Bridgestone RB-T - worth saving?
10-05-19, 01:40 PM
#1
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: San Mateo, CA
Posts: 253
Bikes: Bike Friday PRP, Bike Friday NWT, Bromton M6R, 1991 Miyata 914, 1991 Miyata 1000, 1986 Raleigh Portage, many more frames
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 215 Post(s)
Liked 347 Times
in
182 Posts
Bridgestone RB-T - worth saving?
Hello,
I was wondering if you could advise me on what to do with this poor Bridgestone frame. It's an RB-T from 1994. It's got a lot of issues, but the biggest issue is that the head tube is bent at a slight angle. It's kind of noticeable from afar, particularly from the top tube. There is also a bit of a wrinkle really close to the lugs, though I'm not sure if my camera can catch the defect.
I've always wanted a Bridgestone to tour/commute with that fit me, and I'm kind of sad that I've only just found this defect. So I guess I have several questions:
-should I just ignore the slightly bent head tube and build it up?
OR
-should I get the frame bent back with a head alignment tool and frame blocks?
OR
-should I get the tubes replaced, which will be really expensive?
OR
-should I just discard the frame?
Thanks all.
I was wondering if you could advise me on what to do with this poor Bridgestone frame. It's an RB-T from 1994. It's got a lot of issues, but the biggest issue is that the head tube is bent at a slight angle. It's kind of noticeable from afar, particularly from the top tube. There is also a bit of a wrinkle really close to the lugs, though I'm not sure if my camera can catch the defect.
I've always wanted a Bridgestone to tour/commute with that fit me, and I'm kind of sad that I've only just found this defect. So I guess I have several questions:
-should I just ignore the slightly bent head tube and build it up?
OR
-should I get the frame bent back with a head alignment tool and frame blocks?
OR
-should I get the tubes replaced, which will be really expensive?
OR
-should I just discard the frame?
Thanks all.
10-05-19, 02:49 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Seattle WA
Posts: 2,841
Bikes: 2009 Handsome Devil, 1987 Trek 520 Cirrus, 1978 Motobecane Grand Touring, 1987 Nishiki Cresta GT, 1989 Specialized Allez Former bikes; 1986 Miyata Trail Runner, 1979 Miyata 912, 2011 VO Rando, 1999 Cannondale R800, 1986 Schwinn Passage
Mentioned: 72 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 796 Post(s)
Liked 522 Times
in
367 Posts
IMHO there are plenty of great 80's steel touring frames out there without a compromised frame, I would keep looking. I found this article on rebuilding a vintage touring bike a great source of candidates and have found and ridden a few of them; Schwinn Passage, Nishiki Cresta GT, Trek 520. With some patience persistence and bit of luck you should be able to find a fine complete and undamaged 80s touring bike for a reasonable sum. I paid a bit north of a c note for the Passage and lucked into the 520 for $75 at a bike co-op. YMMV
87 Trek 520 $75 at the Co-op
87 Trek 520 $75 at the Co-op
Likes For ryansu:
10-05-19, 02:58 PM
#4
Port
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Boston
Posts: 6,648
Bikes: 2022 Soma Fog Cutter, 2021 Calfee Draqonfly 44, 1984 Peter Mooney, 2017 Soma Stanyan, 1990 Fuji Ace, 1990 Bridgestone RB-1, 1995 Independent Fabrications Track, 2003 Calfee Dragonfly Pro
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 983 Post(s)
Liked 1,860 Times
in
1,061 Posts
__________________
https://rowdml.tripod.com/panmass
https://rowdml.tripod.com/panmass
Likes For Rocket-Sauce:
10-05-19, 04:04 PM
#5
Senior Member
It has the beginning of a great lawn ornament.
10-05-19, 04:19 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Medford MA
Posts: 2,089
Bikes: Ron Cooper touring, 1959 Jack Taylor 650b ladyback touring tandem, Vitus 979, Joe Bell painted Claud Butler Dalesman, Colin Laing curved tube tandem, heavily-Dilberted 1982 Trek 6xx, René Herse tandem
Mentioned: 80 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 964 Post(s)
Liked 1,451 Times
in
723 Posts
I would build it up as an "ugly commuter" and ride it, but I'm not normal. 
Most people are probably going to tell you not to ride it, because you can see a bulge in both the top and down tubes. However, if you feel confident in your ability to keep an eye on it and stop riding it if cracks appear/propagate, and the altered geometry (low-trail with less wheel flop is maybe a blessing in disguise) doesn't bother you, I say go ahead. I highly doubt it's going to fall apart from under you, and I doubt even further that it would do so with no fair warning. My Claud Butler is a damaged frame that I keep torching back together - first the BB threads, then the lower head lug failed. Serves me great, works better than bikes five times its price, and I never worry about people stealing it because it's so ugly and obviously messed-with.
Most people are probably going to tell you not to ride it, because you can see a bulge in both the top and down tubes. However, if you feel confident in your ability to keep an eye on it and stop riding it if cracks appear/propagate, and the altered geometry (low-trail with less wheel flop is maybe a blessing in disguise) doesn't bother you, I say go ahead. I highly doubt it's going to fall apart from under you, and I doubt even further that it would do so with no fair warning. My Claud Butler is a damaged frame that I keep torching back together - first the BB threads, then the lower head lug failed. Serves me great, works better than bikes five times its price, and I never worry about people stealing it because it's so ugly and obviously messed-with.
