on 3/24/09 4:38 AM, GeorgeS at [email protected] wrote: > Is it my imagination, or are a number of the RBW frames essentially > the same bike with different names. I bought a Rambouillet in 05 and > I'm told now that it is no longer being made. But it looks very > similar to the Homer Hilsen which looks very similar to the Bleroit > (sp?). Perhaps I'm not knowledgeable enough to recognize significant > differences in geometry, construction and materials. Do they just > like change the names of their bikes on occasion?
As with all things, the devil is in the details. RBW uses a couple of different frame building resources, and as such does differentiate the names of otherwise similar models. But, I think the current models are pretty discrete. The Rambouillet is currently "asleep". There have been a few threads here on this topic. The trend is RBW designs seems to be toward frames with clearance for larger tires, such as the A. Homer Hilsen. The current A. Homer Hilsen incorporated the Saluki model in the smaller sizes, or perhaps more accurately, the Hilsen was designed to make a 700C version of the Saluki. (Larger tires with appropriate frame clearances to allow fenders, etc.) The Saluki was RBW's initial 650B offering. There are strong similarities between the Saluki and the Bleriot, which was made in Taiwan and distributed through QBP (probably the major bicycle parts wholesaler in the US). This lower-cost model generated significant interest and led to the new Taiwan-made series of frames which are now arriving/arrived, and will be sold through RBW and their dealer network. The new Taiwan series of bikes are different again - Sam Hlllborne seems to split the difference between the Hilsen and the venerable Atlantis. The Betty Foy and Yves Gomez are mixte frames. Other than minor inline braze-on changes, I don't think the Atlantis has changed since the outset. (And I'm leaving out the Bombadil and Quickbeam, as they are pretty unique models.) The new Rivendell Reader goes into good detail on the Hillborne, and there are some more ref's on the bicycle model page on the Riv site. RR Online link - http://www.rivbike.com/blogs/knothole_post/114 Bike Differences Chart http://www.rivbike.com/products/list/bicycle_models#product=50-999 More RBW model ref's - http://www.cyclofiend.com/rbw/ -- Jim Edgar [email protected] Cyclofiend Bicycle Photo Galleries - http://www.cyclofiend.com Current Classics - Cross Bikes Singlespeed - Working Bikes Workshops of the iBob's Send In Your Photos! - Here's how: http://www.cyclofiend.com/guidelines "My nighttime attitude is anyone can run you down and get away with it. That's why I don't even own a bike light or one of those godawful reflective suits. Because if you've put yourself in a position where someone has to see you in order for you to be safe...you've already blown it." -- Neal Stephenson, "Zodiac" --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
