My girlfriend spotted a bike in the recycling dumpster this morning and I immediately put on some pants to check it out. I'm not sure who's throwing entire bikes into a recycling dumpster but after seeing that it was missing a wheel I had a chuckle thinking it was out of rage for getting a wheel stolen. The person, not knowing much about bikes, figured that was the end and they'd have to buy a whole new bike.

I yanked it out and discovered a Raleigh STICKER on the headset. It also had Raleigh down the down tube. I was looking to get an old Raleigh to fix up last year, this could be a win.

I've been trying to figure out what it is all morning and I'm hoping you can help. Here are the clues:

-black road bike with cheater brake levers
-10 speed with shifters on the Stem
-Raleigh logo sticker on the headset
-Raleigh written on the downtube with 70s or 80s looking lines around it
-cotter less crank
-sun tour deraileurs
-serial starts with RA3XXXXX and is on the bottom bracket
-TI-Raleigh high tensile steel tubing 20-30
-gold bar sticker around the seat tube, and I think there was another one further down

I've checked the resources online (Sheldon and Kirk mainly). The serial implicates a 1973 model but the parts and look of the bike look like a Raleigh record from the early 80s

Took some pics:







And an upside-down one for fun... and also because i forgot to rotate it

A picture is worth a thousand words.

I haven't seen that model before. Maybe made in Canada? Whatever it is, it must have been at the very bottom of the product line.

Put it back in the dumpster and take your pants back off.

Looks like the men's equivalent of a Capri, given the Honor RD and other Japanese components.

That bad eh?

The Serial number indicates it was built in Canada. I assume it's bottom of the barrel but does anyone have any real answers?

I'm thinking I could turn it into a cheapo project bike.

Yes, that bad. Made in Taiwan before Taiwan was making good bikes.

I might be tempted to take the front brake off then follow Noglider's advice...well as long as your dressed may as well head out to brunch.

Raleigh Serial Numbers & Charts

It's got an RA3XXXXX serial number on it. According to this site it's manufactured in canada.

Sadly, I think this bike was made in Canada. The bilingual tubing sticker gives it away. And I would apologize to the cycling world on behalf of my countrymen and women, but the bike isn't that bad - just very cheap. I was thinking it is a Raleigh Record or similar, and would probably make a reasonable city bike if the wheel is replaced and it is tuned up. NOt worth anything, though. If you already have a working bike then throw that one back in the dumpster.

It might be made in Canada and it might not. That site has errors. Whichever country, my advice stands. I've made the mistake of pulling cheaply made bikes out of dumps to get them running again. The cost and frustration and time are mistakes I hope you won't repeat. Basically there are no good components on that bike except for maybe one brake caliper. The frame is crappy, too. The wheel is crappy. There is nothing to build upon and improve.

If you prove me wrong, I will concede.

There are better bikes for free. Some of them even work.

I don't plan on selling it, just thought it could be something to rebuild and turn into something for fun.

Almost definitely is. Raleigh Canada made bikes from mediocre down to incredibly cheap. They were all generally robust, and major problems like frame failure were exceedingly rare, but they are cheap. Up until the early '00s, they were still selling Canadian made bikes that could compete on price with Asian made bikes. A lot of the bikes sold in Canadian Walmarts (esp. 'Triumph' bikes) were Canadian made Raleighs.

Thanks for the info, Wilfred. You've been quite helpful. (btw, do you live in the KW region?)

Eastern Ontario.

Ah, thought you'd be near Wilfred Laurier University

It looks a bit like a Grand Prix, but they had a more conventional rear brake bridge.

Yes, it looks like a Pletscher brake bridge. I have an early 1980s Raleigh Sports with a similar bridge. As far as this particular dumpster bike, if it were my size, I would definitely try to find a front wheel and clean it up a bit. It looks like a nice bike to me.

Definitely made in Canada and most likely 1983. Solid old bikes that non collectors in Canada like to own because the "Raleigh" named bikes were sold in bike shops. I recently refurbished and sold an Raleigh "Challenger" 1985 for $150 and the new owner likes it a lot. He says its lighter and faster than his old mountain bike. At the new owners request, I changed out the drop bars.

That looks great! You've inspired me.

Sometimes there's days when people encourage what may be considered an unwise project. Other times they are a little more honest about it. Most times, people are forgiving about a cheap or bad bike that the person may somehow be attached to.

The plus side for this is that hi-ten bikes can be decent city bikes. They'll have a nice ride to them-

The minus side, it's going to be heavy. In this case, the Suntour stuff will shift nicely, other cheap drivetrains would probably not.

The comments do seem especially harsh today.

It can be made to run. As a project to gain experience, it will be of some merit. As a bike to increase one's interest and appreciation of C&V bicycles, I think looking for a more intact better starting point, one where you had to purchase would be a better choice.

Was the early 70's UO8 I picked up for $10.00 worth it?