I got one in 1974 for my 8th birthday, broke my leg with it but still good memories. I bought my son a MK3 10 years ago. My second son drove it after him. Best bike ever, we still have it
You know, I'm not opposed to the idea of selling my Chopper to let someone else enjoy it, since it's just sitting in protected indoor storage at my father's house. (I have a large old Lego collection - still in original boxes with instructions - that falls in the same it's-probably-time-to-let-it-go category.) Anyway, my Chopper is a complete bike and is fully assembled. It is in original condition, except for the tires and handlebars, and would make a good basis for an easy restoration. Finding the time to locate the right forum, then a proper buyer and thus a fair (for both sides) price for this good bike... that would be the challenge.
Buddy Mack mate. Do you still have the bike? I’m looking for a project, I’m not trade but some5hing I can make “like new” and keep. Let me know and I’ll send you my details. KR. Franco
My chopper was green. It also had the new bent rear forks which stopped you doing wheelies (I think). My chopper fell apart after several weeks of jumping off makeshift ramps :) Definitely a design classic! Time they were brought back in adult's sizes.
Yep I am one of those guys. I saw a kid riding a red chopper . It bought back memories for me because I used to have one back in 77/78 plus. I was taken back with surprise of it's size and couldn't believe how small it is compared to my size now. I have fond memories of my adventures on the good old chopper back in the summer's of the 70s and early 80s 😍
@@jakcarn4184 yeah mine is a 78 chopper which is also red I've thought of selling it a few times but I know I wont get what I want for it theres tonnes of restored or good nick ones that dont make £700 shame to be honest
Yeah, same happens to me on my 1982 MK1 Tuff Burner. I wasn't around in the 70's but saw the leftovers in the 80's. The Burner was the Chopper of the 80's and everyone loves it. Everyone my age knows what it is and they always turn their heads when I'm riding. Nudging their mates and pointing then smiling, Stopping me and asking the usual questions like is it original and what year is it etc... Some have come up and undressed it with their eyes and offered to buy it on the spot, others have said it should be hung up on a wall. Even young and teenage kids stare at it and think it's beautiful So I can imagine what it's like for you guys. It does get annoying after a while. I just want to ride the bike I could never afford as a kid. It's not a museum piece to me, it's just the bike I've always dreamed to have. The people who look and smile are the best ones, they just walk by and don't harass me. they just walk, nod and smile. That's good enough for me.
I would have given ANYTHING...to find a distributor near me in Connecticut to buy one back in the 70s! I HAD the money from my paper routes and shoveling snow but no one sold them anywhere I could find and I DID try, believe it! lol
The Chopper came out in the late sixties, I distinctly remember the first week they were in the shops. The Co-op had three including a green one which I wanted but never got. Later there was a Chopper with dropped handlebars, and a 5-speed. A kid in our gang owned a Schwinn Stingray before the Chopper came out, no idea where he got it from. Choppers were the perfect knocking about the streets bike, which kids did a lot in those days, but as soon as we ventured further afield the Chopper was sadly lacking as transport. I never did own a Chopper.
They are all on MK2's modified so You couldn't do wheelies. I had a MK1 In Red, Pump Horn, left the original bell on, a whip with Fox Tail on the top. Dynamo for the lights. Clackers In the back wheel, and for a Short time 4:03 those plastic grip flares. They would wrap around Your Wrists I had the ones with the little balls on the end. Oh! how I would love another one.
It really doesn't matter who gets the credit for 'designing' the rip-off... The designer of the Schwinn Stingray actually designed the 'Chopper', more than anyone else.
With the new mk4 available in Fizzy Lemon and Space Blue. Anyone who wants a brand new mint Chopper can have one for a grand. That's still a huge amount of money but still affordable for most enthusiasts. Your own valuation is , to put it politely... Excessive.
All depends on whether you are bothered by what others think really. Most of us are now in our late 50's / 60's and to be honest, we don't give a damm what anyone thinks.
