Clyde,
in 1973 - the year before the MK2 was introduced, Grand Prix went to QR hubs front-and-rear and so i imagine that there wasn't much advantage to a SuperCourse MK2 - just alloy rims and chainrings. What's more the SuperCourse MK2 lacked _extension levers_. The 531 plain gauge main-tubes frame of the MK2 would be hardly lighter than that of a Grand Prix.
as a kid who lurked in bikeshops in this period, the price jump between grand prix and supercourse mk2 appeared quite substantial ($140 -> $170 ?? if i remember). I wonder if the ride was any different at all.
Do you think Carlton was trying too hard to make a pretty bike? My Super Course MK2 is pretty sloppy up-close, worse than most Gazelle-of-Holland Grand Prix's including my original 1972 Grand Prix. Did low-end buyers even notice such things?
According to this bikeboom article, about 45 million bikes were sold from 1970-73 (most super course mk1's are from this period), and 30 million bikes were sold from 74-76 (super course mk2's lifespan) :
http://www.truewheelers.org/
- Don Gillies
San Diego, CA, USA
> I sold Raleigh during that time. I remember those Super Course MK II not
\r?\n> selling terribly well, but frankly can't recall why. Perhaps folk who
\r?\n> wanted better than Grand prix were willing to spring for 531 DB?
\r?\n>
\r?\n> We had a matched pair of the green / white that sat around for ages,
\r?\n> then sold to a husband and wife who just loved them and put tons of
\r?\n> miles on them.
\r?\n>
\r?\n> If you get private replies I would love to see them too.
\r?\n>
\r?\n> Cheers!
\r?\n> Clyde
\r?\n> Dallas
\r?\n> Texas
\r?\n> USA
\r?\n> Earth