Very early 753 SBDU frame

[Midlife]

Just curious carlh.............I'm 54, how old are you?

you don't need to answer, it's just a curiosity thing about how old people are on here

Shaun

 

[carlrh]

46 today joined my first club in 1980 started working in friends shop sat and holidays in 81 been away from trade a few times but keep coming back lol

 

[lastpubrunner]

Thanks carlrh...........maybe my memory isn't so bad after all

So I guess the frame in question is 1976 as it's not a "pre-production" 1975 model which I would have seen touted by the raleigh reps.................these are the same reps that would ride around a stage some years later on a Raleigh Grifter LOL

Difficult to see...........are the lugs cut down Capella?

Shaun

I been told, that there are those who believe it is a 1975 frame. I'm not sure why these features may be important, but apparently, it is significant that it has a 27.2 seat post and the 753 decal is in French. Some of the components say 'pat. 75', so it is surely 75 or 76.

Thank you one & all, for the very interesting replies - I really enjoy learning more about the SBDU bikes.

Andy

 

[Midlife]

And

Here's a snippet from Mike Mullet again.........

As written by Mike Mullett - :

1) 753 is Metric-diameter tubing (28.0 mm O.D. for the seat and down tubes, 26.0 mm O.D. for the top tube), and was introduced in about 1975. Seat posts for 753 frames are either 27.0 (forsmall frames) or 26.8 mm (for large frames).

2) 753R and 753T are Imperial (English/Inch) diameter tubing (28.6 mm O.D. for the seat and down tubes, 25.4 mm O.D. for the top tube), and began production in 1983. Seat posts for 753R and 753T are either 27.2 or 27.4 mm.

Of particular interest is the thinner Imperial tubing which takes the 27.4mm seat pin (pillar). Not a lot of people are aware of this. All these tube sets have a part number starting 80*, but Reynolds seem to have lost these specs.


so the 27.2mm diameter seat post if a mystery.......

Shaun

PS Carlh,,, I started working weekends at Cliff Prat cycles (Hull) in the 70's and rode for Hull Thursday Road Club. I left the scene in 1978 to go to university and bikes fell by the wayside. After dabbling with Fast Subaru's I now like to tinker again with bikes, mainly stickung to the 70s'

 

[Old Ned]

I was told by a Reynolds specialist that the '753' stands for March 1975 when it was first evolved in the Reynolds boardroom - and the badge is purple because they had Cadbury's chocolate biscuits with their afternoon tea.

Interesting bike. I like the Capella styled lugs, makes it a bit 'different' to the usual Raleigh 753's.

 

[glpinxit]

My 1977 SBDU (SB198 is Reynolds 753 and takes a 27.2mm seat post. Research suggests that this is unusual but not unique.