The Raleigh Chopper bicycle evolution

[@brianpendlebury1394]

Crossover Raleigh Chopper... So lets set off on the correct footing.....Raleigh did not make a model of a Chopper called a Crossover. The word Crossover was simply a term used to explain a "crossover period of time" between Raleigh trying to make the MK1 safer by crimping the rear stays to hopfully continue manufacture whilst also starting to manufacture the MK2. Raleigh still had stocks of the MK1 Parts whilst also having other stock of the "new" and safer MK2 model. Raleigh staff called this time period in 1972 the Crossover period which is totally understandable. During 1972 Raleigh decided that the MK1 could not be made safer and production of the MK1 was to be discontinued in 1973. (as far as I'm aware but.... I made be wrong as I didnt work in the factory) Some MK1 Raleigh choppers were having different parts fitted depending on Raleigh's availability of stock levels but there wasn't a specified model called the "Crossover" with all the same parts fitted whilst at the same time Raleigh tried to use as many original MK1 Parts as possible. I hope this helps people to understand where, why and how the "word" Crossover was used. Happy Cycling Everybody

[@01FozzyS]

Have always wanted one as a kid and still do. Looking forward to the restoration video!

[@BikeItUK]

Much appreciated. 😉👍

[@brianpendlebury1394]

Thank you, we are looking forward to some man banter and building the MK2 up

[@davecipres6612]

Great Positive Episode 😊

[@BikeItUK]

Thanks much appreciated

[@FreshAyers]

Awesome. I learnt to ride on a Chopper. Loads of memories! 😊

[@BikeItUK]

Thanks for watching and support, glad it brought back some fond memories

[@rayw9067]

So good!!!! What a great set of bikes and what a great facility! Alternate education is brilliant for some kids! Great stuff

[@BikeItUK]

Completely agree so good in so many aspects ♻️ thanks for watching and your support 👍

[@brianpendlebury1394]

Thanks

[@malz3836]

My brother had a mk2 identical to that one and I remember borrowing it to do my Cycle Proficiency in 1977. He inspected it every night during that week to make sure I hadn’t damaged it, then the following week the toggle chain snapped when he was riding it.😮‍💨

[@BikeItUK]

😬 Thanks for watching and sharing your memories of the Chopper. Great times 👍

[@trevekneebone369]

I passed my Cycling Proficiency on my Chopper too!

[@johnmoruzzi7236]

In between the Budgie and the Chopper was the Chipper and the Tomahawk. The MK2 seems to be the one I remember best, the rear rack made perfect sense for resting your paper round bag on when doing deliveries..... I got a purple (and yellow) Raleigh Hustler with Sturmey-Archer 3-speed....

[@BikeItUK]

Sounds like you have some fond memories there. Thanks for your knowledge with the Budgie and Tomahawk 👍

[@Anybloke]

My first bike was an orange Mk1 when they first came out in the UK. It must've weighed 40lbs but I loved it (at first anyway). Wish I still had it.

[@BikeItUK]

Nice memories, the Mk1’s bring an absolute fortune now. Thanks for sharing and watching all the best.

[@Anybloke]

@@BikeItUK Just wondering. What is the weight difference between the steel Mk1 and the aluminium (?) Mk3 ?

[@333wheeler]

Recommend these places for buying your 2nd hand retro spares that are hard to come bye.. I use "Spokes" near Kidderminster.. Choppers are like old mini coopers . Classic GB ..

[@BikeItUK]

Thanks for the tip, much appreciated. Thanks for watching and the support

[@chrispig7748]

Think it was one of the first bikes I rode, thanks for the video

[@BikeItUK]

Your welcome, thanks for watching 👍

[@ScratchyBaws]

Had 3 or 4 of that MKII back in the day and we would get 4 kids on it. After the Choppers i had a BMX but boy you never ever had the fun and pure entertainment that the Chopper bought with all those memories. The Rolls Royce of bikes back in the day. Arguably the best bikes ever, don't care what anyone says.

[@BikeItUK]

Thanks for watching and sharing your personal experience

[@alannorman1773]

Lovely video. I have a Sept 74 Mk 2 that needs some work so I may well be in touch.

