Bike Forums - Please help determine value of Raleigh International (2024)

Hello vintage bike connoisseurs,

I would love some input on the value of this 1974 Raleigh International (see pictures). I bought it off CL for a pretty penny and am trying to determine if it was a good deal.

23 1/2 inch Reynolds 531 db frame with chrome Nervex lugs, chrome fork tips, seatstay and chainstay ends built at Raleigh's Carlton Workshop in September 1974. Rare Campagnolo Nuevo Record triple chainring, Campy Rally wide range rear derailieur, Campy wide flange hubs with Wolber rims and Continental Ultra Sport tires. Instead of the standard Weinmann center pull brakes, Campagnolo side pulls, Vintage Concor saddle with Campy seat post and Campy pedals. Engraved GB bars and stem, cork tape and cane creek hoods.

Sold comps
https://www.ebay.com/sch/Cycling/729...tional&_sop=16

Hi vintage bike gurus,

I've been mulling over whether to pick up this gorgeous vintage Raleigh... he was asking 1200 but I can pick it up for $1k without the saddle, is it worth it?

23 1/2 inch Reynolds 531 db frame with chrome Nervex lugs, chrome fork tips, seatstay and chainstay ends built at Raleigh's Carlton Workshop in September 1974. Rare Campagnolo Nuevo Record triple chainring, Campy Rally wide range rear derailieur, Campy wide flange hubs with Wolber rims and Continental Ultra Sport tires. Instead of the standard Weinmann center pull brakes, Campagnolo side pulls, Vintage Concor saddle with Campy seat post and Campy pedals. Have original engraved GB bars and 3T stem, but right now have wider Cinelli bars and longer stem on it.

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...a thousand bucks is about the usual asking for these in NorCal, and that one looks pristine.

However, it is not original, in terms of components, if that's important to you. I think in those years they came with centerpull brakes by Weinmann, and for sure a new record rear derailleur. My guess is someone hung that Rally on there to get a wider gear range.

Maybe they thought sidepull brakes were an upgrade.

The Rally rear derailleur is a downgrade........those things are terrible if you actually intend to ride the bike.

I can't really tell you what it's worth to you, but losing the Brooks is probably another hundred bucks if you want to replace it.

When you said this was a "gorgeous" bicycle, then all bets are off regarding "value."

Seeing a beautiful piece of craftsmanship and desiring to own it easily make something overpriced into a "value."

I'm not saying you paid too much, because I don't think you did.

You did just fine if you gave $1K for this. You still came out if you gave $1200, because you made it YOURS.

Dollars are dollars and love is love. Love almost always trumps dollars. Even when outnumbered.

You now own what many consider to be the most beautiful frame Raleigh (also many other makers) made.

And I consider the upgrades to have increased the value simply because that is what we did back in the day.

That makes your cycle even more real, not just some fantasy picture in a bike-p*rn catalog.

Enjoy her, she is simply gorgeous, just as you said. Treat her well and she will outlive you.

https://denver.craigslist.org/bik/6128455920.html

...I wonder when and why it ended up with 27" wheels ?

4 years ago I bought my '74 Carlton Raleigh International for $1,200. from Vic's Classic Bikes, a Kentucky bike shop.
It had a bunch of chips needing touch-up paint, no dings nor dents.
All components were original which I preferred:
C. Record derailleurs, Weinmann centerpulls, tubular wheels w/ new tan sidewalls, Brooks Pro saddle, original Champagne paint & decals.
Hubs, bottom bracket & headset were all repacked; everything was adjusted, ready to ride, no rust anywhere.

It is always the bike I reach for first, partly because paint is not perfect, mostly because riding it is easy & makes me happy (healthy, too).
I thought I paid too much, but I couldn't find a Campagnolo equipped bike (which is what I wanted) cheaper at that time.
After a year, I forgot about the high cost, and am glad to have a high quality 10-Speed classic to enjoy.
It's a great bike.
.....................
Your frame looks in good condition, that's good. That Copper color is nice.
The 3 chain rings will make it easy to go up steep hills, something I struggle with with my 48-52 front rings.
If your Rally derailleur works, just live with it for now.
Get out and ride it, get used to it, it'll grow on you.

