cehowardGS

I got this bike off Ebay for $50. Nobody wanted it, and I had been hunting for this particular model/year and in my size for a long time. Talk about luck







I sent it to Robbie Tunes to put his touch on it. Oh boy.. (old wrinkled grin)

auchencrow

That looks too fast for an old guy, Howard. You're not allowed to have that.
Better send it here.

jyl

That was $50???

Sick bike.

cehowardGS

Yup, that was $50, nobody was into that year, model and size, except me. I played it careful too. I waited until the last 2 seconds and shot in a $175 max bid.. Nobody was on it. I got it.

When I throw some black 105 brifters on it, it is going to kill even more..

You all tell me life isn't sweet!!

seely

Gas pipe crap goes for more than $50. I call shenanigans!

oddjob2

It's really a Huffy! Nice GP!

auchencrow

"Oh nooooo! Don't put BRIFTERS on it!"

OTS 

Ouch !
that is HOT !

cehowardGS

Thanks all..

On the brifters, I use to think the same way. I got 88 and 89 Centurion Ironmans. The 88 didn't have brifters on it. When the 89 came about, the builder put brifters on it. I kind of told the builder (RT)that I would have preferred downtube shifters like on my 88 Expert. Low and behold, the more I rode the bike with the brifters I loved it. In fact, I upgraded my 88 Expert to brifters. The ride is like on velvet, and looks up are up there too.

raverson

Very nice score on a great looking bike.

I have the same bike that is all original, save for a wheel upgrade and Turbo saddle.

Glad to see the chrome stays cleaned up so nice. They looked rather sketchy in the ebay pictures, which is just perfect.

due ruote 

Looks great. Nice touch on that finishing tape to match the brakes.

cehowardGS

That was the key to getting it at a great price. I was looking at the frame, no dents, very few scratches, and the wheels would be ditched so they didn't matter. Nobody was on it, except one person and they didn't have any faith in getting it. Whereas, I have been on a hunt for this bike, no way under the sun I was going to let it go. I was prepared to go 3 times the $50 and more for it. The bicycle gods shined on me..

It has a sister and a brother in my stable too. The 1985 Raleigh Competition (the sister),and the 1985 Raleigh Prestige(the brother), I am missing the other sister, the Super Course.

Going to take a picture with all three of them together..

gl1000honda3

A steal, Sir...A steal!!! Well done....

Standalone 

I'll sneak my '85 Raleigh into the thread, too....

cehowardGS

No need to sneak, you are welcome big time!

One point though, you have to be exact in describing the year and model. I am 1985 specific. As in the 1985 Raleigh RacingUSA Series.
Prestige
Competition
Super Course
Grand Prix

All those above models share the same theme. Chrome headsets, chain and frame stays..And all the logos and decals are the same, except the name of each model. What group does your model fit in and what year?

In the meantime, here are the brothers and sister to my Grand Prix..

The Prestige..



The Competition

cehowardGS

Thank you kindly. Hunting for specific bikes can be quite a chore. I had been looking for that specific bike for over a year.. Now, I am hunting for the 1985 Super Course..

uncle uncle

Hey Howard. Nice ride and Robbie did a great job cleaning it up. How did you guys get the chrome back to looking so nice? In the Eebay pictures it looks like the clear coat was all but gone. Why is it that you where in such a quest to find this particular bike? Because you wanted to complete the trifecta? In a flurry of bike buying, I picked this same bike up (along with a Schwinn and Trek of similar ilk) all in the same month. I paid over twice what you paid (but then I didn't have to pay to have it shipped). I road mine as soon as I put some new tubes in the tires, because the previous owner said he has recently had it completely overhauled. I had some issues with the rear shifter maintaining friction (it wanted to ghost shift) and the brake quick release mechs splayed out and became loose (still don't know what to do about this). Anyways, I expect the need to "tweak" things, put I noticed the seat post wasn't greased near enough for me (aka barely), the stem was the same way, and the brake cable was rusty in the middle of a portion covered by the housing. Needless to say, I stopped riding it because I had been duped by the "recently overhauled" spiel. I did ride it enough though to feel it was spry, but not necessarily the spriest frame I have ever rode. Maybe it doesn't quite fit me right. Anyways, I would like to know what made you search this particular bike out.

Giacomo 1 

Thumbs down on the build - you got rid of the wheel reflectors!


Kidding, it looks really hot, especially for 50 bucks!

Wildwood 

My question is about how you like the Competition vs the Prestige/Gran Prix? That is, relative to the head tube lengths. (My question is only valid if the Competition HT is, in fact, shorter by 2cm or more.)

Kyte747

Sweet Coleman! You gotta get those out on the Aviation Velo Saturday morning shop ride, we llllove steel bikes!

marley mission

howard - beauty of a pickup sir - love the stable - which seems to have some more variety than before? or am i wrong?
anyway - my question - what makes you so hot for raleighs in general?
i had an older super course and an 80s technium - loved them both - anyway - just curious

cehowardGS

Hiya Uncle Uncle First off, Robbie did more than just clean it up! Just like when you look at a good painting, the artist will put some of themselves in the painting, that what's makes all art different, good, bad, exceptional, etc. IMO, I don't even have to ride it, I can hang it all the wall like a good painting, and I am super happy.

The reason I was looking for the 1985 Grand Prix specifically is because they only made FOUR of that group for that year. And the looks of the FOUR are exact and the same. Chrome headsets, forks, chain and frame stays. Also, I have the top two, the Prestige and the Competition, and now the Grand Prix. Hunting big time for the Super Course, in blackish color.

A big plus on these bikes, they are not in the high end C&V lime light. I stopped looking for a Raleigh Professional/International, because they are all high price, and I know they are more higher quality bikes than the 85 series I like, but everybody is not after them like the Professional and International. That is why we were able to snatched them up at low prices. No way under the sun a Professional/International in the same shape as that Grand Prix would went for a low price, no way.

On your bike, even though I haven't seen it, it can be brought to the same level as my Grand Prix. That is where the artistic factor comes in. My Grand Prix had basically inexpensive parts put on it. I am really proud of that seat post and that seat. That seat post was a whopping $15 brand new and shipped off Ebay. Seat is about $50 new, but that is a used one, so I will value that at about $35. Wheels were $105 new and shipped off Ebay. Tires, I would say valued at about $60 to $70. Chain about $12. Than add the bartape, some used hoods and levers and there you have it. Oh, on the chrome. Robbie just did a basic clean on it, and I was supposed to put some chrome polish on it, haven't had the chance. There is still some blemishes in the chrome, but they are small, and IMO the overall presence of the bikes doesn't allow one to microscope look at the chrome. Just the awe of the bike..

The other ingredient is "priceless" and that is Robbie Tunes.

Note: post up a pic of your Grand Prix..

cehowardGS

Well, my first modern bike, was the 79 Raleigh Comp GS. That was given to me used by my son around 82 or 83. Ever since then, I have been on to Raleigh. When I got the 85 Raleigh Competition, I fell in love with the looks, the style and the ride. Not only that, like I have mentioned before, everybody and everybody's brother is not looking for them. That makes them available for nice prices.

In my criteria on bikes, one of the main points, it has to be pleasing to my eye. In fact, it has got to knock me down with looks. Not anybody else, just me. The 1985 Raleigh RacingUSA Series do just that..

I am going to snag one of the Techniums too.

cehowardGS

Yup, the wheel reflectors had to go..

I see from your sig, you are into the sweet Italians. One day, one day, I might go there, after I hit the lottery!!!

cehowardGS

Will do, I have been grounded almost for the last 2 weeks with the flu.