Launched in 1976, the Raleigh Grifter became the ultimate 1980s bike – chunky and funky with throttle-style hand-twist gears. This was BMX before BMX. You even got blisters on the insides of your hands (from doing wheelies you understand).
And with a deft fold of the mud flap you had a realistic moto-cross noise – even if it did leave a U shaped melted hole on your flap (oo-er missus).
The Grifter was a motorbike minus a motor. Unfortunately, it had a very solidly built frame. It was damn heavy. Much heavier than most nine-year-old herberts . . .
Production ceased in 1983 as Raleigh focussed their attention on the Burner, which debuted in 1982 and remains perhaps the most iconic BMX bike not featured in a Holywood movie.
