Old School 1980's BMX's
Discussion
I have just today finished a nut and bolt restoration on a 1984 Raleigh Black Burner, I have had it years and finally found a supplier for a set of decals for it so decided to buy a set, they were spot on so I stripped it all down, sand blasted it, sorted out the pitting and did some repairs and had it painted gloss black again.
Freshened up everything, new bearings and even rebuilt the rear Skyway mag that had suffered from thread creep so the hubs were pulled in.
Just need some nice weather to ride it.
Freshened up everything, new bearings and even rebuilt the rear Skyway mag that had suffered from thread creep so the hubs were pulled in.
Just need some nice weather to ride it.
Getragdogleg said:
I have just today finished a nut and bolt restoration on a 1984 Raleigh Black Burner
Wow! That is lovely and takes me right back!!I can't quite make out from the photo - is that the circular tube frame? I seem to recall they changed to oval at some point didnt they? (or was that just for certain models?)
I had the base model red & yellow burner (round tube) but it got quite modified in a bid the shave some of the weight off.
My mate had a 'night burner' IIRC.. which was black and red a bit like yours. Another lad had chrome burner (which I think was also round tubed) But an older lad had a super-tuff burner.. which I think was gold oval tubed with black mags (although the gold peeled off to reveal a chrome frame under it)
Bit fuzzy on the details as that was 35 odd years ago now.
Thanks, it's an oval frame, November 84 build, in Nottingham.
I have had it since the 90s, rode it hard, put away dirty and all that.
It got the big birthday because I was finally able to get the stickers, i didn't want to restore it if I couldn't put it back as it was.
It's got some nice period parts, sugino crank, tange bottom and headset, dia
comp brakes, kashimax seat.
I have a set of ultra rare Bandito handlebars, they were on it from the 90s but I put the original ones back on for the resto.
Banditos are now bikeless, might sell, might find a good period frame and do another bmx.... not sure yet.
I have had it since the 90s, rode it hard, put away dirty and all that.
It got the big birthday because I was finally able to get the stickers, i didn't want to restore it if I couldn't put it back as it was.
It's got some nice period parts, sugino crank, tange bottom and headset, dia
comp brakes, kashimax seat.
I have a set of ultra rare Bandito handlebars, they were on it from the 90s but I put the original ones back on for the resto.
Banditos are now bikeless, might sell, might find a good period frame and do another bmx.... not sure yet.
Somehow I seem to have missed it. Raleigh have reissued (“reimagined”) the Super Tuff Burner but I believe are struggling to shift them at 600 notes apiece, not being actual NOS 80’s model.
https://www.raleigh.co.uk/stbur19-super-tuff-burne...
https://www.raleigh.co.uk/stbur19-super-tuff-burne...
not seen this thread before 
my two, taken @ Rom Skate park last summer (last day it was open we later learnt
)
1983 Diamond back silver streak (the bike I owned BITD)
1982 SE Racing Pk Ripper - (the bike I wanted so badly it hurt)
both bought as Frames then built how I wanted them with the bits I remembered rather then being exactly correct as per factory
my two, taken @ Rom Skate park last summer (last day it was open we later learnt
)1983 Diamond back silver streak (the bike I owned BITD)
1982 SE Racing Pk Ripper - (the bike I wanted so badly it hurt)
both bought as Frames then built how I wanted them with the bits I remembered rather then being exactly correct as per factory
Mogsmex said:
not seen this thread before
my two, taken @ Rom Skate park last summer (last day it was open we later learnt )
1983 Diamond back silver streak (the bike I owned BITD)
1982 SE Racing Pk Ripper - (the bike I wanted so badly it hurt)
both bought as Frames then built how I wanted them with the bits I remembered rather then being exactly correct as per factory
Both iconic bikes, it would be hard to pick one or the other.my two, taken @ Rom Skate park last summer (last day it was open we later learnt
)1983 Diamond back silver streak (the bike I owned BITD)
1982 SE Racing Pk Ripper - (the bike I wanted so badly it hurt)
both bought as Frames then built how I wanted them with the bits I remembered rather then being exactly correct as per factory
Mogsmex said:
not seen this thread before
my two, taken @ Rom Skate park last summer (last day it was open we later learnt )
1983 Diamond back silver streak (the bike I owned BITD)
1982 SE Racing Pk Ripper - (the bike I wanted so badly it hurt)
both bought as Frames then built how I wanted them with the bits I remembered rather then being exactly correct as per factory
Love your PK Ripper there, especially the contrasting Landing Gears with the Skyways, I think that look really works! my two, taken @ Rom Skate park last summer (last day it was open we later learnt
)1983 Diamond back silver streak (the bike I owned BITD)
1982 SE Racing Pk Ripper - (the bike I wanted so badly it hurt)
both bought as Frames then built how I wanted them with the bits I remembered rather then being exactly correct as per factory
I also wanted one so much BITD, my Raleigh Mag Burner was a poor pretender but was all I could afford at the time. I subsequently did a drunk eBay purchase of the reissue that they did about 10yrs ago, currently running on Araya alloys but have some black Skyways in the loft that I really must put on it. I also need to get a laidback seat post for it like on your DB there, as I'm 6ft 1in and riding it is a bit cosy.
