Something to cheer us up

[Matt the Shrimp]

Story from
Ananova: Raleigh relaunch the chopper:

<span style='color:blue'>Raleigh relaunches Chopper bike

The Chopper bike is to be relaunched.

Raleigh has confirmed it is to capitalise on nostalgic interest in the bike by bringing out a new version.

Just 2,004 of the new Choppers will be made.

Raleigh, now based at Eastwood, Nottinghamshire, sold 1.5 million Choppers between 1969 and 1979.

The new Chopper retains the red-lined tyres, distinctive "ape hanger" handlebars, elongated seat, back rest and chrome seat loop.

The only big difference is the gearshift, which moves from the crossbar to the handlebars for safety reasons.

Loz Cox, product manager for the Chopper at Raleigh, said: "The new Chopper has been restyled. The biggest changes are the lightweight alloy frame - the original was steel - and the position of the gear lever.

"It has taken us nine months to redesign the new Chopper and we know it's going to prove as popular as it did in the Seventies."

The Choppers are due to go on sale in April. The first 2,004 Choppers will cost £249.99. Subsequent bikes, without a plaque, will retail at £199.99.</span>

 

Matt

 

[Leeboy]

wished I&#39;d kept my original one, be worth a fortune now.

 

[steveh1510]

Didn&#39;t cheer me up, but then, I&#39;m not old enough to remember them....

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

Quote[/b] (Matt the Shrimp @ Jan. 15 2004,11:57)]<span style='color:blue'>Just 2,004 of the new Choppers will be made.

The first 2,004 Choppers will cost £249.99.

Subsequent bikes, without a plaque, will retail at £199.99.</span>

Something a bit odd about Ananova's story here... do you think someone should tell them?

Matt

P.S. Steve - your loss mate. They were the coolest bikes ever when they came out. Didn't have one myself, but really wanted one...

 

[Andu]

The one thing I remember about the chopper was that the front tyre used to explode in the summertime if it was stood in the sun.

 

[Wessex Blue]

Quote[/b] (Leeboy @ Jan. 15 2004,12:03)]wished I'd kept my original one, be worth a fortune now.

About £400 in mint condition. I was on the IOW for the scooter rally in August and 4 lads were riding restored choppers around, looked cool as fcuk! Tempted to get one myself as an investment! (plus I only had a Raleigh Tomahawk so I missed out)

 

[Birri]

I had a tomahawk (choppers little bruvver) then went onto a grifter

 

[Surrey Shrimper]

I went from a tomahawk to a grifter (those things were as heavy as a harley) to a Burner.

Oh happy days........................

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

Grifters were damn heavy... but I loved the fact that it was a twist gear-change on the handle bar - it was like a motorbike for kids.

Have to say that most of my bikes have been pretty anonymous... the only one I can definitely remember the name of is my first bike, which was a Raleigh Rascal&#33;

Matt

 

[Leeboy]

Chopper,
Grifter,
then slightly downhill with a Universal Cycles BMX,
Raleigh 10 speed racer,
Halfords Mountain bike

 

[The Artful Shrimper]

I had a battered ol second hand bike with no brakes. I told everyone it was a scrambler&#33;

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

Quote[/b] (Leeboy @ Jan. 15 2004,16:03)]Chopper,
Grifter,
then slightly downhill with a Universal Cycles BMX,
Raleigh 10 speed racer,
Halfords Mountain bike

I went something like

* Raleigh Rascal (cool bike, yellow, clacky pedals, constantly falling off it and grazing my knees)

* Rayleigh 5 speed racer (with racing bike handle-bars... cool, yet at the same time pants)

* Sears 3-speed (Sears is a big dept. store in the US/Canada, and my parents brought their bikes back from Canada; ancient, but with a certain shabby chic about it)

* Rayleigh Mountain bike (cursed bike bought on Pikey Island; crashed in my Dad&#39;s car the day we bought it, I had my worst ever bike accident on it, and it got nicked when I moved to London... not that I was too upset about it, mind)

* Decathlon Mountain bike (lovely bike which I should ride more often)

Matt

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

Quote[/b] (Leeboy @ Jan. 15 2004,16:03)]Universal Cycles BMX

What, as in the Universal Cycles advert in the Southend Matchday programme, with the woman in the green leotard leaning in a wholly inappropriate manner, and with only a logo preventing a view of her chocolate starfish...?

Matt

 

[steveh1510]

Quote[/b] (Matt the Shrimp @ Jan. 16 2004,11:41)]

Quote[/b] (Leeboy @ Jan. 15 2004,16:03)]Universal Cycles BMX

What, as in the Universal Cycles advert in the Southend Matchday programme, with the woman in the green leotard leaning in a wholly inappropriate manner, and with only a logo preventing a view of her chocolate starfish...?

 

Matt

What a bike!

 

[Wessex Blue]

Quote[/b] (Matt the Shrimp @ Jan. 16 2004,11:41)]

Quote[/b] (Leeboy @ Jan. 15 2004,16:03)]Universal Cycles BMX

What, as in the Universal Cycles advert in the Southend Matchday programme, with the woman in the green leotard leaning in a wholly inappropriate manner, and with only a logo preventing a view of her chocolate starfish...?

 

Matt

If the bike gets a puncture you can ride the bird instead (up the Gary if you like) quality!

 

[Wessex Blue]

Quote[/b] (Wessex Blue @ Jan. 16 2004,12:05)]

Quote[/b] (Matt the Shrimp @ Jan. 16 2004,11:41)]

Quote[/b] (Leeboy @ Jan. 15 2004,16:03)]Universal Cycles BMX

What, as in the Universal Cycles advert in the Southend Matchday programme, with the woman in the green leotard leaning in a wholly inappropriate manner, and with only a logo preventing a view of her chocolate starfish...?

 

Matt

If the bike gets a puncture you can ride the bird instead (up the Gary if you like) quality!  

She gets to ride on your chopper!
That brings the thread back full circle. Matt did the article say whether Raleigh would be making a special edition with strengthened frame and in an XL size for fat, nostalgic 30 - 40 somethings?  

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

Quote[/b] (Wessex Blue @ Jan. 16 2004,12:08)]Matt did the article say whether Raleigh would be making a special edition with strengthened frame and in an XL size for fat, nostalgic 30 - 40 somethings?  

Nope, but since that certainly applies to me, I'd better ask them...

Matt