Technium Skylite
 

Hi! I found this Raleigh Technium Skylite Sport at a thirft store this weekend for $25. According to the serial # (R816870137) it was made in 1987. Any one seen one like it? i've searched the forum & web, but not found a match yet. I also have a couple questions; is the fork original? it doesn't to match. What size seat post did these bikes take. It Also Has a Van Schothorst stainless steel rear rim. Should I replace? Thanks for any info or suggestions!

Definitely not the original fork given the unused cantilever brake posts! I'd check carefully for damage at the top tube and downtube near the head tube. Forks get replaced after head-on collisions.

There also seems to be an issue with the right dropout, the part of the frame the wheel attaches to. It looks like it is spread open, the two sides of the slot should be parallel to each other like a wrench opening and the wheel should be sitting a bit closer to the opening.


I agree that certainly looks like a mountain bike fork for a 26" wheel.

Thanks for the replies. I checked & no sign of any structural damage. But I really don't like that fork. Here are a few more pics.

While that may turn out the be the case, I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that the fork is a replacement based on the unused cantilever bosses. The seat stays have unused cantilever bosses too and contrasting forks were a popular style around this time. The bicycle has obviously been extensively rebuilt.

I think the shifters are on backwards too.

Well, one other guy posted what appears to be a Technium touring bike over on the Show Us Your Techniums thread, but the canti posts on yours look low enough to be right for 26" MTB wheels, and Googling around bears that out, there are a few pics out there.

I guess you already know yours is a complete hodge-podge of parts, both older and newer than the frame they're on. And who knows about the fork? Can't make out the red markings on it. Does it say anything about Raleigh or Technium there?

The mark on the fork say "Direct Drive Cr Mo", no raleigh so I think it's after market or from another Technium.

Its a Specialized fork.

Its a nice color, the frame.

Did you see the Technium thread? http://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...m-technia.html

Thanks for the link. Lots of info there. I found these photos of a Technium Olympian on line. Not sure what year they are but they pretty much match my frame.

Just use Google Image Search. Your bike initially looked like this:

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a64...h/DSC04644.jpg
http://www.bikejournal.com/images/ra...%20skylite.jpg

You can see it's a frame-up parts bin build. If it works, then at $25 it was a fine buy (the stem, bars, and interrupter brake levers are the nicest bits), but I wouldn't start tossing money at it in "upgrades." Find a better bike then sell this one for what you paid or a little more.

Thanks for all the replies, links & photos. It's been modified so much already I really was just curious as to how it was set up originally. My plan is to find a seat post & saddle that fit, ride it, and see how it compares to my Cannondale ST500 since they're both aluminium.

That's correct.