@@hughesevents no, you couldn't. Raleigh is a person's name, an English person's name. It's the English language. It's not "Rally" it's Raleigh (Rah-lee). It's not French, nor is it Japanese.
@@charleymount582 I think you will find Raleigh is named after the street In Nottingham where the original Bowden cycles was located. Peugeot is the surname of the founder of the motor company.
@@hughesevents who do you think the street is named after? Catalogue descriptionSir Walter Raleigh, Raleigh Street This record is held by Nottinghamshire Archives Reference:C/PS/B/53/28/1-3Description: Sir Walter Raleigh, Raleigh Street
@@hughesevents ' The "iconic design" was fundamentally wrong. There was too little weight on the front wheel so at speeds above walking pace there was a danger of sudden catastrophic speed wobble. The rider would then be thrown from the bike as the fork oscillated out of control. This was known at the time, and reported in the press.'
I got one in 1974 for my 8th birthday, broke my leg with it but still good memories. I bought my son a MK3 10 years ago. My second son drove it after him. Best bike ever, we still have it
I never had one as a kid but now I am 55 and have a MK 1, two MK 2 and a MK 3..................just brought a GP 150 Lambretta as well.
Silly old fool,grow up 😆
I got a brand new Chopper for Christmas in 1975. It was WAY too big for me (I was six) but I didn't care... such a great bike, I still have it!
Buddy Mack you should sell it
Just saying,make some $$$
You know, I'm not opposed to the idea of selling my Chopper to let someone else enjoy it, since it's just sitting in protected indoor storage at my father's house.
(I have a large old Lego collection - still in original boxes with instructions - that falls in the same it's-probably-time-to-let-it-go category.)
Anyway, my Chopper is a complete bike and is fully assembled. It is in original condition, except for the tires and handlebars, and would make a good basis for an easy restoration.
Finding the time to locate the right forum, then a proper buyer and thus a fair (for both sides) price for this good bike... that would be the challenge.
Buddy Mack mate. Do you still have the bike? I’m looking for a project, I’m not trade but some5hing I can make “like new” and keep. Let me know and I’ll send you my details. KR. Franco
My chopper was green. It also had the new bent rear forks which stopped you doing wheelies (I think). My chopper fell apart after several weeks of jumping off makeshift ramps :) Definitely a design classic! Time they were brought back in adult's sizes.
Today I got a chopper mk3 and I LOVE it
It’s Spencer same
Bicycle perfection. I love em.
When im on my chopper you contstantly get stopped with blokes in there 50/60s telling you about there chopper they had in the day its great!
Steve o i know rriigghhtt
EDIT:It's annoying
Yep I am one of those guys. I saw a kid riding a red chopper . It bought back memories for me because I used to have one back in 77/78 plus. I was taken back with surprise of it's size and couldn't believe how small it is compared to my size now. I have fond memories of my adventures on the good old chopper back in the summer's of the 70s and early 80s 😍
@@jakcarn4184 yeah mine is a 78 chopper which is also red I've thought of selling it a few times but I know I wont get what I want for it theres tonnes of restored or good nick ones that dont make £700 shame to be honest
Yeah, same happens to me on my 1982 MK1 Tuff Burner. I wasn't around in the 70's but saw the leftovers in the 80's. The Burner was the Chopper of the 80's and everyone loves it. Everyone my age knows what it is and they always turn their heads when I'm riding. Nudging their mates and pointing then smiling, Stopping me and asking the usual questions like is it original and what year is it etc... Some have come up and undressed it with their eyes and offered to buy it on the spot, others have said it should be hung up on a wall. Even young and teenage kids stare at it and think it's beautiful So I can imagine what it's like for you guys. It does get annoying after a while. I just want to ride the bike I could never afford as a kid. It's not a museum piece to me, it's just the bike I've always dreamed to have.
The people who look and smile are the best ones, they just walk by and don't harass me. they just walk, nod and smile. That's good enough for me.
Soy fans soy de Morelia Mex muchos saludos.
