himespau 

Was trolling framesets on ebay and came across a frame that I thought the paint scheme was pretty (re-paint). Some of the masking wasn't the best, but it was interesting. No label on it other than a Reynolds 531 sticker, but, with repaints, that probably can't be trusted. Anybody have any ideas what this is?

https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...:X:RTQ:US:1123

More pics in the ad. The sticker above the bottom bracket says something about 25 years and 1974-1999, but I couldn't make out what exactly.

From talking to the guy, the frame is 60 cm CTT, 24.5" top tube (didn't ask why the switch form metric to SAE), 120 mm rear spacing and he didn't know the seattube inner diameter.

Most likely just some 70's gaspipe that may have been a Raleigh 5 speed or may have just had the BB cable guide added that was powdercoated with and then had lugs painted and a random 531 sticker added, but in case it's not and is really something worth looking into, I thought I'd check to see if anyone knew what it might be.

Any ideas?

Velognome 

Well the serial number points to a Worksop made frame late in the year nov/dec, so that's a good sign. Might be a Comp?

cyclotoine

too bad some amature painted the lugs. Is that an aluminum fork? Kinda looks like it. Still I think it is probably worth the $150 BIN, looks like a professional maybe? I don't know much about raleigh.

himespau 

Thanks for the reminder that I hadn't included the picture with the serial.

himespau 

I think the professional had Campagnolo dropouts (at least at some point) and these don't appear to have any name on them at all, so that would imply a bit lower down in the lineup (unless things have worn off over time.

Chombi

Later than 70's,......more like early 80's because of single brazed-on bottle mounts, short slotted Campy rear dropouts and brazed-on shifter bosses and top tube cable guides....
Geeze why did the PO even bother to paint the lugs if he was going to do such a bad job at it..... BTW, make sure to check if that tape on the NDS seatstay, near the brake bridge might be hiding something....

Chombi

vvup

the fast back seat stays should make it easy to identify, I think its a good Raleigh from 1984 and I'd say shame about the paint because the original paints jobs were pretty good. Nice frame and a nice size too, buy it now is not too bad

His other listings show the fixie wheel set among other interesting upmarket hipstery bits and bobs.

wearyourtruth

i have no contribution to exactly what that frame is, but that paint job is horrible, which makes me wonder what might be underneath... also, i hate sellers who post things still on the bike that are not included in the sale (with exception of perhaps wheels to show the stance of a frame). yer gonna have to pull the cranks off at some point before you sell it to me, just do it before you take the picture. what if something gets damaged in the process? why are you in such a rush?

TiHabanero

The Professional would not have a BB shell like the one pictured.

unworthy1

see that subtle "bump" on the back of the DO? These are Gipiemme DOs...I don't know what (if any) model of Raleigh used those.

tokic

Well, I am very suspicious about this frameset. First, it is sure that it is re-painted and the job is comletely bad. This reynolds sticker is false, but frame maybe is probably really made of some quality Reynolds/Columbus. Dos look like Gipiemme and i think Raleigh never used them. The serial number is not very readable and this Raleigh cable stop can be mounted on any frame, it doesn't mean anything. This tape on the seatstay probably hides something :/ Also, the fork looks like an aluminium one and in every case, it doesn't look like orignal frame fork.

Velognome 

The serial # with WP followed by #'s looks like late 70's -early 80's Raleigh

himespau 

Wrote the seller to see if can find out what's under the tape.

This is why repaints (even better ones) are tough unless you're planning to keep the bike forever. I wouldn't be surprised if the person who had it painted dropped the buy it now price on that powder coating (at least the main paint job looks powder coat to me), and it's hurting how much I'd be willing to spend on it because we'll never know for sure what it is.

I'm in the midst of a perpetually delayed repaint of an old mtb that I've turned into a bomb proof drop bar commuter, but it's just a low end 4130 frame and fork that I'm going to hang onto forever and wouldn't get much for in resale no matter how packaged, plus I'm only into the repaint for a can of primer, a couple cans of paint, some brushes and some sandpaper all of which I'm also using on a frame where the paint was too far gone to be saved. Maybe that makes me a hypocrite for *****ing about repaints.

Because of the repaint on this frame, as far as early 80's Raleigh frames I find this frame much more enticing even if the tubing is only 555 SL and it's not a "real Raleigh", but of course the final price (though they started about the same) will reflect the much better paint and surer provenance.

unworthy1

based on a really cursory search of pics on the internets, Raleigh (UK and USA) did use Gipiemme DOs on some of their frames, but I certainly didn't dig very deep into this.
I have owned a few Raleighs and haven't been impressed, but I think that the Raleigh USA Racing frames, with their "555" tubing, represent a real value.
If you're not a purist about a Raleigh needing to be be "handmade in England by a Craftsman", you'd be getting a better bike buying one of these (IMHO).