Robvolz 

It is a mismatch of parts, but he explained that as a racer, he wasn’t concerned about making sure every part matched. The cranks are original, Durace, derailers, Shimano, 600 brakes, Cinelli cockpit. currently rides on a trek fork, but includes the original fork, and another matching fork. Plus a spare saddle which is crazy light weight.

I know bikes with Reynolds 753 are rare and sought after. I have no idea about Raleighs and Reynolds tubing in general.

Also note the number hanger which makes sense because well, he raced and raced a lot. It was donated to the Co-op I help out. No idea how to price this.

How much is this bike worth? Is it considered collectable?

3alarmer 

.
...is there a question on valuation ?

Robvolz 

My humble apologies, is this not the tandem section??

yes, of course.

What is this frame worth? And should I sell it with these components or is it better to strip it and sell as frame only?

I know nothing about Raleigh or 753 other than it was supposed to be special and finicky. Jim Merz told me he had to send in a sample of his brazing skills to prove his worthiness before Reynolds would sell him any tubes.

Robvolz 

anyone?

3alarmer 

...753 was something that was developed and billed as lighter and stiffer for the weight of it, than 531.
It is difficult to cold set...almost but not quite impossible. You can probably Google the characteristics of the stuff.

I have one bike I ride sometimes that is made from 753 tubing. But for the most part it came along right before the big switch to other, lighter frame materials. It goes OK, but I'm not real good on describing how different it feels, from 531. Like all the newest and latest things, it went through a brief period of popularity. The SBDU Raleigh frames were made with both 531 frames and 753 frames as requested.

Yours is a Raleigh USA frame, which is a whole different thing. I know nothing about them, other than they were mostly an Asian production, sold by an entirely different operation, Raleigh USA.

It's a kind of complicated history, so you should read the Wikipedia link for more information. I have no idea of the year on yours, but you might be able to find some catalog info on where and when the 753 models were built out. I presume it was probably one of the better (best ?) production models marketed by Raleigh USA. I know the SBDU bikes have a following, but I'm not sure if yours would have the same following. I guess you could get more money selling off the parts on e-bay, and the frame separately, but the enormous extra hassle would not be worth it in a co-op environment. Unless you have someone specifically working the e-bay angle (some co-ops do).

With the Raleigh USA brand name (relatively lesser known), and the obvious mix of parts, at a co-op, I'd probably shoot for $400-$500 and hope it finds an appreciative rider. If it hangs around too long, reduce the price. It's a smaller frame, which limits your walk in market demographic. I probably don't need to repeat that prices on this stuff are depressed right now.

Robvolz 

Y’know

i truly appreciate you explaining the tubes, the limitation, the history, the mystery of where it was made, and lastly, the value.

seriously thanks.

I can only wrench, search valuation and offend so many based on a comic strip in one day. plus ride and drink.

I will post at $500 and see what happens..

question: is there a place on the frame that would indicate it’s country of origin? I guess to me it seems silly to ship tubes from England to Japan to build a frame to be sent to the United States. I was under the impression that Raleigh USA was shipped in parts and finished in the Seattle area.

Robvolz 

Also, Bridgestone is not a bad thing.

a huge selling point if you ask me.

zukahn1 

The nicer Raliegh USA bikes were made in Seattle. On these there should be a country of origin label on the seat tube just above the bottom bracket can't make it out from the pic's but it does look like the label for built in the USA. These were legit higher end race bikes when new with the mix of parts I would guess $450-500 would be worth a bit more if it had the original full matching DA comp components.. I would put the original fork back on it give it a tune up and list it for $500 and see what happens.

plonz 

Great bike sold as a frameset only. Raleigh USA but not Asian-built. Originally would have had a Manufactured in England sticker on the seat tube. Black fork was the original.

I have a 531c USA made in England frameset. Paid $80 for it. Not sure 753 commands that much of a premium.

Robvolz 

I just spoke to the racer in question, he said he was told that the 753 frames were made at the workshop in England.

Considering they made Framebuilder‘s pass a test before they were allowed to raise these, that makes sense.

I’m not finding a sticker.

I will list this bike for 500 including the two extra forks, extra seat, and I’ll see if I can’t find some dura-ace brakes. He told me the only thing still original on this bike is the crank.

jon c. 

What is the serial number?

Some 753s were Workshop and some were SBDU. And perhaps other shops but the serial number should help determine that.

50PlusCycling

Here’s one for sale in Japan, a new frame and fork, never ridden. The price is 180,000 yen, or about $1300, though it’s not likely to sell for that much.

https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp...on/t1070652366

3alarmer 

...maybe he was told "Worksop" ? That was the location for the Carleton factory that Raleigh absorbed.

zukahn1 

Regardless of the actual builder these like pretty much all the higher end Raleigh USA bike are very nice true top end bikes I really like the paint on most of there stuff about the best around at the time.. It just seems most of there nicer stuff from the 80's and early 90's just doesn't get the appreciation they should. A equivalent frame set from the same time period with a better known Italian label on it would sell for $200-300 more and likely not be as nice.

DMC707

Cool bike

i empathize with the former owner just using whatever Parts he could scrounge up to keep the bike running in his racing days

I had a similar program. When you put on big Miles in an angry fashion, stuff breaks. Gets expensive for those of us on budgets

my GT had 105 brakes, old campy hubbed tubulars on gel 280’s with Sachs freewheels, friction shift and a mish mash of everything else for a long time until I used my student loan and got a nice DeBernardi with a Veloce parts build.
It was wonderful for about six months but after a couple years it too looked like it had been dragged through a parts bin.

zandoval 

This statement has real meaning for me.

It's the ride that counts...

satbuilder 

Looks like an Ilkeston built frame. I had one just like it but in a larger frame size.
There should be a serial number stamp under the bottom bracket resembling SBXXXX.

The sticker on the back side of the seat tube, what does it read?

You may also want to double check and see if the frame is 753 or 753R. The one I had was 753R.

Robvolz 

Says built in England

satbuilder 

So it’s a 753 R frame. The sticker I was referring to is in front of the rear tire, back side of the seat tube, where the E in Raleigh is.

The real proof will be with the serial number having an SB prefix.

Robvolz 

SB 6292

I was wrong It’s a 51

Which the bb confirms

satbuilder 

Well, there you go. It’s an Ilkeston built frame.
At your $500 asking, this should go quickly, provided there aren’t dents or dropout problems

Robvolz 

what is the difference between 753 and 753R?

SoCaled 

https://dentoncycles.co.uk/2017/05/17/the-sbdu-and-their-use-of-reynolds-753-reynolds-753r-and-reynolds-753t/ - Reynolds 753 SBDU

ljsense

$500 for all that seems like a pretty good price; alternatively, if you can afford to let things sit for a while while you find buyers, I'd sell the frame with the original fork, and everything else separately, since it's an odd lot of high end vintage stuff.

I'm guess with that approach you might get $300 for the frameset, about $100 for each extra fork, and around $400 for the wheels, saddles and components all listed individually.

zukahn1 

753R is the thinner lighter race version of the tubing which tracks right for this frames history size. Meaning it is 1-2m thinner in places and bit tighter more aggressive stiff slightly shorter wheelbase and top line and a pound or so lighter which doesn't matter, unless your stuck in a 80's weight weeinie racing time warp. May thin tire choices by 2mm or so and up the value by $50-100 some buyers will pay $50-100 more for bit lighter bike so list the actual weight weenie curb weight with the lightest fork in your adds and that is 753R Ilkeston built frame to get bit more value.