Raleigh Activator I / II appreciation thread

[FluffyChicken]

Re: Re:

I have a Claud Butler Pinelake as an MTB for now, and a TDF 2014 road bike. I don't think her indoors would appreciate another bike in the garage.

Buy a shed... it's not in the Garage then :facepalm:

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/auction/resu ... =no#result

 

[Auld Bimbler]

New member here, hi folks.

I've a question for you retro gurus.

Recovering from a year of long Covid, I'm slowly getting back to health so will be easing back into cycling after 12 years out of the saddle.

I went to get my old Raleigh Apollo (clunky but never let me down) which was stored in a friend's (very damp and leaky) lock up. I was shocked to see the state it was in. The cranks, chain set, and wheels are seized up solid with rust.

By way of recompense he gave me a bike from his loft (how the?) That I could cannibalise.

It's that bike that brought me here.

Now go easy on me, it's a hardly used (I wonder why?) Raleigh Activator "Special Edition" SRT, with SR duo track 7006 forks, 18 speed grip shift and those 3 elastomer rubbery things (WTAF?) at the back and grey tyres.

As the crankset, chain, derailleurs, wheels etc are in great condition, would they be a simple swap over to the Apollo?

Thanks in advance.

Awaits incoming...

 

[Antwack]

New member here, hi folks.

I've a question for you retro gurus.

Recovering from a year of long Covid, I'm slowly getting back to health so will be easing back into cycling after 12 years out of the saddle.

I went to get my old Raleigh Apollo (clunky but never let me down) which was stored in a friend's (very damp and leaky) lock up. I was shocked to see the state it was in. The cranks, chain set, and wheels are seized up solid with rust.

By way of recompense he gave me a bike from his loft (how the?) That I could cannibalise.

It's that bike that brought me here.

Now go easy on me, it's a hardly used (I wonder why?) Raleigh Activator "Special Edition" SRT, with SR duo track 7006 forks, 18 speed grip shift and those 3 elastomer rubbery things (WTAF?) at the back and grey tyres.

As the crankset, chain, derailleurs, wheels etc are in great condition, would they be a simple swap over to the Apollo?

Thanks in advance.

Awaits incoming...

Why not use the Activator? Any pics?

 

[Auld Bimbler]

Why not use the Activator? Any pics?

I was actually thinking of that.

I googled it, as you do, and saw the horrendous rep it had. I never expected that lol.

Its in great nick so I might as well. Gift horse and all that

If I'm honest, I've never had a comfy, suspension forks, light bike in my life so I might as well.

The suspension on this is cosmetic if anything, and as springy as a church pew...

 

[Auld Bimbler]

Why not use the Activator? Any pics?

Sorry, trying to multitask here.

I'll get pics up in a bit!

 

[Auld Bimbler]

As requested...

With a bit of tough love earlier I actually got my old faithful Apollo going. Its now a "project".

This is the infamous Activator. I'll use this as a runaround with a large paper bag and helmet on.

I adjusted the seat and had a go up and down the street. It was OK, responsive enough as bikes go, and I didn't fall off.

All that was needed was a wee squirt of WD40 really. The bike didny need any.

 

[Auld Bimbler]

This is the elastomer rear shock.

It's rock hard. The only thing stretching here is the claim that it's a shock absorber.

There's a bolt through the middle of it and that worries me. That's probably where the rear forks would have a catastrophic failure.

Hmmm...

 

[Medmal]

Newbie here..

I know very little about bikes, my knowledge seems to stop in the 1970s with my old Raleigh Olympus. For the last year I've got back into cycling with an Apollo Kalamunda that has laid in the garage for 20 odd years, I bought it new circa 1993 and hardly used it. I've put 2.5k on in it the last year albeit with new bottom bracket, tyres, spokes, wheel bearings and brake blocks.

What does this have to do with the Raleigh Activator you all ask? Well this morning walking the dog there was an Activator with a sign on it saying 'Free to a good home' I couldn't resist. Got it home, all seems pretty good, very clean, little damage and hardly used. The bottom bracket seems good as do the wheel bearings, all seems to work. It has no rear suspension, but the front seems ceased, it's 18 speed, grey with yellow front forks.


Took it out for a spin this afternoon, now let me tell you compared to my Kalamunda it's pure class! And lighter too. It's a keeper...

Anyone have any idea as to what year it may be?

 

[Antwack]

Newbie here..

I know very little about bikes, my knowledge seems to stop in the 1970s with my old Raleigh Olympus. For the last year I've got back into cycling with an Apollo Kalamunda that has laid in the garage for 20 odd years, I bought it new circa 1993 and hardly used it. I've put 2.5k on in it the last year albeit with new bottom bracket, tyres, spokes, wheel bearings and brake blocks.

What does this have to do with the Raleigh Activator you all ask? Well this morning walking the dog there was an Activator with a sign on it saying 'Free to a good home' I couldn't resist. Got it home, all seems pretty good, very clean, little damage and hardly used. The bottom bracket seems good as do the wheel bearings, all seems to work. It has no rear suspension, but the front seems ceased, it's 18 speed, grey with yellow front forks.


Took it out for a spin this afternoon, now let me tell you compared to my Kalamunda it's pure class! And lighter too. It's a keeper...

Anyone have any idea as to what year it may be?

Any pics?

 

[Medmal]

Any pics?

I'll post a couple tomorrow