Raleigh Ultra Burner
Discussion
I saw this for sale locally on eBay and couldn't resist it. It's in remarkably good condition, the Arayas are fabulous and there's even an original Cheng Shin Snakebelly albeit on the wrong wheel.
The plan is to strip it completely and restore everything which needs restoring - which won't be much.
I need to track down some brakes and a correct set of grips but can't see this one being a major difficulty.
Apologies for the photo quality, I'll take some proper ones over the weekend.
[url]
|http://thumbsnap.com/lAhqm9HB[/url][url]
|http://thumbsnap.com/ueFFdAXV[/url]
Edited to add some slightly better photos.
The plan is to strip it completely and restore everything which needs restoring - which won't be much.
I need to track down some brakes and a correct set of grips but can't see this one being a major difficulty.
Apologies for the photo quality, I'll take some proper ones over the weekend.
[url]|http://thumbsnap.com/lAhqm9HB[/url][url]|http://thumbsnap.com/ueFFdAXV[/url]Edited to add some slightly better photos.
Edited by mattviatura on Friday 21st October 18:25
Thought I'd ask this on here because I don't want to create two threads if I can help it. Have given the Ultra a thorough wash and the paint is in pretty good condition. It has however faded somewhat. I'm thinking T-Cut might be too aggressive, does anyone have any suggestions please?
mattviatura said:
Thought I'd ask this on here because I don't want to create two threads if I can help it. Have given the Ultra a thorough wash and the paint is in pretty good condition. It has however faded somewhat. I'm thinking T-Cut might be too aggressive, does anyone have any suggestions please?
You could try a gentler polish like Auto Glym Super Resin?I had a Mk1 Super Burner when I was a kid, pretty much identical to that except for the gold frame. Same wheels, forks, bars etc. Wish I still had it!
Nice looking bike, good to see its so original for its age.
I must admit however, I've never been a fan of Burners. When I was into BMX in the mid-late 80's they rode like s
t and everyone who owned one got sneered at, especially the poverty spec models. I don't think any kid would have been brave enough to turn up at my local racing club on one.
I'm amazed how much these things reach on Ebay, compared to much better built/better riding bikes from the same era. For the last few years, I've bought a BMX for the summer and flogged it again as the light starts to fall earlier. I've had some Haro, Mongoose, Ammaco and Redline models, all bought for less than £50 and ready to ride. I've just bought an early 90's (i think) GT Dynamo for £30 albeit with flat tyres and needing a new chain.
Good luck with the Burner resto, would be nice to see a photo when its finished
I must admit however, I've never been a fan of Burners. When I was into BMX in the mid-late 80's they rode like s
t and everyone who owned one got sneered at, especially the poverty spec models. I don't think any kid would have been brave enough to turn up at my local racing club on one.I'm amazed how much these things reach on Ebay, compared to much better built/better riding bikes from the same era. For the last few years, I've bought a BMX for the summer and flogged it again as the light starts to fall earlier. I've had some Haro, Mongoose, Ammaco and Redline models, all bought for less than £50 and ready to ride. I've just bought an early 90's (i think) GT Dynamo for £30 albeit with flat tyres and needing a new chain.
Good luck with the Burner resto, would be nice to see a photo when its finished
80quattro said:
I'm amazed how much these things reach on Ebay
Me too! 
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Raleigh-Super-Burner-/32...
It's a nostalgia thing, and loads of kids had them back then. Nobody I knew sneered at Burners when I had one (84 I think), maybe you had wealthier mates than I did?
Pennies in comparison with this!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1984-OLD-SCHOOL-DIAMONDB...
Wish I still had my '80's DB. . . .
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1984-OLD-SCHOOL-DIAMONDB...
Wish I still had my '80's DB. . . .
LeighW said:
80quattro said:
I'm amazed how much these things reach on Ebay
Me too! http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Raleigh-Super-Burner-/32...
It's a nostalgia thing, and loads of kids had them back then. Nobody I knew sneered at Burners when I had one (84 I think), maybe you had wealthier mates than I did?
- I just collected a 'GT Dynamo' based on the owners description today. Upon inspection, its a Dyno with GT components, one 48s wheel, and one 36s
mine for £20 so I'm not too upset.80quattro said:
everyone who owned one got sneered at, especially the poverty spec models. I don't think any kid would have been brave enough to turn up at my local racing club on one
You sound like a BMW owner 
I found a gold Burner frame in the back field when I was a young'n. I stripped it back to chrome and then got all new parts for Christmas, Z Rims, CW bars, layback seatpost, stunt pegs etc. It was really nice, wish I still had it.
