Raleigh Vektar

Now, I received an email from a friend yesterday that asked if I remembered a bike from the 80's that was white, and had a futuristic control panel in the middle, that had lights and noises etc.

I did indeed remember such a bike, and duly went about trying to find out what it was called by doing some R&D on the web.

It was then that I stumbled across This blog. It's by a girl who is keeping the 80's alive by riding around on a pimped out Raleigh Grifter. Cool.

Not only did her blog make me laugh, it also had a post about the bike in question! I had found the holy grail! I immiediatley knew that Hans post summed the bike up perfectly, and I would not be able to do it justice. So, with Hans kind permission, her post is copied below. Enjoy!

Originally posted on Cakey Voice, July 5th 2005.

"A Shadowy Flight into the dangerous world of a bike I do not own....."

"So, my front bike tyre has developed an unsightly, not to mention dangerous, hernia. The tyres on my bike are almost completely bald. They are, like, 25 years old or something. I had been holding out on buying new ones because I wanted some original Raleigh Grifter tyres, but it's looking like I'm gonna have to get myself some cheapo BMX tyres to tide me over. I have already compromised my bike's historical integrity by fitting it with new and inauthentic brake blocks. Don't tell anyone."

"Me and my bike have been together for a year. In that time we have had many adventures. There was that time it slipped out of gear and I smashed my kneecap into the handlebars and had to get off and sit down for a bit until I stopped feeling funny. Then there was that time we went on a LONG ride up some very steep hills and then just as we were getting ready to come back I got a puncture and we had to walk back down instead of gaily hurtling down at 40mph as was the original plan. Then last week, during a thunderstorm of biblical proportions, I misjudged a kerb and careered through the air, dashing myself on the wet gravelly pavement. Upon impact I expelled a surprising noise, like a kicked bagpipe. Yep, I love my bike.Yet despite this, once again my eye has been wandering. You might want to sit down or something, because LOOK AT THIS:"

"Woah. The Raleigh Vektar. The bike of choice for overprivileged 80's kids. The one in this picture sold on eBay recently for £36. £36!!!! I am in love with this bike. I MUST have one. You see, this Battlestar Galactica beauty not only LOOKS like a bike you might ride around on in space, it sports some futuristic Knight Rider technology in the form of THIS control panel: "

"According to the spiel on this eBay sale, the onboard computer features elapsed time, distance travelled, speed and maximum speed achieved. Optional add-ons include a Computer Module accessory pack (trip meter, speedo) Radio Accessory pack (3 preset AM stations) and - OH MY GOD - Sound Synthesiser with 8 built in digital sounds, paddle, shifter and speakers."

"And so my obsession begins. You see, in my mind, this bike can go up to 300mph. It is equipped with a bullet and flame resistant protective shell. It can drive itself, and has the ability to jam electronic signals. It has auto-pursuit & auto collision avoidance, radar, sonar and x-ray surveillance capabilities and is programmed never to take a human life.Dear God, if you can fix it for me to find one of these in a skip I promise to spend 4 hours a week on a crusade to champion the cause of the innocent, the helpless and the powerless, in a world of criminals who operate above the law. Mint condition please, and it has to have that synthesiser. "

Awesome. Brilliant. Thanks to Han for permission to copy your post onto Life in The 80s. That bike is so damn cool. Check her blog out. It’s unusual, and made me laugh out load!

Thanks to Andy also for reminding me about this Street Hawk like machine!