1983 Carlton Raleigh - last of the exports?
10-29-05, 05:04 PM
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Fishsticks
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1983 Carlton Raleigh - last of the exports?
I have a query about an old bike. I bought a Raleigh Competition with a Carlton Cycles frame new for
what I recall was $529.00 (Canadian) in 1983. The bike had the following equipment (as I remember):
Frame - Reynolds 531 frame and fork, Vitus drop outs, BLACK with white scroll lettering
'Carlton Cycles' on the seat tube, white rectangular piping around all words
Brakes - Weinmenn 405 side pull (long), black hoods
Rims - Weinmann 700c, concave (later I switched out to 27" Mavic)
Crank- Suntour Superbe (53, 42)
Pedals- Suntour Superbe
Derailleurs- Suntour Cylone (mk II?) front and rear
Freewheel- Suntour 6sp (New Winner?)
Seat post- Alloy with single hex bolt
Hubs- ? (later I switched out to Specialized sealed)
Headset- ?
BB- ?
Seat- Black suede
Stem- No name
Bars- SR?
I have pined over this machine for years and I don't have the serial number. Was it one of the last exported (Canada, in my case) Carlton Raleighs? Though the equipment seems period specific it looked different than other Raleighs from the time period - it being black and the white lettering done in a scroll type. Sadly, I sold this bike to a now old friend in 1986. I wonder if I should give a ring and try to get it back? It was a fantastic runner, back in the day. The few old pictures I have are of a poor a quality and show little of the aspects mentioned here. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Fishsticks
what I recall was $529.00 (Canadian) in 1983. The bike had the following equipment (as I remember):
Frame - Reynolds 531 frame and fork, Vitus drop outs, BLACK with white scroll lettering
'Carlton Cycles' on the seat tube, white rectangular piping around all words
Brakes - Weinmenn 405 side pull (long), black hoods
Rims - Weinmann 700c, concave (later I switched out to 27" Mavic)
Crank- Suntour Superbe (53, 42)
Pedals- Suntour Superbe
Derailleurs- Suntour Cylone (mk II?) front and rear
Freewheel- Suntour 6sp (New Winner?)
Seat post- Alloy with single hex bolt
Hubs- ? (later I switched out to Specialized sealed)
Headset- ?
BB- ?
Seat- Black suede
Stem- No name
Bars- SR?
I have pined over this machine for years and I don't have the serial number. Was it one of the last exported (Canada, in my case) Carlton Raleighs? Though the equipment seems period specific it looked different than other Raleighs from the time period - it being black and the white lettering done in a scroll type. Sadly, I sold this bike to a now old friend in 1986. I wonder if I should give a ring and try to get it back? It was a fantastic runner, back in the day. The few old pictures I have are of a poor a quality and show little of the aspects mentioned here. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Fishsticks
10-29-05, 06:54 PM
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Raleigh of America bought all rights to the name and 1984 was their first year. A few of the bikes were still made in England, though...Raleigh America didn't have 753 certification so 84 Team Raleighs were still English made.
I have a black Competition with white script lettering. Full 531, and I've never paid much attention to the year of manufacture. It is currently rigged as a fixed gear...but I'd be happy to make you a righteous deal on the frame and fork if you could use a 55...
I have a black Competition with white script lettering. Full 531, and I've never paid much attention to the year of manufacture. It is currently rigged as a fixed gear...but I'd be happy to make you a righteous deal on the frame and fork if you could use a 55...
10-29-05, 11:45 PM
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Fishsticks
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Thanks Luker but my question has more to do with whether or not this set up was standard 1983 Raleigh Comp. I always had a suspicion that my LBS made this bike up. Fishsticks
10-30-05, 09:46 AM
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I couldn't find the spec on the web, but everything on this bike sounds as it should, except for the superbe/cyclone bits. especially the superbe bits. I can ask my lbs guy, he sold 'em and remembers.
Raleigh made a gold-plated Japanese bike from about that vintage that was equipped with all suntour superbe, which they called, oddly enough, the Superbe (not to be confused with the Raleigh Superbe three-speed). For some reason they didn't sell well and I suppose a few may have been parted out for recycling to a more popular bike...my lbs still has an original, unsold Superbe (the suntour one). The owner has had it long enough that he's become inordinately attached to it (or I'd be riding it today...)
Raleigh made a gold-plated Japanese bike from about that vintage that was equipped with all suntour superbe, which they called, oddly enough, the Superbe (not to be confused with the Raleigh Superbe three-speed). For some reason they didn't sell well and I suppose a few may have been parted out for recycling to a more popular bike...my lbs still has an original, unsold Superbe (the suntour one). The owner has had it long enough that he's become inordinately attached to it (or I'd be riding it today...)
