Show us your small-wheelers

[EltonFrog]

There were a few Kingpins and other small wheelers out and about in that London yesterday.

 

[EltonFrog]

Bought this today, thanks to @FrankCrank its a ‘78 Twenty Alpha.

Not bad for a tenner.

 

[roadrash]

not bad...NOT BAD he says.... brilliant , I do like twentys.

 

[FrankCrank]

.....what, no side stand - you've been done. Tell you what, I'll give you a fiver for it.....

 

[EltonFrog]

.....what, no side stand - you've been done. Tell you what, I'll give you a fiver for it.....

Apparently the Raleigh Twenty Alpha was the low entry budget model, no Dynohub, stand, rack. The rack on this bike is a Pletscher which I think were not supplied on Twenties.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Here's my small wheeler...

View attachment 480894

Behind the car?

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Small wheelers are great in traffic so agile / nimble and they accelerate well.

 

[FrankCrank]

Apparently the Raleigh Twenty Alpha was the low entry budget model, no Dynohub, stand, rack. The rack on this bike is a Pletscher which I think were not supplied on Twenties.

.....OK, you live and learn - just thought they all had the sidestand, it's a feature I really like as well. Have seen so many pics of them with that rack that I assumed some came with it as standard. The one I have back in UK has the chrome steel type of rack, with a plastic tray thing on top - looks awful. Any plans as to what you'll do with yours?

 

[graham bowers]

I'll show you a couple.

 

[EltonFrog]

.....OK, you live and learn - just thought they all had the sidestand, it's a feature I really like as well. Have seen so many pics of them with that rack that I assumed some came with it as standard. The one I have back in UK has the chrome steel type of rack, with a plastic tray thing on top - looks awful. Any plans as to what you'll do with yours?

The chrome /plastic rack is a feature of the Raleigh Twenty, Dawes used the Pletscher rack on the Kingpin.
I’m not sure what to do with mine yet, you may recall I only bought it to get the oil plug from the rear hub to put on my KP. But I might not do that now, so possibly an oily rag resto and service, or may be bling it up, or convert it to a single speed off roader just for the craic, there many possibilities.

 

[FrankCrank]

The chrome /plastic rack is a feature of the Raleigh Twenty, Dawes used the Pletscher rack on the Kingpin.
I’m not sure what to do with mine yet, you may recall I only bought it to get the oil plug from the rear hub to put on my KP. But I might not do that now, so possibly an oily rag resto and service, or may be bling it up, or convert it to a single speed off roader just for the craic, there many possibilities.

I know what you mean - I think they're like the old Minis, pretty much anything you do to them is an improvement!

 

[FrankCrank]

I'll show you a couple.

The first one looks interesting, particularly the frame design. What is it exactly?

 

[EltonFrog]

The first one looks interesting, particularly the frame design. What is it exactly?

Royal Enfield Revelation. Rarer than Trump’s honesty. It’s a lovely looking machine. That ones been customised with non standard chain set and gears. Originally a 3 speed.

 

[FrankCrank]

Thanks Carl. Reason for my query is I may take a fancy to build a small wheeled bike some day, the frame in stainless, and that looks a potential candidate to copy. A single large main tube as in the R20 would be quite hard to do for me, but twin smaller tubes could be possible.....

 

[graham bowers]

Carl is pretty much on the money. A bit more detail:

Two 3/32 sprockets and a spacer off a MTB cassette were shoehorned on the the 3 speed AW hub, a rear mech was added and a 3/32 crank on a sealed bottom bracket. The result is a 10% grade is doable on low gear, and 18 mph in the highest.

Stem was changed out for a Nitto to give a bit more height and reach. Flat bars I had kicking around and ergo bar ends.

The original seat-post was 22mm diameter and a couple of pressed shims lived between the post and the frame. I removed the shims and fitted, as I recall, a 25mm seat-post I had lying around. The inside of the frame could probably do with a tickle from a reamer.

Modern dual pivot calipers, Tektro 559's.

The Rev rides beautifully. The frame is longer than most shoppers so it has more stability. For example, I feel comfortable taking one hand off the bars to signal at a much higher speed than on a KP, for example.

There was a French copy that used 406 rims as I recall. The Rev is on 451's.

Enjoy what Tony Hadland has to say. The French copy is referenced.