USAZorro

The chainring was shot when it left the factory. Great acquisitions.

Bandera

I raced a "555 SL" or whatever the British 531 frames were oddly labeled as, good kit though.
The Mfg tag in the frame box said "Huffy" as the customer, Yep that's Raleigh USA.
Apples & grapefruits to what the OP is looking at.

-Bandera

brian3069

Maybe yours is a team replica and not a custom frame? That would put it a little higher on the food chain.

Very nice!!!

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...-gipiemme.html

Dboyle

Hmmm. The 1985 Raleigh USA catalog lists them as custom frames (that probably really means a custom order frame vs. an actual custom frame). That is the catalog I used to order the frame from the dealer. Two frames available, one 753, the other 555. I ordered the 555 version. Mine delivered with 531C for some reason. But I was always OK with that.

clubman 

Correct, OP I think you made the right choice.

Podagrower

No photos of the upgrades, but. New bar tape (which is too bright of a yellow), new shift and brake cables (which are the right color yellow), new brake hoods, new brake pads all around, figured out how to center the single pivot brakes, headset, wheel, and BB bearings all replaced, new chain, upcycled the ultegra rear derailleur from the parts box to replace the 105. Looks like it's going to wind up with a triple crank but the used one I got had a trashed spindle so I am waiting on a replacement. Scored a used saddle online which I already know makes my backside happy.

Podagrower

Finally got the first ride in, nothing fell of the bike, myself included, so it was a good ride. I went kind of mixed bag on the build. Everything came off the bike, got at least a reasonable cleaning before being replaced or reused. New bearings all around, and they were overdue judging by the wax that used to be grease. New cables, new brake pads, new brake hoods, new bar tape, new saddle. Existing brake levers and brakes retained, front wheel retained. The 42-52 chainrings were replaced with a 26-40-50 triple, the rear wheel is currently from a different bike with an 11-36 cassette (wow, that is a granny gear). Front and rear derailleurs replaced with 105 (5703 front, 5800 GS rear) and I know what you are thinking, there isn't enough capacity there for the gears I'm running-true that, small small and big big are problematic with chainline, small front big rear rubs the derailleur on the cassette, but I'm confident I can fix that with the B screw. I wanted to retain the square taper BB and change the caged bearings to loose ceramic (just to screw with bike snobs), but the existing spindle was not wide enough for the triple crank (no big surprise) and the triple crank spindle was garbage, so I wound up going with a new square taper BB with sealed ceramic bearings, so I can screw with the snobs. Ultegra pedals, Dura Ace downtube shifters (not much choice there if you want 10 speed indexed).

So, how does the 712 ride? Awesome, even with no hands on the bars, straight and true. I'm going to say it is surprisingly light, just going by feel, I think it weighs less than my other steel bike that is 853 tubing.

And what is left on the to-do list? The only thing I discovered was that the headset is a little too loose, sometimes it's hard to find that balance between too tight and actually functioning and I went too loose. I would like to find a newer set of 105 wheels (or at least a rear).

Things I learned. 6 speed indexed downtube shifters can handle a 10 speed cassette in friction mode.

jetboy 

i just got one of these for $80 and that was a steal- someone should go grab that. worth it for the chrome alone.

Podagrower

Finally got the second ride in, small list of tweaks needed. I had left both derailleur cables long just in case (of what, I don't know) and the front one managed to contact the rear tire, and start bouncing between the tire and my leg, unraveling and occasionally managing to grab a leg hair. I had tried setting the headset as tight as it would go and still turn easy, but it was too loose. Front derailleur is just barely dragging on the middle chainring, but the joys of friction shifting mean I can trim it out easily. Saddle is probably too high. But it is a very comfortable and capable rider. There were 2 bike snobs in the group I was riding with and both took notice of the Miyata.

63rickert

The letgo photo of the Raleigh is very weak. Is that a chrome headtube with full chrome rear triangle? Those were built by Toyo. Super bikes. One of the best bikes and best deals ever. If the chrome is shot, you'll never restore it. And if not chrome, who knows. Raleigh was sourcing bikes everywhere. If it looks like improbably perfect exceptional framework it probably is. If you can't tell the difference just get a bike and ride.

dogbros

Wow, I have been looking for this exact article for months! I have the exact bike, only the next year and want to do the same thing; add a triple and more gears in back! Can you direct me as to the crankset you used ? Did you have to do anything special to make it fit? Also, I have the stock 105 derailleurs. I am assuming I have to change to handle the gears you have? Sorry, this is my first post on this Forum, so I can't include photos or PM yet. - Thanks - Dave