1995 Claud Butler Professional Frame/Forks - Reynolds 653 - Stripped/Clear Coat - Webbed Lugs

It's with a heavy heart that I've decided to sell this frameset. It's so cool to look at but realistically I don't think I'm ever going to get a chance to ride it as much as I'd like.

Bought it last summer as a bike complete with its tired-looking blue and white fade paint job. I sent it away for a strip and clear coat and it came out really well! The lugs and brazing that's now on show is amazing. The forks are nice too!

I built it up in June 2021 with a Campag Groupset and never rode it - our son was born in July and I'm getting no miles in whatsoever so I'm passing it on.

It measures 54x54, 27mm seat post (included), 130mm rear spacing, recessed brake mounts for modern calipers. Tight clearances - 700x20 tyres were the original spec for this bike and 23s don't fit. Another interesting feature is that the chainstays have holes in, presumably for keeping temps down when brazing, but could be utilised for Di2 wiring for rear mech? Am no expert but thought it's worth calling out.

There's one area where the clear coat seems to not have stuck to the frame and that's on the drive side seat stay/chain stay area - see pics. If I was keeping it then some clear nail varnish would probably do the job here.

More pictures here:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/4fCx7rch4KkqLCro8

Included is

*Frame
*Forks
*Headset (original)
*Seatpost (original)
*Brand new 653 frame and fork stickers purchased from Reynolds
*Claud Butler serial number frame sticker
*Downtube cable bosses

I can include a pair of new (fitted and never worn) 20mm Michelin dynamic classics for an extra £15

£180 collected from Oxfordshire, can post via Parcelforce for around £20 fully insured

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Very nice frame. What a candidate for a 650b build! Good luck with sale!

Lovely frames these.. also built in 853 too.
Possibly some of the last mass produced frame in UK.

Oh. Good job that’s too small. Amazing.

Wow those lugs.

Cheers all!

@absurdbird

Those lugs…

Weekend bump 🙂

hey! still for sale?

Hello, yes it is @charlottegrace

pm'd

Beauty of a frame, would love to get some 650b x 38mm on this, same OD as 700 x 19

Beautiful looking bike, I’ve got one and they are great. I can (just about) squeeze 25s on it. They ride really well.

GLWS.

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Still available 😊

gone :)

Classy build that

I’ve got one of these 653 Pros in really good condition, not much info about them on the web, anyone have any idea on what it would be worth for insurance purposes?

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Last year I picked up a complete 853 Pro with an 11 speed Athena groupset for £350, which I thought was a good deal. Nowhere near as good condition as yours, personally I'd guestimate £5-600 for insurance.

Yeah I'd say around £500 too. You could try and find out how much they were new back in the 90s and calculate the equivalent price to replace as like-for-like as possible nowadays?

Makes me miss mine, however life moves on.

Thanks for the quick replies. It’s a lovely bike. There is only minimal age related marks on the frame, I’ve fitted new tyres, bar tape and cables, refitted the original Stem that was with the bike. I don’t think the saddle is original and the shifters I’ve replaced with the later Avanti ergo style that are more like the Veloce shifters from 1998 onwards, but still 8 speed as the original left shifter was not holding gears. Other than that, it’s just had a good clean. The original tyres were still fitted and although perished were like new so I don’t think it’s done many miles.