1955 Raleigh Superbe Goodwill Score!
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 29
Bikes: 1984 Trek 510 - Full Campagnolo Triomphe, 1955 Raleigh Superbe
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
1955 Raleigh Superbe Goodwill Score!
Hey Everyone,
Just thought I would share my recent Goodwill score of the year. I picked up what I believe is a 1955 Raleigh Superbe for $50, boom shaka laka! When I came back to pick it up to my disbelief the original keys were in the fork. All the parts apear to be original, the dynamo lights work flawlessly. This is going to be my winter project, I have never worked on a bike of this age so it should be "fun". Am I correct that this is a 1955 Superbe? The Sturmey Archer hub is stamped "55", the serial number on the seat tube is "70443 CG".
I appreciate anyones input, I am always craving for knowledge!
Thanks!
Tony
Here are some pics of how it came from the store.
Just thought I would share my recent Goodwill score of the year. I picked up what I believe is a 1955 Raleigh Superbe for $50, boom shaka laka! When I came back to pick it up to my disbelief the original keys were in the fork. All the parts apear to be original, the dynamo lights work flawlessly. This is going to be my winter project, I have never worked on a bike of this age so it should be "fun". Am I correct that this is a 1955 Superbe? The Sturmey Archer hub is stamped "55", the serial number on the seat tube is "70443 CG".
I appreciate anyones input, I am always craving for knowledge!
Thanks!
Tony
Here are some pics of how it came from the store.
#2
Get off my lawn!
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: The Garden State
Posts: 6,031
Bikes: 1917 Loomis, 1923 Rudge, 1930 Hercules Renown, 1947 Mclean, 1948 JA Holland, 1955 Hetchins, 1957 Carlton Flyer, 1962 Raleigh Sport, 1978&81 Raleigh Gomp GS', 2010 Raliegh Clubman
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 93 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 98 Times
in
48 Posts
Congratulations on a great score! My only suggestion......ride it!
#4
On the road
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: New England
Posts: 2,170
Bikes: Old Schwinns and old Raleighs
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 373 Post(s)
Liked 845 Times
in
322 Posts
Find of the month, if not year, in terms of what I've seen. That is not a terribly common bike here in the US, given that combination of age, color, and features. My money is on an old guy who never rode it but kept it, then passed on or had to move into care and the kids just gave the bike away. You just don't find them like that at Goodwill etc, at least in any normal universe. Very, very nice.
The fork does look bent a bit, but you can fix that.
The fork does look bent a bit, but you can fix that.
__________________
Classic American and British Roadsters, Utility Bikes, and Sporting Bikes (1935-1979):
https://bikeshedva.blogspot.com/
Classic American and British Roadsters, Utility Bikes, and Sporting Bikes (1935-1979):
https://bikeshedva.blogspot.com/
#6
Bianchi Goddess
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Shady Pines Retirement Fort Wayne, In
Posts: 27,844
Bikes: Too many to list here check my signature.
Mentioned: 192 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2924 Post(s)
Liked 2,921 Times
in
1,489 Posts
Great looking Raleigh
__________________
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
#7
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Posts: 40,495
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Mentioned: 511 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7341 Post(s)
Liked 2,440 Times
in
1,424 Posts
"Score" doesn't begin to describe this.
Even if the fork is tweaked, it's worth untweaking.
Even if the fork is tweaked, it's worth untweaking.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Mackinac Island, Michigan, USA
Posts: 307
Bikes: 1958 Schwinn Deluxe Spitfire, 2016 Surly Cross Check, 1971 BH Folder, 2016 Felt DD10
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Fantastic, what a find! Love the green/gold paint scheme.
#11
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 29
Bikes: 1984 Trek 510 - Full Campagnolo Triomphe, 1955 Raleigh Superbe
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Thanks for the replies! I did notice that the fork seemed a little off, it's not much, it seems to ride ok. Is straitening a fork a expensive/difficult procedure? Is it risky?
#12
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Posts: 40,495
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Mentioned: 511 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7341 Post(s)
Liked 2,440 Times
in
1,424 Posts
It's sometimes one of the trickiest bike repairs. Bending steel tends to elongate it, and the blades have to be the same length. There are three parameters to maintain: length, fore-aft, and left-right. Left-right is the easiest.
