stella

I am just curious about people's take on the raleigh r600 road bike. Most of the what I've read about on other bike forums is about italian bikes (that are out of my budget) and about trek,specialized....etc. Anybody have long term experience in the past couple fo years w/raleigh?
Thanks!
:cool:

Walter

Is this the Columbus steel frame with the Campy triple set-up? If it is I bought one about 2 years ago when it was a "Univega" instead of a "Raleigh." Derby owns both names and recently retired Univega and specced it's Raleighs with the Columbus and Campy.

Solid bike. I bought it as sort of a re-entry b/c I hadn't been riding alot after a motorcycle accident some years back. A bit heavy but if you're a new rider that's not really an issue. The lower-line Campy stuff works well mine is a mix of Mirage and Veloce. If they're still using the same wheels (Stylus rims) be advised the rim strips are terrible and you'll get flats when the bike is just sitting there, bothering no one. Get your shop to install Velox strips before you leave. Stock seat isn't too hot either

As Univegas these bikes were well received particularly at their pricepoint. You could do much worse. Not long after the purchase I finished my dream retro project (a Basso with Campy S. Record) and have also put together a sort of older Colnago Master so my Univega doesn't get alot of miles but that isn't the bike's fault. Go for it (if it fits).

RonH

I own a 1999 Raleigh R600 triple.
It was my primary road bike until last spring when my wife bought a new bike for me. So last summer I converted the Raleigh to a commuter.
I haven't had any problems with it and enjoy riding it. Mine has an aluminum frame. The top tube and down tube are larger than normal and teardrop shaped. It has all Shimano 105 components and it rides well.
I'd recommend it if you have a chance to pick one up at a good price. Are you looking at a used one, a leftover 2001, or new 2002? It's a great bike!! You get a lot of bang for your buck.
Here are a couple of pictures.

velocipedio

The Univegas that have been rebranded Raleigjs are the Heritage series. They have Campagnolo components and -- except for the top of the line -- Columbus steel frames. If they're priced around the same as the Univegas, they'd still be good buys... better, actually, because the frames are Zona rather than Thron.

The R600 is part of Raleigh's main road bike range. They look like nice enough bikes, with typical features for the price range -- no-name 7005 aluminum frames, for example. RAleigh seems to have economized on the wheels, though. The wheels, including rims and hubs are from some outfit called "Equation." This doesn't mean thry're bad. only that they're not a major player with a great amount of cred. At that price point, moreover, I'd like to see 32-spoke wheels. The 20-spoke rear and 16-spoke front look like unnecessary cosmetic concessions.

If this bike is in the sub-$1,000 (US) range, I'd say it's probably a good buy [assuming it fits]. I certainly wouldn't pay $1,100 for it, though, without some upgrade [better wheels or a carbon fork]. Remember, $1,100 will buy you a bike with the exact same spec [and even better wheels] from any number of companies.

If a raleigh is what you REALLY like, I'd recommend that you look at the Raleigh Internation [one of the Tradition series bikes]. The spec looks excellent [except for the wheels]. This is, in effect, an Italian road bike with an English name. It costs about $400 more, I should think, but it looks like a MUCH better bike.

stella

the Raleigh R600 I have been looking at is a 2001 series leftover for $925, it fits me and it has the 105 components. It has the 7005 aluminum frame that are triangular shape. I have been looking at other bikes but for the money (I am returning to grad school), I have not found this level of components.
The wheelset is shimano 535(?). :confused:
I would upgrade the fork to a easton ec70. I keep going back to what components I can get for the price range (under $1000) for the bike. Changing forks does not have to happen right away, so it is not as much of a $$$$ issue.
I admit, lurking underneath my skin is an italian road bike snob (can I blame that on genetics?). Sooo....long story short-I am struggling w/getting the best deal I can knowing that my money needs to go on a bike that fits and has good components because I will be riding this bike for a long time.
Also, Thank you for posting the pictures of your bike! I am glad to hear from someone that own this model!
The information I am getting and the questions I am being presented with are HUGELY helpful-I feel like you folks will help me make the right choice for me! :cool:

velocipedio

Well... for $925, I'd say you're probably getting a pretty average deal on the R-600. The frame is made in taiwan, and probably in the same factory that makes aluminum frames for Specialized, Giant and Trek. Judging from your description, RonH's pictures and eyeballing the pictures on the Raleigh USA and Trek Web sites, the bike seems to have the exact same geometry and build as the Trek 2200/2300. In fact, considering that I'm almost certain the Treks and Raleighs [and Specialized and Giants and... well, you get the picture], I wouldn't be surprised if the frame was the same as the Trek's.

It sounds weird, I know, but a whole lot of road bikes in the mid-level price range are essentially the same bike with different paint jobs. If you get a chance to see the Raleigh and the Trek side-by-side, see if you can spot the differences.

The wheels seem to be well thought of [click here for some reviews on RBR]. As a rule, I don't like those funny-spoke designs too much and I honestly don't know anyone with that particular set, but I've never heard anything really BAD about them. From what I can tell, they're just Shimano's groovier-looking equivalent to the Mavic CXP-21s that you find on almost every other bike in the price range.

