Author Topic: All good things come to those who.... (Read 3520 times)

beard1973 · « **on:** December 11, 2009, 11:17 AM »

...wait.

I cast my mind back to being a boy of 10... its 1983 and BMX is HUGE!! I am desperate for a BMX bike.. a Raleigh Burner.

Robert White has a Night Burner and Scott Gamble an Ultra, my best mate Craig Glew has a Super Tuff... My Mum and Dad stretch themselves and I get a Raleigh Extra Burner.

that summer I could not have been happier.

I remember flicking through a Raleigh Brochure adoringly, admiring each and every model. I'll be honest, the only model that I probably never took alot of notice of, as I knew they were just a dream, was the Mk1 Pro Burner. I never saw one in the flesh BITD and it wasn't until I paid Julian Taff a visit 25 years later that I ever saw one for 'real'.

Its more than obvious why they are so highly sought after... they are rare, they were Raleigh's first attempt at a 'Pro' BMX and they are so distinctive with their 'R' Gusset.

When I started out on this 'Burner' journey 5 years ago I always told myself 'I gotta get one of those!'... they are the final piece in any Raleigh Burner collection. BUT they fetch such crazy prices and everytime one appears on eBay it either disappears or goes through the roof. Wrecked and rotten frames fetching Â£250+

I did buy a broken Frame (with no forks) that needed serious repair to the gusset but I knew that the Â£Â£Â£'s involved in getting it simply repaired and rechromed would make it an impossible project with my limited finances. So I let it go...

I have watched survivors in France appear and sell for Â£1k+ I had convinced myself that the possibility of finding one for a price that would not spark a divorce was nothing but a dream...

Like most of you guys I do my regular 'internet trawling'... eBay, FreeAds, Gumtree etc etc.. using those favourite keywords 'Raleigh' 'BMX' 'Old' etc etc... every now and then you stumble across something decent but 9 times outta 10 your either too late or the bidding is through the roof as one collector forces the other to pay over the odds for 25 year old kids bike.

Tuesday afternoon I am sat at work watching the clock waiting for 5pm.. I log onto eBay.com and throw in 'Raleigh BMX' which usually comes up with the odd Raleigh item in the US, maybe an overpriced battered rampar and some Raleigh USA BMX trading cards... but not today... their is an Oldschool Raleigh bmx frame chrome listed.

I open the link and my heart skips about 30 beats... I don't think I can breathe...

Its been listed for about 8 hours and it has NO BIDS!! and there is a BUY IT NOW price of $200 (Â£123.06 to be precise)!!

I cannot click the BIN button quick enough, in fact I am that excited I think I missed it three times before being prompted to confirm my purchase...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250544463140&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

I finally have a Mk1 Pro Burner Frame AND Forks...

She arrived this morning and the chrome is suprisingly good... there is the usually areas of surface rust but nothing that a decent polish won't sort.

I think the Serial No. suggests JULY 1982... so for 27+ years old she is in pretty good shape.

To say I am chuffed is an understatement, I've waited and waited and finally bagged one at a good price. I know Â£120 quid is not a small amount of money, but for something as desirable as this I am very pleased.

She is now gonna be put back in the box until the new year when she will get the bestest of treatment I can give.

I finally have a PRO BURNER.

moley · « **Reply #1 on:** December 11, 2009, 11:20 AM »

Nice one Dave!!

Are ya gonna race it at some time?

bobafett · « **Reply #2 on:** December 11, 2009, 11:22 AM »

Congrats mate - always nice when you grab something you've been hunting for a long time - especially at a good price

Haro82 · « **Reply #3 on:** December 11, 2009, 11:23 AM »

Ha ha, nice one Dave, I can imagine the moment you saw it on ebay with the BIN. I bet you nearly p*issed ya pants

James Nada · « **Reply #4 on:** December 11, 2009, 11:24 AM »

Congratulations Dave! £120 sounds like a bargain to me.

It good to hear that if you're patient enough, that elusive frame/bike/car/record/book/tshirt does turn.

Bring it back to blighty!

monkian · « **Reply #5 on:** December 11, 2009, 11:25 AM »

Great find. Great story too. Congratulations

Can't wait to see it next year restored to it's former glory.

beard1973 · « **Reply #6 on:** December 11, 2009, 11:29 AM »

Quote from: Haro82 on December 11, 2009, 11:23 AM

Ha ha, nice one Dave, I can imagine the moment you saw it on ebay with the BIN. I bet you nearly p*issed ya pants

I was shaking like a leaf... and I have felt sick until it actually arrived.

