1987 Bridgestone 450
 

Hello,

I just purchased my first road bike. looking forward to riding a lot during my winter break.

I just wanted to see what you guys think about this particular model. Anything i should know? Was it a good purchase? How much would you pay for this bike?

Thanks in advance..

Here is a link to the catalog:
http://sheldonbrown.com/bridgestone/...ne-1987-24.htm

and a picture:
http://i50.tinypic.com/sqnyfk.jpg

The first road bike I bought a few years ago was a Bridgestone 450. It was a great bike and I really liked it, but it was just a bit small, and after a couple years and spending time on this forum I started buying more bikes. Eventually sold the Bridgestone for more than I paid for it. Kind of wish i had not sold it, but I cannot keep every bike. That bike should be very good and I think you will like it a lot! Enjoy it! It was a mid range Bridgestone, but what I think is a very good bike.

thank you for the reply. Hopefully this bike lasts me a good while. Cant wait for the rain to die so i can start riding.

I forgot to ask. what would be a good saddle replacement? I dont like the one it came with and i would like to replace it with one that would work with this bike.

Nice bike!! You did great for your first purchase, congrats. If it were mine I'd be thinking something classic like a turbo saddle maybe in yellow:

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/fil...rbojpg_136.jpg

Then when I had the chance I'd remove the dork disc and reflectors. After that I'd call it done, it looks great already. How about some close-ups?

I agree looks like a great first bike. I also agree some close-ups are in order. Any ideas on how well it was maintained? I would consider having the bottom bracket and hubs overhauld before racking up lots of miles.

That bike will last you a good long time and be both really good to ride and really fun. You got yourself a great bike should provide many happy miles for you. I think the saddle I had on mine was an Avocet Touring saddle. It was fine for me and worked well, but now I have discovered saddles I find more comfortable. Saddles are kind of a personal thing. Personally, if I was going to spend the kind of money a Turbo saddle costs, I would go for a Concor saddle, which has proven to be perhaps the most comfortable saddle I have ever set my behind on. Of course, I have never tried a Turbo, so I cannot speak to the comfort they provide.

I got an 87 550 last year, Great Bike....mine was in pretty good shape (BB is a little pitted and drive side crank threads buggered...) but new tires and bar wrap on it....got it for $17.50 (in 40% Silver Kennedy Half dollars) he had been asking $189 for it, for a couple months, and added or gold/silver....so I cashed in some coin. Snappy rider, I most of my in town rides on it, soaks up the brick cobbles a lot better than my AL framed FELT. Mine is PINK, but I can cope with it! I'm TOUGH! ;-)

Nice find, and nice first buy too. On the worth, I would say about $150 to $250 would have been a fair price.

On the seat, make sure you get one that is comfortable, and matches your bartape. If you are sticking with the yellow bartape, that yellow seat that another poster posted, would be nice, along with these tires.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Serfas-Seca-...item1e7539ec31

Thank you all for the replies. I am looking to change the bar tape to black and maybe buy a black turbo saddle.

I actually just measured the bike and realized it is a 56cm frame, the seller told me it was 54cm. I am 5' 8". With the saddle all the way down i can ride it comfortably, is this frame too large for me?

here are some close ups:

http://i45.tinypic.com/2ifly.jpg
http://i49.tinypic.com/not4lg.jpg
http://i46.tinypic.com/1t4una.jpg

Looking good. Are you sure about black bar tape? I think the yellow tape and cables look great. 56cm may or may not be too big. If you are new to road bikes, just remember that you are not supposed to be able to put your foot flat on the ground while in the saddle. Your leg should be just about straight at the bottom of the pedal stroke. I see a lot of newer riders with their saddles set too low. Anyway I hope it does fit, because it's a nice bike. Do you feel comfortable riding it?

I'm 5'8" and wear 30" trousers.

22.5" is just a touch too big for me.

Hey guys, I have finally found someone willing to trade me a bike in my size for the bridge stone. He is offering me a 1985 miyata 710 or $200. Should I sell it to him or trade for the miyata. Would the miyata be a fair trade ? Thanks in advance!

Well it really depends. Condition, original equipment etc., etc. I wouldn't jump into the 710 without knowledgeable advice from someone other than the prospective buyer/trader. If can post a pic you'd get some opinions here, but without more info you're on your own(most likely).

Brian

I understand. The bike is supposedly in great condition with all original parts. The bikes should be about the same condition, both with original components.

If the Miyata 710 is in good condition or at least the same as the Bridgestone, it sounds like a fair trade to me. Both bikes are good sport touring type bikes and will give you each a nice bike to ride. I actually bought a Miyata 914 that fit me better while I still had the Bridgestone. I Liked them equally, but eventually sold the Bridgestone, though I hated to, just because it was a bit small.

IF it fits you better
+2
My Bridgestone 550 is a touch small for me, have a long stem on it and the seat ALL the way back, still just a tad tight. But it is still my Go To bike for zipping around town, soaks up the cobbles much better than my AL framed Modern bike (FELT-85, the AL fork on that is probably MOST of the problem) . If I had a chance to trade for another Japanese bike of that era in similar condition and level I would jump on it. FIT is the thing.

I went with the trade. The bike is nice just needs new bar tape and a little cleaning. The frame turned out to be 52 cm. I think it fits fine but i guess I'll see after riding it some more. What should I do to get this bike super perfect. Here are some pics :)

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=295000http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=295001

Looks pretty clean....DRIVE side pics are always better!;-) Should be of pretty similar qualities. Get it cleaned up, tuned up and ride...We expect a FULL report....and more PICS! :-)

This appears to be a reasonably fair trade to me...but I'm a big fan of Miyata's. I got my Miyata 1200 at the police auction for $240. If your Miyata is slightly too small for you, one thing that you can do is get a slightly longer stem. You don't want to go too long but that is one change that you can make fairly easily. If you're going to replace the bar tape, you would want to replace the stem at the same time.

I have a lot of these older bikes. I don't mind a little tight stand over height as opposed to a too small bike. Do your fit to whatever bike you end up with. Then see if you can live with it! There are charts that take your particular measurements and direct you towards your "ideal" bike size. You seem to be in the ball park size wise. You can add crank size to your mix, too!

Sounds good. Thanks for the responses Im not sure what brake hoods to buy. I just realized the brake levers are not original. Any of you guys know what brand the brake hood and levers are. There is a giant shimano sticker on the fork(that i need to remove) maybe they are shimano....

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=295009http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=295010http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=295012http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=295013

Levers look like Dia-Compe Gran-Compe Aero

These are really great bikes, even when compared to the later RB-1 & 2; you can definitely feel where those came from.

Do you guys think the hoods on the far left will fit? I cant seem to find any other ones.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-AME-...70808362404%26

I doubt these are the correct ones

http://www.amazon.com/Dia-Compe-287-...dia-compe+hood