Two questions about the Bridgestone RBT...

Carl Barrentine said:

I've a chance to purchase an unused, stock 1994
Bridgestone RBT. The seller wants $750 for the bicycle.
Candidly, my impulse was to just simply buy the bike, but
after now having thought about the possible purchase for a
couple of days...well, I'm not sure if the bike is worth
that much (to someone like me who is not a Bridgestone
collector, but one who wishes to merely purchase a good
quality, lugged steel bike for commuting and randonneuring-
type riding).

Please help me answer two questions:

(1) I wonder, what was the selling price of the B-stone
RBT back in 1994?

(2) Is $750 a reasonable price to pay for an unsed B-stone
RBT? (I just have a hunch that it is, but I could be
wrong. I'd appreciate a second opinion.)

IIRC about $700~$750 - in 1994 dollars.

Another way to view this is to find a comparable new machine
to compare against. Can't find one? That's because the
industry has collectively declared touring dead. We scramble
for affordable touring bikes and are frequently unable to
supply our customers within a reasonable budget.

A Heron frameset will run you $1000, with moderate
components $1800 Although it's nicer than an RBT, it seems
to be the least expensive legitimate touring frame
available AFAICT.

So if it fits, $750 does not seem out of line to me. What
size? cgi.ebay.comeBayISAPI.dllOpen ↗
86545798&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT

--
Andrew Muzi www.yellowjersey.org Open every day since 1
April, 1971

On 3 Jul 2004 09:48:21 -0700, [email hidden] (Carl

Barrentine) said:

I've a chance to purchase an unused, stock 1994 Bridgestone
RBT. The seller wants $750 for the bicycle. Candidly, my
impulse was to just simply buy the bike, but after now
having thought about the possible purchase for a couple of
days...well, I'm not sure if the bike is worth that much
(to someone like me who is not a Bridgestone collector, but
one who wishes to merely purchase a good quality, lugged
steel bike for commuting and randonneuring-type riding).

Please help me answer two questions:

(1) I wonder, what was the selling price of the B-stone RBT
back in 1994?

(2) Is $750 a reasonable price to pay for an unsed B-stone
RBT? (I just have a hunch that it is, but I could be
wrong. I'd appreciate a second opinion.)

Thanks! --Carl Barrentine (Grand Forks, ND)

I'd rather have newer components. Shifting has improved a
lot since 1994. But that's cheaper than a new Trek 520.
Apparently most bike companies don't make touring bikes any
more. trekbikes.com520.jspOpen ↗

For commuting consider this one:
trekbikes.comt200.jspOpen ↗

dianne_1234 said:

On 3 Jul 2004 09:48:21 -0700, [email hidden] (Carl

Barrentine) said:

I've a chance to purchase an unused, stock 1994
Bridgestone RBT. The seller wants $750 for the bicycle.
Candidly, my impulse was to just simply buy the bike, but
after now having thought about the possible purchase for a
couple of days...well, I'm not sure if the bike is worth
that much (to someone like me who is not a Bridgestone
collector, but one who wishes to merely purchase a good
quality, lugged steel bike for commuting and randonneuring-
type riding).

Please help me answer two questions:

(1) I wonder, what was the selling price of the B-stone
RBT back in 1994?

(2) Is $750 a reasonable price to pay for an unsed B-stone
RBT? (I just have a hunch that it is, but I could be
wrong. I'd appreciate a second opinion.)

Thanks! --Carl Barrentine (Grand Forks, ND)

I'd rather have newer components. Shifting has improved a
lot since 1994. But that's cheaper than a new Trek 520.
Apparently most bike companies don't make touring bikes any
more. trekbikes.com520.jspOpen ↗

For commuting consider this one:
trekbikes.comt200.jspOpen ↗

Wow, an _unused_ RBT ? I'd go for it Carl. My 92ish RBT has
been a very comfortable ride for me. I bought mine used for
250.00 I'm even considering swapping over the Campy Chorus
gear that came with my new locally built tig welded "modern
geometry" bike. I'd love to find a similar frame to the RBT.
It's currently doing duty as a fixed gear. My favorite ride.

The Trek doesn't have any components that stand head and
shoulders over the components that came with mine. Well,
maybe the brakes. Still, indexed bar ends and all. I assume
the Trek has double eyelets ?

BTW I have it from an old B-stoner that the T in RBT stands
not for Touring, but forTriple.

Phil

Reid Priedhorsky said:

A Muzi said:

A Heron frameset will run you $1000, with moderate
components $1800 Although it's nicer than an RBT, it seems
to be the least expensive legitimate touring frame
available AFAICT.

How are machines like the Jamis Aurora and Trek 520 not
legitimate touring bikes?

Reid

Some lower prices options for touring would be the Bianchi
Volpe and the REI Novara Randonee.