alcon19

I noticed that some Raleigh Tourist DL-1's have the lower outside section of their rear fenders painted white (under the rear reflector) and some do not. In restoring a DL-1 how does one know whether the white paint is appropriate? Also, is there a special kind of paint (glow in the dark) used? Thanks

crank_addict

My DL-1 mudguards are all black but came with US D.O.T. reflectors (now removed). Just a guess and perhaps bikes for export to specific countries didn't need the MOT regulatory white tail.

Glow in the dark paint? You mean like my circa 1967 UK made Timex with radiation-paint face and hands? LOL

White reflective tape is available.

southpawboston

I'm no historian but I think that during some time during WWII an exception to the white tail was made for bikes in the UK, and some of the chromed parts were also painted black, part of the blackout movement to reduce visibility to enemy aircraft. So if your DL-1 is from the late 30s/early 40s, it may actually have come from the factory painted all black.

As far as I know, the white tail used regular white paint.

FWIW, I consider the white tail a signature feature of that ilk of bike, and personally I like it.

alcon19

Yes, I like the "white tail" as well. My bike is from the 70s and doesn't have it; the entire bike appears to be 100% original I thought about applying the white paint but, didn't want to possibly hurt the bike's value. Any thoughts on this? I'm in Somerset, MA by the way. Thanks

autoteacher

My 1973 Superb: (I do not live in Bolton)

OOPS!

alcon19

Mass. has bicycle licenses in some of their towns/cities? LOL Good luck with that. The Superbe is a great looking bike.

autoteacher

It's a twin, the Lady's Sport is actually nicer.

auchencrow

More on the British wartime bicycle regulation for a white patch on the rear mudguard.

alcon19

That's great information. The bottom line, as I now see it, is a 70s DL-1 is "correct" either with or without the white tail. ( It was not British law that exported bikes have white tails). What say ye all?

Beljum

Here is my ’74 Tourist before touchup.



My notes have the white stripe length at 9” up the middle from the bottom and 7” up each side from each corner (if that doesn’t make sense, lemme know and I’ll post a sketch).

Here is a link to a recent thread on my DL-1 rebuild...

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...t-rebuild.html

beljum

southpawboston

Here's the tail on my '51 DL1. I'm pretty sure it was redone at some point.

frameteam2003

?White Tail? English Mudguards (aka fenders) | the frugal cyclist

crank_addict

I wonder if the black-out type were also about shortage during the war and the use of chemicals in chrome plating.

Italuminium

In The Netherlands, it's still the law to have a white or yellow tail of a certain length, front and rear lights, and a bell that's clearly audible from 25 meters away. Road bikes and other bikes intended for sports are exempt.

southpawboston

Yeah, but is there a law that says the lights have to *work* or at least be aimed properly? Most photos of Dutch city bikes riding around Amsterdam show some vestigial remains of what might once have been a functional lighting system.

Italuminium

yes, there is. 50 euro fine if you ride without lights, or something like that. Hardly enforced, but if you run afoul of the long arm of the law or run into a spot check (like drunk driving checks, excepts for people on bikes) you have to pay up. Most people have loads of disposable LED's in handbags/backpacks etc.

The government actually made a huge drive in enforcing this rule, since it clearly saves a lot of lives.

It used to be the case that you couldn't wear lights on your bag, coat or even have disposable lights on your bike, but they scratched that in a rare flash of governmental common sense.

Ever since I've got my driver's licence I've been much more fastidious about running lights on my bikes. A few close calls with "ninja's" did the trick..

wahoonc

My 1981 DL-1 has a full black fender. Definitely for import to the US, eventually I may put the "white tail" on it.

Aaron