[Closed] Raleigh Carlton - anyone ridden ?

Most of the 80s Raleighs and carltons of the eighties were pretty average. Not sure there is a modern equivalent, perhaps a Genesis?

As i remember they were the lowest end 531 you could get weren't they? Got you a 531 frame but everything else was poor.i think the forks weren't even 531.

I guess a modern equivalent would be a new 531 or you could stil get a vintage carlton

Jesus Christ, there really are some snobs on here. 😉

Raleigh/Carlton made frames out of all sorts of tubing, from the cheapest to the most exotic - and a nice 531 frame is still a lovely thing.

Have a look on the Retrobike website - they have some scanned catalogues that might just jog your memory.

Modern equivalent?
If you want steel and decent value, probably Genesis as mentioned above, or Surly.
A few independant shops still have their own steel frames made up/ make them themselves - Bob Jackson, Hewitt, Byercycles, Thorn, Ellis Briggs are just a few that come to mind.
Depends what you want to do with it really.

Snob? How so? He asked about the bikes, those of us who remember them described them as we remember.

Thanks for yr replies - looking at currnent steel framed racers which are'better' Genesis or Surly ?
or is it very much case of try and see ?

i had a carlton corsair in the late 70's
hand me down bike from my uncle, it was a stunning bike in a nice mauve colour.

Ah, my Carlton Carerra brings back memories. Lot's of metallic burgundy 531c loveliness (including the forks) and the last of the pre index Shimano 105 downtube shifters.

Did thousands of miles on that bike.

[url= http://www.carltoncycles.me.uk/mybikes/81criterium.htm ]null[/url]My first road bike was a Carlton Criterium.Fairly basic tubing but still loved it.

Raleigh Scorpio here - left enough of an impression that I won't ever buy another Raleigh - nor will a mate at work. So good work from Raleigh during that era...

I had an Original Carlton as a kid,it was previousley my Dads,he then bought me a Claud Butler,in 531 with a campag groupset,i only sold it about 5 years ago,them were the days,i live in Worksop,2 mins from the original factory which is where the Carlton was made,Raleighs corporates shut the factory !.

Another good local built bike was an Hetchins,made in Doncaster,with the curly rear stays anyone got one o them ??.

http://www.carltoncycles.me.uk/history/closure.htm

I got my brothers one handed down, I put a nice set of cowhorns on the thing and invented MTB and the 29'r in one hit.

Broke my front tooth riding into the back of a British Gas Mini van on it too, straightend the forks out with a length of scaffold tube.

Happy days.

I put a nice set of cowhorns on the thing

I remember Cowhorns too,lol,them wo the days eh !!,lol

Kids av no idea today,we dint av x boxes,tinternet n Sky telly etc,i were never in me,up to no good out on mi bike..