Costs
Every bicycle is different. Condition, originality, paint, chrome, parts availability and the level of finish all affect the final cost.
We don’t push every bike towards a full restoration. Some need careful preservation; others need to be rebuilt from the frame up. Our role is to recommend the right approach for the bicycle, the rider and the budget.
The ranges below are a guide. A final estimate can only be confirmed once we have inspected the bike properly.
Choosing the Right Approach
Preservation Restoration
£1000 - £1500
For bicycles where the original finish, patina or history should be retained.
A sympathetic restoration is not about making the bicycle look new. It is about understanding what should be preserved, then carefully stabilising, improving and rebuilding around it.
We clean and revive the frame, protect original paint and decals where possible, remove surface corrosion, polish metalwork, and carry out a full mechanical service. Worn, unsafe or incorrect parts are replaced only where needed, using period-appropriate components wherever possible.
This approach is often the right choice for bicycles with strong original character, family history, attractive ageing or finishes that would be diminished by a full repaint. The result is a bicycle that retains its identity, but rides properly, safely and reliably again.
Full Restoration - Minimal Chrome
£1500 - £2000
A full restoration where the frame and components are returned to original factory specification, but with minimal chrome work.
It is most commonly suited to classic road and racing bicycles, where many components are aluminium rather than chrome plated.
Typical work may include:
frame stripping and repainting
decal recreation
full component overhaul
wheel rebuilding
replacement cables, tyres and worn parts
The result is a fully restored bicycle that closely reflects the original factory appearance and performance.
Full Restoration - Heavy Chrome
£2500 - £3000
A complete restoration returning the bicycle restored as closely as possible to its original factory appearance. This level of work typically involves extensive chrome replating alongside frame refinishing and component restoration.
It is most commonly required for traditional roadsters from the 1930s onwards, where many parts — such as handlebars, chainsets, hubs and seat pillars — were originally chrome plated.
Typical work may include:
frame stripping and repainting
extensive chrome replating of original components
decal recreation and lining where required
wheel rebuilding and hub overhaul
full mechanical restoration and replacement of worn parts
The result is a bicycle restored to the appearance and performance it would have had when new.
Raleigh Chopper Restoration
£2500 - £3500
A full restoration tailored specifically to the Raleigh Chopper. These projects typically sit at the upper end of the budget due to the extensive chrome replating required, the cost of sourcing correct replacement parts, and the refurbishment or re-upholstery of the distinctive saddle.
Typical work may include:
frame and fork refinishing
extensive chrome replating of original components
sourcing and fitting correct period parts
saddle refurbishment or upholstery
wheel rebuilding and full mechanical overhaul
The result is a Chopper restored as closely as possible to its original factory appearance and ride.
Let’s start your restoration
If you're unsure which level is right for your bicycle, we’ll recommend the most appropriate restoration approach.
0203 355 0108