Recent content by 27motorhead

Missed this thread first time around. I'm a sucker for British build Italian clad MTB's... 😍:cool:

No Shimano SIS/indexing back then. The gear shifter would slowly move out out indexing as you rode, so the small stubby 2nd lever just acts as a manual indexing lock. 10 speed console below with split T-Bar shifter to enable front/rear derailleur changing and lockout lever on RHS.

10 speeds were US market only, but some got imported over to the UK. UK has to wait until the MK2 to get a 5 speed version. Lots of variant with Raleigh across different markets. Indeed, the Grifter and Bombers were tanks. In fact most kids bikes from the 70s were! Somehow we all survived!!! 🤪🤣👌

That's lovely! Wonder how/why the Pace stickers ended up at the top rather than the bottom of the legs! ENJOY!!! :cool:😍

Should be looking at cast iron radiators or doing a quote for a client, or even sleeping... but thought I'd dig out some Chopper pics instead. Priorities right??? 🤣 Some Mk1 variants including 10 & 5 speed variants MK1 Tall frame variant High back rest 5 speed MK1 MK2 Sprint 1975...

Will do some digging…

Forgot that Raleigh also offered a tall frame version of the MK1. Again only for the US market, cos they always seem to get the fancy pants versions!

MK3's were truly awful and caused a dip in Chopper prices. V-brakes, twist grip gear changing, crappy 2-piece saddle, they were WAY off the mark. The more recent MK4's are a pretty good modern execution of a MK2, but you just cannot beat the originals with MK1 being the most desirable over the...

Your other option is that @August Bicycles could make up a set. Gavin made a gorgeous fillet brazed stem for @Tootyred and is an amazing craftsman. Well worth tapping up and based in Norfolk too. https://www.augustbicycles.cc/extras

Looks amazing. Those tyres are proper spanking!!! 😍 :cool:

£800 is A LOT OF MONEY for a bar/stem combo!!! 😮 Good luck hunting some originals down... 💪🤞

Article about Tom making Bullmoose bar/stem combo again... https://bikepacking.com/news/mountain-bikes-by-tom-bullmoose/

That's stunning!!! 😍 😍 😍

☝️ YES!!!!! 😍😍😍

Nothing wrong with BSB's (British Steel Beasts!). I guess because we were told from a young age that mountain bikes originated from the US, the US stuff to me always felt more exotic and the UK MTB magazines seemed to big up US stuff too. However I did soon realise the UK did make some pretty...