Not sure if it was any good in its time, but I’m quite exited about it and he said that I could have it.

It’s a Raleigh Europa similar to this photo.

It’s reynolds 753 tubing, all original including the tyres albeit a little perished. Plan is to strip it down, clean and reassemble and over time upgrade with better components of the same era and eventually get the frame resprayed.

Does anyone know anything about this bike? I’m guessing it will be late seventies, early eighties.

boring, thought it was gonna be a jazz mag.

753’s a good frame material so you’re probably on to a winner if it fits you.

It’ll be their high-end race bike of the day – your pic is of the £100 replica for teenagers.

Should ride well. Not cheap to bring up to current standards though – prob cheapest buying a SH donor bike & flogging its frame.

I would imagine the good folks over at Retrobike would be able to help you out?

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/

Yes I’m afraid that isn’t a 753 frame.

removed…I’m not being helpful

Similar to the Raleigh I had – it snapped at the chainstay when pulling away at some lights. Lifetime warranty though, so I got it replaced by Halfords 🙂 (and sold the piece of junk replacement on ebay)

If you’re after some 80’s bits I think I’ve most of an exage 600 groupset somewhere.

It’s not 753 if it’s one of those. Deffo not worth chucking money at.
Most I’d do is swap the dual levers for some hooded Weinmans, full length mudguards and a funky period looking saddle.

It’s probably not even Reynolds….pressed ends and lamp boss on forks?

Also a word of warning, Raleigh used 26tpi threads on their bottom brackets and headsets not the universal 24tpi.

we need photo’s of the actual bike I think please 😆

thats not the actual photo so there might be a chance its the real deal? +1 olgits advise.

Photo is indeed just an illustration. I can’t be 100% sure of the spec. I will get photo’s and have a closer look tomorrow.

I feel it’s going to be a duffer though. 😥

Even so, I might make an ideal single speed commuter. 🙂

thought you were going to say that you had found his porn stash…

Even so, I might make an ideal single speed commuter

Indeed if it is a gas pipe special. You can bung a BMX freewheel on the back there and those ends are long so plenty of adjustment to be had. Some Midges would look good in that stem.

If it is Reynolds 753, then the wall thickness of the tubes is fairly thin. In particular the chainstays are only 0.6mm thick (very thin).
The spacing of the rear drop-outs will probably be 126mm. If you are tempted to try to pull them out to 130mm then do not be surprised if the chainstays then crack.
http://www.equusbicycle.com/bike/reynolds/Reynolds-tubing-sizes.jpg

thought you were going to say that you had found his porn stash…

+1