Classic & Vintage - Raleigh vintage bike pics... year? Worth?

Anyone have any idea what year this bike is? Maybe how much it is worth... sorry for the crappy pics.

The serial # is NL9014316

http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/9435/dsc00269oa1.jpg
http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/4854/dsc00270wi5.jpg
http://img161.imageshack.us/img161/1186/dsc00272wr7.jpg
http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/6017/dsc00274cm3.jpg
http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/8499/dsc00275dh5.jpg

Looks like a raleigh sprite. I have one in awesome condition on ebay right now
http://retroraleighs.com/sprite.html

1977 or post-77 Raleigh Sports in "Coffee," 21" frame.

$30-100 depending on condition and your location.

-Kurt

There should be a year and month stamped on the rear hub. Not a valuable bike, but very much a roadworthy steed.

You're right about the pictures.

I may have to bow to cudak888 but I think it could be as early as a '72, the 21" frame is right, the seat and generator are not OEM, and probably not the rack. I wonder if it would be a DL-1 or Tourist? Rather than the Sprite? I have seen values from $50-$200 if it is in very nice shape. They are very sturdy and dependable bikes. I have a 69? that has the living crap beat out of it over about 10 years of commuting, and the only "repairs" have been to replace a bent fork, tires, tubes and one crank arm that broke (I don't know how that happened my brother was riding it at the time:rolleyes: )

Aaron:)

A '72 would have had pump pegs, unless they were removed.

I may have to bow to cudak888 but I think it could be as early as a '72, the 21" frame is right, the seat and generator are not OEM, and probably not the rack. I wonder if it would be a DL-1 or Tourist? Rather than the Sprite? I have seen values from $50-$200 if it is in very nice shape. They are very sturdy and dependable bikes. I have a 69? that has the living crap beat out of it over about 10 years of commuting, and the only "repairs" have been to replace a bent fork, tires, tubes and one crank arm that broke (I don't know how that happened my brother was riding it at the time:rolleyes: )

Aaron:)

'72 would have pump pegs, '73-76 would have Raleigh self-adjusting levers. This features Weinmann levers and brakes, characteristic of the post-'77 models, and also has the revised chainguard design of the same year. You're correct on the saddle and generator.

No way in hell can this be a DL-1/Tourist though. Sports it is, and I'll stake anything on that.

-Kurt

Kurt,
I missed the lack of pump pegs...I am on a small screen laptop and scrolling back and forth hurts my eyes:o I agree now that it most likely is the late 70's Sports. BTW know of any good 23" frame models for sale?;)
Also the link to "The Headbadge" in you sig line apparently is broken.

Aaron:)

Kurt,
I missed the lack of pump pegs...I am on a small screen laptop and scrolling back and forth hurts my eyes:o I agree now that it most likely is the late 70's Sports. BTW know of any good 23" frame models for sale?;)
Also the link to "The Headbadge" in you sig line apparently is broken.

Aaron :)

Hello Aaron,

Wish I did know of some nice 23"s for sale - I would have bought them by now ;) . I have a '51, '61 and '80 in 23", but none are for sale!

I just tried the link to The Headbadge - works for me. Will change it to the usual address instead of the current redirection though.

Take care,

-Kurt

Don't know much about it, but I had one of those once (even the same color) and it was an enjoyable ride! I thought it was called a 'Sports'.

I was thinking Sport/s too, definitly mid/late 70 from the logo font. As previously mentioned... check the rear hub for a date stamp. It could be 6 - 8 months newer, but never older.

Hey! How'd you guys miss the serial number that's in the picture? NL90743** This is a 1979. Very simple. :p

I may have to bow to cudak888 but I think it could be as early as a '72, the 21" frame is right, the seat and generator are not OEM, and probably not the rack. I wonder if it would be a DL-1 or Tourist? Rather than the Sprite? I have seen values from $50-$200 if it is in very nice shape. They are very sturdy and dependable bikes. I have a 69? that has the living crap beat out of it over about 10 years of commuting, and the only "repairs" have been to replace a bent fork, tires, tubes and one crank arm that broke (I don't know how that happened my brother was riding it at the time:rolleyes: )

Aaron:)

Aaron,

I had one back in 71-72, and if memory serves me correctly the downtube decal on that one was in a more Olde English-ish type style, rather than the more modern, simpler style that this one shows. Can't remember the year they changed over, possibly 73 or 74?

Syke
Deranged Few M/C

Aaron,

I had one back in 71-72, and if memory serves me correctly the downtube decal on that one was in a more Olde English-ish type style, rather than the more modern, simpler style that this one shows. Can't remember the year they changed over, possibly 73 or 74?

Syke
Deranged Few M/C

Officially, the font changed to the italicised mono-line font in '73, but you'll see the oddball '73 running the '72 decals, or, in some cases, a '72 with the '73 decals (these are usually hub carryovers).

Take care,

-Kurt

I bought a blue one for my mom in about the same condition for 14$CDN. She likes it a lot ;)

Officially, the font changed to the italicised mono-line font in '73, but you'll see the oddball '73 running the '72 decals, or, in some cases, a '72 with the '73 decals (these are usually hub carryovers).

Take care,

-Kurt

Kurt,

A side question. The one I had was in an absolutely gorgeous ivory color with gold pinstripes. It had come in to the shop before I started there, but had been beaten around rather badly in transit, so the paintwork was rather scratched up (about what you'd expect from a well-kept but used 35 year old bike in an eBay auction nowdays). As he couldn't sell it, my boss gave it to me for his cost. I touched up the paint as well as I could, but without a proper touchup there was no way it was ever going to look pristine. Just the same, it was one of the most striking bikes I ever owned - sort of had a Rolls Royce style class to it.

Was that ivory and gold paint scheme rare? I never saw another one pass through the shop in the years that I was there.

Syke
Deranged Few M/C

Kurt,

A side question. The one I had was in an absolutely gorgeous ivory color with gold pinstripes. It had come in to the shop before I started there, but had been beaten around rather badly in transit, so the paintwork was rather scratched up (about what you'd expect from a well-kept but used 35 year old bike in an eBay auction nowdays). As he couldn't sell it, my boss gave it to me for his cost. I touched up the paint as well as I could, but without a proper touchup there was no way it was ever going to look pristine. Just the same, it was one of the most striking bikes I ever owned - sort of had a Rolls Royce style class to it.

Was that ivory and gold paint scheme rare? I never saw another one pass through the shop in the years that I was there.

Syke
Deranged Few M/C

If I recall correctly, the Ivory Glaze color was used from 1972-1973 (might have been available in '71 - don't remember), and in '74, was available on the women's variant only.

Ivory Glaze is probably the rarest of all colors (for the Sports, that is), followed by Lemon Yellow, Platinum and Silver. Ivory Glaze was rather common on ladies Sprites though. Platinum is the most popular of the rare Sports colors though, followed by Lemon Yellow & Silver. Most folks don't know what to make of Ivory Glaze when they see it, hence why they don't usually bring as much - unless someone who is familiar with the color happens to be around...

-Kurt