👋 Hey followers! In this video, we are featuring the coolest thing on two wheels in the 1970s – the Raleigh “Chopper” bicycle. Every child of the ‘70s this author included, yearned after a one of these iconic bicycles which were built for several years in a factory at Hanover Quay, Dublin.
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⬇️ Share your stories of the Raleigh Chopper? Comment below ⬇️
THE CHOPPER IS BORN
In the 1967 Raleigh sent their chief designer Alan Oakley to America for a three week fact-finding mission, he was inspired by the 1962 designed American Schwinn “Stingray” bicycle. It was said that Oakley sketched his Raleigh Chopper on the back of an envelope on the way into Heathrow airport and in 1969 Raleigh launched their own version the Chopper (Mk1) and a whole new segment of the market was opened up.
CHOPPER DESIGN
Launched firstly in the USA and then later in the UK and Ireland Alan Oakley’s Chopper sold for £34.00 equivalent to £563.79 today – a princely sum!
Differing from the American Schwinn Stingray the Raleigh Chopper had a fully sprung “L-bucket dragstar saddle”, taller “ape hanger” handlebars a “suicide” 3-speed Sturmey-Archer gear-change on the crossbar and a sissy bar straight out of the Easy Rider movie.
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Raleigh Chopper Specifications:
Frame: steel
Frame size: 24 ¼ to 30 inch
Wheels Front: 16 inch
Wheels Rear: 20 inch
Gears: Sturmey – Archer 3 – 5 and 10 speed
Production: 1969 to 1983 (Mk1 & Mk2) 2004 to 2012 (Mk3)
COLLECTABLE IRISH CHOPPERS
According to Irish Raleigh Chopper collector Les Deasy the bicycles were assembled in the Hanover Quay factory only as the orders were placed. Les has told us that there were several Dublin-built bikes that would be considered rare today such as the 1976 Platinum and Hot Pink painted bikes.
As we were informed by Les; “several Hundred Platinum’s were produced and, they are still rare enough but they do turn up today. The Hot Pink Choppers were a girls version and sold in tiny numbers. Only produced for two years, they appeared at what was an economically devastating time here in Ireland, with industrial disputes and strikes. This would explain why these bikes were preserved and some survive until today. Because they cost a month’s wages in real terms they were well minded.
The best examples of Irish bikes tend to be the Platinum painted bike, the others including the Mk1 from 71 to the Mk2’s ‘72 – ‘76 were often trashed and painted over. We did have the Black Prismatic painted bikes on sale here in Ireland however, these were all Nottingham-built bikes. The Platinum and Hot Pink Choppers were the last bikes to be made here.”
DEMISE OF THE CHOPPER
By the late 1970s, the Raleigh Dublin plant was considered economically inefficient, especially in comparison to the highly efficient Raleigh Plant in Nottingham where just one week’s production could meet the demand of the Irish market for an entire year. Consequently, the Hanover Quay factory shut down, resulting in the loss of jobs for several hundred employees.
In 2004, the legendary Raleigh Chopper made a comeback, marking thirty years since its debut. However, sales were sluggish, leading to production ceasing in 2018.
Irish-built Raleigh bicycles lack the typical “Made in Nottingham” lettering on the head badge, often featuring instead a “Made in Eire” or “Made in the Republic of Ireland” mark. Irish built Choppers are highly sought after and a number of enthusiasts groups have been formed.
Our thanks to Les Deasy to the owner of the Raleigh Choppers for suggesting this story.
If you have a story to share, email Kevin Reid info@irelandmade.ie
Information Sources and Photo Credits:
BBC Archive
Cycling News
Irish Raleigh Chopper Club
Little Car
Mellors & Kirk Auction House
National Treasures – John Hughes
Pedalling Dreams the Raleigh Story – BBC4
Raleigh.com
Roots Chat – LUAS
Royal Irish Constabulary forum – Cyclistcollects
RTÉ News
Wiki – Raleigh Chopper
#irelandmade #ad #raleigh #raleaighchopper #bicycle #raleighireland #sturmeyarcher #apehangers #retro
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Do you have an Irish transport story you would like us to feature? Email Kevin on info@irelandmade.ie
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They remind me of those American dragsta racing bikes cuz the front wheel is much smaller than the back wheel and the rider sits right at the back end here with these high row bars behind him it looks extremely Sporty please support our content creation subscribe for just €2 per month via the Ireland made website
1 Comment
‘70s cool 😎 the Raleigh Chopper and we all wanted one!!