It is a 1969 Raleigh with rod brakes. It says “Made in England”. I am still researching the model, but I think it is either a Tourist or Superbe. I am leaning to it being a Tourist. I bought it off of eBay for $81, and am going to clean it up, and ship it to my dad.
He had bought a bike like this years ago, and gave it to me to clean up for him. I never had a chance to do much with it. It was still at my mom’s house when I moved out. When we later cleaned out my mom’s house, the bike was gone. I think one of my brothers may have sold it for beer money. But my dad still mentions the bike now and then. When I saw this on ebay being sold by a local seller, I bid and won it. It needs a little bit of work, but is in much better shape than the other bike.
The front brake pads are missing. But I can buy those. I have seen some pictures, and it looks like some similar bikes have some sort of extensions the project the front brakes slightly forward, but this bike doesn’t have them. Not sure if it didn’t have them, or they are missing. I don’t think I will need them.
nice looking bike. it is definatley a tourist. i have a 1979 tourist that i bought new that may.i still find it more comfortable, & quicker than anything built today. it really attracts attention as well . its been a long time since i’ve seen another one. take good care of her.
Comment by gary sharrard — September 21, 2007 @ 3:10 pm
grande bicicleta.
Comment by joao lima — September 25, 2007 @ 5:10 pm
Hello. I`m from Portugal an i love raleigh.This bicycle it`s very rare in my country.The bike on the photo is a great machine, very elegant, pure raleigh style
Comment by carlos lima — September 25, 2007 @ 5:19 pm
Nice looking bike, just like my 1976 tourist. I’m looking for a source for replacement brake pads. Did you replace your front pads yet?
Comment by enzo — December 30, 2007 @ 12:59 am
I have high hopes for some rod brakes from this shop in SW london
Comment by chris — January 3, 2008 @ 11:53 am
http://www.cyclesofyesteryear.com/cycleshop/sparepart.htm
Comment by chris — January 3, 2008 @ 11:54 am
If your bike is black and origional the model is a Dawn or Dawn Tourist but I think the Tourist had cable brakes and the Dawn had rod brakes. Green Raleighs were Superb models with the same distinction as to the brakes.
Comment by ian — March 6, 2008 @ 7:40 pm
Hello I have I raleigh my self which I bought while I lived in the uk. I brought it over to Norway and now I need part for the breaks. Would you happen to know where I can buy parts for it, in london?
Comment by R cortez — May 21, 2008 @ 12:45 pm
Hey R Cortez, not sure what brake parts you are looking for. I bought brake pads for it on Ebay.
Comment by Rob — May 22, 2008 @ 9:08 am
That is a neat old bike! Not sure what exact model it is, but really cool, almost vintage. I have an old bike too, a “Crescent”, made in Sweden.
I like those bikes, as posters, there’s a page about old bicycle posters on my site: http://www.theposterfinder.com
Comment by Vintage-bicycle Mike — July 2, 2008 @ 5:43 am
If the wheels are 28 inch diameter then is may be a DL-1 with the chain cover removed. I have found Raleigh parts through Harris Cyclery and Menoteny Cycles. Look on Oldroads.com or retroraleighs via google. good luck
Comment by Spencer — July 21, 2008 @ 2:13 pm
I have a wonderful 1979 Raleigh Tourist, which I ride to work each day in fair weather. I am looking for brake pads and would love to hear from anyone who has a source.
Thank you,
Bob
Comment by Robert Holt — July 27, 2008 @ 10:27 pm
I have a similar bike, given to me by my neighbor. The S-A 3 speed shifter needs replacing, as do the tires. The rod brakes are a marvel of simple engineering. When the tires on my bike were good, I took it out for a ride and it was a very interesting ride. Once I was underway, say over five to 10 mph, the bike performed well, but just starting out is an exercise in balance. If you look at the rake on the front fork, the center of steering is WAY out in front of the bike, sort of like a chopper motorcycle, making low speed maneuvers a challenge. However, it’s still a fun ride, albeit once in awhile. An interesting thing about Raleigh bikes is that the rear fender always had the white paint. It’s foggy in Great Britain, and they’ll use whatever “safety” measures they can to make a rider visible. You have a very nice ride. Keep it in the family.
