Highlights

Restored for over £16,000 in 2005/2006
Said to have the O’Donovan competition conversion
Buff logbook from 1946

The Appeal

The Raleigh name is not so much associated with motorcycles today, but it is very much associated with quality. It is, after all, one of the world’s longest-established makers of bicycles, but in its early days it made motorcycles, too, and very good ones they were. Its first run of motorcycle production was from 1899 to 1906, getting started long before the likes of Triumph, Norton and BSA, and then it had another go from 1919 to 1933.

The Model 26 SS represents one of its very best efforts, a single-port, overhead-valve 350 with links to the TT. Raleigh offered six different models in 1928, and of them all the £50 Model 26 SS was by far and away the most exciting. Throughout the 1920s, the firm had mainly concentrated on promoting itself through trials, but 1928 saw it commence a serious foray into road-racing. It developed a team of new ohv racers for that year’s Isle of Man TT and performed very respectably, finishing seventh in the Junior TT and eighth in the Senior. Moving forwards, a fast ohv sports model became a fixture in the Raleigh range until it stopped making motorcycles altogether.

That alone is enough to make Model 26 ownership a very appealing prospect, but this one is potentially something really special as it is believed to sport the O’Donovan competition kit, which ought to make it really fly. Restored to a high standard in 2005 and 2006, so far this bike has seen very little use but promises to a be a very rewarding bike, whether you intend to try historic racing or just enjoy relaxing runs to shows and rallies.

The History and Paperwork

Registered in Bedfordshire in February 1928
Owned in 1946 by Mr. Frederick John Morley of Carlton, Nottinghamshire
Sold in 1963 to Mr. Edward Booth, also of Carlton
Subsequently unheard of until it appeared for sale in 2003 and was bought by an enthusiast who restored it over 2005 and 2006
Purchased by the vendor in 2014 as one of the first bikes in what would grow to be a very large collection
Sold with the current V5, the buff logbook from 1946 and invoices totalling over £16,000 for the 2005 restoration

The Condition

Beautifully presented following 2005-2006 restoration
Racing-inspired appearance with roundels and Brooklands exhaust
Pillion seat added for touring with a passenger

There’s not too much to be said for this which isn’t apparent from the pictures. It is simply superb, restored to a very high-standard and then used only very sparingly since. The paint is in excellent condition and so is the delightful, period-correct nickel-plating. The restoration is just beginning to gain a bit of patina in places, but without looking extremely closely you’d never guess that the restoration is 17/18 years old.

The wheels and tyres look to be in good condition and the seat is also extremely good, having almost certainly been recovered. The pillion seat, we believe, is a new addition which the bike is unlikely to have sported in period, though it’s advantage today is obvious.

Unfortunately, we don’t know anything about this bike prior to 1946 so we have no idea what it was getting up to in the 1920s and ’30s, but it is feasible that it could have been racing at a clubman’s level. Either way, it now looks very convincingly like a racing bike with the roundels and Brooklands exhaust – it really has the TT look.

The Mechanics

Believed to have been fitted with the rare O’Donovan performance conversion
All mechanical systems overhauled during earlier restoration
Should be ready for the road after basic recommissioning

The 2005-2006 restoration was a comprehensive one, so all the mechanical systems were overhauled and we think it very likely that the engine would have been completely rebuilt. Once restored, it was maintained in good running order up to its sale in 2014, since when it has been used much more sparingly in the present owner’s collection, although it has been started and run occasionally.

As far as we can see, it’s an excellent bike in every respects and we have no concerns about the mechanical side at all. If it doesn’t immediately run well, it is likely to only be down to the bike having remained static for a while, and a straightforward service ought to be enough to get it running like a dream.

Perhaps the best thing is that this bike is believed to have the O’Donovan performance kit, which includes a high-compression piston, racing camshaft and cylinder head, TT carburettor and straight-through exhaust, so it should have the TT performance to match the looks.

The Summary

Raleighs are very rare today but they were well-made and dependable and the marque should always be considered by anyone seeking a bike from the pre-war period. The sporting Model 26 represents the best model for those who appreciate a dash of speed, and if this has the O’Donovan kit then they’ll have a bit more than just ‘a dash’ to enjoy. It really does look beautiful following its meticulous restoration, and if you’re looking for a speedy Vintage bike to use and enjoy, this must be the obvious choice.

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