Raleigh 853 question

[bikemeister2000]

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!

Whoa, it does look like one of ours. The decal set is much earlier than the frame. I see it has a decal at the bottom of the seat tube, which looks silver.

That decal was only used on frames or framesets, never on built bikes.

So, either it was made to order for someone, in which case it may have initials stamped into the bb shell, or it has been re-painted.

Best regards

 

[NeilM]

I hadn't noticed the silver sticker, but looking at some of my other photo's, there is certainly a sticker right at the bottom of the seat tube.

Next time I see Chrissy, I'll flip her over and look at her bottom.... bracket that is.

Having ridden the bike, very briefly, it is definately competition geometry, with a really good reach, I'll take some measurements.

The bike actually belongs to a cycle shop owner, over the far side of Essex (I think) and Chrissy has it on permanent loan. I was just struck by what an extremely well built and understated bike it is, it is also very well equipped, with XT and XTR throughout.

I'm in no rush, but I would rather like one of these 853 frames, as I find them intriguing. What a shame people did not realise just what RSP were capable of, I certainly didn't

 

[bikemeister2000]

What a shame people did not realise just what RSP were capable of, I certainly didn't

Neil, if only........

Maybe I'd still be there !!!!

 

[NeilM]

I think the problem was image.

Despite the team(s) and all the results, I never really regarded Raleigh as 'hard core' ATB bike / frame builders.

When I wanted a really good frame, I looked to America. If only I had known, I might have been able to get myself a hand made titanium frame, at a price I could have afforded :cry:

 

[bikemeister2000]

I think the problem was image.

Despite the team(s) and all the results, I never really regarded Raleigh as 'hard core' ATB bike / frame builders.

When I wanted a really good frame, I looked to America. If only I had known, I might have been able to get myself a hand made titanium frame, at a price I could have afforded :cry:

The really sad part about your post is the bit about "looked to America". During my time at Raleigh and later at other companies, I visited many factories in Taiwan and China. There I saw "American, Canadian and more being assembled on production lines, side by side.

All Raleigh Special Products bike were hand assembled by one person, who signed a card with there photo on it.

Check out this one on e-bay now.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RETRO-NEW-Ral ... 2ebe725083

The guy is Frank Corpe. He assembled bike at Raleigh for years. He was a great wheel builder too.

regards