Had an orange 3spd. one somewhere in the 80's and loved it. Also had a 16'-rearwheel chopperbike, as far as i remember it wasn't a Raleigh tho. I also had the blue X with the 3spd Sturmey-hub somewhere in the 80's. Abt. 15 yrs ago i had 2 Mk3's as well, and i can't remember where they ended up sadly... If i get the change i'll buy myself another Mk3👍🏽🤗
Yeah! The T Shifter 5 speed tall sissy bar with thick backrest and the small lever adjustment for tension on the shifter. I know where there is another, Green. Unfortunately (for me), this is my brother's. If he hasn't sold it already, I know he has been offered over $10K for it. These were probably all Canadian builds as his was delivered to the central US.
Absolutely no messing around - all extraordinary bikes, nothing bog-standard there. Tremendously informative, so much to digest in such a short film. Just superb.
Raleigh Ireland 1967 New machiney had been installed, These machines had the capibility to increase production by 300%, new electro static paint guns were also installed… But as with the times, because Union Jack symbols were etched into these machines some workers refused to opperate them. As a result the plant became expensive to run and eventually closed permanently in 1980, All 540 staff lost their jobs. The Raleigh Plant in Nottingham was at that time so efficient that 1 weeks output would sustain the Irish market for a whole year. The Raleigh plant in Nottingham went into decine in the late 1990’s as it became more cost effective to produce Bicycles in Asia and India. By 2002 it was little more than a sales and marketing HQ. The factory closed in 2005 and was later demolished. Little of this historic factory remains. Today the Raleigh brand is still fondly remembered, but all of the production takes place in China, Vietnam and India.
Many thanks for the information. I have pictures of the Nottingham plant using the electro static guns during the 60's. Such a shame what happened to both factories.
Normal redline reproduction tyres can be bought from Raleigh, ebay, amazon etc. But if you want correct Lenton tyres for a fastback then you need to talk to a collector or trawl the internet.
Looks like a great meet . Think i might have to give it a go next year when i have finished the restoration of my mk 2 prismatic chopper , might also bring my red stars and stripes mk2 grifter along as well .
We could never afford such luxuries as these cool bikes, but the few friends I knew say about 70-71, who owned these, all got their bikes stolen not long afterwards. This was in Regina's (Saskatchewan) south end.
That's why I enjoy riding Iverson dragstrippers and TT dragsters as they are bigger and feel comfortable to ride. We have some frames in the pipeline that are scaled up copies of the original MK1. Some new videos will be coming soon
My brother had one of these, and I'm pretty sure I remember that the white stripe across the seat had a warning written on it like 'not suitable for two persons' or something. :)
@@Mudbrothers Thanks for the reply. My other brother had a Budgie at one time, which I remember as being like a junior model Chopper. Do you guys collect those as well?? :)
I had 2 older sisters,and we were a bit poverty stricken,so I always got their hand me down bikes,which were used when they got them,so when I became the new owner they were pretty wrecked. One day while riding my very girly bike in the park down our road,to the amusement of the local hard lads. I saw for the very first time one of these wonderful looking Chopper bikes. It was love at first sight,and the kid that owned it,was a school mate of one of my sisters,he was 3 years older than me,but actually let me have a ride on it. I have never forgotten the excitement of riding it,and that was in the summer of 76. I pleaded with my parents to get me one for Christmas and birthday combined,and that i would do all the chores they needed. Christmas came and went,and sadly no Chopper for me that year,nor on my birthday in January. So at the age of 9,I decided that I needed to be extra good,and I started to really make an effort to get in my parents good books. I was forever getting into trouble,I never came home on time,I would be fighting almost every day,and was getting a bit of a reputation as being a little bit wild. I was grounded regularly,but quickly learned to shimmy down the drainpipe just outside the bathroom window. My weekly allowance of 20 pence was constantly under threat of being stopped. I volunteered to peel the potatoes for my mum,and quickly became lighting fast at doing it. I am not going to lie and make out I became an angel,its hard to change your nature,but I did try,and I think that is why on Christmas day 1977 I received the best present in my entire life to this day. It was a purple Raleigh Chopper Mk 2. I rode that beast to death,and over the next 5 years we were inseparable except for the odd occasion it threw me off. I was hospitalised twice,and was seriously concussed both times.I never went anywhere without it. Very happy times indeed. I never realised that there were so many models. I love your collection. I have never stopped riding bikes BTW and commute to work everyday on a road bike,which is quite rare for a builder.
I had a Raleigh Chopper back in 1972 it was Burgandy Red Had it for about a week when it got stolen off our front porch. Never saw it again I would love to get another one just like it some day This was in Florida
Do you know where I can buy a FASTBACK 100 MKI? I got mine in '68 or '69. It was in fantastic condition about 7 years later when I sold it for $30 in grade 9 so I could get a 10 speed. Foolish!
Depends how early you want. The first ones are called cable throughs and they have the rear brake cable routed through the frame. They were the first Fastback 100, very hard to find. You'll see some in the video. Built late 68, sold early 69. Raleigh changed the design, and the Fastback 100's sold in the later part of 69 didn't have the brake cable running through the frame. Not sure which you had but I know someone who was selling a late 69 Fastback 100. Just not many of the cable through versions come up for sale.
