obsidian6

Hey guys,

I'm relatively new to the road bike world, and I've got a friend who has let me test out a '08 Raleigh Prestige (full carbon, ultegra/dura-ace combo) It's the best bike raleigh makes supposedly. I've been shopping around for months figuring out what I might like and finding something in my budget range.

I'm basically posing the question, what do you guys think about the bike as a whole? Or even the quality of raleigh's higher end road bikes? I could get a pretty solid deal on this one if I decide to buy it (about $1800), and it did ride well, it was comfortable for me and my big frame ( 6'3" 280lbs )



Any thoughts? (PS - I may be new here, but not new to forums, I already searched and didn't find much info )

Beaker

I don't have a read on the frame quality but the components are top notch. To help get more answers from the BF group it might help to understand the price point; that'll tell everyone what other bikes you might also consider as a comparison.

The other point is that you said it felt good to you, that's important - have you tried any other road bikes to compare and confirm that the Raleigh could be the right bike for you?

FWIW - I've read plenty of posts that seemed complimentary of Raleigh.

wall

I just purchased their 2008 Raleigh Grand Prix. Obviously not the carbon bike that the Prestige is but whatever...

From what I learned before purchasing. Raleigh USA seems to be a solid company albiet one of many in the bike world.
The components youre getting are higher end and not just the "cost saver parts" other bike sellers can use to squeeze pennies. Such as the Easton fork instead of Trek's house brand. Compare spec sheets and see for yourself.

I love my Raleigh. I'm 6'3" too using the 62cm frame. Best thing you can do is get a good fit from an LBS.

Before purchasing the Grand Prix I rode a Supercourse. Very nice ride and sold me on the brand.

If you dont need the dura-ace, carbon, take a look at one of the aluminums.
Good luck on the deal.

RoyIII

That's a nice bike.

Youngin

It looks very nice!

mattm

of all the big-name brands (trek, cannondale, etc), for some reason i'd pick raleigh over the others. i have no idea why.

Berniebikes

Got several thousand miles on mine. Best Raleigh I've had, and I've owned a bunch. I worked a deal with the LBS to switch over parts to my old frame, then I bought SRAM Force and built it up. Weighs 16 pounds in a 59, with pedals and bottle cages. Raleigh learned a lot in their last three frame designs. This one has a really beefed up bottom bracket (very similar to an Orbea Orca) and a beefed up head tube. It rides and handles great and I have no real complaints other than the large diameter seat post which makes it harder to put lights on.....Otherwise it is very nice.

DieselDan

I've assembled Treks and Raleighs 2008 models, and found the Raleighs to be on par, if not better equipped for the price compared to the Trek.

mazdaspeed

Those wheels look a bit dainty for a person of your stature.

obsidian6

I'm glad to hear these things. I didn't know if the wheels were going to be too fragile for me but they sure look nice I'll say that.

Thanks for the honest responses everyone, I really appreciate it.

bryceepoo

I had an earlier model Prestige and it was a great bike. I just sold it a couple weeks ago in fact, but it was a very nice ride while I had it.

Enjoy!!!

HenryL

Two guys I ride with bought this bike this year. One thinks it's the best ride he has every had. The other likes it very much but has some regrets because this replaced his favorite bike ruined in a car crash. Not to put this down at all, he is a strong rider and like the bike a great deal. I'm thinking of this as well. Don't think you will go wrong with this one.

obsidian6

So I'm pretty positive I'm going to be buying this bike. My friend is giving me a different saddle that will be more comfortable for me. And I will actually be using a set of crank brothers acid2s for my first set of clipless pedals (I know this is un-orthodox as they are primarily mtb pedals, but my intent (at my friend's recommendation) is to get a walkable shoe for my clipless riding, seeing as how I won't be doing racing anytime soon, it's going to work well for me personally.

Thanks again for all the advice offered!

bassplayinbiker

I race on one, I got it for free considering it is my sponsor bike. I liked it so much that I would honestly buy it to be my main whip. It is purely the sex with a set of 404's. I do not like the saddle, but other than that it is spec'd with top of the line name brand parts all the way down to the tires. It's an excellent bike for the money.

Raleigh USA just has ****ty marketing compared to specialized and trek.

rhyno

I dont own one myself, but i work at a bike shop and i have also put several of treks, and Raleigh's together and the Raleigh's are great bikes for the price. Raleigh has been around for over a hundred years, and the treks are great bikes, but i think they are over priced.

p.s. im about to get a prestige, and you cant beat that price

CharlieWoo

280 lbs... better check the recommended weight limit for the bike.

Oh, and tell your friend to flip it.

obsidian6

I asked specifically if it would support me wight-wise and she said absolutely, I trust her judgment as she's been in the bike industry for a long long time (both in racing and in marketing).

Oh and if you're referring to the stem, we flipped it on purpose because it was causing me to lean too far forward. I have kind of a weird body geometry, I have normal length arms and torso but really long legs (that's where I get my 6'3" from.) So I was trying to make it the most comfortable for me. I may try a different stem or even different handlebars, but for now it's pretty solid.

Beaker

PS - just got curious and looked at the raleigh usa website. It looks like they don't make this model anymore, and their top road model, the 2009 Competition maxes out it's components at the 105 level. This looks like an even better deal right now.

travkat

The 08 bikes from Raleigh are quite nice and very competitive on components and quality of carbon. I say go for it. At that price you could buy a Dura Ace gruppo and have a whopping couple hundred bucks left to not afford any decent frame if purchased separately. Its a great bargain and a nice bike.

obsidian6

Theyre literally JUST bringing out the 09 stuff (I really like that all steel clubman, and the new rush-hour looks badass.) As far as I understand they just havent posted the new update for the Prestige and the Team. The Competition is one model below this bike.

So yes, at the moment it is a stellar deal, especially considering what I'm to be paying for it.

Feathers

Sweet bike that looks great. Love the aerodynamic sweep of the seat tube.
Raleigh definitely outshines other Asian-sourced bicycles in terms of their attention-to-detail and overall finish.

monporn

..i've got a pinarello FP5 and a raleigh that i bought as a winter beater. since i live in the UK i think that the raleighs have different model names here. the Bike is a U6comp airlite version which came with okish tiagra components.
i have only one thing to say about the raleigh..i love that machine. since i bought it, i have been on it constantly. it may not be a flash machine, but it is such a pleasure to ride. BUT, it's an Aluminium frame..maybe the carbons feel different.
if i had anything to say, it'd be this: get the raleigh.

pagliaci

A full carbon Ultegra/DuraAce bike for under $2000 is a good deal for a new bike. How "used" is this?

pagliaci

FYI: This bike is Asian-sourced.

pagliaci

Those look like Mavic Aksium Equipes. If they are, they are sturdy.