jjames1452 

Sorry for the lack of pictures.
I'm going to look at a bike tomorrow.

It is a Raleigh Team USA bike, from the mid-80's, I believe.

Wondering the range of values in decent shape.

I know virtually nothing about Raleigh. It is the 555SL tubing.

Thank you, and again, sorry for the lack of pics.

KonAaron Snake 

I - think - some of these came with a fair bit of Suntour Superbe...or even Suprbe Pro. The frames are mid-range Asian sourced...nothing special...but there could be some value in the parts on the bike. I can't throw out a number without seeing some photos, but maybe 300ish in good shape, and a touch more if it has the "right" parts on it.

These are often part out bike targets.

Bianchigirll 

Weren't there two models of these? Sort of like the Cannondale Black Lightening? A real nice on and the year or so later a not so nice one?

jon.612

I think near the end of the Raleigh run at Nottingham, there were a lot of versions of bikes and frames coming off the line. I had a 1985 Raleigh USA frame that no one appreciated. I think it was after Huffy purchased the rights to the Raleigh name in the US. The paint was shot, the fork replaced, but the frame was Reynolds 531 and the serial number began with a W indicating the Worksop Carlton factory. It was an awesome ride and people thought it was a piece of junk. I had it fit out with Shimano 600 Arabesque parts. The frame was always a bit short and I did a frame transplant to a Competition GS and sold the frame for $40. I think what you've got is a great riding bike that no one understands.

jjames1452 

Thanks much. THAT Helps.

zukahn1 

Some pics and details on components would help a lot Team USA's came in various levels a 555sl frame would indicate it is a higher level bike.

jjames1452 

The frame was cool, and in great shape. No bent fork. It was red and blue, with little stars on the fork. It looked a bit of a frankenbike, though, with no name wheels, and low grade Shimano derailleur. I offered the gentleman $80 for the frame, Raleigh crank, bottom bracket and seat post. No word yet. I suspect he will sell it all together. Thanks for the info. The bike was listed on the Dayton CL if any want to view it. Very nice seller. He had a Trek 620 in the bike stand, so he's my kind of person.

jamesdak 

I had two of these I bought as a set years ago. At the time I was pretty new to vintage steel and other than the looks they didn't impress me too much. I cleaned them up, fixed them up, and sold them. Been wanting another every since because of the patriotic look.

Some detailed shots at this site if you want to compare the one you're looking at to the stock setup. If I remember correctly mine where original.

team_usa Photo Gallery by J Huddle at pbase.com

And one pic to help out the thread.

cb400bill

Not sure what you expected for $135, but that looks pretty nice.

https://dayton.craigslist.org/bik/d/...262719788.html

jjames1452 

The bike was sweet, and I told him that. I just have too many derailleur sets, too many wheels, etc. I know me. I can't throw things away. So I made an offer without the parts I did not want. Besides, I can buy a frame and technically not buy another bike, in my wife's eye...........that is important.

jon c. 

There were a lot of versions of "Team USA" bikes and the 555s aren't the better models, but this one appears to be in good condition and would seem to be well worth the asking price.

Bianchigirll 

I am not sure but I think this is how it came equipped so it isn't really a frankenbike. Before say '89/'90ish lots of bikes came with mixed component groups and even manufacturers. There were I believe only 3 complete groups from shipmano, D.A. 600 and 105 and then the components from the Z series. With manufacturers having 6,7 or more road bike in the line up they had to do something so it was mixem up!

In the late '80s after shipmano perfected index shifting they started playing hard ball and forced manufacturers to us all their componets on a bike or use none at all. That is where SLR brakes and STI shifters come from. Shipmano lightened up the return spring in the brakes calipers and then added a spring to the lever to return it and the cable to resting position, SLR. So if you bought shimano brakes and tried to use a cheaper lever the brakes didn't feel so good. The next volley was to integrate the brake lever and shifter either by mounting system, like Rapid Fire on MTBs or Brifters on a road bike. Thats when you started seeing complete shimano groups of drive trains and braking systems on bikes down into the mid $300s

Frankly I think the $135 wasn't a bad price for the bike, it looked clean and the tires looked new. If your looking for a rider I think it is OK but.