Hi great collection,thing is I got a mk3 chopper,but it looks tiny I was thinking about putting maybe a bigger wheel on back either 24 or a 26 inch and maybe a 20 on front as I want to ebike it,have you tried this with any of yours of if not have you any advice on how to make it bit bigger?thank you
I did have a 5 speed a while ago with a 20" front wheel. I'm currently building a 24" rear with a 20" front, you could do the same, but you would need to modify the frame. An E bike conversion would be simple enough if you kept the same wheel size, its big enough for an adult as standard just you wouldn't want to go too fast with the standard 16" front wheel. If cost is an issue just fit a motor to the front standard wheel, however if budget allows then cut the frame up and build a larger version with larger wheels.
@@Mudbrothers hi have you tried a standard 26 on rear,or I could I get away with a 22 inch back wheel and bmx forks and wheel for the front say a 20 inch
The last one I did used grifter front forks so a 20” front could be fitted but that was on a mk2. 26” rear will need the frame modifying. Can be done easily just depends on your budget
@@Mudbrothers budget is okay,I just wanted a 26 in on Back and 20 in on front I’ll try grifter forks,though having a motor on the front of a chopper would be weird
One bike that I’ve had on the back burner for a while is using a cycle master back wheel/engine. It’s only 25cc in size but it allows a larger wheel to be used and the engine is neat inside the rear wheel. If your using big wheels then a motor in the rear wheel will be straightforward
This brings back so many great memories, thanks for posting. I had a Mk2 in that light metalic sky blue, unfortunately it was stolen at a video game arcade. It's been 40 plus years and I'm still devastated. LOL.
@@Mudbrothers Been watching your videos and never saw that color, it was a sight to behold. My Dad surprised me with the bike out of the blue. To this day I could never duplicate that feeling.
I got a white Raleigh chopper 3 speed for xmas when I was 5 yrs old, I rode it all over the place and went to school with it come rain or sunshine lol, I did all my maintance myself and know these 3 shifter choppers so well, mine was the slightly narrower handle bar version with the cross bar with everything els exactly the same, when I went to military my brother started using it though I never wanted him to, and it disappeared into thin air and I'm thinking maybe he sold or pawned it or something though when asking him he always said he don't know🤔, I'm 61 now and still cycle as after military I rode a bycycle (my awesome 3 speed Bomber) to work every single day come rain or shine even though I've always had a car too 👍, (Btw noone could keep up with me on my 3 speed bomber semi fat tire bike nomatter what bike they had because I simply changed the rear 18 tooth sprocket to a 14 tooth that made a huge difference since I was super fit too 😜👍), I've had quite a few bikes since and currently ride my fat bike but I miss my Raleigh chopper and wudda still had it today thanx to my silly late bro, funny thing is I don't see even one here like mine was with handle bar style and white color, peace from South Africa and keep on biking✌
It would make sense if the bike was a South African springs version. They did them in white, only mk2 though. So, I guess yours was a mk2? Rare colour to find today, I believe they have only been found in that colour in South Africa. But still hard to find in your country.
@@Mudbrothers oh ok thanks so much, that must be why I can't or never have found another one like mine, it never had springs though and was no different to most exept for the narrower handle bar and cross bar style and its color, so good to still see these awesome bikes been loved and enjoyed to this day, amazing 👍
@@frednel4326 The South African version only had springs in small writing on the head badge. Probably wouldn't have noticed. Mk2 bars are narrower. These bikes are quite popular now. Maybe try and find a rare South African one
@@Mudbrothers ooh OK again, sorry I mistook what you meant with springs 🤣👍, yes I do remember seeing the word springs on it and thinking now it was probably built or assembled in a place here called springs, hmm interresting yeah and good idea on looking for one cuz I'm gonna do just that, would love to own one again, speacialy one like I had but they all verry cool so any one as long as it's the planetary geared 3 speed ✌
Only thing that puzzles me now though is I'm 61 and got the chopper at 5 or 6 and the model times just don't quit add up lol, oh well I dunno because I know I'm not mistaken by when I got it though I do admit I have no clue what version it was, all I know is it was a damn good strong bike and I grew up with it as my first bike ever and used it till the army called me up and it went poof lol 👀
If you look at where the back wheel bolts on, there is a series of numbers stamped in the frame. Let me know the numbers and I'll tell you what date it is
@@davidnetherway4734 If it's the same Carmine red it's a very desirable colour. If the paint is in good condition, it would be best to leave original paint. Obviously if the sun has roached it then you can't do much other than re paint.
I’m remembering the early 70s chopper’s having flat rear slick tires and thin red wall on front and back tires .chopper’s were awesome looking bikes back then
You're right, only in the export market though. In the UK it was just the basic tyres, over in the states, Canada etc. They had the herringbone slicks with red line.
Any chance you might have any spare MK1 10 speed(American market) front chainrings? One is a higher gear ratio and the smaller is a lower gear ratio. I am trying to resurrect my 10 speed and that is the only piece I am missing!
I do but none that are spare. In the past I have used the chain rings from other Raleigh racing bikes. The chain rings are the same but the arms need to be changed for 5.5" Raleigh items. A lot of people don't realise but the chain rings changed designs through the years too. I could help you find one to modify if want. What country are you in?
