New (Old) Raleigh Folding Bike, Not a Twenty --- what is this?
 

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r...on/raleigh.jpg

Hi, can anyone tell me what model this is?
I just got it today and have looked all over the web trying to figure out which model it is with no success.

Looks like some sort of variant on the RWS16.

I have driving myself nuts trying to find anything on this bike. I did find one old ebay auction for a bike that looks just like it :

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...1787%26fvi%3D1


It says made in Japan on the frame, not sure if that means anything... and the stand on this one and on the ebay auction doesn't look like any of the other folding Raleigh models I've been able to find online anywhere.

Maybe it was built in Japan under license? The English Raleigh RSW 16s don't have that frame brace above the BB. *edit* other differences include cranks, chainguard, chainring and rack. The cotterless cranks would indicate a much newer bike than the 60s - 70s Raleigh RSWs. May also be an unlicensed copy, per Reesyclist's post below.

See the following links on English RSW 16s:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/retroraleighs/rsw.html
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...RSW+16+Shopper

Have seen a couple of other photos of the same model on varous web sites. None with any solution to the mystery. Don't think it was UK made, and I believe there may have been some 'fake' Raleighs on the market in the late 70s or early 80s. According to the head badge, it may have been made in Mottingham, rather than Nottingham!

Hi Jilly - welcome to the folding forums. If it's Japanese then it could be any brand. There seems to be a trend in Nipon for branding any old bike with certain western names for the patina that gives. Many bikes that are seemingly identical can be got under the names Peugeot, Bianchi, Rover, Jeep, Chevolet etc etc.

Doesn't mean it's bad - just they have a more liberal approach to copyright. Any-which-way - it looks like you've got yourself a cute bike there. I wish you many happy journeys on it...

Thank you for the information and the friendly welcome!
And Little Pixel I enjoyed the pictures on your site :)

It looks like a mid/late 80's model based on the reflectors and equipment. Possibly a reincarnation of the old Compact RSW. Raleigh was marketing some strange stuff towards the end of the Nottingham years.

Aaron:)