Very Interesting Roberts 'Renegade' ATB circa 1985...

[mrkawasaki]

Got your attention? This should have us talking...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Mens-Mountain-Bik ... 500wt_1156

"An rare opportunity to own this historic,ground-breaking, high-end bike,designed by Chas Roberts in 1985, exclusively for "On Your Bike"(costing £565 new) has been my pride and joy and garaged from new, although unridden and carefully stored for the past 15 years. The bottom bracket is 14.5" ground clearance and the shortish wheelbase ( approx. 42") is married to a 69 degree head angle providing snappy handling. Upgraded in 1988 to the latest spec. componentry for the time. I have just refitted new Bontrager 26 x 2.20 tyres and tubes (replacing the original "Farmer Johns") and handle bar grips at a cost of £100 and have generally cleaned and tidied for sale. It is ready to ride and enjoy. There are one or two small scratches to the underside of the frame but no damage to speak of. I have the contemporary write-up from "Bicycle Action" Nov. 1985. Which I will pass to you."

At lot of things stack up, however it's a high starting price for such a punt and, unless I'm not mistaken, if this is virgin territory for Retrobike, then scarcity might just be for a reason in this case.

If there's no link to the Apps story then I'll be surprised....

 

[legrandefromage]

Hmmmm...

nice but the finishing gear is disappointing at that price.

remarkably close to danson67's Pioneer:

 

[Rod_Saetan]

I really like it, but I am excluded form the small number of potential bidders due to its size (not my size of course, I am average height). It bears a few resemblances to the Pioneer yes, but then it also looks quite like a StumpJumper from the same period, or an Araya built Muddy Fox from that year (UK specific high BB notwithstanding).

 

[mrkawasaki]

As it's allegedly an 'own-label', I'm intrigued as to the identity of the designer... I wonder how many were sold?

Tis funny how life goes in circles, as this ain't a million miles away from the very 'now' Cleland action!

 

[pete_mcc]

As it's allegedly an 'own-label', I'm intrigued as to the identity of the designer... I wonder how many were sold?

I think the give away to the designer is in the line 'A rare opportunity to own this historic,ground-breaking, high-end bike,designed by Chas Roberts in 1985'
I reckon that would be the only involvement that Mr Roberts had though.

Interesting bike, but there's not a lot historic about an own brand bike from a chain shop.

 

[mrkawasaki]

Yep, I can read too... however my hunch is that the bike was designed by someone else, maybe the shop people mentioned, and 'designed' read: built by Roberts. Otherwise, wouldn't Roberts sell a version of their own?? When was the first Roberts-branded ATB/MTB - sometime after this?

 

[Russell]

Double the price it should be.

"I have just refitted new Bontrager 26 x 2.20 tyres and tubes and handle bar grips at a cost of £100"

No, no you haven't.

 

[Rod_Saetan]

An ascociate was quoted £120 for two 700c tyres, tubes and labour by Evans t'other day - guess it depends on your LBS.

 

[doctor-bond]

Certainly an interesting frame. I'd like to read the BA article, but that's a lot to pay for an old mag. There's a bit of it posted on here - anyone got the rest?

In the list of production mountain bikes, a Roberts comes in at £560 (almost as good as a Ridgeback by that token).

 

[legrandefromage]

You have wonder who was looking over whose shoulders back in 1985...

I spy a bit of fillet brazing around the seat clamp and some very nice non standard pencil stays?

The frame builders parts bin was very limited so there will always be similar frames around. It was the skill and imagination of the builder to make theirs stand out.