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Raleigh mopeds—a spotter’s guide

by Andrew Pattle & Les Gobbett

Raleigh's first moped was introduced in 1958 with an engine designed by Vincento Piatti—the designer of Mini-Motor.  Raleigh became part of the Tube Investments group of companies in 1960; this brought the Raleigh, Norman, Phillips and Hercules brands of moped under the same ownership.  The obvious course of action was to rationalise these four ranges into one common series.  It was decided to license the Mobylette range of mopeds produced by Motobécane in France.  A ‘stop gap’ based on the Sachs-engined Nippy aready being produced by Norman was sold in Ireland until the Mobylette-based models were in production.  From then on, Raleigh, Phillips and Norman mopeds were effectively re-badged Mobylettes.  The main exception to this was the Wisp, which, although it used Mobylette running gear, had an in-house frame.  This frame was based on Raleigh's RSW16 bicycle and was an attempt to take advantage of the ‘small-wheel’ boom being enjoyed in the cycle industry as a result of the success of the Moulton bicycle.  Production of Raleigh mopeds ceased in 1971.

RM1 Moped

Photo of Raleigh RM1

Lady’s bicycle style frame, Sturmey–Archer engine, ‘fixed’ engine (no clutch), 6½ pint fuel tank, 26×2 wheels & tyres, colour: grey, drum brakes

RM1C Moped

As RM1 but with the addition of a manual clutch and coupled brakes.  Clutch kit also available to convert RM1 to RM1C.

RM2C Moped MkII

Photo of Raleigh RM2C

Similar to RM1C but with one gallon fuel tank and lower gear ratio, grey frame, maroon tank and engine covers.

RM3

Raleigh did not produce an RM3 but there are two contenders for the number:

Firstly, a development of the RM2 but with an automatic powder clutch; this was halted by the merger of Raleigh into Tube investments.  This might have been the RM3 but may not have progressed far enough to have been allocated the number.

Secondly, the agreement with Motobécane allowed Raleigh to fit Motobécane engines to the Norman Nippy Mk4 frame as a ‘stop gap’ until Raleigh could produce Mobylette pattern frames.  Presumably the scheme proved to be impractical.

RM4 Automatic

Following the merger of Raleigh and TI, it was decided to produce an entirely new range of mopeds rather than continue any of the existing ranges.

Drawing of Raleigh RM4

Same frame and engine as the Mobylette—built under licence from Motobécane in France.  Single-speed, automatic clutch, rigid frame, telescopic front forks, drum brakes.  Charcoal Grey & Pearl Grey.

RM5 Supermatic

Drawing of Raleigh RM5

Same frame and engine as the Mobylette—built under licence from Motobécane in France.  Variable-speed, automatic clutch, leading-link forks, swinging arm, drum brakes, dual seat.  Charcoal Grey & Pearl Grey

June 1965
Telescopic front forks fitted.  Fire Red & Pearl Grey.
September 1965
Legshields fitted as standard equipment
December 1965
Fire red & Pearl Grey or Neptune Blue & Pearl Grey

Super

Not really a Raleigh at all, the Super was a Norman Nippy with a Sachs engine made for Raleigh (Ireland) Ltd because Raleigh’s initial agreement with Motobécane did not allow the RM4 & RM5 to be exported to Ireland.  Sale of the RM4 & RM5 was permitted from November 1961 but the Super was sold until the end of 1962 to clear the stock of frames.

Photo of Raleigh Super

Sachs-engined moped based on the frame pressings used by the Norman Nippy.

RM6 Runabout

Drawing of Raleigh RM6 Photo of Raleigh RM6

Similar to RM4 but with cycle-type forks (unsprung) and calliper front brake.  Fuel tank mounted over rear wheel.  Raleigh Green & Pearl Grey

June 1965
Raleigh Green & Pearl Grey, or Neptune Blue (single colour).
November 1965
Specification changed to that of the Runabout de Luxe.
January 1965
Neptune Blue (single colour).
January 1967
Royal Blue (single colour).

RM6 Runabout de luxe

More powerful engine that the standard RM6.  Royal Carmine (single colour).

RM6 Runabout Super de luxe

Same as Runabout de Luxe but with legshields fitted as standard equipment.  Royal Carmine (single colour).

RM6 Runabout Pop

Cheaper version of Runabout—finished in black.

RM7 Wisp

Photo of Raleigh Wisp and RSW16

Small-wheel (2×12) ‘shopper bike’ style moped based on Raleigh RSW16 bicycle frame, single speed, Fiesta Blue or Spanish Gold

RM8 Automatic MkII

Drawing of Raleigh RM8

Similar to RM6 but with more powerful engine, telescopic front forks and drum brakes front and rear.  Charcoal Grey & Pearl Grey

June 1965
Charcoal Grey & Pearl Grey, or Royal Blue & Pearl Grey.
January 1966
Royal Blue & Pearl Grey.

RM9 Ultramatic

Drawing of Raleigh RM9

Similar to RM8 but with automatic variable speed transmission.  Fire Red & Pearl Grey.

