Who can remember these two top of the range bicycles.

mountainsport

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Feb 6, 2012
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Hi to all you bicycle lovers,

Does anyone remember the one and only Raleigh Chopper bike????
Does anyone remember the one and only Raleigh Grifter bike????

Anyway,yesterday i google searched Raleigh Chopper bike and had come across one with an electric motor fitted to the rear wheel,now isn't that a wonderful work of art?

Mountainsport.
 

JuicyBike

Trade Member
Jan 26, 2009
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Derbyshire
Only problem with that bike was the name.
I really wanted a Raleigh Chopper for xmas when a boy.
Wish I'd spoken my desire a little more clearly.
Christmas arrived and there next to my beaming mum was my shiny shopper.
Still receive counselling today...
 

Artstu

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Aug 2, 2009
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They did a brand new version of the Chopper not long ago. My original was a Purple MK2 with the little rack on the back. What's a Shiny Shopper Bob?
 

JuicyBike

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Jan 26, 2009
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Derbyshire
They did a brand new version of the Chopper not long ago. My original was a Purple MK2 with the little rack on the back. What's a Shiny Shopper Bob?
My mum was a bit hard of hearing...
 

hopper_rider

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Aug 22, 2012
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I had a Raleigh chopper as a kid. I left it behind when I left home. Seems my dad gave it away :(

I loved that bike.

Remember Grifters as well. A family that lived near us bought them for all of their kids.

I am a bit unsure of whether I would want either now as my frame has grown a bit.
 

hopper_rider

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Aug 22, 2012
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At least the bikes frame would cope. They weighed a ton each those bikes.
True, but it strengthened your leg muscles. Probably gave us all a good cardio vascular workout as well.

Besides looking cool was higher on the list of essentials
 

Artstu

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Aug 2, 2009
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Most kids bikes still weigh a ton, but not many kids ride bikes these days, or if they do they don't go far.

I'm sure my Chopper did me good, apart from the time my front wheel got stuck in a curved drain grid and I head-butted a brick wall..
 

hopper_rider

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Aug 22, 2012
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Most kids bikes still weigh a ton, but not many kids ride bikes these days, or if they do they don't go far.

I'm sure my Chopper did me good, apart from the time my front wheel got stuck in a curved drain grid and I head-butted a brick wall..
The family with all the kids with Grifters had a shed full of various bikes and bike bits. When we werent going on rides we would just hang out near the bike sheds (ooh err). There was always wheels or handlebars being swapped out. If the brakes didnt fit afterwards there was always the soles of your feet :)

Raleigh Tomahawks were also part of the collection. I also remember bull horn handlebars. Great wide things that they used to cover in grip tape.
 

Artstu

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Aug 2, 2009
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I also remember bull horn handlebars. Great wide things that they used to cover in grip tape.
My little drop handlebar Raleigh Hustler ended up with some bull horn handlebars for a while, everyone had them didn't they.
 

mountainsport

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Feb 6, 2012
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They did a brand new version of the Chopper not long ago. My original was a Purple MK2 with the little rack on the back. What's a Shiny Shopper Bob?
Artstu,

LOL,LOL,LOL i'm cracking up now,maybe Bob meant a Raleigh Chipper.:eek:

Mountainsport.
 

Artstu

Esteemed Pedelecer
Aug 2, 2009
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Sorry Bob,

My correction,i just remembered there was a Raleigh Shopper bike,so you are not crazy after all.:eek:

Mountainsport.
Probably a better bike actually. Thinking about it one of my Female friends had one of those for years and years.



and what about the lights we used to have

 
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mountainsport

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Feb 6, 2012
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And then along came the five speed,suddenly i went BERSERK!!!!!!!!!!
Even at the age of fifty.

Mountainsport.
 

Artstu

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Aug 2, 2009
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And then along came the five speed,suddenly i went BERSERK!!!!!!!!!!
Even at the age of fifty.
I was always a hub gear fan, I had to wait a long time before I could return back to hub gears. I think you must be quite a bit older than me?
 

JuicyBike

Trade Member
Jan 26, 2009
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Derbyshire
Probably a better bike actually. Thinking about it one of my Female friends had one of those for years and years.



and what about the lights we used to have


Ahrgh! This is really beginning to hurt... Let's forget Raleigh Shoppers shall we? Please?
 

Artstu

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Aug 2, 2009
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I'd be happy to ride a shopper these days, just the job for popping down to Morrisons for the shopping, does that make me odd? Bob there are some canal barge dwellers that still ride them. So if you're wanting more happy childhood memories pop down to the canal this lunchtime :p