How far gone is too far?
 

Saved an old Raleigh - Gran Sport "frame" from the dump. It is rusty and rough. Serial # says it is a 1980 Nottingham, October-build. Chain is rusted stiff. Chrome fork ends are rusting thru. Is this worth messing with? Low end Shimano components, MTB handlebars, rear wheel missing.

Pics, please. You don't want someone telling you to toss it out/keep without pics, do you? Nah, of course not :)

DD

Knew that was coming...
 

Frame is still laying in the back of my truck. Lol

OTOH - it might be so-o-o-o-o far gone that it's not even worth taking pictures of.

IMO the OP needs to ask himself how much work it's going to need, and what's the best outcome he can hope for. Then compare and make a decision. Some bikes have enough intrinsic value that they warrant heroic effort. Other's will never be more than off the back nags, and barely warrant any effort or expense.

pic
 

.
...that will buff right out nicely. Lot of work, though.

pic 2
 

pic 3
 

pic 4
 

Worth saving...
 

Wont be a show stopper, but i think there is enuff there to work with.

I agree, it looks far better than the description.

But it'll, never be anything special, so clean it up, fix what you can but put a ceiling on the dough you'll spend.

IMO - this is on the fence, worth fixing if you have used parts to repair it with, but not if you have to buy new stuff. A perfect project for a co-op or recycle a bike type operation.

Divorce Lawyers???
 

Know any...? This C and V stuff is tough on marriages! No appreciation, or respect for classic steel!

I've seen worse. Stock up on bronze wool, rubbing compound or Megiuars Paint cleaner a tub of elbow grease -throw on a rack when your done with the rebuild and you'll have a grocery getter the neighbors will envy.

wife, shmife
 

i am committed to be the voice for those that dont have one! If i was laying in a dump, in the rain, and my chrome fork ends were rusting, i'd want someone to save me too!

MTB bars?
 

Did this really come with those bars? The brake handles look period correct.

No road bike of that era came with those bars, so rest assured they are not original. The stem looks to be original or what would have come on the bike at that time. Your Raleigh will need a lot of love (aka elbow grease), but can come out on the other end road worthy and attractive again. Like the others said, did/do you have an approximate end use for this in mind? That has seemed to always inform my future actions with a bike, especially whether to keep or fix and sell.

It's almost embarrassing to say how many of my projects have started out in that condition or worse. It's hard to diagnose what needs attention on that besides the chain and cleaning up the frame from just the pictures, but an aluminum foil rubdown of the chrome and rubbing compound on the paint, and it will look a LOT better.

Hey, those are nice high-flange hubs! What does it say on them?

Definitely a saveable bike if the interest is there.

I think you mean, "hub" (singular). The rear wheel is missing.


It looks like Normandy or some other low end hub to me.

i think this is a reynolds frame. i would never pitch a reynolds frame. clean it up and make sure somebody gets it who will ride it. many many people have worse bike frames.

Gran Sport model name… Have not seen one in that configuration of bike.


As it has the Raleigh Rampar R on the fork… '78? '79?
Could this one have been from Canada? There were a few Grand Prix that were made there in '79.

Rear derailleur looks very mtb.

Similar one came through in '09: http://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...ran-sport.html

That's my guess too. I think it's hi-ten. OP, Measure the seatpost would you?

I've had a gran sport for that era. It's hi-ten and low end. Still, a good project to get your hands dirty.