BikingViking793 

I'm shopping for a English 3 speed and found a Raleigh Sports that is different than what I keep seeing. This one has the little wheel for the shift cable, different stem, and different pedals than I have seen. Is it all stock? Most the ones I have seen are 70s. Curious if there is something special about this one or if it's older or newer. Also he says the standover is 28" with flat tires. For some reason it looked like it would be a bigger frame to me. They don't know for certain the year:

WGB 

It looks older, but I'd just be guessing. What date is on the hub?

BikingViking793 

Not sure, just have a few pictures to work with. This bike and another I'm interested in are both like an hour and half drive. Similar prices, same color, look to be in similar condition, but this one is different.

clubman 

The chopper pedals were usually seen on '69 -'71 Sports frames. The pulley wheels were standard. It's a 23' frame in good nick with my fave B72 . Yeah, that's an alternate stem, could still be Raleigh.
The pedals can be a weak point with bushings, no bearings. The AW hub will get you very close with it's date code.

BikingViking793 

Would a 23" have that low of a standover height? I'm not sure I would fit well on a 23", but that standover is fine.

BikingViking793 

How tall can a person be and still fit a 23". I'm searching but not finding real clear answers. I'm about 5',6" with 30" inseam. Will this bike be an ok fit?

cb400bill

It appears to me to be a 23 inch frame. If so, the stand over height should be around 32-33 inches and not the 28 inches that the seller claims.

nlerner

You need a 21” frame, which is usually easier to find than a 23”, at least around here. Otherwise, looks to be a fairly standard early 70s Sports. Those pedals were awful.

BikingViking793 

Bummer. Guess I'll cancel looking at that one then. The length of the head tube gives away the bigger size right? I thought it was bigger and he has a picture with a tape measure that appears to show 32" standover. But i asked him to clarify and sent him a clear picture of what standover height is. Ah well. Guess there is the other one, just a little farther drive. This look like a 21"? Seller said the standover is about 29 3/4" with flat tires.

repechage

The smaller one is younger- note the downtube graphics. I like the larger one but would be a French fit for me and I am taller.

in the Southern Cal market place these would be snapped up pronto unless you are the guy trying to sell similar for $1,200 on CL periodically

inspect the tires- I bet having sat deflated they are cracked to the casing. Negotiating point.
and you will learn the difference between EA1 and EA3 tires.

nlerner

Yeah, that second one is a 21” frame and the tires are shot.

clubman 

And the second one has the less desirable self-adjusting brake levers. My rule of thumb (not everyones') is that Raleigh quality control started to slide in the late 70's and never really recovered. Bikes made in the 50's and 60's are just that much better.

cb400bill

There's a been a his and hers pair available in Milwaukee for a couple of weeks. It's can be tough to sell a pair of bikes. Perhaps they would now split them up.

https://milwaukee.craigslist.org/bik...304248214.html

cb400bill

Or this pair in Crystal Lake IL for $140.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...3-3c324b5d675b

BikingViking793 

yes those are the second bike. Seem like decent price?

BikingViking793 

alright well I know own 2 Raleigh Sports. Any recommendations for what tires and where to buy them. Will I need rim tape or just tubes?

dedhed

Check your old tires for size but you'll likely need 590 ISO EA-3 (26 X 1 3/8) tires.

Depends on how much you want to spend and what your intent on use is. Anything from the basic Kendas to nicer tires with better flat protection or ride.
I got my last ones at Ben's in MKE. With the COVID supply chain issues it might not be that easy to find.
If the old tubes hold air they're probably fine, rim tape evaluate and reuse if good.

Also be aware that the fasteners are likely Whitworth and metric/SAE wrenches don't fit. Just one of the quirks of English 3 speeds you have to take into account when servicing.
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/english-3.html


​​​​​​https://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/tires/590.html

BikingViking793 

It does appear it's gonna be slow moving getting these going. Tried just about everywhere I could think of and no tires. At least not in gumwall which I think I need. Bummer.

dedhed

If you just want to get rolling look under wheelchair tires as well.
https://www.ebay.com/c/9018484909

BikingViking793 

One of the local shops looks like they might have this tire in stock in gumwall:
https://www.amazon.com/Sunlite-Hybri...8-1&th=1&psc=1

Is that appropriate for these bikes or will I want to replace them later?

dedhed

Depends on how you define appropriate. To me if it fits and rolls it's appropriate.
These bikes have come with blackwalls, thin whitewalls, gumwalls at various times.

While not period correct, do yourself a favor and throw some Kool Stop pads on it so it'll at least attempt to brake in wet weather.
​​​​​​Kool Stop International - High Performance Bicycle Brake Pads Since 1977

BikingViking793 

One of the hubs has a 74 and an 8. The other hub has a clear 9 where the 8 is on the other one. And the year appears to not be stamped well. I think I can maybe see another 74, the 4 seems lightly visible and maybe a 7, but maybe I'm seeing it because that's what I'm expecting. Was it common for not such a great stamp? I was also born on this year, so that's pretty cool

BikingViking793 

Thanks, is there a certain pad people use with these?

nlerner

1974 seems right for those two Raleighs, given the type of brake lever, decals, etc. On pads, KoolStop Continental.

BikingViking793 

The lights aren't stock I'm assuming? They appear to be very old and have AMF on them. Is there any value to them? Am I good removing them or is there some appeal to them. I can do without the wires all over.