bubbaman

Hello friends,
I have an appointment to look at a Trek 820 Mountain Track later this afternoon. Asking price is $75.
Seller says it has no issues, ready to ride and good tires...garage kept. Frame size 19.5. I usually do well with a 19.
I'm looking for something for low-to-moderate level trail riding. I already have a road/gravel bike, so it would not be used for that.
I appreciate your input as to the value of the bike, things to look out for when I inspect it and how well you believe it will suit my needs.

blacknbluebikes 

I have an 820. if brakes and gears work as expected, take it. great frame. for $75, what's not to like?

bubbaman

Would an 820 frame from the mid-late 90s be Chinese, Taiwan or USA made?

Flip Flop Rider

love these and have an 850..steel rides the best

blacknbluebikes 

dude, for $75, you are thinking too much.

VegasTriker

I pulled a Trek 920 Singletrack from the pile of stuff a neighbor left when he was preparing to move to Tennessee. I dated the bike to 1993 based on the date code (RC) stamped into the Shimano crank arm. This post made me wonder if it was made in USA or overseas. It has an American flag just above the bottom bracket and says Manufactured in USA on the sticker. They were still making this model here as late as the year this one was made.

I would agree with the above post. You aren't likely to get a better deal if you procrastinate.

2old

I had an 820 years ago (made in Taiwan AIR, but IMO anything with a Trek label is acceptable). Great bike and worth much more than the price I paid. Wish I still had it. If it looks clean, grab it and run like you stole it, which you did.

bubbaman

IKR, I'm going to buy it...just wanted to learn more about it first.

dedhed

Vintage Trek Bikes- Information on Steel Road Bicycles made by the Trek Bicycle Corporation, bike

Altair 4

If it's as described, I'd say it's a great price. These weren't very expensive to begin with but that doesn't mean they weren't a solid bike. I've ridden parts of the GAP (crushed limestone rail to trail) on mine and it was fine. It shifts well with a Shimano Acera RD and stops well with run-of-the-mill Tektro brakes. The only thing I changed out was the saddle - the OEM felt like I was sitting on two baseballs. I just couldn't get comfortable on it. My brother-in-law picked mine up at a garage sale and give it to me in exchange for some video work I did for him. It looks virtually brand new - paint was perfect, no wear on the tires or brake pads. The guy selling it won it in some sales contest and never rode it.

I'd view it as more of a hybrid bike rather than an actual mountain bike. Mine has a very basic RST suspension front fork so it's not up to anything technical. I'm about 99.9% positive that the 2005 was manufactured in China. Pre-COVID, I kept it in my office for mid-day sanity rides. It's back at home now.

Here's a link to details of the model on Bikepedia: https://www.bikepedia.com/Year.aspx?search=trek%20820 Price-wise, these ran between $250 to $350 new, BITD.

ShannonM

$75 for an 820 in good shape is a score, especially now, when bottom-end 90s MTBs are selling for 200 bucks.

A detailed perusal of the Vintage Trek website will pay dividends about your new ride.

If memory serves, the 800 series used lower-grade cromoly tubing throughout, I think butted main tubes and straight-gauge rear triangle? Heavier than the 900 series frames, but hell for strong, and a better-than-decent ride. My 1995 970 was the best-handling mountain bike I've ever owned, and I'd buy another one in a heartbeat.

--Shannon

Altair 4

That Bikepedia link I posted shows earlier models had cro-moly tubing, but later at simply designated as hi-tensile steel with a cro-moly seat tube..

blacknbluebikes 

original owner, 820 antelope, circa 1992,93. white with "jackson pollack" spash motif. CrMo, nice 'steel is real' feel. "biospace" triple chainring. bar-ends added, shifters replaced, tires replaced, derailleurs fine, brakes fine, no rust. third seat in 28 years. once had a babyseat (no more, they're in college), once had a rat-trap. has detachable fenders for wet days, going in my pyramid when I pass on to the two-wheeled afterlife.

bubbaman

Thank you all for your replies!
I did buy the bike.

Altair 4

Nice! Have you figured out when it was made? Looks from the 1990's. It will serve you well!

-Edit- I'm thinking it's a '94.

Wanderer

You stole it! Nice Bike.

travbikeman

Wow, that looks like a brand new bike! Well taken care of.

Doug64

Here is a real steal:

1993 brand new still in the box Trek 820 for $250.

Altair 4

What's the back story on your find?

Doug64

I was looking for an "around town" bike about 6 years ago. The 820 had a good reputation, so I looked for one my size on Craig's List and ebay. I can't remember how it was advertized but I had the high bid on ebay. I was surprised when it arrived. It was in the original box and had not been unpacked, still in its original wrappings. It was from a bike shop in Florida, who found it when they were doing a major renovation. I was also lucky to get a new Surly Long Haul Trucker Frame on ebay for about the same price. It was also new in the box. The guy decided he wanted an LHT with 26" wheel rather than the frame he bought, which used 700c wheels. I put in a very low bid and just forgot about it. He said he expected to lose a little on the deal, but not that much. It was just luck