Which brings me to price... If I'm not mistaken, the R-600 actually LISTED for about $925 last year. That means the dealer isn't cutting you any slack on the price, even though it's a previous model-year, surplus inventory bike. This bike is paid-for, and the dealer is probably motivated to sell it, so you likely have room to move on the price. His cost was probably about $650 -- $700 with the labour to build. That means he's still making $225 margin. It's not a lot, but you could probably get him to drop the price to $900 and give you a carbon fork in the bargain.

Just a thought.

stella

Thanks velocipedio! This bike buying journey does seem complicated. The last road bike I brought was in 1988 and is a trek that fit my small framed self!
I will talk w/the LBS about the price...I'm admit to still being confused, I like how the bike rides and fits...I still have a lot to learn about the wheels.
I'm heading out for a road ride on my trusty old trek and will check in later. :cool:

Walter

Velocipedio:

Not long after I posted I remembered that the former Univegas had the old Raleigh names. Good looking bikes but I'd guess a good bit more expensive than the Univegas were as you have both the frame upgrade and the fact that the line begins with Centaur/Daytona as opposed to the Mirage/Veloce mix the Univega line started with. I thought Raleigh had also resurrected the "Super Course" name for it's entry level but I saw only the 3 bikes.

Stella:

My own biases show but if the money is close I'd take Columbus steel and Campy components over aluminum and Shimano in a heartbeat esp. as it's now Zona steel and you're starting at the Centaur (I really preferred calling it Daytona) components.

stella

O.K. before I start w/even MORE questions, I want to thank you gentlemen for all the information. I looked up the rbr on the tires (thanks, velocipedio!) and checked out the raleigh website.
I am trying to find a web site that has the specs of the 2001 model.
Anyway, my question-what is 7005 aluminum? how does it differ from other aluminum frames out there?
Also, The down tube and top tube of the raleigh r600 is oversized and triangular shaped-should I be concerned?
Thanks!
stella :cool:

stella

I brought the raleigh r600, I have been toying w/it for way to long-the lbs put it aside for me while I made my decision (probably because there were no takers in the size range!)
The price was fair and they are exchanging handlebars that are a better fit.
This bike shop spent a lot of time w/me and have been wonderful...they have Felt bikes, GT, and could have talked me into a more expensive bike but kept me focussed on what bike felt most comfortable. Thanks to everyone for your help!
stella :cool:

velocipedio

I'm sure your going to enjoy the bike. It has a good spec and, like I said, I have a suspicion that it's the exact same bike as the Trek 2200.

"7005" refers to the kind of aluminum alloy used to make the frame. Unalloyed aluminum is very brittle, so it doesn't make a very good frame material. "7005" is aluminum alloyed mainly with zinc, while the other kind of aluminum most frequently used in bicycle frames is "6061," which is aluminum alloyed with magnesium and silica. There are other alloys that pop up in cycling from time to time, like "scandium," which is 7000 series aluminum alloyed with scandium and Specialized's M4, which is a 6061 alloy with suspended ceramic.

What are the relative advantages? Well, 6061 is generally easier to work than 7005, so it was more commonly used. 7005 has slightly greater tensile strength, allowing for slightly thinner-walled tubing and slight weight reductions. Excellent bikes have been made out of both 6061 [most Cannondales and the late, great GT road bikes] as well as 7005 [Treks, Specialized, my cyclocross bike]. One alloy is not necessarily better than the other, though 7005 has a moderately greater fatigue resistance.

The non-cylindrical shape of the tubes is just a way of making thinner and lighter tubes of equal strength with the same frame material.

Yep... cycling is all about metallurgy.

Stan

Stella-I have a '99 R600. It is the same pearl white as RonH's. I, like you, looked at alot of other bikes. Mainly, Giant, Lemond, and Connondale. Raleigh has the reputation for giving alot of bang for the buck. The other brands I looked at were $ 200.00 and up more money. I can't say enough good about mine. I still smile when I look at it, all these miles later!! anyhoo, enjoy the new machine(good choice) and Ride long and prosper. Stan

Generic Rider

Just curious, what do you guys think about a Reliegh Technium? I have a chance to pick one up cheap. It has an aluminum frame and is probably 5 to 10 years old. That's about all I know.

thanks - Ken

stella

I have heard some good things about the raleigh model you are talking about...I am going to look up where I read a thread on that very bike. I think it may have been in bicycling magazine's forum....I'll check that out and re-post.
stella :cool:

Walter

Raleigh produced the Technium at several different levels. While they were all bonded frames the quality levels of frame materials and components varied. I'm not positive but I think any Technium would be alot more likely to be 10-15 years old than five. I remember them debuting around 1986-87 or so.

If it has SunTour you'd like to see Cyclone or ideally Superbe on the components. If Shimano the 105 level is a good starting point to buy used, 600 is better. This doesn't mean that bikes without these level components are worthless it just denotes the higher end bikes of their time and, if well maintained, will still ride well today.

SunTour called their index shifting "Accushift" if I recall correctly and Shimano was "SIS" now STI. SunTour is gone but Shimano doesn't supply parts for their older stuff anymore so in either case you're looking at eBay for parts.

If the bike is well maintained, one of the higher line models, is truly cheap and most impotantly fits, go for it; it should be a nice rider.