Restomod 80's Raleigh

[davester65]

After restoring a friends vintage Holdsworth this summer, I got the bug to restore an old steel bike for me to ride, but I wanted something a bit different so decided on a restomod project. Found this old Raleigh Elan on eBay which fitted the bill, not high end, Reynolds 501 frame tubes only, can't find much info about the forks & stays so I assume they're 18-30 at best. The eBay pics were a bit iffy too but took a punt at £75 & got lucky, the frameset is in good nick & all components except saddle & tyres are original (full Shimano Exage groupset, Raleigh branded Bars & Sakae stem & Seatpost, Wheels are even colour coded to the groupset in the Exage blue metallic tint). Let the winter project begin, my idea is to powdercoat the frameset then refurb everything else with modern (cheap Chinese!!) components. This won't end up a cheap project as I'm going for an electonic groupset at £475, so I've set a budget of £1200 all in.

 

[wafter]

Granted it's low-end but it seems a shame to irreversibly mod it considering it's lasted so well for so long.

I also suspect that the original paint will have a better finish and be more resileant than powdercoat will be, while for an 80s / 90s Raleigh it's pretty understated; so why not leave the finish as is?

 

[Drago]

501 attracts disdain, but its mechanical properties are quite close to 531 and no one gets sniffy about that.

Indeed, 501 typically sports double butted main tubes whereas 531 is often plain gauge, meaning theres no automatic weight advantage to 531 either.

The real difference is the manner of tube construction (rolled, drawn, etc) and the consequential cost. Thus Reynolds 5xx series hierarchy is based upon production cost rather than any significant advantages to the rider.

Unicrown fork indicates its likely to also be cro-mo. Stays are likely to be cromo, but could also be some other steel - you'd need to find the Raleigh catalogue, and even then it might be vague.

 

[davester65]

Granted it's low-end but it seems a shame to irreversibly mod it considering it's lasted so well for so long.

I also suspect that the original paint will have a better finish and be more resileant than powdercoat will be, while for an 80s / 90s Raleight it's pretty understated; so why not leave the finish as is?

I've done full restorations of good quality 80's 531 before, & they always end up as things of beauty, but as a rider on the wrong side of 60, my balance & eyesight aren't what they were 30 years ago, these days I struggle with downtube shifters so I'm attempting to build a bike with a modern feel on a classic (albeit decidedly average) Raleigh frame. I deliberately chose 501 over 531 because I totally get the keep 531 original thing.

 

[davester65]

501 attracts disdain, but its mechanical properties are quite close to 531 and no one gets sniffy about that.

Indeed, 501 typically sports double butted main tubes whereas 531 is often plain gauge, meaning theres no automatic weight advantage to 531 either.

The real difference is the manner of tube construction (rolled, drawn, etc) and the consequential cost. Thus Reynolds 5xx series hierarchy is based upon production cost rather than any significant advantages to the rider.

Unicrown fork indicates its likely to also be cro-mo. Stays are likely to be cromo, but could also be some other steel - you'd need to find the Raleigh catalogue, and even then it might be vague.

Thanks Drago, I did dig up the old Raleigh Catalogue from deep in the internet & it's beautifully vague re the forks & stays, lots of glossy stuff about 501 frame tubes & the Exage groupset, not much else! :-)

 

[davester65]

So, I bought this bike about a month ago, got it home, stripped the old components off, & took it down to a local guy to get it powder coated, am super happy with the results so far. No apologies about the colour btw, I love stealth black bikes, hey ho, that's just me :-) PS. The entire Exage Groupset/Build Kit available for sale if anyone's got an old steel frame needing a late 80's groupset/build kit. Reply here or dm me.

 

[Drago]

That'd look nice, and suitably perplexing, with a carbon fibre hydro dip finish.

 

[davester65]

That'd look nice, and suitably perplexing, with a carbon fibre hydro dip finish.

Now that would be a real head turner on cafe rides wouldn't it? Which is exactly what I'm aiming for on this build! I want it to be a head turner, but I've set a budget of £1200 & already spent £1250, love the idea though :-)

 

[Big John]

After restoring a friends vintage Holdsworth this summer, I got the bug to restore an old steel bike for me to ride, but I wanted something a bit different so decided on a restomod project. Found this old Raleigh Elan on eBay which fitted the bill, not high end, Reynolds 501 frame tubes only, can't find much info about the forks & stays so I assume they're 18-30 at best. The eBay pics were a bit iffy too but took a punt at £75 & got lucky, the frameset is in good nick & all components except saddle & tyres are original (full Shimano Exage groupset, Raleigh branded Bars & Sakae stem & Seatpost, Wheels are even colour coded to the groupset in the Exage blue metallic tint). Let the winter project begin, my idea is to powdercoat the frameset then refurb everything else with modern (cheap Chinese!!) components. This won't end up a cheap project as I'm going for an electonic groupset at £475, so I've set a budget of £1200 all in.

I had a lovely Elan back in the early 90s and my 13 year-old son had a matching one in a smaller frame. We bought them second hand out of the local paper. As new and hardly used @ £50 each. Super bikes, lovely to ride 👍

 

[raleighnut]

I'd bet it's 126mm rear spacing, now you can get 130 in no problem (I've done it many times) but 135 rear spacing you are looking at 'spreading' the frame putting the brake bridge under stress.

 

[davester65]

I'd bet it's 126mm rear spacing, now you can get 130 in no problem (I've done it many times) but 135 rear spacing you are looking at 'spreading' the frame putting the brake bridge under stress.

Yer, the frame is either 1986 or 1988 not sure which, but it is 126mm spaced rear dropouts, am going with rim brakes, the new rear wheel is spaced at 130mm, so no problems at all. I've done a dry build with an 11 speed cassette and plenty of clearance for everything & no stress on the brake bridge thankfully. I do expect to meet some engineering problems with this build, but hey ho, that's half the fun.

 

[Gunk]

I’ve done a few restomods, but I like to make them look as factory as possible. This was my last one, a late 1970’s Carlton Professional 531 frameset with 1990’s 2x9 speed Ultegra and Dura Ace running gear.

 

[DCLane]

I hope the project goes well- it seems interesting, particularly the use of an electronic groupset.

I've a Raleigh 653 frame set that's been resto-modded with Dura-Ace 7900 down tube shifters and now has Dura-Ace 7400 brake levers - https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/what-have-you-fettled-today.87079/post-7274175

Also a Woodrup with similar - https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/what-have-you-fettled-today.87079/post-7170043

 

[davester65]

Like those restomods DCLane, especially the Raleigh, it's a thing of beauty. This is the electronic part groupset going on my project, it's a Wheeltop EDS TX for cable brakes, I bought it direct from the Wheeltop website for about £475, will run anything from 3-14 speed cassette (allegedly, according to their website)

 

[DCLane]

Thanks @davester65 - found the photo with new old stock Dura-Ace brake levers, a tiny Raleigh saddle bag plus period bottle cages. It rides beautifully:

Cost-wise it was probably about £700, so nowhere near yours. I'd be interested in how effective the Wheel top system is.