Raleigh Phoenix. What to do?

[Pedal pusher]

Picked this up off FB Market place for £25.This will be my first project/rebuild. I want to use this bike as a learning process. I think it's mid 80s can't find a s/n so I don't expect to make money. Can the experienced members tell me what a not standard on the bike, also the left fork legs is badly scratched so will I be able to get paint and transfers. TIA

 

[Cycleops]

That's a pretty decent bike for twenty five notes. Looks all original except perhaps for the rear mech.
I should just paint the fork black, you'll struggle to get a good match.
It's quite a small size, does it fit you? Or do you just intend to sell it on?
Replace all the cables, inner and outer, check the wheels run true, replace the brake blocks and maybe the tyres if perished.
I'd say mid/late eighties is about the ballpark.

 

[Drago]

Worth getting it running. In the mid 90's Raleigh were knocking out some top drawer 4130 road and MTB frames that punched seripusly well above their price point. It will likely give a lively, but buttery smooth ride.

I belive the cromo frames of that era had some kind of powder coat finish, so a paint match is not terribly likely. Get Mrs Pusher to look at the nail varnishes in Boots for a match. To be fair though, its a great frame and very useable, and would be worth the investment to get it blasted and powder coated.

 

[raleighnut]

Nice

 

[carpenter]

Looks like quite a deep set of gouges on the fork - may need a bit of wet and dry before attempting to paint.

I was in Halfords a few weeks ago and noticed that they sell a "chrome effect" spray paint (I was buying some zinc primer at the time). I have no idea whether chrome effect paints are any good, but you could try masking off the top of the forks and going for a half chromed effect fork?

edit: by the way, good bike for £25

 

[Pedal pusher]

Thanks for the advice. Am I likely to be able to replace the transfers as some have peeled and are scratched.

 

[Pedal pusher]

That's a pretty decent bike for twenty five notes. Looks all original except perhaps for the rear mech.
I should just paint the fork black, you'll struggle to get a good match.
It's quite a small size, does it fit you? Or do you just intend to sell it on?
Replace all the cables, inner and outer, check the wheels run true, replace the brake blocks and maybe the tyres if perished.
I'd say mid/late eighties is about the ballpark.

Not a chance I’m 6’ 1’’. I need to measure the frame but I’m guessing it’s a medium

 

[Pedal pusher]

Looks like quite a deep set of gouges on the fork - may need a bit of wet and dry before attempting to paint.

I was in Halfords a few weeks ago and noticed that they sell a "chrome effect" spray paint (I was buying some zinc primer at the time). I have no idea whether chrome effect paints are any good, but you could try masking off the top of the forks and going for a half chromed effect fork?

edit: by the way, good bike for £25

I was thinking Kurust then filling with some king of filler. As somebody has already mentioned I’m probably not going to get a paint match but chrome paint from Halfrauds is a good call

 

[raleighnut]

Thanks for the advice. Am I likely to be able to replace the transfers as some have peeled and are scratched.

These may have them,

https://h-lloyd-cycles.myshopify.com/

You may not be able to get the exact model specific decals as the bike might be too 'new' for them (there are hundreds of Raleigh models)

 

[T4tomo]

A well finished 3/4 chrome fork would look lovely with the burgundy

 

[Pedal pusher]

A well finished 3/4 chrome fork would look lovely with the burgundy

Yea I agree.

 

[Hover Fly]

Looks like quite a deep set of gouges on the fork - may need a bit of wet and dry before attempting to paint.

I was in Halfords a few weeks ago and noticed that they sell a "chrome effect" spray paint (I was buying some zinc primer at the time). I have no idea whether chrome effect paints are any good, but you could try masking off the top of the forks and going for a half chromed effect fork?

edit: by the way, good bike for £25

Depends on the time and effort you put into preparing the surface. Also there are chrome sprays and chrome sprays, which can go up to silly prices, £100+. But don’t forget, platers wouldn’t go to all the effort of polishing, copper plating,, nickel and polish again, before the chrome flash, (it’s the nickel that does the protecting) if they could just spray it on.

 

[mickle]

The best way of restoring one of these is to set it on fire.

 

[Drago]

It seems Mickle is a fan of these unlugged, unicrown forked machines.

 

[mickle]

Because Phoenix! Jeesh.

Then chuck it in a canal to put it out.