Hi Guys. Along with my other many Grifter projects i have on the go i managed to come across a Red Raleigh Vektar. I loved these as i kid and also wanted one (but never did get) I have started to restore it and have almost completed it now (pics to follow soon).
I have since bought another and although it is also Red i would like to paint this one the blue/grey colour they were also sold in then i will have both. I have had no problems previously popping down to my local paint supplier with a frame and using his paint sticks to match the colour somemwere near the original. The problem i have now is that i dont have the original colour actually on the frame and was wondering if anyone knows where i can find the paint codes?

Also how do i attach pictures to my posts please?    

--Last edited by oldskoolcool on 2007-11-15 08:37:06 --

I got a red Vektar at the auction in town.  It was about 12 years ago.  I left a bid of £10.  Got it for that.  I went to bike it home.  Only one wheel nut on rear wheel.  So lots of coasting.  
I cleaned it up.  Fitted loads of batteries to it.  It had the full electronics options.  I had seen a Vektar there with no electronics, just blank covers.
I managed to get 17MPH on it.  It was in reasonable condition.  But didnt have the money to make it great.
Didnt have the nerve to rip the parts for my Grifter.
Later a man came to me.  He was wanting a couple of MTBs.  So I sold him a couple.  Well he wanted to PX a red Vektar.  So I did a deal.  He had got it at the local fare.  It cost him £8.
I sold them both to a collector from up north.  He got my RSWs and other stuff too.

http://raleighgrifter.aceboard.com/229420-9943-3632-0-ADDING-PICTURES-YOUR-POSTS.htm

Hi Alecw35. Glad you enjoy hte Vektars too as there seems to be very few people that do!I paid £60 for my first one about 2 years ago from ebay. I bought my second one last week, also from ebay for £35. It's a good job i did really as my first one had been in bits for that long i couldnt remember where all the bits went! I too have fully loaded and working control panels on both bikes (or at least i do now!)

Thanks hotrodzombie for the picture info. Much appreciated!

vektar on collection day

Stripped to metal and etch primed


Sprayed Red in 2pack and laquer (toyota colour)

I had a couple of Raleigh Wild Cats

Heres Lucy..


I called it that, as when I bulit it up.  The Burner steel wheels had most of the spokes Loose.
It had various bits added.
I fitted propper BMX forks.  I wanted the longer steerer tube forks for my Grifter.
So the Wildcat was a bit low.  I went to town on it.  10 miles trip.  Came back, with not much pedals left.  Theyd smashed of when the pedals ground out.  It could ground out on the straigths.
It got stolen in town.  Id parked it up.  Had to get the bus home.  I went in the next day.  Saw a kid pushing it.  I went up to him.  He said he was taking it to the Police station.  I looked over his shoulder...theres the cop shop.  I showed him the allen key.  I needed it to tighten the bar ends.
Then I biked to another town.  10 miles.
I locked the bike up.
Came back later.  No bike.  I went to the cop shop.  Then started walking home.  Got a lift for a mile...in the wrong direction.  The cops found the bike.  The kid had cut the lock, and taken off my Dynamo lights.  Dont know if he got done.  Didnt get my lights.
Then I was rebuilding it.  I fitted a BB from a Raleigh Mustang, so I could fit Alloy cranks.  Id polished the brakes and fitted Stainless steel bolts.  With 3 speed Shimano steel wheels.  It was sitting in my back yard.  No cranks or chain.  It was beside 3 fully working MTBs.  They knicked Lucy.   I reported it to the cops.  
Later I heard there had been rowdy behaviour at the school round the corner.  Kids had been vandalising it at night.  They had thrown Lucy from the roof.  The police had told the janitor to throw everything to the bin man.  Hey I had reported that.  Scum bag cop...GRRRRR.  £20 of new parts on the bike.  Even if the complete bike was bent.

Ho hum.  I got another Wildcat.  I had body work on this one.  I fitted mags.  They had thin spokes.  They flexed while just pushing it around.  I gave it away to a kid.  Thinned out my bikes collection then

Do i take it then that the Wildcat frame is different to a normal Burner frame then?  
I have a spare Wildcat frame i was gonna make into a Burner by changing the forks for the shorter ones? Thought it would look good?

yeah the forks are a lot longer on the fork legs.  See all the space between the mudguard and the wheel
Also the steerer tube is longer.  To fit the stem clamp in.  As I said, the BMX forks fit the frame.  But are a bit short.
If I had one now.  Would fit suspension forks.

