Looks like the bike hasn't seen a lot of use. Back in 2014, Bandera had some wryly funny observations to make about the life cycle of many Raleigh Sports bicycles

Good lookin' bike.

LOL! Good one.
Yeah I haven't had a chance to look it over yet but from what I've seen, looks like it just mostly sat there.

Wow, a blast from the past. Never bothered to paint the chainguard. Sold that bike a couple of years ago. I have a 23" Sports I like better.

Bit of a lurker, first time poster. Just assembled an old Dunelt with a 23" frame myself off of eBay for $165. It doesn't have the shifter cable attached yet because Fedex damaged the indicator spindle in transit; the seller said he's sending me a free replacement ASAP.

The most curious thing is that the seller said it was a 1963 model based on the bike license on the seat tube, but it's got a Hercules Type B gearhub instead of a Sturmey-Archer branded one (I know that the Type B was just a licensed copy). With the flattop forks, doesn't that mark it as a pre-Raleigh Dunelt?

Broke this into two posts so the pictures don't screw with the formatting.

Welcome.
More pics Please.

All I have on hand are of the head badge and of the seat tube/bike license. Is there anything in particular you want to see?

Oh! And the other side. Forgot I took this one first.

Fine bike, good find. Need more detail, but it is a Raleigh frame and fenders. The grips, clamp on cable roller and guaranteed English lightweight transfer are all consistent with the early 60s. The Herc hub and what appears to be Suresta kickstand are usually associated with Birmingham bikes.

Agree with BigChief, it's an odd blend of parts. It looks like a '63 bike but many Dunelts had the 'D' thimbles by then.
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3284/3...3fab8bb266.jpg
Your fork crown is definitely the Birmingham style so It's probably old stock forks used by Raleigh. Your head badge is definitely Raleigh period and the rest of the frame fits with that. Either a previous owner made a parts swap or you got a true parts-bin special straight from Nottingham.

Fascinating! I had originally pegged as Raleigh-made, but the Hercules hub threw me for a whirl when I saw it, because I didn't think a Raleigh-made Dunelt would have a non-Sturmey Archer hub. It is a Suresta kickstand, so unless a previous owner just liked to use Hercules-only parts, I think it's safe to say Raleigh decided to burn through a bunch of their acquisitions part stock when they made this beauty. It definitely gives it a ton of character!

When looking for these on Craigslist, what search keywords do you use?

I've been trying terms like sears, Raleigh, Hercules, 3 speed. How do you all go about finding them?

I usually just look on Craigslist, but NH doesn't have a huge bike page. I'd use the terms you list, and just keep looking.

Been a while since I've been on here, but I'm still be (occasionally) riding my 1969 Raleigh Sprite. It's supposed to be a 5 speed... and I've just never gotten around to getting both shifters, so it got an AW from a bike that I parted out way back when, and I've just kept riding it, as-is. The rubber block pedals wore alarmingly fast so it got some metal pedals; the Brooks broke right after I bought it so I swapped on a saddle that came with my road bike that I hated (surprise, it works ok here). The bag is a Click-it or somesuch which gets tools and carries a water bottle. Yesterday was the first time it needed a repair; the bearings in the head tube got very sticky. As I wanted to ride the fix was a shot of WD40.

Bought in 2010, it tends to get ridden mostly in not so good weather (the good weather I get out my other bike). Fenders for the win.

Took it out yesterday on a 20 mile ride, as it's middle of winter but warmed up to 40F plus, and I just needed to get out.

http://i64.tinypic.com/2a77qtu.jpg

http://i66.tinypic.com/2nrfpg3.jpg

And yes, I regretted afterwards putting it into the snow, as I was on top of a hill for both pics! At some point I'll get some new pads, I think it still has 1969 pads, front tire etc.

I don't search specifically for the English bikes but I come across them often here in the SF Bay Area.

You need to be patient. Plus, expand your search to include Raliegh (a common spelling mistake), Armstrong, Phillips, Rudge, Humber, and probably a few more I'm not thinking of.

Thanks for the good advice. Will do!

Where are you located? Some areas are thick with these bikes while others are barren. You might have to travel for one. Good luck!

I live in San Diego, which has a pretty big market. Plus, I'm close enough to LA to make a trip if something really good comes up.

Good advice on the mis-spelling of Raleigh. I found a very nice ladies Superbe that had been listed that way.

I love these bikes. Mine came with the original top tube shifters, but I couldn't get along with them at all, so this is what I came up with. A standard trigger for the right and a SunTour ratchet up, friction down type handlebar shifter to operate the left side bell crank.
http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/f...e_shifters.jpg

It's also worth saying and considering to check the Vintage Bicycle section of eBay. Some of the bikes are overpriced for what they are, but you've got a much wider selection. It's what I had to wind up doing so I could get a 23 inch frame that could fit me; all my local CL had were 21 inch frames.

You're following the wrong CL. They turn up frequently around here. This ad's been up for weeks with no takers.

MENS 1972 RALEIGH LTD 3 BIKE

MENS 1972 RALEIGH LTD 3 BIKE - $159 (CHESTER)

https://images.craigslist.org/00q0q_...T_1200x900.jpg

NICE EXCELLENT SHAPE

Had they already gone to the plastic triggers on the S-A shifter in `72? I thought those came later...