Shrevvy 

If it wasn't four hours from me, I would buy it just so I could ride it on the 4th of July every year. It is a cool looking bike.

jjames1452 

I would be happy to buy it for you and meet you 1/2 way. No BS. I love to see classic steel bikes in use.

mnmkpedals 

That's a really good and fair price for that. If it were close to me, I'd buy it for sure (my size, too!), and I've already got several Raleigh USA made bikes from that era! There are lots of good threads in the regular CV section on here about both Raleigh USA and about the various versions of the Team bikes that existed around that time. Folks are correct that this isnt the higher end ones which came only as frames. There was a 531 team model and then a SBDU made Reynolds 753 version (which I actually just scored locally!).

Still, this looks like a super cool and clean example of the standard "team" labeled frame.

T-Mar

The Raleigh Team USA name and livery belies its upper entry level, sports touring nature. Only the main tubes are CrMo butted 555SL. The stays and forks are hi-tensile steel. The rims, while aluminum, are 27", not 700C, laced to Suzue hubs. Derailleurs are lower level Shimano Z-series. Brakes are the ubiquitous Dia-Compe 500. The relatively long chainstays, shallow and parallel angles and presence of dropout eyelets are typical of sports touring bicycles. They appear to have been designed to appeal to the mass market consumer in the aftermath of the 1984 LA Olympic games. It's pretty hard for me to get excited over these bicycles, when they are priced over $100.

KonAaron Snake 

Wasn't there a Raleigh in this paint that came with some Suntour Superbe?

Would like to see photos of the 753 to compare with mine...what are the tubing diameters? SP size?

zukahn1 

I believe the 753 competition model was offered with Superbe for a year or so around this time.

T-Mar

Yes, the Prestige was offered with Superbe Pro and a similar livery, though I believe it used the "Racing USA" top tube decal which was standard on the sports/competition models. My comments are for the pictured Team USA model, which was an upper entry level, sports touring model.

mnmkpedals 

Pardon the super quick and less than good picture.... But here's my new-to-me 753 team Raleigh USA. This is as-bought condition. Has modernish 105 group on it. Not sure what I will do with it but having seen it sit for sale locally for what seemed a fair price, I couldn't pass it up. Never imagined I'd come across one in my size.

Seat post is 27.2

And apologies.... Not trying to hijack the thread, but a pic was requested and been meaning to take one anyway!

mnmkpedals 

I thought the only Raleigh USA frames that were 753 were these SBDU-made frameset only ones?

jjames1452 

BianchigirlII and T-Mar appear to be correct. The lower series Shimano derailleurs the Suzue hubs were exactly what I saw. (Although the gentleman did say he replaced the wheels.) I would buy the frame, however and build with Supurbe or 600/Ultegra w/Open Pro wheels if I get the chance. It should be a great ride. (I know nothing about Raleigh, I worked in a Schwinn shop in the 80's) But the frame at least appears to be on parts with a Schwinn Prelude. I enjoy the heck out of riding my Prelude.

Drillium Dude 

Interesting that the two bikes in posts 8 and 9 both have some sort of a Flikstand mounted. Also interesting is the Flikstands don't appear to mount with a cuff wrapping 'round the down tube in the normal manner.

Were those standard equipment? I mean, those two bikes look almost identically outfitted, right down to the saddles and black anodized stems.

DD

T-Mar

Yes, the Flikstand was standard on many of the Raleigh during the mid-1980s. IIRC, it mounted via a brazed-on boss and there was even a version with built in cable stops for stem shifters.

KonAaron Snake 

Very different from mine...but to be expected.

I THINK there was also a 753 glue job technium. Not sure if those were SBDU or not.

Thanks T-mar...I've always though of racing usa as the livery rather than the model.