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When the children of the 1970s compiled their Christmas present lists, the Raleigh Chopper was invariably close to the top. Before the Chopper, the design of most bicycles dated back to the 1930s. The Chopper was Raleigh's attempt to introduce fun to the child's bike by developing a British version of the high-rise cycles which had become popular among Californian teenagers thanks to the film Easy Rider.
Working with Tom Karen of Ogle Design, Raleigh developed the Chopper prototype in 1968 with Easy Rider-style high-rise handlebars, stick shift gears and a high-backed patented cushioned seat. It sported a big wheel at the back and a smaller one at the front in a dragster style which suggested that all of the bike's power was channelled through the back wheel.
The Chopper was launched in the US, but sales were slow as Raleigh faced stiff competition from Schwinn and other North American manufacturers. Yet in Britain the Chopper was an instant hit, despite being nearly double the price - at £32.55 - of existing children's bicycles. By the time the Chopper was withdrawn from sale in 1983, Raleigh had sold over 1.5 million models.
