My first RB-1
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
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.
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Semper fi
Semper fi
#2
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Flat crown, nice score.
#3
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Beautiful bike. Love the color!
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#4
Senior Member
Looks very original. One of my grail bikes.
#5
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#6
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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.
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#7
Junior Member
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?
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?
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#9
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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.
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.
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#10
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I missed out on one here about a month ago and I'm still a little disappointed.
That solid blue is a '90, maybe?
That solid blue is a '90, maybe?
#11
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#12
I don't know.
Join Date: May 2003
Location: South Meriden, CT
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Bikes: '90 B'stone RB-1, '92 B'stone RB-2, '89 SuperGo Access Comp, '03 Access 69er, '23 Trek 520, '14 Ritchey Road Logic, '09 Kestrel Evoke, '08 Windsor Tourist, '17 Surly Wednesday, '89 Centurion Accordo, '15 CruX, '17 Ridley X-Night, '89 Marinoni
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1990 had the sloping crown fork, correct? Very nice bike. I hope you have lots of enjoyable miles on it.
#13
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#14
Groupetto Dragon-Ass
My '91 is the only Japanese bike I have ridden that FELT Italian.
Frame and fork + shed parts
Frame and fork + shed parts
#15
Senior Member
Thread Starter
It’s a great riding bike, quick and very responsive. Reminds me of my Tommasini.
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Semper fi
Semper fi
#17
Junior Member
'92 rb-1
Mine, as purchased... still have some work to do!
#18
I don't know.
Join Date: May 2003
Location: South Meriden, CT
Posts: 2,219
Bikes: '90 B'stone RB-1, '92 B'stone RB-2, '89 SuperGo Access Comp, '03 Access 69er, '23 Trek 520, '14 Ritchey Road Logic, '09 Kestrel Evoke, '08 Windsor Tourist, '17 Surly Wednesday, '89 Centurion Accordo, '15 CruX, '17 Ridley X-Night, '89 Marinoni
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I purchased my 1990 as a leftover in '91. I had it restofied as such in 2015:
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