martwa

I'm restoring a 1983 Trek 520 for sale and would like to use the original handlebar tape color. The frame is "Gun Metal Blue" and the 1983 Trek brochure shows a frame this color with a light blue tape. Was it standard practice for Trek to use this frame/tape color combination or did tape colors vary?

My wife bought the bike new, but quickly switched to foam grips, and I can't remember the original color. I'm pretty sure it wasn't black or white. The bike is all original except for the Tange chromoly fork; original fork was dinged in Chicago traffic 3 days after she bought it!

Thanks for any info you can provide.

ryansu

I see the same thing you on the vintage Trek site. You might want check out the colors on offer from Newbaum's and I think RJ the bike guy has a video on wrapping the bars with cloth tape as they did at the factory. Good luck with the project .


Personally for Bar tape I usually go with what I think looks good and will feel comfortable on rides and don't worry to much about exactly duplicating what it was like from the factory. YMMV.

seypat

You need to tell us more about the incident that damaged the original fork. That incident might have slightly bent the TT and DT at the head tube. I hope that is not case, but the pictures aren't promising. We'll see what others say.

martwa

Thanks for taking such a close look at the pics. Here’s the sad story...

An electrician’s van make a left turn in front of my wife, and the front wheel hit the side of the van head on. The fork was bent, but no damage to the Super Champ rim. As I recall, the front wheel didn’t even need to be trued.

We took the bike to Oak Park Cyclery in the Chicago area where the bike was purchased 3 days earlier. They assessed the damage, said the frame and wheel were ok, and ordered the replacement fork. My wife continued to use the bike, and it rode fine.

When I started the restoration, I placed a straight edge along the top of the DT and TT. On the DT, I saw a gap of about 1/16” between the straight edge and the DT at the head tube lug. I didn’t see any gap on the TT. This probably isn’t the best method, but it’s all I could come up with.

I realize the bike isn’t perfect, but it is in very nice shape, and I’m ready to offer it at a ridiculously low price to someone who’s interested.

Thanks again for your help,

Marty

ryansu

Usually in a front end crash if there is damage to the frame you see paint blistering on the TT and down tube behind the lugs. Like in the picture below.



note parallel rust spots on top and down tubes

specialmonkey

I've used this (Ambrosio Bike Ribbon Professional Supermetallizzato):

https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Old-Sto...e/390481602975

on a blue bike here, it looks pretty sharp -- has fine metal flakes apparently -- and is pretty comfortable, could be close to period correct, but not sure it will match your 520.

The Golden Boy 

FWIW- my 1984 Trek 420 came with Benotto bar tape.

martwa

I tried to get a few closeups of the top and down tube lugs. Do you think it's safe to conclude this frame doesn't have any front end damage? Sorry to have this start as a bar tape question and evolve into crash damage. Thanks for your thoughts on bar tape, and I'll start another thread if the crash question needs more examination.

bikemig 

Given that it's been looked over by a shop and you've looked it over as well, I suspect the damage--if any--is slight. There should be some dimpling or deformation on the down tube and/or top tube if there is any front end damage. If you can't feel anything, the frame is likely fine.

madpogue 

See if you can get a photo of the gap you saw when using the straightedge, and send it to Andy @ Yellow Jersey. This is right up his alley. If you're still in the Chicago area, it might be worth the 4-ish-hour drive.

seypat

Back to bar tape. Black would be a safe bet. If you like the way it looks currently, Fizik makes a silver that is close to chrome and shiny.

martwa

Thanks to everyone for their thoughts on bar tape and frame damage. I listed the bike for $175 on Craigslist in Manhattan KS, and have a buyer making a 5 hour round trip drive from NE to buy it. I went with Neubaums dark grey bar tape, and RJTheBikeGuy's video on vintage Trek bar tape was very helpful ( ). The gray tape is ok, but after seeing it installed, I think the light blue as shown in the Trek brochure would be better.

Thanks again,

Marty

The Golden Boy 

Marty- it's a sharp lookin' bike!

It sounds like it's going to someone who's going to enjoy it!

bear_a_bug 

Interesting triple crankset. What is it?

SurferRosa

Newbaum's gives you so much tape, you can cut off a few strips to use around the lever bands before you start so you don't end up with those bare spots.