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Technical & Reference Section => Tech and Restoration => Topic started by: beard1973 on December 11, 2009, 11:17 AM
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...wait. :daumenhoch:
I cast my mind back to being a boy of 10... its 1983 and BMX is HUGE!! I am desperate for a BMX bike.. a Raleigh Burner.
Robert White has a Night Burner and Scott Gamble an Ultra, my best mate Craig Glew has a Super Tuff... My Mum and Dad stretch themselves and I get a Raleigh Extra Burner. :coolsmiley: that summer I could not have been happier.
I remember flicking through a Raleigh Brochure adoringly, admiring each and every model. I'll be honest, the only model that I probably never took alot of notice of, as I knew they were just a dream, was the Mk1 Pro Burner. I never saw one in the flesh BITD and it wasn't until I paid Julian Taff a visit 25 years later that I ever saw one for 'real'.
Its more than obvious why they are so highly sought after... they are rare, they were Raleigh's first attempt at a 'Pro' BMX and they are so distinctive with their 'R' Gusset.
When I started out on this 'Burner' journey 5 years ago I always told myself 'I gotta get one of those!'... they are the final piece in any Raleigh Burner collection. BUT they fetch such crazy prices and everytime one appears on eBay it either disappears or goes through the roof. Wrecked and rotten frames fetching £250+ :D :D
I did buy a broken Frame (with no forks) that needed serious repair to the gusset but I knew that the £££'s involved in getting it simply repaired and rechromed would make it an impossible project with my limited finances. So I let it go... :'( :'(
I have watched survivors in France appear and sell for £1k+ I had convinced myself that the possibility of finding one for a price that would not spark a divorce was nothing but a dream...
Like most of you guys I do my regular 'internet trawling'... eBay, FreeAds, Gumtree etc etc.. using those favourite keywords 'Raleigh' 'BMX' 'Old' etc etc... every now and then you stumble across something decent but 9 times outta 10 your either too late or the bidding is through the roof as one collector forces the other to pay over the odds for 25 year old kids bike.
Tuesday afternoon I am sat at work watching the clock waiting for 5pm.. I log onto eBay.com and throw in 'Raleigh BMX' which usually comes up with the odd Raleigh item in the US, maybe an overpriced battered rampar and some Raleigh USA BMX trading cards... but not today... their is an Oldschool Raleigh bmx frame chrome listed.
I open the link and my heart skips about 30 beats... I don't think I can breathe...
Its been listed for about 8 hours and it has NO BIDS!! and there is a BUY IT NOW price of $200 (£123.06 to be precise)!!
I cannot click the BIN button quick enough, in fact I am that excited I think I missed it three times before being prompted to confirm my purchase... :shocked: :shocked: :shocked:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250544463140&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT
I finally have a Mk1 Pro Burner Frame AND Forks... :coolsmiley:
She arrived this morning and the chrome is suprisingly good... there is the usually areas of surface rust but nothing that a decent polish won't sort.
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/ab65/burnerworld5/pics008.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/ab65/burnerworld5/pics006-1.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/ab65/burnerworld5/pics007-1.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/ab65/burnerworld5/pics005-1.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/ab65/burnerworld5/pics003-1.jpg)
I think the Serial No. suggests JULY 1982... so for 27+ years old she is in pretty good shape.
To say I am chuffed is an understatement, I've waited and waited and finally bagged one at a good price. I know £120 quid is not a small amount of money, but for something as desirable as this I am very pleased.
She is now gonna be put back in the box until the new year when she will get the bestest of treatment I can give.
I finally have a PRO BURNER. :coolsmiley: :coolsmiley:
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Nice one Dave!! :daumenhoch:
Are ya gonna race it at some time? ???
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Congrats mate - always nice when you grab something you've been hunting for a long time - especially at a good price :daumenhoch:
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Ha ha, nice one Dave, I can imagine the moment you saw it on ebay with the BIN. I bet you nearly p*issed ya pants :LolLolLolLol:
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Congratulations Dave! £120 sounds like a bargain to me.
It good to hear that if you're patient enough, that elusive frame/bike/car/record/book/tshirt does turn.
Bring it back to blighty! :Great_Britain:
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Great find. Great story too. Congratulations :daumenhoch:
Can't wait to see it next year restored to it's former glory.
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Ha ha, nice one Dave, I can imagine the moment you saw it on ebay with the BIN. I bet you nearly p*issed ya pants :LolLolLolLol:
I was shaking like a leaf... and I have felt sick until it actually arrived. :P :P :P :P
Cheers Guys... there is some good finds still to be had... :daumenhoch:
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Well done Dave, its a beauty :smitten: :daumenhoch:
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What a cool story - Glad you got your prize after the long wait......
