RALEIGH SBDU 753 DYNAFLITE.... 'Race Special No7'

[vcballbat]

The Raleigh Specialist Bicycle Development Unit at Ilkeston and later Nottingham built over 10,000 frames from 1974 onwards but so far only 6 Dynaflite's are known to exist that is until now... Dynaflite No7 has turned up. It's has been built up with mostly high quality NOS components but never ridden since it was built before 2010...

 

[vcballbat]

The three prototype frames built didn't have any support gussets at the head tube and bottom bracket unlike the production SB numbered frames which all share this feature. Now with the bike striped down I can decide what components are going to be suitable for the build...

 

[peetee]

Oh, my word. That is an elegant piece of work. Well grabbed sir.

 

[vcballbat]

Drilled dropouts are a feature on Raleigh 753 frames though it was not always the case. The Team frames, prototype or special customer builds didn't have this feature along with the later 753 frames. Bit of an odd combination on my frame with Campagnolo dropouts upfront and Shimano on the rear ...oh no not Shimpag..

 

[vcballbat]

The only parts that are going to make through to the build are the beautiful Campagnolo Victory brakes and the Campagnolo Super Record headset. Luckily l've got a spare Super Record alloy top nut and spacer to replace the steel ones fitted. Not sure if the Royce Titanium bottom bracket is going to work with the very special chainset I've chosen..

 

[scooter]

Wow another one ! What a find ….The dynaman…
Whats your thoughts on the paint with this one , orig or re-done? and can you date it?

 

[vcballbat]

Yeah it was a lucky find, now have three out of seven, well actually it could be eight if we include the Dynaflite BMX.. It was a yellow and black Cinelli first caught my attention as being something rather special and when I looked at the seller's other items...WOWZER .. an elusive Dynaflite in camouflage. Offer accepted and a few days later a drive up to Eastwood Nottingham which is right next to Ilkeston home of the SBDU. Arrived early so had time for a pilgrimage to Digby Street where the old SBDU office and workshop buildings are still standing. The SB prefix number dates it to mid 1981 so it falls right in the middle of the other two SB number frames that exist. Size 57 is stamped which is a bit misleading as it's to the very top of the seat tube. The true seat tube size as used by the frame builder is 545mm C-C which is exactly the same as my Manager Special Dynaflite.

 

[3wheeler7]

Weren't all Raleighs sized by BB centre to top of seat tube? My experience of them tells me so.

 

[scooter]

We need your lottery numbers

The Bmx in question I believe is Craig Schofields he was sponsored by Raleigh & won the world champs in whistler Canada in 84-85 ish I think , and that same bikes previous owner American rider Toby Henderson had it built for him around 79-80 ish , it has an awkward geometry and got broke and repaired a couple of times, Craig still has it , Reynolds 531 aero tubing.

But anyway back to the Dyna ….

 

[vcballbat]

Weren't all Raleighs sized by BB centre to top of seat tube? My experience of them tells me so.

Measurements that can be transferred frame builder to builder are centre of tube as a technical drawing shows. On a normal tube frame add or detract 15mm.. with oval it becomes 25mm.
This is a Team Raleigh chart, seat tube sizes are C-C.