Whoops - looks like I forgot to clarify.

I meant the RALEIGH Gran Sport - a.k.a.: the actual bike!

Funny thing - yes, Raleigh converted to Jap components in '77 - but the Gran Sport seems to have vanished from the catelouge that year. I'm putting a guess that Raleigh began fitting the Suntour parts in late '76, after the Simplex parts ran out.

As for the Simplex Prestige, I have a rear from my old Grand Prix (now 3-speeded), and it doesn't impress me much (and I don't know what the hell to do with it). Incedentally, the LBS has a half-dozen NOS front Prestige derailers. Yes, NOS, perfect condition! Anyone want one?

Take care,

-Kurt

Raleigh Record
 

I just bought a 1977 23 1/2" Record on ebay for 21.50. The only thing is I have to pay $65.00 to get it shipped to me. It is a red one and looks in the photos to be in very good original shape but needing tires. It has Weinmann center pull brakes, Normandy hubs, SR 165 cranks, Suntour derailers and shifters, GB stem with alloy handlebars, brooks seat. Still at $86.50 with the shipping how wrong can I go? I am not sure what the tires will run me but if it is as nice as it looks in the pics I will be happy with it. It has got to be nicer then any of the $100.00 bikes at Target, or am I all wet here?

The Record frame was better than most of the comparable Euro-stuff in it's day (unfortunately, Japanese Bikes still lacked initially any cachet, then). The Sprites tended to be Nottingham made (like the three speeds 'Sports'. etc.) Records came in variuos versions- some Nottingham made, others Carlton made, still others Gazelle or Irish made. But all are respectable (though I prefer the Carlton-mades, personally). They did have Raliegh proprietarty headsets but depending on year or source, they might not have Proprietary threading in the bottom brackets- some even had Stronglight Steel cottered cranks.
As for rear derailleurs, I think that the Simplex shifted better than the Huret Alvit, but the Alvit was much more durable and reliable- you could even repack the loose bearings in their pulleys! The Simplex FD was more fragile than the Huret one as well. Back in the day, one immediately changed the RD to Suntour for reliable ,fast shifting. The $8- $12 VG or VGT models were ideal. The crummiest part of the Simplex gear system was , hands down, the plastic downtube (or stem mounted version) shifters. They were finicky and could be snapped in cold weather. These were usually the second item replaced on the bikes! I built a nine speed commuter (Sturmey Archer IH 3sp. w/ Cyclo-Benelux triple cog) using a red Record frame, back in the early eighties. The bike was bullet proof and stable . Sadly, it was stolen in PhHiladelphia.
In short, $10 for a record is a steal!

Its better than a target bike in many ways but it probably weighs a bit more. However it's got way more personality.


Depending on what tires you go with it can range from $12 a tire right on up to way more than anyone would care to pay.

Throw some aluminum wheels on there, a new BB axle and Alloy cranks, you have a pretty decent ride that doesn't attract a lot of attention. Whatever other alloy parts you have extra, that helps.

I did this for my daughter and she leaves it at BART stations overnight without it disappearing, to my considerable surprise. A good - or bad - reputation is hard to beat!

Really cool paint jobs, too.

My wife bought a GP Mixte in '74. It is all original except the front tire and handlebar tape. To turn it into a regular use bike, what would you do?
1. Replace Simplex with Suntour?
2. Use the Simplex till broken then replace?

Right now it performs well for occasional rides.

Oh Yeah Replaced the pads with KoolStops