I want to replace the graphics on the head tube of my Raleigh Redux with a more traditional head badge. Any ideas on how best to go about this? There are vintage head badges available that would require drilling/tapping, but maybe could be attached some other way? Or even a decal maybe. Plus the current graphics would have to be removed somehow.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Even the vintage headbadges that were mounted with bolts or rivets can be mounted with glue or double sided tape instead.

3M Super Weatherstrip Adhesive will mount anything to anything.

You only get one chance to get it right and it will never come off.

I think the bike looks fine as it is.

I removed a head badge from a bike once; it was fastened on with drive screws. They have a plain round head like a rivet, but the shank is slightly tapered with long-pitch threads. Just tap them in with a mallet. Removal requires a vice-grip.

Are the current graphics paint or vinyl?

I don't know how you would remove the current decal. It's probably clearcoated. If you can remove it then Velocals has a bunch of vintage looking Raleigh headtube decals. I put one on my '99 R700.

I made a head badge for one of my bikes, attached with double stick tape.

This.

That stuff will hold battleships together. In fact if they'd used it to assemble the Titanic, she'd still be sailing today.

Only downside is that it's about 2-3 mm thick so the badge would jut out from the bike frame.

An alternative would be epoxy. Also pretty permanent. But it has the advantage of being paper thin. It's essentially a glue layer. And you get a minute to adjust the badge before the epoxy starts to cure. With the 3M tape, as soon as it touches the tape you're done.

As for removing the current graphics, I wouldn't worry about it. Any badge would likely cover up the red logo. The black stripe down the tube would look fine showing behind the metal badge. It would look totally intentional.

Epoxy is good, but you can buy it with varying cure times. Check the package; it will list "handling time"--the amount of time you have to position the parts--and "cure time"--the amount of time it has to be untouched without risking ruining the bond. Also, generally, the longer the cure time, the stronger the bond.

3M Badge and Trim Cement. That's what it's designed for. Get it at auto parts stores. Easily removable without damaging the surface too.

Art Metal workers can make you a custom headbadge.

I personally would spend the money on lights that people will actually be able to see.

I do like headbadges but wouldn't put a vintage Raleigh hb on a modern Raleigh even on their actually decent steel road bikes.

Thanks for your off topic reply. So helpful.

Yeah sorry, I was more concerned with your safety than a headbadge on a bike that didn't come with one. You did put up a picture of your bike with two tiny kids lights and I suggested to spend your money on a better set of lights instead of headbadges. I didn't say go out and buy something non-related to bikes, I just said maybe the headbadge isn't the best way to go.

I'd use rubber cement and hope it didn't discolor the paint just in case I decided to remove the headbadge at some future time.

I will second this.

I certainly appreciate your concern for my safety, but those aren't the only lights on my bike or myself.

That is good! Generally though when you see two underpowered lights there isn't anything else. Lights on your body aren't as helpful though people need to know where your bike is going not where your body is turning and moving. Same thing with stuff on backpacks which I see frequently pointed up towards the sky and not towards cars that need to see you.

As a commuter myself I have a hard time seeing cyclists and it bothers me because if I can't easily see you and I am actually on the look out for cyclists and cars and pedestrians and other things going on, then a car is going to have a harder time since they are typically distracted.

I'm also in the "better lights and leave the head tube alone" camp. The bike looks like fun to ride, though. PG