80's Raleigh Bikes

Donie75

Hi,
I've been thinking of picking up an old bike to do a restoration on over the winter. It doesn't have to be a classic italian racing machine with fancy kit, just an old Raleigh or similar. Growing up I had a Raleigh Medale ten speed racer in Champagne and Burgundy. It was nothing fancy but I remember there was a few of them around. Then I had a Raleigh Maverick in a beige and brown. They were very common but I alway loved my neighbours Raleigh Bomber.
I've kept my eye on Donedeal and Adverts but I've never seen any of these 3 bikes for sale.
Were they all dumped or given to recycling centres during the boom or have the students and hipsters turned them all into flatbar fixies?

Are there any old shops around Dublin or elsewhere that sell these sort of bikes? I know the Dublin Bike Man has old racers but I think they are all old German imports.

IRISH OS1R1S

I'm looking for the old Raleigh Bomber bike. If anyone out there has one please message me.

2 Wheels Good

Met a guy on the Etape in France on a lovely Raleigh Banana team edition, still looks the job!

8valve

I recently splashed out on a 1984 Raleigh Record Sprint that a guy had for sale...in Holland!

It was a dream bike for me back then, but I (or my parents!) couldn't afford it!

I run a bike recycling charity initiative in Waterford and we occasionally get old run-of-the-mill 10-speed racers like Raleighs and Peugeots donated in.

As most aren't suitable for passing on to local kid's groups etc. (the aim of the initiative) they are advertised on adverts and proceeds go to fund buying spare parts, tyres etc for the bikes we donate.

They are out there, you just have to look...

greendom

Used to love my metallic yellow and red Chopper. Them were the days !!

torydiver

Raleigh Winner for me,
my first road bike or "racer" as we called them back in the days......

The Ging and I

No idea where you are based but I have often seen nice steel in bike shops that do second hand in Dublin.
Just keep looking .

Qualitymark

A bunch of old Raleighs and other antiques have flown past my watch-this-page on Road Bikes in adverts.ie in the last couple of days.
If you want one, it would be particularly nice to learn the frame numbers of those made in Ireland and get one of those.

Here's the Road Bikes address

http://www.adverts.ie/for-sale/sports-fitness/bikes/road-bikes/830

and you can search within that for Raleighs.

alfaromeo84

The trouble with bikes like that are guys think they are valuable. They look for too much on them, ask any antique dealer, they will tell you not all old stuff has value, sometimes it's just old.

Bikes are the same, to see 80's Peugeot HLE's asking €200 and more, no. I'd look to Ebay for better value. Carboot sales can be good too, esp where you get lads just clearing out sheds.

Esroh

If you want to be sure a bike was made in Raleigh Factory here its serial number will have a D followed by the numbers
At some stage in the 60s the badge changed to Raleigh Ireland on the likes of the Roadster/HighNelly because of some Trading Standards ruling in the UK . Branding all as Raleigh Nottingham was false advertising. Not sure about sports bikes (as the refered to them in catalogues)

Also once Raleigh had taken over alot of their British competitor brand names many of the bikes used generic raleigh parts . So a BSA or a Carlton with Generic Raleigh parts is not as valuable as an origional. The cranks for example will have a raleigh brand stamped on it.

If you see a Sturmey Archer hub it will have a serial number which gives the year of manufacture.

IRISH OS1R1S

Thanks for the info guys. Yes, people are looking for way too much for some of these bikes. I have only managed to come across 3 or 4 Raleigh bombers. Some are charging €200+, which is ridiculous, that is not even mentioning the state of their condition. The others, seller wouldn't ship it to Ireland, which is frustrating. A Raleigh Bomber is in reality not worth a whole lot, but would be more than willing to pay a fair price if I could get one.

Anyway, try remember this thread if any of you come across one.

ednwireland

Raleigh specialist bicycle development unit ilkeston.

if i was buying an 80's racer from Raleigh I'd be looking for one of those

The tax man

ednwireland wrote: »

Raleigh specialist bicycle development unit ilkeston.

if i was buying an 80's racer from Raleigh I'd be looking for one of those

I nearly pulled the trigger on a very clean SB serial numbered frame in the red and black team colours a few weeks ago. Still holding out for my holy grail sbdu Raleigh in the Panasonic colours.
*sigh*