Experiences of *old* folding bikes?

Bickertons are infamously flexy, so that's something to be aware of if you're big or like to push along. They do have their enthusiasts, but TBH unless you desperately need the storage space I'd give it a miss as an actual utility bike - something like a Shopper will be much nicer to ride.

Thanks for your feedback!

What do you mean by "push along"?
I'm not big but will be loaded with big / heavy backpack a lot of times I'd use the bike (one of the reasons why looking for an alternative to the race bike, it's so annoying to ride through traffic on that in drudge mode, would really prefer a comfy solid bike with an upright seating position).

Storage space isn't the #1 concearn, but space (and also weight) is an issue as I will have to schlepp this down and up from 4th floor regularly.

It has a Turbo on now

..glad to hear this
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There’s a few more stickers now. It’ll eventually be covered probably.

..sad to hear that
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^^^ This - very, very flexy. My in-laws have one each they put in their van when they come to see us. Have ridden & wouldn't recommend for this reason. But they like them.

Dependent a change of heart from Mrs c00ps, I might have a spare Raleigh/Triumph Twenty very soon (almost stock, cottered cranks, no front rack). But I'd recommend a Kingpin, if you can find one - BSA threading is much more user-friendly!

£40 is probably about fair for that, if everything is there and works - but make sure it has the canvas storage bag with it (also attaches to the bars as a front bag). The cables are looooong because the bars fold back and double up as a makeshift stand. As I said though, probably hold out for a Kingpin for about the same, as it's far better for the same £££.

Better to leave the original paint exposed you think?

Sorry, push along = pedalling along at speed. If you're putting much power through a Bickerton, it's going to flex about. IIRC they're not that lightweight - something like a Puch folder will probably be a bit heavier, but not so much you'd really notice.

Think the vintage folders were really designed to fold in half and go into the boot of your car, I find the Kingpin better than the rest,

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Thank you for your input @c00ps - yeah that's what I gathered so far, they're very flexy but people like them anyways
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Kingpins are harder to find here, on the other hand we have lots of oldschool German / former East Germany brand folding bikes around here - unfortunately they became quite popular with all the "retro" loving hipsters so they often sell in the 3-digit-range, which is clearly nuts.
Yeah now that you mention it the long cables of course make sense, they do look ridiculous though (I've seen a "country" version of the bike where they are guided / routed in some way though)..
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Better to leave the original paint exposed you think?

Yes!
Stickers are for refrigerators.

@littleK - I like the one you posted, it's quite "elegant" for a folding bike!
The German ones all look rather silly / cute / funny / like children's bikes..

Has anyone used one like this ?

They ride terribly and are highly prone to failure...

Fold is lengthy.

Old aluminium.

Get a Brompton

You could look out for a Riese & Muller Birdy - the old ones are pretty decent and they’re German so you might find some local bargains. Again aluminium, check for cracks on head tube, forks and rear triangle.

@Nathan Barley

Cheers for the input!

Not willing to spend €€€ for a Bromton though. Budget is like 100 max.
For me a folding bike will just be a bad weather alternative / have a bit of fun project for the shit weather period.

Have added some further info.

Yea, just saw that, thanks.

Riese Müller is completely out of range, that's for rich people who are super serious about this shit.
To be frank I just want something affordable that works and is somewhat fun to ride I guess.
Quite happy if I find one of those East Germany type folders / cruisers in good condition for under €100

Those Daewoo ones really do look like a clown bike I guess still there's something about them
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There’s some pretty ancient Birdys around, even in the UK you can get one for not a huge amount so wondered if there might be some bargains to be had locally.

..unfortunately not.

It really baffles me anyway how expensive folders / shoppers are where I live; compared to what I have seen offered on here in the past..

do you have a decathlon near you / would you consider something new(er)? i've had one of these for the last year (although I'm sure mine was much closer to £100). it's been great, i hop on it without hesitation for short distances / if the weather's cack. it's single speed but has cable routing and a derailleur hanger so at some point i'm planning to spruce it up with 1x7 gears and some gummy tyres.

13.3 kg, not even that bad.

Just out of interest, is the the flex in these inherent in the frame design due to the lack of a main triangle or is some of it in the hinge/clamp itself. If there is flex in the hinge/clamp has anyone tried improving them, for example, by fitting very a fine tolerance hinge pin or bushings and/or lapping the meeting faces of the hinge really flat?

Find a non folding kingpin if you can. Only bike I truly miss riding, nippy and fun.

@pizzarat I rode one of those round my local Decathlon store. I was also quite impressed.

@ffm I think the centre hinge doesn't help. My home made Twenty isn't particularly flexy in the frame at all. The only real difference is I didn't put a hinge in when I welded the frame. On the Bickerton it's because the frame box is aluminium and you've got a monster amount of leverage with the ape hangers!

Find a non folding kingpin if you can.

You mean Dawes Kingpin, one like this?

Yes, would love one of those, but did not find one here in Berlin yet.
They're from the UK I guess?