Need help to IDENTIFY old Raleigh bicycle

[allicsirp]

A number of countries in the Mediterranean received export models - Malta, Italy, Egypt, Cyprus, Greece, etc. all turn up some unusual Raleighs. If we can't go by a rear hub stamp, then a late 1970s or early 80s export model would be the best bet. Export models often turn up with anachronistic features - pedals without reflectors, old-style fender stays, old style narrow rod brake bars, grips from earlier periods, etc. I was also interested in the wheel size because both 28 and 26 inch wheels are possibilities with export models, even with that frame style. 28 inch wheels would be a full-size roadster while you can have bikes with 26 x 1 1/2 inch wheels but roadster frames as the mid-size roadster. People are amazed sometimes when an export model from, say 1980, turns up, but it's loaded with parts and features that would seem straight off a 1950s or 60s Raleigh. The export models are a different variation for sure.

For sure this model was either for the Maltese market or brought to Malta by an English serviceman when Malta was still a British colony – pre 1974 because in the 1974 Malta became a Republic . According to an old ex Raleigh dealer – if his memory serves- in Malta such models where not popular in in early 80’s. He also suggested that since the saddle is Wright’s and not Brooks’ and the fact that it has a single gear freewheel hub it can possibly be a cheaper Raleigh version for the Maltese market – a very small market. The December 1979 production date puzzles me when considering bicycle history in Malta and the fact that the decals are from the 1970’s era.

 

[cudak888]

For sure this model was either for the Maltese market or brought to Malta by an English serviceman when Malta was still a British colony – pre 1974 because in the 1974 Malta became a Republic . According to an old ex Raleigh dealer – if his memory serves- in Malta such models where not popular in in early 80’s. He also suggested that since the saddle is Wright’s and not Brooks’ and the fact that it has a single gear freewheel hub it can possibly be a cheaper Raleigh version for the Maltese market – a very small market. The December 1979 production date puzzles me when considering bicycle history in Malta and the fact that the decals are from the 1970’s era.

The change in government wouldn't necessarily have changed existing commerce with the UK or importers established with TI/Raleigh; it's definitely a model intended for export.

Even though it's a Nottingham-built bike by the headbadge, the decal set is specifically export oriented, retaining Heron transfers on the seattube and fork blades. US/Canada-market bikes carried Rampar "R" logos, and UK models were 28" 3-speeds.

The Wrights saddle, indeed, is a cost-cutting move as well - though seeing as Tube Investments basically built these side-by-side with Brooks, it was probably just to make use of leather that didn't cut it for Brooks; it's basically a black-rail B.66; frames are likely interchangeable.

The fat 26" tires and single speed hub are clearly intended to make the DL-1 a bit more suitable for developing nations, were robustness and rough dirt roads are the norm. Probably the de-facto by this time for most exports not to the US or western Europe. Remember, this wouldn't have been specifically for the Maltese market, but would be what was offered to many other countries as well.

My '79 Rudge bears a Curacao Trading Corporation sticker on it, so Raleigh was clearly ready to provide export markets with bikes in the late 1970's. Just because UK products were losing favor with the speed of a 747 in a nosedive didn't mean they didn't try. (And by that, I'm specifically pointing a finger at British Leyland and the Rover SD1/Standard 2000 ).

 

[SirMike1983]

For sure this model was either for the Maltese market or brought to Malta by an English serviceman when Malta was still a British colony – pre 1974 because in the 1974 Malta became a Republic . According to an old ex Raleigh dealer – if his memory serves- in Malta such models where not popular in in early 80’s. He also suggested that since the saddle is Wright’s and not Brooks’ and the fact that it has a single gear freewheel hub it can possibly be a cheaper Raleigh version for the Maltese market – a very small market. The December 1979 production date puzzles me when considering bicycle history in Malta and the fact that the decals are from the 1970’s era.

You are correct that earlier on these were more popular bikes. Going by the serial number, this one is probably very late production, when the popularity of these bikes was down in your market. Raleigh persisted in producing old-style bicycles in many markets, long after they had faded in popularity. In fact, this particular bike may have survived in part because it was newer made, but somewhat antiquated in style, and so it wasn't ridden as much it otherwise would have been ridden.

Your dealer friend is correct that the single speed made it a more economy model compared to a three speed. That said, your bike gives a glimpse into the variety of different style bikes Raleigh sent to places throughout the world. We see many models from the US and Canada turn up (big markets) and some from Britain (home market), but these export models add some real variety to what we see. You have a nice find there.

 

[kingsting]

Pretty sure @kingsting will be able to clarify. The OP's 26" rim diameter measured ~24" according to their reply at BikeForums, so it's probably 559.

-Kurt

Mine is the weird 571 (Schwinn 1-3/4" size) ISO but the tires are marked 2.0

 

[cudak888]

Mine is the weird 571 (Schwinn 1-3/4" size) ISO but the tires are marked 2.0

That settles that then; more likely than not it's 571 on the OP's bike.

Do they have an English tire size code on them, in addition to the fractional size? F12 by chance?

-Kurt

 

[DKB]

Don't ignore the possibility that some part exchanges may have taken place. Few, if any, single-speed roadsters were imported to the US officially, so I'd guess that the intended market for the bike was somewhere else. It looks like a 28" wheel model; the USA 3-speed 28" model was the DL-1 ("moDeL 1") Apart from the single-speed hub and decal style, all its features that I can see are just like my old 1968 DL-1 that I no longer have.

 

[cudak888]

Don't ignore the possibility that some part exchanges may have taken place. Few, if any, single-speed roadsters were imported to the US officially, so I'd guess that the intended market for the bike was somewhere else. It looks like a 28" wheel model; the USA 3-speed 28" model was the DL-1 ("moDeL 1") Apart from the single-speed hub and decal style, all its features that I can see are just like my old 1968 DL-1 that I no longer have.

The OP is in Malta. US/Canadian market bikes would have had Rampar logos, this one doesn't.

-Kurt

 

[kingsting]

That settles that then; more likely than not it's 571 on the OP's bike.

Do they have an English tire size code on them, in addition to the fractional size? F12 by chance?

-Kurt

Why yes there is an F12 on the tires...

 

[cudak888]

Why yes there is an F12 on the tires...

Thanks for that; always thought Sheldon's classification of F12 as a Canadian size was incorrect. Interesting that it gives a shoutout for the Schwinn S7 nomenclature of 26x1-3/4".

I'll put a bet to it the OP's '79 also has this size (and that my previous 559 theory was incorrect).

-Kurt