Raleigh Sprite
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Help With Raleigh Sprite
Hello! I am completely new to the biking world and would like some advice on purchasing my first "real" bike. The bike I am considering is a Men's Raleigh Sprite for $175. As you all already know since this is my first post, I can't post pictures but I'll put where the listing can be found below. Does it look like it's worth it? What things should I ask or look out for? I am probably going to use it just a normal riding bike to use around my parks trails or to go to the store and such. Thanks for hearing out another total newbie, I can imagine these questions get redundant after a bit lol.
Craigslist: Dallas
Title: nice antique bikes
Craigslist: Dallas
Title: nice antique bikes
Last edited by Rigmarole7; 05-16-19 at 01:14 PM.
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I just refurbished an old Sprite. It is an older model - 1967 or 68 I believe. It's a fun bike and able to haul quite a bit with a basket on the rear rack.
That being said it is very heavy and has some fairly mediocre components. The brakes are pretty terrible and the obsolete cottered crank is not easily serviced.
For the price I would probably opt for a 1980s or 90s mtb, i.e. Specialized, Bridgestone, Trek, GT, etc. Something along these lines:
Dallas CL Specialized
They're easy to work with, fun to ride and can haul a lot of stuff (check for rack mounts above the dropouts).
Good luck!
Last edited by lorenzo_de_leon; 05-16-19 at 01:50 PM.
#3
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Sprites are nice, but $175 seems a bit high. Maybe Dallas is more expensive, but I would offer less.
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I just refurbished an old Sprite. It is an older model - 1967 or 68 I believe. It's a fun bike and able to haul quite a bit with a basket on the rear rack.
That being said it is very heavy and has some fairly mediocre components. The brakes are pretty terrible and the obsolete cottered crank is not easily serviced.
For the price I would probably opt for a 1980s or 90s mtb, i.e. Specialized, Bridgestone, Trek, GT, etc. Something along these lines:
They're easy to work with, fun to ride and can haul a lot of stuff (check for rack mounts above the dropouts).
Good luck!
Yes, while researching it online I read it was pretty heavy. What really attracted me to this bike was the aesthetic of it, but practically it makes more sense to get a newer bike since I plan to use it frequently. Thanks for the advice!
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Trek 4300 for 125 and and a Centurion D.S. Ironman for $150. I'd grab the Sprite for $10 or $20, but that is about it.
Last edited by cycleheimer; 05-16-19 at 04:06 PM.
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The Centurion... Dallas CL also... 8
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Above is a photo of the bike in question. A variation of the Raleigh Record. The verdict .. nyet. Not a fun bike to ride compared to better quality options.
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Okay, I see. I'll probably check those out and others and then compare. Thanks for posting the other bikes, I was kind of at a lost where to look for different options.
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I have a ‘69 sprite that I hold dear. Not a performance machine but that’s not the point here. It’s about utility , ride quality, and style. If you like the bike buy it. For that price it should be in exceptional original condition.
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Craig’s List sellers typically go high and expect some bargaining. Personally, I’d offer $100 if the tires were new ,everything worked and it was extremely clean.
Regards,
SR 00
Regards,
SR 00
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#13
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I just refurbished an old Sprite. It is an older model - 1967 or 68 I believe. It's a fun bike and able to haul quite a bit with a basket on the rear rack.
That being said it is very heavy and has some fairly mediocre components. The brakes are pretty terrible and the obsolete cottered crank is not easily serviced.
For the price I would probably opt for a 1980s or 90s mtb, i.e. Specialized, Bridgestone, Trek, GT, etc. Something along these lines:
Dallas CL Specialized
They're easy to work with, fun to ride and can haul a lot of stuff (check for rack mounts above the dropouts).
Good luck!
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I had trouble with the dating of this one. The decals, logos, chainguard and those awful brake calipers with the hooks (no pull-thru cable bolt) led me to believe it was an earlier model, but I'll take your word for it.
#15
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https://www.sheldonbrown.com/retrora...9/pages/03.htm
https://www.jaysmarine.com/1968raleighcat_us_03_lg.jpg
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#17
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I just refurbished an old Sprite. It is an older model - 1967 or 68 I believe. It's a fun bike and able to haul quite a bit with a basket on the rear rack.
That being said it is very heavy and has some fairly mediocre components. The brakes are pretty terrible and the obsolete cottered crank is not easily serviced.
