Quick Cal

So I literately just got home from picking up this bike off of CL. I'm excited to see what I have. I paid $10 and some old literature I had that I value at $10-$30. So I'm calling this a $40 bike.

The serial number is on the seat post. The one reference I found didn't have the correct amount of numbers. Can you guys tell me what I have here.

Serial # NM4241063

My Son wants me to make a fixie out of it and flip it. He seems to think I could get between $200-$300. While I guess I could make a few bucks, I kinda like the thing. I would REALLY like it if I found out it was a 72 or 73. That would go good with my current Yamaha's I have. A 72 XS2 650, and a 73 TX750. I also had a 72 SS El Camino, and a 73 El Camino. These years keep coming to me with out even trying for some reason.

It's a bit rusty. But I think it will clean up just fine. The seat is in great condition. It is missing a brake pad and brake lever. Needs a new chain. It appears to have brand new tires. I think someone started to fix it up and then stopped for what ever reason.

All though I'm an old fart, 53, I'm new to semi serious biking.That being said, I don't need some high end bike. My kid wants me to sell this and work my way up. But that's where I might be the old fool. I think I want to keep it. Would this make a good starter bike. Is it worth keeping for a rider. Or should I flip it either as an original, or a fixie. What would you guys do. And any info is greatly appreciated. Thanks, Cal

Here's the actual ebay listing.

Vintage Raleigh Record Nottingham New England Collectible Bike Bicycle 10 Speed | eBay

Lascauxcaveman 

Its pretty low-end stuff. In the condition you picture, I'd expect to get $30-50 for it and would feel bad taking much more than $100 if I sold it, fixed or otherwise. Unless you live in a market that is super-hot for fixies, it's not going to be worth converting.

If it fits you, and you like the way it rides, get a chain and whatever other (minimal expense) items you need to ride it; but it's certainly nothing special, so if you're really "semi-serious" about riding, ride it awhile, then get a nicer bike when you're ready to step up.

Cute Boy Horse

Ain't nobody buying a third-hand gaspipe fixie conversion with frame clearances you could fly a plane though. Not for $200 and certainly never $300.

It'd be the sort of thing you'd build for your own personal use, because you're stoney broke and you need something that works as quickly as possible. Been there, done that.

Clean it up, ride it a while. As is it's a practical bike, and it'll be better than riding a mountain bike onroad. Not worth tarting up.

Prowler 

I agree. Its a good looking bike, was a starter bike and still is. Enjoy this one and learn from it. Learn about maintenance, fit, usage and learn about how serious you are about cycling without sinking too much money into it. I re-started on a frightful Huffy that would have been pilloried here on C&V but I started. The weight just meant more aerobic benefit and I learned about friction shifting, learned the sounds and the feelings of the bike. I thought a lot about fit and posture and even worked through some pains from not being used to riding a road bike. Now I'm stronger and more flexible and in better shape.

You will be too and can then decide whether to keep going on the Record or upgrade, spend more money and go crazy like the rest of us. Enjoy!

Quick Cal

Thanks for the replies.

I was looking at a Trek 330 also. Which I believe is another low end starter bike. He was asking $80 for that one. Would it be any better than the Raleigh, or about the same.

I'm glad I got this one so cheap. It will let me know if I want to really get into biking.

Any ideas on what year this thing is. I can't make heads or tails out of the online charts. It doesn't seem to match any of them. Thanks, Cal

auchencrow

Quick Cal -
Welcome to C&V.
Based on the decals and stem shifters, I'd guess that yellow Record is a '74. If you need to turn in into a '73 to go with your ElCamino, you can install clamp-on downtube shifters .

IMO, Records are fine looking bikes, and ride OK with upgraded wheels and decent tires. Of course, the ride won't be comparable to a Super Course from the same vintage, but it depends what you want to use it for, and how much you want to put into it. To borrow a term from @Cute Boy Horse , I "tarted" mine up a bit with new 700c rims, Campy Record hubs, Vx changers, etc. Still, I could sell the wheels for more than the complete bike.

auchencrow

The Trek 330 is a nice bike and $80 is a steal if it's in good shape -though it is a bike with much more modern styling.
The first year "Elance" model from '87 came in Reynolds '531. A real steal.

jon c. 

