My first RB-1
 

After all the years this is the first RB-1 I’ve had the opportunity to buy. Popped up this morning an hour away, but the price was so good I couldn’t pass on it. Just finished overhauling it and looking forward to a ride tomorrow morning once this rain stops.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e94f3e0ed.jpeg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...803875923.jpeg

Flat crown, nice score. ;)

Beautiful bike. Love the color!

Looks very original. One of my grail bikes.

I changed the bar and stem, but when I got it everything was original except tires.

Looks great. A classic. Flashback: I’m a starving grad student, avoiding my studies by flipping through a Bicycling Magazine: ther is an RB-1 on the cover and a glowing review inside. I’d like to ride one.

What a coincidence! A '92 RB-1 popped up on FB last weekend and I picked it up having read about the "mystic" qualities of a Bridgestone. It still has the spec'ed bar end shifters which is taking some adjustment for me. My RB-1 is pretty close to spec but has had the crank, BB and rims swapped out to Campy. Never seen the rims before and can't find much online but they're labeled "Campy Munchen 72". While they are listed as 13.5-622, I'm having a hard time stretching a spare set of Panaracers 25-622 over them. I rode the RB-1 twice before tossing the dry rotting tires and hitting the Munchen impasse. The ride has a very light feel to it with the quad Ishiwata tubing and I broke my PR on a local hill climb. However, I haven't weighed it or the wheel set yet. The Munchen's look heavy and I still have a lot of tweaking to mine to get it dialed in.

Your's looks like it was better maintained than mine, which had quite a few paint scruffs and decal damage. What year is your RB-1?

Must be the week of RB-1's! I had a '92 model fall in to my lap last week as well.

Nice score. I had a '92 RB-1. It rode very nicely until I discovered a ginormous crack involving the seat tube, the down tube and the BB hanger, almost certainly the ultimate result of an earlier crash.:(

The RB-1 was not the best bike available BITD, but it was damn good and was the biggest-bang-for-the-buck bike out there. Good frame design and materials, good handling, smartly spec'd components. It was far more likely that the rider was holding the RB-1 back rather than the RB-1 holding the rider back.

I missed out on one here about a month ago and I'm still a little disappointed.

That solid blue is a '90, maybe?

Pretty sure it’s 1988.

1990 had the sloping crown fork, correct? Very nice bike. I hope you have lots of enjoyable miles on it.

Honestly I’m not sure. Just looking on the web pointed it to an 88. I’m just guessing, I usually don’t pay attention to dating bikes.

My '91 is the only Japanese bike I have ridden that FELT Italian.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...41dfcba307.jpg
Frame and fork + shed parts

It’s a great riding bike, quick and very responsive. Reminds me of my Tommasini.




https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3a9f21ce7.jpeg

Pretty sure that's correct.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ff403bcaf4.jpg

'92 rb-1
 

Mine, as purchased... still have some work to do!
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7957eccfc.jpeg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7502842721.jpg

I purchased my 1990 as a leftover in '91. I had it restofied as such in 2015:

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...321733386e.jpg