Bike shops that are willing to do this have become rare.
Bike shops that are willing to do this have become rare.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#13
You gonna eat that?
I've straightened a fork by taking the wheels of a bike (but leave the fork attached), then inserting the ends of the fork between the steps of a paint ladder, then pull down on the back end of the frame to straighten the fork. By leaving the fork on the frame, you can get a lot of leverage on the force you're applying which makes it easier to control how much you're bending the fork.
#14
W A N T E D
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 495
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Here's a shop you might look at for the fork repair. I have no experience with this shop whatsoever, I've just been keeping the site address in case I find a $50.00 jewel!
https://rebrit.com/
https://rebrit.com/
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Rhode Island (an obscure suburb of Connecticut)
Posts: 5,630
Bikes: one of each
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times
in
12 Posts
My size even! Did they still have stainless spokes in '55? I like the stainless spokes. They polish up really nice.
Maybe go back tomorrow and see if his wife had the mate to it.
Maybe go back tomorrow and see if his wife had the mate to it.
#16
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 29
Bikes: 1984 Trek 510 - Full Campagnolo Triomphe, 1955 Raleigh Superbe
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Well I have been going crazy checking back there, luckily it is right up the road from my work. There are two Raleigh keys on the key ring it came with. One fits, the other one doesn't. She is out there somewhere...
#17
Count Orlok Member
Wow, very nice.
I've seen worse forks than that--I think Bikamper's Superbe has a bent fork, and he still rides it.
I've seen worse forks than that--I think Bikamper's Superbe has a bent fork, and he still rides it.
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Portland Oregon
Posts: 300
Bikes: 70"s Raleigh Superbe, 1959 Murray Vanguard Middle weigh cruiser
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
And I was pretty proud of my 2 70's Sports for a bill today, seems fairly blah now.
Nice grab, beautiful bike, and enjoy the hell out of it.
Nice grab, beautiful bike, and enjoy the hell out of it.
#20
SE Wis
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 10,493
Bikes: '68 Raleigh Sprite, '02 Raleigh C500, '84 Raleigh Gran Prix, '91 Trek 400, 2013 Novara Randonee, 1990 Trek 970
Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2740 Post(s)
Liked 3,385 Times
in
2,048 Posts
Seriously which Goodwill was that in? I gave up on them long ago as all I ever found was Magnas and Huffys - all overpriced!
#21
Senior Member
#22
MIKE is my name!
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: finland,baltimore
Posts: 2,846
Bikes: hans lutz, , puch mistral ultima,2x Austro Daimler Smoked chrome Ultima,Austro Daimler Mixte,Austro Daimler 531 mixte, flying arrow,F Moser,
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7 Post(s)
Liked 20 Times
in
4 Posts
bent forks---
can you ride it and take your hands off the bars?
if it balances and you still go straight I wouldent worry about it at all.
is the paint chipped on the fork from the possible bend?
I google picture searched raleigh superbe and have seen countless bikes with forks simmilar in geometry to yours. I would think twice about them being bent.
randyjawa's sight even has one.
that is a great find, nice color-its a keeper for sure!
can you ride it and take your hands off the bars?
if it balances and you still go straight I wouldent worry about it at all.
is the paint chipped on the fork from the possible bend?
I google picture searched raleigh superbe and have seen countless bikes with forks simmilar in geometry to yours. I would think twice about them being bent.
randyjawa's sight even has one.
that is a great find, nice color-its a keeper for sure!
Last edited by puchfinnland; 09-28-12 at 12:40 AM.
#24
aka: Mike J.
Milwaukee Goodwill********** Must be one not on my route.
Bikes in thrift shops are always a hit or miss deal, nice score and congratulations on being in the right place at the right time.
Bikes in thrift shops are always a hit or miss deal, nice score and congratulations on being in the right place at the right time.
__________________
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Life happens, don't be a spectator.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Life happens, don't be a spectator.
#25
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 29
Bikes: 1984 Trek 510 - Full Campagnolo Triomphe, 1955 Raleigh Superbe
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
My name is Tony and I'm a Goodwill addict.
Last edited by Sir Tony; 09-28-12 at 07:29 AM.