1966 Raleigh Runabout

1966 and England had won the World Cup against Germany and the last UK concert by the Beatles took place. It was also the year that Bicycle maker Raleigh launched a new moped made under licence and based on a French design, “The Runabout” and distributed it through their network of cycle dealers. This 50cc moped used a Motobecane engine and cost new under £100. With a centrifugal clutch, this was really a twist and go moped and very easy to ride and fully supported by the Raleigh bike shops. Marketed in a range of basic colours but commonly in blue, these became very popular soon becoming a leading brand. My Father bought one at the time for the £96 with a year’s free road tax. Using less than a gallon of 2 star fuel a week, it proved economical and reliable.

The bike was easily serviceable and there were no shortage of spares or dealers to do repairs. My father had his moped for about 10 years before Raleigh pulled out of the moped market and spares became order only from France via Mobylette. My Mother decided the bike had had its day and it was replaced my a new Puch Maxi. By that time the piston was worn and needed replacing and the carb worn, but worse of all was the drum brake which always caused problems during the M.O.T. often ripping off the linings or being below the test requirement. I remember once my Father putting pumice powder in the drum to get enough grip to pass. Many “Runabouts” found there way to the scrap yard or became donor bikes cannibalised to keep others going, or stripped and sold for parts. On my 16th birthday it was given to me and ours was saved from the scrapyard by some spares from a scrap bike. I rode the bike until 1985 when I change to a trial bike and it was part exchanged. By that time the carb main jet was stripped and glued in.

With the Velosolex nearing completion we started to look for a new preservation project to join the Velosolex. In November2018 we spotted an iconic blue “Runabout” or sale on Ebay. It was based I Cambridge and had been in a barn for some time suffering from weathering. With little interest being shown we bought the bike for £50 with little illusion this was going to be a project based on finding spares and repairing worn parts. Secretly I wanted to ride by first bike or one like it again. Today there are still many spares in France for Mobylette’s that are compatible and a quite a few companies are re-making spares. I have no doubt that ours will live again. If only I can remember how!