Classic & Vintage - Better pics of my 1973 Raleigh Superbe

Here are some more pics of the Raleigh Superbe I picked up last week as my very first vintage bike purchase! It's really in amazing condition. The saddle looks as though my bum is the first to touch it. I'm pretty sure it's 1973 according to the rear hub, but haven't checked for the serial number yet.

Pic heavy, sorry, but I love it sooo much!

http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/oo249/leilakelleher/025-2.jpg
http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/oo249/leilakelleher/026-1.jpg
http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/oo249/leilakelleher/027.jpg
http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/oo249/leilakelleher/028-1.jpg
Tiny amount of pitting on the rims. The guy I bought it from had washed it and left some water in them so they were leaking rusty water for a while.
http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/oo249/leilakelleher/030-3.jpg
http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/oo249/leilakelleher/031-1.jpg
Working Dynohub
http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/oo249/leilakelleher/032-2.jpg
http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/oo249/leilakelleher/033-1.jpg

Wow, that thing is pristine!!

Wow. Wow. Mine has a loooooooong way to go to look that nice. You are very fortunate.

Stunning!

Scott

NIB, vary cute.

Gorgeous! Love that color.

Your pictures really show off the richness of the color. The small hardware bits that I expect to be rusty or dull are positively gleaming. Glorious bike!

Wonder if I could I get my ladies Sports to look like that with a bit of Meguiars or Mothers polish?

Beautiful!

I have a Raleigh Colt that is almost that nice. BTW we like green bikes around here;)

Aaron :)

Thanks! I am loving it! I had a fail trying to get the hub to work properly (only had 2 gears; 1 and 3!) even after tightening the indicator chain by turning it. Luckily my mate owns the LBS so I took it to him and now it is perfect. I need to bake him some cookies.

Seems like that green is a very popular colour! I've only seen one non green Superbe IRL (a grey), but a fair few green. Plus my CCM Grand Touring which is OTW is the exact same green

Oh, and what is this polish you speak of? Should I use it? I haven't cleaned it up at all.

I haven't cleaned it up at all.

WHAT?! :eek:

Meguir's Scratch-X is the bomb. But what are you going to do with it? If you polish it any more, the surface will be perfectly reflective, and you'll create a singularity.

Oops. Meguir's is for paint (it will take out decals, seriously). Mother's is for metal. You could maybe get the chrome to shine up a little more with it.

Oops. Meguir's is for paint (it will take out decals, seriously). Mother's is for metal. You could maybe get the chrome to shine up a little more with it.

Do I get this stuff at the LBS or at an auto place? I don't want to go around blinding people, you do understand. LOL.

I get both at AutoZone. (Maybe you could find them at big box stores in the car goodies section?) I've looked for Mother's (you want the Billet Polish) at the hardware store, but their selection of such things is limited. They're both products typically associated with obsessive car and motorcycle owners.

Ah, great. Is the Mother's better than Chrome Lust?

Oooh, nice bike. Question - are all such bikes more or less the same size or did they make them in a range of sizes?

I think Green was the most common colour for the Superbe. I know for some years it was the only colour offered.

Here is a picture of our "pair". The large on is a Superbe the small one is the Colt which is the petite 18" frame which my bride needs.

Aaron :)


http://inlinethumb37.webshots.com/47268/2511306710066886751S600x600Q85.jpg

I have no idea, though I am sure someone else knows.

I think Green was the most common colour for the Superbe. I know for some years it was the only colour offered.

Here is a picture of our "pair". The large on is a Superbe the small one is the Colt which is the petite 18" frame which my bride needs.

Aaron :)


http://inlinethumb37.webshots.com/47268/2511306710066886751S600x600Q85.jpg

Mmmmmm. Those are really, really nice. Is the Colt a slightly different green? TBH, I could probably do with the smaller frame too - my seat is right down the bottom. Did the Colt have the same level of trim - dynohub etc?

Oh, and which saddlebag is that? It's very nice.

That is a gorgeous bike, Rookgirl! It is in absolutely pristine condition! Very nice find, indeed. :thumb:

Ah, great. Is the Mother's better than Chrome Lust?

"Chrome lust"? Pish! More like "chrome bust"!

Just kidding. I've never heard of that. Everybody's got their favorite. I just happened to land on Mother's first. Only thing else I've tried is Simichrome, which I've only ever been able to find in tiny .1-ounce tubes that seem ridiculously small. I don't like to run out of polish!

Oooh, nice bike. Question - are all such bikes more or less the same size or did they make them in a range of sizes?

Depending on the year: Diamond frame Superbes came in 21" and 23", they did make a diamond frame Sports in a 19" for a year or so. Step through models came in 19", 21" and occasionally a 23" (rare).

Aaron :)

Mmmmmm. Those are really, really nice. Is the Colt a slightly different green? TBH, I could probably do with the smaller frame too - my seat is right down the bottom. Did the Colt have the same level of trim - dynohub etc?

Oh, and which saddlebag is that? It's very nice.

No but they can be upgraded easily. Only thing you cannot add to the Colt is the Superbe fork lock. I will eventually upgrade the Colt with a dyno hub and lights.

The saddle bag is a Carradice Nelson (http://www.carradice.co.uk/index.php?page_id=product&under=type&product_id=38).

Aaron :)

Mmmm...I think it would be almost identical with the dynohub. What a lovely bike!

:thumb:

That's a great bike!

Does it have the locking fork?

yep, has the locking fork, but no key

yep, has the locking fork, but no key

A decent locksmith can make a new key, we have one here that has done it for several people.

Your bike is in about as nice a condition as one could imagine, got one just like this and gave it to a friend and retained it's mate for a number of years until I was unable to ride it comfortably.

I always think that if you wanted to buy a new bicycle like this you'd be looking at something like a Pashley and be spending upwards of $1000.00 and the ladies version of the Superbe is actually a nicer riding bicycle than the men's (from a comfort point of view) as the geometry is a little more relaxed.

They don't make bicycles like this anymore and you can probably hand this down to your grandchildren... and their children.

yep, has the locking fork, but no key

Keys are available. I have a couple blank keys for the "NGN" cylinders and a locksmith can use the code on the cylinder to cut a new one for you.

just the code? Is the code some secret locksmith thing?

IS it really worth having the fork lock for practical use? I mean, if someone wanted to steal it, it would be because they know what it is, otherwise it would just be some old bike. And wouldn't they find out the fork was locked after they cut your lock off?

Though it would be kind of cool to have the key...

That shade of green is so much nicer than the olive drab of my sports. Beautiful Bike, I hope to find a men's frame in my size in as good of a condition.

beautiful! those Tommies sure know (or knew) how to build a sexxy 3spd.

http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/oo249/leilakelleher/025-2.jpg

just the code? Is the code some secret locksmith thing?

Yes. Bonded locksmiths have access to the codes on the cylinders.


IS it really worth having the fork lock for practical use? I mean, if someone wanted to steal it, it would be because they know what it is, otherwise it would just be some old bike. And wouldn't they find out the fork was locked after they cut your lock off?

Though it would be kind of cool to have the key...

The key is handy for quick stops where you don't need to lock to something permanently affixed to the ground.

Yes. Bonded locksmiths have access to the codes on the cylinders.



The key is handy for quick stops where you don't need to lock to something permanently affixed to the ground.

Makes sense. Thanks!