1977 Raleigh Chopper MK2

[Spokesmann]

A few views of my Mk2 in infra red dating from 77. Extensive replating and painting have been done on this machine. Still not quite finished yet.

No self respecting Chopper owner would be without a Pifco night rider lamp...

Huret speedo and rechromed bars and stem...

Rear shocks and rack are NOS...

 

[MossCommuter]

"Stupid, too small, idiotic front wheel, not safe, a fad, unreliable, they'll never catch on".

Those words of my dad still sound loud and clear in my mind.

I still want one. Badly.

My best friend was allowed one - dad made me have a "sensible, grown up, bike". I negotiated as far as being allowed gears.

We were 10.

I am 41 now but the pain is still all too real

.

WANT!

 

[Spokesmann]

"Stupid, too small, idiotic front wheel, not safe, a fad, unreliable, they'll never catch on".

Those words of my dad still sound loud and clear in my mind.

I still want one. Badly.

My best friend was allowed one - dad made me have a "sensible, grown up, bike". I negotiated as far as being allowed gears.

We were 10.

I am 41 now but the pain is still all too real

.

WANT!

Go on treat yerself!

 

[threebikesmcginty]

They were a lot cooler than the home-made racer with a 3-speed Sturmey Archer and drop bar conversion that I had at the time, a mate let me have a go on his and I went straight over the handlebars, great bike!!!

 

[Hacienda71]

Get the pics in show us your steel!

 

[hackbike 666]

They were the good old days...someone let me ride their chopper...(oooer)

 

[Spokesmann]

They were a lot cooler than the home-made racer with a 3-speed Sturmey Archer and drop bar conversion that I had at the time, a mate let me have a go on his and I went straight over the handlebars, great bike!!!

The Chopper Sprint! They go for silly money now as some of the part were non-standard from the 'normal' ie the bars and tires as well as frame...

Ridden a few and have to say they were the most uncomfortable and unstable bike Ive ever ridden. Remember Kevin Keegan riding one in the 1970s show Superstars - cam off a cropper!

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Happy memories of mine, which I got as combined Xtmas/birthday present in 1974. Parents couldn't stretch to fancy lights and a speedo though. iirc after a couple of years riding nealry 3 miles to school and spending hours 'bombing about' the gear hub 'went' on it and I traded up to a Raleigh Olympus 10 speed

 

[Bayerd]

"Stupid, too small, idiotic front wheel, not safe, a fad, unreliable, they'll never catch on".

Those words of my dad still sound loud and clear in my mind.

I still want one. Badly.

My best friend was allowed one - dad made me have a "sensible, grown up, bike". I negotiated as far as being allowed gears.

We were 10.

I am 41 now but the pain is still all too real

.

WANT!

+1, although I'm only 38.......

 

[jayonabike]

I used to love my chopper, i had the purple one. I remember pulling a wheelie, the handlebars snapped clean off and i crashed into my mates.

 

[stevieboy378]

I had an Ultra Violet MKII for Christmas in the mid 70's and it was my pride and joy - I can still vividly remember waking up on Christmas morning and going downstairs - the bike was sitting in the middle of the living room floor, gleaming . . . . That christmas morning was particularly foggy, so I wasn't allowed to take the bike any further than the end of the drive, but I still managed to ride it virtually nonstop all day.

Yes, it was a pig to ride - I went over the handlebars on numerous occasions - but the Chopper was by far the coolest machine any kid in the 70's could own.

I remember a mate of mine getting a Chopper sprint - IIRC it was bright green and sported drop bars and 5 speed Derailleur gears. It was even more of a pig to ride than a standard Chopper - a real death trap . . . .

 

[Spokesmann]

I had an Ultra Violet MKII for Christmas in the mid 70's and it was my pride and joy - I can still vividly remember waking up on Christmas morning and going downstairs - the bike was sitting in the middle of the living room floor, gleaming . . . . That christmas morning was particularly foggy, so I wasn't allowed to take the bike any further than the end of the drive, but I still managed to ride it virtually nonstop all day.

Yes, it was a pig to ride - I went over the handlebars on numerous occasions - but the Chopper was by far the coolest machine any kid in the 70's could own.

I remember a mate of mine getting a Chopper sprint - IIRC it was bright green and sported drop bars and 5 speed Derailleur gears. It was even more of a pig to ride than a standard Chopper - a real death trap . . . .

The Sprint was, pug ugly too! They came in green and copper flamboyant. Horrible machine.

 

[Spokesmann]

I used to love my chopper, i had the purple one. I remember pulling a wheelie, the handlebars snapped clean off and i crashed into my mates.

Shouldn't laugh, but Ive heard of this happening a number of times.

 

[potsy]

My 1st and only bike as a kid was a Raleigh Chopper,handed down to me by my cousin.
He taught me how to ride it,but I think that bike put me off riding for 20 years

 

[Alembicbassman]

I used to do stunts on mine (way before the BMX craze)

A good one was standing on the saddle whilst holding the bars freewheeling along.

That gear selector was a health hazard though, now removed from the new Choppers I see.