There is not much information about this bike online. I am considering purchasing one but would like to know about anyone's opinions or experiences with it. Thank you in advance.

full disclosure: I work for a bicycle shop that sells Raleigh bikes.


That being said... I got to build the Superbe that we have in our inventory and I feel that the Superbe is a fantastic bicycle. I feel that most of the component choices made by the designer were good ones. In particular you've got the option of installing racks to make this bike a touring bike, or a porteur rack if you like that idea. With the front generator hub you've got no excuse not to get a set of standlights (stay on even when the hub isn't giving it power).

The only gripe I really have is that the fenders aren't full coverage, and the chain guard (while neat looking) is a little simplistic.

Overview, geometry and specs: https://www.raleighusa.com/bikes/hybr...?page=overview

chipcom bought one. That's the only person I've heard of.

It was Chipcom? I was trying to hunt down the post where someone mentioned having bought one.

I ♥ the look of this bike.

Per my thread @ https://www.bikeforums.net/general-cycling-discussion/555174-raleigh-superbe-roadster-dynamo.html

I believe chipcom does own one.

Talks about why he's getting it here: https://www.bikeforums.net/showpost.p...9&postcount=14

Dang it! Why didn't either of those show up in my searches? Those are both threads I remember reading.

Thanks to all that chimed in.

Severian,

I also do not like the looks of the fenders or the chain gaurd. I assume that I would replace the fenders and I have a chain guard from an old Superbe that I could probably fudge on.

I have a question about how the chain guard mounts to the bike. Is there a bracket that slips over the outside of the bottom bracket?

Also, how do the cables attach to the down tubes? It looks like there is a plastic part that clips in. Is there a closed metal loop that the plastic fits into?

I would like to get a step through frame but I am 6'4" so I will probably have to get a diamond frame. Since it is a thread less headset is it a problem to ensure that the handle bars are high enough?

Next year's Raleigh Detour Deluxe looks as if it comes with real fenders and an internal hub.

Thanks for the info.

The 2010's appear to use the same fenders the previous models did. The IGH is nice (although I wonder how much weight it'll add to an already heavy bike?) I ♥ my 08. I ordered it in mid-2007 and had to wait months for it to be built and shipped to the US.

I will set myself a reminder to have a look at our floor model when I am at work on Friday. I should have an answer for you by the weekend.

Digging this thread up from the dead...

My girlfriend and I both got '09 Superbe Roadsters together and have had them for about a month.

I realize it's probably too late to be helpful to Frankinbiker, but there is precious little googlable info about this bike on the interwebs, so I figured I would contribute since this thread is one of the top google results.


Pictures explain better than words, here you go: one two three

Also note the eccentric bottom bracket. I didn't realize this about the bike until I got it.

I'm not sure what the term is but they're the type of mount that seem to be used on disc brake bikes a lot, where full housing is run end to end. They come with little plastic clips, but I replaced some with zip ties so I could fit tail light wiring in there.

Pics of the brake cable holder thingies: one two three

My girlfriend got the larger step through (50cm I think), and it feels really small when I ride it, and I'm 5'11". So I doubt it would work very well for a tall guy.

I'm thinking about getting a higher rise stem for myself. I have the larger mens model (57cm) and would like a more upright posture.

Some other thoughts on the bike:

The fenders have actually been totally adequate. All of the water flung from tires is flung in a vertical line down the center of the tire anyway, so I had a feeling they'd be okay, but I was a bit wary. No problems at all. And I ride in Portland.

There are a few things I wish were different about the bike. The biggest one is tire clearance. It comes with 32mm tires and there isn't much room for anything bigger. I love Big Apples and wish I could use them. I also wish it were more upright, but that's personal preference. 36 spokes would be nice (it has 32 on both wheels). A kickstand mount would be nice. A sprung seat would be nice (I put a B66 on myself). And the last minor thing I can think of is that the most natural position for the brake levers (pointing mostly down, not out) makes the shifter indicator impossible to see.

Wait, thought of one more. The toe clips it comes with are annoying. I'm sure fixie riders love them for whatever reason (because they seem to use them a lot), but they seem pointless and incredibly tedious to use. And you can't just remove them, because the pedals naturally swing upside down due to how they're weighted, which is also obnoxious. So we replaced them with platforms. So much easier to use. Jump on and go. That's how I like bikes to be.

All in all though, it's an awesome bike! I looked high and low and there's really nothing that had the same critical features we wanted (steel frame, disc brakes, internal hub preferably Alfine, tasteful appearance, rack mounts, generator hub) without going custom (which would be nice but way too much money).

Here are all of my pics and my girlfriend's.

Lastly, I wish there was a good way to convey all this info to Raleigh. Their website contains no useful contact info for feedback. Sadly, I guess this is the price you pay for that mass produced affordability.

wow, a 7-rail CETMA. What do you carry on that thing? I've got a 5 rail and have found it to be very unstable with more than a couple of pounds and even that significantly slows down my steering. It's better on my old Raleigh sports and sprite but terrible on all my modern bikes. I feel like I should really like the idea of a porteur rack just haven't cared for it in practice.... Now maybe a Kogswell might change my mind. Do you find it difficult to control with the 68mm or so of trail?

I prefer an Electra basket. Maximum is 25 lbs in the front. Up to 50 lbs with my Steco Porteur rack.

I kind of splurged on it because I figured $20 wasn't much difference and I didn't want to regret having too small of one down the line. In practice I think the 5 rail would have been enough.

I really haven't used it for anything heavy on the Raleigh and in fact don't use it much anymore since my girlfriend likes to get groceries delivered by Safeway (I got it when I was a bachelor and used it for groceries mostly, with a big plastic crate). I might even get rid of it, since I've put a rear rack on recently and will probably get a pannier or two. I'm giving it about six more months, and if I don't find much use for it in that time, I'll let it go.

I definitely agree that it impacts steering heavily, and I kind of miss being able to ride no handed once in a while. If I keep keep it I think I'll buy a steering stabilizer. I'm not sure if the stabilizer will help no-handed riding, but it'll at least make it easier to park.

Another option I think is really cool is a frame-mounted front rack. It should take care of all the steering issues. Something like this.

Thanks for all the detailed info about the Superbe. I still want one and if it came with A fully enclosed chaingaurd I do not think my credit card could resist ordering one instantly.

I ended up buying a 27" Raleigh Sprite from the 70's on Craigslist. I upgraded it with alloy wheels and a Nexus 8 IGH. I also replaced the cottered cranks with a square tapered BB and made other tune up improvements. It will have to hold me for now. It works great and I ride it daily, but it is missing a bunch of key braze ons for rack mounting and definitely does not have disc brakes. It makes up for its shortcomings with a big helping of style.

Your Superbe looks really nice. I will get one some day or will just weld up a custom frame for the new wheels and parts that I bought for my Sprite.

Here are some pics: