Is it a Mk1 Bomber?

[mikethebike]

Couldn't add to your existing thread for some unknown reason, so started another. Yes, yours is definately a Mk1. The round bar and reflector welded to the seatpost are a sure sign. A Hub date of 1980 makes it really early, if the hub is original to the bike. It might even be a pre pro model. I always thought full production for the Bomber started in '81.

You can check by matching the hub with the frame number - if they are original to each other then the date stamps will be close.

If you look at the post in the for sale section about Chrome mudguards that I put in last year Mushroom expains how to find the date on the frame. The bike can be dated like a Grifter, when you know what the numbers are.

There is a specific Bomber forum too. The lads on there are very helpful and always keen to welcome in new arrivals. Link is at the bottom of the home page on here I think. If not, type 'The Raleigh Bomber' into your search bar and google it - should come up with the link.

I have a MK2 which is currently being refurbed. I also have a Mk1 - September '81 which I paid £90 for last summer. Cosmeticaly it's in fair condition, although the original handlebar grips and bar ends are knackered (hard to find new ones), so if your is in good condition and the bike has decent original snakebelly tyres on (hens teeth to pick up now) an unmolested chain guard and ribbed original cable shrouds and you got it for £70 it was a snip. And if it turns out to be a really early pre pro you've got a great deal. Godd condition Mk2 Bombers have been going for£130 -£150 on Ebay lately, so well done you! ;D

[dellorto30mil]

Hi thanks for help, yes all cables are ribbed all look the same, chain guard is all a1 no chunks out, brake blocks still got raleigh on the top of them, original dealer sticker went on internet today to see if still in business but no joy, seat has no tears, two metal clips holding gear gable still there, bar red ends still in with original grips, plastic coating on brake levers still there no tears, all original tyres really good cond, its really good nick, its got plastic mudguards on it but took them off today, should it have any on from original also should it have reflectors in the wheels its got the reflectors in the pedals all intact thanks for any help, Paul.

[dellorto30mil]

Hi I have now looked at frame number and it starts with nl1 which I read as nottigham, august, 1981 please correct if i am wrong, how early is this bike does anyone know first month of manufacture thanks, Paul.

[mikethebike]

Yep. August '81. Doesn't explain why it's got an '80 hub date though - although it might have had a change of hub at some point in the past I guess, if there was a problem with the original.

Sounds like you've got a real bargain either way! Not sure the exact month they started manufacture of the Bomber, but Paul (who used to be heavily into Bombers and a real font of reliable knowledge) said in another post on here that September '81 would have been one of the earliest, when someone else asked before.

Bombers were originally sold without mudguards I think. You could retro fit them bitd, or ask for them to be fitted as an option for extra cash when you bought the bike. The originals would have been chrome and came in two different sizes - longer ones (like you often see on racers used for touring, but obvioulsy much wider due to tyre size) and slightly shorter ones - I always think the bike looks much more agressive without. If you saw my post in the welcome section on here you'll have seen that my Mk2 came with some ratty old aluminium ones and a truly horendous rack - these were both at the local tip within 48hrs Originals sometimes come up on Ebay or Gumtree - I guess it's just down to personal taste if you want to fit them really.

The wheel reflectors weren't standard on early bikes, another owner has probably fitted these, or they were fitted by the bike shop when it was bought. My Mk1 has round orange ones. Later (84-85) Mk2's came with a cat eye style half moon reflector on each wheel and a front reflector attached to the front brake bolt. Reflectors on the pedals are normal too, across all the bikes.

For some reason the site isn't allowing me to upload piccys as attachments - maybe because you haven't submitted enough posts yet and I'm replying to you - not sure? So, you can see shots of my Mk1 on the Bomber specific forum. Well, technically it mine as I bought it and am in the process of fettling it, but it's the bike the wife rides! There is also a Mk1 single speed on there that's owned by anothe forum member. I take it yours is a three speed as you mention the hub date.

[dellorto30mil]

Hi thanks for all your help, ive just spent time cleaning wheels the bike is a three speed, the rear hub has just got 80 stamped one side then nothing in the middle then right on the other side its got a 1 stamped in it do you think this explains 1981, thanks again for all your help truley thankfull its been a nice welcome to site, I look forward to seeing pictures of your bikes soon thanks again, Paul.

[mikethebike]

Hello again. Yes, the hubs are stamped with the year date on the left hand side and then the month on the right. Again, my Mk1 is shown on the other forum if you look under the thread entitled "and then there were two!" you will see a close up of my hub numbers.

So, sounds like your hub is definitely dated from Jan '80 - Jan being represented by the number 1. Are you sure the frame date is right though? If the paint is anything like it is on my bikes then it's really thick in that area and makes it quite easy to misread a letter - although I guess the difference between 0 and 1 is not so easy to get wrong

[dellorto30mil]

Hi only just been accepted on other site as a member, so had a look at your bombers they look awesome great bikes, just re-checked numbers hub reads 80 1 , frame reads first three numbers N L 1 , thanks again for help, Paul.