SH27

Once again it is I posting some more dumb questions, I think I have a rudimentary answer to the question I am about to ask but would appreciate more feedback here.

Question:

Why does a bike with a Reynolds 531 frame tend to attract higher prices than a 501, they are two different frames I know but are they not of equal quality?

jefft72

Given some of the info in the post below I would say that 531 will demand higher prices since it was used in higher end bikes, in general. 501 didn't come out until the 80s and was cheaper to manufacture and as such aimed at the mid range market.

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/150526-reynolds-501-v-531-a.html

I am sure that others will be able to provide more insight.

SH27

Interesting, I thought 501 was possibly slightly heavier and therefore maybe aimed at more touring type bikes, 531 being possibly more suited to racers.

fietsbob

What is the wall thickness? All Butted? builder's mix materials .. TreTubi is highlighting the Main triangle tubes ,

cost saving on the rear stay tube spec.


there is more to the quality of the bike than how much the tube set cost ..

there is the workmanship of the builder too..

HillRider

Reynolds 531 is a manganese-moly alloy steel with properties similar to AISI 4130, a common high strength Cr-Mo alloy also used for bicycle tubing. 531 is seamless, butted tubing and was the premier tubing for bike frames for decades after it's 1935 introduction when there was effectively nothing else nearly as good. Newer steels have somewhat better properties but 531 still has the reputation.

501 is a seamed butted Cr-Mo tubing that costs less to manufacture. It's mechanical properties are similar to 531 but it doesn't have the history or cache. Typically 501 is not made in the light wall forms that allow it to equal 531.

Wilfred Laurier

correct except that
both types were available
plain guage and butted

HillRider

Right but 531 was most often specified in thin wall butted form since it was a premium material and used in high line frames.. A friend has an old (1972) Raleigh that has straight wall 531 tubing but it's a big frame and the greater stiffness was considered necessary. 501, while available in lighter and butted tube sets, was most often used in cheaper frames and higher cost forms weren't justified.

Bezalel

Aside from the fact that they are different alloys, 531 is seamless and was available for all tubes, 501 is seamed and was only available for the main tubes (and often paired with hi-ten stays).