and him on a 15 gear mountain bike, HA HA no contest;)