Mr. Pedal

There are two Raleigh Techniums available in my area, one is a Pre that is black with white lettering and small red stripes, the other is a Tri-Lite that is red white and black. From what I gathered on the net they sound interesting, aluminum and steel frames. I was wondering if they are nice bikes and which is higher up on the line up? I haven't been able to locate a lineup for the Technium line, or a lineup for Raleigh in general for that time period.

T-Mar

There were actually five Technium Tri-Lite models: the Tinley, Prestige, Pro 105, Comp and Pre.

Mr. Pedal

Mr. Pedal

Is that in order? So all the technium road bikes are tri-lites?

T-Mar

It depends on the year. The black and red bicycle appears to be a 1987-1988 Tri-Lite Pre. The black bicycle with the thin red stripes appears to be a 1989 Pre. I believe they had dropped the Tri-Lite designation by then. It was definitely gone by 1990 when they reverted to more tragityional Raleigh model names. When the Technium road models first appeared in 1986 they used 4xx model numbers.

Mr. Pedal

Where did the Technium Pre rank in the Raleigh line?

OldsCOOL

I have an '89 PRE (black with silver lettering and raspberry stripes). I love it. Very responsive, light, and amazingly comfortable with the Tange steel stays and forks. The Suntour Accushift has never let me down. It's my main ride this summer.

OldsCOOL

One step down from the Pro bike??

Mr. Pedal

Now that I look at it it does have silver letters. I guess it is the same bike as you have.

RobbieTunes

A Pro came up on CL in Asheville NC, and I emailed a friend's son within minutes of the ad appearing. He went over there about an hour after the listing came up and he was the 3rd guy to show. 1st guy stole it for $250. Doubt if the seller could have sold it any faster.

I had a 440 and liked it fine. I assumed the Pro would be a really good bike; obviously 2 others did, as well....

OldsCOOL

There is another big PRE rider here, hope he pops in. He told me that the PRE and PRO share the same frame. I cant prove that as there isnt a lot of easily obtained info on these bikes. I havent found any rider/owners that didnt enjoy the PRE. I paid 100.00 for mine last year, it was pristine except for tires/tape/cables and only had a few small nicks in the paint. I swapped parts on mine that give it a black-out theme.

OldsCOOL

Here is my ride:

T-Mar

Raleigh's strategy with the Technium frames appears to have changed over the years. In 1986, all three 4xx raod bicycles appeared to share identical frames (both geometry and material), differing only in the component mix. Later models shared the same geometry but not materials. By 1991 frames were differing in both geometry and material.

It's quite possible that a 1989 Pre and Pro105 had the exact same frame, given that they were adjacent in the hierarchy. Based on a couple 1989 specs that I have, it's appears that all the 1989 Technium models shared the same geometry but there were definite material differences between some models. Still, it's unlikely that Raleigh used completely different materials for every Technium model.

A 1989 Pre would be a lower mid-range model, however there were several Raleigh models below it, including another Technium. My reservation with the Pre is the Accushift. It did does not perform as well as Shimano SIS. Also, since it is obselete and incompatible with SIS, replacement parts are becoming increasingly harder and more expensive to obtain.

GeorgeWerr

I have a Raleigh tri-light with the tri color Teel/gray/Yellow. I've been told it's a Scott Tinley but does not say Scott Tinley on it anywhere. does the color identify this as a tinley or where there other tri - lights with these colors. I also have a Technium M/B but my kid has it at his now.

TampaRaleigh

IIRC... the Scott Tinley only came in the gray/red/yellow color scheme.

TampaRaleigh

I'm guessing this is yours? Same frame, different paint.

OldsCOOL

On the PRE the rear brake enters the TT on the left side. At some point they thought a change was needed.

GordoTrek

my brother just scored a raliegh technium pro, all 105 for 150,

the ad said that the guy really needed to sell the bike, it was up for weeks at 175, then in the course of 3 days it went 150-125-100, then on the 4th day it shot back up to 175 sayin that he didn't need to sell it anymore..
my bro talked him down to 150.. .a steal in my mind

i offered the guy 125 for it when he had it listed for 175, and he declined.... weird.. .the bike is in ok shape, the steal stays are rusted in spots and it looks like it was painted over

rides great and very quick, my bro was super excited to bring it home, he had me fix it up too, new cables, long cage 105 derailluer, new chain, new hyperglide cassette with 34t big ring... he wants to do some riding with his baby bro now... my disease has spread

Mr. Pedal

Very nice ride!!! I am very interested in that bike now after hearing how satisfied you are with your bike.

Mr. Pedal

Thanks for the information. How easy/hard would it be for me to just change it to Shimano?

OldsCOOL

Hey, thanx!

As recomended above, the Shimano swap would be a lot nicer though for the time being the accushift will do a decent job. To swap you would have to find a compatible freewheel and I would suggest a shimano 600 RD or better. The 600 did excellent duty on C-Dales for years of quick, smooth shifting.

GeorgeWerr

Thanks Tampa,

Yes that is it, What model whould you call this bike. changing the drive train to Shimano is a good idea, I have a new rear wheel and have shimano free wheel now and only can shift with friction shifters now, ive lost idexting

RaleighSport

Those are some pretty sweet Techniums guys... however here's an ugly ass non road bike one that could pass for a boat anchor.

OldsCOOL

Not bad at all....great for trails, gravel and urban alleys. I like it!

jethin

I don't know who Scott Tinley is but that paint job is schweet. Top tube looks long to me.