1970 model (Mk 1) Raleigh Chopper bicycle The Raleigh Chopper was a type of bicycle manufactured and marketed in the 1970s by the Raleigh Company of Nottingham, England. Its unique design became a true 70s cult icon, and is fondly remembered by many who grew up in that period. Based on the look of a customised Chopper motorcycle, made popular with films such as Easy Rider, the Chopper bike was the "must have" item and signifier of coolness for any kid at the time. A new version of the Chopper, the Mk3, has been launched in 2004, after being out of production for almost 25 years.
The Chopper was designed by Alan Oakley, starting in 1968. The Mk1 Chopper went on sale in 1970. This bike featured a 3-speed Sturmey Archer gear hub, selected using a frame mounted car-like "stick shift" - a system unique to the Chopper and one of its "cool" features. Other remarkable differences from the average bike were the unusual frame design, the long padded seat with backrest, sprung suspension at the back, the high-rise handlebars, and the differently sized front and rear wheels.
A smaller version aimed at younger children, the Chipper, was also popular.
The Mk2 Chopper was an improved version sold from 1973. These bikes had the option of a five-speed derailleur gear system in place of the hub gears, but retained the stick shift selector. The Mk2 also moved the rear wheel further back relative to the rider's weight, to help prevent the bike from tipping up. The Chopper remained in production until 1980, when the new craze of the BMX took over its market. However, the Chopper almost single-handedly rescued the Raleigh company, which had been in decline during the 1960s, selling millions of machines worldwide.
The Chopper is fondly remembered, though it was not without its problems - the design was generally much less stable than a conventional bike design, and was trickier to ride. It was also slow and heavy and not really suitable for long-distance riding. At higher speeds it suffered from an unwanted gyroscopic coupling between the front wheel and the steering pivot, which could lead to wild uncontrollable oscillations (almost invariably ending up with a spill). It was often attacked in the press as a dangerous toy. The long seat lent itself to giving lifts to others, and accidents were not uncommon. It would perform wheelies readily, again a frequent cause of accidents. The famous stick-shift gear lever was also ideally positioned to cause injury in the event of a front spill. Nevertheless the Chopper was always the cool bike to own, and those who didn't have one were often envious of those who did. Today, the Chopper has enjoyed a renaissance thanks to both nostalgia and the efforts of various enthusiasts and owners' clubs.
The new Mk3, in deference to modern safety concerns, adopts a more conventional saddle design to discourage "backies," and has dropped the stick-shift in favour of handlebar mounted shifters. It is also built from aluminium alloy rather than the original's steel, which should make the bike lighter.
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