Trek or Treat Did I blow it on this one?
05-10-11, 03:05 PM
#1
soonerbills
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Trek or Treat Did I blow it on this one?
Hopefully you all can tell me something about my new to me Trek. It is a 450 Series as indicated on the TT script. I looked over the Vintage Tek pages and found very little in the way of original component set up and the such. This one has a mish mash of stuff... a Deore XT RD, Suntour Cyclone front and 105 brakes though the shifters are 105. The fellow I bought it from did put new tires on but they are a brand I am not familiar with. The wheel sets are a type I unknown to me as well. The bike will need a complete going over and I'm sure I overpaid at $200 but the frame fits me perfect and it's hard for me to find such animals.
Here's a link to more pics
https://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v1...ls/Trek%20450/
Here's a link to more pics
https://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v1...ls/Trek%20450/
05-10-11, 03:34 PM
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Well.... I would have expected a bike in better condition for $200, but you did well enough on something that is both presentable and well-built. Overhaul it and ride the hell out of it - you'll be overjoyed soon enough.
BTW - I've been to Oklahoma many, many times, and I've never seen anything out there that needed a triple applied to it.
BTW - I've been to Oklahoma many, many times, and I've never seen anything out there that needed a triple applied to it.
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05-10-11, 03:38 PM
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If everything works, it's your size, and your not buying it to flip, you made a good deal. Ride it for a while to see if you like it and keep looking for the next beauty, because love is fleeting. You find a nicer bike you can sell the 450 for no loss or keep it.
05-10-11, 06:03 PM
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Flickstand included.
05-11-11, 03:06 PM
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Score!
That is a ridable bike for $200, which even in its current state (probably just some cleaning, lubing and adjusting) is infinitely better than any new $200 bike. And infinitely cooler too. Hell I would give you $200 for it, almost no questions asked.
That is a ridable bike for $200, which even in its current state (probably just some cleaning, lubing and adjusting) is infinitely better than any new $200 bike. And infinitely cooler too. Hell I would give you $200 for it, almost no questions asked.
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05-11-11, 03:13 PM
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great looking bike. if I could find one of those frame I may over pay too
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05-11-11, 04:16 PM
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Don't forget along with the hills, there is the wind in Oklahoma... put the two together and a triple might be nice to have.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOklahoma where the dust blows freely 'cross the plain!
Or at least that's how I sing it after my 2 years there.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOklahoma where the dust blows freely 'cross the plain!
Or at least that's how I sing it after my 2 years there.
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05-11-11, 09:42 PM
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Dude, Trek made some really great frames back then. I have an '82 614 and I'm a bought and sold Trek fan because of it. $200 is a fair price, I say.
The rims are Matrix.......Trek's in-house brand. What size are those, anyway? I kept trying to find a pic that might say, but you don't have one. I'm guessing 27"??? I like the tires, too. Nice and plump.
A black Concor saddle would look really sweet on there.
The rims are Matrix.......Trek's in-house brand. What size are those, anyway? I kept trying to find a pic that might say, but you don't have one. I'm guessing 27"??? I like the tires, too. Nice and plump.
A black Concor saddle would look really sweet on there.
Last edited by thook; 05-11-11 at 10:52 PM.
05-11-11, 10:10 PM
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I like that bike. Can you share the S/N? I'm surprised you can't find the catalog pages at Vintage Trek, searching for both color combination and S/N. Based on the lugs, it's 1985 or later. There should also be a page, at least in the catalog, that explains the tubeset. It's not high $$, but it won't be a bad rider.
05-11-11, 10:17 PM
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05-11-11, 10:55 PM
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I like that bike. Can you share the S/N? I'm surprised you can't find the catalog pages at Vintage Trek, searching for both color combination and S/N. Based on the lugs, it's 1985 or later. There should also be a page, at least in the catalog, that explains the tubeset. It's not high $$, but it won't be a bad rider.
Yay Trek!
05-11-11, 11:14 PM
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I believe those are Armadillo tires you've got there. They're pretty nice, expensive tires, I think they cost about $100 for a pair.
