Introduced in the 1970s, the Raleigh Chopper Mark I became one of the coolest and most iconic bikes of its generation. Featuring a unique design, the bike was a radical departure from a traditional bike. It came with 3 speed gear lever, wide tyres, long saddle and distinctive frame design. In many ways it resembled a motorbike and has become one of the most sought after bikes. Its phenomenal success helped rescue Raleigh cycles which had been struggling in face of poor demand and higher competition. In the 1980s, the advent of the BMX and later mountain bike meant the Raleigh Chopper ceased production. But, recently, on a wave of 70s nostalgia, the Raleigh Chopper has been re-introduced.
Raleigh Chopper Mk I
Gold Plated Raleigh Chopper Mark I photo Marcus
Recently, Raleigh have reintroduced a new MkIII version which has retained its same looks whilst being more safety conscious. New developments in Mk III Raleigh Chopper.
A sign of the times – safety warning.
Gear stick moved from downtube to gear shifters in the handlebars.
With its wide tyres and tendency to wobble at speed, the Raleigh Chopper is not a bike for covering long distances. It is a bike for people who want to ride up and down the street and look cool.
I snapped this new Raleigh Chopper whilst in Grantchester recently.
Raleigh Chopper Bikes for Sale
- Childrens bikes at Evans cycles
- Raleigh Chopper owners clubs
12 comments ↓
The pictured cycle is not a Ralieigh Copper Mk 1 as depicted. It is a mk 2, easily recognisable by modified frame and different central gearlever.
The warning concerning carrying passengers is not a sign of the times. The original machines carried the warning.
Halo. I your site find very interested.
In Norway, we buy Chopper cycles many years ago and they fife spped huret gearwheels have. Big handles not like by police though and two boys on one!
At school, contest was on to see who to ride on one wheel for longets time. Once policeman see on road and tell teacher. One boy ride to school with front wheel not on and we think very clever. Three boy once on one bilke.
Your webseat is very pleasure and thank you much.
Greetings from Dusseldorf.
Your information is very correct and informative. I have collection of these machines. One he is red and the other he is blue. I to have must buy another green one very soon.
Three speed is very daring if you vant to pedal faster, I become scared down hills.
In Holand it is not a problem because no hills but lots of dykes there!
I a hava a biga choppa and I lika to rida fast in reversa
Mama have pizza on choppa and she lika to eata it while she rida fasta but nota too fasta!
Wonderful site on this british institution [which, paradoxically, was heavily influenced by American trends].
These machines are quite fascinating. At school, most were three speed models. Some mk 1 models were about, but the majority were of the mk 2 ilk.
There were one or two interesting and obscure variations. One of the chaps had a purple device which had two gear levers, one normal sized and the other a small toggle item. These bifurcated levers controlled a five speed derailleur gear mechanism. The front chain wheel was different and resembled that of a racing cycle. This was probably fitted in order to accommodate a finer, more supple chain than would have been the case with the standard, sturmey archer, three speed model.
The other exotic machine was a so-called “chopper sprint gt” model with three speeds and a cut down seat which tapered off at the back. It had chequered graphics on the bottom frame tube.
I understand that this model may usually have cbeen fitted with a dropped variant of the high rise bars, but this particular example [which I think was metallic brown in colour] sported the normal handlebars.
All in all, a wonderful site devoted to this two wheeled ephemera.
I am a member of a tough biking gang. I understand that we are regarded by the general public as being a fierce group of men.
Three of our “clan” lost their respective driving licences after having committed various road traffic offences. This posed a serious problem. How could those members get around in a manner which is in keeping with the club’s rebellious, law breaking, image?
Our club steward had an absolutely top-hole idea. We would start a Raleigh Chopper chapter. We obtained three chopper bicycles for the members and they were restored and painted matt black. Dummy chome exhaust pies were then added.
The three chaps now ride to club meetings on these individualistic machines. Although the wearing of a helmet is of course not obligatory, these fellows maintain the club tradition of wearing the characteristic black helmet with horns, along with full leathers and boots.
So successful is this quest that the remainder of the club members are now seeking choppers. As well as keeping one fit, this absolutely first class effort must serve to combat global warming.
I do live in Germany as well and we used to ride Chopper. This had long seat so Mk 1 I think. Friend have old Raleigh Wisp motorcycle like RSW 16 and we put engine onto chopper. Motobecane make this engine and we tune it with big dellorto carburator and expansion box.
That chopper would travel at 70km per hour but not very safe. Et was a frightening thing to go.
When I was posted to Beijing in 1973 I found the Raleigh Chopper bestest way of visiting sick and dying Chinese – what fun I had with medical kit and stethescope slung over back – Beijing different now – the Chinese were full of bullocks back then.
I was an outpatient for many years in the 1970s and I took great pride in my shiny Raleigh Chopper. It had funny streamers coming out of the end of the handlebars.
I used to ride it in a three piece suit with plimsoles on the way to the office. At fifty two years of age, I cut quite a dashing figure, I can tell you! After the chopper I had a Raleigh Grifter. Although mechanically similar to the Chopper, its dynamic qualities were somewhat different. I did transfer the handlebar streamers and people did continue to stare and occasionally laugh at me.
After the Grifter came a Raleigh Bomber, which I like to consider as a precursor to the mountain bike craze. A wonderful piece of forward thinking from the boffins at Nottingham, I believe.
I use old chopper in dug out canoe. Shape of frame ideal because front small and back big. Paddles on big back wheel and pedal to make boat go. Very good engineeering.
Dug out used to take pack across far canal.
I have a number of choppers. There is quite a number in my garage. Some of them have the old gear knob but a number of them do not. I also have a number of parts from which I hope to build a further number of choppers. It is very interesting. I have a number of friends who share this interest and a number of them have a number of choppers between them. This has gone on for quite a number of years. I believe that Raleigh built a number of chopper models over a number of years from 1970 onwards. Most of them had a number of gears, perhaps as many as five.
We vigorously rode our choppers [painted pink with seats lined in fur] on a gay parade and we had heaps of fun. When we weren’t mincing about with all our chums we were riding our choppers. It was so much fun that we could have screamed! In fact we did!!
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