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