Vintage 1971 Raleigh Chopper banana bike

[njsteve]

I have a no-reserve auction on ebay for a 1971 Raleigh Chopper banana bike that I restored a few years ago. I bought it from the original owner here in New Jersey back in 2000. He received it as a birthday gift when he was 10 years old in 1971. I didnt have the heart to tell him that his parents gave him the girl's version of the bike and not the boy's version!

Extremely rare, white on white version. Three speed with all its original 1971 components intact - Sturmey Archer three speed hub, handle bars, rims, etc.

Over $400 spent on the rechroming costs alone. A bunch of NOS parts were used to bring it back to showroom condition. Absolutely correct restoration. Rides like new on NOS Raleigh redline tires

I need the room so I am letting this one go. Of course I am keeping MY original 1970 bike that I got when I was 8. And yes, that one is a boy's version.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=320231361872













Here is the bike prior to its restoration in 2000, still in its original white paint:




And here is me and my bike back in 1970, and how it looks today:

[wheelhop]

You shot yourself in the foot when you told us it was the girl's version!!!

[njsteve]

I'd rather be honest describing the bike. Don't want anyone getting "childhood trauma" issues on account of a transgendered bike sale.

It would be perfect for anyone who has a daughter and wants to share the fun of one of these bikes. When I first restored it, my daughter and I tried riding our bikes together. I had forgotten how unstable these crazy things were. Or I guess I was far more coordinated in my younger days. My daughter, of course had no problem riding the white bike.

The sad thing is that you never see the girl's version of the Chopper bikes at all because they were all taken apart years ago and used for parts to restore boy bikes. It's kind of like seeing a perfect, original, low-mileage, base model, RS Camaro: some see at as a perfect time machine and others just see it as a donor car for parts.

The girl bikes have their own collector status. After all why do you think the boys were riding these crazy banana bikes anyway? We were all trying to impress the chicks. I still have the scars to prove it! I never did successfully manage a wheelie on that bike.

[rubbinisracing]

Is that a Ford Country Squire in the background? Cool photo..looks like you came home from church and changed to ride your bike but neglected to change the socks and shoes. In your restoration I see you went with factory delivered and not day 2 as the abscence of the thumb operated noise maker.

[njsteve]

Yes, that is the obligatory Contry Squire in the garage. Every family was required to have one back then.

That handle bar mounted bell is actually on my son's bike at the moment.

As for my carefully coordinated bike riding outfit, that is what we wore back then. Green Hornet T-shirt and tan shorts. No white socks and sneakers, just scuffed up shoes for outdoor activities. Sneakers were only for gym class.

[Mr70]

The bike,the Station Wagon,the oil spots in the driveway & the Green Hornet Tee.
Those gym shoes were usually P.F. Flyers or RedBall Jets over here.
I want my 5spd. Black Chopper back now..
reference photo.

[njsteve]

My brother had a black 5-speed Chopper with the tall headrest sissy bar. The dummy sold it at a yard sale in the late 1970s for $45. It would be worth about $1200 now like this one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Early-Raleigh-Tall-F...1QQcmdZViewItem

[Mr70]

Hit your brother for me.

[njsteve]

Hey Mr. 70 there's a black one on ebay right now. Needs restoration but it's just like the one my bro gave away...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Raleigh-Chopper-Orig...1QQcmdZViewItem

[wheelhop]

Isn't it kind of hard to make a left turn with the kickstand down?