That was my first real bike. Don't remember which year I bought it, but as per the above post, it must have been 73 as it had downtube shifters and no cheater brakes. At the time, I knew no better and thought it was a great bike. Heavy? I guess so, but it was lighter than the low end ten speeds my friends had. So if you can just forget it's a cheap bike, it's possible to ride thousands of miles and think you're doing it on a respectable bicycle :-)

JBHoren

According to Retro Raleighs, it was manufactured in Nottingham, in September 1974.

jyl

That bike will give you a good introduction to riding and fixing bikes, and after you get a nicer one, it will make a good around-town errand-pub-commute-beater bike. You may end up riding it more than your nicer bike.

As a fixie, might fetch $80 if you're lucky and it will cost nearly that to convert it. Making derailleur bikes into fixies reduces their value, doesn't increase it.

By the way, it might vary depending on where you live, but in Portland the fixie "thing" is pretty much over. Doesn't mean people aren't still riding fixed gear or single speed, but that no-one thinks a bike is suddenly cooler or more valuable because all the gears but one were stripped away.

Quick Cal

Thanks for that info. All though I am disappointed it is not a 72 or 73. Oh well.

Quick Cal

My Son says the fixie thing is hot right now in St. Louis.

PatTheSlat 

Good lord yes it would be better, Trek never made a road bike that could genuinely be considered "low end." The 330 is a very, very nice bike.

Wildwood 

If you put the time and effort into making it a $300 fixie, you will have more than $300 in parts and labor (at minimum wage levels) into the project. If you ride it with the saddle that low the frame is likely too big for you.

Nothing wrong with a beater bike in a fleet of 2 or more - assuming it fits.

wrk101

The thing about statements like "fixie thing is hot" is it is usually not backed up with any data. Ask someone that flips bikes in the area, and one that has sold fixies. I can tell you they are definitely NOT hot here.

While I do see some around town, more and more are the new internet branded bikes that have flooded this once lucrative market. When you can buy something brand new, with much better wheels (and modern sized), fresh tires, tubes, chain, freewheel, a cro-moly frame, handlebar style of your choice, in lots of sizes and colors, for about $250; the converted vintage bikes don't look so great.

John E

I thought the fixie fad was dying a well-deserved death, but perhaps he is right about St. Louis.

auchencrow

Don't know about St Louis but here it was over long before it began. One LBS owner told me he had bought a boatload of new FG wheels, and put them all into the Dempsey dumpster just to regain the space.

Quick Cal

Well the Trek ended up being in pretty rough shape. Worse than the Raleigh. So I passed.

I did how ever snag something up. It is a Terranaut Ariel . Is it a better bike than the Raleigh. I got this one for $80. Hope I did ok.

I can see thing's getting out of hand quickly. I did this same thing with motorcycle's. They tend to multiply.

I'm not going to give up on the Raleigh just yet. Heck, I think it rides as good as the Terranaut. Is that saying a lot for the Raleigh, or not much for the Terranaut. But I'm a newbie anyway. So I don't really know what I'm talking about.

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...ed-please.html

OldsCOOL

And by the way, that '72 XS650 was the BOMB. I had a '69 Yamaha 350 R3 and looked up to those 650's.

mrv 

well, this is post is discouraging. i picked up a similar Raleigh frame only for $10. really, the guy should have given me $10 to take it, but anyway...
i'm planning (was planning?) to take a steel fork i have laying around and spray bomb the thing in my garage. then use parts i have laying around to make it into a ride-able bike. the big cost might be a rear wheel (single speed, 3-spd, or 7 spd internal hub..? not sure). maybe somebody can dumpster dive one of those fixed wheels for me!

Quick Cal

Here's my Yamaha's up on the bench I made. First the 72 XS2 650. Then the 73 TX750.

OldsCOOL

Very nice condition!

Here is a google pic of what my 350 looked like:

Flying Merkel

TX 750? Rare bird. Only have seen one. Sucks to make a nice twin when the CB 750 & the Z1 were the bikes to have.

Quick Cal

Ya, to top it off this was reportedly the most hated motorcycle Yamaha ever made. The motor's would self destruct. They did come out with a fix for it the second production year. But it was too late. No one would touch them. So they really do have limited numbers. I absolutely love mine. I bought it for a parts bike for the 650. But instead got it going and the 650 is still sitting after 3 years.