Completed Raleigh Comp III custom BMX restoration

A MOTION MOD PROJECT / RESTORATION STORY

Raleigh
Comp III.

A story about keeping what matters, understanding what time has changed and rebuilding with restraint.

Read the story ↓
RALEIGH COMP IIISPRINGS / SOUTH AFRICACUSTOM RESTORATION2025 BMX REUNION
01 / THE STORY

RESTORE THE OBJECT. RETAIN THE LIFE.

A second story
in motion.

The Raleigh Comp III is a different kind of project to the F100, but it begins with the same instinct: understand the original before changing anything.

Age, wear and previous repairs form part of its history. The restoration is therefore less about making every surface new and more about returning the whole to honest, dependable condition.

FOUND→UNDERSTOOD→REBUILT→RETURNED

ORIGINALITY / CRAFT / PATIENCE / DETAIL

02 / SOUTH AFRICAN ORIGIN
Archival reference about the Raleigh bicycle factory in Springs, South Africa
ARCHIVAL REFERENCE / RALEIGH CYCLES, SPRINGS

SPRINGS / SOUTH AFRICA

A local Raleigh
with a visible history.

The head badge identifies the bicycle with Raleigh's Springs operation in South Africa. The supplied archive reference places the factory's opening in 1966, close to the mining communities of the East Rand.

This Comp III carries that local identity in its surviving badge, graphics and fork markings—details that make preservation central to the restoration brief.

03 / AS-FOUND CONDITION

BEFORE THE FIRST TOOL.

Every mark
is evidence.

The Comp III survives as a largely coherent bicycle. The photographic survey records surface wear, oxidation, decals, pads and mechanical condition before anything is removed or cleaned.

Raleigh Comp III frame, drivetrain and original graphics before restoration
01 / AS FOUND

Original frame.

The complete bicycle was surveyed before strip-down, preserving its proportions, fittings and original graphic references.

Raleigh Comp III saddle, handlebars and worn chequered BMX pads
02 / COCKPIT

Surviving details.

Saddle, bars, grips and chequered BMX Lite pads recorded the bike's distinctive period character.

The Raleigh Springs South Africa head badge
03 / IDENTITY

Springs badge.

The original head badge anchors the Comp III to Raleigh's South African manufacturing history.

Worn Raleigh CrMo Track fork decal
04 / GRAPHICS

Fork marking.

The surviving CrMo Track decal provided an important reference for the restored visual language.

04 / RESTORATION CHAPTERS

THE WORK, IN SEQUENCE

One piece
at a time.

The as-found survey establishes the baseline. Strip-down, component work and reassembly will be added here as the restoration progresses.

01 / DOCUMENTED

THE FIND

Starting condition.

The complete bicycle was recorded before dismantling: proportions, finishes, fittings, wear and the clues left by earlier work.

02 / COMPLETED

STRIP-DOWN

Back to the frame.

The Comp III was disassembled to expose the frame, preserve its identifying number and establish what could be restored or carefully recreated.

03 / COMPLETED

PAINT + GRAPHICS

Colour returns.

The frame was refinished in deep gloss black and vivid blue, with red and yellow bands reinstating the period visual language.

04 / COMPLETED

REASSEMBLY

Return to service.

The restored frame, chrome hardware, black mag wheels, tan-wall tyres and custom pads manufactured in-house from scratch came together as a confident interpretation of the original Comp III.

Restored Raleigh Comp III frame and components laid out before final assembly
COMPONENT LAYOUT / READY FOR FINAL ASSEMBLY
Raleigh Comp III frame restored in black and blue paint
RESTORED FRAME + FORK / BLACK, BLUE, RED + YELLOW
Raleigh frame number preserved after refinishing
IDENTITY RETAINED / FRAME NUMBER
Restored Raleigh Comp III colour bands
COLOUR BREAKS / RECREATED GRAPHICS
Close-up of the restored blue finish
PAINT / BLUE FINISH
Restored black frame and coloured graphics
FRAME / GLOSS BLACK + PERIOD COLOUR
Restored Raleigh Comp III frame hanging during paintwork
PAINTWORK / FRAME COMPLETE
05 / IDENTIFYING DETAILS

A LIVING ARCHIVE

The small things
carry the story.

Original graphics, maker's marks and the frame number provide the documentary anchor for the project.

The chequered BMX pads and yellow-accented grips form a particularly distinctive surviving visual set.

Raleigh Comp III frame graphic and drivetrain detail
01 / GRAPHICS

Comp III identity.

The surviving frame graphic, colour bands and drivetrain details established the visual reference for the restoration.

Stamped Raleigh Comp III frame number
02 / PROVENANCE

Frame number.

The stamped number was documented before strip-down and carefully retained as the bicycle's permanent identity.

06 / THE FINISHED BUILD

CUSTOM / PERIOD-INFORMED

Back in
full colour.

The completed Comp III combines its South African Raleigh identity with a crisp custom build: restored frame, recreated graphics, in-house manufactured pads and a bold black-and-blue stance.

Completed Raleigh Comp III custom BMX restoration
RALEIGH COMP III / COMPLETE CUSTOM RESTORATION
Completed Raleigh Comp III viewed across the top tube and rear wheel
FINISHED BUILD / REAR THREE-QUARTER DETAIL
Completed Raleigh Comp III from the front three-quarter angle
FINISHED BUILD / FRONT THREE-QUARTER VIEW
Restored Raleigh Springs South Africa head badge
RESTORED HEAD BADGE / SPRINGS, SOUTH AFRICA
Raleigh Comp III displayed with other old-school BMX bicycles at the 2025 BMX Reunion
2025 BMX REUNION / SHOW DISPLAY
07 / RECOGNITION
Second place Custom award from the 2025 BMX Reunion
2ND PLACE / CUSTOM / 2025 BMX REUNION

2025 BMX REUNION

Second place.
Custom class.

The restored Raleigh Comp III was shown among South Africa's old-school BMX community and awarded second place in the Custom category.

A fitting return for a bicycle that began the project worn, complete and unmistakably local.

RALEIGH COMP III / RESTORATION STORY

Preserved with purpose.
Ready for motion.

A MOTION MOD PROJECT / DESIGN IN MOTION

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