cudak888 

Same frame, same strikeout 3D badge, same Suntour dropouts.

These are the facts:

#1: Both the "Prestige" as we know it and the "International" and "Competition" models were special-order models.

#2: The so-called "Prestige" and the "International" are one in the same - the frames are identical. This is not a problem of "which frame is it," but a problem of "which name is it?"

The questions now are:

- Is it an '83 Prestige...or an '83 "Raleigh USA International?"

- Is the "Prestige" name, as given on Retro Raleighs, just another tidbit of incorrect information (in typical Retro Raleighs fashion)?

- Or is it, in fact, a one-year model under the Prestige name, produced in two frame geometries? And if so, are the "International" and "Competition" monikers for these bikes absolutely and completely irrelevant; nothing but a load of nonsense dreamed up by Michael's Cyclery in an effort to refer potential buyers of the recently deleted International and Competition models to the reasonably equivalent Prestige models? (My own belief as to the actuality of what happened).

- If these were carryovers of the International and Competition models, why no lettering? Obviously, Raleigh was able to send over 531 tubing and the original downtube decals (yes - those are Nottingham production decals - compare the texture and flaking of them to the Made In Japan sticker) to Japan - what would prevent them from sending their overstock of International, and particularly, Competition (as the Comp G.S. was still in production in '82) decals on over with the downtube decals? Now, if this bike was called the Prestige, I can see where the production of decals might have been rushed, ultimately negating the top tube decals due to production constraints.

-Kurt