Comment by David R — August 5, 2008 @ 6:05 pm
I just got all new brakes for my ’76 Raleigh Tourist from Yellow Jersey.
http://www.yellowjersey.org/vinbrake.html
I’m trying to find the website I ordered replacement rims from. (Shop located somewhere in Pennsylvania. Yellow/gold background on the website. Lists and lists of parts if you come acrossed it)
Comment by Susan — September 8, 2008 @ 2:24 pm
found it!!! I was almost dead on with the description, there’s a blue border on the left after you enter from the pink page.
http://www.bikeville.com/
“The most interesting bike shop in the world.”
Comment by Susan — September 8, 2008 @ 3:05 pm
My dad gave me a Raleigh which seems to be a 27″ bike, I’ve tried to make out the model on the bike and it seems to read Rialto… Tried looking for this model all over the web but have not been able to acquire any information on it. Tires need to be replaced along with the tubes. I believe they are not the normal tube as for the stem they are smaller in width. Some sort of presto valves. I think thats what they are called, could be pronounced wrong by me. Any ways is there any type of information that you can provide to this matter. Thank you very much for any assistance.
Comment by Richard Carrillo — October 26, 2008 @ 12:15 am
Richard, I found this thread here about someone trying to get info about a Raleigh Rialto:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=390863
Sounds like he got a bunch of info. You will need to sign up for the forum to see the pictures though. But it is a great site if you are into bikes.
Comment by Rob — October 26, 2008 @ 7:33 am
[img]http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs023.snc1/2562_1106879277325_1387094983_309291_8122962_n.jpg[img]
hi everyone I am hoping someone could help me date this bike I bought locally for £35 I tried for hours trying to find out info about it but can’t seem to find one that looks exactly like mine
Comment by John Rodriguez — March 13, 2009 @ 9:40 am
If it has 28″ wheels, it is most probably a DL-1 Tourist, although it is missing a few bits. Models exported to American generally had a “hockey-stick” style chain-guard, rather than the full chain-case. In order to reduce the weight and avoid certain tariffs. I do believe that the Tourist was the last bicycle in Raleigh’s line to still be manufactured with rod-operated brakes as late as 1985. The frame only came in two sizes for adults – 22″ and 24″ (measure from the bottom bracket spindle to the top of the seat-tube). I’d like to get my hands on one of these, but it would appear that few of these made their way to Australia.
Comment by Martin Hartley — June 29, 2009 @ 1:04 am
Raleighs have been in our family since the 50’s. My father owned at least 2″ bikes.
We owned 2 26″ bikes while studying in Cyprus in 1963. My brothers was a special model with chrome mudguards and the frame was painted red metalic. It had everything. The chain case was also chrome.
I now live in Australia and own 2 Raleighs. One a 12 speed racer dating from the 70’s and made in England. The other a 12″ city hopper.
While in Jakarta Indonesia some 10 years ago, I purchased a 28″ copy of a Raleigh Made in China called the “Phoenix”. It has the chain “full” case and rod brakes.
All spreas are available from Indonesia or China.
Hope this helps those seeking spares.
Cheers,
Theo – Sydney Australia.
Comment by Theo Lyras — July 9, 2009 @ 4:41 am
what is the value on one of this 1969 Raliegh bike?
Comment by jerry — October 30, 2009 @ 4:07 pm
New to the vintage bikes. I do like the Raleigh, and would like to buy one. Any place in Orange County Ca. that sells the 60’s 70’s Raleigh. email me at vwdlamont@yahoo.com Thanks
Comment by David — August 17, 2010 @ 8:13 pm
Need a kickstand for rod brakeRaleigh. Rod running aft and construction won’t allow modern kick stands to be installed.
what did their original stand look like so I can fabricate one if possible? Any helpful comments would be appreciated….
raleigh
Comment by Don Byrnes — September 27, 2010 @ 7:25 pm
Here 2 photos without whole details:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?667084-WTB-Kickstand-for-Raleigh-DL-1-Loop-Frame&p=11201416&viewfull=1#post11201416
But when I have time I can take some pictures of my one once unmounted and send it to you if i got your email. I will replace mine once I got a good solution for a new and more stable one.
Comment by ronbb — November 15, 2010 @ 10:15 pm