I think there are two distinctions that are helpful in separating the bikes into overarching categories: place of manufacture and the expanded geometry. The hillborne falls in the budget/less expensive category (like the bleriot b/f it) b/c of its taiwanese place of manufacture, yet is unlike the bleriot in terms of geometry; it has the six degree sloping top tube, which I understand allows Riv to sell four frame sizes and still fit most people. Bombadil also has the expanded geometry, but is one of the Japanese and/or US-made frames (like the AHH and Atlantis), and priced accordingly.
So in a way you have more distinctions than in the Atlantis, Quickbeam, Ram lineup, though the differences are qualitatively different. We could plot them in a graph along these two perpendicular axes (taiwan-japan, expanded geo - not). Or perhaps, in terms of relative distance/direction from a core ideal, like, say, the AHH. On Mar 24, 12:28 pm, Dustin Sharp <[email protected]> wrote: > Even recognizing all this, when you stand back a bit, it does seem like all > of the Riv models are converging around the concept of "fat tire > all-rounder." Some, like the Bomba and Atlantis, use a bit stouter tubing > than the others, but the geometries and clearances are pretty similar. > > I feel like the models in the current line-up are somehow less distinct than > they were a few years back when you had the Atlantis, the Rambo, Quickbeam. > > Each one taken individually is still a really sweet bike though. > > Dustin "ain't got nothing against all-rounders because he owns three of > them" Sharp > > > > > From: CycloFiend <[email protected]> > > Reply-To: <[email protected]> > > Date: Tue, 24 Mar 2009 08:35:23 -0800 > > To: <[email protected]> > > Subject: [RBW] Re: Query about RBW models > > > 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"- Hide quoted text - > > - Show quoted text - --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ 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 -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