[@BikeItUK]

Sounds good, keep your eye open for the restoration 👍 thanks for watching

[@GT6Andy]

😃😃Great video, I had a yellow mk2, got it for Christmas in 1974, I had a full plaster cast on my leg so I didn't get to ride it for a couple of months. Had some great times riding it, especially in the summer holidays when we would be out all day. I managed to make the rear tyre explode one day topping up the air at the petrol station down the road, my ears were ringing for a while after that!!!, a few blokes even came out of the pub over the road to see what the noise was🙄🙄.

[@BikeItUK]

😂 loved reading about the tyre, thanks for sharing it’s a funny treasured memory 👍 Glad you enjoyed the video thanks for watching and your support

[@IconicBrands123]

Great stuff Brian

[@BikeItUK]

Thanks for watching 👍

[@j0llyroger889]

I got a yellow Raleigh Chopper MK1 with the round black gear lever for Christmas around 1973/74 when i was a young lad, I would give my friends a ride on the back, Often the passenger would sit facing backwards holding onto the u shape bar. Dangerous now thinking about it but it was great fun back then. I wish i still had the bike now.

[@BikeItUK]

Great memories, most of what we got up to back then is now classed as dangerous. Glad we lived the time we did. Thanks for watching and your support glad you enjoyed the video

[@brymanable]

Fabulous work 👍

[@BikeItUK]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@blackbearbowie8162]

My Dad worked at Raleigh when these first appeared so had one of the first Mk 1s loved it mine was Yellow!

[@BikeItUK]

Thanks for sharing hope it brought back some fond memories

[@j0llyroger889]

I had a yellow MK1 in 73/74, It was second hand when i got it on Christmas day, Great memories.

[@robbchastain3036]

Such a fun conversation and i am feeling the Chopper love over here in the States, fantastic. And for sure, it was a moment, that era of 20" bikes by Schwinn and Raleigh and Sears and the whole lot of them. And as my thumbnail shows, I enjoy sharing my love for my Sting-Ray nearly half a century later--that bike was my ride from the Summer of Love in San Francisco at age 8 until I was a 15-year-old American teen in Frankfurt, West Germany and missing my crazy friends back home in California. And bike-wise, I graduated to both a German ten-speed for street and mail-ordered a CYC Stormer BMX bike with Skyway Tuff-Wheels and that bike was the perfect, for me, successor to my Sting-Ray. And Skyway guaranteed their wheels against bending or whatever, and I managed to bend one on a ground-pounder of a jump without a landing ramp and I wrote a nice little note and they were true to their word, Skyway sent a free replacement immediately. So many good memories of riding 20" bikes back in the day and I can imagine how much fun it must be to get out there on a Chopper like a kid ready to ride to the coast--or get home before it gets dark, whichever comes first. :)

[@BikeItUK]

Wow, thanks for sharing your personal memories and pleasures gone by. Great to hear about your younger years across the water. Thanks for watching and your support it’s much appreciated

[@allanfoster6965]

Brilliant 👏 👏 👏

[@BikeItUK]

Thanks 🙏

[@EdilbertoAriasRolon]

Owning a Red Mark 2 since 1978. Greetings from Asunción Paraguay

[@BikeItUK]

Nice, a bike for life. Thanks for watching all the best

[@stephenwilliams926]

They also did a MK2 with a derailleur 5 speed if I remember. I was ten when the MK1 came out. The Chopper looked good but was terrible to ride over a distance. Nice vid.

[@BikeItUK]

To be honest I’ve never ridden one, I’m sure I’ll find out for myself when I do the restoration 😬 Think you are right about the five speed version. Thanks for watching and your support 👍

[@PistachioFilmsLLC]

Awesome, my first bike was a mark2, second hand covered in black house paint meaning probably nicked. though I didn't know that back in 1983 lol. Ran it for a year and had too big forks on it coz i pinged the fork (raised it back/up another few inches #easyrider) swapped it for my first road bike that had a broken stem and no bars, which I rode home steering with the stem no brakes no gears, lol. Went all over the town on the first bike. excellent stuff.. Drew.

[@BikeItUK]

Love it, nice memories enjoyed reading about it being painted black. 😂👍 thanks for your support, loads more road bikes in the pipeline

[@charliemopic470]

Wonderful.

