Raleigh Sirocco but is it 1971 or 1981?

Hi

I have recently been asked to sell an old looking Raleigh but i don't know too much about it other than it says Sirocco in a nice white styled text on the frame.

Its a bit grimy but i like the look of it and i am tempted to keep hold of it once cleaned up and the tyres replaced / punctures repaired.

The frame is a nice metallic deep copper colour with white Raleigh decals
Its a 21" frame
The rear Derailleur is a 5 speed "simplex"
The front is fixed
Writes dark leather saddle

The serial looks like it could read this NS 2 12946, but there could be a 1 before the first 2 looks like it could be a miss stamp or a nick in the paint.

If i have got my facts correct it is Nottingham and December made but if its 12 it suggests 1981.

But if i am miss reading it could it be a 1972?

Everything i see from 1981 seems to have a different weld under the seat post or the front forks look rounded.

If you can see these photo's please let me know your thoughts on the age of the bike!
I would also like to know about the pattern seen on the rear wheel rim.

Photo can be found here https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/ ... sp=sharing

Thanks

Andy

Re:

Not an expert on these, but as it has the old type Raleigh head set 26 TPI it was made before the Nottingham factory was closed, so the earlier date is likely.
Usually described as a low end bike.

Keith

Re:

Lots of information on the net about is model.
Most Siroccos are from the 1980's mid market bike. Some were handbuilt in Nottingham.
https://www.steel-vintage.com/raleigh-s ... 80s-detail

https://www.google.com/search?q=raleigh ... 75&bih=377

Raleigh built BSA bikes also had a Sirocco model dating from the mid 1970's . Raleigh changed badging a lot during this period .
Previous retro bike post.
https://www.google.com/search?q=raleigh ... BwHi2lug_M:

Your looks to be from the 1970's . Are the wheels 27x 1 1/4 in size?
The pattern on rim was done to improve the braking surface. The chrome surface finish made for very poor braking. :shock:

Re:

Thanks for the info so far.

I think the wheels are 27 1/4 inch. It looks like the diameter on the side of the old tyre.

So if do have a 70s bike it makes sense to have the older derailleur and leather saddle. I’m not expecting them to be original but it maybe nice to keep them on it still.

It is probably due to the rebranding of the Raleigh range to why I haven’t seen the style of font used in the decal and that colour of frame on a sirocco.

So I expect the serial number should be NS 2 ..... not NS 12.....
It is what is confusing me the most! :?

Thanks.

That type of serial number didn't start until 1973 so the number after the NS will be 1 = 1981 or 2=1982. so the number you have cannot be from a 70's frame.

Re:

Shaun, I don't think you saw the pictures. The 1980s Scirocco was a half decent bike. Here we have a Raleigh after TI group bought them, after Dunlop stopped making rims, but still has the Raleigh octagonal head set.

The best component on it is the Simplex plastic gear.

Keith

I was simply going by the frame number for the age of the frame . Raleigh being run by bean counters were pretty good at numbering their frames.

It sounds like its an odd combination of old frame that could had been found somewhere and serialised in 81/82.

Are the plastic Simplex gears from 70s or 80s?

So would this bike be worth keeping and restoring? I am slightly tempted to sell it once its a bit cleaner!

Thanks for the info

Hi again

Sorry for the questions, but what type / style of frame would this be?

I see some of the frams from the 70s were Reynolds 531, but im not sure as my bike hasnt got anything on it about the frame.

Thanks

18/23 steel tubing was the norm for this priced bicycle .