Hi Guys. Before you all say, Yes i know it a chopper and yes i know its not even a 'propper' one but i thought i had best have a go at making what Raleigh should have in the first place!

Ginger and Steve will no doubt appreciate this more than others as they were at Billing when i bought it!

This pic shows it at Billing where i bought it for the pricely sum of £30! The Front Forks were seriously bent!I did add some high rise bars to it from a chineese 'cruiser' that i got from ginger. Just so i could ride around on it for the weekend!

I got a lot of comments about it being a nice 'Rat look' Mk3 so i did intend to keep it like that. However. Once i got it home that all changed and i restored it to what you see now!

Ingredients...
Add a tin of orange paint, Some new Mudguards, Some new Brakes, new Tyres, a set of Chineese 'Cruiser Bars' and Pedals, a few reflectors, a set of Straighter Forks, a Mk2 Seat and Sissy bar, a set of Mk1 Decals, A new Chain guard, some Black paint for the Wheel Rims and Forks, a set of Mirrors, a Horn, 2 Bells, a Heron Badge, a few more bits and bobs and a weekend of peace in the Garage! Stir thoughly and......







I'm Really pleased with it. It rides really nice and has made a nice addition to my ever increasing collection! All i need to do now is add a Mk2 Gear shifter. Then i'll be happy!

oldskoolcool

not bad for a ch**per  

The wheels on the Burner in the first pic look the nuts

Chopper is a big improvement, nice work

Quote :

The wheels on the Burner in the first pic look the nuts

That burner is a Pirana  

Sorry Bomberman im not a BMX expert like you  

I only know as I saw it at Billing!
Me and bmx's Ha  
I know nothing about them (even though I just bought my 3rd!)

love what you have done,wish raleigh had done what you have when they brought out the mk 3

Excellent, I'm not the only Chopper owner on this site  
Nice looking MK3

been looking for a chopper

that ones nice
always thought they would be good modded
old ones are worth to much to modify

seen a bike with one of those swirly mags on the retro rides site

Glad you like it Guys.
I've just won a Mk2 Gear Shifter on ebay so i'll have a go at fitting that when it comes. I've also got another set of Mk1 decals coming so i can finish it off. The stripes either side of the 'chopper' decal on the main tube were originaly for the chain guard. I chopped them about a bit to make it look better. I still need a small piece to finish the other side off.
Gonna have to get hold of some Mk2 pedals also as the Chineese ones are crap! They look good but the bearings must be square!

The wheels on the Pirrana are really nice. Very heavy but nice! The bike was only bought for its wheels as my mate and i thought they would look good on a Custom Grifter. Thoughts changed however when we found out how rare the Bike was and it has since been sold!
I have managed to get hold of a set of Alloy 'Mags' which are a lot lighter. They have straight spokes but should look just as good. Not sure what to use them for yet though!

oldskoolcool  

looking good osc, where did you find the new mudguards ? i could do with a set myself.

I got the NOS front one from Ginger and the Rear one from a Bike i got from our local scrap man! The rear one isn't mint but they never were anyway! it is nice though. The one that was on when i got it wasn't good.
Good luck in finding parts for yours Ste. There are very little out there. I think most go straight to the scrap yard once the kids have wrecked them! Every bike i have come across for parts has bent forks. Granted some are better than others but bent never the less! The ones i've fitted were the straightest i had at the time. I'll keep my eye open for a better set.

oldskoolcool  ;)

Well after a LOT of cutting, chopping and Filling i managed to get a Mk2 Chopper shifter to fit my 'Refined' Mk3!

I've had to shorten the trim and cut it to fit the shifter closer to it. I've had to file the shifter body down somewhat too. The shifter i purchased didn't come with the window display so i mocked one up using perspex, nail varnish, silver wheel paint, super Glue and some Rubber trim meant for classic cars! I've got some number Decals from Boyes too to add the finishing touch! I wanrt to add the correct decal to the shifter trim but as it has been modified i am unsure wether it will fit decent enough to look good now? I might just buy one and try it. I've used a Vektar Toggle chain and Cable connector and removed the Grip shift from the handle bars at last! Some £2.50 handle grips from Tesco finsished the look!
This is how a Mk3 Chopper should have been made by Raleigh in the first place!!





oldskoolcool  

do you want to sell the mk3 handlebar shifter ???

nice i have a 1990 compact a super tuff burner and a mk2 chopper frame and i wanted to say you,ve done a good job and made it as close as a mk3 can come to a proper chopper

Thanks guys, glad you like it! I keep adding stuff to it as i go along so its gonna be a bit of a rolling project from now!

RETROWAGON. I'm keeping the handlebar shifter for a custom Grifter. I might have another though. I'll have a look. Does it need to be NOS?

oldskoolcool

Nice it's the exact colour too , here's my orig untouched targa mustard .... looks brighter on this pic than in real life due to the flash looks more like your colour in the flesh

have u tried to get a mk1 mudguard to fit ??? would look the dogs gonads ...

I doubt a Mk1 mudguard would fit as the 'V' Brakes are in the way. If i can 'borrow' one from someone at some point i might have a go.
I'd certainly like to add a Mk1/Mk2 rear mudguard if i can get one as im not keen on the end of the Mk3 one and the quality of the chrome is pants!!!

oldskoolcool  

doh ... sorry i meant chainguard ....

would look cool ....

Now that does sound like a plan. If i can get hold of one cheap enough then i might have a go.

oldskoolcool