...Bangers is a bit harsh but it's common for a 25 year old (or older) Raleigh to be chucked out in favour of a more modern lightweight aluminium machine. Quite a shame really as their rugged steel frames and iconic paint jobs - particularly from the late 80's/early 90's era - make for great runabouts.
I've grown up with the same respect for Raleigh as many people did back in the day. A household name synonymous with "reliable British-made bicycles". I recall marveling at the the "Handbuilt In Nottingham" slogan that Raleigh proudly slapped on their older 80's and 90's models.
In fact, a c1992 Raleigh Draken, just like this one, was one of the first bikes I ever worked on.
The thing I love most about these retro Raleighs is their funky paint jobs and decals. They really reflect a unique era in bicycle design with their mismatched colour schemes, wacky patterns and general emphasis on trying to stand out from the rest. By today's standards, you might be left asking "What the hell were they thinking?"
Here's a higher-end (for it's time) 1990 Raleigh Mirage, complete with Reynolds 501 steel tubing, restyled into a modern commuter.
And this early 90's Raleigh Outland (available now in the shop)
Some other notable retro Raleigh bangers include the Montage, Mustang, Maverick, Lizard, Highlander, Blueridge and Mantis.
I hope more of them find their way into the workshop.
Comments