This appears to be some variety of a department storeretail-chain house brand, entry level bike.
If it was mine I’d start by researching the house brands of larger retailers (department, automotive, hardware and general sporting goods stores) to find the brand, then researching their catalogs to try to identify the model.
lostarchitect on
You mentioned in your prior post that it might be a Raleigh. The serial number doesn’t fit any Raleigh type that I know of, and the fact that it has a different headbadge means it’s very unlikely to be a Raleigh.
I don’t know anything about RN bikes, unfortunately. They don’t seem to have been a large manufacturer. It might be a smaller brand produced in a larger brand’s factory. Overall, it looks like it was probably a fairly basic city bike (similar to a Raleigh Sports) that has been reconfigured.
The fact that it has bottle cage braze-ons and triple cable guides on the top tube make me wonder if it’s not as old as it looks. Bottle cage braze-ons didn’t become common until the 80’s. It’s possible they were added later, but it seems kind of unlikely someone would have done that.
Overall, unless we can find some information about RN bikes, I don’t think we can learn too much about it. If I was you, I’d just enjoy riding it and see where it can take you.
[deleted] on
[removed]
JamieBensteedo on
likely a raleigh knock off
maybe a hercules or robin hood alternative
mikefitzvw on
If it’s got an octacon-shaped headset upper race and eyelets on the rear dropouts in a weirdly low position, it’s probably a Raleigh clone. Raleigh clones are great bikes, just intended for different market segments and sometimes overlapping dealer territories.
tiregroove on
Sorry to say but this is what happens when you don’t prep your frames before painting them. At least you’re learning on a cheap frame.
Prestigious-Gap260 on
Do you like all those gears he added? Also, it looks like in one photo it had a nice aluminum fender on the front fork. That would look nice if he gave it to you. I love shiny fenders on vintage bikes
7 Comments
This appears to be some variety of a department storeretail-chain house brand, entry level bike.
If it was mine I’d start by researching the house brands of larger retailers (department, automotive, hardware and general sporting goods stores) to find the brand, then researching their catalogs to try to identify the model.
You mentioned in your prior post that it might be a Raleigh. The serial number doesn’t fit any Raleigh type that I know of, and the fact that it has a different headbadge means it’s very unlikely to be a Raleigh.
I don’t know anything about RN bikes, unfortunately. They don’t seem to have been a large manufacturer. It might be a smaller brand produced in a larger brand’s factory. Overall, it looks like it was probably a fairly basic city bike (similar to a Raleigh Sports) that has been reconfigured.
The fact that it has bottle cage braze-ons and triple cable guides on the top tube make me wonder if it’s not as old as it looks. Bottle cage braze-ons didn’t become common until the 80’s. It’s possible they were added later, but it seems kind of unlikely someone would have done that.
Overall, unless we can find some information about RN bikes, I don’t think we can learn too much about it. If I was you, I’d just enjoy riding it and see where it can take you.
[removed]
likely a raleigh knock off
maybe a hercules or robin hood alternative
If it’s got an octacon-shaped headset upper race and eyelets on the rear dropouts in a weirdly low position, it’s probably a Raleigh clone. Raleigh clones are great bikes, just intended for different market segments and sometimes overlapping dealer territories.
Sorry to say but this is what happens when you don’t prep your frames before painting them. At least you’re learning on a cheap frame.
Do you like all those gears he added? Also, it looks like in one photo it had a nice aluminum fender on the front fork. That would look nice if he gave it to you. I love shiny fenders on vintage bikes