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Anyone have experience with Raleigh bikes?

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Anyone have experience with Raleigh bikes?
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flag lemonhead711
Posted: Jul 14, 2016 at 6:04 Quote
I am looking to buy a new bike I like the tokul 3 just not much info on them can anyone say if Raleigh is still a reputable company? How are there bikes I heard they merged with diamondback. Did that effect their quality? I might have this in the wrong thread but just want a few answers before I pull the trigger on a $1000 bike. Any advice is appreciated thanks.
flag RunsWithScissors
Posted: Jul 14, 2016 at 7:08 Quote
I worked for a couple of Raleigh dealers a couple years ago. Relative to the price it's not a bad brand. They don't tend to be cutting edge with technology, but the price points they're hitting don't allow for really high end parts much. These days $1000 is becoming entry level when it comes to "bike shop grade" bikes and there's a lot of competition between manufacturers in that price range, so the bikes are not very different as a result. They're using the same components, and the same frame manufacturers in Taiwan, so bikes in this price range are uniformly good, but a $1000 bike from Raleigh isn't going to be a lot different than a $1000 Fuji, or a $1000 Giant, etc. The real differences start happening at around the $3000 price point.
flag lemonhead711
Posted: Jul 15, 2016 at 7:20 Quote
Well my comparison is the diamondback sync'r ($1200)vs the Raleigh tokul 3 ($999.99) I want a bike with a tapered head tube, an air fork, through axels, preferably hydrollic breaks, 27.5 and I'm trying to keep this under $1000 usd that's why I'm leaning towards the Raleigh. I like the slacky geometry style of bikes for more aggressive riding. Any thoughts on a different bike or should I just stick with the Raleigh?
flag RunsWithScissors
Posted: Jul 15, 2016 at 8:47 Quote
lemonhead711 wrote:
Well my comparison is the diamondback sync'r ($1200)vs the Raleigh tokul 3 ($999.99) I want a bike with a tapered head tube, an air fork, through axels, preferably hydrollic breaks, 27.5 and I'm trying to keep this under $1000 usd that's why I'm leaning towards the Raleigh. I like the slacky geometry style of bikes for more aggressive riding. Any thoughts on a different bike or should I just stick with the Raleigh?

I'm not intimately familiar with the specs on those two models, but I WILL say this regarding hydraulic discs on entry level bikes: I wouldn't buy entry level hydraulic discs unless they're Shimano. There are several good manufacturers of hydraulic brakes out there, but Shimano is the only one in my opinion who offers good ENTRY LEVEL hydraulics. Cheaper, off-brand hydraulics can be a real pain to bleed or try to find pads and parts for. Among the cheaper hydraulic manufacturers that I've worked with/on the only one that seems any good to me is Tektro, and even then, I'd still prefer cheap Shimano.

If you can afford it, I'd go with the Raleigh, then put a really good set of brakes on it (assuming that it doesn't already have Shimano). FWIW, my personal "gold standard" for hydro brakes is Hope. Every Hope hydro brake I've ever seen was in perfect working order, had never needed a re-bleed, and the owner loved it. It's what made me choose their V-twin brake instead of an integrated shift/hydro group from SRAM or Shimano for my drop bar bike.

Going cheap on some things makes sense, but not with brakes. Even the most expensive brakes are cheaper than fixing broken bones and teeth...
flag simowill
O+ FL
Posted: Jul 16, 2016 at 9:08 Quote
I had a Rayleigh Grifter back in the day????????
flag fxrextreme
Posted: Jul 16, 2016 at 18:15 Quote
simowill wrote:
I had a Rayleigh Grifter back in the day????????

I bet you must have sore nads then Smile
flag TwoWheelMike
O+
Posted: Jul 16, 2016 at 20:38 Quote
I currently work for a Raleigh dealer and have a co-worker that has one and so far the Tokul has been great. He has the Tokul 2 but the Tokul 3 for 2016 isn't much different (as far as they way they're built) apart from the tapered head tube and thru axles front and rear. I can't seem to remember if that bike came with shimano or tektro brakes but they seemed to work well for what they are, and upgrading later on wouldn't be too hard or expensive. Also, Raleigh is Accell North America and they also have Diamondback, Redline, and they also had Lapierre temporarily.
flag lemonhead711
Posted: Jul 21, 2016 at 7:37 Quote
I ordered the tokul 3 as of yesterday now I wait to see it and ride it. I can't wait. Thanks for your guys input
flag RunsWithScissors
Posted: Jul 21, 2016 at 8:24 Quote
lemonhead711 wrote:
I ordered the tokul 3 as of yesterday now I wait to see it and ride it. I can't wait. Thanks for your guys input

Any time. Enjoy! Smile
flag TwoWheelMike
O+
Posted: Jul 21, 2016 at 9:39 Quote
Huh.. Too bad I didn't know you were around the area. I have a Tokul 3 in stock right now. Super fun bike. Enjoy!
flag lemonhead711
Posted: Jul 21, 2016 at 10:11 Quote
TwoWheelMike wrote:
Huh.. Too bad I didn't know you were around the area. I have a Tokul 3 in stock right now. Super fun bike. Enjoy!
But what's your price on it I got mine for $750+tax
flag TwoWheelMike
O+
Posted: Jul 21, 2016 at 19:53 Quote
I'm not sure what I would have been able to do. Raleigh has already started discounting 2016 model bikes and that's probably why you got that price. The one I have is a large that was purchased before Raleigh started discounting them so I don't know if the owner would've been happy with dropping the price that much. Since you have already special ordered one at this point, whatever my price would have been is irrelavant! Facepalm
Regardless the Tokul series is pretty cool. For anyone else (spoilers) the Tokul 3 and 4130 are going to be 650+ for 2017.
flag lemonhead711
Posted: Jul 22, 2016 at 5:47 Quote
TwoWheelMike wrote:
I'm not sure what I would have been able to do. Raleigh has already started discounting 2016 model bikes and that's probably why you got that price. The one I have is a large that was purchased before Raleigh started discounting them so I don't know if the owner would've been happy with dropping the price that much. Since you have already special ordered one at this point, whatever my price would have been is irrelavant! Facepalm
Regardless the Tokul series is pretty cool. For anyone else (spoilers) the Tokul 3 and 4130 are going to be 650+ for 2017.
damn spoiler ????
flag lemonhead711
Posted: Jul 29, 2016 at 6:08 Quote
Well the verdict is in I took my tokul out for its first spin. What a ride it corners like a cheeta and flys like a gazell. 100% hands down one of the best bikes I have ever rode. Very fun bike no complaints. Thanks for your guys feedback. Can't figure out how to post a pic of it but oh well you get the point it's a mtn bike...lol
flag RunsWithScissors
Posted: Jul 29, 2016 at 9:39 Quote
lemonhead711 wrote:
Well the verdict is in I took my tokul out for its first spin. What a ride it corners like a cheeta and flys like a gazell. 100% hands down one of the best bikes I have ever rode. Very fun bike no complaints. Thanks for your guys feedback. Can't figure out how to post a pic of it but oh well you get the point it's a mtn bike...lol


Yaaaay!!! Many happy miles, my friendSmile
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