Raleigh Chopper
The children’s bicycle with a small front wheel, a large rear wheel, a backrest and a gear lever like a car’s.
Raleigh launched the Chopper in Britain in 1969–70, inspired by American bicycles and the film Easy Rider. The design has been credited both to Raleigh’s Alan Oakley and to the design consultancy Ogle Design.
The bicycle was heavy and not particularly good to ride, but it became one of the most wanted toys of the 1970s. It rescued Raleigh’s finances and is now a collector’s item.
Materials: Steel tube, chrome, padded seat
Manufacture: Made by Raleigh in Nottingham from 1969 to 1979.
The small front wheel and the larger rear wheel.
The long padded seat with a backrest.
The gear lever on the top tube, as in a car.