I would have given ANYTHING...to find a distributor near me in Connecticut to buy one back in the 70s! I HAD the money from my paper routes and shoveling snow but no one sold them anywhere I could find and I DID try, believe it! lol
The Raleigh Chopper what a great Bike.
The Chopper came out in the late sixties, I distinctly remember the first week they were in the shops. The Co-op had three including a green one which I wanted but never got. Later there was a Chopper with dropped handlebars, and a 5-speed. A kid in our gang owned a Schwinn Stingray before the Chopper came out, no idea where he got it from.
Choppers were the perfect knocking about the streets bike, which kids did a lot in those days, but as soon as we ventured further afield the Chopper was sadly lacking as transport. I never did own a Chopper.
Aways stuck in 3rd!! Story of my life!
The rear spoke protector is not a fake disc brake.
I got one for Christmas in 2017 and it’s a rocket
They`re slow as hell lolol
Soy fan's de las bicis chopper mandeme una por favor
Ive a MK3 in my collection
They are all on MK2's modified so You couldn't do wheelies. I had a MK1 In Red, Pump Horn, left the original bell on, a whip with Fox Tail on the top. Dynamo for the lights. Clackers In the back wheel, and for a Short time 4:03 those plastic grip flares. They would wrap around Your Wrists I had the ones with the little balls on the end. Oh! how I would love another one.
I got a schwinn stingray today
My daughter has a Schwinn Krate
It really doesn't matter who gets the credit for 'designing' the rip-off...
The designer of the Schwinn Stingray actually designed the 'Chopper', more than anyone else.
Very true, we never really knew just how brilliant the Schwinn's really were.
Pretend disc brakes 😂😂😂
You need a wheelie bar :)
I've got one from this cyclone in Iraq model 1970 color purple lm take care of hanging at home.
I have a MK2 chopper ultra violet unused since 1976 for sale 10k 👍
With the new mk4 available in Fizzy Lemon and Space Blue. Anyone who wants a brand new mint Chopper can have one for a grand. That's still a huge amount of money but still affordable for most enthusiasts. Your own valuation is , to put it politely... Excessive.
@@hughesevents mines unused unrestored since 76 & a show winner hence the 10k 🏆
Taken from BBC1 NI HD
Great bikes, however adults do look very silly riding them .
All depends on whether you are bothered by what others think really. Most of us are now in our late 50's / 60's and to be honest, we don't give a damm what anyone thinks.
Why does nobody know how to pronounce Raleigh? It's like Sir Walter Raleigh (Rah-lee)
You could say the same for Peugeot or even Nissan.
There’s no right or wrong, only an appreciation of the bikes and history of a once great company.
@@hughesevents no, you couldn't. Raleigh is a person's name, an English person's name. It's the English language. It's not "Rally" it's Raleigh (Rah-lee). It's not French, nor is it Japanese.
@@charleymount582
I think you will find Raleigh is named after the street In Nottingham where the original Bowden cycles was located.
Peugeot is the surname of the founder of the motor company.
@@hughesevents who do you think the street is named after? Catalogue descriptionSir Walter Raleigh, Raleigh Street
This record is held by Nottinghamshire Archives
Reference:C/PS/B/53/28/1-3Description:
Sir Walter Raleigh, Raleigh Street
The Grifter was cooler
The Grifter was an upside down Chopper 😂
My cousin had one and it was a piece of shit unfortunately.
Ah but had you looked after it, today you would sell it for £1,000 within a few hours.
@@hughesevents it was my cousin's and it fell apart. They were notorious for not working well because of the design.
@@hughesevents '
The "iconic design" was fundamentally wrong. There was too little weight on the front wheel so at speeds above walking pace there was a danger of sudden catastrophic speed wobble. The rider would then be thrown from the bike as the fork oscillated out of control. This was known at the time, and reported in the press.'
Pretend disk brakes it was a chain guard 😂😂😂
No, it was a spoke protector, plain and simple.