Long lost bike I wanted bitd... Raleigh touring 14
 

Long lost bike I wanted bitd...

I briefly worked at Illinois Cycle many years ago when i was broke and had a young family. While there I coveted a Raleigh Touring 14. It seemed like a ticket to adventure that I couldnt afford. Well I just ran into a nearly perfect example with the Illinois Cycle sticker on it and its my size. 80 bucks and I couldnt pass it up. I definitly dont need it but its fun.
Double butted 4130, suntour barcons and cantis. What more could you need?
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...75cdcfc540.jpg

It's been hiding out waiting for you.
I don't think those were made for more than a year or two, 1982 maybe? Graphics suggest Raleigh rather than Raleigh Cycle Company of America. From Japan? I think we need more photos...

Good to see the rear rack still attached, they were frame size specific.

Looks nice!

I have to agree on the year early 80's as we opened our Raleigh Bike store in 1980 and I was there until 83 when I graduated HS and joined the Navy and we had a Touring 14 at that time.

I'll take more in the morning.

Like finally getting to the center of an unbitten Tootsie Roll Pop.
Enjoy! :thumb:

Awesome, I’ve wanted one of these. Somebody locally has this one, a 1980.


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...431cdc9a8.jpeg

looks like they went velo orange... very cool.

Nice bike, waiting for some more pictures.

I used to work in a cycle touring shop back in the 80's and I bought a Touring 14 (burgundy) for personal use. Good frame, and I did it up as a full on touring 18 speed with many custom bits. I just sold it about 4 years ago to a retiring doctor who was going to tour Greece.
The Raleigh sales rep at the time said the bike was built by Bridgestone but it was never confirmed.

I bought my wife one new in 1980 or so when her other bike was stolen off our sail boat. We weren’t driving cars so it was her transportation for a few years. Never any trouble out of that bike and she rode it everywhere in all kinds of weather. Hers was burgundy and came with bar end shifters , she loved that bike. If I remember right , they were not cheap.

Definitely inspired by the World Voyageur. Sweet bike.

Some pics. Seat post isn't stuck!
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e3a8c7692b.jpg
26.8mm
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f0a21b47f1.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a9dd1d0a40.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3be5594761.jpg
The shop i worked at.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7d1f2be55c.jpg

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6bdd224dc0.jpg
I was going to buy the bike for another set of barcons.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...eb8941df2a.jpg
Quick release!
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1ac59b9147.jpg
Suntour goodness

What an awesome find!!!!!! .. we like pictures.. I LOVE pictures :love:

From the Headbadge website

https://www.kurtkaminer.com/TH_Ralei..._81_6n7_LG.jpg

i think that was the first year, different decals and high tensil frame. The next year seems to have gone to better frame material and subtler graphics. Or maybe the reverse but I am sure they werent made for long. The 14 was the first foray into canti tourers for Raleigh i think. When huffy bought them they really went to town with the concept.

Btw, the stem isnt stuck either!

The catalog images above are from 1981 with a Nottingham headbadge, and by 1983 it was the Touring 18, so The Raleigh ///// head badge in Post #14 puts it before '83.
That paint should look nice after a bath and wax :thumb:

must be an 82. That would make sense with my timeline.

Took a ride after putting a nicer set of wheels and a triplizer. Excellent bike. I may do the full russell on this
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...06833cea45.jpg
.

There's a Made in Japan sticker on the upper part of the seat tube in one of the closeup photos. Headbadge generally tells the story, I think -- different from British Raleighs of the same date.

i always knew it was japanese. It does have some hallmarks of the raleigh line tho with the rear brake cable guides. Also the suntour mech is very nice. I took a spin again today and i am sure this will end up in my regular fleet. Way lighter than i thought it would be.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9ff17e571d.jpg
I led a night ride on it tonight and it was lovely. Plenty of give and pulled the hills just fine.