NOS 1994 Bridgestone RB-1 Frame & Fork: 57.5cm - Biplane Fork - Red (Never Built!)

*This is the last of my Bridgestone sales sample frames. This one did not come with a box as the other RB-1 did (which is sold), but it is identical.  It came to me in the same purchase, and the serial number is just 3 digits away from the 1st one.

This unicorn of an untouched RB-1 road bike frameset was a sale's rep sample, built in the last half of 1993 & rescued from a long closed bike shop.  It was likely shown to a few local bike shops, and eventually put away into storage.  It exactly matches the specs of a 94' model year frame. Bridgestone never sold frame only, due to the huge liability it ads.  The serial number puts this built in the last half of 1993, making this either very early production 1994 model or a non-production frame for a sales rep (or warranty replacement).  It's quite likely the only unbuilt RB-1 frame on the planet!  It came to me in a frame box with an old Bridgestone shipping label, that shows it is a sales sample.

The RB road bikes were special beasts for their time.  They took styling cues from classic Italian racing bikes and made it more functional and practical.  The frame/fork fit up to 32mm tires (perhaps 28mm with fenders), and slack-ish angles for a more comfortable ride, and fender/rack eyelets front and rear.  Plus, they feature that gorgeous biplane fork crown!

Condition

New old stock in Bridgestone box, and never built!  It's never so much as had a wheel clamped in it's dropouts.  It is essentially pristine, and as it came from the factory in 1993.  Paint and decals are high gloss and deep, this was a high quality original paint job.  The protective plastic is still on the head badge!  There's not a single imprint mark on the dropouts, fork ends, or brake contact points.  The only "imperfections" I can find are a tiny chip on the driveside rear dropout from test fitting a wheel, and a pinpoint mark on the top tube just forward of the seat cluster (driveside).   

Details

• Frame number: X321780
• Color: Red
• Tubing: Tange Seamless butted chromoly
• Frame size: 57.5cm (based on seat tube center to top of seat tube opening). See photos at bottom for full geometry chart from the 94' B'stone catalog
• Top tube: 58cm
• Seat tube: 57.5cm c-tt, 56.5cm c-t, 55.5cm c-c
• Head angle: 73.5 degree
• Seat angle: 73 degree
• Headset: Hattaswan 
• Seatpost needed: 27.0mm