Vintage Raleigh Riviera found on rubbish pile. Would anyone know the year of this model? Really impressed with the lock on the front fork, never seen one before.
by paperplane747
Vintage Raleigh Riviera found on rubbish pile. Would anyone know the year of this model? Really impressed with the lock on the front fork, never seen one before.
by paperplane747
11 Comments
Look on the 3 speed hub. There is usually a date stamp on it.
[The date](https://colwoodwheelworks.co.uk/sturmey-archer/sturmey-archer-hub-date-markings/) that the Sturmey Archer hub was made will be on it
Glorious! Please do share that hub number!
A lock on the crown? What’s that for?
I would check for any crash damage like a damaged downtube but other than that this bike is probably extremely easy to get running again. They are basically indestructible and built to last.
A simple wash, polish and wax will bring out the original color and you should be able to sell these to someone who likes these. The oil bath chain case is worth something on its own.
Check the frame around the seat post for a serial number, that can be cross referenced online to give a more accurate date of manufacture than the date on the hub, as wheels are often replaced as they wear out with age.
Very cool bike
What a find!
What is the best way to remove the surface rust on a bike like this one? And how does one best seal it after removal to prevent the rust from reappearing?
I read aluminum foil with water, aluminum foil with Coca-Cola, polish cream, chemical rust converter, soft brushes? And seal with car wax?
Grateful for advice!
Fscinating! Does anybody know anything about this model? Never heard of it before or seen it in a catalog, but it looks pretty much like a Superbe.
Its a Raleigh Franken bike.
The frame is late, 60s or early 70s, because of the downtube stickers and logo design.
Chain guard likely from the 50s.
Front locking fork is likely from a Raleigh Superbe. It’s hard to find, but you might still be able to get a key for it. There’s a number on the face of the lock, and keys come up on Ebay (UK more often), and the key design shares the number. I had a locksmith make me one a decade ago and was told I likely got some of the last blanks on the US West Coast.
Added: Come to think of it, I’m not interested in the bike, but I got a project waiting for a fork like that. If it’s straight.