PRESERVATION BICYCLE # 16: 1981 Raleigh Rambler MX
This is a 1981 Raleigh Rambler MX. It’s in rough shape, but it has limitless potential. Their 1981 Catalog describes it as a motocross-styled cruiser, but I would describes it as BMX bike for big kids or an adult bike that will make you feel like a kid again. I’d also use the phrases “badass!” and a true “klunker!” Mountain bikes were just barely emerging onto the bike scene in 1981, and klunkers like these really opened the door to the downhill machines we’re riding today. While this rusty bucket could likely hold a space in a mountain bike museum, we hope you honor the intention of this “little bit of everything” bike and transform it into something strictly designed for fun.
PRESERVATION BICYCLE NUMBER #15
MAKE: Raleigh
MODEL: Rambler MX
YEAR/AGE: 1981
SIZE: 18’’ but it’s really one size fits all like most cruisers of it’s time.
ADOPTION FEE: $80. AND WE’LL THROW IN A $40 GIFT CERTIFICATE FOR USED PARTS
RECOMMENDED REPAIRS:
BASIC: Steel wool , steel wool, and steel wool. It’s going to take some time to clean this one up, but hang in there and you’ll have a thing of beauty. Everything will need to be regreased. If you keep the gears and brakes on, you’ll need new cables and housing. You’ll definitely need different tire and tubes (used are fine). With all used parts, this will probably add up to $40 and take about 6-8 hours of total shop time. This will be a labor of love that is guaranteed to pay off.
BETTER: Same as above this time. No difference between basic and best
BEST (because why not): Ok, ditch the steel wheels, the gears, and the rear brake and convert this two a three speed internal hub coaster brake (the kind you pedal backwards to stop) or a two-speed kick-back. You may have to build these wheels from scratch, so find some wide heavy duty aluminum rims (like Sun Rhino Lites). Now stick on the biggest balloon tires you can find. Or big knobby tires if you’re going for a thrasher look.
Get some BMX pedals, grips, and cable housing for the front brake that match. Finish it off with tire valve caps with skulls or dice on them.
Now you’re probably looking at $40 in used parts, $300-400 in new parts, and the $80 adoption fee. Subtract the $40 gift cert and you’ve got the coolest cruiser bike, big kid BMX, klunker commuter in the North West for under $500
BICYCLE HISTORY:
Sold at Cycle Works, apparently a bike shop that was on Orchard St in the early 80s. And ridden hard for 38 years. My guess is that in 1982 a 19 year old with a bad mustache and mullet bombed down the dirt road part of 8th street on it about 500 times.