Not my usual restoration 74 Raleigh Superbe!
01-29-19, 08:52 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 1,895
Bikes: to many to list
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 296 Post(s)
Liked 1,064 Times
in
262 Posts
Not my usual restoration 74 Raleigh Superbe!
I got this bike from a neighbor that knew i was into collecting bicycles. Not my usual cup of tea but there is something cool about an English built 3speed. Built before all of them were made in tiawan or China. Check out the Sturmey generator hub and 3speed. The factory rack! Factory Brooks! its in great shape. If you have any wisdom about this bicycle please comment below.
__________________
From Illinois. Collector of many fine bicycles from all over the world. Subscribe to my Youtube channel. Just search John's vintage road bike garage
From Illinois. Collector of many fine bicycles from all over the world. Subscribe to my Youtube channel. Just search John's vintage road bike garage
01-30-19, 04:43 AM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 3,240
Mentioned: 103 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1299 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 103 Times
in
85 Posts
Nice! A beautiful classic roadster. Pristine condition and looks to me to be all original except for the shifter cable. A rare find. It's nice that Raleigh went back to the B66 on the Superbe model here. I've always preferred them to the B72 for roadsters. Great bike!
__________________
Inflate Hard
Inflate Hard
01-30-19, 06:32 AM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 17,159
Mentioned: 481 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3811 Post(s)
Liked 6,709 Times
in
2,613 Posts
There’ll be a date code stamped on both the rear hub and the front Dyno hub. If the brake levers are original, I think it’s from around 1974 (and that crankset design is another clue, though I don’t quite remember when Raleigh switched to that 3-arm version).
01-30-19, 07:28 AM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 3,240
Mentioned: 103 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1299 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 103 Times
in
85 Posts
Pretty sure the chainring change happened sometime in 1972. Some bikes with 1972 stamped hubs still have the 46T, 6 point, eyeless heron type. One thing that makes this bike unusual is the coffee color paint. The Superbe was traditionally green. In fact the catalogs of this period list bronze green as the only color available. The 23" frame here also adds to it's rarity. Everything else here is consistent with a Nottingham built Raleigh from 1974.
__________________
Inflate Hard
Inflate Hard
01-30-19, 07:57 AM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Northbridge, MA
Posts: 135
Bikes: 2020 Giant Talon 2, 99 GT XCR 3000, 01 Titus Racer X, 80's PUCH Meteor MTB, 14' Crosstrail Elite, 92&93 Bridgestone OX-3, Marin Point Reyes (polished), 80's Mongoose Hilltopper, Giant Cypress SX, 96 Giant ATX 890, 94 Stumpjumper FS
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 24 Post(s)
Liked 11 Times
in
9 Posts
Wow! Very nice!!
01-30-19, 08:03 AM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Peoria, IL
Posts: 4,476
Mentioned: 86 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1829 Post(s)
Liked 3,376 Times
in
1,580 Posts
boy, what a time capsule! It warms my heart to see a Superbe in such fine shape!
Any plans for it? I'm guessing that it could use some fresh grease in the bearings.
Steve in Peoria (where it's a toasty -19F on this Wednesday morning)
Any plans for it? I'm guessing that it could use some fresh grease in the bearings.
Steve in Peoria (where it's a toasty -19F on this Wednesday morning)
01-30-19, 08:26 AM
#8
Señor Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Hardy, VA
Posts: 17,925
Bikes: Mostly English - predominantly Raleighs
Mentioned: 70 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1492 Post(s)
Liked 1,095 Times
in
641 Posts
That looks like the '74 I inherited from my uncle would look if it had been properly stored (except for it being bronze-green). That is in fantastic condition. Now you're obligated to do the Lake Pepin ride. 
__________________
In search of what to search for.
In search of what to search for.
Last edited by USAZorro; 01-31-19 at 07:53 AM. Reason: accuracy
01-30-19, 08:29 AM
#9
Bianchi Goddess
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Shady Pines Retirement Fort Wayne, In
Posts: 27,858
Bikes: Too many to list here check my signature.
Mentioned: 192 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2930 Post(s)
Liked 2,927 Times
in
1,492 Posts
That is beautiful. I love that rich Root Beer color
__________________
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
01-30-19, 09:02 AM
#11
Mother Nature's Son
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Sussex County, Delaware
Posts: 3,118
Bikes: 2014 Orbea Avant MD30, 2004 Airborne Zeppelin TI, 2003 Lemond Poprad, 2001 Lemond Tourmalet, 2014? Soma Smoothie
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 853 Post(s)
Liked 1,437 Times
in
819 Posts
That is an absolute gorgeous, well preserved piece of bicycle history! I remember that color, Wow! I am so glad you have posted the pictures for all of us to gawk at. Thanks!
01-30-19, 09:44 AM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Soviet of Oregon or Pensacola FL
Posts: 5,342
Bikes: Still have a few left!
Mentioned: 48 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 467 Post(s)
Liked 532 Times
in
267 Posts
Very nice. I have one of the bronze green ones. Also a 1974, and I switched mine up to a 22 tooth rear cog to get more reasonable ratios that handle the foothill country I live in. Don
01-30-19, 06:53 PM
#14
Some Weirdo
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Rexburg, ID
Posts: 502
Bikes: '86 Schwinn Prelude, '91 Scott Sawtooth, '73 Raleigh "Grand 3"
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 223 Post(s)
Liked 141 Times
in
92 Posts
Need to slam the stem and flip the bars. Jokes aside, I would be proud to ride that bike. 
01-30-19, 08:47 PM
#15
Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Iowa
Posts: 21
Bikes: Motobecane Mirage, 1982 Trek 614, 1984 Miyata 1000
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 11 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
That’s a beautiful bike, timeless! I’d be very proud to own that if I were you.
01-30-19, 11:38 PM
#16
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Longueuil, Quebec, Canada
Posts: 196
Bikes: 1973 Raleigh Super Course - 1981 Velo Sport Criterium - c.1988 Colnago Master Piu - 1991 Merlin Road - 1991 Eddy Merckx Corsa Extra - 1995 Pinarello Cromovan - c.1999 Lemond Maillot Jaune Team Saturn - 2002 Colnago C-40 - Also modern stuff
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 51 Post(s)
Liked 38 Times
in
22 Posts
Wow! The paint is A-1. Beautiful machine.
