An engineer told me that Raleigh spent 5 years and over half a million pounds developing the Vektar. Work started on the Vektar before the Burner existed so it's possible that the first prototypes were not based on a BMX and could have more strongly resembled the Chopper. Even at the eye watering prices they sold for, it is questionable whether Raleigh made any profit from the Vektar although they might have made a profit from the combined sales of the Vektar, Wildcat, and Streetwolf. The electronic modules were developed in conjunction with a small electronics company in Derbyshire. The engineer then went on about how Raleigh hated BMXs but the Burner saved the company from bankrupty in the 80s so nobody can deny that it was a commercial success even if it wasn't the product that Raleigh wanted to sell. However, Raleigh never modernised the Vektar for the 90s after they started making mountain bikes and as no other company has made a bike comparable to the Vektar, it remains an eccentric oddity from an enginering perspective. I then mentioned the Sonic bikes with the plastic spoiler covering the frame. He was vaguely aware of them and said that they were developed in the early 1990s by Moore & Large in conjunction with a design house in Leicestershire. They were inspired by the Vektar but they didn't contain any electronic parts.
With that chemistry set it is a wonder I never blew the roof off our house ha ha. I recall my mother telling me to take it to the shed in case of explosions. Thanks mum.
For weeks I have pondering how to answer this thread/what to reply with as such!
Though I am 40 - Toys never interested me too deeply or games even at that, but me and friends would play "Cars" or my 2 or so best mates (when it suited). Just to make my own fun and create my own games, for as me and so called mates, as we often did was enough for me, or failing that to grow up having real friends being a wish more than actual toys
I always wanted a BMX. When I asked for a bike I maybe should have been more specific. When I was 8 a new family moved in next door and they had twins, a boy and a girl. The twins had a Mag Burner each that I thought were cool as hell. I had a Chopper knock-off called a Laser Sport. It's the only one I've ever seen and I can't seem to find any info or pictures of it any where.