Folding Bikes - armadillo

take a look at this bike, its called the armadillo and its british made and is made out of aluminium. is it any good, has anyone had any experiences with it?

http://i18.ebayimg.com/05/i/000/fd/d7/00e9_3.JPG
http://i13.ebayimg.com/04/i/000/fd/d7/054d_3.JPG
http://i11.ebayimg.com/07/i/000/fd/d7/0758_3.JPG

also is this a raleigh twenty?

http://i2.ebayimg.com/03/i/000/fe/f0/557b_1.JPG

also is this a raleigh twenty?

http://i2.ebayimg.com/03/i/000/fe/f0/557b_1.JPGYep, identical to mine in every detail.

are raleigh twentys rare or collectable or are they just good to modify and restore?

They can go for REAL money in the right original condition. Real money is relative of course. I havent seen any modified R-20's sold so Im not sure what they would fetch. Seems like poeple tend to hold onto the really nicely modified ones. Too much love in em' to let em' go :)

And I think Jur should have said his WAS like that in every way :)
Attached is his Before and After...
He's got some clever work arounds goin' on his R-20...


R-20's : If you don't have one, you wouldn't know...

I should be posting in a day or so, so keep an eye out...
http://web.mac.com/phatatude/Green_Space/Raleigh_Twenty_Blog/Raleigh_Twenty_Blog.html

kk thanks for the help :D

if i have cash left over after buying a new folding bike should i buy a 20 and modify it?, also how much would it cost to do a good job of modifying 1?

"Good job Modifying" is a relative term. There is Mild to Wild. Mild might be to simple change out the steel wheels to aluminum (which is one of the first things that should be done for safety reasons), or a bottom bracket conversion which could be a Retap of the threads or a Phil Woods/UN 72 set up (or a couple of other clever tricks). This Forum is jam packed with info on R-20 conversion info to use and even edit to think of other creative work arounds.

I guess you kinda want prices.

Mild (wheel swap)= Price of wheels (but you will have to grind the drop outs to fit any axle larger than original)

Wild = Your marriage, Garage space and Folding bike forum research time:) Serioulsy, you'd have to look at the price of the upgrades that you want to put on it (Brooks Saddle, Campy equip, Bars, Internal hubs, Dyno's. You name it, it has been done or can be :) Lil Pix is working on a 24" wheeled one at the present. His isnt the first and wont be the last, (but will probably be the coolest :) ) I also should state that some of the fun for R-20's is to mod it on the cheap. (if you have spare parts layin' around it can be a cheap mod)

check the link to see aome R-20 variations.
http://web.mac.com/phatatude/Green_Space/Raleigh_Twenty.html

Someone on the forum said that the R-20 modding is about putting your personal stamp on a classic bike.
"Many see it as a bare canvas on which to paint their masterpiece" - Jur


Quick list of R-20 Quirks:
Bottom Bracket threading TPI 26
Wheel drop outs narrow
Plastic bearing on head tub
Brake reach issues
My wife wants it out of the house
Tall head tub (issue if you want to switch stem,forks)
Steel Wheels (no stopping!)
451 or 406 sized wheels (both called 20" )
I might have forgotten something so correct me if I did :)

R-20's : If it were easy, everyone would have one...


Phatatude- Ride em' till the wheels fall off, or your jewels go numb...

(sorry this post kinda rambles, its late)

-Two Classics Below- (Lil Pix: Fixie, Sheldon the Great:R-20 Hot Rod)

ok thanks :D i might consider it :D