Raleigh Chopper facts for kids
The Raleigh Chopper is a cool wheelie bike made for kids and teenagers. It was built by the Raleigh Bicycle Company in Nottingham, England. Its unique look was inspired by fast dragster cars, "chopped" motorcycles, beach buggies, and even chariots!
This famous bike has appeared in many movies and TV shows. The first models, called MK1, were made from 1968 to 1972. The MK2 models followed from 1972 to 1983. Later, the MK3 models were produced from 2004 to 2012 and sold until 2018.
Here are some of the different versions and colors:
- MK1 - Came with 3 speeds in colors like Brilliant Orange, Golden Yellow, and Horizon Blue.
- Sprint GT - Available in Bronze or Flamboyant Green.
- MK2 - Standard 3-speed models in bright colors like Infra Red, Ultra Violet, and Fizzy Lemon.
- MK2 - A special Pink 5-speed model.
- MK2 - SE, a special edition with cool alloy wheels.
- MK3 - Available in Black, Purple, Red, Silver, Pink, and Yellow.
- MK-IV - The newest model, first released in Ultra-Violet and Infra Red.
Contents
Bike Design: How It Was Made
The way the Raleigh Chopper was designed has been talked about a lot. Alan Oakley, who was the main designer for Raleigh, and Tom Karen of OGLE Design both had a hand in it.
Alan Oakley's old notes show that his famous "envelope sketch" was the first idea for the Chopper. This sketch inspired the whole project. Raleigh then asked an outside company, OGLE Design, to help turn that idea into the final bike we know.
The Raleigh Chopper was a huge success! It helped save Raleigh from financial trouble because so many bikes were sold all over the world. Millions of MK1, MK2, and MK3 models were made between 1968 and 1983, and then again from 2004 to 2012.
The Chopper was seen in many TV shows and movies in the 1970s and 1980s, like "Back to the Future". Before BMX bikes became popular in the mid-1980s, the Chopper sold six times more than other bikes!
In 2014, a 1980 MK2 Raleigh Chopper that was given to US President Ronald Reagan was sold for a record $35,000!
The Chopper was designed to compete with the Schwinn Sting-Ray. Its popularity also led to smaller bikes with a similar look, like the Raleigh Chipper and Tomahawk, for younger riders.
History of the Chopper Models
MK1: The Original Chopper
Raleigh first applied for the Chopper's patent in the US in 1967. The bike was shown at American trade shows in January 1969, but people could buy them starting in April 1969.
The MK1 Chopper came with different gear options, from single-speed to 5-speed. You changed gears using a cool lever on the frame. Other features that kids loved were its unique frame, the long, comfy seat with a high back, tall "ape hanger" handlebars, and different sized wheels (16 inches in front, 20 inches in back). The back hoop above the seat looked like a "sissy bar" on a dragster. Even the kickstand made the bike lean like a parked motorcycle! The tires were wider than usual, with a chunky pattern on the back wheel and a red stripe on the side.
In 1969, the Raleigh Chopper was launched in the UK. It was marketed as a "must-have" item and a symbol of "coolness" for many children back then.
MK2: The Improved Version
The MK2 Chopper was an improved model sold from 1972 to 1983. It had a few changes to make it even better. The gear lever changed from a knob to a "T-bar" style. The frame was slightly updated, and the seat was made a bit shorter. This helped move the rider's weight forward, making the bike less likely to tip back.
A small rack was added to the back, and the handlebars were welded to the stem. This stopped kids from tilting the "ape hanger" bars too far back, which could make the bike hard to steer. There was even a version with drop handlebars called the Sprint GT. The MK2 Chopper was made until 1983, when BMX bikes became the new craze. However, the Chopper almost single-handedly saved Raleigh, selling millions of bikes worldwide!
MK3: The Modern Comeback
After being out of production for over 20 years, a new version, the MK3, was launched in 2004. To meet modern safety rules, it had a more traditional split seat instead of the single long one. The gear lever was moved from the frame to the handlebars. A sticker was placed where the old lever used to be, as a nod to the original design.
Instead of steel, the frame was made from aluminium alloy, making the bike lighter. The wheels were still 20 inches at the back and 16 at the front. Production of the MK3 was not in Nottingham, UK, but in places like the United States, Taiwan, or Vietnam.
MK-IV: The Latest Chopper
The MK-IV is the newest model in the Raleigh Chopper family. It looks a lot like the classic MK2 but has been updated to meet today's safety rules.
When it was released to the public in June 2023, all the bikes sold out in just three hours! It was first available in Ultra-Violet and Infra-Red colors. Two people who were big fans of the Raleigh Chopper even helped design this new model from 2020.