That might be an idea? As i said i do have a spare one so i might as well have a play with it! I noticed that the forks were longer bui thought the frame was the same. Can you still fit normal Burner forks and Head set (SR) then?  

Looking good there mate.

Cheers Guys.
I've been out and done a bit this morning. It all seems to be coming together quite nicely. The frame sticker was a bit of a pain though! All the parts look mint. It's a shame i can't get new plastics though . They have cleaned up quite nicely but some have yellowed slightly and i don't want to bleach them in fear of then not matching the control panel! (that and the fact i'll have to get all the stickers re-made!)I managed to get hold of a NOS control panel. This has also yellowed slightly but the electrics were un-used so there was no electrolyte damage from leaking batteries inside. It came as a basic panel but i have managed to remove the Radio and Sound pack from my original unit and make a fully working panel. I can also annoy everyone with this bike now along with my Wildcat!  ;)
Progress up to date.


New and old control panel

hey some sites Im on would get huffy as this bike isnt the main bike they are on about.

But I see many similarities between the Grifter and the Vektar.  Even think it could be regarded as the son of Grifter.

Is a nice bike.

Good pics there

Oh yeah  think I had a Burner headset on my Wild cat.

The frame has a sort of Jump bike look to it.  I E small frame with high head stock and looooong sorks
Heres a Saracen Amplitude. Its got the same sort of frame geometry.
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10151&storeId=10001&partNumber=435107&langId=-1#

Well its nice to see that the Grifter guys aren't that narrow minded! (I do own a restored Silver Mk2 Grifter too mind so thats probably why!)

That site is titled 'other projects' also so its probably allowed!  ;)

Hi Guys,
Just a quick progress update. I've been out today and fitted a few more parts. It's coming together quite nicely! I've come across a problem in the shape of a non-reading speedo. Display works but doesn't register when the wheel turns? A job for another day i feel!  
I read on another link about a chain available from Tesco or £4! I bought one for the vektar but it only fits the front chain ring not the rear sproket? How does that work then? Surely both should be the same? It must have something to do with the 3 speed rear hub?  



oldskoolcool  ;)

Yeah you must have gotten the 3/32nd inch wide chain.  Commonly marked   Narrow.. or 5/6/7 speed...for MTBs

The grifter uses the 1/8th inch wide chain...commonly marked single speed.  

My Lil Blue bike has a 3 speed hub.  But is using a 3/32 chain.  But its got a shimano sprocket.  Its got racer cranks and a pair of deraileurs.  Its 6 speed.

The BMX pressed steel chainring is thin metal.  If you had a proper Alloy chainring, the  narrow chain wouldnt gear in the teeth.

Hi
I have got a cosmic blue as i think it is called vektar got it about 5 years ago stuck it in the garage and not worked on it since.From what i remember the wires were all pulled out or apart in the bit where the speaker is so decided to leave alone for the time being and never got round to it again.Have got a mk1 grifter to work on then i might look into doing the vektar after that.If i dont get any more bikes in the mean time.
Would be interested in any help when the time comes to try and get the consel back working.It is only when you see a bike brought back to its former glory does it give me a spur to do somthing about it infact i might see if i can find it this weekend and see how bad it is.Keep up the great work on the vektar might give you a shout if i need help with mine.

Any help you need mate i will glady give if i can.
As i mentioned, i intend on making a Blue one as soon as i can get the Red one finished (which will probably be this weekend).
If you do manage to find it let me know as i would be interested to hear about your progress. Alternativly, if you decide you won't have time for the Vektar i will gladly take it off your hands and give it the love it deserves!

Cheers.
oldskoolcool  ;)  

Thanks for the offer to take it of my hands but think i will keep it for know but if i change my mind you will be the first to know.

Hey was looking at a bike website.

Heres them selling a Blue Grey Vektar

http://www.re-buy-cycle.co.uk/details.php?id=144

Got other bikes I want...but very expensive
Good big pics of them though

Hi Alec,

Your right they are good pictures but as i said, i have no way of knowing once it's printed out wether it's a good colour match or not?

They want £200 for that Vektar! And it's un-restored! Are they insane???  :/