Hi everyone, I saved this from the recycling centre yesterday on a whim, having not had a bike at all for a few years. I'm only 40 minutes from Nottingham where the bike was made, which is nice.
I have scrubbed through the Raleigh sales catalogues online and the only Zenith I can see referenced seems to be the town and country road bike, which was a 10 speed, whereas this seems to be in their mountain/all terrain spec.
It has Shimano SIS gears which looks original, so post '84. The serial seems to just be on a sticker.
This is labelled as a Zenith Special Edition (not that I think it makes it worth any more, I'm just trying to get to the root of the bikes actual age!)
The rear drop outs are 126mm which points towards maybe pre-90 but I'm aware that it might also be Raleigh lagging behind a bit on that one.
If you can shed any light I'd be very grateful. I'm already very attached to this bike after a quick 10km jaunt on it today. I'm sincerely sorry if it turns out to be post 1990.
by iCTMSBICFYBitch
6 Comments
On mobile, can’t edit. Magnet says the frame is steel, rust says the forks are steel.
It’s got that late 1980s look.
I’d say 90s based on brake design. Looks fairly low end.
The rear derailleur appears to be a Shimano Tourney, which was made SIS compatible in 1991.
[https://www.disraeligears.co.uk/site/shimano_tourney_derailleur_ty15_gs.html](https://www.disraeligears.co.uk/site/shimano_tourney_derailleur_ty15_gs.html)
Sometime after 1991. The derailleur could be circa 1993.
https://www.retrobike.co.uk/gallery2/v/Manufacturer+Archive/Shimano+Archive/Catalogues/1993/1993+-+TOURNEY+TY15.jpg.html
Wow MIG welds. Definitely not high end.