A Good Fitness Bike?

[S-Express]

Sure, they outsourced to Taiwan but they are still Raleigh bikes when they are built in a Raleigh factory,

But there isn't a Raleigh factory in Taiwan. Sure, there's a factory there that probably makes a lot of their range, but it doesn't have a Raleigh sign over the door.

Raleigh don't seem to want to reply to me when I emailed them for confirmation of this, but in the long term I would like to find out more myself, as I essentially only bought a bike from Halfords thinking it was a Raleigh and of some standard (silly me).

I could be wrong, and there could be a reason for this but until Raleigh themselves reply to me I won't go against my gut instinct

I'm still trying to work out if you're being serious or not. If it carries the Raleigh name and is sold as a Raleigh, then it is a Raleigh and therefore Raleigh UK will be obliged to warrant it. It is no more or less a Raleigh than any other bike carrying the Raleigh name.

 

[SAB]

But there isn't a Raleigh factory in Taiwan. Sure, there's a factory there that probably makes a lot of their range, but it doesn't have a Raleigh sign over the door.


I'm still trying to work out if you're being serious or not. If it carries the Raleigh name and is sold as a Raleigh, then it is a Raleigh and therefore Raleigh UK will be obliged to warrant it. It is no more or less a Raleigh than any other bike carrying the Raleigh name.

If they would only reply to me then I'd know for sure.

I am being serious, but of course, I am open to the fact I could be wrong too, and I'd post about it if I was!

I will continue to try and get through to their UK headquarters, email is so far a no. Next is phoning.

 

[S-Express]

If they would only reply to me then I'd know for sure.

Just to clarify - what is it you are unsure of ?

 

[SAB]

Just to clarify - what is it you are unsure of ?

If the Raleigh bikes Halfords sell (notably the ones not listed on the Raleigh UK site) are actually Raleigh bicycles, as you say, warranted and produced by the Raleigh UK company at least. If it's from a completely different supplier and even designer or generic frame in any way as opposed to the other Raleighs that they sell direct I think that's enough to say it's essentially just a name on the frame

 

[S-Express]

If the Raleigh bikes Halfords sell (notably the ones not listed on the Raleigh UK site) are actually Raleigh bicycles, as you say, warranted and produced by the Raleigh UK company at least.

Well, if they are not, then we would have to assume they are fakes and that Halfords is perpetrating a fraud. Which is probably unlikely.

If it's from a completely different supplier and even designer or generic frame in any way as opposed to the other Raleighs that they sell direct I think that's enough to say it's essentially just a name on the frame

How much design input do you think Raleigh puts into a £249 (currently selling for £160) bottom-of-the-range men's hybrid? These bikes are almost certainly designed and mass produced in Taiwan or ROC, probably not by Raleigh's regular manufacturing partner, and purchased/branded by Raleigh and others under a call-off contract. Nevertheless, they are still Raleigh (unless they are fakes, see above) and subject to the same commercial/legal requirements as any other bike sold in the UK.

The Porsche 924 was actually built by VW/Audi, did you know?

 

[Goggs]

Lots of bike brands source their frames from off-the-shelf designs built in Taiwan & China. Generally it's reserved for the cheaper models but not always. It makes no difference though because in these days of computerised manufacturing it shouldn't really matter where anything is built. The best camera lens I own is branded as a Nikkor (Nikon) who are Japanese but the lens is assembled in the Philippines. It's pin sharp. Apple products are largely built in China. They're still Apple's though.

 

[bonsaibilly]

Lots of bike brands source their frames from off-the-shelf designs built in Taiwan & China. Generally it's reserved for the cheaper models but not always. It makes no difference though because in these days of computerised manufacturing it shouldn't really matter where anything is built. The best camera lens I own is branded as a Nikkor (Nikon) who are Japanese but the lens is assembled in the Philippines. It's pin sharp. Apple products are largely built in China. They're still Apple's though.

And they're built by Samsung - go figure

 

[raleighnut]

For everyone replying, thanks for your continued advice.

My problem with Halfords is that their service isn't up to standard, and in some examples, 'brand' names are selling bikes in their stores with frame numbers that don't match the actual brands numbers. For example, Raleigh have some Halfords 'exclusives' but they aren't Raleigh's at all, I can't believe consumers are so tricked.

