Here's a story for ya.......

When I was about 13 I had a battered MK II that I used to cycle to school on. When I say Battered I mean this thing had no mudguards, no gears ( I used to have a spoke threaded into the hub and then bent round the nut to hold it permanently in 2nd gear......I'm sure we all did it!)no foam on the bars and very little left on the seat. The Supergrips were both bald and as it had no brakes I was forced to stick my left foot in between the tyre and the seatpost tube just to stop it.....it was pretty effective as I remember but it made a proper mess of the sole on my Doc Martins!!

Anyway....in one of the months just after christmas I found a can of GOLD spray that my mum must have used on somekind of christmas decorations.
I got up early the following morning, quickly masked up the neccessary bits of the frame and I sprayed it. No rubbing down.....nothing!.....I just gave it a couple of coats of paint then bolted it back together and rode it, with the paint still tacky, to school.
I remember thinking at the time that Raleigh should have made a Gold Grifter to go with the Red and Blue MK I models. I promised that one day I'd strip that bike down and do it properly.......but I never did!!!

Fastforward 27 years and a few hundred quid later and I finally got round to it. This is now the latest in the collection for my 11 year old son. It's everything that MY bike should have been.......waddaya think?

*UPDATE*
I managed to repair my original cracked Chainring Guard. In all honesty I didn't think it was going to work so I didn't put it on yesterday.....but this morning after the filler had hardened properly I gave it a coat of paint and now it looks okay....I think it finishes the bike off anyway. When I get more time I'll do a little "HOW TO " in the Tech section.

Now updated with the Chainguard fitted





CUSTOM DECALS under normal light


...and under direct sunlight


and finally with its stablemate.


Thanks for looking.......I'd be interested to know what you think?

P.S. If anyone has a decent chainguard for sale I'd be seriously interested.....Let me know.

Arch

 

--Last edited by archie on 2009-03-15 13:19:02 --

that looks wicked mate (and even better with one of gus chainguards) he has some custon ones for sale and they look great. Top bike and i love the decals
(keep it for yourself!!!)  ;)

I love it, looks fantastic!!!
Gus sells excellent reproduction chainguards, I'm sure he'll be along soon

I said it first  

now theres a surprise

you love it!!!    

i'm here, yep steel repro chaingaurds powder coated black £15 posted or if you want a bare steel one to paint in your choice of colour £11 posted!!!  ;)

very nice custom by the way  

a few nice customs now going around!!  

Very nice indeed, top job    so thats the actual bike you had when you were 13 then? if so, thats so nice that you did the job proper all these years later..... well done!! p.s lovin those transfers!!

Got to be in with a shot for b.o.t.m  

--Last edited by bomberman on 2009-03-14 20:23:33 --

Defo.... gets my vote!  

iv been away for so long what a fantastic bike!!!
it looks so beeeeeeeeefy

looks absolutely magnificent mate!!    definately another vote for bike of the month from me also! top quality!    

the first one ive seen in gold and it looks brilliant mate, those decals are the dogs plums, where did those gems come from then? TOP JOB and gets my vote  

this gets my vote also its wicked.  

Thanks for your kind comments guys.......they go a long way.....I really do appreciate them .

I should have mentioned that my son was heavily involved in the project, from sourcing parts right up to preparing and spraying the frame......all but the final coat and the laquer.....It was his 1st time and I have to tell you the lad didn't do a bad job either.
This isn't the original bike......I snapped the forks on the original one popping "one too many" wheelies!......I flogged the wheels to a mate for a fiver if i remember rightly.
The decals featured on here sometime late last year when I made them.....they're cut from reflective vinyl......its time intensive and a bit fiddly but when you consider the results it wouldn't matter if it took you a month !......there's a link below for those of you that fancy a go at them...if you need anymore info just shout....i'm always willing to help in anyway I can.

http://raleighgrifter.aceboard.com/229420-9936-15863-0-Custom-Vinyl-Decals.htm

Thanks again guys....you've made an old man very happy!!!

Be Lucky

Arch

very cool,be interested to see how you repaired that chaingaurd.

thats pure gold top job

that i truely amazingg

I keep coming back to these pics. I love the pure gold - "hang on lads.... I've got an idea!"

a nice looking bike and original aswell