kunsunoke 

Looks to be an '88 MB-3 in Dresden Blue, so, yeah, the frame was likely built in Japan. Mein Waifu has an '89 made from Ishiwata that has about the same frame design, particularly where the stays attach to the seat-tube, and it was made in Japan.

Bridgestone built the lugged frames in Japan, and had TIG-welded frames built in Taiwan (like most of the other manufacturers of the era did).

Pemetic2006

Thanks for the info. What is Mein Waifu?
Bridgestone MBs don't seem to pop up in our area very often and when they do they're either overpriced or beat. I'm always checking craigslist.......not that I NEED another bike.

SpookyReverb

I may have posted this bike before in this thread, but here is my '92 RB-1. I've had it for about a year and it is truly fantastic to ride. I love it.

rickrob 

This is my 1988 RB-3. Totally redone with Shimano 600EX components just about everywhere-- except for the headset, which I have to install. It has Tektro Brakes and Mavic Open Sport rims. It's fun to ride and it's fast.

toavii

1994 RB-T


RB-T might be something that sticks around for a while..

Shp4man

An early, pre- Grant Petersen Bridgestone, was intrigued by it when it popped up on CL. As found:


After $200 worth of paint and parts, and free labor (mine)







I've only spent 3 or 4 hours riding it so far, but it's a mellow, easy ride for sure. Worth the restoration.

mountaindave 

Looks beautiful, @Shp4man

mountaindave 

You must have been riding so fast that the chain fell off!

Shp4man

Thanks!

YogaKat

There are some pretty bikes in here.

I just happened upon mine last month looking for something to ride other than my cruiser. She caught my eye because of the look and now she is what I ride all the time.

mountaindave 

Welcome to C&V, @YogaKat! That's a beautiful mixte you have there. Good luck with the training for the Hotter'n'Hell. Hang out around here and before you know it you'll be picking up a vintage racing bike... Cheaper and (some will argue) better than a new expensive carbon fiber bike.

Salamandrine 

Interesting. Very very pre Grant Petersen... That's maybe oldest I've seen. I like the 60s style front rack, but I guess it was too far gone.

The LBS where I worked in high school sold Bridgestones in the early-mid 80s. They were pretty wonky then, and not big sellers. I'd like to see some pics from that era, but there's probably not many out there. I recall they had weird aero brakes and clear tinted housing, and some other unusual features that didn't go over that well in the american market.

YogaKat

Thanks!

SpookyReverb

Haha! I don't know why it is doing that. It did fall over right before I took this photo...

Teamdarb

87 300 sport touring. Many faces.

Day one 27" wheels

All around traveler 700x42

Show off commuter 700x38 and Union dynamo

World tour mode 26x1.75 and dynamo hub

steeljunkie

So many beautiful bikes! This is my RB-1, which I bought new in 1994. Over the years the bar has come up and almost everything on the bike has been replaced at least once (the seatpost might still be original). It's still a blast to ride, even though I go a whole lot slower on it now than back in the day.

rjhammett

I picked up this '86 Mile 112 a couple weeks ago. It is my winter trainer and will sell in the Spring since it is too small for me.

non-fixie 

Bridgestone Blouson:

toavii

Well, this is close to done now.










Changes:
Brooks saddle
Brooks Ochre tape
Nitto Pearl
Soma Supple Vittesse SL (33)
Jagwire Titanium cables/Kool Stop pads/chain
Flat townie-ish pedals
Proper binder bolt

More to it will likely be coming.

roark43

I recently stumbled upon this frameset at a bike swap--a 1989 Bridgestone RB-1. I had been searching for a RB-1 or RB-2 frame for the past couple months, routinely checking ebay, craigslist, and other sources.

For background, I have (had) a 2006 Trek 5200—a carbon racing bike that was lightweight, fast, and accelerated like a rocket. It’s also twitchy, uncomfortable on longer distances, and unforgiving on rough, textured pavement. And I recently built up a more comfortable bike, a Velo Orange Pass Hunter, for light touring and gravel detail, which furthered my perception that an uncomfortable carbon racing frame wasn’t what a fortysomething non-racer should be riding.

But the Trek had great components (Ultegra 6600/6650) and a decent wheelset (Forte Apollo) and I wanted to find a good, clean, and inexpensive steel frame to transfer the parts. My first Bridgestone was an '89 MB-3 which I bought used in 1991 to get me around at college--a bike I just sold in 2015. So Bridgestones (and Miyatas) were the targets. I wanted a bike to ride, not a museum piece, hence, I was not at all concerned matching OEM equipment as Grant designed.

I paid $165 for it including a Columbus fork and ThreadHead headset. The frame, which has a few minor blemishes and one small dent on the downtube had never been built up. The dropouts were unscuffed and there was no mark for a front derailleur clamp. I had found the frame that could be my speedster.

The frameset as purchased:


Pristine bottom bracket shell:


No evidence that a wheel was ever in these dropouts, just a little dingy after 27 years (which cleaned up) :


The current and complete buildout came to 21 lbs. A bit heavier than the Trek, but oh-so-much nicer to ride. I had to spread the rear triangle using Sheldon Brown's method. I took it slow and measured often and it worked beautifully.












I may still have some other tweaks coming (a shorter stem, maybe a Brooks Cambium saddle, and some 28mm tires) but for now I just want to ride. I'm super-happy with the result. Here's the full build plan:

mountaindave 

Sweet find and a beautiful bike, @roark43 - I'd say you got a steal there!! And welcome to the forums!

I personally think that chrome goes with anything, so love the forks. If you go shorter on the stem, are you considering a quill stem (or am I misunderstanding what a ThreadHead headset is)?

Before you know it, you'll be considering 650b conversions and putting fenders and front racks on bikes... It's a slippery slope, especially when you are starting so early on with a VO bike and a vintage Bridgestone.

Thanks for posting!!

mountaindave 

Gorgeous!! Dang, you take some drool-worthy photos.

toavii

Thanks for compliment!

roark43

Thanks mountaindave!

I might move to a quill stem once I get the size dialed in, but it would involve removing the bar tape and one of the brifters (and maybe a new handlebar unless quill stems come in a 31.8 diameter).

I've built up two bikes from scratch now and I'm addicted!

mountaindave 

I didn't think about the modern handlebar. Probably won't find a quill for that size. No matter, she's a beaut!