pythonzzz

How many Bridgestone MB-0s are represented on the forum?

I recently had opportunity to get one - a '90 with a replaced fork, drop-bar conversion, and interupter brakes. Shifters are still thumbies. Frame is a little scruffy, but no signs of structural problems.

Also, what are the actual statisics regarding the production run?

dlwms

I actually sold a couple of MB-Zip's in the early 90's at a bicycle shop in Salem, OR. Great bikes. Don't think production was real high but sorry can't help with actual production numbers.

Regards, Dan

Elev12k

Do know nothing about numbers, but what surprised me recently was that I spotted a framesticker on a MB-Zip saying 'Made in Taiwan'. I were surprised as I thought they were Japan made. Being curious I checked a MB-1 ...and yes, that one was Japan made.

Desireable they are. Sure.

georgiaboy

I think the MB-1 had Ishiwata tubing made in Japan.

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/japan.html#ishiwata

I am intimately familiar with Ishiwata and their products, having been in the factory a few times, spec'd many bikes with their steel and built with it. I still use Ishiwata tube for frame repair.
The material [022] is virtually identical to Columbus SP/SL/SLX. The top range of tubes were seamles double butted and the finish quality [as delivered to the builder] was much higher than Columbus. The tubing gauge of the 022 is 0.9/0.6 mm, exatcly the same as Columbus SP. It's called "022" because the frame tube set weighs 2.2 kilos. The same material drawn thinner to 0.8/0.5 mm is called "019" because it weighs 1.9 kilos, just like Columbus SL. Many builders, then and now, mix gauges so a small frame might be all 019 but a 56 would have 022 chainstays and downtube for example.

Trek in the late '70s built three racing frames, one with Ishiwata, one Reynolds 531 and one Columbus. Geometry and weight were identical. The prices were unreasonably different because of the cachet of Italian tubing, making the Ishiwata frame the best value. Marketing took over later as the Ishiwata was dropped completely. With the advent of aluminum, the currency crash and the Japanese depression, Ishiwata closed the doors in the early '90s.

Looking for a Bridgestone MB-0? Check the link:

https://www.teamkarim.com/bikes/used/mountain/index.html

Grand Bois

MB-1's were made in Japan with Tange tubing.

MB-0's were tig welded in Taiwan. They were extremely light and had a reputation for breaking under extreme off-road use.

SecondSkin

I don't know the production numbers either, but lets put it this way: my buddy recently returned to a shop that he hadn't been to in a dozen years, and when he told them that he once bought an MB-0 there the store owner remembered his name!