HSean

I found this folder in the trash last year and put some parts on it, the lights are missing and some stuff but i've gotten it rideable, how it's a handle dandy little bike to have.

Also I wanna get this old lad back in shape to do some commuting, I'm not sure how to alter folders, i'm new to them, i've owned a few in the past to, ideas would rawk ma sox if ya have any.

Edit: more pictures.

James H Haury

Will you do anything with that Bmx Bike? Others have shoehorned a 7 speed hub int the back wheel.I do not have the answers for you. You should get a lot of answers soon however as modifying R20's has been rather popular in the past on this subforum.

HSean

That bmx is restored, it's been repainted and cleaned up and new tires, however the front forks are dead, they need new seals, right now I have beefy mountain bike shocks on it lol, it's my dad's memory bike, he had one when he was young, as for my folder i shall await the answers, I think I wont repaint it, I think it's alright this color and bike theifs wont touch it.

HSean

There updated pictures to how it stands now are posted, it's an odd bike, only one cotter pin? not that I mind, I hate those things lol

nicklo

How about this customised version for inspiration?

HSean

That one looks neat, I'm gonna try to find some white walls for mine somewhere, Right now the biggest pain is grinding the large amounts of rust from the parts lol and getting the bike to open and close easy, It must be old, it sat in rain and snow for a long time, yet the paints alright still.

jgqwf237

I see (on Ebay) that the Universal bike was once a popular brand in the UK. Now, it can be bought very cheaply. What is your opinion about this folding bike? How does it compare to the other 20" wheel folding bikes? Especially, the ones like Dahon, Raleigh 20 and other (more expensive and often more modern) folding bikes?

I know it is re-branded "Wigry 3", Made in Poland. I also noticed on Ebay there are newer ones, branded as "Universal Stowaway 3".

I seek for opinions of users who used (or still have been using) it as adults. I understand that I cannot demand anything crazy about a second hand, folding bike from the 70's . But I have been considering purchase of such a bike just like an experiment. If I like the general idea of folding bikes, I will buy another, a better one.

3speedslow

Calling Geepig

3speedslow

Calling. Geepig

Geepig

*Wakes up*

'Universal' was indeed a brand, it was used to sell Polish built bikes (and maybe other stuff?) from at least the 1970s until the late 1980s. I am not familiar with the clamp, and it looks too small to be a Wigry, plus it lacks the flat sided oval tubing found on the Wigry (20" wheels) and Jubilat (24" wheels).

This is the closest I can find: Another bike

The adult bikes lost their bolted seat stays long ago, and yet the rear rack on this uses a very later form of front mount, and it kind of looks likes a large child's bike in size.

A very nice find!