I too bought a Raleigh for my first "good" bike. In my case, a 1974 International. $400 out the door. While I thought it was quite beautiful and well appointed, and at the time I was quite proud of it, after riding it across the US in 1976 ( with some heavy duty clinchers, not the original sewups) and having it shimmy most of that whole trip, I grew disenchated with it. Yes I know it was not designed as a touring bike, but it should have been able to handle the meager load I put on it. I had it shimmy a few times unloaded too. Also, later on the chrome flaked off the fork crown which then rusted, and when I contacted Raleigh on it, I got nowhere. So much for the lifetime warrantee. I did ride the thing 30,000 miles in the space of 6 years, as it was my main bike, and it did not fail on me, so I guess that was good. I have since seen and worked on many Internationals, and have deraked the forks on several, to try to cure the same shimmy. Too little trail, too steep of a head angle. Looks like a Schwinn Paramount but doesn't ride anything like it. Now I've got 4 Paramounts from '62-73 and like them a whole lot better.
Bob Freeman
Seattle