Best bike ever!

[vcballbat]

I had a Tomahawk with Mag wheels but really really wanted a Grifter when they came out.

https://www.macearchive.org/films/raleigh-launch-promotion

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

I had a Tomahawk with Mag wheels but really really wanted a Grifter when they came out.

https://www.macearchive.org/films/raleigh-launch-promotion

View attachment 922396

That's a rare bike now mate

 

[27motorhead]

Great thread Bob!

Good to see it resurrected. I wonder if the RetroBike mods could resurrect me when I pop my clogs (there's a great phrase!) and tidy up all my injured bits at the same time?

Even though I was too young to own most of these bikes, I still remember seeing many of them either in shops or catalogues or out on the streets in my village and they have been ingrained into the happy place in my brain.

Simple bikes with cool branding, logos and colourways which is a far cry to where we are with todays fugly machines

 

[doctor-bond]

I loved my Grifter! No hands, wheelies, croggies, broadies all mastered on that puppy.

(Although looking back, what an odd name for a bike? Imagine the meeting where it was decided:
Drifter?
No, too, well vague
Hipster?
Are you a communist Hodges? Ah, Grafter, eh?
Grafter?
Yes, works hard plays hard ….
It’s a kids bike not a plumber’s
Hmm. Ok Grifter.
Grifter?
Grifter. Rough, tough, yet free spirited. Grifter it is.)

 

[bikeworkshop]

Carlton continental.

5 speed
Cotter cranks
Chrome rims
Shorty Guards, probably the only aluminium on the bike.
Steel brake calipers

No "continental" features whatsoever.

Bought for me by my parents for my 13th birthday - £50 second hand in 1978

The sudden freedom i enjoyed would never be replicated.

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

I loved my Grifter! No hands, wheelies, croggies, broadies all mastered on that puppy.

(Although looking back, what an odd name for a bike? Imagine the meeting where it was decided:
Drifter?
No, too, well vague
Hipster?
Are you a communist Hodges? Ah, Grafter, eh?
Grafter?
Yes, works hard plays hard ….
It’s a kids bike not a plumber’s
Hmm. Ok Grifter.
Grifter?
Grifter. Rough, tough, yet free spirited. Grifter it is.)

Can you imagine the meeting regarding the "Hustler"

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

Great thread Bob!

Good to see it resurrected. I wonder if the RetroBike mods could resurrect me when I pop my clogs (there's a great phrase!) and tidy up all my injured bits at the same time?

Even though I was too young to own most of these bikes, I still remember seeing many of them either in shops or catalogues or out on the streets in my village and they have been ingrained into the happy place in my brain.

Simple bikes with cool branding, logos and colourways which is a far cry to where we are with todays fugly machines

Glad you're enjoying it Tim I'm old to remember sadly

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

Carlton continental.
View attachment 922401
5 speed
Cotter cranks
Chrome rims
Shorty Guards, probably the only aluminium on the bike.
Steel brake calipers

Bought for me by my parents for my 13th birthday - £50 second hand in 1978

The sudden freedom i enjoyed would never be replicated.

That's the point isn't it? We all now have far superior machines, yet we still look back with fondness. Because these machines changed our very existence.

 

[Totoro]

I had a Tomahawk with Mag wheels but really really wanted a Grifter when they came out.

I'd forgot all about the Tomahawk.

I had a Raleigh Budgie which was a smaller version of a chopper, our kid who is older than me had a Commando and a Grifter. I didn't like the Grifter and failed to see what the fuss was about, the Commando however, I used to beg to ride that. Looking back the Commando was heavy and not very good at all but I loved that thing and was so jealous. The we both got Burners.

A few years later an older lad rode up on something called an All Terrain Bike (Raleigh Mustang) and the BMX scene in my area died and we all started to get Mountain Bikes.

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

I'd forgot all about the Tomahawk.

I had a Raleigh Budgie which was a smaller version of a chopper, our kid who is older than me had a Commando and a Grifter. I didn't like the Grifter and failed to see what the fuss was about, the Commando however, I used to beg to ride that. Looking back the Commando was heavy and not very good at all but I loved that thing and was so jealous. The we both got Burners.

A few years later an older lad rode up on something called an All Terrain Bike (Raleigh Mustang) and the BMX scene in my area died and we all started to get Mountain Bikes.

Just for you mate