PRESERVATION BICYCLE #12 1987 Bridgestone MB-1!!!
A 1987 Bridgestone MB-1!
This might be the most excited I’ve ever been about a Preservation Bike! This is exactly why I launched the Preservation Bike program… to preserve and give new life to historic bicycles like this 1987 Bridgestone MB-1! Bridgestone Bicycles (especially the Bridgestone America Bikes from 1985- 1994 designed by Grant Petersen) have a massive cult following. Some consider them the best fleet of steel bicycles ever built. Check out this Bridgestone bicycle article or scan through all of the old Bridgestone Catalogs here to learn more.
1985 was the first year of the Iconic MB-1 series. This 1987 model is pretty special though because it originally came with a dirt drop handlebar. Dirt drop setups are all the rage these day, and this one was 30 years ahead of the trend. This particular one has had a few alterations. I won’t use the word “upgrades,” because the original parts were incredible, but if you read some of the history below (and please do), I think the changes were justifiable. We’re including one of two possible forks with the adoption in case you want to go back to full rigid. Neither are the original grey color, but if we find one, we’ll trade you straight across.
So the paint isn’t in great shape, and there’s some rust here and there, but the frame (Tange Prestige tubing… the best!) is rock solid and begging to become someone’s ultimate daily commuter. It isn’t going to turn many heads riding down the road, but you’ll be the belle of the ball to all who those who know what it is. Guaranteed you’ll have someone freak out about it once a week!
PRESERVATION BICYCLE NUMBER #12
MAKE: Bridgestone
MODEL: MB-1 (Mountain Bike #1)
YEAR/AGE: 1987
SIZE: 19.5 in. 5’6 - 5’10 ( 5’8-ish depending on inseam WOULD PROBABLY BE PERFECT)
ADOPTION FEE: $150 + you must fill out a 1 question application (At BBP or email Jimmy@boisebicycleproject.org).
My name is ______ and my plan for this bicycle is ______
(1-15 sentences)
RECOMMENDED REPAIRS:
BASIC: Repairs will be all about taking it completely apart, cleaning off all the rust (with steel wool, persistence and love), and re-greasing everything. New cables and housing probably. A new chain and cassette wouldn’t hurt. Probably a new fork, as in it’s rideable but the shock isn’t real shocking anymore and needs to be replaced. I’m going to guess 4-5 hours of shop time and $20 in used parts and $40 in new parts. We’ll throw in one of the two forks you see pictured for free.
BETTER: Same as above, but consider swapping out the handlebar with something a little more swoopy/swept back. Find a nice saddle. Pop in a sealed bottom bracket. Upgrade to some decent 26’’ slick tires. Maybe add a rear/front rack. $40 in used parts and $60 in new parts.
BEST (because why not): Figure out the biggest slick/semi slick tire you can fit (Schwalbe Big Apples and Table Tops or Maxxis DTHs are great, bonus points for tan sidewalls).
A Nitto Mustache Handlebar with bar-end shifters would be a great throwback to it’s original dirt drop build with an XO-1 twist. You’ll also need to switch back to road brake levers and maybe cantilever breaks (BBP has some used for cheap). Or find a bullmoose handlebar and you could switch less stuff out and still have a great 1985 MB-1 look (BBP probably has one laying around).
Maybe loose the front derailleur and turn it into a 1x7. Add a leather Brooks B-17 saddle as usual. And if you really want to go full “BBP commuter hipster dork”, add a front rack with a zip-tied basket and big rear saddle bag. Oh what an incredible ride this would be!
You’re probably looking at $50 in used parts, $300 in new parts, and the $150 adoption fee. Under $500 for one of the best bikes ever made!
BICYCLE HISTORY:
So I know a little about the history of this one. Bridgestones like the MB-1 were built in Japan (with Japanese Tange Steel) and assembled in a handful of bikes shops across America. This one was purchased here in Boise, and the original owner’s daughter donated it to BBP. It originally came with road bars and rigid fork, but after a while the original owner “upgraded” it with flat bars and shock to better handle daily dirt road and trail commuting in McCall, Idaho. At one point, this bicycle was ridden from McCall to Chicago, the first leg of the journey entirely on dirt roads closed to vehicular traffic through Frank Church Wilderness of No Return.
Now it’s ready for the next leg of the journey! Build it up right and you’ll have a commuting/touring bicycle you can pass on to your grandkids!