Help! Roberts Frame

[8mph]

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this frame. Here are some objective facts.

49cm steel.
Road brakes.
Cable guides for front and rear mechs.
2 x bottle cages.
Roberts dropouts.
No rack mounts on forks.

Other observations.

Looks wrong fitted with 700c wheels.

Frame feels quite robust.

The frame has a very short head tube and horizontal top tube.

Serial number on bb shell reads 1092

Thanks in advance

Edit: Rear spacing is 130mm

 

[midlife]

Look a like a small Roberts road frame. Nice, not sure what else to add, apart from maybe 10th Frame 1992

 

[goldcoastjon]

I ride frames about that size and it looks normal to me. Why do you say it "looks wrong" with 700Cs? It seems normal for that size from the photos for a 1980s-1990s frame. What are the brake drop measurements front and rear (vertical distance, CTC, from the brake bolt hole to the rim center)?

The model name ("MultiSport") and the fact that your rear clearance is 130mm also tend to reinforce the 700C wheel size, although you *might* have a frame that was designed to also accommodate 650A (narrow road tires, slightly smaller than 700Cs) or 650B (wider) wheels.

The brake drop measurement will tell all - or at least most. ;-)
If the shop that sold the bike/frame originally is still around you could also ask them.

 

[Cycleops]

I'd assume you want to deal with the rust patches, unless you intend refinishing it. You might just get a good match in that shade in a nail polish.
That chainstay spacing near the BB looks quite generous. Trying to figure out what 'Multi Sport' might refer to?

 

[8mph]

I'd assume you want to deal with the rust patches, unless you intend refinishing it. You might just get a good match in that shade in a nail polish.
That chainstay spacing near the BB looks quite generous.

 

[8mph]

I ride frames about that size and it looks normal to me. Why do you say it "looks wrong" with 700Cs? It seems normal for that size from the photos for a 1980s-1990s frame. What are the brake drop measurements front and rear (vertical distance, CTC, from the brake bolt hole to the rim center)?

The model name ("MultiSport") and the fact that your rear clearance is 130mm also tend to reinforce the 700C wheel size, although you *might* have a frame that was designed to also accommodate 650A (narrow road tires, slightly smaller than 700Cs) or 650B (wider) wheels.

The brake drop measurement will tell all - or at least most. ;-)
If the shop that sold the bike/frame originally is still around you could also ask them.

Well, it's reassuring that it looks normal to you. I'll try fitting some short reach brake calipers.

 

[8mph]

@goldcoastjon it's the first time I've worked on such a small frame. You were right, short reach brakes fit fine and with a few more parts on, it's starting to come together nicely

 

[biggs682]

@8mph have you contacted Roberts to see if they have any extra details i think there's a face book page for Roberts

Looks at home on 700's to me

 

[8mph]

@8mph have you contacted Roberts to see if they have any extra details i think there's a face book page for Roberts

Looks at home on 700's to me

@biggs682
Thanks, I'll take a look. In any case, build is underway!

 

[Paulus]

@biggs682
Thanks, I'll take a look. In any case, build is underway!

View attachment 696794

Starting to look good👍

 

[8mph]

Starting to look good👍

That would be the decals!

 

[T4tomo]

Looks wrong fitted with 700c wheels.

It would looker wronger with 27"

 

[8mph]

It would looker wronger with 27"

Indeed, much wronger!

 

[midlife]

….and would probably look wrong on 650b

 

[T4tomo]

Indeed, much wronger!

well 4mm wrongerer or 8mm depending on how you look at it.

lovely colour btw.