Raleigh Randonneur 708 1997

[Super cadet]

Maybe I'm just a bit greedy but here are 2 708 Royals one with Surly inch ahead fork (brilliant) one near standard, ( last photo standard ) one 708 Randonneur with 631 forks off Dawes Galaxy which are better than standard fit and my 531 black Royal and lastly my old Royal 531. Just had a mad buying spree £10 for one frame 50 for surly fork 90 for black royal 150 for green 708

 

[Mark Manley]

This arrived yesterday which I believe it is a 708 Randonneur frame badly in need of some TLC, it was sold as spares or repairs and has the remains of a seatpost stuck in it, I may be investigating the delights of caustic soda at some point or seeing if I can rig it up on my mill and bore the remains out. I was on the look out for another Royal/Granada 531 frame as I would like to change the colour of my everyday ride which has a Granada frame but after riding it back to back with my 708 framed Royal realised how much nicer the latter rode then this came up for sale.
They appear to be the correct forks but from a larger frame, rather than modify them I expect I will find something with the correct stem length but that is for another day, either way nothing will be happening for a while as I have other things to get on with.

 

[Super cadet]

This arrived yesterday which I believe it is a 708 Randonneur frame badly in need of some TLC, it was sold as spares or repairs and has the remains of a seatpost stuck in it, I may be investigating the delights of caustic soda at some point or seeing if I can rig it up on my mill and bore the remains out. I was on the look out for another Royal/Granada 531 frame as I would like to change the colour of my everyday ride which has a Granada frame but after riding it back to back with my 708 framed Royal realised how much nicer the latter rode then this came up for sale.
They appear to be the correct forks but from a larger frame, rather than modify them I expect I will find something with the correct stem length but that is for another day, either way nothing will be happening for a while as I have other things to get on with.

View attachment 1009242

You could ofcourse use an inch Ahead if height of steerer tube allows, I have 3 off these frames all set up differently but the one with ahead has flat bars with an inch ahead surly forks (frame was a tenner with non original forks) and it rides really well, all depends what you're looking for but its a thought

 

[gilmo789]

If you're wanting to sell the forks, I'd be interested...

 

[bikeworkshop]

They appear to be the correct forks but from a larger frame, rather than modify them I expect I will find something with the correct stem length

I think they are the original fork, and were fitted with a tall stack headset, and maybe a half inch spacer under the locknut.
The threads look long enough to work with the right headset.

 

[Mark Manley]

I think they are the original fork, and were fitted with a tall stack headset, and maybe a half inch spacer under the locknut.
The threads look long enough to work with the right headset.

You could be right, I have offered them up and the thread looked long enough, it is longer than the stem on my Royal which is what got me wondering.

 

[bikeworkshop]

Sometimes on the smaller frames, around 1990, longer fork steerers were accommodated to allow for the higher handlebar for lady riders, whose longer leg/shorter torso demands less Drop from the saddle to the bar - and decent stems were mostly flat - a stem with an angle looked odd on a tourer yet.

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

The cable anchor is quite thick, I use a Tange falcon sealed bearing headset and it's fine.