Vintage Ralegh Record or Record Ltd. Edition
 

Hi folks,
I'll start this thread. I'm sure there are some threads about Raleighs but I thought I'd go specifically for Record or Record Ltd. edition.

Anyway, I just got this Raleigh Record Ltd. (built in Canada) from Kijiji two weeks ago. This bike was in pristine condition albeit its age. I heard from the owner that it's around 30 or more years old. When I saw it, I fell in love with it right away. The owner took well care of this bike and I'm very fortunate that I don't need to do a lot of work to restore it to its original form. I've cleaned this baby on the weekend and I've put in a new saddle and pair of pedals and rode to work this week. I'm also trying to find some classic components like NOS 5 speed cassette, cranks, cables and new tires as replacements but everything else I could keep to give it the same classic look. This baby is very solid on the streets and it's also good looking with its red color.

I've tried to find information about this bike and did some research online including the Wikipedia and also Sheldon Brown's Blog about the serial numbers. From Wikipedia record tells me that this was a Canadian built and the unit came out in 1975 (per serial #s at the bottom bracket) which makes all the sense. The Canadian market was established in 1972 when Raleigh UK put up a plant in Quebec. If you look at the bottom of the seat stay, there's a sticker that says "Made in Canada". I've also further inquired through Raleigh Canada about the head badge which shows "Nottingham, England" as I've seen in some forums that Canadian version head badge says "Canada" at the bottom. This head badge is somewhat confusing. Further on my inquiry was confirmed by Raleigh-Canada that the bike was built in UK if it says Nottingham. "What?" It is so confusing if you ask me. Anyway, I'm guessing that it could be the frame that was built in Nottingham but the bike was put together in Canada. Maybe? :) Anyway, I'll continue with my research to find out about this bike and will update here later.

These pics below will show you the condition of the bike when I picked it up and I tell you got a 'great' deal for it. I'm just proud to have found my bike. Later on this thread I'll show here the newly cleaned bike.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=259869http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=259870http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=259871http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=259872
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"R" If I recall correctly denotes Made in Canada. "N" for Nottingham, "G" for Gazelle, and "W" for Worksop (Carlton).

They all say "Nottingham England" on the headbadge, at least into the early 80's.

I agree completely, redneckwes. There was a forum (I have to find it :)) where I've seen a head badge with "Canada" at the bottom. I'm also tracking down the store where this came from from the sticker on the seat stay but I always get to a brick wall. One thing that I did find was when I search for area code "282" it gives me "Labrador". I'm not so sure if the bike came from there.

Would you concur that the rig was built in 1975 based on the serial numbers?

By '81 this was showing up on the Japanese made frameshttp://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=260014

Decade
 

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=260018http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=260019Congrats on Your Raleigh Record. Looks Great. I'm pretty sure you have a 1985 not 1975. My 80's Raleighs all have cotterless cranks. The 2 1975's I own have cotter pins.(yuck) The year denoted on the serial dosen't specify the decade.
Canandian built Raleighs have the metal Nottingham headbadge at least until 1986 because I have a 86 "Sprite" (record frame) town bike.
I also recently acquired a 1980 Record that needs some care.

So before '81 the badge still shows "Nottingham, England"? That make sense.

Thanks. I think you're right because my bike has no cotter pins. Unfortunately when I inquired through Raleigh-Canada about any catalogue in Canadian market, they don't have. I think it's a 1985 model because of its condition. I noticed too that the brake calipers although old are not any brand names like Weinmann or Shimano. The only thing the head badge I have is just a sticker not metal. Do you know if all Canadian built Raleighs have stickers/decals and not metal head badges?http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=263086

Cannot be sure, but the 1980 Record was repainted and no badge appears. Maybe it was a sticker as well. The 1986 Sprite has a regular metal badge though. I saw a record like yours locked to a signpost at a nearby Walmart. I noticed it had a sticker badge as well. I waited a while but the owner didnt show. Wife thinks Ive gone mad! Posted a pic of the 86 Canadian made "Sprite" badge.