80quattro said:
I must admit however, I've never been a fan of Burners. When I was into BMX in the mid-late 80's they rode like st and everyone who owned one got sneered at, especially the poverty spec models. I don't think any kid would have been brave enough to turn up at my local racing club on one.
Agree with you about the Burners.....t and everyone who owned one got sneered at, especially the poverty spec models. I don't think any kid would have been brave enough to turn up at my local racing club on one.
I was never a fan, I'm of an age when all my peers had a burner, my dad took one look at them and was appalled by the quality of the welds and the design of the down tube to BB joint, I ended up with a custom bike from the local specialist bike shop instead, it was their own brand and a rip off of a Redline, so glad I went that route, the bike used to be raced at the weekend, then change of wheels and used for 'street' in the weeks.....until my JMC came along.
I don't really 'get' alot of the old skool stuff, modern bikes ride so much better and are so much stronger, but I guess thats not really the point or no one would drive a classic car.
I just hope all these old bikes actually get to see a bit of action again, there are s'posed to be riden.....I'm still riding, and racing BMX at 38.
80quattro said:
When I was into BMX in the mid-late 80's they rode like st and everyone who owned one got sneered at, especially the poverty spec models. I don't think any kid would have been brave enough to turn up at my local racing club on one.
That'll be the difference. I cocked about on mine in the local park...t and everyone who owned one got sneered at, especially the poverty spec models. I don't think any kid would have been brave enough to turn up at my local racing club on one.Mr E said:
That'll be the difference. I cocked about on mine in the local park...
Yes it is, your normal kids had Burners, if you took it seriously & your parents had a few bob then you had the more up market stuff like Skyway TA's, PK Rippers etc. All of my mates, Christmas 83 all had Burners, one had a tuff burner, one had a chrome burner, one had an Ultra.. I felt very spoilt as I longed for a Kuw ET & I had one 
Trouble with the Ultra Burner is it still had the same frame as all the others. They all crack & come apart at the downtude to bottom bracket, the down tude kind of folds flat & tucks under, thats the weak spot. Top end components though, suntour stem, diacompe brakes, sugino, araya, top stuff compared to your regular Burner. Most of my mates snapped their frames then either had a mk2 Burner or bought more up market stuff, Curtis was good value & a few bought them, also DP...some just stopped riding & took drugs
Brakes arrived today. They look scruffy but will clean up fine.
[url]
|http://thumbsnap.com/GlEmvJob[/url]
A set of the correct SR pedals are on their way.
I started out with a standard Burner which was gradually upgraded to such a degree that the frameset was the obvious weak point. I then acquired a GT Pro F&F which I dearly wish I still had. My Burner took an awful lot of abuse and never broke but I was only little back then. They were fine as starter BMXs but I agree they weren't exactly high-end. Having said that I've got a Team Aero Pro Burner which is as good as any machine from the time.
[url]
|http://thumbsnap.com/GlEmvJob[/url]A set of the correct SR pedals are on their way.
I started out with a standard Burner which was gradually upgraded to such a degree that the frameset was the obvious weak point. I then acquired a GT Pro F&F which I dearly wish I still had. My Burner took an awful lot of abuse and never broke but I was only little back then. They were fine as starter BMXs but I agree they weren't exactly high-end. Having said that I've got a Team Aero Pro Burner which is as good as any machine from the time.
I had one of these in the early 80's. I managed to snap the bars twice in the first 3 weeks. When they snapped the third time I bought some GT bars after which the bike took some real hammer at Southport and Three Sisters meets as well as the day to day stuff until the frame succumbed and was replaced with a Puch Trak Pro frame and forks.
A friend of mine is currently restoring two early 80's Robinsons which has cost a small fortune so far.
A friend of mine is currently restoring two early 80's Robinsons which has cost a small fortune so far.
Wow I remember those levers well. They bend really easily if memory serves.
I too snapped the original bars. Changed them for some CW bars and that's when it started getting silly changing stuff. Layback post, pegs, Z rims, hollow stem bolt so I could change the cable run and spin the bars 360, different pads and for some reason some multi-coloured wrap that went round the cables.
Ah the memories!
I too snapped the original bars. Changed them for some CW bars and that's when it started getting silly changing stuff. Layback post, pegs, Z rims, hollow stem bolt so I could change the cable run and spin the bars 360, different pads and for some reason some multi-coloured wrap that went round the cables.
Ah the memories!
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