For the price I would probably opt for a 1980s or 90s mtb, i.e. Specialized, Bridgestone, Trek, GT, etc. Something along these lines:
Dallas CL Specialized
They're easy to work with, fun to ride and can haul a lot of stuff (check for rack mounts above the dropouts).
Good luck!
Here's my 1969, according to the stamping on the hub and I'm almost certain that the bike is original. The right shift lever snapped and was reglued, so I've just added a regular 3-speed handlebar switch until I can find a replacement. The carrier and bag are Schwinn accessories.
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Syke
“No one in this world, so far as I know — and I have searched the records for years, and employed agents to help me — has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby.”
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Last edited by sykerocker; 05-17-19 at 08:07 PM. Reason: Another damned spelling correction. And other mistakes.
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+1 on fit, and give some thought to where and how you might use the bike, pavement, hills, gravel, errands, commuting, bar hoping??. As someone said above Old mountain bikes (rigid forks not suspension) are plentiful, cheap (in Seattle there are scads in the $100-120 range and you can find better deals if you look), versatile and pretty basic to work on. Many of the old steel MTBs can take racks, fenders, wide tires and make excellent commuters, grocery getters, touring bikes etc. albeit without the panache of a bronze green Raleigh 3/5 speed . Good luck with whatever you choose OP lots of resources on the web and here of course.
Last edited by ryansu; 05-17-19 at 01:25 PM.
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The older Sprites (Raleigh Sports variation) are alot different than the "Raleigh Record" Sprites. They were better made. I owned a "Sports" version, and it was pretty decent. The quality, though, isn't there on the one you were looking at. It also has steel rims, with reduced braking power when wet, and cottered cranks that are a nightmare when they loosen up. The seats tear apart (no comparison to a top-notch saddle like the leather Brooks saddles shown above) , the fenders rattle, and the gears and brakes offer lack luster performance. It's not going to deliver an optimal cycling experience. Think alloy wheels and components...Hybrids, mountain bikes, sports touring bikes, touring bikes, etc.
Last edited by cycleheimer; 05-17-19 at 05:50 PM.
#21
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The older Sprites (Raleigh Sports variation) are alot different than the "Raleigh Record" Sprites. They were better made. I owned a "Sports" version, and it was pretty decent. The quality, though, isn't there on the one you were looking at. It also has steel rims, with reduced braking power when wet, and cottered cranks that are a nightmare when they loosen up. The seats tear apart (no comparison to a top-notch saddle like the leather Brooks saddles shown above) , the fenders rattle, and the gears and brakes offer lack luster performance. It's not going to deliver an optimal cycling experience. Think alloy wheels and components...Hybrids, mountain bikes, sports touring bikes, touring bikes, etc.
Biggest single weakness of the B-line bikes was frame size availability. It's very rare that I seen anything available other than a 21-1/2" frame in those. 23-1/2" are definitely far and few between, assuming they were available in the first place. I don't think I've ever seen a 191/2" frame in a cheaper line bike, unless you were looking at a model marketed specifically to kids. That's the whole reason Maggie rides the Ranger - it fits here, where I have to have a lot of seat post showing to fit me.
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Syke
“No one in this world, so far as I know — and I have searched the records for years, and employed agents to help me — has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby.”
H.L. Mencken, (1926)
Last edited by sykerocker; 05-17-19 at 08:12 PM.
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Yes, I agree, that is mainly why I want this type of bike. Okay, I'll keep that in mind, thanks!
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+1 on fit, and give some thought to where and how you might use the bike, pavement, hills, gravel, errands, commuting, bar hoping??. As someone said above Old mountain bikes (rigid forks not suspension) are plentiful, cheap (in Seattle there are scads in the $100-120 range and you can find better deals if you look), versatile and pretty basic to work on. Many of the old steel MTBs can take racks, fenders, wide tires and make excellent commuters, grocery getters, touring bikes etc. albeit without the panache of a bronze green Raleigh 3/5 speed . Good luck with whatever you choose OP lots of resources on the web and here of course.
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The older Sprites (Raleigh Sports variation) are alot different than the "Raleigh Record" Sprites. They were better made. I owned a "Sports" version, and it was pretty decent. The quality, though, isn't there on the one you were looking at. It also has steel rims, with reduced braking power when wet, and cottered cranks that are a nightmare when they loosen up. The seats tear apart (no comparison to a top-notch saddle like the leather Brooks saddles shown above) , the fenders rattle, and the gears and brakes offer lack luster performance. It's not going to deliver an optimal cycling experience. Think alloy wheels and components...Hybrids, mountain bikes, sports touring bikes, touring bikes, etc.