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What replacement wheels/rims that can be fitted into Raleigh Twenty bike are available these days?

Below I focus my requirements on the rims as they are probably easier to come by than complete wheels but if there are new wheels available then I'd love to know the vendor/manufacturer.

Ideally I would like not to modify anything and stick with 20" × 1-3/8" size with 28 spokes taking ISO 35-451 tyres if such option exists at all.

The next acceptable option would be same size with 36 spokes which would require replacing the hubs (which I hope can be obtained more easily).

Yet another possibility is any other wheel size that would fit the bike without modifications (with the exception of the hubs).

The least acceptable option would be a solution requiring mudguards removal, front fork replacement, brakes change etc. However, out of curiosity I would be happy to see what more drastic routes can be followed.

Here's my beauty! :o)

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    I was quite disappointed to see the photo of the bike, after reading Raleigh Twenty wheel replacement. It has only two wheels!
    – andy256
    Jan 9, 2017 at 1:09
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    And @Daniel, obviously my brain is functioning (or not) differently this morning. I read A bike "wheel", as normally spoken as A bike "wheel", is normally spoken, which seemed a perfectly reasonable way of saying that they usually have spokes :-)
    – andy256
    Jan 9, 2017 at 1:20
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    google.com/search?q=twenty+inch+bike+wheels
    – andy256
    Jan 9, 2017 at 1:51
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    Do note that the rules here do not allow us to give you specific recommendations as to manufacturers or suppliers.
    – Daniel R Hicks
    Jan 9, 2017 at 2:09
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    Seven years old but relevant: bikeforums.net/folding-bikes/…
    – Daniel R Hicks
    Jan 9, 2017 at 2:15

1 Answer 1

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The old stainless steel rims can be a pain to stop in, and when it rains, it's pretty much impossible...I'm a member of The Raleigh Twenty forums, gives good info about the bikes. The technical data for the rims is provided below, but there may be other options aside from what's listed.

According to The Raleigh Twenty Resources:

Rims:
 Alienation Ankle Biter 20 x 1-1/8" . Lightweight high-performance junior-BMX race rim. Double-walled. Eyeleted. Theoretically available in 28, 32 and 36 hole drillings. I have the 32H version on two bikes. They're very good. Patchy availability.
Sun Ringle ICI-1 20 x 1-1/8". Similar to above. 28 and 36 hole drillings. Currently available.
Halo JX-2 20 x 1-1/8". Similar to above. 28 and 32 hole drillings. I'm about to build a set. They look very good. Currently available.
Crupi Rhythm 20 x 1-1/8". Similar to above but non-eyeleted. Range of anodized colours. 28 hole drilling. Currently available.
Bombshell and RCR carbon-fibre 20 x 1-1/8". Currently available but WAY TOO EXPENSIVE!!! And, may not take high pressures.
Ukai and Araya "old school" BMX race rims 20 x 1-3/8". These regularly turn up as "New Old Stock" on eBay. They were made during the BMX boom of the early 1980s, and are normally 36H only. Being single-walled and non-eyeleted, these are basic rims that are no match for the lighter and stronger modern alloy rims listed above. Patchy availabilty.
Ukai "mid school" BMX race rimes 20 x 1-1/8". From the 1990s or early 2000s. Occasionally turn up NOS on eBay. These double-walled and eyeleted (sometimes double-eyeleted) Japanese rims are top quality. Rare.
Unbranded Chinese 451 carbon-fibre rims, direct from the factory online or via eBay. Caveat emptor! Currently available.

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  • Good stuff and nice forum! Are all the rims here 406mm unless stated otherwise? On the website you are a member of they say the rear brake to suit 406mm wheels is a very, very long reach calliper. Does it imply that replacing of the stock brakes is necessary when switching to 406mm rims? The brake pads on my Twenty are positioned near the top of the slot (as shown on the picture), wouldn't the current brakes (which I believe are originals) have enough reach to work with 406mm rims?
    – Johnny Baloney
    Jan 10, 2017 at 12:09

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