Cheers Guys... there is some good finds still to be had...

Swivel · « **Reply #7 on:** December 11, 2009, 11:30 AM »

Well done Dave, its a beauty

diesel · « **Reply #8 on:** December 11, 2009, 11:32 AM »

What a cool story - Glad you got your prize after the long wait......

Looks like that chrome won't need a lot of polishing, have fun

ozone · « **Reply #9 on:** December 11, 2009, 11:50 AM »

Quote from: beard1973 on December 11, 2009, 11:29 AM

Quote from: Haro82 on December 11, 2009, 11:23 AM
Ha ha, nice one Dave, I can imagine the moment you saw it on ebay with the BIN. I bet you nearly p*issed ya pants

I was shaking like a leaf... and I have felt sick until it actually arrived.

Cheers Guys... there is some good finds still to be had...

Nice find, that.

Are you going to build it to factory spec? Mucho $$$ methinks...

bmxbob · « **Reply #10 on:** December 11, 2009, 12:02 PM »

Awesome mate

Nice find

SaMAlex · « **Reply #11 on:** December 11, 2009, 12:08 PM »

Thats really cool Dave, really happy for you. If anyone NEEDS one of those frames, its you

Quote from: beard1973 on December 11, 2009, 11:17 AM

I did buy a broken Frame (with no forks) that needed serious repair to the gusset but I knew that the £££'s involved in getting it simply repaired and rechromed would make it an impossible project with my limited finances. So I let it go...

I was looking for about 2 years before your one came up. And from what I remember it went for more than your new one cost you, even tho it was cracked and didnt have forks. Its no problem, you got a great find. Hope your new one ends up looking as good as your old one does now!

Muffski · « **Reply #12 on:** December 11, 2009, 12:12 PM »

Nice one Dave

Del · « **Reply #13 on:** December 11, 2009, 12:15 PM »

nice one Dave, I'm quite suprised you didnt already have one of these

DIRTBIKER250F · « **Reply #14 on:** December 11, 2009, 12:23 PM »

I have 4 nos ones im my loft Dave, you should have said

nice one, be good to see this have the Beard treatment

sweetbeats · « **Reply #15 on:** December 11, 2009, 12:24 PM »

I could do 540 kickturns on mine as a kid

What's the TT Dave about 18"?

beard1973 · « **Reply #16 on:** December 11, 2009, 01:03 PM »

Quote from: sweetbeats™ on December 11, 2009, 12:24 PM

I could do 540 kickturns on mine as a kid
What's the TT Dave about 18"?

18.5" (centre to centre).

Quote from: Del on December 11, 2009, 12:15 PM

nice one Dave, I'm quite suprised you didnt already have one of these

Been patient Del and its paid off mate...

sweetbeats · « **Reply #17 on:** December 11, 2009, 01:04 PM »

Quote from: beard1973 on December 11, 2009, 01:03 PM

Quote from: sweetbeats™ on December 11, 2009, 12:24 PM
I could do 540 kickturns on mine as a kid
What's the TT Dave about 18"?

18.5" (centre to centre).

Quote from: Del on December 11, 2009, 12:15 PM
nice one Dave, I'm quite suprised you didnt already have one of these

Been patient Del and its paid off mate...

Cheers

Mattdub · « **Reply #18 on:** December 11, 2009, 01:10 PM »

Cool Dave

Bigplinky · « **Reply #19 on:** December 11, 2009, 01:22 PM »

Well pleased for yer Dave

Pro Burner was the first good BMX I saw in a shop window (and lusted after) but was a little too pricey so I ended up with an Ultra

Rulin · « **Reply #20 on:** December 11, 2009, 01:35 PM »

Wow what a great post .....bring back the 80s great music ..great people and great bikes....only if i could

pickle · « **Reply #21 on:** December 11, 2009, 01:45 PM »

thats cool as fook Dave.........well happy for you

markyp · « **Reply #22 on:** December 11, 2009, 04:08 PM »

i hate burners,all except the r gusset one,i do love them,always have since a kid down the road from me had one bitd.i still see him around town these days,always makes me think of the r gusset burner when i see him,thats what hes famous for in my head!!!

southern andy · « **Reply #23 on:** December 11, 2009, 04:15 PM »

Quote from: beard1973 on December 11, 2009, 11:29 AM

Cheers Guys... there is some good finds still to be had...

There are...... i have one in the pipe line at the moment. It's a complete bike from 1980, still 100% original and is as rare as rockin horse cack. ( i think)

Dave, superb story mate with a brilliant ending.