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Raleigh Grifter

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This Memory is looking a little short on nostalgia! Have you got anything you could add?

The younger brother of the Chopper, the Grifter was the cool bike of the 80's. Like the Chopper, the Grifter was a chunky, heavy, cumbersome bike that felt more like a motorbike than a bicycle.

The most innovative thing about the Grifter was the gear shift which was incorporated in to the handle grips and was controlled with a twisting motion.

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Do You Remember Raleigh Grifter?

Do You Remember Raleigh Grifter?

  • Anonymous user
    on
    Bought one for our son in 1980 and now giving it a restoration job! Having dismantled the gear change twist grip, cannot regain the click at each gear change. Ideas please.
    • Anonymous user
      on
      I have the same problem on a Grifter of the same age. Assistance would be welcome
  • Anonymous user
    on
    Had a backie on one of these in the early eighties......was beltin' xx
  • Anonymous user
    on
    Anyone know the price of the mk1 grifter back in late 79 I had the bronzes red one?
  • Anonymous user
    on
    I was given a Grifter by a neighbour's Dad whose son had outgrown it. I'd outgrown my little girls bike and mum couldn't afford to get me a bigger one. I loved the Grifter because it felt like a motorbike to ride! Also love the way the tyres made a kind of 'revving' sound the more speed you did and when you slowed down, especially on the new tarmac they'd put on our road at the time!!
  • Anonymous user
    on
    I now have 3 raleigh grifters and have my own succesful grifter & retro bike forum, all old skool bikes are welcome, and we have regular meets/rideouts, please fell free to join in the fun and relive your youth with us at www.mk2griftergaz.proboards.com
  • Anonymous user
    on
    I remember the X-mas day when I got my Blue Grifter, boy was I stoked...could'nt wait to get out and burn up the streets bursting with pride. Many a happy hour tearing around laindon,basildon, everywhere..!!.. changing gears with the twist grip..!!..What a machine...!!!
  • Anonymous user
    on
    I had the black Raleigh Grifter in the mid-80s. I had the silver Raleigh Striker before that. My Mum's friend's two boys had the Raleigh Chopper.
  • Anonymous user
    on
    The xl was the gimp of the bunch there vile. If you ride an xl then you also have a gimp mask under your pillow and have a man thong! Theres nothing like a mk1. If you collect grifters and haven't got a mk1 then your a wannabee! lol
  • Anonymous user
    on
    Great stories! i had some great memories on my silver mk2 grifter, just recently bought another, as well as a red mk1 and a black and gold "super grifter" relive and share your memories at this new website www.raleighstreetbikes.com the site which is dedicated to all old school bikes, lots of grifters, choppers and bmx's on there for you to see! membership is free and easy to join.
  • Anonymous user
    on
    these posts are really true and very funny, i too had the red one,silver and blue ones, blisters on thumbs,brill memories

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