In praise of... Raleigh Grifter!

[Mad Doug Biker]

A quick Google found this great looking example of a Grifter. I don't think I ever saw/rode one that hadn't had chunks of 'padding' scraped/ripped/picked out of the 'padding' on the bars and the seat!

Never had a Grifter but wanted one, had a Striker then a rebuilt (by me and Dad) BSA Firebird. Saw this Grifter on the Manchester Sky cityride back in July

The same one perhaps??

 

[Hitchington]

I always looked at the picture of the Grifter in my mum's catalogue and dreamed of owning one... until my nan gave me her old Raleigh Shopper to ride about on!

 

[Bobtoo]

What about the missing link between Chopper and Grifter? Like most early 70s fashions the Chopper had ceased to be cool long before the Grifter appeared, the kid's bike to have in the mid 70s was the Commando.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

What about the missing link between Chopper and Grifter? Like most early 70s fashions the Chopper had ceased to be cool long before the Grifter appeared, the kid's bike to have in the mid 70s was the Commando.

Commando? It would have more sense if it was the 'Chifter'.

 

[Nigelnightmare]

I made a "Gripper" out of a MK1 Chopper and the front end of a Grifter.
Kept the Chopper's gear shifter though.
Comfier than a Grifter and better handling than the Chopper. Still damn heavy though, but fun.
Rode that until I'd grown into the racer I'd had given to me (around 1978) 14Yrs old.
10 speed Campagnolo Record MK1 group set apart from having Mafac centre pull brakes.

 

[flake99please]

I owned a rust brown ‘budgie’ and then a purple ‘commando’. The budgie was great around the Little Bowden skateboard park.

 

[classic33]