[@BikeItUK]

Glad you liked it. Thanks

[@JohnErnstP76]

The Chopper is clearly based on the RSW16 - in fact back in the day I converted a RSW to a Chopper very straight forward.

[@BikeItUK]

Thanks for watching and the knowledge much appreciated 👍

[@MrDazP1adv3ntures]

What an interesting and passionate person Brain is. Thank you for sharing another fantastic trip down memory lane for us all. I am sure I had a copy called a Trekker 3 or something similar. BTW I am currently working on the restoration of a Raleigh Pioneer SIS 10speed. A bit of an ugly duckling but it's growing on me. Hopefully we will be able to get a ride out this year around your neck of the woods. Take care pal.👍

[@BikeItUK]

Hi buddy, thanks for watching and sharing. Yes we’ll definitely have to get out 🚴‍♂️🚴‍♂️👍

[@mvm9407]

Nice video! I had a Chopper when I was about 11 or 12. I never got to grips with that tiny front wheel, which made the bike's handling twitchy and erratic. That gear lever was the epitome of cool, though.

[@BikeItUK]

Yes it was definitely a cool bike to have. Thanks for sharing your memories of the bike. All the best 👍

[@donaldallison]

I had one back in the day. In Canada they were sold by Eaton's Department store under the name of Fastback 100.

[@BikeItUK]

Interesting, it’s fascinating why things are sold with completely different names due to marketing. Thanks for watching and sharing 👍

[@66smashy]

I had a mk2 as did loads of kids in my village, a couple mk1s around as well. We used to puzzle ourselves why the mk1 had the straight rear stays over the kinked ones on the 2. Either my brother or my dad told me; "the straight ones were dangerous so they changed it", funnily enough the seat length wasn't mentioned.

[@BikeItUK]

Your dad was right! Thanks for your support and sharing your memories of the bike. Much appreciated 👍

[@joshb9821]

Brilliant video guys. I have a 1979 mk2 black prismatic chopper totally original even down to the valve caps. It has some battle scars and the paints not perfect and the chrome has some rust but it adds to its history. I love it!! 😁

[@BikeItUK]

Much appreciated thanks for your glad you like it

[@chrischatfield2935]

Really enjoyed that ,love choppers ,I have a replica one that I've customized it's on video on my channel called chricha bikes,I believe you've already watched one of my vids ,made a few changes to it but the shape is still there ,as it was a repop I didnt think it mattered it had already been resprayed

[@BikeItUK]

I will check it out, glad you liked it thanks for watching and your support 👍

[@Ron-io3vu]

My cousin come off a mk2 ended badly hurt and in hospital, but great styling and lucky to have a Mk1 and Mk2

[@BikeItUK]

Thanks for sharing and watching glad you enjoyed the video 👍

[@chriswilby7679]

Got 3 mk2 choppers my favourite is my 5 speed pinky same as I had when I was young but told my mates it was light purple.

[@BikeItUK]

😂👍 Thanks for this was only just talking about the five speed version.

[@SandysAutoDetailing]

​@@BikeItUK I also have a MK2 5speed pinky it was found in a bakery covered in wd40 since 1989 when I bought it in 2000 ❤

[@retrobikechannel2599]

Had a purple MK2. back in the day we had to make a bike last for years ... not like today when kids get a new bike every couple of years 😉

[@BikeItUK]

Yes, I know it’s criminal really regarding the waste.

[@jensenhealey907efi]

Which came first, the Raleigh Chopper bikes or the very similar Schwinn Krate bikes?

[@BikeItUK]

I’m fairly sure it was Schwinn 🤔 and I think Raleigh wanted in on the action. Thanks for tuning in buddy

[@mariataif]

Mark 4 Chopper just launched now as near to original as possible I had a similar bike in the 70s called a Pepper Bike similar to a Chopper (a BSA Panther) as my father couldnt afford to buy me a raleigh CHopper but was just as much fun. gReat video

[@BikeItUK]

Thanks for the knowledge. Glad you enjoyed the video thanks for the support it’s much appreciated

[@_stoatchaser]

Awesome like an awesome possum

[@BikeItUK]

Many thanks 👍

[@LeeHadley]

Hey, I did drop you an email about a week ago? Look forward to hearing back from you.

[@BikeItUK]

Not sure if I received it, just been having a look now.

