Can you still buy new "Chopper" style bicycles?

Plates

Have done a few searches online and can only find 2nd hand ones. Any advice appreciated. Thanks.

Plazaman

Raleigh were the original manufactuer of the Chopper which they discontinued in the early 90's. Any "new" Choppers as far as I'm aware are hand built and are not the style of the original chopper (more like motorbike choppers with pedals).

I fondly remember the Chopper being a previous owner in the early 80's. They took a bit of getting used to and changing gear in the central column for the first few times without losing balance was quite a feat.

Certainly update us here if by chance you do find a new manufacteurer during your investigations.

vektarman

They stopped making the original raleigh chopper in 1981 but released a mark 3 edition in 2004 to commemerate the 35th anniversary of the first chopper, Raleigh were still selling the mark 3 chopper up to recently, there's not too many around but I saw one in Wheelspin in Palmerstown shopping centre recently or you could contact the Irish Raleigh Chopper Club on www.ircconline.com or find them on facebook.

curlzy

The bicycle shop in Harold's Cross sells gorgeous choppers, absolutely beautiful. They're a bit pricey but totally worth it. I'm saving for one at the moment.

turnsoutIwas

Fairly sure I saw at least one for sale in City Cycles on Blackhall place.

burkes cycles

yes u can there around 250 too 300 e and many colours

Run_to_da_hills

The original Raleigh Chopper had a one piece banana seat. Health & safety regulations on the newer model insisted on having a two piece seat. I think it was to do with kids cycling two up.

Earlier model with single banana saddle and T piece in frame gear shifter.


Newer model with poxy looking two piece seat.


A good clean MK1 could set you back over e500

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Raleigh-Chopper-Mk1-High-Back-BEST-ONE-have-/220700635993?pt=UK_Collectables_Bicycle_RL&hash=item3362c87359#ht_944wt_918

TheUsual

500 Euro for an old model ... wow.

I have fond memories of hitting my 9 year old (nutless) nuts off that damn gear change lever. Bad place to put it, trust me.

Other than the memories it was a crap bike and the gears broke too often and was a bitch to fix. looks gay as well.

vektarman

TheUsual wrote: »

Other than the memories it was a crap bike and the gears broke too often and was a bitch to fix. looks gay as well.

Anyone else who has these crap gay bikes and want to give them away pass them this way.

Run_to_da_hills

TheUsual wrote: »

500 Euro for an old model ... wow.

I have fond memories of hitting my 9 year old (nutless) nuts off that damn gear change lever. Bad place to put it, trust me.

Other than the memories it was a crap bike and the gears broke too often and was a bitch to fix. looks gay as well.

Back in the 70's it was only the parents of spoilt brats that could afford them. They were quite expensive in their day, almost the same price as a 5 or 10 speed racer. They were also equipped with Stormley Archer 3 speed planet hub gears which were notorious for packing in if they were not used correctly. (You have to peddle backwards to cange gear)

One guy down the road had one, the 3 Speed hub eventually packed in and the bike ended up in a skip. I should have salvaged it.

Ditch

Vile, dangerous things! :mad: Try going down a long, steep hill on one.

First ye got that feeling of rushing wind. Pure speed. Pleasure.

Then that certain unease as the hand grips seemed to be vibrating somehow.

Then that definite and scary shudder .....

Before long, ye discovered how the physics of controlling a small front wheel from those improbable heights and angles meant one thing:

A sudden twist of said wheel. And you were jam!

Christ, how I learned to hate and fear the damn things! I lived in a hilly area, back then