Raleigh Ozark vs Avanti question

[Mark Manley]

Am I correct in thinking these two Raleigh mountain bikes from the 1980s are the same execpt for the components? Were these the only two 531 framed mountain bikes to come out of their lightweight division in the 80/90s?
I have searched the net but there seem to be a lot of lower end Raleigh produced then that come up and I expect I will get a more difinitive answer asking here, thanks in advance.

 

[kingoffootball]

It might depend on the year, but generally they are described differently in the catalgoue:

1988

https://classiclightweights.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Raleigh1988-6.jpg
"531 ATB Custom Tube Set" vs "Full 531 ATB Tube Set"

That doesn't necessarily mean they are different, but suggest the Ozark might not be all 531 tubes. The forks were definiely different.

1989

https://www.retrobike.co.uk/gallery2/d/104192-2/Raleigh+Lightweights+1989.pdf
Avanti - full, Ozark - main tubes.

 

[Mark Manley]

Thanks, it looks like the Avanti is the highest spec frameset and that there are two other models in the range.

 

[ishaw]

I had a Raleigh Cajun which was 531 but don't see that in the catalogue. Memory is hazy as it was my first proper MTB, probably even first proper bike, I think it had exage trail or mountain, rhumbies and cantis if course.

It was white, turquoise and navy blue fade. Very nice all round. Only ever come across one for sale in my time so don't seem that common.

I'm sure there were other 531 framed MTBs from Raleigh around that time period.

 

[The History Man]

Such as blue ridge?

 

[kingoffootball]

The Blueridge was part of the 1990 range iirc. Raleigh's colour schemes started going 90s exactly from 1990 I think. That range had other nice models like the Thunder Road, Moonshine and holy grail White Lightning.

I also haven't seen the Cajun in a catalogue, but the paint scheme + the lack of u-brake suggests 1989.

 

[iow tom]

I am also on the hunt for a Raleigh kajun catalogue piece

 

[Mark south wales]

I had a Raleigh Cajun which was 531 but don't see that in the catalogue. Memory is hazy as it was my first proper MTB, probably even first proper bike, I think it had exage trail or mountain, rhumbies and cantis if course.

It was white, turquoise and navy blue fade. Very nice all round. Only ever come across one for sale in my time so don't seem that common.

I'm sure there were other 531 framed MTBs from Raleigh around that time period.

 

[Mark south wales]

guys, what paint options were on the avanti and ozrk

 

[ishaw]

There age is, my first ever, proper mountain bike. Where it began for me. Where did it stack up in the hierarchy?