November 1965
Golden Sand.
February 1968
Calypso Coffee & Pearl Grey (offered for a few months only), or Royal Carmine (single colour).

RM9+1 Ultramatic plus One

Same as the Ultramatic but with dual-seat, pillion foot rests and stronger rear wheel.  Golden Sand.

February 1968
Calypso Coffee & Pearl Grey (offered for a few months only), or Royal Carmine (single colour).

RM11 Super Tourist

Photo of Raleigh RM11

Touring moped—similar to Supermatic, rigid frame, telescopic forks, motor cycle style fuel tank.  Royal Carmine.

RM12 Super 50

Drawing of Raleigh RM12

Sports moped—similar to Supermatic, rigid frame, telescopic forks, motor cycle style fuel tank.  Black & Neptune Blue.

1966
Pearl Grey with Fire Red trim.

Time Line

    Date     RM1 RM1C RM2C RM4 RM5 Super RM6 RM7 RM8 RM9 RM11 RM12
Oct 1958 RM1



RM1



RM1
Nov 1958
Dec 1958
Jan 1959
Feb 1959
Mar 1959
Apr 1959
May 1959 RM1C



RM1C
Jun 1959
Jul 1959
Aug 1959
Sep 1959
Oct 1959
Nov 1959
Dec 1959
Jan 1960 RM2C



RM2C
Feb 1960
Mar 1960
Apr 1960
May 1960
Jun 1960
Jul 1960
Aug 1960
Sep 1960
Oct 1960
Nov 1960
Dec 1960
Jan 1961
Feb 1961 RM4



RM4



RM4



RM4



RM4



RM4



RM4



RM4



RM4



RM4
RM5



RM5



RM5



RM5



RM5



RM5



RM5



RM5



RM5



RM5



RM5



RM5



RM5



RM5



RM5



RM5



RM5



RM5



RM5



RM5



RM5



RM5



RM5



RM5



RM5



RM5



RM5



RM5



RM5



RM5
Super



Super



Super



Super



Super



Super
Mar 1961
Apr 1961
May 1961
Jun 1961
Jul 1961
Aug 1961
Sep 1961
Oct 1961
Nov 1961
Dec 1961
Jan 1962
Feb 1962
Mar 1962
Apr 1962
May 1962
Jun 1962
Jul 1962
Aug 1962
Sep 1962
Oct 1962
Nov 1962
Dec 1962
Jan 1963
Feb 1963
Mar 1963
Apr 1963
May 1963 RM6



RM6



RM6



RM6



RM6



RM6



RM6



RM6



RM6



RM6



RM6



RM6



RM6



RM6



RM6



RM6



RM6



RM6



RM6



RM6



RM6



RM6



RM6



RM6



RM6



RM6



RM6
Jun 1963
Jul 1963
Aug 1963
Sep 1963
Oct 1963
Nov 1963
Dec 1963 RM8



RM8



RM8



RM8



RM8



RM8



RM8



RM8



RM8



RM8



RM8



RM8



RM8



RM8



RM8



RM8



RM8



RM8



RM8



RM8
Jan 1964
Feb 1964
Mar 1964
Apr 1964 RM9



RM9



RM9



RM9



RM9



RM9



RM9



RM9



RM9



RM9



RM9



RM9



RM9



RM9



RM9



RM9



RM9



RM9



RM9
May 1964
Jun 1964
Jul 1964
Aug 1964
Sep 1964
Oct 1964
Nov 1964
Dec 1964
Jan 1965
Feb 1965
Mar 1965
Apr 1965
May 1965
Jun 1965 RM12



RM12



RM12



RM12



RM12



RM12
Jul 1965
Aug 1965
Sep 1965
Oct 1965
Nov 1965
Dec 1965
Jan 1966 RM11



RM11



RM11



RM11
Feb 1966
Mar 1966
Apr 1966
May 1966
Jun 1966
Jul 1966
Aug 1966
Sep 1966
Oct 1966
Nov 1966
Dec 1966
Jan 1967
Feb 1967
Mar 1967
Apr 1967 Wisp



Wisp



Wisp



Wisp



Wisp



Wisp



Wisp
May 1967
Jun 1967
Jul 1967
Aug 1967
Sep 1967
Oct 1967
Nov 1967
Dec 1967
Jan 1968
Feb 1968
Mar 1968
Apr 1968
May 1968
Jun 1968
Jul 1968
Aug 1968
Sep 1968
Oct 1968
Nov 1968
Dec 1968
Jan 1969
Feb 1969
Mar 1969
Apr 1969
May 1969
Jun 1969
Jul 1969
Aug 1969
Sep 1969
Oct 1969
Nov 1969
Dec 1969
Jan 1970
Feb 1970
Mar 1970
Apr 1970
May 1970
Jun 1970
Jul 1970
Aug 1970
Sep 1970
Oct 1970
Nov 1970
Dec 1970
Jan 1971
Feb 1971

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