My Raleigh folding bike doesn't fold.
I have had this bike for 20 years it was givin to me by someone very special. I never actually rode the bike because I didn't want to destroy such a beautiful bike. I never new much about it until I started searching and man I thought it was awesome to have a folding bike. This bike does not fold. I am wondering how much that effects the value of the bike if it doesn't fold? Thank you for any help .

If you love the bike and you have special memories of the person who gave it to you, don't worry about it's monetary value. Just enjoy it and the feelings associated with it.

Sounds like a wall hanger.

The dollar value doesn't matter when it has sentimental value.

You’ve had the bike for 20 years, never even ridden it, and just now figured out that it does not function properly?

I fail to understand how this is a problem for you.

I think there are few things in this world more annoying than a 20 year old never used , beautiful to behold, carefully maintained gift, received from someone special, that doesn't actually work. That my friends, is the textbook definition of a bummer.

The folding joint can be made to work again. Study how it was assembled at the factory. Apply lubricant/solvent to begin the process. There are many types (ATF/Acetone, Marvel Mystery Oil, Kroil, etc.). Reverse the steps that the factory worker used to assemble it. Clean the joint surfaces. Re-assemble using new fasteners as needed. Lubricate. Voila. It's not that hard.

Is this a Raleigh Twenty? I can imagine that non-use has resulted in the hinge freezing up a bit but that should not be a permanent thing. With judicious application of penetrant and mild heat, you should get it folding once again.

Thread title edited from R to Raleigh Folder.

I think it is one of those folding bikes that came with the optional "non-folding" feature.

Raleigh 20's were also available in non folding versions.

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/raleigh-twenty.html

https://hadland.wordpress.com/2012/0...gh-twenty-r20/

If it is a folding bike that was designed to fold, maybe take it down to your local shop especially one with an older mechanic and see if they can help you get it working again. Talk about how much you love the bike and let them know your investment in the bike (not monetarily but emotionally) We had a lady who brought in her husband's bike from when he was a kid and while it wasn't worth a ton of money it was sentimentally more than worth it and they were going to pass it down to their kids and I loved the story and so did the mechanic who worked on it and really did a bang up job to clean and polish it up and make it work as well as possible. We did go a little above because who doesn't want to see a bike continue life in the family. If I were to adopt kids I would want to pass down my bikes to them (probably from my cold dead hands...LOL) and have them keep the legacy.

You could also follow some of the advice of folks and try and do it yourself, it might not be so difficult but you may not want to do the work yourself and there is no shame in that.