denaffen

I'm trying to figure out which Trek model this is from the craptacular photo posted. Hoping maybe someone here may know.

jbz255 

1984 420L maybe?
https://cocosvariety.com/products/vi...e-vintage-trek

denaffen

Thanks, I think you're right!

What's the consensus on the 420? I see here (https://vintage-trek.com/images/trek/84Trek_23.jpg) the stays and fork are high-tensile. Is it considered a cheap gas-pipe bike or actually pretty nice?

I have an 83 Trek 640, which is a lovely bike to ride. Is the 420 nearly as nice, albeit lower down the range, or is it not even close?

The Golden Boy 

Yes.

realdahon

Yes, my father had similar.

The Golden Boy 

The 420 was the only mixte Trek officially released.

It's a Tange Mangaloy frame with Hi-Ten stays and fork- it's a lower mid level bike.

In those days, Trek did not put out garbage. You'll often hear "Trek's entry level bikes are most other companies' mid level bikes" and it's true. Take a look around the forum and you'll see plenty of people that have and love 400 series Treks; and people who have had and love their 400 series Treks for many, many years.

Any 600 series bike will have a butted 531 main frame and the fork and stays will be made of either CrMo or a Mn alloy. Your 640 is a racing bike as well as higher level bike and will have higher level components on it, it'll most likely be lighter than most any sport- sport/touring- touring bike.

I had a regular framed 420. It was a really nice riding bike. I will say that that is the one bike that I've ridden that I've been surprised that I rode as long and as far as I did and still felt fresh. I was bummed about only having one bottle boss. There were 2 reasons I sold that bike, one is that I was being snobby ("it's not 531") and 2; Junior's little friend needed a bike for college- he still had it and rode it after college. I would have kept the bike except for #2.

I would say, if you wanted a mixte, the 420 is a very good bike and even worthy of upgrading to more fancy or modern parts.
__________________

denaffen

Thanks, that's pretty much perfect info for my purposes. I appreciate it!

As an aside, I work with the VA myself!

ClydeClydeson

There is nothing inherently wrong with using a non-4130 alloy of steel, or 'hi ten'. IT all depends on the execution, and Trek bikes are very high quality. Yes, they can make a lighter bike out of more exotic alloys, but the bit of extra weight doesn't mean that it's a bad bike. Yes, many bad bikes (or BSOs) are made from 'Hi ten' but they are crap because they are crap, not because of the specific alloy.