[CR]Re: Japanese Raleigh

(Example: Racing:Wayne Stetina)

Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2003 13:41:29 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Jerry Crouch" <jerry.crouch@sbcglobal.net>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
In-Reply-To: <CATFOOD3mbfJ8VrRQvX00000551@catfood.nt.phred.org>
Subject: [CR]Re: Japanese Raleigh

>Hello David -
>
>Sorry this reply is kind of late, but I'm just catching up after many
>weeks working out of the country. Raleigh did produce a
>Reynolds-framed
>Japanese-built bike in (I believe) '80 and/or '81. It was called the
>Superbe and came with a full Suntour Superbe group. My understanding
>is
>that one year the frame was built with Reynolds 531 and the other year
>it was built with Tange Champion No.1 tubes. I have one of the Tange
>frames. I've never seen one of the Reynolds frames, but while I was
>digging up info on the one I have, I recall learning that the first one
>was Reynolds and the later one was Tange. Mine, as I believe all were,
>is finished in transparent-gold-over-chrome for a gold plated look. I
>have pix if you (or anyone else) are interested. The Superbe is kind
>of
>cool in that it is pretty much entirely high-end Japanese, at least for
>the period, and the workmanship is pretty good. It's really only
>speculation on my part, but I believe that the Superbe model is the
>only
>531 frame Raleigh ever made in Japan.
>
>Ciao -
>
>Wayne Bingham
>Falls Church VA
>
>>>>>>>Not sure if this is time frame. What years did they make 531
>Raleigh's in
>Japan? I was told the bike was
>purchased in the 80's don't know if that's late or early.
>
>
>David Stow
>Jacksonville Beach, Fl<<<<<<

I have a Japanese Raleigh branded frame that I purchased by mail order from an ad in Bicycling from Michael's Cyclery in Iowa in about 1983(?). There is no model designation on the frame. It is Reynold's 531 with the Guaranteed Built with Reynolds 531 butted tubes forks and stays decals. There is a gold scripted Made in Japan decal on the seat tube. Suntour dropouts, chrome fork and stay ends, gold graphics and lug outlines. Michaels offered the frame in a racing version in dark blue, and a sport touring frame in bright red.

Jerry Crouch
OKC, OK