I bought it before I met my wife, we now have a 4yo kid and I joke that I was planning it for our unconceived child all along. The reality is that he shows no inclination to ride his own little bike, and even when he does and is old enough i'll be very wary of letting him on my Ripper!!
Incidentally a lot of the old skool BMXers are very active on Facebook - I am 'friends' with Perry Kramer, Stu Thomsen and Andy Ruffell. Scott Breithaupt of SE Racing was another person very active on there, I had several chats with him about old skool racing, alas he died a few years ago having had a tough time of things
Edited by PurpleTurtle on Friday 3rd January 12:37
PurpleTurtle said:
Raleigh have reissued (“reimagined”) the Super Tuff Burner but I believe are struggling to shift them at 600 notes apiece, not being actual NOS 80’s model.
https://www.raleigh.co.uk/stbur19-super-tuff-burne...
I bought one and am impressed with it, to me it is well made, the finish is great and it looks the part, the changed geometry means it is more comfortable to ride.https://www.raleigh.co.uk/stbur19-super-tuff-burne...
I would not have bought it if I had not sold a big bit of garage equipment that week so I had spare money for something for me, also,i am using the bike, not viewing it as an investment.
The repro skyways have been fitted with centre caps to make them look more like the originals ! That was one thing that I thought didn't look right, I turned the wheels down on a big lathe to flush fit the caps for extra authentic looks.
Getragdogleg said:
PurpleTurtle said:
Raleigh have reissued (“reimagined”) the Super Tuff Burner but I believe are struggling to shift them at 600 notes apiece, not being actual NOS 80’s model.
https://www.raleigh.co.uk/stbur19-super-tuff-burne...
I bought one and am impressed with it, to me it is well made, the finish is great and it looks the part, the changed geometry means it is more comfortable to ride.https://www.raleigh.co.uk/stbur19-super-tuff-burne...
I would not have bought it if I had not sold a big bit of garage equipment that week so I had spare money for something for me, also,i am using the bike, not viewing it as an investment.
The repro skyways have been fitted with centre caps to make them look more like the originals ! That was one thing that I thought didn't look right, I turned the wheels down on a big lathe to flush fit the caps for extra authentic looks.
Good to hear that you will be riding it rather than keeping it as a garage queen. On that note, I'd like to ride my PK Ripper to Waitrose when I do the odd shopping errand. I'm a 47yo dad - am I going to look a gimp!?
PurpleTurtle said:
Good on you. I didn't mean in any way to sound disparaging - had I got 600 notes of fun money kicking around I might have done the same - but I think with the hype of the reissued Aero Pro Burner they might have over-estimated demand on this one, as nice a bike as it is.
Good to hear that you will be riding it rather than keeping it as a garage queen. On that note, I'd like to ride my PK Ripper to Waitrose when I do the odd shopping errand. I'm a 47yo dad - am I going to look a gimp!?
I bought mine at around 12pm the moment the lines opened to buy, I was worried I would not get one because of all the speculators who would simply leave it in the box and wait a few years. I was surprised after a day or so when It was still on the website as for sale.Good to hear that you will be riding it rather than keeping it as a garage queen. On that note, I'd like to ride my PK Ripper to Waitrose when I do the odd shopping errand. I'm a 47yo dad - am I going to look a gimp!?
My mate went and bought one on the strength of seeing mine and we are both using them as a bike.
In a way its nice that its not sold out instantly, I feel happier knowing that I'm not riding a bike that's gone up to £1000 within 3 weeks of me buying it ! I'm not so worried about scuffs or marks now.
I did try to buy some spares from Raleigh, grips and chain, brakes, maybe a saddle possibly a pad set for when I inevitably damage mine but apparently they only have spares for warranty claims which is annoying. I feel they are missing a trick but if demand is low I can see why they are not interested.
