Anyone work at Raleigh in the 80's

[allegro]

Im trying to track down some info on the Vektar (the one with the electronics panel, radio speedo etc)
Ive heard mention that the prototype may have been belt driven but was dropped as there were issues with slipping.
Does anyone have any info on this or the vektar in general?

[yellowjack]

You'll get nothing from the current 'Raleigh' company about old models. They have no interest in older stuff, and probably don't know anyway, even if they wanted to help.

There is (definitely was) a bicycle museum at Brooklands with a large collection of Raleigh bikes. They might have some info/archives that might have been saved from the "old Raleigh" factory. Or perhaps press cuttings from the period that might help... https://www.brooklandsmuseum.com/explore/our-colle...

There's a Facebook 'Raleigh Vektar Appreciation Society'... https://en-gb.facebook.com/RaleighVektarAppreciati...

an exchange on the RVAS Facebook page said:

...Agreed, more Vektariness required. How about trying to contact old employees of Raleigh and digging up prototype goodness from the archives?


Raleigh Vektar Appreciation Society:
...Raleigh have no interest in old models. They're only interested in the future of the brand. Its not even the same company anymore so stuff like that is long gone. Several Raleigh enthusiasts including myself have already tried...

With a couple more links (I appreciate you may already have Googled and found these)...

http://www.thebikecomesfirst.com/the-raleigh-vekta...
http://retromash.com/2015/04/08/raleigh-vektar-bro...

...to maybe read through to see if there's any more info than you may already have.

One of those articles claims that there were 4 years spent on R&D, along with £500,000. Not sure I'm inclined to believe that in the mid 1980s, but...

You can own one, courtesy of (currently) no less than Five! ebay sellers right now...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Raleigh-Vektar-Original... Buy It Now for only £339

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Raleigh-Vektar-... Buy It Now for only £199

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Raleigh-Vektar-Raleigh-... Current bid £87 and no mention of a reserve on it

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/raleigh-vektar/20230117... in "Sold as found" condition and in need of a damned good clean, inspection, and possibly service and repair, current bid at £32 with no reserve mentioned

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Raleigh-Vektar-Original... badly corroded chromework, would take a lot to get back into good condition. Bidding at £54 but "reserve not met"

I'd have one if I had the spare space and spare cash, just because I never had one back when they were new. It'd be pretty cool even if it didn't all work properly, and if you had enough money to lavish on one I'm sure you could replace the guts of the electronics and bring it up to date? Better batteries, a DAB radio? Trips to the pump track with Kerrang! Radio blasting out of upgraded speakers? I'm off to buy that lottery ticket right now...

[allegro]

Thanks for the considerable reply
I had already summised contacting Raleigh was a non starter and all I have to go off is a one line statement that some lads dad worked there and remembers them trying a belt drive.
It makes sense when you consider the futuristic angle they were going for.
I'm guessing it was some sort of V belt if they had slipping issues but want to nail down the exact method before I start backing away at a frame. Finding an employee seems the only solution :/

[Ilovejapcrap]

My mate had one of them

[raceboy]

yellowjack said:

You'll get nothing from the current 'Raleigh' company about old models. They have no interest in older stuff, and probably don't know anyway, even if they wanted to help.

Not strictly true, they went to quite a bit of trouble to get the re-pro Burner right.
https://www.raleigh.co.uk/team-aero-pro-burner
I'd guess the problem would be the Vektar wasn't really a game changer or massive seller, in comparison to the Burner or the Chopper and Raleigh have moved premises a number of times since it's manufacture so even locating any historic files would be tricky even if they still exist.
I'd be very surprised if a belt drive idea went any further than a 'design stage' as the realities of trying to assemble a belt drive back then would have meant considerable changes to the basic 'burneresq' frame.

[allegro]

By all accounts the bloke who worked for Raleigh brought it home for his son.

[P-Jay]

I always thought the Vektar was just a burner frame with a lump of plastic on it containing the computer stuff. That's what my Dad told me anyway when I wanted to have one instead of my Burner.

I seem to remember the Burner was EVERYWHERE, then BMXs weren't so popular and they had loads of frames left so they came up with the Vektar.

Then for a bit they had some horrible bmx/mountain bike hybrid, I think it was green and had white wheel discs and they were about as cool Pony Trainers.

The years later they had the Mustang was which cool again, then as far as I know they died and became another BSO maker.

[Ilovejapcrap]

We need pics

[allegro]

Pics of a vektar or the belt drive vektar?