Raleigh Chopper designer dies

[Crackle]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-18136787

An iconic design that defined an era of cycling and spawned many copies. I had a copy called a Panther, which was actually better than a chopper, at least the Mark II. Then I got a proper bike but missed my Panther so much I bought a Mk I Chopper 2nd hand and then acquired another. I discovered if you fitted a MKI seat to a MKII (by means of bending the seat in the nearest drain cover), you could get your centre of gravity back far enough to pull effortless wheelies.

Somehow the MKIII which came out recently didn't quite hit the spot but I remember the originals with fondness.

 

[Gary E]

I had a copy called a Panther, which was actually better than a chopper

Ha, don't be ridiculous, the Chopper was the best bike ever made. My fingers are now in my ears and I won't hear a word said against it

 

[Crackle]

Ha, don't be ridiculous, the Chopper was the best bike ever made. My fingers are now in my ears and I won't hear a word said against it

Ok, I'll add .....in some ways.... Would that be Ok?

 

[Gary E]

My rose tinted glasses are on now. I was in love with mine (I had the Mk1 and the Mk2) and even now, over 30 years later I feel defensive about them

 

[biggs682]

i had one and cant remember much about it

 

[TheDoctor]

Never had one but so, so wanted one.
I very nearly got one of the new ones when they came out.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

I had a copy called a Panther, .

My Big Brother had the Chopper's little brother, the Grifter, which he got bought for him at a jumble sale somewhere circa 1988, the lucky sod! Black and red thing it was and it looked great!

He was so proud of it I don't remember ever being allowed to ride it, and if I did, then it was when he wasn't looking
I can't remember what happened to it, but I don't really remember getting it as a hand down (as I, SO obviously would have got it dirty or something, the condescending twat!)

Thing is, I don't feel bitter about it because I would have had my own bike (another Jumble Sale job) and I don't think I really knew what it was at the time anyway, I was too young and it was before my 'time'.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Was he impaled on a gear stick?

 

[tyred]

Nice to look at, horrible to ride for any more than about half a mile.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

I was proud of my little gold bike anyway. It might not have been my Brother's Grifter, but boy it still went fast to me! (age 8)

 

[Crackle]

Nice to look at, horrible to ride for any more than about half a mile.

Heh! I did my first ever long ride on a Chopper or the copy I had, to be precise. 30 miles.

 

[Cheddar George]

"This seat is not designed to carry more than one rider" ............ should have made it smaller then.

 

[Paulus]

I never owned one, and never really wanted one, but a mate of mine had one, a MK1c1972 and I had the obligatory go on it. It was very uncomfortable and i didn't like it at all.