Redline Touring Bicycles

On this page: 54cm, 56cm & 58cm Redline Metro Classic touring bike | 54cm Redline Metro Sport

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Linn Kasten was a partner in Redline, which made parts for motorcycles. In 1973 he decided to make a lightweight steel BMX frame for his son for Christmas. At the time, BMX was new and kids were converting heavy Schwinn Sting Ray twenty-inch bikes into dirt bikes.

Kasten gave the bike a lot of thought. The frame he made for his son turned out to be a seminal design, truly important in bicycle history. First of all, Kasten TIG-welded the tubing when he made the frame, proving lightweight steel bicycle frame tubing could both be welded as well as low-temperature brazed. Over time, the frame proved to be capable of taking enormous abuse.

By raising the bottom bracket to give the crank arms more clearance in corners compared to the Schwinn Sting-Ray and making the frame out of durable, strong and light cro-moly tubing, Kasten created the modern BMX frame. That led to his next invention, the tubular, welded cromoly fork, which is now used on most bikes today that don't have suspension forks. Kasten kept on innovating, creating his own signature handlebars and cranksets. The company thrived under his ownership.

Kasten sold Redline to Seattle Bicycle Supply in 1988. The new owner expanded the line, and Red Line now produces mountain, cyclocross and road bikes.

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54, 56, 58 cm Redline Metro Classic. New, $1,000

In stock:
Black: 58cm seat tube x 58.5cm top tube. Photos

Purple/blue: 54cm, 56cm. Photos

Here's how Redline described its Metro Classic: Commuter, touring, gravel fondo, adventure rides, all of this is possible on the Metro Classic. Classic, because it retains a 4130 double butted chromoly frame and fork and a great ride quality that is timeless. The combination of classic materials and look, paired with disc brakes, STI shifters and triple crankset make this a very versatile bicycle.

The component specs of the Redline Metro Classic black bike:

• Avid BB5 disc brakes with G2C 160mm rotors. Rear brake is mounted on the chain stay for ease of rack installation.
• Alloy 32-hole disc-brake hubs laced to Alex Race 24 rims with Sapim stainless steel spokes.
• Schwalbe Lugano 700x25 folding tires with Presta Valve tubes.
• Aerodynamic flat top handlebar
• Shimano Tiagra crankset 175mm arms and 30/40/50 chainrings. The bottom bracket uses outboard bearings.
• Shimano Tiagra STI shifters with Tiagra front and rear derailleurs.
• Shimano Tiagra 4600 10-speed cassette, 12-28.
• KMC X10 chain.
• FSA Orbit MX sealed headset
• XLC 31.8mm handlebar and stem.
• Velo saddle with rivets.
• Pedals are not included.

The components of the purple/blue Metro Classics slightly differ from the specs of the black bike in this way:

• FSA Vero cranks with a square taper
• Hutchinson GT 28c tires, 70 - 100 psi

Photos of 58cm Redline Metro Classic bike:

Wide range gears, comfortable riding position and a resilient steel frame make this a superb, go-anywhere road bike. The steering tube has not been cut, allowing us to perfectly fit the bike to the rider. Though this pictured bike has pedals, they are not included at the posted price.

The Redline Metro from the other side, showing the disc brakes.

The cockpit. Those are disc-specific rims that have more material in the center, where the spokes connect with the rim. The rims are designed to stand up to the powerful torque from braking at the hub.

Here's a close-up of the bars before they are wrapped, showing their flatter, wider profile

Here's a more head-on view of the bars.

The business end of the bike

Close-up of the Avid mechanical disc brake, mounted on the chainstay

Photos of purple/blue Redline Metro Sport Classic:

To avoid scratches, we didn't insert the post very far.

Here's the FSA Vero crankset that comes on the purple/blue bikes.

And the Hutchinson GT 28c tires, 70 psi

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54cm Redline Metro Sport bicycle. New, $900.00; Lightly used, $800.00

Part# 96260

• We have two of these bikes. One new (in pictures below) and one lightly used.
• 54cm (73°) seat tube x 54.7cm top tube; Head tube is 72°
• Standover height is 79.3cm
• Frame is 6061-T6 Tig-welded steel; Fork is Chromoly with a 1 1/8" steering tube
• Crankset: FSA Tempo 172.5mm with 52/42/30 tooth rings
• Control group is Shimano Claris: STI shifter, 8-speed rear derailleur & 31.8mm clamp-on front
• Cassette: Shimano HG50 12-25
• Brakes: Pro-Max Render-R Mechanical disc brakes with 160mm rotor
• Additional set of Cross brake levers on the bar tops to act as secondary brake levers.
• Bar & stem: XLC alloy drop bar, 26.0 with 12cm drop; stem is XLC alloy 26.0 with 17-degree rise
• Wheels: 36-hole hubs laced to Alex DH-19 double-wall rims with Kenda Euro Trek 700 x 32 tires

Here is the new one. Side view. Wide gearing and a comfortable position will let you get where you want to go.

Front view

From the back

Head-on view. You can see those supplemental brake levers on the tops. No matter where your hands are, there is a brake lever waiting.