with the elliptical window within the shifter cover.) The frame was subtly revised, and the seat moved forward, to help prevent the front of the bicycle tipping up. A small rear rack was added. The handlebars were welded to the stem to stop children from inclining the "ape hanger" bars backward, thereby rendering the bicycle almost unsteerable. A drop-handlebar version, the Sprint, was also produced, this differed from the standard Mk 2, as it had a slightly taller frame. The Chopper Mk 2 remained in production until 1985, by which time the BMX craze had taken over its market. However, the Chopper almost single-handedly rescued Raleigh, which had been in decline during the 1960s, selling millions worldwide. MK 3 Mk3 1996 to 2005 Improved handling and safety upgrades sold from 1996 , changes to the gear lever from central position to handles and the seating changed from a single bar to a double seat ,, the gear changes on the MK3 were much smoother than previous marks although many didnt like the change of gear position, the MK3 came in various colours including Purple, Yellow, Silver, White, Black, Red and did very limited runs of Limited Editions such as The Hot one, The Black,World Cup Edition, Armed Forces edition, Beano edition, and Ben Sherman edition which now are very sought after due to very small numbers produced. The Mk3 production were no longer made in Nottingham UK and instead production moved to both USA and Vietnam made under licence. Handling and safety The original Chopper is fondly remembered, though it was not without problems: It was less stable than a conventional bicycle and trickier to ride. The Chopper was not suitable for cycling long distances as it was slow and heavy, the wide tyres creating significant rolling resistance. At moderate speeds it suffered speed wobbles. After several reported accidents, it was attacked in the press as a dangerous toy. The long seat lent itself to giving lifts to others, and accidents were not uncommon. It could perform involuntary wheelies readily, again a frequent cause of accidents. The position of the gear lever could also contribute to injuries sustained in a crash - especially on the Mk I because the gear knob could easily be removed and lost, turning the gear lever into a metal spike. Original models UK market MK1 - available only as a 3 speed model, Brilliant Orange,