Raleigh Grifter

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Raleigh Grifter was a kids’ bicycle made in Nottingham, England by Raleigh from 1976 to early 1983. It was the top model in Raleigh’s youth bike line, bridging the Chopper and Burner. Its frame was like the Twenty Shopper but with a front triangle resembling an upside-down Chopper. There were two main versions: Mk1 (introduced 1976, produced to 1979) and Mk2 (1978–1983). The Mk1 used a 3-speed Sturmey-Archer hub with a twist-grip; early frames had Super MX tyres and blue or candy-red paint, with later shades more bronzy red. A common issue was second-gear slipping caused by a slightly loose cable on the twist-grip setup, which could also lead to knee contact with the large headset bolts. Export Mk1 bikes exist and are now rare collectibles. The Mk2 added more colors and models and a longer rear mudguard. BMX bikes surged in popularity in the early 1980s, and by 1983 the Grifter was discontinued as interest moved on. Today, original Mk1s and end-of-line editions are prized by collectors.