I'm 45, I ride all the time and probably look daft riding a kids bike but f
k what anyone thinks ! A big gang of us are off for a ride on Sunday, along the coast path from Marazion to Newlyn and back, Grifters, Choppers, BMX all of us 40+.
Getragdogleg said:
A big gang of us are off for a ride on Sunday, along the coast path from Marazion to Newlyn and back, Grifters, Choppers, BMX all of us 40+.
Brilliant. As ever, this post is useless without pics! My brother and I (grew up in Birmingham) had a lot of school holiday fun on the Newquay BMX track back in the 80s whilst on holiday there three times a year. I guess that is long gone? Ditto Hollywell Bay skate park.
The old places around here went long ago, the bmx centre at Mousehole, the track at the top of Paul Hill in Newlyn.
There is an active bmx club near Truro that is supposed to have a good track, not been myself but I'm going to try and check it out in the spring.
If I get a chance then I will take a bunch of pictures from the ride, if the weather is good then its going to be great. The south west coast path is very scenic.
There is an active bmx club near Truro that is supposed to have a good track, not been myself but I'm going to try and check it out in the spring.
If I get a chance then I will take a bunch of pictures from the ride, if the weather is good then its going to be great. The south west coast path is very scenic.
Today's ride went well, loads of interesting bikes, a grifter, a couple of Raleigh shoppers, a folding bickerton from the 70s and a gaggle of bmx's.
I ride the new super tuff burner, very comfortable, could do with a lay back seat post but that's on me for being 6ft.
Did a decent few miles, certainly between 15 and 20. Washed the sand and mud off them when I got home and dried them off ready for next time.
I ride the new super tuff burner, very comfortable, could do with a lay back seat post but that's on me for being 6ft.
Did a decent few miles, certainly between 15 and 20. Washed the sand and mud off them when I got home and dried them off ready for next time.
Getragdogleg said:
I have just today finished a nut and bolt restoration on a 1984 Raleigh Black Burner, I have had it years and finally found a supplier for a set of decals for it so decided to buy a set, they were spot on so I stripped it all down, sand blasted it, sorted out the pitting and did some repairs and had it painted gloss black again.
Freshened up everything, new bearings and even rebuilt the rear Skyway mag that had suffered from thread creep so the hubs were pulled in.
Just need some nice weather to ride it.
Awesome!Freshened up everything, new bearings and even rebuilt the rear Skyway mag that had suffered from thread creep so the hubs were pulled in.
Just need some nice weather to ride it.
I’ve just found this thread and I had that exact bike when new. I was born 1977.
That pic has just transported me back to my youth. Those red levers and calipers. I can hear that Velcro when I used to faff about with the handlebar padding.
Top job on that. Nice one.
+1 on needing pics of your ride out.
I’d love a Chopper.
Just before I got that Black Burner my dad brought a metallic purple Chopper home for me.
I was such a spoiled brat now I look back as I wouldn’t even get on it.
All the kids in my street had a go and were like “Mark have a go it’s brilliant!” but I wouldn’t.
Makes no odds now as I’m sure I wouldn’t still have it. I do fancy one though as a garage ornament.
Edited by marky911 on Tuesday 7th January 00:17
Afternoon all,
Not strictly an 80's BMX but I have a '94 GT Performer that I recently retrieved from my parent's garage as a bit of a winter tinkering project.
I've got the Oxalic Acid required to clean up the frame etc. and then I'd like to build it back up with new bits e.g. bearings, brakes etc.
I have the frame, forks, stem/clamp, bars, wheels and crank but the fiddly bits have been lost, unfortunately.
I'd be grateful for any advice/pointers as to where to look for said bits and some guidance re. correct bearing etc. sizes would be much appreciated. I'm happy to go 'restomod' as opposed to original and I've no intention of replacing the Gyro brakes!
Many Thanks
Not strictly an 80's BMX but I have a '94 GT Performer that I recently retrieved from my parent's garage as a bit of a winter tinkering project.
I've got the Oxalic Acid required to clean up the frame etc. and then I'd like to build it back up with new bits e.g. bearings, brakes etc.
I have the frame, forks, stem/clamp, bars, wheels and crank but the fiddly bits have been lost, unfortunately.
I'd be grateful for any advice/pointers as to where to look for said bits and some guidance re. correct bearing etc. sizes would be much appreciated. I'm happy to go 'restomod' as opposed to original and I've no intention of replacing the Gyro brakes!
Many Thanks
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