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Dec 17, 2013 17:44:29 GMT
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thanks for the comments  i saw that bomber frame on ebay, although annoying that the paint is chipped and rusted around the headset. super grifter seats look the same but some slight differences in construction and appearance, i know because i bought this one on ebay last week lol seller of the repro cow horns here... www.ebay.co.uk/usr/sugbub69i'm sure youve seen the pair of original wheels on ebay at the minute for 45, ok condition chrome. careful on some ofthe listings that say "bomber, grifter, chopper" as some stuff are slightly different like the sturmey hub which has longer spindle on bomber. my advice is to buy a tatty donor bike for the mechanicals, they come up on ebay one or two a week between 40 and 80 for rideable versions. (although there are some folk who must be on meth like the one with 180 start price at the minute) link to bomber forum below, for another avenue on parts... theraleighbomber.proboards.com/#general |
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foxy99
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,455
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Thanks darrenh
I should've really just bought a tatty bike and done it up but I've never used a courier pick up service before and most of the bikes on sale on Ebay are too far away to pick up so buying the frame seemed the easiest route postage-wise.
I'm in no great rush to complete the project so I'll just see how it goes.
That's helpful warning about the hub as I was going to buy one thinking it would be ok as it had 36 holes but need to check out the spindle issue now.
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1974 Daimler Double-Six VDP
1965/67 Hillman Imp pick-up
1984 VW Polo breadvan
1970s Yamaha Twins (4)
1976 Honda SS50ZK1
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Dec 19, 2013 12:43:47 GMT
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I had a BRAND NEW Bomber back in the day, my parents bought for me when I wanted a BMX. Mine didn't mud guards, so got covered in mud all the time. After a few months I saved up and bought a BMX which became a Mongoose Supergoose.
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Feb 10, 2017 10:26:46 GMT
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not much to report, still knocking about on the bomber kind of like a village scooter  both my 81 retros !  |
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Last Edit: Feb 10, 2017 10:27:43 GMT by darrenh
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Feb 10, 2017 11:22:48 GMT
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Love Bombers had loads of them, really easy retro to ride at 6'4. Trouble is they're quite a large bike so space has been an issue so sold them all, will get another one day. Top job on the restoration chap |
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dubscum
Part of things
thats what i do
Posts: 531
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Feb 11, 2017 11:27:58 GMT
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nice save!
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whip it, into shape ........ go forward
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Feb 16, 2017 14:05:00 GMT
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Looks great. Having previously had a red Raleigh Grifter for a few years, I upgraded to a new 5-speed black and chrome Bomber back in 1984, and what a trooper it was - able to cope with morning and afternoon paper-rounds, commuting to secondary school and hacks along muddy towpaths and woods at the weekend.
I was initially jealous of my mate who had a new-fangled Raleigh Maverick mountain bike when they first came out, until I heard he had problems with the frame cracking and various other bits failing, whilst the Bomber just kept on going.
I upgraded mine to 15-speeds, courtesy of a Sakae SR triple chainset, also later on, alloy wheels which gave better braking compared to the chrome steelies. Mine also had a Union dynamo set, and a rear carrier ('rack') of some sort.
I eventually sold it in the early 1990s to a nearby bike shop, and finally went over to the new-fangled mountain bikes.
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Feb 16, 2017 22:13:16 GMT
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Looks great. Having previously had a red Raleigh Grifter for a few years, I upgraded to a new 5-speed black and chrome Bomber back in 1984, and what a trooper it was - able to cope with morning and afternoon paper-rounds, commuting to secondary school and hacks along muddy towpaths and woods at the weekend. I was initially jealous of my mate who had a new-fangled Raleigh Maverick mountain bike when they first came out, until I heard he had problems with the frame cracking and various other bits failing, whilst the Bomber just kept on going. I upgraded mine to 15-speeds, courtesy of a Sakae SR triple chainset, also later on, alloy wheels which gave better braking compared to the chrome steelies. Mine also had a Union dynamo set, and a rear carrier ('rack') of some sort. I eventually sold it in the early 1990s to a nearby bike shop, and finally went over to the new-fangled mountain bikes. nice ! the maverick and 5 speed bomber shared a few components i seem to remember, but with an even more dangerously slender frame |
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Feb 17, 2017 12:59:21 GMT
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Yes, the Maverick, being an early mid-range MTB, perhaps wasn't quite the most rugged of designs. Must admit, it did look terrific at the time though - cantilever brakes and a triple chainset being a big 'cor' factor in an impressionable teenage lad's eyes.
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Feb 17, 2017 19:53:14 GMT
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Awesome resto, I remember a good friend had a blue one back in the day. Not sure if it's just the pics, but it looks like the crank arms are out of line, if they are swap one of the cotter pins. They should have the nuts on the opposite sides.
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Feb 17, 2017 20:16:51 GMT
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Awesome resto, I remember a good friend had a blue one back in the day. Not sure if it's just the pics, but it looks like the crank arms are out of line, if they are swap one of the cotter pins. They should have the nuts on the opposite sides. thats a good point will check it. yeah the blue ones were called super bombers, essentially the same but had a chromed frame with blue lacquer over the top (called superchrome |
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Feb 18, 2017 10:02:38 GMT
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Another couple of 'trainspotter' points I would mention are that, at least on my 1984 5-speed Bomber, the handlebar stem was painted in a charcoal 'crackle' effect paint, not smooth gloss black, also Raleigh Raincheck leather-backed brake blocks were fitted, not plain rubber Fibrax type - they were marginally better on the smooth-edged chrome rims in the wet as I recall...
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jamesd1972
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,921 
Club RR Member Number: 40
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Jul 14, 2017 11:50:45 GMT
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Nice job, really remember these and the grifter but didn't get either !
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Wasn't there 2 bombers ... a big bomber and a little bomber i'm sure I had the big one and my mate had the smaller one but mine was second hand and had no stickers.
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Jul 15, 2017 17:04:30 GMT
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Yes, they did a 24" wheel version called the Super Bomber:  |
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Jul 16, 2017 17:11:19 GMT
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Wasn't there 2 bombers ... a big bomber and a little bomber i'm sure I had the big one and my mate had the smaller one but mine was second hand and had no stickers. yeah they did 2 sizes of all the bombers, the 24 was almost BMX sized. from memory, chronologically, it was black bomber with fixed rear casette, black bomber with 3 speed sturmey archer (most common) super bomber like the one in Waxoyling Lyrical post which was chrome frame and blue lacquer over it, then right near the end of production they did a 5 speed bomber with black and silver paint, new logo and was a cross over to the raleigh maverick (proper mountain bike) |
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Last Edit: Jul 16, 2017 17:13:04 GMT by darrenh
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Hehe, 'proper' until the frame invariably cracked, which the Bomber's rarely if ever did.  |
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Jul 17, 2017 13:16:06 GMT
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Hehe, 'proper' until the frame invariably cracked, which the Bomber's rarely if ever did. those old gas pipes brazed together were pretty strong |
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,975
Club RR Member Number: 71
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few detail bits. shrink wrap on rear brake stays so it don't scratch mi' paint  See that's clever retrofitted grifter front brake stays  Now wouldn't you have thought a bit of suitable sized heat shrink would be perfect to tidy up the end of that cable? Of course you could have bought new cables but then why would you if the old ones are serviceable but they always lose their original soldered ends |
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,975
Club RR Member Number: 71
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PS sorry meant to say top job BTW - nice 2 wheel resto
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