 | Raleigh Chopper The Raleigh Chopper was launched in the USA in 1968 as a children's bicycle, but initially was not successful in that market. It went on sale in the UK in 1970 and sold well, and was a key factor in reviving the company's fortunes.
The Chopper featured a 3-speed Sturmey Archer gear hub, selected using a frame-mounted car-like gear lever - one of its "cool" features. Other differences were the unusual frame, long padded seat with backrest, sprung suspension at the back, high-rise handlebars, and differently sized front (16") and rear (20") wheels. Tyres were wider than usual for the time, with a chunky tread on the rear wheel, featuring red highlights on the sidewall. The price was from approximately £32 for a standard Chopper to £55 for the deluxe. Two smaller versions, the Chipper and Tomahawk, also sold well.
The Mk 2 Chopper was an improved version from 1972. It had the option of five-speed derailleur gears, but kept the gear lever. The Mk 2 also moved the rear wheel further back, to help prevent the bike tipping up. The Chopper remained in production until 1980, when the rising popularity of the BMX bicycle caused sales to drop off. However, the Chopper almost single-handedly rescued Raleigh, selling millions worldwide.
Here, Half Moon bay have created a range of giftware celebrating the British icon that is the Raleigh Chopper
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