Raleigh UK vs Raleigh USA

I ride a 1999 Raleigh 853 road bike and, as you do, I like to look at what's new from the brand I ride. I am also aware of Raleigh's troubled history and as someone in the commercial world I know how international manufacturing business's work.

So, what I would like to know is what is the connection between the UK and US companies?

The reason I ask is because the US company has a superb range of road and cx bikes, many of which I am sure would sell well in the UK, but that are not offered here.

I really think that Raleigh UK are missing a trick, you only have to look at companies like Genesis and Charge (amongst others) to see that there is a market for the kind of bike Raleigh US has.

Perhaps 'serious' riders in the UK don't / can't take the brand seriously, due to some of the dreadful stuff that has been churned out in the recent past. Who knows, take a look at the Raleigh US web site and see what you think.

Its been like this on and off since the mid 80's with the 'Team USA' road bike (Red, Black), it was a stunner, but you couldn't get quite the same frame here, let alone the bike. If you look at the current Militis (UK) and Militis 2 (US) they are very similar bikes but the little details on the US version just make it a very slightly nicer looking bike, which is quite annoying!. Probably nothing in it, performance wise.

Did I read this was pretty much the same with MTB's in the 90's? I wasn't that focussed on them back then, but I am sure I read here about all the Raleigh US models that people here craved?

And yes, they should send some of those bikes over here, they look good.

They even advertise the frames on the US site.


Edit: http://www.raleigh-group.com/History/
bought from Derby Cycles apparently.
http://www.derby-cycle.com/en/brands/raleigh.html

edit2: But also sell similar e-bikes!
http://www.raleighebike.co.uk/

DA-EVO":1fskzl28 said:

Did I read this was pretty much the same with MTB's in the 90's? I wasn't that focussed on them back then, but I am sure I read here about all the Raleigh US models that people here craved?

Click to expand...

Yep, I remember seeing a couple of US Raleighs out riding in the late 90s, and they were jaw-droppingly nice compared to our stuff. The frame geometry and finish were way ahead of what Raleigh UK were knocking out.