I picked up a Super Course 12 yesterday and while I can find lots of info on the Super Course - not so much on the "12". The SC is straight gauge 531. I heard someone say the 12 may be double butted? What's the tubing on the stays and fork?
The serial number indicates that it's a '79. Not too many of the components were original when I got it - and Ive already switched out the stem, bar, levers, saddle, and cables.
I really like the look and feel of the bike - only ridden it a short distance, but it may be a keeper.
Thoughts, thanks.

I know the rear brakes isnt original. The place where I bought it mounted 27" wheels on it, and they put on a rear single pivot caliper to shorten the brake reach. So i'll change all that.
Pretty wild color huh? Faded red, not pink! I kinda like it.

The front hub is a SunShine Gyromaster - beautiful. I may keep it and lace it into a 700 rim.

It's a nice bike. I'm old, and when that bike was current, I was a mechanic in a bike shop. I sold and repaired a few of those. It was considered a nice upgrade from the previous Super Course model. The geometry of the frame and fork were very changed, from a sport-touring geometry to a racing geometry. Components were upgraded.

Yours has been modified. It originally came with SunTour Cyclone derailleurs and bar-end shifters. I see the front brake has been changed from center-pull to side-pull. The whole derailleur system has been changed, and so have the pedals. I'm pretty sure that wasn't your original crank. Most of these changes would be considered downgrades, but they're not really that substantive. Your bike will ride the same as the original.

If the tires are ready for replacement, invest in the best tires you can afford. That's where your money is spent best.

Only thing Reynolds are the main frame tubes. Fork and stays are high ten steel, and it is not double butted, straight gauge. I picked up a 1980 model this week myself. Found a catalog somewhere on line, but now I cannot find it....

1981 version was butted 531. Even then it had high ten steel fork and stays.

Your bike came with barcons, like mine. Bike originally came with Weinmann 700c concave rims. My rear is a replacement.

Mine needs quite a bit of work, and is missing some of the original parts. Fortunately, I have most of them in the parts bin from another Raleigh.

Kurt does have a catalog page for the 1979 model, and it clearly states high ten steel fork and stays. Go to the Headbadge for more info.

wrk101, can you read your tubing stickers - single butted huh?

And did the catalog list the 12?

IIRC the SS Mk 2 is the one with butted 531, and it's only the main tubes. All the rest of us Super Course owners only have straight gauge 531 main tubes. Oh and I can safely say, both your SS's are prettier then mine.

It's straight gauge tubing. Here's the '79 catalog.

https://www.kurtkaminer.com/TH_raleigh_cat_us79.html

But that's where Im confused. The catalog listed doesn't show the Super Course 12. And where does the Mk2 fit in (only older models)?

And here's a pic I just found of a supposedly 78 SC with butted main tubes.??. It's too bad I cant read the remains of my tubing stickers.
https://i1033.photobucket.com/albums/...31buttedSC.jpg

Can you verify it's a plain SC?

That's not your bike?

here's a pic:
https://i1033.photobucket.com/albums/...de7/painse.jpg

My bike says super course 12 on the top tube.

here's a crummy pic:
<a href="https://s1033.photobucket.com/albums/a418/tende7/?action=view&amp;current=supercourse12.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://i1033.photobucket.com/albums/a418/tende7/supercourse12.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Sorry, here:
https://i1033.photobucket.com/albums/...ercourse12.jpg

I think yours is a 1980 model. Probably made in '79 for the 1980 model year.

OK, I stand corrected. What little I can make out on this label, it sure looks like it says "butted". It takes a little imagination, but I think I see a "b", a "u", and a "t" crossing the 531 number. Decal looks just like the one above.

Now to be fair, I do not know that my bike is a 1980, that was a guess on my part. Maybe its a 1981. Top tube logo is clearly marked Super Course 12. I really wish I had bookmarked the 1980 catalog.....

Thanks all. I appreciate it. I too think I may be able to make out a b and a t across the 531 logo. So I'm gonna say my bikes an '80, made in '79. Butted 531, probably with hi-ten stays and fork. As if it really maters...but I like to know.

I'm new to this forum, just posted an identical question. I have a SC12 bought new, with all original parts. Regardless, I'm trying to find the official specs which do not seem to appear in the Raleigh 1979 catalogue, so maybe I have the year wrong... Did you check the ser. #?

Been some time since your post, did you ever find out anything??

I have a 1980 Super Course 12. According to the serial number it was made in May 1980 at the Workshup facility in Nottingham England. It's been hanging in the garage for 30+ years. The decals are on good shape and 'Super Course 12' is on the top tube. The bike is original except the barcon shifters have been swapped for step shifters. I have searched high and low for a 1980 catalog with no success. It quite a nice bike and have recently been using it for some ultra light touring.

I realize this is a Zombie Thread, but thought I'd help clear up some of the confusion regarding The Super Course 12 frame tubes. The SC 12 I just purchased has a Butted Reynolds 531 Main Tubes sticker on the seat tube. Not sure what year mine was made, but Raleigh must have made the SC 12 w/ Butted tubes at least one year in their production run.

Looks to be in great shape. You can determine the year of manufacture by looking at the 3rd character of the serial number on the bottom bracket. 9 = 1979, 0 = 1980, etc.