I have been to a lot of stores (across the UK, up and down the motorways during different journeys) , and I can't confirm good service fully, I mean, if you need something like a tin of brake cleaner for the car they will sort you out because you asked for the product, but as for the bike area I have never found that they've known what they are talking about in the slightest.

One time I was with a friend getting a six week check up and the guy kept asking 'what else' they wanted done, as opposed to taking a good look at the bike, finding the issues and resolving them. We left to go on a cycle, for my friend to realise 'Oh no, I forgot to mention XYZ', which was disappointing as sure, the friend should have remembered, but if we were clueless and depended on this for a safe bicycle we'd be so unfairly neglected. Thankfully the issues left, which were uncrimped brake and gear cables (on a 6 week old bike?!) and loose hex-fitting under the handlebar (serious I'd imagine if it was to give up) could be fixed by relatives.

I'm by no means a fanboy of any brand, in fact I actually like Raleigh but also find it hard to be happy with their offerings these days given that there seems to be no real substance behind any of their offerings, especially when I realised they were basically letting anyone build a bike and use their name under license as mentioned above.

So by all means, I know the 'name' doesn't carry much with it these days for any brand, and as the other guy above said his experience with Specialized was similar.

The bike I have, which is from Halfords (see, I gave them a chance!) is one I do like, but the failings and shortcomings of it are leaving me thinking I should have spent more on a 'good make' that I could depend on. The option remains to keep it and switch to better components, in which case I'd need to start a new thread in the mechanics(?) section to get some advice.

So why not buy an old Raleigh and fit modern bits on it,


This one is over 30yrs old and has had many different guises including a 20spd set up fitted (that is currently on a 531 Road Ace frame) although now it has been kitted out as a 'Light Tourer' with wheels built up on restored Maillard 'Wide Flange' hubs.

 

[davidphilips]

So why not buy an old Raleigh and fit modern bits on it,
View attachment 142873

This one is over 30yrs old and has had many different guises including a 20spd set up fitted (that is currently on a 531 Road Ace frame) although now it has been kitted out as a 'Light Tourer' with wheels built up on restored Maillard 'Wide Flange' hubs.

now thats nice, surprised you did not move from down tube shifters to sti lever/shifters, brooks b17 sets it of nice bike.
done something like that to an old elan

 

[raleighnut]

now thats nice, surprised you did not move from down tube shifters to sti lever/shifters, brooks b17 sets it of nice bike.
done something like that to an old elan

I wouldn't have been able to retain the 'suicide' brake lever extensions if I'd changed to STIs,
Oh and the saddle is a B5n (narrower than the B17)

 

[davidphilips]

I wouldn't have been able to retain the 'suicide' brake lever extensions if I'd changed to STIs,
Oh and the saddle is a B5n (narrower than the B17)

ever try the bar top levers? i think they are great same idea as the original suicide levers but can be used with sti levers and work great with duel pivot brakes, just as a mater of interest how may bikes do you have, seen picture of your trike love to see bikes like yours that have had a lot of time spent on them ttfn.

 

[Pale Rider]

Raleigh as a brand is in a complicated position due to part-rights to the name being sold off to different companies over the years.

Taking ebikes as an example, the UK range is different to the German range.

Some of the German bikes have the Impulse motor - which is a Kalkhoff/Derby Cycle design - because Derby own some rights to the Raleigh name, as well as Kalkhoff and others.

Dutch conglomerate Pon, which also owns several other brands, acquired some of Raleigh when it bought Derby Cycle, leading to some Pon designs appearing as Raleighs.

Things got even more complicated when several other Raleigh companies were bought by another Dutch company, Accell.

http://www.raleigh.co.uk/ProductType/?pc=1&pt=198

http://www.raleigh-bikes.de/

 

[raleighnut]

ever try the bar top levers? i think they are great same idea as the original suicide levers but can be used with sti levers and work great with duel pivot brakes, just as a mater of interest how may bikes do you have, seen picture of your trike love to see bikes like yours that have had a lot of time spent on them ttfn.

I use bar-top/interrupter levers on my 653 TT bike but not conventionally,

Click on pictures for full image.
I was going to mount them in the centre of the Bullhorns but discovered they sit really well where they are and the handlebars can be fully taped over the cables.
As for quantity there are 11 bikes and the trike but 2 of those are Maz's and one is a pub bike/BSO that doesn't get ridden but in my defence we don't own a car so they are my sole means of transport.