Classic & Vintage - Bought a Raleigh at a thrift store...

edit: bought A* Raleigh

I don't know anything abot old bikes, other than they are sweet as hell. if you can give me any info on this bike that'd be cool. If it's a basic bike i'm gonna rattle can paint it and ride. If it's rare or something i want to restore it. Thanks everyone, here are pictures and some more information.

http://www.rivaltorrents.com/images/gallery/Raleigh/gallery.htm

Rattle-can away. It's neither rare nor valuable, but probably a nice enough rider.

Is that your SV650? I had one for a couple years. Great motorcycle.

hehe, ohh well. Yeah thats my sv. i've been needing a bike, incase i crash the motorcycle i'll still have something to ride to school!

Do you reccomend any modifications to make it easier to ride etc?

Better seat.---sam

I'd splurge and get a front tire, too. :D

Do you reccomend any modifications to make it easier to ride etc? Ohhhh.. stem shifters,suicide brake levers,foam grips and genuine hi-ten gas pipe......Certainly nothing that cost any money.Why ruin the value of good junque'.

Sydney, haven't you got a fly that needs its wings pulled off? What purpose is served by peeing on the guy's parade like that? I suspect no one's especially impressed with your dry wit and discerning tastes.

don't worry, i didn't understand any of his cycling jokes... no seriously, i couldn't tell if it was a compliment or not.

oh, no one knows about what year is it?

Late 70s, early 80s? Check around the head badge and BB shell for aserial number to accurately date it.

I've got an old Raleigh sport bike I really like. Those are great bikes to experiment with. I've spray painted mine a couple of times. Actually, you can get some really nice paint schemes on a bike like that an not worry about messing it up. They make great cuisers and commuters.

I filed all of the eyelets off to make it look like a racing bike. Sure it's a little heavy. I don't care. Old high-tens bikes like that ride kind of nice. Great bikes to keep and tinker with.

Because you can get pretty far and not spend much money, they also make excellent bikes to fix up a little and give away to some kid that can't afford a bike!

Good find.

Sydney, haven't you got a fly that needs its wings pulled off? What purpose is served by peeing on the guy's parade like that? I suspect no one's especially impressed with your dry wit and discerning tastes.Certainly, any bike,even a Huffy that is ridden is better than no bike or a bike that is nothing but a garage ornament. Point being, that for the same money or a few bucks more there is plenty of better stuff that would be more satisfying, less hassle and even worth spending a few bucks on without getting ragged on.

Nobody was ragging on him except you.

update, painted! rode it a few miles today with no problems.

Hey Syd! Nice to see you-- how goes the search for a bed with a right side to get up on? I know it's a hard search, but if you keep perservering you'll find one eventually. We here on classic and vintage have faith in you and your abilities! Soldier on, true believer!

OP, enjoy the ride and have fun. That's the key, not what a bunch of internet bozos think (myself included, so you don't have to take me seriously.) ... sounds like you are well on the way. Use it as a platform to learn bike mechanics, if so inclined, and in time, a better bike will come your way... though you may grow attatched to this one. It may do all you need, and well.

update, painted! rode it a few miles today with no problems.
looks like you painted it 'California Suede" (aka primer). ;)
I have a similar Raleigh and I think it's the bee's knees. Enjoy!!

I'm always kind of amazed at how many of these critters are still around. I work at a university, and there are always half-a-dozen or so old ten-speed Ralieghs on the racks.
A few years ago, I had my present ride in the lay-a-way, and needed something to ride. Ove the winter, I rebuilt a Raliegh "Technium" (bonded aluminum) frame I found behind one of the frat houses. I had a bunch of components, and the thing turned out to be a "Retro-rocket"; light and fast. (Stiff, though!) Rode the thing for a year till I got my Trek 2120, then sold it for a seventy-five bucks to yet another student.

A technium? was it in infra-pink? Gosh I wanted one of them so bad when they first came out in 88 or 89, had the articles from bike mags for years!

Oh, back to the original subject... a pair of tokiko 6 piston's, they should drop right in inplace of the nissins and there are plenty since the squids have been totaling Gixers at a regular rate. And an exhaust that will let out that mellow L twin thump.

Oh...the REAL subject, to make it really clean and cool, rip all the shiffing junk off, flip the handle bar over, and chop them to look like cowhorns and ride it like a NYC bike messanger. Then haunt the single speed & fix gear bunch.

update, painted! rode it a few miles today with no problems.

Say what they will old bikes like this look pretty good with a facelift and a bit of maintance.
Your bike looks darn nice in it's new "clothes", mate. The main point is have fun fixing
and enjoying your $6 cadillac!!! :D :D :D

but seriously, the new paint job looks great! Only thing to change would be to toss the pie plate between the freewheel and the spokes. It would definity make it look another class above.