Elddir_Mot

Hey all, I was wondering if there's a specific year where the quality of builds starts dropping?

I'm looking at two Raleigh Sports, one '71 and one '67 (identified from decals - thanks to The Headbadge page on Raleigh Sports DL-22: Visual ID/Decal Identification, I'd link if I could! ) and was wondering if, all else being equal, the '67 would be a better bike. Neither seller has the serial number listed so I don't know which location the bikes came out of.

Thanks in advance, I'm very much a novice who happened to fall down the Raleigh rabbit hole

Elddir_Mot

Also, I was thinking of posting the info/ pics (once I hit 10 posts) to get people's opinions on which is the better option; would something like that go in the Classic and Vintage Bicycles: Whats it Worth? Appraisals ?

nlerner

I don’t think you’ll see much difference between those model years. More distinct differences are a decade or more apart, e.g., some say the quality of chrome really fell off after the 1950s.

cudak888 

Any chance someone might have one of these early, serrated Sturmey-Archer washers that they can spare?




-Kurt

1989Pre 

Hello and welcome to 3-speed land! I am no expert, but the way I understand it is that Raleigh never did lower their design or production standards. Depending on condition, either of these two bikes would be just as good, and give a comparable ride. Myself, I usually go for the older bikes if I can, but that is just my taste. Yours may differ. In regard to your second question, I would post photos here, at this sub-forum, rather than at Appraisals, because you may be looking for specific information to get the bike on the road and optimize its function. These are great bikes. Where will you be riding?

thumpism

Twenty for ninety in NY. I'd buy it.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...57641332712588

SirMike1983 

Looking for the complete headset (crown race, both frame cups, and the wide top race nut - don't need bearing balls or lamp bracket or lock nut) for a post-war Raleigh Sports/Superbe/Lenton. I rebuilt a 1953 Lenton hoping there was enough life left in the headset, but am finding the steering wants to lock straight-on. I figure I should just replace the whole headset at this point rather than fool around. Let me know if you want to sell or trade for other parts I might have. Thanks.

Elddir_Mot

Thanks 1989Pre & nlerner ! Pre, I’ll mostly be riding on local streets for short errands (I’m in Watertown, about 20 min outside Boston) and casual rides by the river with my 5yrold who just got her first bike! The classic puttering about town basically.

Here are the two bikes I’m debating between:

Option 1:

$50, 1968 (from what I can tell by the decals/hub)
Frame looks to be in good condition (though pic quality is iffy so who knows). The description is literally just “Raleigh 3 speed bike”. That’s it. Seller doesn’t have much info other than it was his aunt’s old bike and she kept it clean. He doesn’t know frame size, but either the 21” or 19.5” would work for me (5’5” with a 30” inseam). Seat looks like it’s not original, maybe?



I wish I could post pics, but maybe this is enough info for someone with pic privileges to find it: It’s on FB marketplace, under:

Antique Raleigh 3 speed bike

$50 / Category: Hobbies / Listed 6 weeks ago in Mattapoisett, MA

If you go to Facebook dot com and add /marketplace/item/248278167554540/ the listing should come up.







Option 2:

Craigslist, $150, 1971. Way more description:

For sale: A Raleigh Step-Through bicycle manufactured in England in January 1971 complete with the leather Brooks seat upgrade. Fully reconditioned and ready for a summer of riding fun. Bike has been thoroughly cleaned and serviced. It has new tubes, tires, brake pads and period correct air pump. The three speed hub is working well and the bike is ready for your next adventure.



Listed in Boston Craigslist under

Vintage 1971 Raleigh Sports Step Through 3 Speed bicycle - $150(Cumberland)



Obviously 3x the price of the 1968 but it’s ready to ride, and between the new tubes/tires/brake pads probably come close to making up the $100 difference.





…so yeah, I’m pretty torn. They’re both bronze green too, so I can’t even be shallow and decide solely on paint color lol. If it were up to y’all, what option would you go with?

JohnDThompson 

Is this for a 26tpi steer tube?

SirMike1983 

Yes - 26tpi Raleigh.

arex

In case anyone's interested. I might give this a shot.

https://tandyleather.com/collections...e-tool-bag-kit


.

1989Pre 

That's a nice project! Just bring some elastics, because those one-strap bags can lose items on a ride.

1989Pre 

Elddir_mot: I am not a Facebook member, so I can't see the first bike. You have seven posts. You need three more before you can post photos, so I hope to see both bikes soon. Are you planning to ride from Watertown to Newton to Brookline to get to Boston? That is an excellent ride. The ride into Cambridge to get to Boston is more exciting but a little more crowded.

