simontemplar
05-12-05, 10:34 PM
Has anyone got extensive experience with Reynolds 501 frames? If so, what can you tell me about their weight and durability ?
Classic & Vintage - 501 frame
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T-Mar
05-13-05, 06:35 AM
Reynolds 501 was seamed, CrMo tubeset introduced by Reynolds around 1983/1984 and intended for high volume sports/touring/training frames. It was generally found on mid-range bicycles and was about 200g or 10% heavier than than the Reynolds 531 competition tubeset, which most cyclists use a reference good quality tubeset.
Many cyclists regard seamed tubesets as inferior. This may have been the case with the earlier seamed tubsets, but those introduced by the major manufacturers in the mid-1980s were/are respectable in my opinion and did much to bring down the cost of light, butted framesets.
As to durability, this aspect has more to due with the tube joining process and workmanship of the manufacturer, than the tubeset itself. Some of the parmeters affecting this include the the type joint, the joint material, the degree of fit of the tubes, the temperature, the length of time the heat was applied, etc. Unfortunately, many of the parmeters cannot be discerned solely by looking at a frame and one has to rely by a large amount, on the reputation of the builder. However, the degree of care that a manufacturer puts into the cosmetic finish of his frame often, though not always, correlates to the dgree of care he put into the joining process. Many cyclists will use this as a way to judge the construction quality.
Since Reynolds 501 was designed for high volume production, it would be reasonable to expect less care and greater variance in the process parmeters during construction. This is one of the reason tubesets in this range are slighter heavier, to compensate for the variation with less chance of it affecting the reliability. Most likely you will not experience any problems wth the frameset, however when a the factors are taken into consideration there are slighter higher probabilities for problems to develop.
Many cyclists regard seamed tubesets as inferior. This may have been the case with the earlier seamed tubsets, but those introduced by the major manufacturers in the mid-1980s were/are respectable in my opinion and did much to bring down the cost of light, butted framesets.
As to durability, this aspect has more to due with the tube joining process and workmanship of the manufacturer, than the tubeset itself. Some of the parmeters affecting this include the the type joint, the joint material, the degree of fit of the tubes, the temperature, the length of time the heat was applied, etc. Unfortunately, many of the parmeters cannot be discerned solely by looking at a frame and one has to rely by a large amount, on the reputation of the builder. However, the degree of care that a manufacturer puts into the cosmetic finish of his frame often, though not always, correlates to the dgree of care he put into the joining process. Many cyclists will use this as a way to judge the construction quality.
Since Reynolds 501 was designed for high volume production, it would be reasonable to expect less care and greater variance in the process parmeters during construction. This is one of the reason tubesets in this range are slighter heavier, to compensate for the variation with less chance of it affecting the reliability. Most likely you will not experience any problems wth the frameset, however when a the factors are taken into consideration there are slighter higher probabilities for problems to develop.