Looks like that chrome won't need a lot of polishing, have fun
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Ha ha, nice one Dave, I can imagine the moment you saw it on ebay with the BIN. I bet you nearly p*issed ya pants :LolLolLolLol:
I was shaking like a leaf... and I have felt sick until it actually arrived. :P :P :P :P
Cheers Guys... there is some good finds still to be had... :daumenhoch:
Nice find, that. :daumenhoch: Are you going to build it to factory spec? Mucho $$$ methinks...
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Awesome mate :daumenhoch:
Nice find :coolsmiley:
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Thats really cool Dave, really happy for you. If anyone NEEDS one of those frames, its you :daumenhoch:
I did buy a broken Frame (with no forks) that needed serious repair to the gusset but I knew that the £££'s involved in getting it simply repaired and rechromed would make it an impossible project with my limited finances. So I let it go... :'( :'(
I was looking for about 2 years before your one came up. And from what I remember it went for more than your new one cost you, even tho it was cracked and didnt have forks. Its no problem, you got a great find. Hope your new one ends up looking as good as your old one does now!
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Nice one Dave :daumenhoch:
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nice one Dave, I'm quite suprised you didnt already have one of these
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I have 4 nos ones im my loft Dave, you should have said ???
:LolLolLolLol: nice one, be good to see this have the Beard treatment :daumenhoch: :daumenhoch:
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I could do 540 kickturns on mine as a kid :daumenhoch:
What's the TT Dave about 18"?
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I could do 540 kickturns on mine as a kid :daumenhoch:
What's the TT Dave about 18"?
18.5" (centre to centre).
nice one Dave, I'm quite suprised you didnt already have one of these
Been patient Del and its paid off mate... :daumenhoch:
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I could do 540 kickturns on mine as a kid :daumenhoch:
What's the TT Dave about 18"?
18.5" (centre to centre).
nice one Dave, I'm quite suprised you didnt already have one of these
Been patient Del and its paid off mate... :daumenhoch:
Cheers ;)
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Cool Dave :daumenhoch:
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Well pleased for yer Dave :daumenhoch:
Pro Burner was the first good BMX I saw in a shop window (and lusted after) but was a little too pricey so I ended up with an Ultra
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Wow what a great post .....bring back the 80s great music ..great people and great bikes....only if i could :daumenhoch:
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thats cool as fook Dave.........well happy for you :daumenhoch:
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i hate burners,all except the r gusset one,i do love them,always have since a kid down the road from me had one bitd.i still see him around town these days,always makes me think of the r gusset burner when i see him,thats what hes famous for in my head!!! :LolLolLolLol:
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Cheers Guys... there is some good finds still to be had... :daumenhoch:
There are...... i have one in the pipe line at the moment. It's a complete bike from 1980, still 100% original and is as rare as rockin horse cack. ( i think) :LolLolLolLol:
Dave, superb story mate with a brilliant ending. :4_17_5:
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Nice one! Its a great feeling when you finally get something you have wanted for ages, well done!
:daumenhoch:
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Cheers Guys... :daumenhoch:
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Wow, a Pro Burner :smitten: like Dave i've always wanted one of these but suffered the same problems. maybe one day... :smitten:
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top draw dave well chuffed for you ........ i would love to do a pro burner so so so 80,s bmx for me . i knew a lad that had one he hated me cause i used to chase him for a shot on it . ...... didn,t ya just hate posh kids when you were young :LolLolLolLol: :LolLolLolLol: :LolLolLolLol:
now hurry up i am dying to see it all built up :smitten:
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good news dave
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Hey Dave,
Congratulations dude!!
I am fairly new on the forum, always been into BMX`s like 25 years ago, and recently got back into the collecting kinda thing. Am currently starting on a nos Haro Master Freestyler which should be built during Christmas. However, I have in my garage an original Mk1 Pro Burner, totally original including the original dealer sticker. I new they were hard to come by but not as rare as you make out. It belongs to my brother who bought it new in 83-84, and it is mint, a total time warp, still has the original tyres and brake pads on from new!! Have tried to find out more info about them, but like I said am fairly new and not looked too much. I will try and post pics of it soon, and good luck with the resto dude!!1 :)
Paul B
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Thats great news Paul,
Get logged onto www.burnerworldforum.co.uk :daumenhoch:
Can't wait to see the Pro Burner your brother owns.... if he is looking to sell it, come talk to beard... 2 in a week would be nice.. :buck2: :buck2:
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Can't wait to see the Pro Burner your brother owns.... if he is looking to sell it, come talk to beard... 2 in a week would be nice.. :buck2: :buck2:
You've just told him how much they're really worth though :LolLolLolLol:
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Nice one, great story :)
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Really really chuffed for you Dave :daumenhoch:
Great score dude :4_17_5:
As Andy said I bet ya shit a brick
It's bad enough sniper bidding on something you need bad for a build ,,,
nevermind a frickin' Holy grail on Buyitnow :shocked:
Take you time and let's make this a minter like your others
oh and no "Gadget show" 180's on it either ??? :crazy2: ;)
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Is it a burner?
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Great find, I look forward to seeing this one get the beard treatment 8)