Raleigh burners

[kalex]

I've never owned a burner and I don't know much about them but I've just seen a thread on here that's got me thinking.

I remember when I was a kid in the early to mid 80's an older lad from around the corner had a burner which was black with gold flames and I was envious of it as I had a no name bmx and his looked fast even when it was on the floor with the gold flames lol.

Any way my point is that I know a couple of the models but only a few, by this I mean only the colours not that actual model name.

I would also be grateful if someone could list them in order of base model upto the top spec.

[Ady]

It was a ultra burner mate..

http://80sactual.blogspot.co.uk/2005/05/bmx-craze.html

[kalex]

It was a ultra burner mate..

http://80sactual.blogspot.co.uk/2005/05/bmx-craze.html

After having good a read of that link am I correct in thinking that was the top spec burner. Also was it a choice of black with gold flames or gold with black flames or am I getting 2 burners mixed up

[welshv5er]

black with gold flames are mk1 ultra burners, Also came in silver with blue flames..
Top spec burners are the Aero Pro range.. Aero Pro, Team Aero Pro & Pro Race..

[Ady]

More info bud..
http://www.burnerworldforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=11

[dinglem]

Black and gold Ultra is also a bike with strong childhood memories for me - I was a bit young when they were about but a few of the older kids in our street had them and I inevitably looked up to them. As a result an Ultra was my first resto when I got back into the hobby. Still got it, never ridden it though. I've also got a second Ultra F&F awaiting resto, which is going uber-cheap if anybody is interested.

[kalex]

Raleigh sure made enough use of the burner range from what I've now seen.

From the looks of it the ultra was a fairly expensive burner for the time.

[Ady]

I had a black and gold ultra for Christmas in `82 was replaced in `83 as frame kept snapping.
I had loads of fun back then but everything kept failing .
The last resort was when the gold v bars snapped on the welds which dug into my shoulder when dropping in from a ramp..
Got rid and bought a rebel frame and forks/bars (which I still have to this day) and stripped the ultra and binned the frame inc a new frame Raleigh gave me free under warranty.
It Had great bits fitted as standard from araya`s , suntour stem , mp 130 pedals , suntour cranks etc but to be honest its was shite to ride compared to the rebel.
But..
Just build one a few months ago , and when build I sat on it and just thought to myself how the fook I did a 360 on this and found it so shocking to ride..

[Avro]

The lad in my avatar, third from the left as you look at the picture, is on a silver/blue Mk1 Ultra Burner. I was always envious of the anodised bits especially the wheels if I remember rightly.

[kalex]

I was only 6 when these 1st came out, I know the lad that had the ultra was a fair bit older than me.

At the age I was then I was too young to understand about quality of parts etc it was just purely on looks.

Looking at the parts list they did chuck some tasty stuff on them

[welshv5er]

Looking at the parts list they did chuck some tasty stuff on them

i've a MK2 Ultra, fair cop to Raleigh they did throw some dam good parts on it.

[factory pilot]

The Mark 1 Ultra Burners ..




I loved the silver/ blue one .. A kid on our estate had one with whitewalls, blue DX and a Kashi Aero .., it was the bollox!

I had a poor man's Ultra .. The GS


I loved the Burners so had to do the one I really wanted as a kid ..

Top of the range Aero Pro

[kalex]

Surely most kids back then can be associated with having a burner or being friends with someone that had one.

Do you think the likes of Littlewoods, grattons etc catalogues help raleigh's sales more than any other brand at that time.

[factory pilot]

Surely most kids back then can be associated with having a burner or being friends with someone that had one.

Do you think the likes of Littlewoods, grattons etc catalogues help raleigh's sales more than any other brand at that time.

For sure ... My "Gratton Special" ( GS ) burner was only available from the catalogue .. We got my from the Kay's catalogue shop in Worcester.. Think it was about £80 ?

[kalex]

Surely most kids back then can be associated with having a burner or being friends with someone that had one.

Do you think the likes of Littlewoods, grattons etc catalogues help raleigh's sales more than any other brand at that time.

For sure ... My "Gratton Special" ( GS ) burner was only available from the catalogue .. We got my from the Kay's catalogue shop in Worcester.. Think it was about £80 ?

If anyone got one on the weekly plan it most likely doubled in price

[deeman]

Looking at the parts list they did chuck some tasty stuff on them

i've a MK2 Ultra, fair cop to Raleigh they did throw some dam good parts on it.

My younger brother got a Mk2 Ultra burner before I got my first BMX....I was still on my Strika! I was a bit gutted at first until I realised how rubbish  the geometry was! Some nice parts but shame about that frame!  Was £169.99 iirc 
To answer the OP's question it went something like...

Red Burner with spokes
Blue with mags
Xtra Burner? red n white
Night Burner
Super Burner
Super Tuff Burner (same as above with tuffs)
Ultra Burner (same price as Super Tuff iirc)
Aero Pro
Team Aero Pro
 for the Mk1's and early Mk2's...with a few limited/special editions such as Andy Ruffell sig models and variations etc etc
I am NOT a Burner expert and that is only a rough guide!

[kalex]

Looking at the parts list they did chuck some tasty stuff on them

i've a MK2 Ultra, fair cop to Raleigh they did throw some dam good parts on it.

My younger brother got a Mk3 Ultra burner before I got my first BMX....I was still on my Strika! I was a bit gutted at first until I realised how rubbish  the geometry was! Some nice parts but shame about that frame!  Was £169.99 iirc 
To answer the OP's question it went something like...

Red Burner with spokes
Blue with mags
Night Burner
Super Burner
Super Tuff Burner (same as above with tuffs)
Ultra Burner (same price as Super Tuff iirc)
Aero Pro
Team Aero Pro
 for the Mk1's and early Mk2's...with a few limited/special editions such as Andy Ruffell sig models and variations etc etc
I am NOT a Burner expert and that is only a rough guide!

Thanks for that bud, it's a fair list

[kalex]

My old team aero pro. What I was lucky enough to have had as a kid



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So is this the top spec model then

I can see your little friend in the back ground is interested in it lol

[willo73]

My old team aero pro. What I was lucky enough to have had as a kid



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So is this the top spec model then

I can see your little friend in the back ground is interested in it lol

Yep was pretty much top of the range. Sure was about £260 in 1984?!

Only really burner in name, 99% Japanese components with skyway wheels.

Yeah the wee man loves to photo bomb a bike pic lol


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[welshv5er]

One of The Team Aero's Pro i own was bought new in November 1986 for the grand some of £160 + £5.00 for the pads. ( i have original bill for it )
Half price on what my old dears paid for the 1st one i got in 1985 

[BMX1973]

Great thread. 

[kalex]

Great thread. 

Yeah as I didn't realise there was that many versions

[welshv5er]

Add MK1 & MK2 Cromo Burners + Chrome Burners to the list 

[Mikku]

Surely most kids back then can be associated with having a burner or being friends with someone that had one.

That's a fair comment. In my case I never had one but knew a guy with an Aero Pro and drooled over it.

Love 'em or hate 'em, Burners definitely played a big part in the British BMX scene.

[Taipan]

Top burner available I believe would be a Pro Burner not an aero pro or team pro