Raleigh bring back the chopper amid decades of demand for classic bike

When it comes to Raleigh, there is one bike above all others that fans remember - the Chopper. The bike became THE bike of the 1970s topping Christmas lists the world over becoming one of the most covetable bikes on the market. They sold in their millions globally but, were made locally here in Nottingham.

Fans, enthusiasts, collectors and Nottingham World visited the Raleigh experience on Maid Marian Way teased with the promise of something new and exciting. We were not disappointed as Raleigh will be releasing a limited edition run of the Chopper in two colours - infra red and ultra violet. Two of the most sought-after colours.

The bikes will retain many of the original features such as the one-piece saddle, mid-frame gear shifter and a slightly lowered sissy bar. These features, and close attention to detail, mean that the bikes are as close to the original as they could get. The company has, in recent years, fully embraced the e-bike movement, but the release of the old-school Choppers will no doubt thrill fans who remember the original and those who love nostalgic 1970s (and 1980s) retro items.

Lee Kidger, Managing Director at Raleigh said ‘’’The Raleigh Chopper is the most iconic bike Raleigh has ever made, arguably the most iconic bike in British history. Selling millions of units worldwide during the 70’s; the Chopper cemented its place in British culture and to this day evokes a feeling of nostalgia for the era.

“This new model is as close as we could get to the original Mk2 released in 1972, while still meeting today’s required standards. The Chopper is still seen by the Raleigh team as the jewel in the brand’s crown. A legacy to be admired, protected, and never forgotten”.

John Carter from Birmingham has been restoring and collecting Raleigh bikes for 18 years. He was at the launch with a stunning bright yellow original Chopper and told Nottingham World that he :

"If you had a bike, you had freedom and could go anywhere and that is the appeal. As you get older, you just want to reminisce about the years gone by so the first thing I needed was one of these," he said gesturing to the bike.

"I've had this particular bike about three years now and everything on it is original. There are no reproduction parts on it. This is one of the best in the country I believe. It's from 1975, so it's getting on for 50 years now."

The bikes will go on general sale from June 20