Elddir_Mot

and this makes eight, so definitely pics coming soon!
I actually don’t go into the city proper much, but I do go to Newton and Cambridge often so good to hear those are options. I’ll admit I’m a little intimidated about riding around here — last time I spent much time on a bike was in semi-rural GA, so all dirt paths or one lane roads. Very different vibe haha

nlerner

If you don't already know it, the Blue Heron Trail, which runs along the Charles from Boston to Waltham, is always lovely and away from cars: Idyllic Trail Through the Charles River Reservation

SirMike1983 

I looked at the links. The Facebook bike is incomplete and missing several important parts (fenders missing, wrong saddle, etc.) from the look of it. One of the rims doesn't look correct on it, but it could just be the photo. I would not even bother with going to look at it. You're looking at way more than $100 worth of parts and labor to bring that up to par.

The Craigslist bike is much more complete and much nicer. If the Craigslist bike fits you and you like it, it's a fair price at $150 for a complete and ready-to-ride bike. It's not a screaming bargain, but it's fair in my book if it is 'buy and ride' shape.

Elddir_Mot

I’m about a 10 minute walk from that trail, but I had no idea it stretched so far! Didn’t know the proper name for it either (my daughter calls it the mulberry walk because in late summer all the mulberry trees have fruit hanging low enough that she just walks along snacking the whole time haha). Will definitely explore the Watertown through Waltham+ portion, thanks for pointing it out

———

SirMike1983 Thank you! Seriously, how did I miss that it didn’t have fenders?!? Talk about missing the forest for the trees. Yeah, the $150 CL bike isn’t the steal of the century but it’s very much in my budget and, like you said, fair. Really appreciate the advice!

Ged117 

I see that I provided at least one in the Superbe Kit! I may have the other one in a drawer somewhere - the catch is this: they don't prevent rotation, not nearly as well as the later anti-rotation washers do. I switched out the above washers for anti-rotation ones. Switching out also helps to prevent over-torqueing the wheel bolts.

I have an unrelated issue with my 1947 GH6 hub as installed on my '51 Sun Wasp - I can't get the outer plate to stop rotating while cycling. The late '40s versions of the GH6 have bearing adjustment on the right (dynamo side) of the hub and don't include a lock washer (just a lock nut), adjustment has proven difficult. Its either too tight or the face plate starts rotating; I can't get it to keep in proper adjustment because tightening up the right side adjustment (the wide piece you can see below) requires then locking down the bolt, but without a period fitting lock washer its difficult. Anyone else worked with the late 1940s front dynohubs? Any tricks, parts substitutions, etc. to achieve a good adjustment?

PXL_20221209_202457876

cudak888 

This is the '57 Triumph though; I was able to get a spare for the Superbe (I think it was from nlerner or clubman but don't remember offhand). Now you have me second-guessing whether I should be using these, given that the bike might be ridden now that it's refurbished.

I have a feeling your early Dynohubs might be suffering from the same issue as my '47 was. I wrote up a bit about this; let me know if this helps:

Leo: The 1960s Bottecchia...randonneur?




-Kurt

cudak888 

Wow. I can't remember when I've seen Bronze Green looking that good on a Twenty. That looks like a virtually new bike.

Can anyone facilitate?

-Kurt

1989Pre 

Yeah, in my opinion, Newton is the place to ride. Much more relaxed than Cambridge and Waltham. There must be good places to ride in Watertown, but I don't know about them. You could take Galen St. to Washington St. (Newton Corner) left on Walnut, which takes you up to Newton Cntr and Newton Highlands. From there, you could head over to Wells Ave on weekends, which is actually on the Newton/Needham line. That might be a good place for your daughter to gain some confidence, because it is an industrial park and not many cars on weekends. Lots of space. There is actually a road cycling club that meets at that location.

Elddir_Mot

Awesome idea- and the weather’s clearing up, so we might hit that up this weekend!

—

thanks to everyone for the input! I decided follow the general consensus and not to bother with the FB bike, but I pulled the trigger on the CL ‘71 (really cool seller, he included an original prestube rack!) 😊

Bike Tax:












finally, this is a undoubtedly a dumb question but…what’s this little doohickey on the front for? Is it just decorative?

SirMike1983 

It is for a headlight. There is a special clamp that mounts to the bracket and holds the headlight.

1989Pre 

Wow! Good going! That really IS in nice condition! You got a Brooks B72 saddle that is worth almost the price of the bicycle. That is so cool! Does the pump say made in England? How does it shift, and what is the max tire pressure?

Elddir_Mot

SirMike1983 Mystery solved! Thank you, and might I say that is a gorgeous bike. How do you keep/get the paint looking so pristine?!

1989Pre Thank you! Unfortunately, the saddle’s splitting at the front rivets, so I’ll have to replace it— I’m hoping to find a b66, but no luck so far on CL/eBay. The tires are Kendras, max psi 55, and the shifting’s super smooth! Its a really nice ride, I’m excited to get out on it 😊