A vintage teal bicycle with a black seat parked on a street with brick and white houses in the background.
Old rusty bicycle leaning against a weathered concrete wall.
Close-up of a teal Raleigh vintage-style bicycle's rear wheel and chain guard on a paved surface with a fenced outdoor setting in the background.
Close-up of a green vintage bicycle with white handles and a black seat, parked on a narrow street in front of buildings with large windows.
Close-up of a vintage green bicycle front wheel with fender and brake system, parked outdoors.
Close-up of a green Raleigh all-steel bicycle frame with yellow detailing and spokes.
Close-up of a vintage bicycle's front part, showing a black leather saddle, green frame with yellow pinstripes, and part of the front wheel on a city street with blurred background.
A teal vintage bicycle parked on a street with historic-style buildings in the background.
A teal-colored vintage bicycle parked on a paved pathway with buildings on the sides, featuring a rear fender with a red reflector and a small decorative sticker.
Close-up of a green bicycle with a black vintage-style saddle on a narrow city street with blurred buildings in the background.
Close-up of the rear wheel and frame of a vintage green bicycle with a red reflector, parked on a city street.
Close-up of a bicycle wheel and hub motor on a green bicycle.
Close-up of a vintage bicycle handlebar and brake lever with a lock attached, blurred street background.
Close-up of a bicycle's front light mounted on the handlebars, with some buildings and a street in the blurred background.
A teal bicycle parked on a narrow cobblestone street with historic buildings and a stone tower in the background.
Close-up of a teal bicycle with a green bell and chrome handlebars on a blurred outdoor background.
An old rusty bicycle with a black leather seat and old paint, leaning against a weathered concrete wall.
Close-up of an old, rusty bicycle with a white handlebar and a black frame, leaning against a gray concrete wall.
Close-up of an old, rusty bicycle front wheel and fork against a worn concrete wall.
Close-up of an old, rusty bicycle chain cover, pedal, and part of the rear wheel, set against a stone wall.
Close-up of an old, rusty bicycle wheel and frame against a weathered concrete wall, with a pedal and a red rear light attached.
Old rusty bicycle with a worn leather seat and a front light, against a concrete wall.
An old rusty bicycle with a headlight leaning against a concrete wall.
An old, rusty bicycle with a worn black leather seat and a rusted frame, leaning against a concrete wall.

1957 Raleigh Sports Tourist Superbe

Raleigh's Flagship Roadster

By the 1950s, Raleigh had refined the British roadster into one of the most practical and dependable bicycles available anywhere in the world. Sitting at the very top of the range was the Sports Tourist Superbe, a model distinguished by its premium specification, elegant detailing and advanced Sturmey-Archer equipment.

The late-1950s Superbes were particularly desirable, featuring attractively cut lugwork, stainless steel wheel components and the sophisticated Sturmey-Archer four-speed generator hub. Combining touring capability with innovative engineering, they represented the very best of British utility bicycle design.

Get in touch! 020 3355 0108

The Restoration

This example arrived in remarkably original condition, allowing the restoration to focus on preservation and careful reinstatement. Existing components were restored and refinished wherever possible, while the few missing items were replaced with correct period examples, including the original Sturmey-Archer lighting system and Raleigh prop stand.

The frame was refinished using traditional techniques, complete with hand-applied gold box lining and custom-produced decals based on original references. As with every mechanical component, the four-speed Sturmey-Archer hub and controls were fully dismantled, serviced and rebuilt.

The Result

The finished Superbe closely reflects the specification and appearance of a bicycle leaving Raleigh's Nottingham factory in 1957. Its combination of thoughtful engineering, high-quality materials and restrained styling demonstrates why the model occupied the pinnacle of Raleigh's range.

Today it stands as an excellent example of British roadster design at its most refined and a reminder that utility bicycles could be every bit as sophisticated as their sporting counterparts.

Start your restoration

hello@bellsbicycles.co.uk
0203 355 0108