Friday, April 22, 2011

Chrome DL-1

Apparently, in 1980, Raleigh released a Special Edition Chrome DL-1. Not only is it chrome, but it appears to have come with a Brooks B33, nicer fender stays, front and rear powered lights, a full chain case, a Raleigh logo bell, and a front mud flap. Was that rear rack stock? It's a real looker!




Images from The Public Blog

If anyone has any information or literature on this Special Edition bike, I'd love to learn more! If anyone has one of these bikes for sale, please contact me :D

Tom Ward, in Brooklyn, owns one (found on Flickr):
Tom Ward, 2009, with Raleigh DL-1 in Brooklyn, at Parco.

10 comments:

  1. I've never seen one of these in the wild... thanks for documenting! Cool blog!

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  2. Hey, thanks for stopping by, and thanks for the compliment. I've never seen a chrome DL-1 in person either- I didn't know about them until I stumbled upon that Flickr photo.

    Not much going on here yet, but I'm planning on using this site to document the restoration on the other two Raleigh Tourists that I have, to provide info for people looking to restore one of their own.

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    1. Hi, I just happened onto a Raleigh (tourist? sport? still trying to figure that out) and I am looking forward to restoring it myself. Except I have no idea where to start. So your blog is perfect! Just wanted to share some encouragement and let you know that your info will be very helpful to people like me. I'll probably be lurking around here a lot when I get started, so post lots of pictures! Thanks!

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  3. Hey there, my grandfather owns a bike shop and we have some vintage bikes that are still in the boxes straight from the manufacturer. Could you tell me a good source for finding current prices on them? We're looking to start selling them off and I don't want to lose money. Your help would be greatly appreciated.

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  4. @ Brandon, You might want to find an auction house that specializes in vintage bicycles, perhaps? I've never looked into it, so I would have no idea.

    I'm the definitely the wrong person to ask since I'm somewhat of a realist when it comes to buying and selling things. What I'd do is put it on eBay for what I feel is a reasonable starting price (usually what I paid), and the market will determine the value. I figure they're worth whatever buyers are willing to pay for them.

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  5. some of them are saying that Talking of bikes cc, bikes having four-stroke engines are thought to be more fuel efficient motorbikes. Bikes Perth

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  6. Hi Sean,

    I just saw an ad for a chrome raleigh in Craigslist here in Chico (about 3 hours from you) It says its a 12 speed though. Here is the link:
    http://chico.craigslist.org/bik/2776561049.html

    I have been looking for a DL-1 like Velouria's. But no luck so far. I can look at it for you if you like, but I don't know how to contact you.

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  7. There is one of these currently for sale on E-Bay, from the fellow who runs the wonderful www.oldbikes.eu website - do a search for Raleigh Boss Bike. The seller id is "Groovydubber". It is not inexpensive, and shipping from the UK to the US is bound to be steep.

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  8. I have an all-chrome Raleigh roadster too. Similar to a DL-1 only it is a single speed with 26 x 2 tires and a huge drop stand.

    Picture here:

    http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w255/kingsting/IMG_0206.jpg

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  9. I just found a His & Hers set. I haven't seen anything on the Ladies version. I may be selling mine. Let's chat.
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/9943046@N05/7378166856/

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