RB-1 tire clearence and rear spacing

[Patrick Shea]

It's been awhile since I've owned an RB-1 and have a chance to get a frame at a great price. I can't remember (age) if the frame will handle 28c tires. Also, can it handle 9-speeds without a reset of the rear dropouts? 

Thanks in advance for the help,

Patrick Shea

[Joe Bernard]

It probably depends on the year. By 1993 Grant was setting them up with 128 rear spacing, which accommodated the 126 hub on the 7-speed and 130 on the 8. The 7-speed with single-pivot sidepulls came with 28c tires.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/bridgestone/1993/pages/63.htm

[Jack K]

Although advertised as 128mm, my '93 RB-1 came spaced wider than that. A 130mm spaced hub fits with room to spare. Manufacturing variances, no doubt.

Also, the 700x28 Ritchey tires that came stock in '93 are *way* smaller than any "28" tire I know of today. I actually still have those original 700x28 Tom Slick tires and for giggles installed them on the RB-1 again a couple of years ago. They are tiny compared to the 700x25 Michelin Pro4 tires on the bike these days (which are famous for measuring bigger than marked -- the 25's measure 27mm wide on my Open Pro rims). Even larger tires may fit, lots of room between chainstays and in fork.The pinch point I see is between the top of tire and bottom of front brake caliper.  I'm using the original Superbe Pro calipers, perhaps some other brake would give slightly more clearance.

-Jack

Raleigh, NC

[Patrick Shea]

Thanks for the info! The RB-1 seller got back to me and said the bike was last used with 10-speed Dura Ace. He echoed what Jack said, that the rear end had plenty of clearance for 28s. I feel like I'm going backwards, frame-wise, but my '92 RB-1 was a bike I never should have gotten Big Ideas about. I had a messenger/welder remove the braze-ons and install track ends which meant a homestyle repaint. Previous to the RB-1, I had turned every bike I owned into a fixed gear, anyway, so the RB-1 makeover was the obvious next step. 

My plan, now, is to put my impulse buy Record 10-speed long cage/Sugino triple stuff on this newer almost impulse buy frame and hit the road.

As a retired librarian, I really appreciate this list's collective knowledge and willingness to share it. Rock on!

Cheers,

Patrick Shea

PS- a tip o' the Tarik cap to French and Eric for the parts. Sorry it's taken so long to say that. 

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[James Warren]

The 1992 RB-1 is very nice with Roly Poly tires.

I would guess that in 1992 and 1993, the clearance did not get tighter.

I know the '91 and '90 would be similar to the '92. I can't speak to years prior, because the geometry of RB-1's was changed after '89, and the RB-1 we usually talk about had the geometry of 1990 through 1994.

If you don't know the year, do you have any color details of the one you're getting?

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[Austin B]

I fit 28mm tires & Velocity A23 rims on my 1989 RB-1 with no problems.