Raleigh Chopper MK1
The Raleigh MK1 Chopper was rolled out to the public in 1969. Drawing heavily from the image scape of American motorcycles and cars, popular with young Britons raised on a diet of American Film and TV.
It was a commercial success for Raleigh at a time when the British bike industry was in steady decline and is often credited as "The Bike That Saved Raleigh".
The iconic look took precedence over functionality, much of the styling and features directly contributing to a notoriously awkward ride. They gained a reputation for being dangerous, only increasing their appeal to many kids.
The heart of the bicycle remains the classic Sturmey Archer 3 speed hub, a design virtually unchanged from the early 1900s. However Raleigh updated this design with a shifter knob inspired by 60s motorsport
This project was classed as a “light” restoration as not all parts needed rechroming. The customer also specified that some parts [despite showing signs of age] were left as they held sentimental value.