05-12-11, 04:19 AM
#19
soonerbills
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The serial# is 197950 but I have no idea as to the proper way to decode that. I agree that the frame is an awesome piece of work. I decided to strip the bike and perform a complete rehab before putting any miles on it. On inspection I was impressed with the lug work and the finish. A new set of cables, a new chain and some new brake hoods(anyone have a source for older 105 hoods?)/pads(which ones?) are all it needs mechanically really. The tire size is 700x28c. Thanks for the rim and tire I.D! I see the mention of the 450 on Vintage Trek but was hoping to get a better idea of the original component the bike was equipped with. I'm thinking the bike was given a component upgrade but I can't be sure. I thought the Deore XT was MTB piece(I read a thing somewhere if I remember, that said Deore XT and Ultegra were of the same component level... is that true?). The BB is Ofmega Mistrial with Shimano cranks. Like I said a big mixed bags of parts.. I just don't know what's original and what's not. I can't wait to get it back together and give it a shakedown and find out how good the ride is.
Last edited by soonerbills; 05-12-11 at 04:22 AM.
05-12-11, 05:07 AM
#20
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soonerbills, First impression of your bike is that it's been fairly well cared for by one of it's previous owners. The purchase price may seem high to some, but I feel it's okay for a keeper. My personal rule of thumb is to pay for a keeper what I would've listed the bike on CL for.
My only experiance with Matrix rims are on my Trek 7000ZX mountain bike, they're pretty darn good. When researching the catalog take a look at models that are close in sequence. Some bikes aren't listed simply because they have a triple instead of a double or some other minor difference.
XT is the mountain bike equivalent to Ultegra and that RD is surely a replacement, IMHO... perhaps because the triple was installed?
Brad
My only experiance with Matrix rims are on my Trek 7000ZX mountain bike, they're pretty darn good. When researching the catalog take a look at models that are close in sequence. Some bikes aren't listed simply because they have a triple instead of a double or some other minor difference.
XT is the mountain bike equivalent to Ultegra and that RD is surely a replacement, IMHO... perhaps because the triple was installed?
Brad
05-12-11, 09:02 AM
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The serial# is 197950 but I have no idea as to the proper way to decode that. I agree that the frame is an awesome piece of work. I decided to strip the bike and perform a complete rehab before putting any miles on it. On inspection I was impressed with the lug work and the finish. A new set of cables, a new chain and some new brake hoods(anyone have a source for older 105 hoods?)/pads(which ones?) are all it needs mechanically really. The tire size is 700x28c. Thanks for the rim and tire I.D! I see the mention of the 450 on Vintage Trek but was hoping to get a better idea of the original component the bike was equipped with. I'm thinking the bike was given a component upgrade but I can't be sure. I thought the Deore XT was MTB piece(I read a thing somewhere if I remember, that said Deore XT and Ultegra were of the same component level... is that true?). The BB is Ofmega Mistrial with Shimano cranks. Like I said a big mixed bags of parts.. I just don't know what's original and what's not. I can't wait to get it back together and give it a shakedown and find out how good the ride is.
a 400 Series Trek
in size 21 (actually 21.5")
serial number of the run 197950-198049 (100 frames)
year of manufacture: 85
So yours was the first in that particular run of 400 series frames in size 21.5"
Trek was still small at that time, and their runs were limited to similar frames in similar sizes. Then they would set up for another run.
Those early Treks are real work horses and are quite sought after. Good find, enjoy it.
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05-12-11, 10:21 AM
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The internal routing of the RD cable down the chainstay is such a cool feature of these older Treks. Back when they made bikes. Does it have the Trek logo all over the lugs? Love that too.
05-12-11, 10:37 AM
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I don't know what you are WAA WAA'ing about, I don't like road bikes and
I would have bought that one for 2 bills in a heart beat!
I would have bought that one for 2 bills in a heart beat!
05-12-11, 02:46 PM
#25
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No whining here but I see posts all the time about people picking up Treks of similar years but higher up the food chain for much less than this deal. I did not hesitate to plop down the two bills when asked but still wondered if it was a good buy.. not much on knowing Trek and all you see.
Khatfull... yeah the lugs all have the Trek logo stamps(forged?) in them. Does the through frame cable guides have some kind of tube to route the cable?
Sorefeet... I found the hubs to be in excellent condition! a good cleaning and some new grease and they were good as new.
Zac... What is the diff between a 400 series and a 450? looking at your run numbers am I correct in assuming that this was the first frame produced in the run seeing that my frame is # 197950. every time i look at the frame aI notice a detail I didn't see before. The chain hangar is cast(forged?) as part of the dropout lug. Minor but cool...