10-05-19, 04:36 PM
#7
WGB
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Niagara Region
Posts: 2,917
Bikes: Panasonic PT-4500
Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1799 Post(s)
Liked 2,334 Times
in
1,378 Posts
Perhaps this should be moved to either framebuilders forum or even mechanics? Might get the pros offering a cheap cure...
10-05-19, 04:47 PM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Middle Earth (aka IA)
Posts: 20,435
Bikes: A bunch of old bikes and a few new ones
Mentioned: 178 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5888 Post(s)
Liked 3,471 Times
in
2,079 Posts
Even if it were safe to ride, why build it up? This sounds like a waste of time given how many really good frames there are out there that you can buy and build.
10-05-19, 05:47 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 4,703
Bikes: 82 Medici, 2011 Richard Sachs, 2011 Milwaukee Road
Mentioned: 55 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1947 Post(s)
Liked 2,010 Times
in
1,109 Posts
You say it has a bent head tube? Do you mean top tube?
If you have the fork and a bunch of parts, you should build it and ride it while you keep an eye out for a nicer RB-T.
If you have the fork and a bunch of parts, you should build it and ride it while you keep an eye out for a nicer RB-T.
10-05-19, 06:01 PM
#10
spondylitis.org
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Fleetwood, PA, USA
Posts: 1,003
Bikes: '84 Colnago Super; '90 Bridgestone MB-1; '81 Trek 930; '01 Cinelli Supercorsa; '62 Ideor Asso; '87 Tommasini Super Prestige; '13 Lynskey R2300; '84 Serotta Nova Special; '94 Litespeed Catalyst; etc.
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 121 Post(s)
Liked 97 Times
in
63 Posts
It's a Bridgestone from the Petersen era, and therefore somewhat collectible - but whether you decide to go that route depends on your interest in / commitment to restoration.
The bends don't look that bad. If it were in my possession I'd likely take it to a local frame builder for inspection and re-alignment (Bilenky or Spectrum in my area). The frame was made from Tange CrMo (probably MTB & therefore heavy gauge) without any heat-treating, so it should be relatively easy to get back into shape.
Odds are pretty poor that you'll find anything other than a unicrown fork to replace the original, though.
The bends don't look that bad. If it were in my possession I'd likely take it to a local frame builder for inspection and re-alignment (Bilenky or Spectrum in my area). The frame was made from Tange CrMo (probably MTB & therefore heavy gauge) without any heat-treating, so it should be relatively easy to get back into shape.
Odds are pretty poor that you'll find anything other than a unicrown fork to replace the original, though.
Likes For kunsunoke:
10-05-19, 07:07 PM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 17,155
Mentioned: 481 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3808 Post(s)
Liked 6,681 Times
in
2,609 Posts
One of my regular commuters/errand runners is a '94 RB-T, and it's a great bike. You're in Portland, so I'd reach out to our own @gugie to take a closer look if he has the time.
Pic of my rig:
Pic of my rig:
Likes For nlerner:
10-05-19, 07:42 PM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 1,053
Bikes: Gunnar, Shogun, Concorde, F Moser, Pete Tansley, Rocky Mtn, Diamant, Krapf, Marin, Avanti, Winora, Emmelle, Ken Evans
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 275 Post(s)
Liked 417 Times
in
218 Posts
I rode a frame that was bent in this way for a while
Eventually i realised that while it was more or less fine, I just found it too disconcerting keeping an eye on it and being slightly concerned about it.
It's just not pleasant riding a frame that makes you worry a little.
It's gratuitous and avoidable anxiety. Whether it's founded or unfounded doesn't really matter.
Eventually i realised that while it was more or less fine, I just found it too disconcerting keeping an eye on it and being slightly concerned about it.
It's just not pleasant riding a frame that makes you worry a little.
It's gratuitous and avoidable anxiety. Whether it's founded or unfounded doesn't really matter.
10-05-19, 08:30 PM
#13
Bike Butcher of Portland
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 11,634
Bikes: It's complicated.
Mentioned: 1299 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4678 Post(s)
Liked 5,795 Times
in
2,281 Posts
__________________
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
10-05-19, 08:30 PM
#14
Bike Butcher of Portland
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 11,634
Bikes: It's complicated.
Mentioned: 1299 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4678 Post(s)
Liked 5,795 Times
in
2,281 Posts
One of my regular commuters/errand runners is a '94 RB-T, and it's a great bike. You're in Portland, so I'd reach out to our own @gugie to take a closer look if he has the time.
Pic of my rig:
Pic of my rig:
__________________
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
10-05-19, 09:06 PM
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: East Tennessee
Posts: 251
Bikes: 2002 Trek 800 Singletrack, 1982 Bridgestone Spica
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 57 Post(s)
Liked 41 Times
in
32 Posts
Yellow Jersey (with some shipping expense, and some fees, could make this frame like new). Worth some consideration. Might be cheaper than a comparable Rivendell (Grant Peterson's successor company).
10-06-19, 11:39 AM
#16
working on my sandal tan
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 22,629
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
Mentioned: 98 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3871 Post(s)
Liked 2,568 Times
in
1,579 Posts
I'm inclined to agree with @scarlson. None of the ripples look very severe, and you are currently in possession of a rare "low-trail" Peterson. 
Maybe you could do a cheapo build, and see if it rides and tracks well at all before making your next move.
Maybe you could do a cheapo build, and see if it rides and tracks well at all before making your next move.
