Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Classic & Vintage
Reload this Page >

Two Vintage Trek in 7 days

Search
Notices
Classic & Vintage This forum is to discuss the many aspects of classic and vintage bicycles, including musclebikes, lightweights, middleweights, hi-wheelers, bone-shakers, safety bikes and much more.

Two Vintage Trek in 7 days

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 10-28-20, 09:40 PM
  #1  
Lbxpdx
Full Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Portland
Posts: 357
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 161 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 267 Times in 98 Posts
Two Vintage Trek in 7 days

Last week I bought a 1991 Trek 990 as a winter project. While looking for a decent set of used tires on local online listings, I came across a bike that piqued my interest. It was listed as a 70/80’s Trek mountain bike, but from the pictures all I could see was an old bike with RRB Cycles logo’s on the frame and forks. I figured it was worth checking out.

When I got there I did notice that it was a Trek and that the serial number dates to 1983. Due to the large the spacing for the wheels and a little research, I realized that it is a 1983 Trek 850 mountain bike. The bike was the seller’s father’s bike, who was originally from Chicago, but no one in his family rode bicycles. His father had passed a few years ago, so it was time to sell it.

I didn’t need another bike, but since this one seems mostly original, minus the seat, wheels and grips and it has some cool historical significance, I decided I needed to rescue it.

I’m curious as to why and old Trek would be repainted and littered with RRB Cycles logo. Any ideas?


Lbxpdx is offline  
Old 10-29-20, 07:38 AM
  #2  
dmark 
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: NJ
Posts: 626

Bikes: 68 SS, 72 Fuji Finest, 72 PX-10, 77 Pana Pro 7000, 84 Pinnarello Treviso NR, 84 Trek 520, 88 Project KOM, 90 Trek 750, 91 Trek 930

Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 184 Post(s)
Liked 204 Times in 142 Posts
Nice; those are the longest chainstays I have ever seen.
__________________
Last new bike 1991
dmark is offline  
Old 10-29-20, 09:07 AM
  #3  
3speedslow
Senior Member
 
3speedslow's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Jacksonville, NC
Posts: 9,338

Bikes: A few

Mentioned: 117 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1942 Post(s)
Liked 1,073 Times in 637 Posts
Sad dressings for many a commuter’s bikes? The constant threat of bike theft.
3speedslow is offline  
Old 10-29-20, 09:31 AM
  #4  
OldsCOOL
Senior Member
 
OldsCOOL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: northern michigan
Posts: 13,317

Bikes: '77 Colnago Super, '76 Fuji The Finest, '88 Cannondale Criterium, '86 Trek 760, '87 Miyata 712

Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 659 Post(s)
Liked 595 Times in 313 Posts
Nice vintage mountain bike. They can and do take quite a thrashing.
OldsCOOL is offline  
Old 10-29-20, 09:35 AM
  #5  
clubman 
Phyllo-buster
 
clubman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 8,847

Bikes: roadsters, club bikes, fixed and classic

Mentioned: 133 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2298 Post(s)
Liked 2,054 Times in 1,254 Posts
Stretch that Deerhead gear!
It's a real beauty, XC Pro pedals and the pump behind the seat tube looks great.

Last edited by clubman; 10-29-20 at 09:48 AM.
clubman is offline  
Old 10-29-20, 09:45 AM
  #6  
Doug Fattic 
framebuilder
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Niles, Michigan
Posts: 1,471
Mentioned: 50 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 615 Post(s)
Liked 1,916 Times in 656 Posts
Ron Boi (RRB Cycles) was a north Chicago frame builder and painter. The owner probably wanted it repainted and it looked pretty plain with no decals and getting Trek decals might have been a problem (or at least somewhat of a bother). Didn't Ron close his shop a few years ago?
Doug Fattic is offline  
Old 10-29-20, 09:59 AM
  #7  
dedhed
SE Wis
 
dedhed's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 10,515

Bikes: '68 Raleigh Sprite, '02 Raleigh C500, '84 Raleigh Gran Prix, '91 Trek 400, 2013 Novara Randonee, 1990 Trek 970

Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2747 Post(s)
Liked 3,396 Times in 2,056 Posts
deerhead alone was worth the price of admission.
dedhed is offline  
Old 10-29-20, 12:35 PM
  #8  
SurferRosa
señor miembro
 
SurferRosa's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Pac NW
Posts: 6,626

Bikes: '70s - '80s Campagnolo

Mentioned: 92 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3888 Post(s)
Liked 6,485 Times in 3,209 Posts
Two vintage Trek in seven days
I approve of the plural use of Trek here, like deer or fish. With the approval of the board, we can make the appropriate change in the c&v dictionary.
SurferRosa is offline  
Likes For SurferRosa:
Old 10-29-20, 03:38 PM
  #9  
djm323
Newbie
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 22
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
RRB Cycles

Originally Posted by Doug Fattic
Ron Boi (RRB Cycles) was a north Chicago frame builder and painter. The owner probably wanted it repainted and it looked pretty plain with no decals and getting Trek decals might have been a problem (or at least somewhat of a bother). Didn't Ron close his shop a few years ago?
RRB closed their Kenilworth shop in December 2019 after closing their Lake Geneva location a couple years earlier. Ron (Ron R Boi) and Wally may still be doing frame repairs.
djm323 is offline  
Old 10-29-20, 04:56 PM
  #10  
The Golden Boy 
Extraordinary Magnitude
 
The Golden Boy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Waukesha WI
Posts: 13,647

Bikes: 1978 Trek TX700; 1978/79 Trek 736; 1984 Specialized Stumpjumper Sport; 1984 Schwinn Voyageur SP; 1985 Trek 620; 1985 Trek 720; 1986 Trek 400 Elance; 1987 Schwinn High Sierra; 1990 Miyata 1000LT

Mentioned: 84 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2608 Post(s)
Liked 1,702 Times in 937 Posts
Originally Posted by SurferRosa
I approve of the plural use of Trek here, like deer or fish. With the approval of the board, we can make the appropriate change in the c&v dictionary.
Don't forget the proper use of the word "piqued."
__________________
*Recipient of the 2006 Time Magazine "Person Of The Year" Award*

Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!

"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
The Golden Boy is offline  
Likes For The Golden Boy:
Old 10-29-20, 07:14 PM
  #11  
madpogue 
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Madison, WI USA
Posts: 6,154
Mentioned: 50 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2363 Post(s)
Liked 1,749 Times in 1,191 Posts
Originally Posted by clubman
... and the pump behind the seat tube looks great.
Pump? Shoot, you could fit a compressor behind that seat tube.

To the OP - have you looked up the serial number on vintage-trek yet?
madpogue is offline  
Old 10-29-20, 07:33 PM
  #12  
Hudson308 
Mr. Anachronism
 
Hudson308's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Somewhere west of Tobie's
Posts: 2,087

Bikes: fillet-brazed Chicago Schwinns, and some other stuff

Mentioned: 29 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 526 Post(s)
Liked 256 Times in 165 Posts
The ealy ones with lugged frame and fork crown are hard to find. Nice score!
__________________
"My only true wisdom is in knowing I have none" -Socrates
Hudson308 is offline  
Old 10-29-20, 08:05 PM
  #13  
clubman 
Phyllo-buster
 
clubman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 8,847

Bikes: roadsters, club bikes, fixed and classic

Mentioned: 133 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2298 Post(s)
Liked 2,054 Times in 1,254 Posts
Originally Posted by madpogue
Pump? Shoot, you could fit a compressor behind that seat tube.

To the OP - have you looked up the serial number on vintage-trek yet?
Maybe an e-assist motor in that geometry could attract some of us aging rigid fans when their/our tanks go empty. Someday soon.
Sacrilege, I know.
clubman is offline  
Old 10-29-20, 08:39 PM
  #14  
Lbxpdx
Full Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Portland
Posts: 357
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 161 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 267 Times in 98 Posts
Originally Posted by madpogue
Pump? Shoot, you could fit a compressor behind that seat tube.

To the OP - have you looked up the serial number on vintage-trek yet?
I have. It is 10XXXX. I can’t read the last number or two, but it is only 6 digits. That means it is an 83.
Lbxpdx is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.