[@nickdowdell2441]

Great video . Great bikes to look at , but to ride they were heavy and awful . Needless to say huge fond memories .

[@BikeItUK]

Totally agree, never the best steering on such a small wheel. Thanks for watching

[@Stuart-r9f]

I got my purple mk2 for Christmas 1972

[@BikeItUK]

Hope it brought back some great memories

[@michaelfisher9760]

My first bike was a Chopper mk2. It stood out because it was silver. It was a birthday present and cost £50. I loved that bike… mind you an absolute sod to pedal up hill.

[@BikeItUK]

Thanks for watching and sharing your personal experiences of ownership of a Raleigh Chopper

[@stevezodiac491]

he had me going then, " we recycle everything here, the wife as well - " lol. In 1970 my dad was too miserable to buy me a Raleigh Chopper, I only forgave him in 2008, when he died. I got my brand new mk 4 chopper in 2023 in ultra violet, when I was 64, the neighbours think that It's strange riding it as an oap but who cares, I am happy.

[@BikeItUK]

Good to hear it, grow old never grow up

[@RandomInternetDude5000]

Hey guys, I’m in Germany, I just get me a super super nice 80‘s Chopper!!! But it’s missing some parts, by any chance is there a dealer or a way to get stuff like the handles, breaks etc. I want to bring it back to its original as good as possible

[@BikeItUK]

Thanks for watching! I’m personally unaware of anywhere you can purchase new old stock for the Chopper. Maybe Brian at Cera Cycloan could point you in the right direction. Thanks for watching

[@RandomInternetDude5000]

@@BikeItUK Appriciate it! thats already more than any germans could help me out! I have been looking for parts now 5 days straight, basically impossible. Which really makes me wonder, since England is around the corner and the chopper model was quiet successful at its times

[@davidburrows4801]

Yeah i got an orange mk2 chopper loved it even though gear changer didn't work.😂

[@BikeItUK]

Yes the gear changer was definitely a weak point with the choppers. Thanks for watching

[@TheCirclecourt]

karen or oakley. who was the main designer of the chopper?

[@DDandrums]

It’s a rack not a pannier. Panniers are the bags.

[@BikeItUK]

Thanks for watching and your correction, much appreciated

[@davejohn4003]

Not bad video but that mk1 being a cross over frame would of had fixed handle bars like the mk2 and mk2 sissy bar looks like this one had all those changed to earlia ones also some one fitted the mk2 Raleigh chopper decal to rear of seat has not the mk1 seat decal also some one changed pedals has they should of been short reflector pedals on this cross over frame 👍 thanks for the video though

[@BikeItUK]

Thanks Dave for watching and your knowledge. It’s appreciated all the best Andy

[@brianpendlebury1394]

Thanks for your comments which I will try my best to answer in an honest way and giving a widened veiw of your keen observations.... First I own the bikes in question, the mk2 Raleigh chopper decal to rear of seat nobody fitted that decal however I did fit the whole seat back plate off a MK2 just to do the filming as time ran out of time to get the filming completed (timescales) and I was waiting for the MK1 Plate to come back from chromers which I can assure you is now firmly in place where it belongs on the MK1 and the one I borrowed from a Mk2 is also now where it belongs. (you will see this in PT2 of the next video and also PT 3 :) Regards the Pedals yes you are correct about the pedals but because this Chopper is part of my private collection and I prefer the pedals which are on it now its simply down to the collector preference and thats what I prefer I'm afraid, if I were to sell it I would put the orginals back on. I'm sure we will agree the bike is lovely full stop, I hope you like the fish tail on the back I think it adds to the restoration but is not standard by any means . To add you are mistaken about the MK2 comments made however I hope that widens your understanding of a few things thanks for watching the video and having an open mind. Have a great day

[@SandysAutoDetailing]

I have a mk2 ultra violet unused since 76 as new nearly nos condition show winner 2014 forsale if anyone looking ❤

[@marccarter1350]

Please tell me i am not the only person who thought he had recycled his wife! lol

[@abdulsijad2419]

the mk 3 is not a very good replica of the mk2....one of the main features which is the geat shifter has been totally ignored.....which is a shame....we dont want the gear shifter on the handle bars sorry

[@BikeItUK]

Completely agree! Thanks for watching