RE: [CR]Info wanted: Rampar Superbe

(Example: Component Manufacturers:Chater-Lea)

Date: Thu, 1 Sep 2005 09:59:18 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Fred Rafael Rednor" <fred_rednor@yahoo.com>
Subject: RE: [CR]Info wanted: Rampar Superbe
To: "Bingham, Wayne" <WBINGHAM@imf.org>, Classic Rendezvous <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
In-Reply-To: <D24CD8D2A42DBE408E31D99568D7AAFF04369F48@MLSSWN02P.WAS.INT.IMF.ORG>


Wasn't "Rampar" actually an acronym for Raleigh AMerica Parts of something similar to that? It makes me wonder whether the Raleigh Superbe or the similar Rampar bike were ever actually available in the UK? I.e. perhaps headquarters would only allow real Raleighs to roll on the sacred soil of Britain?

Still, when I first saw Wayne's Raleigh Superbe I realized this: when the bike was new, I would not have accepted it as a "real" Raleigh and would probably not have accepted the fact that it's Japanese components functioned better than the Campagnolo, Huret and Stronglight stuff mounted on the comparable British frames.
     Cheers,
     Fred Rednor - Arlington, Virginia (USA)


--- "Bingham, Wayne" wrote:


> I have the Raleigh version, but have never heard of a Rampar
> version of
> the same bike. Maybe that was for a specific market. Sounds
> like the
> same bike though. Mine is pretty complete and original, save
> the
> cable/housing and bar tape. The complete Superbe group,
> including a
> stem and seat post, is really nice. It can be seen here:
>
> http://www.wooljersey.com/gallery/Raleigh-Superbe
>
> Wayne Bingham
> Lovettsville VA
>
>
> >>>>>>
> My 1980 Raleigh catalog lists a Raleigh Superbe with the same
> specs and
> components. Tange DB tubing and a full Superbe group.The
> finish is gold
> lacquer over chrome. I also remember the Rampar which was I
> believe was
> the same bike. As I remember it Rampar was the brand name
> Raleigh used
> for it's Japanese built bikes. When I first saw this bike I
> thought it
> was gorgeous and the Superbe components, at that time Campy
> clones, had
> a really nice finish.
> Maybe it doesn't have the panache of a Euro brand but it is
> still a nice
> bike.
>
> Norm Lafleur
>
>
>
> > Howdy folks.
> > My riding buddy Phil Roberts was given an interesting bike.
> It is a
> Rampar
> >
> > with the remains of a full Suntour Superbe group, even a
> stem. It is
> Tange
> >
> > Champion tubing (see below for more details). It has pretty
> nice
> looking
> > lugwork and a sloping internal type crown. I am not sure
> what the
> finish
> > is
> > ,
> > but it almost looks like it was copper or brass colored or
> perhaps
> some
> > kin
> > d
> > of colored chrome. It has faded to a silvery color except
> where clamps
>
> > etc.
> >
> > shaded the finish. Anybody know anything about this bike?
> Sheldon
> Brown
> > isn't familiar with it... Thanks!
> > Doug Van Cleve
> > Chandler, AZ
> >
> >
> > ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> > From: Phil Roberts <azpdr@yahoo.com>
> > Date: Aug 31, 2005 4:05 PM
> > Subject: Re: Silk Hope
> > To: Doug Van Cleve dvancleve@gmail.com
> >
> >
> > Seat tube sticker sez "Rampar built for Raleigh".
> > Another sez something about Champion tubing. Another
> > sticker touts the Suntour Superbe components. Top
> > tube sticker sez "Superbe". Downtube sticker sez
> > "Rampar". I have no clue on the finish, since no one
> > seems to even know anything about the bike. I just
> > know that Rampar was mostly a cheezy bottom-feeder
> > line, and while the first ones came from Japan (where
> > mine evidentally originated) the latter ones, mostly
> > BMX and cheap low end, came from Taiwan.
> >
> > Sheldon surmised:
> >
> > "My guess is this is late '70s or early '80s, probably
> > toward the end
> > of the Rampar brand. I don't recall ever seeing this
> > model."
> >
> > I know it's late 70's (pre-pro). And I would think it
> > was more toward the beginning of the Rampar brand.
> >
> > Maybe a Raleigh dealer somewhere might remember. Oh
> > well, it doesn't make much diff to anyone but me.
> >
> > ~Phil~
>
> _______________________________________________
>

____________________________________________________ Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs