Raleigh Bikes

[Iwan Kemp]

Cool. Thanks for explaining. That obviously explain why UK Raleigh frames look different to SA ones.

 

Second (honest) question: Do you have a bike designer and have the frames amde abroad or do you buy off the shelve frames.

 

I ask this cause I know that just because they are made in the same factory as BRAND 123 it doesn't necessarily mean it's the same frame. Ja?

 

As far as I know most of the bigger factories make frames that you can rebrand, but they also manufacture frames for a specific brand.

[Jan Begemann]

Depending on the frame model our frames are more or less designed by Probike (me) or specifically for Probike.

 

In the 2009 range none of our frames is a "off the shelf" standard frame. The last time we had one off the shelf was in 2008 (the Dedacciai carbon frames).

 

All our aluminium frames are our own designs, but some tube shapes like for example the carbon rear stays of the RM 6.0 are off the shelf. Designing our own rear stays would be very expensive and give no advantage.

 

The current suspension frame is a design I did with Timo Woelk, an engineer from Munich, when I was still working for a German company (Trenga DE). Since this year Raleigh and Trenga DE are both using the same design and share the costs on all further developments.

 

Our carbon frames are still the ones where our own part is not that much. The frames are based on open models, but modified according to our requirements (like different carbon material, different dropouts and our own geometries). Our one big problem here is the costs of designing an own carbon frame. Having the Raleigh license for Africa and India means in fact, that we can sell our high end bikes only in SA. So our quantities compared to worldwide selling company like Trek are very very small. Designing a carbon road frame and making the molds would cost around USD 70,000 to 100,000 plus the costs you have to produce the frames. We'd end up with USD1000 per frame before painting.

 

But I am already working on a solution for 2010, currently on a new mtb hardtail frame. The idea is to let us do the design, so that we get exactly what we want. We get the exclusive rights on this design for South Africa, and the Chinese factory can sell it to other companies anywhere else in the world. So being far away from other markets like America, Germany or China in this case is an advantage for us :-).

[Eugene]

Back to the original question............Raleigh are good bikes period.......They are specced better than most brands. Yes, they went overboard with their prices in 2009, but they have made amends with the price decreases.

 

Yes, they had frame problems, but so have other brands. I found a re-call on 2004 Specialized yesterday, so too did Cervelo. Probike made amends by replacing the affected ones.

 

My only gripe with Raleigh is their rather boring paint schemes, which has also changed this year.

 

So, if you want a Raleigh, get one. They are well specced, prices are now good, they look awesome and you won't get a better back up service.

[Pantani]

So Raleigh is made in a factory in China? So what's all the talk about made by Italian Dedawhatever?

[vanniri]

My suggestion to Jan will be a little PR in SA, not with the aim of making us believe Raleigh bikes are the best (they sponsor pro teams for that), but to illustrate the history and origins of the frames/components.

 

In general it is time for cycling to get off its high horse of "made in the east = bad", "made in the west" = good.

 

Having real life statistics, for e.g. number of carbon frames manufactures vs. number of brands, etc. will go a far way to address peoples questions/ignorance.

 

Concerning the cracking 2006/07 frames, maybe it was a manufacturer problem. If so rebates could have resulted in cheap 2008 frames, thus resulting in 2008 prices not being comparable to 2009?

 

[Overlord]

If they design the frames in South Africa do they think of tall SA men to ride their bikes or not. The large on the website for instance is so small I won't be able to ride the bike.

 

If they make frames that fit us guys riding 21' bikes then one can start looking at the brand.

 

So no I am not a brand snob but ride a bike that fits me.

 

[AndreZA]

..."made in the east = bad"' date=' "made in the west" = good....[/quote']

 

 

 

But it is true. have you seen how much better the Ford are build in Roodepoort then in Benoni.

[jdvisagie]

http://raleigh.co.za/technology.php?tech=dedacciai

 

http://www.dedacciai.com/

 

Condor Leggero Team Issue

 

Bikeradar.com Review

 

All from the same stock....

 

[rock]

To be honest I never see raleigh bikes in bike shops around cape town.......especially south of the boereworse curtain.......

 

I kinda like the bikes, but haven't really had a touch 'n feel......

[Overlord]

 

To be honest I never see raleigh bikes in bike shops around cape town.......especially south of the boereworse curtain.......

 

I kinda like the bikes' date=' but haven't really had a touch 'n feel......

[/quote']

 

I like their Carbon HT frames. But they do not make one in my size.

 

[1hill@aTime]

i kinda have to disagree with some of the replies here, i for one was sceptical about buying/riding a raleigh, and have even dissed them a bit on the hub in the past, i have just bought a 08 Limited and out of all my bikes so far it's the best ride....

[Iwan Kemp]

My suggestion to Jan will be a little PR in SA' date=' not with the aim of making us believe Raleigh bikes are the best (they sponsor pro teams for that), but to illustrate the history and origins of the frames/components.

I agree.

 

In general it is time for cycling to get off its high horse of "made in the east = bad", "made in the west" = good.

Don't think that's the case anymore. If you've been riding long enough then you'll know that very few bikes are still made in the US or anywhere "west". The east make good quality gear when asked to.

 

Having real life statistics, for e.g. number of carbon frames manufactures vs. number of brands, etc. will go a far way to address peoples questions/ignorance.

Raleigh? You willing to publish these? And I'm not talking Brandon's marketing talk.

 

If so rebates could have resulted in cheap 2008 frames, thus resulting in 2008 prices not being comparable to 2009?

That wasn't the case.

 

[/quote']

[scotty]

i kinda have to disagree with some of the replies here' date=' i for one was sceptical about buying/riding a raleigh, and have even dissed them a bit on the hub in the past, i have just bought a 08 Limited and out of all my bikes so far it's the best ride.... [/quote']

 

And a bonus is it also matches your riding kit.

[1hill@aTime]

pretty much like camo?

[Iwan Kemp]

http://raleigh.co.za/technology.php?tech=dedacciai

http://www.dedacciai.com/

Condor Leggero Team Issue

Bikeradar.com Review

All from the same stock....

Sure, but I ask again:

1. Are they the same design?

2. Do they use the same mold?

3. Do they use the same carbon lay-up / weave / fibre quality or alu grade?

 

VW Polo & Seat Ibiza rolls out of the same factory but they sure as hell ain't the same quality.

[Guest Big H]

My only Raleigh is a T6000 Tandem. It survived the Race of the Great Wind ARGUS 2009. What more can I say.

 

I find it a well made bike.

 

I contacted Jo Lo and she reports that her "fibreglass" Rally is also still going well. If anything survives that rowwe chick it must be good.