Words of wisdom :thumb:

Buyers remorse can hang around for a bit but will eventually pass and leave you with a great bike!

I am only offering valuation based on market value...not based on what I think of Raleigh Internationals.

I sold a far rougher example for 1400 on eBay pretty quickly; people love these bikes. This one is clean and attractive. That's still an awful lot of money for a local sale...especially without saddle.

Do I think there are people who would drop 1200 on the bike, 1000 w/o saddle? Yes. If you love it, I don't think buying it would be a gross overpay, but you are going in at max value. It really comes down to what is it worth to you? 1000 seems highish, but it's not utterly insane either.

I have, knowingly, paid more than I thought was really "fair" for bikes that I just loved. If you will love the bike for a long time, what's a couple of hundred dollars (if you have it to blow).

FWIW, these have been well north of $1,000 on eBay with a competent ad for a while and the $700 days are long gone.

If you are OK with not getting it, you can afford to be patient. Say you want the saddle...if he changes his mind, call you. It COULD sell at 1200, but it's certainly not a deal of the week either.

Seems like every time I pass through the Denver area, I end up picking up several bikes. Last trip I snagged six. I run out of room before I run out of deals. Just took a quick look at Denver's C/L, good thing I am not there right now as I would be loading up the truck with more!

Seems like vintage bikes are under-appreciated there, or maybe I over appreciate them. I have my doubts seller will get his price. At the same time, bike is worth asking price for sure, so maybe YOU are the person that appreciates the value here.

+1 the Denver and larger Colorado vintage and used road bike market is pretty soft right now. I see great basic mid level riders sitting a fairly long time in the $150-200 price range and nice project bikes under $100 not moving.

For what it’s worth I just bought one on E-bay for $950 and I’m thrilled. I had to add tax, packaging and shipping on top of that amount, so at your $1000 for a local bike, you’re way ahead of me. If your bike isn’t rusted through or ridden to death, it’s a fair price.

iMHO, vintage “Eroica” bike rides and purchases are picking up speed so quality vintage bikes should hold their value. I just returned from Europe where more than 10,000 riders rode the Italian Eroica ride along the strade bianche (white gravel roads.) i saw $10,000 + vintage bikes at a Berlin bike shop that only sold vintage bikes (along with coffee lattes of course!). There are Eroica rides in every major European country, and the California Eroica ride (requiring entrants to ride a vintage bike) gets more entrants every year. For boomers like me, buying a vintage bike allows us to reminisce and buy the bike we never could in the day. Until there are no more boomer bike riders in 30 years, I think demand will remain strong. While the US is not Europe, we often follow their bike trends at least on the coasts (where I’m from-currently, vintage is cool in SF, Portland and Seattle)

While the Raleigh International is not a rare handcrafted Italian bike with a name that would fetch five digit prices, it is a quality bike from that era. I owned a Raleigh Record in 1974 because I couldn’t afford the International, second from the top of the Raleigh line with a Campy drivetrain. Enjoy your $1000 purchase, realize that any 50 year old bike is going to require some maintenance, and don’t look back.

A related question for the rest of the knowledgeable folks on this thread: for the 1974 Stock International, can I source a wider ratio freewheel cluster (with a lower 1st gear) without changing my shifters or rear derailleur? Or is it better to buy a different chainring combination in front (I’m assuming I’ll need a new front derailleur too if I change the small front chainring, right?) or should I go with three chainrings in front like the bike that this young person is asking for help to find a correct price?

I applaud your enthusiasm, its hard not to be when you partake in a large scale successful event, a few of us in here did Eoirca california this year with some mixed reviews, there was 500 or so riders in my estimate, and this was the first event for a couple of years, my wife and i loved it, but it had its challenges mainly from lack of volunteers or support, but all in all a great event, btw (you commented on a Zombie thread about Raleigh International from 2017)
The UK where i am from just had its Eroica Brittanica cancelled and the people on line are up in arms and ready for battle so we will have to see how that plays out also.

I also have an International and am a big fan of the bike.. keep it up there are lots of bikes out there for sale... my advice from this guy who has 12 bikes take it slow and consider every purchase or you will end up buying bikes you later want to sell, when you wonder why you bought them in the first place...