frpax

Do the 1985 Raleigh 555's come with only one set of bottle bosses on the down tube? None on the seat tube? Odd, huh?

nlerner

Isn't 555 the type of tubing rather than a model #?

Neal

wrk101

+2 555 is the tubing grade, not the model.

cudak888 

I've seen Competitions with both, and Super Courses with either one or two.

-Kurt

frpax

OK, let me be more clear.

According to this:



It is a Raleigh 555 frameset. Available only as a frameset, not a complete production bike.

Bottom right corner enlarged:

brian3069

Was it uncommon for a racing frame to have only one set of water bottle bosses in 1985?

canopus 

Then its custom and comes with what was spec'd by the original order. Chances are good it only came with one set of bottle bosses though. It was a racing bike after all... not a tourer. Heck, back then we had to clamp so many bottle cages on bikes the clamps almost had their own shelf in the shop...

frpax

If my old memory serves me (HUGE disclaimer, here!), the mid '80s was kind of a transitional time. Early '80s and prior, most common was 1 set. Late '80s and later, 2 sets were common.

That said, I was wondering if anyone else has this style of frame (which has a sticker on it saying that it was made in Nottingham, England!) and what theirs has.

canopus 

These wouldn't be from England. This looks like an '85 catalog and Raleigh USA was gone from England before this.

cudak888 

Ok - what you have is better known as a Raleigh USA Team Professional replica w/555RSL tubing. I just finished building an '85 for a friend of mine yesterday, and it had single bosses:



That said, I have a Japanese-production 1984 Raleigh USA Competition that does have two pairs of bottle mounts, but I also have a Japanese-production 1984 Raleigh USA Super Course with mounting for only one cage, and I've had a second '84 Super Course - also Japanese production - with the same setup. Ditto for a 1985 Taiwanese Super Course. I also had a 1986 Grand Prix, Taiwanese - that one had the extra seattube bottle cage mount.

Yes it would. The Team Pro replica frames were from England, and used Cinelli lug sets as opposed to the generics on the Japanese/Taiwanese frames. 555RSL frames were marked Nottingham, not sure if the 753 frames were marked from Ilkston or not.

-Kurt

frpax

Kurt,

I have, essentially, the twin to that frame. Looks to be the same size, as well. Serial # on the bottom of the BB shell is: 1005057. The "1" is pretty faint and pretty well filled with paint, but it's there.

canopus 

Thanks for the correction.

Found this thread also, 1 set of water bottles...

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=541422

frpax

Mine is exactly like that, but in much better condition. Pics will be up soon.

dedhed

my Taiwan 84 Gran Prix has only one set