dukerider

Hi

I am trying to find information on a Reynolds 708 frame - I think this tubing as not manufactured for very long. Where is the Reynolds hierachy does it sit? I am being offered a new old stock frame quite cheaply and thought it would make a good basis for a tourer.

Any thoughts???

sydney

If it's got everythig you need on it for a tourer,that's more important than the spec on some obscure tubing.

Nessism

708 came in standard tube sizes, not oversize which has taken over the market. The tubes are thicker than the more common 531 but not quite as thick as the 531 Super Tourist tubeset. The main feature of the 708 tubeset is the addition of full length longitudinal ribs inside the tubes - similar to Columbus TSX only the ribs are not spiral.

My guess is that a 708 frameset would make a fine light duty touring rig but may be a little flexy for loaded touring with a heavy rider.

Hope this helps.

Ed

bostontrevor

My understanding is that 708 offered superior rigidity over 531 for touring loads and that it was specifically designed for such use.

Nessism

According to a Reynolds catalogue I have in front of me:

Reynolds 708 CLASSIC

"A receint development from Reynolds, the name describes the purpose.
The main tubes of this set have a new and ingenious inernal profile.
The profile is designed to maximise lateral stiffness and strength in the direction of the known loadings, which result from the punishing road surfaces and the extreme rider applied deflection loadings experienced on the brutial classic racing courses."

No doubt 708 is stiffer than regular 531, however 531 SUPER TOURIST is quite a bit thicker yet which makes it a better choice for loaded touring.

dukerider

Thanks

I have purchased but not collected the frame. Looking forward to checking it. Can you tell from th ecatalogue when this tubing was available? I am keen to know the age of the frame. It is new old stock and all I know is that is has been sitting in a shop somewhere.

many thanks

dukerider

Thanks. What you say is true but I was merely intersted in what I might be getting for admittedly a small amount of money.
I bought it.

greenpeter2001

Hi,
i used to ride a 531 .
This is all from memory but i believe the 708 frames were not successful because they lost their rigidity very early in their life.
on this basis i'd be very wary of a 2nd hand 708.
hope this helps.

twolegs

how did that 708 turn out? how does it compare on the reynolds scale of other tubesets? im thinking of buying one for myself to try out.. but there is a parcity of information on it. thanks

JohnDThompson 

I doubt that very much. That steel loses rigidity over time is a persistent myth, but a myth nonetheless. Far more likely is that frame fashion preferences moved on from steel tubes in classic diameters to non-ferrous tubes and oversize diameters.

noglider 

I know I'm responding to a nine year old post, but steel does not lose rigidity with time, despite urban legends in the bike world.

HillRider 

Yeah, that nonsense myth was used by a lot of riders to justify buying a new bike.

MichaelW

the finest British production tourer was 708 Raleigh Randonneur

paulkal

I have a NOS Reynolds 708 tube set that one day I plan to build into a frame.
The ribs do look interesting.

KatyCycles

Replying to old post here: my Raleigh Randonneur (708 tubing), which must be coming up for 30 yrs old, still gives a fantastic ride. It's very sprightly up hills and when I loaded it so heavily that I couldn't lift it off the ground it still went up 1/7-1/5 gradients and rode as nicely as ever - despite the fact that starting off was rather like launching a boat. It's still the bike I find most comfortable and reassuring over distance and steep hills and I rate it as a very lucky find second hand about 16 years ago - albeit this is all partly down to being a perfect fit it's generous gearing.