Get your Chopper out

[Drago]

This had somehow passed me by...until today.

Raleigh have manufactured a limited run of mkII Raleigh Chopper replicas. Not a horrible pastiche like the mkIII, but an actual close-as-they-can-apparently-make-it copy of the original.

Interestingly you can bag one of these repros for less than a concours original.

https://www.raleigh.co.uk/gb/en/the-new-chopper-fizzy-lemon/

The only difference I can spot is the use of alloy Dia Compe calipers instead of the bendy steel original, Dia Compe headset and better quality (stainless?) fasteners.

 

[Punkawallah]

Inconceivable.

 

[Drago]

I know. I had one of these and during an attempt at the land speed record it got the wobbles and spat me off and broke my pelvis. That injury nearly kept me out the Army over a decade later even though I was full healed.

 

[Arjimlad]

Had a new silver one from Halfords for my (I think) 10th birthday.. i.e. in 1982. It was old skool then, obviously. Loved it.

 

[Drago]

I think I may mention it to Mrs D later. One of those would look good in my living room and would doubtless quickly appreciate in value.

 

[Drago]

Just noticed the cotterless crankset styled like the original. Tres bien!

 

[ianrauk]

..and my original back in the day was fizzy lemon of which my dad bought me.
I swapped it back then after a while for a run of the mill brown Coventry Eagle racer.

 

[sevenfourate]

……and would doubtless quickly appreciate in value.

How have all the other repro variants they’ve manufactured: faired at holding their value ?

Good luck to you. Enjoy, ride, display or other. I just think these toys have a very limited market and a very limited time slot.

Of course there will be ‘1000 people’ who can whistle a Grand into the Wind on one of these without thought. But this means the average guy reminiscing of his ownership as a child: and perhaps intending to display is starting to crack on in years. Another 10 years later it will be history imo - and no one outside of that actual ownership age group will care about them. I can’t see the long term demand to drive prices up……

Would be a craic to ride to Waitrose though 😉

 

[Drago]

Apparently there was a similar run of 1000 bikes in 2023. They sold out in seconds, and months later were changing hands at a big premium.

So Raleigh were encouraged to repeat the exercise in 2024, and the same thing happened.

I think as long as Raleigh keep the production numbers low they will continue to almost instantly command a premium as they change hands.

 

[fossyant]

..and my original back in the day was fizzy lemon of which my dad bought me.
I swapped it back then after a while for a run of the mill brown Coventry Eagle racer.

Funny that, I had a black Chopper with the metallic 'exhaust' printed on the chain guard, and I upgraded to a Coventry Eagle racer (in silver).

 

[fossyant]

There is no way I'd buy one having had one previously. They do not handle well.

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

Never had one myself, but I've vague recollections of having a little ride on someone elses in the late 70s or early 80s.

Give it hydraulic brakes, perhaps an Alfine hub gear and perhaps an ebike edition.

 

[Drago]

There is no way I'd buy one having had one previously. They do not handle well.

If I do it'll be purely for display purposes.

 

[biggs682]

Pretty sure my one was blue but it's a looong time ago

 

[craigwend]

Tries to resist and fails, to not make joke, about having a purple chopper (1) as a child and needing (2) antibiotics...


1) True
2) False