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Raleigh Launch the
New Chopper
Further
Official Announcements From Raleigh
UK
Brought
to you by
www.RCOC.co.uk
and www.raleigh-chopper.org.uk
A
British legend takes another ride around the block
*
* * THE CLASSIC CHOPPER MAKES A COMEBACK * * *
Every
generation has its symbolic products and the Chopper was the
essential bike of the 70s. When those red lined tyres rolled
onto our streets, cycling was never going to be the same again.
And for a long time there has been a void in the style bike
market... until now that is. Because for a limited time only,
the Chopper
is back.
A
milestone in influence and design, the iconic Raleigh Chopper
re-launches in April 2004 and retails at £199.99.
The bike’s original design by Alan Oakley, the then Chief
Designer at
Raleigh
, remains largely unchanged on the
new version. Available only in the original Infra Red, the
materials in the bike’s production are taken from the original
Chopper concept, even using the original tyre mould from the
70s.
Chopper junkies will instantly recognise the legendary
‘ape-hanger’ handlebars, elongated seat, back rest, chrome
seat hoop and mud guards that were instrumental to the bikes
radical design. Previously positioned on the cross bar of the
bike, the gearshift has been moved to the handlebars to comply
with modern safety standards.
Loz Cox, Chopper Product Manager at
Raleigh
says: "Change in the bike
market and demand for retro products like the VW Beetle and Mini
Cooper sparked the idea for the introduction of the new
Chopper."
"The new Chopper has been restyled for the new century and
a new generation of kids. We have taken advantage of new
materials, safety feature and production methods whilst
retaining all the flair of the original look including chrome
sissy bar and springs, arrow wedge frame and easy rider style
handlebars. The biggest changes are the move to the lightweight
alloy frame (the original was steel) and the position of the
gear lever. The gears are still the Sturmey Archer 3 speed but
now the shifter is on the handlebar and not on the top
tube."
"It’s taken us nine months to redesign the new Chopper
and we know its going to prove as popular today as it did back
in the 70s."
A range of clothing for men and women has been designed and
manufactured by *Revo to coincide with the launch of the
Chopper. Items in the range include T-shirts (from £17.50),
hoodies (from £45) and accessories including trucker caps,
wallets, sweatbands, socks and sweatbands.
Created by
Raleigh
, the original Chopper (or The Hot
One as it is affectionately known) was launched in
America
in September 1968. The film ‘Easy
Rider’ was released here in 1969;
Raleigh
saw the opportunity and released the
Chopper to the discerning
UK
audience. The Chopper frenzy
exploded taking the Hot One to cult status.
As important to cycling as George Best to football, no other
bike has ever provoked so many memories, or had such a great
influence over one generation as the Chopper, so if you didn’t
get to experience it the first time round, now’s your chance.
From
the 1st March 2004
Chopper (priced at £199.99) is
available for pre-booking at Halfords stores and Independent
Bike Retailers nationwide. For further information and a full
list of stockists, visit the Dealer
Locator page.
For further press information contact Terry or Keren at Image
Wizard PR
Tel: 01732 455500
* Revo can be contacted on 01872 552 52
All The information will Be here first once the Raleigh
legal department
forward the information to the club, please check back
soon :)
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©
Copyright 2002-2003-2004
|
Raleigh Chopper Owners Club ( www.rcoc.co.uk
)
IT'S OFFICIAL