Raleigh 853 question

[NeilM]

A friend of mine has a RSP 853, it really belongs to a guy who owns a cycle shop, but she has it on permanent loan and it is very well 'retro' specced (did you see what I did there?).

I recently gave it a service and was impressed with it, and as I had never see or heard of this frame before I sort of guessed it was a real rarity. Currently, there is an 853 Raleigh in the classifieds, way too small for me (just as well, with the number of bikes I have). That frame seems to be a team issue, so, to the point.

Was the 853 ever a production frame? Or were they all custom built by RSP?

 

[We_are_Stevo]

What, one of these?

............................................................................Mine own

....................................................................and someone elses

 

[NeilM]

Ohhh Nice!

No, the one for sale and the one I've serviced are both rigid, and very much race geometry.

What's the story on that one?

 

[Reluctant]

I owned an 853 Raleigh. It was called an RSP450 and was built in 1999 if i remember right. Lovely little bike with a pretty red n yellow flame paint job. As far as i know, it was an off the peg complete bike, although i bought it as a frame only from a work mate.

There ya go..........there's some pictures here -

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?p=281715

 

[We_are_Stevo]

bikemeister2000 is your man for that one; he used to build them...

 

[NeilM]

Thanks Reluctant, that's a cool frame.

My friends bike has a much fatter top tube, and is painted in the dullest, most anonymous purple colour. Just as well, as she lives in Bristol... where nice bikes have a nasty habit of disappearing.

Stevo, I was rather hoping he'd be along to enlighten me.

 

[bikemeister2000]

The only 853 I can recall is the one that has had a picture posted. We made as few as about 35 or so.

It may have been re-sprayed, or it may not even be one of ours. I certainly don't remember any "fat" top tubes, sorry.

Regards

 

[NeilM]

So you only ever made 35 frames in 853, wow!

Looks like this is definitely my unicorn.

Here is a picture of my friends bike. It seems my memory decieves me, and the top tube is not as fat as I remember.... I wonder what the heck I was thinking of

I hasten to add, these are before I serviced it!

 

[Grannygrinder]

.

Jones is selling one at the moment i think
Might be a tadge small for you though

I've got a cyclocross RSP in 853, lovely ride

 

[NeilM]

Re: .

Jones is selling one at the moment i think
Might be a tadge small for you though

I've got a cyclocross RSP in 853, lovely ride

Cooo, nice bike mister.

Yes, I've seen the one in the for sale section, and it is quite a bit too small, more's the pity, plus, I have more than enough projects at present.

It's just that I was really struck by Chrissy's bike, and then to see another for sale, it sort of piqued my interest in knowing a little more.