Two questions about the Bridgestone RBT...

In 1994 the RB-T sold for about $640. It is essentially a
cyclocross bike and you can get a better deal by buying a
LeMond Poprad, a Trek XO-1 or any other PLAIN VANILLA cross
bike. Avoid fancy wheels, suspension or disc brakes.

The Bridgestone is definitely a good bike but you have to
remember that it was a 7-speed with 127 rear hub spacing and
parts such as cogs etc. and getting harder to come by.
Better to have newer stuff that you can repair without too
much hassle.

Tom

"Carl Barrentine" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message 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 unsued B-
stone RBT? (I just have a hunch that it is a bit high,
but I could be wrong. I'd appreciate a second
opinion.)

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

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] (Carl Barrentine) writes:
|> 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 unsued B-
|> stone RBT? (I just have a hunch that it is a bit
|> high, but I could be wrong. I'd appreciate a second
|> opinion.)
|>
|> Thanks! --Carl Barrentine (Grand Forks, ND)

(1) I bought an RB-T in 91 or 92 for about $600, so I would
think it wouldn't be much more than that.

(2) $750 seems awfully high to me. As you say, to someone
who is fond of Bridgestones it might be worth more.

I think I'd disagree with the other poster who characterized
it as a cross bike. It's a tour bike, and somewhat heavy. If
the bike is brand new you shouldn't have to worry about
buying components for quite a while, and in any case a steel
frame can be cold set to widen the rear spacing.

I like mine very much, and rode it Coast to Coast in 1997.
It's a nice bike, but $750 can buy you a bit more I feel.

Gareth Beale

[email hidden] (Gareth Beale) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

In article
<[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] (Carl Barrentine) writes:
|> I've a chance to purchase an unused, stock 1994
|> Bridgestone RBT. The seller wants $750 for the bicycle.

That's awfully high, considering that:

a. It's a little on the heavy side for a touring frame, even
for lugged steel.
b. The RB-T's tended to collect an undue amount of moisture
in the BB area; if you're prepared to take the thing
apart and Weigle the heck out of it, perhaps it will
serve you well.

I bought a slightly rusted, 1994 RB-T two years ago for
just over 100 bucks. It was badly in need of an overhaul,
a complete frame-de-rusting treatment, and new wheels.
The bike handles well enough, but after a short tour of
the Columbia River Gorge, fully-loaded, I've decided I
can do better. I will be converting this into an upright-
bar city bike and looking for another true touring bike
for next season.

If it's truly brand-new, never ridden, and you can bring him
down below 500 bucks, you might consider it. Otherwise, keep
looking. Good luck --Beth