Grim

Yesterday I picked one up. I think it is missing some of its original bits. 27 inch wheels with I believe a Suntour freehub (haven't pull the wheels off yet) Shimano Brakes, Shimano light action L523 RD, FZ206 FD that date to 86. It has a set of 105 SG cranks that look to date 91 and 105 shifters. Cinelli stem and two story bars (they wrap back around but I don't have a clear picture.

Rides nice but it mystifies me. Seems to be more of a cyclocross bike. It is a 60cm frame but the fool thing has a very high BB. It has a 34 inch stand over with 170mm cranks. My t700 is a 63cm and has a 35 inch stand over.

Fill me in or point me at some sites that will tell me what it should have so I can sort it out as to what is original to the bike.









Thanks

bcoppola

I assume you know the basic facts: Techniums were Raleigh's early aluminum bikes; the tubes being bonded into lugs with an industrial epoxy. I think the seatstays were steel.

Looks like your seatstays were sprayed red by a previous owner, judging from the overspray on the brake shoe.

The exact model name or number is probably under that black paint or wrapping on the top tube. If you can uncover it it'll tell you (and any Technium experts - not me!) more.

Somewhere Out There on the Interwebs there's a Raleigh history site, but I don't have it bookmarked. I believe it went into Techniums in a little more detail.

That's all I got.

Blender

Old Post of Mine.
I have an 86 and this was the lit I had on it. The two pocs were scanned out of order but you can figure it out

https://www.bikeforums.net/framebuilders/215343-epoxy-bonding.html

OldRoadman

Had one a short time!. Frame separated where the seatstay joins the chainstay. Could not find any bike shop that would fix it. Nice riding bike for aluminum.

Bill

Grim

Unfortunately that is paint on the top tube. So no reading the model. Yes somebody hit the seat stay with paint. Some people should be beat.

I'll see if I can find that site.

Interesting read. Thanks.

cs1

It's not a roadie but a nice example of a Technium MTB. This is a 1989. It was the first year for cantis on the front & rear, last year for the wishbone seat stays, 1" headset and 130mm spacing in the rear. It weighs almost as much as my 1989 Rockhopper comp.

Grim

Found how to decipher the serial number and it was built the 102 day of 1986.
That confirms that the cranks that have a 91 date code are not original to the bike. I suspect that the shifters are also not original. The light action derailers are dating 86 as well so I think those are original bits.

I think it is destined to be a single speed! The world sport may give up its cranks to it and the wheels to the wifes Mixte. Sell the frame bare.

peripatetic

https://www.yellowjersey.org/techoly.html

Bianchigirll 

Hello Grim. while I am no Raleigh expert, as others have pointed out the Technium was their first Aluminum bike frames. I believe like cannondale they used one frame for all models. (1 road frame 1 touring frame) it certainly sounds like the wheels atleast are not original.

it seems no one has addressed you BB height question. I think the reason for this that the Technium line was aimed at entry level racers and the most comom 'road race' here in America is the Criterium. some companies that made 'Griterium geomentry' frames used a slightly higher BB to give more cornering clearance. and as you have noticed unless you take the time to stand and measure you would not notice tha difference.

Grim

Thanks
I have been trying to find one on the net the same color combination and the only model I found with the plum head tube was a 460 and it seems to be a less common model. I am finding references that this was considered a "touring" or "sport touring" model despite it have two ring cranks.

I think the wheels are original. They are correct for the the time period. The 105 cranks are newer then the bike (1991). The pictures I found appear to show Sugino GT style cranks as being original. I haven't pulled the shifters to date them but I suspect they are not original either. That leaves the light action and the date correctly to the frame. So it appears to be fitted with the exact same drivetrain as my wife's 1987 Terry Gambit or this 88 World Sport I have. The WS is rough and may be parted for the cranks and I'll sell the 105's separate.

The handle bars are not original either. I have not found another bike with them. They all show more traditional stem and bars that would be typical of any mid 80's bike. The WS may give up it set and I'll sell that frame naked to a hipster for a single speed conversion.

ginsoakedboy

I have seen some Raleigh Technium frames break at the point of the downtube shifter bosses. Not trying to scare you or rain on your parade. Not sure if that problem was limited to certain years or models. Bears watching, and maybe periodic close inspections or a bit of research.

FLBandit

I've seen a few of those on the bay and CL lately. Some decent deals, but I'm not much for aluminum.

vinfix

I had a 460 just like the one you have. I found it to be a bit clumsy, and tall for a 23". Raleigh's seem to run that way. For a partly aluminum bike, it wasn't any lighter than a typical 23# steel bike. Seemed like an OK mid-level sport road bike, just wasn't for me so I passed it on to a friend.

Greybeard

Grim, I have a 1986 480 similar to yours. I picked it up a few years back for next to nothing. It's my beater so it is still basically stock. I believe everything is Suntour LePree. It rides nice and sometime I find myself riding it even when I could be riding one of my nicer bikes.

Anyway, I can check it out when I get home and let you know what's on it.

Grim

I thought this was a 25 inch frame from the standover when I was looking at it and the tires were flat. Turns out it has an unusually high bottom bracket for a road bike and why I though it may have been a cyclcross bike. It has a 34 inch stand over and it is a 23 inch frame. My T700 is a 25 inch frame with a 35 inch stand over. This bike has a BB height common to mountain bikes.

gsandoval

I just purchased this bike but I am not picking it up until Sunday. I am pretty excited because it will be my first road bike.

bikemeister

Darn I like the look of the rear triangle on this bike! Does anybody else make a wishbone chainstay MTB frame anymore?

RobbieTunes

You are one lucky dog.

cs1

Not that I know. It's really a unique look. I bought the bike a few years ago to strip for parts. It was so nice that I can't bring myself to strip it. So, it sits in the garage waiting for someone to ride it. I think I have my wife convinced it should be her bike.

top506

Iron Horse and K2, for sure. Can't think of any others until the coffee kicks in.
Top

tcs

"Technium" was a method of building bikes, and Raleigh-USA used the design and technology for a broad spectrum of bikes. My favorite Techniums were made with Reynolds 753 main tubes.

tcs