Views on Raleigh.

[stuart goodliffe]

I'm a bit of a nostalgic and and even sentimental person which has lead me to have a fondness of Raleigh bicycles-I ride a rough old 5speed pacer to work and also own a 90's Pro Race. Im on the verge of buying a new Raleigh sp comp 2011 model from the lbs but though most reviews are very good alot of stuff iv read on the net has been pretty negative about the company in general and dismissive of its bikes. Does anyone have information about the status of the company, its current factories etc and views on its future since being aquired by Accell, good or bad?

 

[mickle]

Raleigh is a company which has traded on its reputation for many years, nay decades, after it last manufactured anything which warranted that reputation. Though improved in recent years their constant cost cutting has led them away from the Uk and then away from Taiwan to factories with even lower labour rates. Raleigh offer their dealers higher margins than other brands and this translates into poor VFM for the consumer.

I'll never own another Raleigh.

 

[Steampig]

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5z1fSpZNXhU


This one seems ok!

 

[DCLane]

My Airlite 100's been fine - it's done nearly 1000 miles of commuting in the past 4 months without issue.

 

[stuart goodliffe]

from what iv been able to research it seems that Raleigh road bikes is one of only a couple of brands -including most Specialized models, that are made by Merida so quality should be assured. Apparently Merida's 1st factory was built to the same plans as the Raleigh Nottingham factory and they built the Raleigh bikes for the USA.The two companies fortunes may have differed over the last 40yrs but the relationship has continued.

 

[HLaB]

My Airlite 100's been fine - it's done nearly 1000 miles of commuting in the past 4 months without issue.

They've treated you well but havent you posted something else recently about the forks failing

 

[400bhp]

The airlite got utterly slated in one of the mags recently. worst review i've seen iirc.

 

[djb1971]

I quiet like the look of the clubman retro stylee.

 

[stuart goodliffe]

the airlite 100 got decent reviews but the higher end airlites got poorer reviews as they were a bit heavy and didnt compare too well to rival bikes.Airlites have discontinued and there is now a whole new range of steel, ali and carbon road bikes.http://raleigh.co.uk/ProductType/Default.aspx?pc=1&pt=14

 

[DCLane]

They've treated you well but havent you posted something else recently about the forks failing

True - they developed a crack along the paintwork near the top of each side a few days ago. As a result it's gone into the LBS and Raleigh have offered to change the forks, although not in the same colour. They're being replaced with some carbon ones in black, presumably off the 2013 model, the Revenio 1.

 

[DCLane]

The airlite got utterly slated in one of the mags recently. worst review i've seen iirc.

I'm curious where - BikeRadar reviewed the 100 well: http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/article/cheap-road-bikes-our-pick-of-the-best-35756/

I've seen a poor review of the 200 though. Maybe that one?

 

[stuart goodliffe]

This is a review of the airlite 400http://www.cyclingactive.com/bikesgear/1000-british-bikes-raleigh-airlite-400-975 but also this rhttp://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/road/product/review-raleigh-airlite-carbon-race-08-31373e was this http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/categ...ew-raleigh-team-professional-frameset-12236re the airlite 200 is likely the model that got heavily slated. I'd like to have a ride on the new Ravenios and SP carbon models soon.New forks will probably make it a better ride. Is your the white 2011 model

 

[DCLane]

Is your the white 2011 model

No, mine's the 2012 red/black model that Bike Radar liked. The black forks will match fine, although I'd have preferred red.

I'd only got it in late September, so it's had 4 months of use before the forks cracked. At least Raleigh haven't questioned anything.

It's been my 'winter' bike for this winter, following a Carrera Virtuoso last winter - and has been used for club runs too, keeping up with their carbon bikes without any problems.

 

[stuart goodliffe]

Thats the model i was going to buy from our local shop after reading good reviews but everytime i went in to make a payment the SP comp kept calling out to me until i took a deep breathe and asked to buy it instead. Was it a full on crack through the metal or the paint cracking? Raleighs after care seems pretty good.

 

[Alembicbassman]

Get this one, a proper bike. Ti Replica