Folding Bikes - Rog Sport? Anyone know anything about them?

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Rob_E
05-10-08, 10:47 PM
I've been watching Craigslist for an old folder to fix up for my wife. This bike, a Rog Sport (made in Ljubljana?), pops up, which is something I've never heard of, but it's got a standard, older folder look, and it's priced at $15, so there's not much to lose. I'm just wondering what experience anyone has (if any) with this model bike or something similar. It appears to ride okay, but I think the bottom bracket might needs some work. 3-speed hub/coaster brake shifts fine, but it doesn't stop great. The hub is not Sturmey-Archer. I think it's Shimano. Did they make a 3 speed hub? It shifts from the non-drive side, which is different from any IGHs I've seen. Or at least I've never noticed any that have shifters hooked up on that side.

Here's the pics:

http://www.loominess.name/media/IMG_1246.JPG

http://www.loominess.name/media/IMG_1247.JPG

http://www.loominess.name/media/IMG_1248.JPG

http://www.loominess.name/media/IMG_1249.JPG

http://www.loominess.name/media/IMG_1250.JPG

Dynocoaster
05-11-08, 12:08 AM
That place is in Slovenia, I googled that much. Interesting bike though.
http://www.ljubljana.info/getting-around/
FoldingCyclist
05-11-08, 05:02 PM
Rog was a state owned Yugoslavian company that started making bicycles in the early 50's. They were based in Ljubljana, now the capital of Slovenia. These "U-frame" folding bikes were made starting in the 70's and were exported to many countries including the U.S. They were a fairly cheap bike and were made in the thousands and don't have much value as a collectible but for $15 you certainly don't have anything to lose. I think they were made until the early 80's, someone sent me a photo (below) of a late model.

Rob_E
05-12-08, 07:21 AM
Good to know. I actually felt bad about giving the guy only $15.00. I figure any bike that's in ridable condition is worth at least $50, let along that it was a folder, and seems to have been around a while and held up pretty well, except for the rust.

Once I saw it, I had to ask again, "How much are you asking?" Just to make sure he didn't feel like he was getting ripped off. He said, "I'm asking $15, but I got this other bike frame and a couple of other parts I need to get rid of. If you can make all of that stuff disappear, I'll give it all to you $10."

So, yeah, assuming I can clean it up and fix it up, I think it's money well spent. I just need to convince my wife of that... Or hide it from her until it's done. Good thing it's little. I just need to find a home for the other, full-size bike frame that came with it.