Raleigh USA + Technium + Reynolds 531
 

I'm thinking most people on this forum, if they know anything about Raleigh Technium bikes, know that they were aluminum main tubes thermally boded with epoxy to cro-mo head lugs, bb and rear triangle. And they would be mostly right.

What I never knew, until I bought one yesterday, is that the bonded Technium bikes also came in 531-tubes-to-[strike]Cro-Mo-lugs[/strike]-Aluminum-lugs configuration. Interesting enough variation that I thought I post it here for posterity. Magnet test verifies the steel main tubes. (Edit: and Al in the head tube. Apparently the 4130 designation applies the stays, on this bike)

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/d...DSCF0145_1.jpg

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/d...m/DSCF0149.jpg

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/d...DSCF0146_1.jpg

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/d...m/DSCF0147.jpg

[strike]I suppose it's possible that since this is a steel/steel frame, it could have been brazed, but I thought[/strike] the whole Technium advantage allowing these bikes to be competitively manufactured in the USA was that there was no torchwork and not much skill to it; just glue it up and paint it. Anyway, it appears to have the same type of joins as the glued aluminum/steel bikes. Also: the word 'Technium' doesn't seem to appear anywhere on this frame.

A Sheldon Brown serial number guide indicates this bike was a 1993 model.http://www.zoominto.com/zoomapi/ZoomButt.gifhttp://www.zoominto.com/zoomapi/ZoomButt.gifhttp://www.zoominto.com/zoomapi/ZoomButt.gif

Thanks for posting.

It is interesting that the frame transfer says Seattle.

As I recall it the Technium facility was located in Tacoma. Is this incorrect? At least when it was first announced ca. 1980 it was said to be in Tacoma.

The Raleigh experts will know! ;)

I heard it was Renton, at one time. Somewhere down by Boeing Field and the Boeing plants there. It's kind of Seattle-Renton-Tukwilla-Burien-Southcenter all smushed together in that nabe.http://www.zoominto.com/zoomapi/ZoomButt.gif

Edit: check out the last paragraph on this old Raleigh USA catalog. "...proudly manufactured in Raleigh's new high tech manufacturing facility located near Seattle, Washington."

Take a look at the 1993 Raleigh Special Products catalog available from the VCC Library. Some really interesting mixed tube sets, including Reynolds 753, Ti, and cro-mo.

Thanks for that, never seen it before. Lotsa titanium being flung around in that thing!

Looks like that is the special products catalog for the UK market, though; so the model I have doesn't show up.

The Technium process was originally created to allow joining of dissimilar materials and allow designers more flexibility . However, it also economized the manufacturing process, eliminating, the high labour rates of brazers. As steel tubing gets thinner, the temperature has to be more closely controlled. That requires a more skilled and expensive brazer. With 753, you had to certified by Reynolds. Technium allowed frames to be assembled by relatively unskilled labour. The aluminum lugs further reduced costs by eliminating the need to mitre tubes. Using Technium on high end steel was no brainer for Raleigh. The cost savings were sufficent that Raleigh could both undercut their competitors and increase their profit margins.

1993 sounds correct. I have a 1993 product listing showing the RT600. It was listed as Reynolds 531 main tubes bonded to aluminum lugs. The forks was also listed as Reynolds 531. Stay material is not mentioned. The components were Shimano 105SC STI, like your bicycle and the MSRP was $1095 US.

That year, the USA market also got the RT 300 (aluminum w/300EX), RT500 (Easton E-9 Al w/105SC), SP1000 (Ti main tubes, 753 stays, 531 fork w/600 Ultegra), SP2000 (metal matrix main tubes, 753 stays and forks w/Dura-Ace).

My understanding has always been that the Technium facilities were in Kent, which is still pretty close to Seattle.

Kent, WA, IIRC.

I believe there were also Reynolds 753 bonded Technium frames for a while. And I seem to recall that Tim Isaac did some of the design work on the Technium frames after he left Trek and before he started Match Bicycle Company.

Thanks to everyone for the location information answers to my query. :)

Kent bicycles from Kent, Washington. Now there is one that makes sense! Always wondered about the origin of the Kent marque.

Got my Tacoma information from someone in the trade back when Techniums were announced but not even the factory had been built.

Of course, just south of Renton which is just south of Seattle.

Lugs/tubes exactly backwards from the more well-known Techniums (Technia?). I love it. And the add-on Alan fork makes mine even more mish-mashy. It'll be fun swapping in the cro-mo fork from the other Technium I bought along with it (same size) to see if I can notice any difference :)

Feel free to post scans of that catalog, if you got 'em. Certainly fits the thread. Email them to the ghost of Sheldon, too. He's missing that year, among others.

A little bar tape archaeology fun to go along with the tear-down. From left to right:

4th layer of white/blue/purple foam barftape
3rd layer of white/blue foam barftape
1st layer of the original uggo Raleigh logo vinyl tape
2nd layer of perforated blue vinyl tape

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/d...DSCF0141_1.jpg

Four strikes, if you ask me :eek:

If anyone has a vintage Raleigh they want to beat really hard with the ugly stick, that (mostly intact) logo tape is available for shipping.

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/d...DSCF0144_1.jpghttp://www.zoominto.com/zoomapi/ZoomButt.gifhttp://www.zoominto.com/zoomapi/ZoomButt.gif

I have a Titanium Technium or as Raleigh called it - SP1000. It has 531 fork and stays, aluminum lugs and Titanium for the main tubes. SP1000 was teh Ultegra 600 version and SP2000 was the Dura Ace.

I believe they only offered them for two years - 92 and 93?

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=524133

Raleigh Technium Competition 531
 

I just came across and bought what I believe to be one of those 1991 Raleigh Technium Competition 531. with the 531 main tubes with steal lugs. also instead of the white lettering it has black lettering. If Anybody here has any info on this model I'd greatly appreciate it. will post pics soon
thanks

A magnet sticks to the lugs?

I didn't know they made 531 Techniums. We need pics.

Maybe you have seen the below thread by now?


Maybe 2018 can be C&V's "Year of the Technium"! All in agreement say aye! ...Order! Order! (thump thump thump)


https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...lds-531-a.html

I just browsed through it.

Here are some pics of my 531 example on the 'Show Us Your Techniums' thread I started awhile back. Also, I'll see if I can recover the pics I originally posted on this thread from the evil, incompetent empire.

Where ya been hiding out, little sister? Surprised you missed that other thread, it's been revived a half dozen times since I started it.

I posted photos of this (sadly, unfortunately) bent 531 Technium that I spotted at our co-op in the "At the co-op" thread I began. Someone must have grabbed the bike because it is no longer there.
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I've seen that thread but I guess I never looked close enough to see the 531 bikes.


Well believe it or not working in retail can be exhausting, especially when your sorting the boxes coming off the truck, stocking shelves (both on the floor and back room) and doing whatever else you can to get as many hours as you can. I think beside simple exhaustion and soreness plus not dealing with my accident and losing my previous life very well. I am pretty sure I have a either a bit of PTSD or good ole depression. I just can't wait for spring for some two wheel therapy!!

Sorry about the setbacks, BG. Try to keep a positive attitude and things are sure to turn around for you. We're rooting for you.