This new 1980 SBDU Ilkeston frame takes my collection past 50, and heading fast towards 60 SBDU and Team frames. The collection is supplemented with a few Raleigh/Carlton Worksop frames, together with some Raleigh Special Products frames and even the recent Raleigh UK attempt. But it’s the SBDU frames that keep me collecting and pushing to find different examples.
SB4005 came all the way from Canada. I first had sight of this frame in September last year when the owner emailed me about his new purchase. A couple of months later, he emailed me again, but this time, he offered SB4005 to me – he needed to fund a new bike. I was happy to oblige.
I find it much easier to ship these non UK frames myself. All I ask the seller to do is box them up and give me the dimensions. The advantage is that it makes me the shipper and I can chase the couriers if there are any delays – and there was with this frame; US customs seemed to want to hold onto this one for some time before moving it on.
Details
SB4005 is from 1980 and is in original condition, I do like that gold finish and block RALEIGH lettering. There are several ‘ghost’ marks from some transfers that are now missing. This scheme was always a great alternative to the massively popular TI-Raleigh colours of the same period.
Frame Size
A mystery about this frame is the number ’83’ stamped on the RGF BB shell. This is just where you would expect the frame size (in this case, 56cm).
I can’t find any link to ’83’ on this frame. I can only assume that ’83’ is a mis-stamp. What you do see on the BB that is correct, is the SB number in it’s typical place on the drive side. As this is a normal road frame, the 2 slots for the gear cable routing are also present. This style was introduced part way through 1979, when routing changed from above to below the BB.
Frame Fittings
As much as I like the SBDU fast back seat stay design (introduced in the later part of 1982), you can’t beat the large over size seat stay caps that sat upon the single taper seat stays.
The single taper cap is 16mm wide, opposed to the 12mm cap on the smaller double taper seat stays. For more information about the SBDU seat stay designs, have a read here.
Everything else is as you would expect on a 1980 SBDU Reynolds 753 frame. It has Prugnat 62D lugs and an RGF BB shell. The frame is built for nutted brakes (the SBDU were transitioning to recessed brakes as standard). It also has the initial low gear lever boss position, 2 x brake cable stops positioned on the lower LH side of the top tube and drilled Campagnolo 1010/B Portacatena frame ends.
Fork
SB4005 came with it’s matching fork. This period fork has drilled ends to match the rear, a semi sloping external fork crown and stiffeners on the inside the the blade/crown. ‘4005’ is stamped on the fork column.
Frame Weight
SB4005 weighs in at a typical 1641 grams (56cm Metric tube Reynolds 753 frame).
1980 SBDU Ilkeston SB4005
I’m never in any doubt about adding original SBDU frames to my collection, and SB4005 is an excellent new original addition.
