Raleigh Chopper with Twist Grip Gears

[Deleted member 26715]

The first picture on the top right of that site is the exact same one I had, was a MK1 as it had the longer saddle & round gear knob

Also wider bars which meant in the event of a dead stop you could hit your teeth on the headstock, the MK2 had narrower ones so you just got stuck in them

 

[CanucksTraveller]

I still have a scar on my knee from wheelie-ing my mates Tomahawk and landing the front wheel in a pot hole. Cue a trip to A+E to have (most of) the gravel washed out of the wound. There's still some stuck in there, the bluish shadow made for a nice conversation piece with my daughter.

 

[Shearwater Missile]

I am sure that the Chopper was only made to look at and admire ? and not ride and enjoy. My brother owned one back in the 70`s and I rode it and never felt in control of it. I started my cycling life on a Puch, don`t know the model, back in 1971I think. It was`nt the most glamorous of bikes but it got me around until I took delivery of my first racer in 1972 a Raleigh Olympus. Chalk and cheese springs to mind.

 

[EltonFrog]

I seem to recall Vindec did a Chopper rip-off called a Hi-~Riser.

As did Dawes with the Zipper, Based on the KP18.

 

[FrankCrank]

The first Mk1's had a round knob as it was copied from (correct me if i am wrong) Alan Okleys Ford Granada and later changed to the T handle on the MK2

Not doubting this, but still confused. My understanding is the MKII had the kinked lower seat stays, and as you say had T bar shifter. I've also seen MK1's (straight seat stay) with T shifter, but mostly the knob style. Maybe there was a crossover period where both were available? All sounds a bit pedantic I know.....

 

[Deleted member 26715]

Mine definitely had a knob, well 2 really one to change gears & one riding it

 

[rogerzilla]

View attachment 523297

/drools

I had a secondhand yellow Mk2. Rode it miles. My dad sold it for a very meh Raleigh Olympus "racer".

 

[Shearwater Missile]

/drools

I had a secondhand yellow Mk2. Rode it miles. My dad sold it for a very meh Raleigh Olympus "racer".

You too had an Olympus racer. I thought that it was pretty cool at the time, probably would today.

 

[rogerzilla]

The cool kids had a Raleigh Arena!

 

[Deleted member 26715]

The cool kids had a Raleigh Arena!

Cool kids had Carltons

 

[DRM]

Cool kids had Carltons

Nah cool kids had Peugeots

 

[DRM]

Mine definitely had a knob, well 2 really one to change gears & one riding it

Mine was the same!

 

[rogerzilla]

Choppers were very tough. I taught myself to jump from a moving one, landing in a parachutist's roll. Not really possible with SPDs, sadly.