Victoria Folding Bikes

Detail of Blue Bike

Red Bike with pump

Saddle Bag!

Blue Bike

Oh crap, I broke it, no, its just the way it folds, I mean separates.

Hi

If you are a regular visitor to this site you will realise I am a folding and small wheel bike fan, and I really like the older ones with cool technology.  I've had or have Viscount Spacemaster, Vairas, Panasonic, Bickerton, Malvern Star Folding bikes, to name a few.  I regularly scour ebay for nice examples.  A few models have been adapted as fashion items (Peugeot N Series, Moulton, Raleigh 20, Bickerton) and bring reasonable prices. Here is a local Melbourne Blog dedicated to small wheel bikes.

So the latest bikes to pass through the gates are a couple of 24", 2 speed (Sachs kickback gearchange with coaster hub built in),  German, "Victoria Brand" separable bikes, which were on ebay for about $40.00 each.  Both come from the Ringwood area, one was from  Mitcham and the other from Mooroolbark.  Maybe there was a gung-ho Victoria bike seller in Ringwood 40 years ago.  The bikes separate in the manner of some "Super Elliot" folders I've seen. 

The red bike has lights that work,  the better frame and a stand and racks complete with ocky straps but a torn seat, broken chain guard and no pump or saddle bag.  The blue bike has a pump, saddle intact,  saddle bag, better tyres, but no stand or front rack and the chain guard is intact but fragile.  So I should be able to make one very good 24" Victoria folder and one very fun hack bike. Red at the front and blue at the back, the essence of Modular bikes!

Will report on fixing the bikes and take some photos out and about with it later.  Meanwhile, here are a few links.

Another folding bike from Victoria 
Video of a 20" Victoria.
Victoria factory on Wikipedia
Victoria bikes official website.  No folders here but some nice low stepthrough city bikes

All for now.

Steve Nurse