Speaking with John (canopusxs235) earlier. he's found some information that Raleigh produced a pre production USA Grifter that had extra brackets welded to the frame. These extra brackets were dropped for the production model. Will try and find some more information and hopefully pictures soon.

what month and year was that andy? Im sure they didnt send them to the usa in may 76. What year is you usa grifter?

If I'm right I think they were produced in mid to late 76. They were  pre pro in the fact that they were for the American market and had the full length chain guard but were fitted with extra brackets welded to the frame to attach it to. These were dropped probably because of cost. It's also come to light that they was  2 types of chain guard on the production US Grifters one being slighty longer and with more curves at the back. God I'm getting geeky.  

Here's some more info and images of the pre pro American Grifters.

1. pointed rear drop outs
2. no extra top bracket for mudguard
3. skinny pad handle bars pre pro type
4. extra bracket welded to the frame to support rear of chainguard
5. NO Rubber on the brake springs
6. NO raleigh logo stamped on the brake lever mounting brackets....just the hole drilled through
7. The pre pro bike had a different rear light bracket
8. The brake cable for the front brake remained the same as uk model
9. standard mk1 forks with triangles on.
10 the rear of the chainguard shape differs from final production
11 decals positioned differs from final production... small ral decal on top of seat tube and raleigh on chainguard is in a different position.
12 wrap around flaires on mudguards

I have been led to believe that the US pre pro's date from late 1976. Not sure of the exact month but it's somewhere between the months of Aug - October Main production from Jan 1977 till Dec 1978

It's worth pointing out that  U.S models of the main production run did have rounded rear drop outs and the rounded bottom mudguard bracket as we did in 77/78 mk1's One main factor during the production run is that all U.S. spec bikes had the wrap around flaires.  

--Last edited by supergrip on 2009-09-15 11:08:39 --

Extra bracket



UK brake set up and MK1 style forks



Different style reflector bracket and higher position of Raligh decal

 

--Last edited by supergrip on 2009-09-15 11:10:26 --

I was looking at the exploded diagram of the American Grifter on Sheldon browns web site. The image has been posted on here before. I re sized the image and cropped into the middle section and it seems to support that there was a  Pre pro US Grifter. If you look at the areas I've arrowed you can see that originally there were bracket welded to the frame to support the chainguard. These never made it on to the production US version

Great research Andy....  

Not a proper may 76 pre pro then but a rare find if one should ever come up. In my opinion the may 76 grifter for the british market is the original pre production grifter model as this was the first design. Anything after that can only be concidered an update or addition on the original model.

Having said that any us grifter is a very rare and expensive bike and would look great in any classic raleigh collection.

I couldn't agree more with you Wayne. I think the chances of one cropping up are pretty slim. Infact it would take a  super human to find one. Does such a person exist on the forum, I don't know  

If one does exist then it would be rare and have to be proved to be original (before and after pictures if its going to be restored) I stand by my comments that the may 76 Grifter is the original pre pro and anything after that cant be classed as a pre pro just a later edition to the Grifter range. I would class it as a first edition in that range.

You cant have a pre pro of a bike that's already a pre pro and made months before!!!

The first edition of any range is a pre pro Wayne. A pre production is a prototype to prove the production process. Once the process is complete changes are normally made to cut time and costings, hence the complicated brackets dropped and replaced by a simplified process to reduce overall production costs.

It doesn't matter which one came first...A pre production is still a pre production by definition alone. Therefore any pre pro is unique, a rarity, and a honour to own. But i agree with you both, for one to turn up would be a rare find, a slim chance, but extremely exciting for the Grifter scene.    

--Last edited by canopusxs235 on 2009-11-22 21:50:39 --

We will agree to disagree on that one John. I still think a pre pro is the first ever pre mass production of the original design and any other variation can't be classed as such.

As for a so called "us pre pro" (I would call it a us first edition) I doubt one exists unless it is PROVED to be original. Its more like Raleigh could of designed a bike for the us market on paper but never put it into production or even built a prototype but built a cheaper version instead for mass production.

But if anyone out there has one they would have to bring some genuine pictures to the table in its original form prove it. Then and only then it would be proven genuine with genuine Raleigh files to back it up  

No Wayne...we shall have to DISAGREE!  


US PRE PRODUCTION GRIFTER   (PROTOTYPE)


MAIN PRODUCTION US GRIFTER    

I luv it in ear, its all good fun. You sneeky little wind up merchant u      

--Last edited by canopusxs235 on 2009-11-22 23:46:25 --

This does not prove that any member of this site or any other owns the model shown. Its just a picture of a bike. NO PICTURE AND PROOF = NO BIKE.      

Its not "proof of life" you loon. It proves it exists! as you doubted Raleigh ever made one!!

I am only agreeing with you as to find one or have one in a collection would only cause JEALOUSY! and ENVY! I mean its the rarest of the Grifter PRE PRO's. It is in my opinion the Prototype, worth more than our "sample" bikes!!!!!        

right i defo need to go n cry in my cornflakes now            

I will let you have your opinion mate and i will have mine. All im saying is pictures are proof so if any member out there has this as you call it "rarest of the pre pros" then post pictures or stop dreaming of something that may not even be out there!

Im exhausted now mate and can say no more on the subject as your as stubborn as i am! (BlOODY GEMINIS!!!) there all mad  

I have just pee'd myself laughing mate!      the one thing we are is stubborn. If someone tries to pressure us to do something we do not want to do...we dig our heels in. We are very competitive. (BLOODY GEMINI'S)!

To all those reading the posts...and thinking we are having a slanging match... how wrong you are. Wayne and i are infact good mates. Well i think we are?.     Both of us enjoy the banter and like to wind each other up. It all in good fun. We are infact "The Crazy Twins!" Better than John & Edward!!! OOOH i think we should go to next years Xfactor auditions? Take our May 76 samples!!!!      

I think we would win it mate    as everyone knows im up for a mickey take and love it when people give it back. Like ive always said im on here for my love of all things grifter and a good laugh.

   

      As much as i enjoyed the lovely hot and sunny weather fuerteventura had to offer,(not to mention the free booze and lovely food!!)  i really did miss the forum and you two mad heads being the crazy fools that you are!  and the rest of bunch and of course all those lovely grifters!!    happy days....

Thanks GaZ... we aim to please and we all hope you had a good on holiday. when i next see Wayne i am going to slap him silly!