Just ran across this on eBay:
A Japanese-built Raleigh Competition GS. I never knew any such thing existed. I knew there were high end Japanese Raleighs, but I thought these were distinct models like the Raleigh Superbe. Never knew Raleigh ever had a high end model built in Japan to much the same specs earlier built in England, including 531 tubing, Brooks saddle and European gruppo, in this case campy GS. The only Japanese bits on this bike seem to be the Suntour dropouts, Diacompe G brakes, Araya rims, and perhaps the bars and stem, which are marked Raleigh, but might be SR or Nitto.
What other high end 531 tubed European equiped models did Raleigh have built in Japan if any? Might there even have been Japanese-made Raleigh Professionals? That would not doubt horrify English trdaitionalists.
BTW, at the starting bid of $25, this one would be a heck of a deal, but the reserve has not been met. Too big for me.
Regards,
Jerry Moos
Big Spring, TX