My first RB-1
09-11-22, 02:10 PM
#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.
__________________
Semper fi
Semper fi
09-11-22, 02:15 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: PDX
Posts: 12,068
Bikes: Merz x 5 + Specialized Merz Allez x 2, Strawberry/Newlands/DiNucci/Ti x3, Gordon, Fuso/Moulton x2, Bornstein, Paisley,1958-74 Paramounts x3, 3rensho, 74 Moto TC, 73-78 Raleigh Pro's x5, Marinoni x2, 1960 Cinelli SC, 1980 Bianchi SC, PX-10 X 2
Mentioned: 240 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3786 Post(s)
Liked 4,446 Times
in
2,655 Posts
Flat crown, nice score. 
09-11-22, 04:53 PM
#3
Humble Administrator
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Kalamazoo MI
Posts: 20,765
Bikes: Fuji SL2.1 Carbon Di2 Cannondale Synapse Alloy 4 Trek Checkpoint ALR gravel Viscount Aerospace Pro Colnago Classic Rabobank
Mentioned: 56 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2866 Post(s)
Liked 5,136 Times
in
3,049 Posts
Beautiful bike. Love the color!
__________________
Originally Posted by Retro Grouch
Fenders protect you from tire splatter. Mudguards protect you from tyre splatter.
09-11-22, 05:18 PM
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by madpogue
Looks very original. One of my grail bikes.
I changed the bar and stem, but when I got it everything was original except tires.
__________________
Semper fi
Semper fi
09-11-22, 06:15 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 3,951
Bikes: 82 Medici, 2011 Richard Sachs, 2011 Milwaukee Road
Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1575 Post(s)
Liked 1,264 Times
in
753 Posts
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.
__________________
I don't do: disks, tubeless, e-shifting, or bead head nymphs.
I don't do: disks, tubeless, e-shifting, or bead head nymphs.
Likes For Classtime:
09-11-22, 06:22 PM
#7
Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Gulf Coast
Posts: 184
Bikes: '93 Cannondale R500; '88 Centurion Ironman Expert, '97 Cannondale R900, '95 Serotta CSI, '83 Trek 700, '97 Lemond Zurich, '89 Bianchi Giro, '87 Schwinn Prologue, '83 Fuji TSIV + one perturbed wife
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 64 Post(s)
Liked 123 Times
in
49 Posts
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?
Likes For 4funbikes:
09-12-22, 11:03 AM
#9
Crawlin' up, flyin' down
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Democratic Peoples' Republic of Berkeley
Posts: 4,882
Bikes: 1967 Paramount; 1982-ish Ron Cooper; 1978 Eisentraut "A"; two mid-1960s Cinelli Speciale Corsas; and others in various stages of non-rideability.
Mentioned: 21 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 619 Post(s)
Liked 1,137 Times
in
558 Posts
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.
__________________
"I'm in shape -- round is a shape." Andy Rooney
"I'm in shape -- round is a shape." Andy Rooney
09-12-22, 08:40 PM
#10
Full Member
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Burien WA
Posts: 356
Bikes: Cannondale Synapse, LeMond Victoire, Bianchi Campione d'Italia, Kona Hei Hei, Ritchey Ultra, Schwinn "Paramount" PDG, '83 Trek 640
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 153 Post(s)
Liked 151 Times
in
101 Posts
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?
09-13-22, 06:01 AM
#11
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by mhespenheide
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?
Pretty sure it’s 1988.
__________________
Semper fi
Semper fi
09-13-22, 06:10 AM
#12
I don't know.
Join Date: May 2003
Location: South Meriden, CT
Posts: 1,456
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, '17 Surly Wednesday, '89 Centurion Accordo, '15 CruX, '17 Ridley X-Night
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 129 Post(s)
Liked 307 Times
in
186 Posts
1990 had the sloping crown fork, correct? Very nice bike. I hope you have lots of enjoyable miles on it.
09-13-22, 07:58 AM
#13
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by RB1-luvr
1990 had the sloping crown fork, correct? Very nice bike. I hope you have lots of enjoyable miles on it.
Honestly I’m not sure. Just looking on the web pointed it to an 88. I’m just guessing, I usually don’t pay attention to dating bikes.
__________________
Semper fi
Semper fi
09-13-22, 08:30 AM
#14
Groupetto Dragon-Ass
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Lostin Austin, TX
Posts: 482
Bikes: https://mcaf.ee/hsm2z
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 371 Post(s)
Liked 497 Times
in
280 Posts
My '91 is the only Japanese bike I have ridden that FELT Italian.
Frame and fork + shed parts
Frame and fork + shed parts
09-13-22, 08:44 AM
#15
Senior Member
Thread Starter
It’s a great riding bike, quick and very responsive. Reminds me of my Tommasini.
__________________
Semper fi
Semper fi
09-13-22, 09:04 AM
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Honolulu, HI
Posts: 1,129
Bikes: Peugeot, Legnano, Fuji, Zunow, De Rosa, Miyata, Bianchi, Pinarello, Specialized, Bridgestone, Cinelli
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 356 Post(s)
Liked 296 Times
in
138 Posts
Originally Posted by sloar
Pretty sure it’s 1988.
09-13-22, 07:03 PM
#17
Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Gulf Coast
Posts: 184
Bikes: '93 Cannondale R500; '88 Centurion Ironman Expert, '97 Cannondale R900, '95 Serotta CSI, '83 Trek 700, '97 Lemond Zurich, '89 Bianchi Giro, '87 Schwinn Prologue, '83 Fuji TSIV + one perturbed wife
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 64 Post(s)
Liked 123 Times
in
49 Posts
'92 rb-1
Mine, as purchased... still have some work to do!
09-14-22, 05:44 AM
#18
I don't know.
Join Date: May 2003
Location: South Meriden, CT
Posts: 1,456
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, '17 Surly Wednesday, '89 Centurion Accordo, '15 CruX, '17 Ridley X-Night
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 129 Post(s)
Liked 307 Times
in
186 Posts
I purchased my 1990 as a leftover in '91. I had it restofied as such in 2015:
Likes For RB1-luvr:
