First Real folder

[Elad63]

bought this off of Craglist, I have been trying to find one in my area for over two year.

1972 Raleigh Folder

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2376/2522951106_2752e97681_o.jpg

[LittlePixel]

Oh you've scored there - looks like a nice one! Plans to keep it stock or go mad on upgrades? Or the 'third way' - stealth upgrades (new 7/8speed hub, cotterless cranks and alloy rims?)

[Elad63]

Bought off of local Cl for $150.00. funds are limited right now, not sure which way to go. I am leaning towards the stealth upgrade, will a 7 speed multi speed hub fit on the the rear, looks like i will need to file the rear dropouts to put one on, also can you put a FD on it also, just started looking on the web at pics of recent upgrades. I know the rims will need to be replaced, plus the stem for a longer reach. How do i go about changing the headset and still keep the orginal fork.

[doco]

nice score, that is a classic color...when you decide to upgrade, lilpixel has it right..go the stealth route

and do a search here, so many mods and nice things you can do to make your nice bike nicer

BTW you are now on a slippery slope, before you know it you will have N+12 folders :)

nevermind, I was just looking at your picture page...you ARE already on the slippery slope

[Elad63]

I have 4 right now

[invisiblehand]

What are/were your fake folders?

BTW, it seems like everyone spends a ton of dough on Raleigh folders. Let us know how the work turns out.

-G

[Elad63]

Otoyo folder, Citizen folder(junk), Atala folding bike(heavy)

[Sixty Fiver]

The best thing you can do for a stock Twenty is change the wheels to alloy ones and just changing the front wheel will make a world of difference when it comes to braking. A BMX wheel will fit although the dropouts may need to be filed just a little to make the larger axle fit.

Upgrading the bb is a difficult job simply because the parts to do it are hard to find and there really isn't anything wrong with running a cottered crank.

Converting the 3 speed to a dual drive is pretty easy and this will really expand the gearing range.

I just sold one of my folders to a lady who was desperately wanting one and it had the wheels re-done and was sporting my custom dual drive conversion... she said the bike was "the bomb".

You will find no end of information on 20 conversions in here.

[Elad63]

dual drive ?, do you mean a double chainring, with the 3 speed hub ?

[Sixty Fiver]

Dual drive = dual rear cogs, derailleur, and shifter. It yields a pretty nice 6 speed with no gearing overlap.

And it is a dirt cheap conversion.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/P20dualdrive1.jpg

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/P20dualdrive2.jpg

You will need 2 Shimano 3/32 cogs, a 3/32 chain, and decent derailler (I went to a Suntour), cable, housing, and a shift lever.

I started a thread on the whole conversion... will have to track it down.

[Elad63]

great, i will also try to find it

[Sixty Fiver]

Here it is...

"Another Damn Twenty Thread... " (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=398693)

I actually received a 1952 Schwinn World Sport the other day with a triple drive that was built in the early sixties... that is pretty cool too.

[x136]

Dual drive = dual rear cogs, derailleur, and shifter. It yields a pretty nice 6 speed with no gearing overlap.FWIW, "DualDrive" is also the name of a SRAM system that features a three-speed hub with an 8- or 9-speed cassette attached.

[Jagee]

Elad63,
You may well know this or will certainly come across it: That r20 stock fork maxes out at a 20x1.75 tire (maybe a 1.85 fits?). You can just fit a 1.95 in the back.

I mention this only because I just found a few good BMX wheels at the dump and got all psyched up to upgrade my r20's wheels and, while the rims will work well, the tires won't fit. No big deal--I'm just impatient and on a strict budget. I just hadn't even thought about that simple but important measurement.

Good luck--that's a great bike.

[Sixty Fiver]

I squeezed a Kenda 1.95 into my fixed Twenty... funny thing is the rear tyre is the same model and same stated width and will not fit.

[Sixty Fiver]

FWIW, "DualDrive" is also the name of a SRAM system that features a three-speed hub with an 8- or 9-speed cassette attached.

Should I expect a lawsuit ?

:D

[Elad63]

thank's for all the info, will be going out this morning and see if I can find something in the the local trash to tinker with for now. might have to stick with a bmx singlespeed until i find some new goodies.

[Elad63]

How do you change the the front headtube bushing to something more modern, sometimes when I turn the handlebars they stick.

[Sixty Fiver]

You have to install a 1 inch headset and find a new stem since the stock stem does not work with a conventional headset.

That nylon bushing can get a little sticky... make sure things are clean and adjusted and apply a few drops of light oil... it should get much smoother.