Raleigh 4000X BMX Cruiser

[sdframe]

I saw this on Craigslist listed for $75. I thought I only wanted the fork, so I offered $50 sight unseen. He accepted and I went over promptly. I believe it's way more than I bargained for: A Raleigh cruiser with a metal riveted head badge, 5- spd, cool bars w. cross brace, and really nice original paint. I assume it's a Raleigh 4000X from the '80s, but cannot find any info about it. It's so complete, I think I might just restore it. I love it.

 

[Oak Tree]

Yea man. Clean that baby up and cruise. Good buy

 

[GTHOtrod]

That thing is cool as

 

[RustyGold]

I'd guess it's ~'82...Rambler MX was usually the name on the Raleigh Strandies, I haven't heard of a 4000X before.

It's very cool !

 

[MattiThundrrr]

Very cool bike. The bars are really cool, and the fork is killer! @ingola you see that Raleigh?

 

[MattiThundrrr]

https://www.boisebicycleproject.org...bicycle-16-1981-raleigh-rambler-mx?format=amp
Little bit of information there, the catalog link is a fail.

 

[RustyGold]

'81s came in black and red only...that's why I think it is an '82+.

Post the serial @sdframe , it's probably not in Raleigh format as it is likely a Taiwan sourced bike (or maybe Japan or china)...but, I've had some luck tracking down old Asian serial numbers in the past .

 

[ingola]

Very cool bike. The bars are really cool, and the fork is killer! @ingola you see that Raleigh?

Sure did very similar to my transit except for the forks and handlebars same frame and it originally had a gear set like that

 

[ingola]

This is a little newer 87 I changed the handlebar stem and the bike may have been made in Canada

 

[ingola]

View attachment 190290
This is a little newer 87 I changed the handlebar stem and the bike may have been made in Canada

It use to be a five speed I've been using it as a winter bike

 

[ingola]

Here is a good link handlebars are not original
https://www.jaysmarine.com/TH_raleigh_catdata.html also the best sight for Raleigh dating and info

 

[Wildcat]

Here's the 81 MX, the bike Matti posted up. I think you have a complete bike except for the chain.

 

[ingola]

Your is complete. Raleigh was going through tough times in the 80s. There BMX brand flopped badly. I think the reason the mx4000 is not easily found is it's a raliegh franken bike. They used the leftover parts (the handlebars and chrome fork) to make bikes. A trick they started in the 50s when they bought up all the other brands in england. You'll find BSA with a raliegh fender and forks. Just odd matches.

 

[ingola]

If your lucky it was made late enough that Raleigh threading isn't an issue.

 

[RustyGold]

@ingola Your bike is definitely a different breed than the Ramblers. Big difference being yours has toothpaste welds and the Ramblers are lugged.

 

[ingola]

@ingola Your bike is definitely a different breed than the Ramblers. Big difference being yours has toothpaste welds and the Ramblers are lugged.

Mines newer cost cutting. I wouldn't be surprised if the Rambler was made in Canada. Not far from where I live actually. he has a really cool Raleigh I've never seen before and I have many old Raleighs.

 

[RustyGold]

'79 catalog, no Strandies/BMX Cruiser in the catalog.

'80 catalog...

'81 catalog...

'82 & '84 catalogs... can't find any
'83 & '85 catalogs ('full line')...no Strandies/BMX Cruiser
'86 catalog...now called a Newport...

...which looks like it could be like @ingola 's frame, but is too blurry to be certain.

Here is another I ran across...the file is called Fuji Raleigh...which may indicate that the pic owner narrowed it down to Fuji made, or not.

...worth noting...the 4000X sticker on the forks.

 

[RustyGold]

Also note... @sdframe 's, @ingola 's...and the Boise '81 that most likely isn't an '81…all have the ubiquitous chainring that was used on Earth Cruisers, LW Cruisers, TBS, Hanter and many more...the catalog pics in '80/'81 both show the Raleigh 'snowflake' chainring.

 

[ingola]

'79 catalog, no Strandies/BMX Cruiser in the catalog.

'80 catalog...
View attachment 190327
'81 catalog...
View attachment 190328
'82 & '84 catalogs... can't find any
'83 & '85 catalogs ('full line')...no Strandies/BMX Cruiser
'86 catalog...now called a Newport...
View attachment 190329
...which looks like it could be like @ingola 's frame, but is too blurry to be certain.

Here is another I ran across...the file is called Fuji Raleigh...which may indicate that the pic owner narrowed it down to Fuji made, or not.
View attachment 190330
...worth noting...the 4000X sticker on the forks.

Mines called a transit no sticker on the front fork. The Rambler is a definitely a better built bike. Its a shame Raleigh went on to be what it became. I have a frames from the 40s all the way through to the 90s and you see the quality go down

 

[RustyGold]

Same story for the majority of bike brands... entropy rules in the bike biz.