Re: [CR]FS: Jo Routens 650b Sold and buyers hint

(Example: Component Manufacturers)

From: <hersefan@comcast.net>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: Re: [CR]FS: Jo Routens 650b Sold and buyers hint
Date: Wed, 18 Oct 2006 16:49:21 +0000


The subject line says it all - the frame sold nearly instantly.

Mike Kone in Boulder CO
> Hi CR folks,
>
> Sitting in front of me is a Jo Routens 650b frame that is a diamond in the
> rough. Probably late 50's or early 60's. Routens bikes have a reputation for
> being great riders, although they are often a bit heavy (such as this one).
> Routens is generally considered to be part of the big three of French
> constructures - the other two being Herse and Singer. (not that there weren't
> other greats, but those are even rarer).
>
> This one is about 57is to top, a smidge under 56 to center, with a roughly 55
> top tube cc. It is a frame / fork with shifters and a painfully cool cable
> actuated front Routens deraillieur. It needs a repaint for sure, although the
> downtube decal is pretty legible. The frame has a headbadge.
>
> Two notable other issues I've caught - there is a rather big dent on the top
> tube near the headlug, and on one of the rear cantiliver bosses the tube portion
> that the canti slides over is missing. Not sure if that has to be brazed
> (should be able to grab parts from a canti and fix, but may need to be brazed
> on, not sure how those went together). The dent is a bummer, but I sense that
> the tubing is pretty thick on this frame so some body work before repaint is
> probably going to do the trick.
>
> The only really proprietary part missing on this machine is the front rack (all
> the other parts are missing too, but the rack is tricky).
>
> Price on this is $500 including ground shipping within the US insured. After
> paint, I bet you could be into this frame for less than some of the modern Asian
> frames sell for new - and this one should ride great and is the real thing.
>
> Mike Kone in Boulder CO