Classic & Vintage - Raleigh Help!

Hello there, folks:
A little help, please?

I'm a newbie and have a used bike I bought for the MS150 Houston-Austin last year. It worked very well, but some were laughing at it and called it a relic, and I realized I knew nothing about it. Maybe some of you all do?
It's a Raleigh Grand Prix, decals indicate 502; "engineered" in USA; made in Taiwan, Chromalloy frame. It has Suntour gears with shifters on the handlebar stem. I couldn't find any serial number
I'm looking everywhere for some background on it. Is it vintage? Is it a quality bike?

I only paid $120, and it looks like it had almost never been ridden.

Appreciate the help!

GUANO

Check out this website for some info.
http://retroraleighs.com/

Do you ride it? Do you like it? Are you having fun on it? If so, your $120 was a bargain.

Ignore the laughs of the bike snobs if you're having fun. One of my fave rides is a Peugeot UO-10, bought at a thrift store for thirty-five or thirty dollars, the memory is hazy. All my other bikes are relics too, except for the Karate Monkey frame I just bought, and pretty soon that'll be a relic too.

Thanks ... Looks like it's about a '76 or '77 from the website you suggested.

Did you find the serial number? That could help date it.
Post a picture.

Did you find the serial number? That could help date it.
Post a picture.

Thanks for the tip.

I don't know where to find a serial number. I've looked all over the bike. Any ideas are appreciated.

I'll take a picture and post as soon as I can.

GUANO

Guano,

Let me agree with what Poguemahone said earlier, do you like the bike, do you ride the bike, and does it fit? That's all that matters. Did you buy the bike to impress others or did you buy the bike to ride? I get funny looks and comments all the time because my older bike has bio-pace chain rings. Sure it was a passing fad, but they were what came on the bike, it has been meticulously (for the most part) cared for, they work fine so I don't give a squat what others think or say, and on occassion have a great conversation starter. I am not riding for them, and you should be the same way. I can afford to buy and ride the flashiest with the best of them but I buy what I like, and what is comfortable for me not for someone else. I have to add the first love of my cycling life was an older Raleigh someone had that was too big for them. They gave it to me and it was a little big for me, but I loved that bike. It was an old piece of **it but it was mine, it got me everywhere I wanted to go, didn't look the best but it was mine. Over a period of years I replaced components, and ultimately ended up giving it away to someone else who would appreciate and love it as much as I did. It's probably too big for my BIL, it still looks like a piece of **it, but it's still giving someone fitness and joy on a regular basis on it's third owner.

Research it for you if you want to know, but forget what others think. It's YOURS! Forget the bike snobs, and find the real bike riders!! It's not about the machine it's about the fun & joy of riding.

The three places I would look for the serial number are the bottom of the bottom bracket, on the headset and the left rear dropout.

I totally agree.

I love the bike and only referenced the "dissen' " of the bike for its humor. I'll not use another because like the bumper sticker used to say, "stop laughing, its paid for", and it works fine for me.

The bike is definitely cool, and at the risk of sounding vain, beat about 50% of the pack on the ride (and of that 50% I'll bet quire a few were on newer higher end bikes!!

I did find the serial number ... it's 2LN1067, and has a "M" and (R) below that. Right where '74 Voyageur said it was. Can any of you all help on background, dating, etc.?

Thanks,

GUANO

Not good on dates, but good on attitude! It wasn't the bike that beat the pack it was the rider! Just goes to show it doesn't matter what you ride, it's how you ride that makes the difference!

If you find a serial number you can look it up on the charts on our site:

Vin - Menotomy Vintage Bicycles, Inc.
http://OldRoads.com

guano - Did you find your serial number on the charts? I looked but didn't find anything that matched. The charts I looked at on oldroads and retroraleighs didn't seem to list the '70s. Anyone familiar with the Raleigh lists?