Bespoke Settle Questions

[Tobias Rodriguez]

I like the look of this, I’ve resisted so far because I don’t know enough about Norris’ frames. I know he was highly regarded as a frame builder. The 631 decal if correct dates it to1997 or later, I don’t know when he stopped building frames, if he ever used 631, if this is one of his designs, if he used aluminum forks? Was most or all of his work lugged? Is this a Bespoke?

Any info on the frame would be very much appreciated.

Thanks

 

[bulgie]

I chatted with Norris a few times over email and he was active on another forum, but I never visited his shop. I can't quite imagine him getting into TIG welding, though maybe he was more modern than I thought. We only talked about older bikes, from back before TIG joinery was a thing.

His Flickr mostly has pictures of his vintage bike collection, mostly other brands, mostly French. But you can search within his Flickr on the word Bespoke.
Like this: https://www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=13898995@N08&view_all=1&text=bespoke

At a glance, I'm seeing mostly lugged with a few lugless — what we in the US call fillet brazed, I believe you lot call it bronze welded. But I haven't seen any TIG-welded examples, in my less-than-exhaustive search. Please let us know if you find that he really did TIG on Bespoke frames.

 

[bulgie]

I like the look of this, I’ve resisted so far because I don’t know enough about Norris’ frames. I know he was highly regarded as a frame builder. The 631 decal if correct dates it to1997 or later, I don’t know when he stopped building frames, if he ever used 631, if this is one of his designs, if he used aluminum forks? Was most or all of his work lugged? Is this a Bespoke?

Any info on the frame would be very much appreciated.

Thanks

I posted some info but my post says "This message is awaiting moderator approval, and is invisible to normal visitors."

I'm not trying to get around the mods, just wondering why, but my guess is I included a link. That probably triggers worries about spam, rightfully so, spam is a scourge.

My link was to Norris's account on a popular photo-sharing site. You can probably find it on your own; his username there is "cyclecrank".

My point was to show that of all the Bespoke frames there, none (that I saw) were TIG welded. The one you're looking at is TIGged, but that doesn't prove it's not Norris's — it could be that he learned to TIG himself, or he might have gotten someone else to do the welding. I think it does make your unusual though. Most of his were lugged, or lugless bronze-welded (fillet brazed)

Hey since your name is Rodriguez, maybe you should look for a Rodriguez frame. They're made in Seattle (USA) not Settle, but well made. I worked there from '79 to '84 (has it really been over 40 years?) Rodriguez made his own frames in the '70s, then turned the framebuilding over to employees such as myself. He's long retired but the shop still makes great frames. Mostly TIG these days but you can still get a lugged one if you ask.

Mr. Rodriguez also sold stock frames that were private-labeled as Rodriguez but made by Tonard in Croydon. We got them in bare steel, painted and decaled them in-house. That would be funny if one of those came back home to the UK. They're quite respectably made; I'd take one over say a Holdsworth or Bob Jackson of that era (mid- to late-'70s). I know, I know, who cares about such old obsolete stuff eh? Well I'm old and obsolete so I don't mind.

I just realized, the bike I'm on in my avatar pic is a '79 Rodriguez, one that I made not a Tonard.

 

[Nob]

I’ve had two of his frames in the past & he never used Tig on his frames & those tig welds on that frame look very untidy so could be he had ago at Tig but I’d be very surprised as he wouldn’t make or sell frames that are not to his high standards back in the day.

 

[Canuk]

It could be a bought in frame, badged up by Norris. The forks are probably not contemporary to the frame. It looks nice though, but I'd be putting a ceiling of £100 on it with non original forks

 

[Tobias Rodriguez]

Thank you all for your replies.

I did check out the lovely frames on the Flickr gallery and read the piece on classislighweights about some techniques and materials, 631 wasn’t mentioned at all. This is where my doubts were raised so I’m glad I asked the questions I did. It didn’t sit right, the price is cheap at £125 with offers for one, the welds, yeah not too pretty and only quality stuff passed through Norris’ business.

I think I’ll pass, although I do like the look of it still. The reason I was considering it is after changing the pedals and saddle on a fairly recent purchase, I needed to change the saddle height and guess what? Yes, the post is seized. I was thinking of transferring everything onto this frame set (except the stem and bars) for a quick win.

As for the Rodriguez, luckily it is an alias because I have seen a complete bike on eBay for about £800 from memory, they do like lovely machines. Nice profile pic by the way.

I need another bike/frame like a hole in the head, I’m glad I didn’t buy the black and gold Uno stem I was thinking of using on it so thanks again for your replies.