Raleigh Gran Sport
 

Hey everyone, I need help with this bike I picked up today at the junk yard, its a Raleigh Gran Sport, all orig but for the "Miche" rear hub, that may not a bad thing. Any info including but not limited to value would be appreciated :thumb: I know its not the find of the century so please be gentle.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...ndsport016.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...ndsport015.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...ndsport014.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...ndsport013.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...ndsport012.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...ndsport011.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...ndsport010.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...ndsport009.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...ndsport008.jpg

more pics...

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...ndsport007.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...ndsport006.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...ndsport005.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...ndsport004.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...ndsport003.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...ndsport002.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...ndsport001.jpg

Can you describe the decals on the frame? There is such a thing as a '76 R GS, but I don't think this is one of the '76 bikes.

http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalog..._GranSport.jpg

BTW, I see you've mastered the 'close up'. I remember the Maserati thread.

S

76 had downtube shifters and this one has stem shifters.

Actually Im not a better photographer :o just got a better camera :lol: The Maserati! Ah yes! The Maserati! That bike was converted into a the SWEETEST little fixed gear youve ever seen and given to a good family friend who still owns and sports it. :thumb: Here are a few decal pics. I know its not the one you think it is as its got....High Tensile Steel frame!! :twitchy: (and its made in Japan)

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16.../decals005.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16.../decals004.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16.../decals003.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16.../decals002.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16.../decals001.jpg

Looks like this blue one which was a 1980.

http://www.salt2salt.com/waitzpix/albums/peugeot/r2.JPGhttp://www.salt2salt.com/waitzpix/albums/peugeot/r8.JPG

http://www.bikeforums.net/showpost.p...76&postcount=1

Gran Sports were originally made with excellent materials - in early 70's at least they were Reynolds 531 machines. I'd love to have a 1970 531 model. But usually stem shifters = budget low end. And yours is also made in Japan, so it is not as desirable nor as high a quality as the original Raleighs from UK. I don't think this one is of much value - probably what you paid for it :) If it takes a lot of money to fix it up you'd never get the money out of it. So it may be good to fix up and ride but with no real resale value.

Check out http://www.sheldonbrown.com/retroraleighs/

If you don't intend to keep it as a utilitarian bike, then as markwebb said, I wouldn't put much money into it. If you're going to flip it, then the stem shifters and the turkey wings are not a real impediment. Are the rims alloy? Are they painted gray, or just really dirty? The Miche hub isn't bad, and I believe the derailers are Raleigh-branded Suntours -- so that much is good.

The downtube decals look like the very late 70's and early 80's. I agree that it is lower on the scale, but I think it has some great qualities. Aside from being very dirty, the paint looks good with minimal rust or scratches. It has decent suntour components, probably alloy wheels (maybe even 700c?). The frame size looks desirable, maybe 56-58 cm. It looks like all of the parts are present and can be made as good as new. The hi-ten frame is a bit of a bummer. All of the threading is probably standard and not the Raleigh 26 tpi.

All in all I think you could do an affordable clean and lube. You could make it look pretty nice and use it as a really nice utility bike, or you may be able to flip it since it is such a well known brand. I would think you could get around as much as some of the lower Schwinns get.

BTW, did you really get kicked off of the Schwinn forums?

-Matt

Around '80-'81 some Raleighs were made in Japan. I've had a few myself including a Professional, a Competition GS, and a Supercourse. In the case of the Comp GS and Professional, the bikes were of high quality and displayed better craftsmanship than the British product. The lower priced Supercourse was of poorer quality and was not worth keeping.

markwebb, I paid $15.00, so I think it may be worth just a tad bit more than that! :lol:
Charles Wahl, The rims are alloy, and the derailers are Raleigh-branded Suntours :thumb:
mkeller234, alloy 27 1 1/8 (no longer dirty) Yes, I did get kicked off of the Schwinn site :)
it needs nothing but bar tape, thats it :)
Thanks to all for the replies/info :thumb:

I know they did that with a number of people. Really pretty silly as it makes those forums much less generally appealing for bike folks who like Schwinn machines, but god forbid are not married to just that brand.

Oh well, I guess it is there ball and they decide who gets to play.

That IS weird, I haven't really met much hostility in the Schwinn forums, then again almost all of my posts were Schwinn related, but still. Is that why you were booted, for spreading anti-schwinn propaganda?

Back to the topic, you got more than your 15.00 worth, pizza can cost more than that. I like the campy clone pedals, I bought the MKS sylvan pedals and just the pedals were more than your bike. I buy almost anything at that price point (exception being walmart bikes, huffys, free spirit.)

Back of topic.... the what happened to your Dallas Cowboys??? I have it worse, I am a die hard Browns fan:twitchy:

In the early 80's Raleigh upgraded the Super Course and Grand Prix to be legitimate entry level racing machines. They needed something to fill the niche that the Grand Prix had previously occupied. They selected Gran Sport for the role. You definitely did well for $15.00, but unless you're in NYC of SF, it would be hard to get more than $100.00 for it after you clean it up.

p.s. - what kind of doggy is that hiding behind the wheel?

He's Max, my wifes Shih-Poo. He's a Shih tzu/Poodle, (thats LPS Lingo for "mixed dog" :lol: ) I figured I could get around $100.00 for the bike, but you never know if you can get more till ya try! :thumb:
sonatageek, yeah, but the thing is I feel pretty good as I really havnt missed the site, I dont like walking around on egg shells. :D
mkeller234, Not MY Dallas Cowboys :lol: My wife is into football BIG TIME! Not I :)

Thought I saw a resemblance to our two shih-tzus. :)

Yeah, he looks mostly shih-tzu but has the mannerisms of a poodle, which kinda creeps me out :twitchy:

Just think of it as craigs list wiggle room. I have only sold 1 bike at the price I listed it so it's nice to have a cushion.

Yeah I guess your right, don't think I've ever really sold a bike at the listed price either, guess Im a sucker for a sad story :lol: ;)

Try not to sweat it, holiday76 seems to be a good guy. Sorry to add my 2 cents.

No worries dude :thumb: Ive been avoiding BS in my life and its been working out really well! :thumb: I just have to learn to dismiss it on the interweb too :) Im sure it will be just as easy. :)

It probably will. My brother just sold a early 70's Gran Prix on Philly CL for $80. He found it in a bush along the highway. It had no chain and the rear deraileur was missing.

I think you're right. Some stuff on CL is priced pretty crazily recently.

Anyway, being the nice guy that I am (:lol:) I deleted my posts that made the OP unhappy. Sorry to throw the thread OT. I'm done postin in this one.

Thank you for deleting the C-List post. Feel free to reply with what ever you feel falls into the forum guidelines :)

I always do.

Good luck with the internet arguments. Look me up if you ever need me, you know where I am.

Later

-Brian