Did the price go up on new Sam Hillborne frames?

[Shifty]

Sam Hillborne SINGLE TUBE frames on rivbike.com are currently selling for $1500, while DOUBLE TUBE frames are listed at $1050. I'm just wondering what the price will likely be for a 60 cm single tube when they get restocked. Is the single tube price a reflecton of supply and demand? If so, I'm tempted to buy the double tube even though I don't need it.

[benzzoy]

As stated in the text of the Sam Hillborne page, the more expensive
Sam Hillbornes are made by Waterford, while the cheaper ones are made
in Taiwan. The place of manufacture, rather than the number of top
tubes, appear to determine the selling price.

[Scotty]

I may be wrong, but my understanding is that they wont be stocking single tube 60's for now and that all new stock frames 56 and up will be doubles, and again, may be wrong, but the $1500 frames are the Waterford built ones. Please correct me if I am giving bad info.

[Thomas Lynn Skean]

I can't say for certain... but I can't recall seeing anything that suggested that single-top-tube 56 or 60 Hillbornes are in the plan as of now.

Definitely worth a call or e-mail to rbwhq if you're interested in knowing.

Yours,
Thomas Lynn Skean

[Seattle Smitty]

I recently saw a 60cm single TT Sam in orange at Free Range Cycles in Seattle. Not sure where you are, Shifty, and not sure if FRC ships bikes, but if Riv HQ doesn't/won't have what you're looking for it might be worth calling FRC. 

I have no connection to FRC other than that I enjoy shopping there.   

[Peter Pesce]

They noted this price jump with regret a while ago.
As far as I can discern, the current Sam line-up is:

48cm - Waterford - single TT - 650b - canti brakes? - BB, headset, no seatpost - $1500
52cm - Waterford - single TT - 650b - canti brakes? - BB, headset, no seatpost - $1500
56cm - Taiwan - double TT - 700c - sidepull brakes -  BB, headset, w/ seatpost - $1050
60cm - Taiwan - double TT - 700c - sidepull brakes - BB, headset, w/ seatpost - $1050
64cm - Waterford - double TT - 700c - canti brakes? -  BB, headset, no seatpost - $1500

Clear as mud, eh?

There is no mention of brakes anywhere, so I'm guessing the W'ford frames are all canti. Photos of the 56 and 60 show sidepull brakes, but we all know enough by now not to assume that means that ALL 56 & 60's will have sidepulls!
Also guessing they are all green at the moment.
Corrections welcome!

-Pete (happy owner of a SingleSixtySidepullSam)

[Earl Grey]

Btw, that new green is gorgeous. Much nicer in person than on the riv
site photos. Almost as nice as the original orange, and much nicer
than the original green IMHO. :)

Gernot (first batch 56cm orange single top tube canti Taiwan Sam)
Huber

[Thomas Lynn Skean]

60cm double top tube canti-studded "new green" Hillbornes can be ordered. presumably similar 56s can be too

Yours,
Thomas Lynn Skean

[Shifty]

Thanks for the suggestion, Smitty. I contacted Dick at Country Bike Store who has the same rig. Must be the Taiwan frame, I didn't ask but will. It's a 12 hour drive each way for me to test ride so, can any of you attest to the ride quality between a Taiwan Sam Hillborne and a Waterford A. Homer Hilsen? Naturally, I'd prefer to save $1K if they feel basically the same with no, or 5 lbs. worth or gear. Now, if they're only $500 dollars apart, I'd be more inclined to buy up to the prettier paint and Waterford origination (AHH).

And to attest to the green color, Dick also suggested that the green is much prettier in person than in the website. Personally, I love the old orange and would prefer it.

Best to all.

[Shifty]

Indeed, the reason is clearly explained in the frame description; D-OH! I thought the price had suddenly risen.

I'll contact Dick at Country Bike Shop for further info. He spent at least 10 minutes talking to me on the phone last Saturday. Saturday! 

[Shifty]

Thanks, Smitty. I spoke with Dick from Country Bike Shop who has the same bike. He also helped me locate this group to locate a used Ramboullliet or Hilsen, what a guy! If work allows I'm going to drive 12 hours each way to compare the ride of the Sam vs. an A. Homer Hilsen. A $1000 more is going to be a tough sell but have heard that it rides a little more like what I'm accustomed to. Any of you tried a similar comparison?

[Aaron Schmidt]

One datapoint for your breakdown: my 60cm didn't come with a
seatpost.

[Thomas Lynn Skean]

+1 for the Dennings of The Country Bike Shop; I drove there late 2009 (6 hours each way for me) just to straddle a Hillborne. I was nervous that I maybe misunderstood or fumbled the whole PBH thing and would find myself getting a poorly-fitting bike. They set it up with my kind of bars, did the PBH measuring, let me straddle one with a B17 (which is now my favorite kind if saddle), and chatted with me and my companion for a good while about bike-y things in their completely delightful shop.

12 hours each way in a car is tough to justify for any shopping trip. But going to The Country Bike Shop is a big incentive.

Yours,
Thomas Lynn Skean

[Shifty]

Thanks for the inspiration, Thomas. If my self-employment allows, I'll be riding a 60 cm Hillborne in Ohio a week from today. If work doesn't allow, it'll be a little longer wait, unfortunately.