Raleigh used the Superbe name over a long period. The Online Bicycle Museum lists surviving X-frame Superbes dated 1907 and 1934, and the 26in Superbe, billed as 'Big Daddy', is in Raleigh's 1962 US catalogue line-up. Retro Raleighs describes the Superbe, models DL24 and DL24L, as a deluxe version of the Sports that usually came with a Dynohub, a key locking fork, a luggage carrier and a Brooks B66 saddle; it is still listed in the 1976 US catalogue. In the early 1980s the name was reused in the US for a Japanese-built road bike.
Known components
Listed exactly as our confirmed sources give them, with the year and source for each. A part listed for one year or version may not apply to every bike, so check against yours.
Saddle, bars and stem
- Brooks B66 saddle instead of the Sports' B721967 · DL24 / DL24L — Retro Raleighs (sheldonbrown.com)
Lighting and fittings
- Dynohub lighting system1967 · DL24 / DL24L — Retro Raleighs (sheldonbrown.com)
- key locking fork1967 · DL24 / DL24L — Retro Raleighs (sheldonbrown.com)
- luggage carrier1967 · DL24 / DL24L — Retro Raleighs (sheldonbrown.com)
Catalogue appearances
| Year | Name as printed · model no. | Details | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 26" SUPERBE — "Big Daddy" | Ebykr catalogue archive, Cover | |
| 1968 | Model DL-24 / DL-24L · DL-24 / DL-24L | Model name lost in the OCR text; Retro Raleighs identifies DL24/DL24L as the Superbe. | Retro Raleighs (sheldonbrown.com) |
| 1976 | Superbe and Tourist | Page caption. | Retro Raleighs (sheldonbrown.com), p.13 |
Specs are as printed in the catalogue. Years are when the model appears in a source, not exact production dates.
Other sources
| Year | Name · variant | Details | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Superbe DL24, DL24L · DL24 / DL24L | Retro Raleighs shows 1962 and 1967 catalogue entries (its 1976 images are captioned Tourist); says the Superbe usually came with a Dynohub lighting system, key locking fork, luggage carrier and a Brooks B66 saddle instead of the Sports' B72. | Retro Raleighs (sheldonbrown.com) |
| Undated | Superbe (road bike) | Name used in the early 1980s for a Japanese-built road bike. (Early 1980s) | Retro Raleighs (sheldonbrown.com) |
Unconfirmed mentions
These come from a single uncited or enthusiast source. They are not used for the dates, components or confidence above. If you can confirm one from a catalogue, please tell us.
| Year | Name | What it says | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1907 | Raleigh Superbe X Frame | Online Bicycle Museum | |
| 1934 | Raleigh Superbe X Frame | Online Bicycle Museum | |
| 1947 | Raleigh Superbe | Online Bicycle Museum |
Sources
Last updated 19 October 2026. Every fact on this page comes from one of these.
- Ebykr catalogue archive: Raleigh 1962 catalogue 'Raleigh Goes Places' (US) – cover line-up (Cover)
- Retro Raleighs (sheldonbrown.com): 'The Raleigh Superbe DL24, DL24L' page
- Retro Raleighs (sheldonbrown.com): Raleigh 1968 catalogue (PDF, OCR text)
- Retro Raleighs (sheldonbrown.com): Raleigh USA catalogue 1976 – page index (p.13)
- Online Bicycle Museum: 'Raleigh Cycle Co – the early years' (tour page)