Folding Bikes - Leader Voyager Folding Bikes

Hi,

I already posted on the Vintage appraisal page and then found this sub forums for folding bikes.

I would really appreciate if anyone could give me any information on these two bikes. Ill I've found on them was their manufactureing location on the decals: Montreal Canada by the Leader company.

Thanks for any leads....


Renaud.

Pics:

Wow these are in superb condition...

Having said that, folding bikes have a rather limited appeal so the market is very small, making the market value of even these bikes rather disappointing. Well-known vintage brands like the Raleigh twenty and Peugeot folding bikes in very good condition will fetch several $100 at most. These - perhaps $100 due to unknown branding. This is an estimate based in Australia - Canadians may differ a bit but I would be surprised if the difference were much.

Thanks for your input. I was hopeing that they might of have been worth a bit more. I am located in Montreal, Canada and since I have been into bikes for the last 18months I've noticed the market for bikes is really crazy (looking at craigslist etc). But maybe keeping them and actually using them instead of contemplating selling them for less than initially thought is a better idea.

Reno

I agree with Jur's assessment. You're not going to get much money for them, so if that was your hope, you're out of luck. You might as well ride them. The upside is that as long as you keep them in good shape (ie. no dents, dings, etc.), they won't really devalue.

thanks for both your replies.

Since we are in the topic, is a folding bike an alternative touring machine?
If it is equipped correctly?

reno

A folding bike can do anything a non-folding bike can do - if it's equipped correctly.

If only they were moultons in that condition! ($$$$!!!)

These look a lot like the austrian-made Auto-Mini and my guess is that they are a rebranded version of that bike, assembled in Canada. If you look closely at the label on the head tube it says "Victoria Precision Works". The Supercycle Traveler is another "Canadian-made" folder and looks nearly identical. The rear hub, crankset, quick releases and stem are the biggest differences I notice from the Auto-Mini. Is the rear hub a Shimano 3-speed or another brand? Auto-Minis generally have Sturmey-Archer AW or Sachs Torpedo (3-speed Dreigang or 2-speed Duomatic) hubs from what I gather. The quick release for the seatpost looks like a Carnielli one that's on an Italian folding bike I have. The one on the stem looks interesting, the Traveler has the same thing but I haven't seen it on anything else. Care to post some more pictures?

I put together a page on the Auto-Mini if anyone is interested in checking it out: http://crapocalypse.blogspot.com/2009/09/auto-mini-executive.html

Hi psi,
Thanks for the message. Unforunatly I can't look up you questions as the set of folders has been sold a couple of months ago by the original owner. I noticed them at a garage sale and I thought I would be able to get them for cheapo garage sale prices but she had them up for quite a bit. So I actually gave her tips on how she could maximize profits - cleanup, nice pics, craigslist and ebay...etc.

Now they are gone.

Sincerely,

Renaud