1996 Raleigh Royal 708

[RetroDavy]

First time out today for a recent rebuild of a 1996 Raleigh Royal in Reynolds 708. It came to me complete and just needing a good clean.

I've tweaked it a bit with parts that I thought suited the bike better than the original equivalents: Nitto Randonneur bars and Periscopa stem, BR-R550 cantilever brakes, Ultegra rear mech, wheels with new Rigida Sputnik rims and stainless spokes on refurbished Exage hubs and some MKS pedals. The tyres are 700x35c Ritchey Speedmax which should just about fit inside mudguards.

There are cables that need trimming and mudguards that need putting back on. The saddle is a placeholder.

The tape at the bar ends looks loose because it's covering tunnels for when I fit bar end shifters but the indexed down tube shifters are surprisingly usable and pleasingly clicky. Based on this first ride, I can understand why the Royal and Randonneur are so well liked.

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

First time out today for a recent rebuild of a 1996 Raleigh Royal in Reynolds 708. It came to me complete and just needing a good clean.

I've tweaked it a bit with parts that I thought suited the bike better than the original equivalents: Nitto Randonneur bars and Periscopa stem, BR-R550 cantilever brakes, Ultegra rear mech, wheels with new Rigida Sputnik rims and stainless spokes on refurbished Exage hubs and some MKS pedals. The tyres are 700x35c Ritchey Speedmax which should just about fit inside mudguards.

There are cables that need trimming and mudguards that need putting back on. The saddle is a placeholder.

The tape at the bar ends looks loose because it's covering tunnels for when I fit bar end shifters but the indexed down tube shifters are surprisingly usable and pleasingly clicky. Based on this first ride, I can understand why the Royal and Randonneur are so well liked.

View attachment 972137

Another nice bike. I love mine, two 708 and two 531. For reasons..

 

[doctor-bond]

Sweet. As I recall, 708 Royals were sold as a frameset, so components would be rider choice; good call, on the Nitto cockpit . Silver rims look good too. Is it 708 Classic or Touristque?

 

[kermisking]

Enjoy the ride , I can vouch for how lovely these bikes are , well thought out and ride very nicely . On mine I can do my shopping , a grand tour or go off road very versatile .

 

[RetroDavy]

Another nice bike. I love mine, two 708 and two 531. For reasons..

Thanks! Yes, reasons are all you need. I like your one in black Hammerite. Ticks my utilitarian boxes.

Sweet. As I recall, 708 Royals were sold as a frameset, so components would be rider choice; good call, on the Nitto cockpit . Silver rims look good too. Is it 708 Classic or Touristque?

Your super-clean metamorphosing Randonneur was one of the reasons I was so keen to get this one. It's 708 Touristique. I think the Royal was a bike with the same frame as the Randonneur but lower spec' components. (The 708 Gran Tour was definitely frameset only.) It definitely deserves decent kit and Nitto is always good.

Enjoy the ride , I can vouch for how lovely these bikes are , well thought out and ride very nicely . On mine I can do my shopping , a grand tour or go off road very versatile

Thank you. Yes, I can imagine being able to do a lot on this bike.

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

Thanks! Yes, reasons are all you need. I like your one in black Hammerite. Ticks my utilitarian boxes.

Thanks Davy. The pain that poor bike has endured on and off road and it never misses a beat. It's covered in chips and scratches which I need to touch up. I missed it immensely when I was working on it.