MK-IV Design Details
The MK-IV project started in 2019. The goal was to release it in 2022 for the 50th anniversary of the MK2, but world events caused a delay until 2023. The design team worked with two Chopper fans, Mr. K. Price and Mr. R. Whitmill.
The MK-IV Chopper is based on the MK2 but has a stronger frame made with modern, thicker materials. There are some differences, like the saddle, which is a bit shorter and wider to meet current safety standards. The "sissy bar" (the hoop above the seat) is also lower, like on some older MK2 models.
The gear shifter is back on the cross-bar, but it's been redesigned with new parts made from laser-cut steel. This new shifter works with older Chopper parts, and old shifters work with the new bike, which is pretty neat!
Other new design parts include a redesigned chainwheel, a new spoke protector, and a return to the classic twin-block pedals. The handlebars are similar to the MK2 but have a different locking system. The brakes are made by Dia Compe. The wheels are still steel, like the original MK2, but are now stronger. The front wheel uses 14G stainless steel spokes, and the rear uses 12G stainless steel spokes.
Making the MK-IV Prototypes
The very first test frames for the MK-IV were made in April 2021. Only one of these, frame number RE210003, passed all the tests. More test frames were made in October 2022. Two of these, RN220002 (Ultra-Violet) and RN220003 (Infra-Red), were the first to be painted in the new launch colors. These were used to test how well the new parts fit with older MK2 parts.
Main Production of the MK-IV
Full production of the MK-IV started in February 2023 in Taiwan. The frames are made from metric tubing with thicker walls, making them much stronger than older models. All the joints are TIG welded, which is a very strong way to join metal, making the new frames more robust.
The paint finish is done in several layers, including a primer, color coat, decals, and a clear protective layer. All the paints used are water-based. The decals (stickers) are slightly smaller to fit the new frame sizes.
MK-IV Launch Events
The Raleigh Chopper MK-IV had three launch events. The first was a private "Soft Launch" in May 2023 for a few special fans in Nottingham.
The second was the official media launch on May 31, 2023. From this point, Raleigh UK and the two fan designers shared information about the new bike through newspapers, TV, and social media.
The third launch was the official sales launch on June 20, 2023, also in Nottingham. People could come and see the new bikes, including the two painted prototypes and two production models. Older Chopper models were also on display, brought by fans.
Before the sales launch, Raleigh UK also showed off the new MK-IVs at the Annual Raleigh Chopper Show in early June 2023. This was a great way for many fans to see and even test ride the new bikes.
MK-IV Sales Success
The MK-IV Chopper was sold online and at the "Experience Raleigh" showroom in Nottingham on June 20, 2023. It was only available in Ultra-Violet or Infra-Red colors and only in the UK. All the bikes sold out on the first day within three hours! This showed how much people still love these iconic bikes, even 51 years after the MK2 was introduced.
The two special RN22 prototypes were also sold to private buyers. More bikes were released online on July 25, 2023, and they also sold out in hours. Another 50 bikes were released on August 24, 2023, and they sold out quickly too.
Even though there were some complaints about the quality of the wheel rims, most people who bought a MK-IV were very happy with their new bike!
MK-IV Prototypes and Sample Bikes
During the 2024 Raleigh Chopper Show, the two RN22 prototypes and four sample bikes were photographed together for the first time since they left the factory.
How to Date a MK-IV Chopper
It's pretty easy to figure out when a new MK-IV was made because it uses a numbering system similar to the one from 1974.
The frame number breaks down like this:
- R = Raleigh
- N = The month (for example, N means October)
- 22 = The year (for example, 22 means 2022)
- The last 4 digits are the number of the frame built that month, starting from 0001 each month.
MK-IV Tools List
This list of tools was created to help MK-IV owners know which tools they need for different parts of their bike. It's shared with everyone to be helpful now and in the future.
Other Raleigh Chopper Models
The Golden One
"The Golden One" was a special Chopper built to celebrate 1 million Choppers being made. It had unique gold plating where other models had chrome. A copy of this bike was later made by a fan and is now in the Brooklands Museum.
Choppers Around the World
Raleigh sold the Chopper in many countries. In some places, Raleigh sold the bikes under different brand names like BSA, Hercules, Humber, and Phillips.
Chopper Look-Alikes
Because the Chopper was so popular, other companies tried to make bikes that looked similar. Some of these were the Pavemaster Trusty Tracker, Dawes Zipper, and Vindec High Riser in the UK. There was also a bike called the Cincoa and a Portuguese version called the Chapparal.
See also
- Chopper bicycle
- Outline of cycling
- Raleigh Bicycle Company
- Schwinn Bicycle Company
