So my friend and I have this Raleigh in our bike garage that we are in the process of refurbishing. I'm not really sure what era it is from, though, or what type of steel (presumably some type of Reynolds) it was made from.

If anyone could share a little info about this Raleigh based on these few photographs that would be awesome. Thanks.

I sure am a needy Bikeforum poster.

Maxy crank:

When you get a chance, see if you can find a serial number, It could be on the seat lug, the back of the seat tube, the bottom of the bottom bracket, or one a drop out.

It will probably start with an N, W, or G.

From the pictures, I think you have either a Grand Prix, or Super Course, mid to late 70's vintage. See if they just painted over the decals, if you can detect a shadow through the paint, that will help.


Also, measure the seat post, 25.4 = Grand Prix, 26.0 = Supercourse, bigger = ??

+1 on the serial number ... the fancy lugs and that style of wrapover seatstay put it a little earlier than Wes' range, IMO. The Sugino cranks may be a retrofit; I would suspect that a bike of this vintage at its place in the hierarchy would have had cottered cranks.

A repainted Grand Prix? The Supercourse didn't have those wrapover seatstays (or at least my '74 doesn't, and I've never seen one with that configuration). Looks like it's been resprayed at some point.

+2. The brake cable bridge bridge and presence of Simplex derilleurs suggest a boom era Grand Prix or Super Course. As suggested, the crankset is probably a rpelacement. The serial number should nail the year, Knowing the seat post diamter should nail the model.

I don't believe the Super Course ever had the wrap-around seat stay treatment (or at least I've never seen it), but I do believe the Carlton-built Grand Prix bikes did in the early 70s. It might be in the era during which serial #s were non existent or some odd code on the left-hand rear dropout.

Neal

I'm begining to think I am late on the age estimate. The lugs do look something like the late 60's ish Worksop built G.P. I have, It might well be '68-early 70's.

EDIT: Is the rear triangle chromed??

EDIT: There IS chrome on the rear triangle. Sorry for the lack of photographs. I'll try to get some more.

That's either a Grand Prix, or a Super Grand Prix (a Grand Prix frame with Super Course components).

Need to bump thisa one back up..

The question begs,,,did any Raleigh Grand Prix of this ones era have a chrome rear triangle??

Well, it is a Raleigh - which means anything might have been possible.

Hey OP. Any luck finding a serial number?

Not Carlton-built, but I just sent a Canada-built Grand Prix that's definitely 1977, that has wrap-over seat stays. And lugs that look like those; I think Raleigh called them Bocama(?). Here's exactly what it looks like:

The bike is an hour and a half away from me but I will try to get ahold of my associate in Madison to see if he'd be willing to take a little look-see.

I also have a Raleigh 10 speed I bought at the Madison. swap which I think is about a 1977 Record. Serial number is NK9016 on the bottom bracket. Three piece non cottered cranks. Plain not fancy lugs. I know when I can I will get some pictures. Is the serial number enough to confirm the year. Roger

N= Nottingham, 9, = '79

+100% on the wrap around seat stays fitting a Grand Prix. My 74's seat stays are exactly like the OPs. The 74 GP also has the exact same bridge holding the brake cable, same set up as the OPs and the seat tube lug is identical as well.

I can take a pic if needed.

EDIT: But, the 74 GP does not have chrome on the rear stays.

https://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalog...ialNumbers.jpg


Some Carlton produced frames do not fit the pattern though.

I don't think any Grand Prix's made in the late 60's to late 70's had chrome on the seat and chainstays.

I've read every Raleigh thread in C&V, (Insomnia,now and then, and some OCD) And I've looked at about every e-bay Raleigh in the past year. I've never seen a GP with a chrome rear triangle, but that sure looks like a GP seatcluster.

That's really strange, because you can see the chrome on the rear fork right there in the photograph. I'm not sure what the history of this bicycle is (It was found in tall grass near a bike path and had obviously been left there for weeks or months). I'm also intrigued by the black paint job. I'm not sure whether it is original, or what. Very strange.

Yes, it could be an anomaly, which is why I asked for the serial number and seat post diameter. The first will tell us the year. The second, the tubeset. Based on that we can determine applicable model(s) and suggest the best candidate, even if it is unique in terms of certain features.