Is this a Raleigh Professional?
10-29-07 | 12:23 PM
#1
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SNARKY MEMBER
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From: South Austin
Is this a Raleigh Professional?
I am having problems verifying that this bike I am looking at buying is actually a 70's Raleigh Professional as advertised. The pictures aren't to good, but you can see the serial number doesn't appear to be in a Raleigh format. The seat cluster appears similar to the 1977 version, however it comes with Campy Record 5 speed components. It should be 6 speed if it was made after Raleigh went to that seat cluster. Can anyone shed any light on this?
10-29-07 | 12:29 PM
#2
Seņor Member
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From: Hardy, VA
Bikes: Mostly English - predominantly Raleighs
I don't think so. The serial number doesn't seem to be Raleigh. The seat stays are about right for a 1969/1970 Raleigh Professional, but the color of the frame and the chromed lugs are evidence against that possibility.
Can you post a head-on of the head tube? Closer shots of some of the lugs?
Can you post a head-on of the head tube? Closer shots of some of the lugs?
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10-29-07 | 12:34 PM
#4
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From: South Austin
I have asked the seller in California for better pictures and clarification of the serial number problem. I am also concerned that the headtube doesn't look right, but I am by no means an expert.
10-29-07 | 12:43 PM
#5
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From: Hardy, VA
Bikes: Mostly English - predominantly Raleighs
I have a 1970 that I spent many hours handling as I sanded it down to bare metal (Dr. Deltron has it now). I see similarities, but also differences. Can you ask the seller if there are any other markings on the bottom bracket? If it's a Raleigh Professional (or possibly one of the other models), it will have three letters on another part of the shell.
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10-29-07 | 12:57 PM
#8
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CardiacKid it seems that we like the same bikes. I bid on the Hetchins that you won. This is not a Raleigh. I'm not saying that to deceive you as I considered placing a bid. This bike failed to sell earlier at about $520. I emailed the seller yesterday asking to confirm the serial no. but have yet to hear back. He also failed to respond to my questions on another auction. Yet he maintains a 100% positive feedback! Go figure. I believe that it's an Italvega also. Save your hard earned money for the real deal!
10-29-07 | 01:00 PM
#9
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From: South Austin
CardiacKid it seems that we like the same bikes. I bid on the Hetchins that you won. This is not a Raleigh. I'm not saying that to deceive you as I considered placing a bid. This bike failed to sell earlier at about $520. I emailed the seller yesterday asking to confirm the serial no. but have yet to hear back. He also failed to respond to my questions on another auction. Yet he maintains a 100% positive feedback! Go figure. I believe that it's an Italvega also. Save your hard earned money for the real deal!
10-29-07 | 01:28 PM
#11
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From: South Austin
It does look exactly like the Italvega on Classic Rendezvous. It is a pretty nice bike with good components, if that is what I was in the market for.
10-29-07 | 09:45 PM
#13
feros ferio
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 22,417
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From: www.ci.encinitas.ca.us
Bikes: 1959 Capo Modell Campagnolo; 1960 Capo Sieger (2); 1962 Carlton Franco Suisse; 1970 Peugeot UO-8; 1982 Bianchi Campione d'Italia; 1988 Schwinn Project KOM-10;
It looks like an Italvega to me, as well. Let us know what the seller tells you regarding bottom bracket cup diameter.
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
10-30-07 | 08:44 AM
#16
This is just my opinion but I've owned a mid 70's Pro and a early 70's top model Italvega. I never liked the way the Raleigh handled. It did not feel balanced fore/aft to me and I did not like the clunky way it "turned in" to corners. The Vega on the other hand had a sweet well balanced ride like a proper Italian race bike. Both were about 21"/54cm frames and fit me well.
The bikes have what I would consider equal build quality, equal quality tubesets, and the same Campy NR group. So between the two I vote Vega.
The bikes have what I would consider equal build quality, equal quality tubesets, and the same Campy NR group. So between the two I vote Vega.
10-30-07 | 03:20 PM
#18
FalconLvr
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,442
Likes: 198
From: SW Virginia
Bikes: 62 Falcon, 58 Raleigh Lenton Gran Prix, 74 Raleigh Pro, 75 Raleigh Int, 75 Raleigh Comp, 76 Colnago Super, 75 Crescent, 80 Peugeot PX10, plus others too numerous to mention!
I sent him an ebay message giving him the opinion that it is not a Raleigh yesterday. So far no response and no change to the ebay listing.
