Raleigh Europa 1979 - Project (With lots of Photos)

[KidDynamite]

Hi All,

I bought this Raleigh Europa 1979 bike like a month ago, the bike was in a bad state. As a road bike I owned a Raleigh Milk like 10 years ago (also restored it myself), but this one was more looking forward to restore it.

From the information I got from the net and another forum resulted that the bike is a Raleigh Europa built on December 1979. The serial number starts as NS902.

Changed the factory colour as I really wanted to copy the Raleigh Corsa paint job, but now decided that I will leave the bike as a one colour job.

This is the state of the bike as I got it and the results so far

After only one ride I began to strip off the bike to start my project.

After the stripping of the parts after a few days started to remove the paint from the bike.

Had to change fork and stem as they were very badly corroded and got stuck, both the fork and the stem are Raleigh

Transfered the bike to another garage and started applying the first under coat:

Started the spraying of the bike and applying lacquer

Currently still wet sanding and polishing the frame and also restoring the parts.

Bought new cabling, bearings and other bits and also both new Tektro RL340 black levers

And arrived also the bar tape .. Deda Blue

Still more work to do on the bike but hopefully in a few days time will be back on the road .

Hope you all like my project and continue to follow up with more updates

 

[Spokesmann]

A big job, need lots of love that one. Keep us posted!

 

[Midlife]

Was there no sign of the original "Europa" raleigh team colors? I don't remember them coming in anything other than the red / black / yellow.

It was the team colours that made them easy to sell.

My recollection of them was a Carlton frame with wrap over seat stays, crespera lugs, brazed rear centre pull and a yellow head tube. The Europa also appeared as a different (raleigh) frame with different bits and a black head tube...... Keeping the Europa brand name.

Lot of work there

Shaun

 

[KidDynamite]

Hi Spokesmann,

Thanks for the comment , will keep you posted for sure.


Hi Shaun,

Yep, As per the previous owner and a few paint left on the bike, the bike was red.

I also found the shop from were the bike was sold (as the previous owner told me) and the guy at the shop informed me that it's an Europa frame.

 

[Robbied196]

That's the kind of attention to detail I like to see, strip the calipers to clean and polish

Looking good, and Malta is a great place to be restoring a bike.

 

[KidDynamite]

Hi Robbied196, thanks for the comment , I am now really looking forward for my second ride on the bike, this time will be a much better ride then the first one for sure .

This week aligned both wheels and also both a new black isca selle saddle with a small white touch / wording on it.

Hopefully tomorrow or next week will buy new tyres and maybe start to reassemble the bike. I will be looking for "all black" tyres.

Any other suggestions are very welcome

 

[Rich34]

Just goes to show you don't need 753 and Record for an interesting build! Look forward to seeing the finished article, personally I wouldn't go for all-black tyres, I'd put amber walls on it.

 

[KidDynamite]

Thanks Rich34 for the comment, much appreciated and also thanks for the suggestion. This morning I will continue to polish a bit the frame as I really want the bike on the road as soon as possible now

 

[KidDynamite]

Today I received the speedometer, it was a worth speedometer from the bay, and really turned out to be a worthed part.

Pics to follow up

 

[KidDynamite]

Hi All,

Back with some updates and more pics

The bike is coming up really clean and as expected.

Yesterday I taped the handlebars, it was the first time I every taped a handlebar, but overall came up really well also.

Still have some more progress to be done, any comments are welcome

Thanks.