Touring - Bridgestone 400 Owners

I just bought a Bridgestone 400 and wondering if other members have or have had one and what you thought.

One of my favorites. It isn't particularly light, has only one set of bottle brazeons and none for a rear rack, but just has a well behaved comfortable ride. Great for commuting, every day rides or even some touring.

I upgraded my '84 to a triple, swapped the derailleurs for Suntour XCD6000 index and added Suntour Accushift barcons and put a lot of miles on it including a couple loaded tours with front and rear panniers. It has always handled like a dream loaded or not. It is a great solid frame and I always liked the Bridgestone SC brakes.

I've since handed it down to my son but often think I would like to find him a substitue and get mine back!

I think you'll be very happy with it.

One of my favorites. It isn't particularly light, has only one set of bottle brazeons and none for a rear rack, but just has a well behaved comfortable ride. Great for commuting, every day rides or even some touring.

I upgraded my '84 to a triple, swapped the derailleurs for Suntour XCD6000 index and added Suntour Accushift barcons and put a lot of miles on it including a couple loaded tours with front and rear panniers. It has always handled like a dream loaded or not. It is a great solid frame and I always liked the Bridgestone SC brakes.

I've since handed it down to my son but often think I would like to find him a substitue and get mine back!

I think you'll be very happy with it.


Thanks badger-biker. To early to tell but so far so good. I did put on my Technomic stem and Noodle Bar from Rivendell and a lot better. I like the bars equal to the saddle. Lighter then my last 34 pound road bike lol. If I could bounce some ideas off ya and see what you think.
1. Want to put on ergo shifter and yes to the readers I said ergo " I like em". Anyway the shifters say 7 speed but that shouldn't be a problem with a 6 speed cassette should it.
2. Since the derailleurs seem to be friction would I have to change the derailleurs for ergo adaptable.
3. Any reason that 700c would be better rims. It has 27x1 1/8 but I'm putting on 1/4's.

Anyway thats about it. Any advice would be nice. I usually ride a 61cm but my friend said when buying older bikes its good do go up a frame size so I got a 63cm...little close to the family jewels but the reach is great and I believe my friend was right.

keep in mind if you change to 700c wheels and tires, your brakes might not reach the rim. 700c wheels are 8mm smaller in diameter than 27". oddly enough that is exactly what i am doing with my bridgestone 400. i found one (no wheels) in the trash about a month and a half ago. but since i already am building up a touring bike, this one is going to be a fixed gear.

Yep Thanks ernok1923. I just put off ordering new calipers in case I go 700c so I can order long reach calipers if I go that rout. The only reason I am changing my brake levers is the hoods that came on the bike are to small for my hands. I am going with bar end shifters so I can keep the current derailleurs and save some cash. Going to take time to get use to the bike but I am liking it more. The bars and stem made a big difference. When I get my parts on the bike I plan on doing a post of some pics of the bike. This one is my everyday geared and only bike I have. Maybe someday I will see the use of a fixie...but for now I will use that money to make this one the way I want.

PedalingAlong - I found the standard Bridgestone SC brakes have enough adjustment to fit 700c wheels and I swapped my old 27" ones out. It gave me more options on tire sizes and I found I liked running 32 or 35c tires on it.

The only problem I encountered was I also replaced the OEM Dia-Compe brake levers with aero levers and didn't realize until later that the SC brake calipers do not have any quick release lever. That function was on the old brake levers which had a little flip out piece. So with the wider tires I had to have the brake cables set with the adjusting barrels way out so I could screw them in to get the calipers open enough to get the tire past it. My son is now running 25c tires on it so that isn't an issue anymore.

PedalingAlong - I found the standard Bridgestone SC brakes have enough adjustment to fit 700c wheels and I swapped my old 27" ones out. It gave me more options on tire sizes and I found I liked running 32 or 35c tires on it.

The only problem I encountered was I also replaced the OEM Dia-Compe brake levers with aero levers and didn't realize until later that the SC brake calipers do not have any quick release lever. That function was on the old brake levers which had a little flip out piece. So with the wider tires I had to have the brake cables set with the adjusting barrels way out so I could screw them in to get the calipers open enough to get the tire past it. My son is now running 25c tires on it so that isn't an issue anymore.

Thanks badger_biker. How is the clearance on the 700x35 tires... enough room in case a spoke broke and the wheel wobbled some. I have been wondering about the 35's. Yep I know what your talking about on the brakes. I ordered a set from Tektro that are Aero Quick Release but sad to say I bought some Ultegra side brakes but forgot the B400 uses nutted brakes and the ones I have coming will not work. I am going with the Tektro 200 levers that have bigger hoods then the 100's do. I let my friend look it over and he wants to buy it if I ever sell it.

How is the clearance on the 700x35 tires... enough room in case a spoke broke and the wheel wobbled some.

As I recall there was enough room and I think it would take a pretty good wobble to hit the chain stays. Most rims for that size tire are pretty stout and it usually takes more than one spoke to knock it too far out of whack anyway, so I wouldn't be too worried.

I recently picked up a Univega Supra of about the same vintage that reminds me very much of the Bridgestone 400 frame. It is all Japanese and I think may even be a bit lighter. That might get me by until I luck onto another 400!