That was funny that you and your wife tried to wait for the fellow! :) Our wives think we're crazy and I could attest to one occasion just recently. My wife and I went to a bike shop that I frequented when 12 years ago. The shop has all the vintage bikes and Europeans too. Back in 1999 I tried out a lot of bikes there just to get the feel and for some reasons I didn't buy because I was looking for new ones. The most popular brands were Trek and Cannondale at the time. So I told the owner I'll shop around. So I bought a 1999 Cannondale R300 road bike. Really good bike.

Anyway, a week before I bought my Raleigh Record Ltd. we went there to find out if the owner still kept those classic ones and to my amazement, he got rid of them and sells only new ones. All are the latest and European bikes, top of the line and amazing prices. I asked the owner and to my amazement too, he still recalls me from 12 years back, if he has any old bikes around or even frames. He doesn't have them anymore. So I was frustrated. My wife showed me a bike that she liked for me to buy for $1300 (original price $1500 marked down). As I was looking around the store with my frustrations, I happened to see an old single speed bike obviously from a customer and when I inquired about it I found out that the owner didn't come back for it. So the shop owner asked me if I like it and just pay $85 for the re-hub that he did on the bike. The frame, the wheels and handle bar are still good except no seat post, no saddle and no brakes. I took it and bought some parts that I would need to get started re-fitting the bike and of course to my wife's disagreement. She thought that I was so crazy to picked up the old bike in exchange for a nice looking and shiny new European roady. With the old bike, I started cleaning it up and I'll be able to show it here once it's good to be ridden.

Anyway, we're crazy when it comes to vintage stuff and my wife had a fit when I picked up the Raleigh. :)

Update on the Record Ltd.


I’ve pretty much cleaned the bike and put some new parts on it. I still wanted to have the same classic look so I just upgraded some parts required for riding but kept most of the original parts that I can re-use like the tire tubes as they are still in excellent condition. I have to scrub the inside part of the rims as there are rust spots around and sprayed on Rust Killer. I spent some time and a bit of $$$ to buy the required parts but mind you I didn’t spend a lot. I can say that with the new parts refitted, the ride is really good and solid. This is an excellent bike considering its age. Amazing!


Here’s the breakdown of how much I spent on this bike in CDN (not including tax) after the refit:


-original bike as bought from Kijiji (Alberta) $80
-Sunrace 5 speed cassette $20
-set of tires and rim tapes (gumwall) $24
-Norco saddle (on sale for half off) $20
-Alhonga brake calipers including pads (pair) $50
-front wheel quick release set (skewer and axle) $10
-pair of pedals and toe straps $14
-handle bar tape (cork) $10
-Can of Rust Killer $12

TOTAL COST: CDN $240

What else I need to do later:


-change the derailleur cables
-repack bearings on the bottom bracket
-repack bearings on rear wheel hub
-install one spoke (missing on rear wheel)

Here are some pictures of the newly restored Raleigh Record Ltd.


http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=260569http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=260570http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=260571http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=260572http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=260573http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=260574http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=260575http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=260576http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=260577http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=260578http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=260579http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=260580

After putting all the refit parts, I rode to work yesterday. I was impressed that with the new parts, the ride was smooth. But going back home I noticed that there was a grinding noise on the rear wheel. Not too loud but I could have mistaken it for the chain slipping from the cog teeth or something. I investigated further when I got home that it was actually the rear wheel hub. It confirmed my dreaded fear that I should have repacked the hub first before I rode it. I'm just hoping that it was not that serious that it skewed the cone housing. I didn't get the chance to open it up last night as it was late. I rode to work again this morning and I brought my Cannondale instead.

Finally, I got the chance to repack the rear wheel hub and rode to work this morning. No more noise and it's really great to have the Raleigh on the road again.

Just bumping this thread to let anyone who owns a Vintage Raleigh Record or Record Ltd. to show their refurbished or refit bikes here. Hope to see yours soon!