hi565

Well I would consider myself lucky! I recently was out with my sis in the car and I see this black bike on the side of the road, and im like its mine. On the way back went up to the door and the guy said take it for free. I was extremely happy.


Overall the bike looks great. Its a black frame with decals. Im pretty sure it has suntour componets. 5 speed in the back, 2 in the front. The frame is in great shape. Its mostly the componets are the worse part, but still good. The front brake is rubbing against the tire and I am trying to adjust it and I dont know how. Help?

So I tried to google it and I couldnt get any info on this bike. Does anyone know any info about this bike. That would be great.

I am planning on putting the stem on my bianchi that was replased with a smaller one when I got fit, on this bike. I did some rough measurements of the bike compared to my bianchi, considering the bianchi is fit to me.

Here are the pics. (big pics)










Thanks alot everyone!

ravedodger

I just bought one of these about two weeks ago. Mine is much rustier and is painted brown (not rust). It's tooled with Suntour components. I did a bit of research on it and found a little information on Sheldon Brown's site (if I remember correctly). My bike was made in Taiwan, probably in or around 1974.

I don't have a rack on mine, but I do have the original Raleigh saddle that needs refurbished.

I've been watching eBay for replacement original Suntour parts and have found a small number of NOS parts available there.

I loaned my camera to my girlfriend's mother, otherwise I would post pics also.

mswantak

My bike was made in Taiwan, probably in or around 1974.

The only Asian facility Raleigh had in '74 was in Malaysia. If yours is Taiwanese, it's more like an '84.

hi565

At the time was it a good bike? or lower on the chain?

colinm

Stem shifters and stamped dropouts make this a lesser model. Looks like you found your fixed gear frame!

hi565

You know what i was thinking that the whole time!


What would be needed for such a conversion?

ravedodger

Thanks for the correction. Now I can't seem to find where I came up with 1974. I just spent the last 20 minutes on Shelton Brown's site and can't find it anywhere. I have checked other sources out there and it seems you are right.

colinm

Redished / spaced rear wheel, single-stack (BMX) chainring bolts, and a BB lockring and track cog, or a BMX freewheel. I like freewheels.

Mhendricks

I just picked up a Rapide Mixte but no seatpost. Anybody have any idea?

mswantak

Yeah -- put a seatpost in it.

Mhendricks

Smart ass! I meant seatpost size?

Mr_Wrench

I picked up a Raleigh Rapide last week at the thrift store. The frames in great condition, components are in good used condition, and it has a little rust. Sadly, it's missing the rack but otherwise it was a great find for $12.98.

Charles Wahl

If the frame has a 20-30 tubing label on it, good bet is that it's 1" (25.4 mm). But if you're in any doubt, and don't have a caliper, take it to the LBS and they can tell you. The opening is usually just a couple tenths of a millimeter larger than the post size. A greased one should still take some hand effort to get in. I won't make any anal(-)ogies.

raleighrider75

Good score!I found these date codes for suntour and shimano rear derailleurs.The code should be stamped into the backside of the inner parallel arm.Looks like a nice bike.
If you do decide to make into a fixed,leave the braze-ons on in case you want to convert it back.
Without knowing for sure,I'm gonna guess mid to late 70s.
Keep that Raleigh rollin'

RobbieTunes

A little lower on the chain. I've had two Rapide's, one identical to yours that I fixed up and gave away to a needy guy at Christmas, and one I stripped and made a single speed, and it was great. Taiwan frame, a little heavy, but the Suntour components were solid and reliable. I think they make great single speed frames, once you get the decals off.

My memories of By-Tor and the Snow Dog are rusty. Rush?

wrk101

I just sold my brown 79 Rapide today to a guy that wants to turn it into a fixed gear, no problem by me. This pic taken before I flipped the seat clamp around to its proper orientation.

bigbossman 

I picked up a smaller one of these - so small, it has 26" wheels. They're steel, and I don't know if I'll have much luch finding decent road tires for it.

d.j.b.boelus

hi. just came onboard!!!

i am looking at a raleigh rapide to buy that has a sticker on the front, not a badge it says made for raleigh.
can anybody tell me who made it and where and maybe the year. thanks...

MakeMeRide

My gf's step dad passed away 9 years ago, and her mom just passed away the beginning of the year. While clearing out the estate in the back of the shed we discovered this bike in Blue. The tires are totally dry rotted with 27 x 1 1/4 size tires which need replacing. The bike has some rust on it, but the wheels turn freely, and everything works, (but needs slight adjustments and total cleanup). The saddle is white, and i am not sure if it is the origional.

It has a sticker Made In Taiwan and is a 10 Speed.
If anyone has more info from what was already posted it would be appreciated. It appears thus far, that Black, Brown and Blue were the colors, wonder if there are more colors.

Here are some pics.

I plan of cleaning it up and putting it on the road again.

awc380

Single stack chainring bolts?? Did you even look at the crank?

steppinthefunk 

Hey Hi565, I don't have any info for you but I just wanted to say welcome back. Haven't seen you around in a while!

KendallF

Considering this thread dates from 2005, I'm not sure he/she is back.

steppinthefunk 

hahaha... good catch. I feel dumb.

MakeMeRide

I finished the bike and here are some pics.

I repacked all the bearings, high speed polished all the parts, new cables, tubes, tires, handlebar tape, etc...., took everything off the bike, upgraded the pedals on my Specialized, and put the Specialized pedals on this Releigh.

Thought the pic still shows the old white seat, i did get a good Specialized seat in black.

Bike runs great after I tuned it, but I do need to get calipers brakes, coz the ones on it do not stop well at all.

RobbieTunes

Nice job. I ran an identical one to that as a bull-horned single speed, used all the original parts and the buyer loves it, especially the cranks, which cleaned up like new.