Raleigh bashing

[stratus5]

On another topic on this list, the Raleigh got a mild bashing, but it got me to thinking...

 

How much of a bike is really Raleigh or whatever? Raleigh make the frame, but the rest (fork, wheels,drivechain) is Shimano, Fox, DtSwiss, Richey etc For the same money the Shimano spec is generaly the highest on a Raleigh.

 

Are the Raleigh frames less capable? Doubt it since in most cases they are made in the same factories with the same materials, just to slightly different designs.

 

I just bought a 2008 spec RM9 second hand at a fantastic price because there was no market for it second hand. Crazy, just because they make cheap bikes as well, then their top end offering must be lacking?

 

Are they too common? For the less financialy enabled cyclsts only? Why are they seldom giving reviews in Bicycling and Ride magazines etc?

 

Are they actually *** and somebody like Kevin Evans would ride any thing else if only he could get another sponsor?

 

 

[bob_the_builder]

I agree, lets bash something... Raleighs it is then!

[AndreZA]

There is nothing wrong with a Raleigh. It's just the name that gives the product a, well bad name. But sometimes you can get something else for the same price.

 

[The Saint]

Nothing wrong with Raleigh. I rode one for years and it is a good bike. There are just som eout there that are better.

 

People bash them because they are common bikes and they rode one when they were at school.

 

I think Raleigh have done a fantastic job at bringing good speced bikes into the market at an affordable price for average Joe (Not Joe Lowe although he does ride a Raleigh)

 

Only wish they would sort their sizing out cause it sucks and confuses the **** out of everyone.

[Turboman]

I tried to bash my raleigh,,,, but it keeps coming back

[keith]

When I went hunting for my bike (ended up buying an entry level Schwinn) I found that Raleighs for what they offered entry level wise were not cheap, and a guy at my LBS said the same thing to me. Many people on the hub seem to ride them though if you look at the members pictures!

[Joe Low]

Mechanically Raleigh will be fine for 99% of us but the difference is in the perceptions of style, class, je ne sais quoi, the X factor.

 

Partly down to marketing and partly down to what the cycling community feels in its water are the smart brands and what aren't.

 

Given free run of the bike shop I'd get something else, but the value in a Raleigh is hard to ignore.

 

I think all your observations are correct.

 

 

[E1A104]

I tried to bash my raleigh' date=',,, but it keeps coming back [/quote']

 

Same thing happened to Mux, so he just bought some new flash, chrome BH stickers for his Raleigh.

 

[bob_the_builder]

Get in the spirit boys...

 

Raleighs are k@k. Worst ever bikes. Even DG wouldn't ride one at the Giro earlier this year, and I bet McCleod was on a re-badged Kuota at SA's...

 

[1hill@aTime]

I tried to bash my raleigh' date=',,, but it keeps coming back [/quote']

 

should i help?

[FlyingCheetah]

Take a Raleigh to cycleart, respray and put fancy Italian stickers on it if you are too ashamed to be seen riding a Raleigh.

 

If I had the money, I would get the "Ugly" Yellow Team Raleigh with a smile!

[The Saint]

I tried to bash my raleigh' date=',,, but it keeps coming back [/quote']

 

Same thing happened to Mux, so he just bought some new flash, chrome BH stickers for his Raleigh.

 

 

Heh Heh did you just compare BH to Raleigh?

[1hill@aTime]

Take a Raleigh to cycleart' date=' respray and put fancy Italian stickers on it if you are too ashamed to be seen riding a Raleigh.

 

If I had the money, I would get the "Ugly" Yellow Team Raleigh with a smile!

[/quote']

 

i would to

[Turboman]

I tried to bash my raleigh' date=',,, but it keeps coming back [/quote']

 

should i help?

 

Sure, swop with me that Silver Cinelli thingy and let;s see if the Raleigh comes back

[scotty]

My only flirt with a Raleigh was a R399 Makro special and that saw me though my 1st Argus.

 

IMO nothing wrong with the  brand, just peoples perception of it as being inferior.

[1hill@aTime]

turbo - shoo don't say it so loud she has feelings