Legacy models
Dip into our heritage with a look at some of our previous models…
SP1
Taking its name from its status as the first bike we built, this is SP1 (Special Project Number One).
A blend of stable road manners, lightness, and the beautiful artisan craftwork of a straight steel fork. Frame tubes are a slim 853 selection. It sits on plump 28mm tyres, Mavic Exalith SL wheels and a Campagnolo groupset.
We kept its raw lacquer finish from new – in line with its status as a special project build.
RX55
A fast audax chassis on a classic slim 853 ProTeam tubeset, made this our most popular ever bike.
Much loved by its owners, it is kept for best by some whilst being thrashed by others. This is the bike that elite rider Dannielle Khan has done many years of her base professional training on.
Sweet handling, versatile and definitely in the tough gang.
RC44
The RC44 was a punchy riposte to the SP1 with a twist in its DNA. Named after the special i/d44mm headtubes that Reynolds made for us, it was based on a bigger diameter 853 ProTeam tubeset with monster seat stays shot in high above the top tube.
It turned out to be live and direct on its first rides. With appropriate wheels it has been a fast and comfortable summer bike for those that love speed and swift handling. It has brought so much love to its many riders.
A Mark 2 version had disc braking compatability and a tiny tweak to fork geometry. Limited production numbers made this a rare bird on the road.
SP2
This bike was designed as the spiritual successor to the SP1, the first Bullfinch model. In contrast to the RC44, we reverted to a slimmer tubeset for comfort but tweaked the ride feel and handling with the addition of an Enve fork. It features a close replication of the slacker relaxed geometry of the SP1.
The result? A sublime rider’s bike for those wanting to ditch the Garmin, the power meters and the chain gang – we saw this as simple road sophistication.
VX
The VX was our first bike designed from the ground up in the disc brake era. Tubeless tyre systems and disc braking now allowed us freedom from the constraints of calliper brakes.
Born of this radical moment, this bike was heir to the very popular RX55. Similar in chainstay length and head angles, it too has provision for mudguards and a rack. But it was born to a world of wider tyres for comfort, grip, and better system damping.
Designed to max out on 30mm tyres, today it still rides with that wonderful feel of steel with the planted sensation of 60-70psi and 30mm rubber.
nota bene
Every bike above, from the date Bullfinch was established in 2015 until 2021, was hand built in our Solihull workshop using fillet brazing techniques on Bicycle Academy jig fixtures.
Since then we have developed a three way UK engineering partnership between ourselves, Enigma Bicycle Works and Reynolds, the famous Birmingham-based tube manufacturer. It is a partnership that brings together legendary custom tubesets, state-of-the-art UK frame building and our unique design and engineering vision.
Take a look at the latest Bullfinch model, the V6, here.