Reynolds frame info needed please

[negaultra7]

Hi all how or what is the difference between Reynolds full double butted 531 & Reynolds three tube 531?

Neil

 

[suburbanreuben]

Full double butted is all the tubes on the bike, top and down tube, seat tube and stays a chain stays. Head tube too?
Three tube is just the front triangle in 531 with the stays in something cheaper.

 

[Midlife]

Not forgetting the forks......

Shaun

 

[David B]

I've also a hunch that on very cheap 531 frames back in the day, the tubing may not even be double-butted, only having single butts (the butted end being located where strength is needed more relative to the frame design) or just plain-gauge with a consistent inside diameter.

David

 

[Bats]

Yeah I think there was plain gauge ones.

There was even bikes sold as having 531, but when you look, it says only one tube is actually 531! No doubt still being flogged second hand these days for silly money.

 

[sawston_vulcan]

The forks were never double butted but tapered.....and at one point there was a glut of tapered forks bunged on 531 plain gauge frames....very true of many Holdsworth and CB frames.

 

[sdp2112]

Reynolds made tubes in other grades, not just 531. A frame, its forks and stays may all be 531 or only the main triangle, the forks and stays being made from a lesser grade tubing. 531 may be butted or not. Forks are taper gauge with a butt at the top, stays are not butted. Your bicycle may have a plain gauge 531 frame and 531 forks etc, or a butted 531 frame. If your bicycle is made from butted 531 only the top, down and head tubes are double butted, the seat and steerer are single butted. On a large frame it is not uncommon for the seat tiube to be plain gauge, while the other trubes are butted.