There’s nothing quite like going full circle in life is there..
Here’s me BITD on my pride and joy ...
You can never look a gift horse in the mouth and when Rob Pickle offered me his unfinished project I couldn’t say no.
The ‘Gratton Special’ GS was a catalogue only Burner.
My Dad printed the Kay’s Catalogue in Worcester and hence we had access to the hallowed ‘Kay’s Shop’ where many a bargain was to be found.( My very first trainers - Puma Dallas were from here )
I must of got mine in April 1983 just before my birthday. I can still picture it leaning against the wall in the toys section.
I know I really wanted an Ultra Burner but that was way out of my Mum and Dad’s price range .... here was a close second and at £79.99 it was affordable!
I have chosen to do this as a full spec build just as it was in the catalogue as my bike was exactly like that. ( No tyre reflectors - please note )
The rest as we say is history..
cheap Landar parts eventually replaced some of the Raleigh ones and a Haro Plate topped it off.
I rode this bike up until the early 90s even taking it to college in Liverpool. ( I remember jumping over students on it right after my last exam! )
Rob had put together a fine collection of parts but as he had wanted to ride it some were either wrong, not show quality or repop I had to do my research to get it right.
The levers were too good for example (dia-Compe) and the post was a horrible aluminium thing. The tyres were repop and skinwall and the wheels were shot (literally).
Here’s a few pics of the parts I had or sourced for the build....
Many thanks to Rad’s Dave Brummie for the amazing tyres - Cheng Shin Gumwall Snakebellys ( fat/thin combo was spec )
Super Bike Dan worked his magic on the frame, forks and bars and stem top. The frame was a Fiat 506 Golden White Metallic.
The bars and forks are satin black ( not gloss as some mistakenly say ). The stem top was a flat matt Black. I clearly remember it being different to the bars.
I won the paint job as a prize for winning Bike of the Show at last year’s MK17. I can’t thank Dan enough for the amazing job he did for me.
Finally it’s onto the little details. These are my favourite part of any build.
First the correct head badge .. this one I believe was NOS .. incredible!
Two pieces that bring so many memories flooding back.
The owners manual, guarantee and store locator and Raleigh bicycle tool.
I remember these being attached to the bike when we bought it. I read that manual a hundred times and knew it inside out.
OG NOS Decals I love so I got these to go on the bike stand ( Thanks a million Tony Lee for the top one )...
There’s a few more surprises but the bike (still under construction) will get its first official showing at MK18.
It’s brought back so many memories of childhood and my Dad (RIP) who I’m sure would have loved to have seen it. It’s amazing what emotions run through you on a build like this.
I hope you’ve enjoyed it so far as much as I have.
Ant
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