1984 Trek 890 City Commuter "Urban Canyon" Bike, What to make of this beast?
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Lots of reasons I suppose; they vary from person to person...
Some people do it for aesthetics, some for nostalgia, some because they really want cushy fat tires; in my case, about four years ago- and basically as an experiment, I converted my old Trek commuter for the sake of a zippier ride while still maintaining a certain amount of loading potential (I've occasionally hauled close to 100 lbs on it, over the rack limit anyway). So I wanted a wheel with less rolling resistance that still wouldn't need constant truing. The 650bs work like a charm.
My current restoration project (which will play out over this coming year) is what appears to be an actual 650b Japanese frame from the early '80s. The geometry and measurements are off, both for typical 26" and 700c framesets, but dead-on for 650b frames; in fact it's geometry makes it almost exactly a lugged version of a VO Polyvalent with slightly longer chainstays (like the Campeur). Needless to say, for the $25 I paid for it, I'm pretty stoked to begin.
Some people do it for aesthetics, some for nostalgia, some because they really want cushy fat tires; in my case, about four years ago- and basically as an experiment, I converted my old Trek commuter for the sake of a zippier ride while still maintaining a certain amount of loading potential (I've occasionally hauled close to 100 lbs on it, over the rack limit anyway). So I wanted a wheel with less rolling resistance that still wouldn't need constant truing. The 650bs work like a charm.
My current restoration project (which will play out over this coming year) is what appears to be an actual 650b Japanese frame from the early '80s. The geometry and measurements are off, both for typical 26" and 700c framesets, but dead-on for 650b frames; in fact it's geometry makes it almost exactly a lugged version of a VO Polyvalent with slightly longer chainstays (like the Campeur). Needless to say, for the $25 I paid for it, I'm pretty stoked to begin.
Last edited by DIMcyclist; 04-29-13 at 01:52 PM.
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Just wanted to say hi to the 890 fans! I have one myself. I'm the original owner of it and I love it. I've done a lot of upgrading of it over the years but have tried to stay true to the original concept. I use it for hard park trails. I almost gave it away a couple of years ago but couldn't find anything new that I liked as much so I rebuilt it with better (in my opinion) parts where I could. Off the top of my head I have Michelin 1.75 Country Rock tires on the old Weinmann rims. They fit great and the tread is amazing. 1.75 is as much as you want to go to clear the unique front forks. Suntour XC thumb shifters, quill and pedals. Shimano cassette BB and derailleurs. I got a Suntour nos Winner Pro 5 speed freewheel to replace the old Atom. I converted it to a 10 speed and use the ground down outer ring as a gear protector. I just like the way it rides. The upright touring position is perfect for enjoying the countryside.
My other bike is a Trek Soho which is more of a city bike than the 890 was. I enjoy both.
My other bike is a Trek Soho which is more of a city bike than the 890 was. I enjoy both.
Last edited by wlsinwi; 04-27-13 at 09:49 AM.
#53
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I want an early Trek all terrain bike! Let the hunt begin!
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#55
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Me too! Me too!
Picked this up today off the local Craigslist......as found:
Feeling lucky to find it after reading this thread....can't wait to go to work on it!
Picked this up today off the local Craigslist......as found:
Feeling lucky to find it after reading this thread....can't wait to go to work on it!
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Gartenmeister, good grab. I saw that on your CL and posted it to the 'are you looking for one of these' thread. I considered finding a facilitator to ship it to me or contacting the poster to see if he'd ship it directly, but in the end, I posted the deal here and glad a bikeforums member grabbed it, and posted about it too! At one time, I would have recommended creating your own post to detail the purchase and it's restoration/modernization (or conversion to drop bars), but I was misinterpreted so you might as well keep us updated right here in this thread. It's all good. Did you pay the full asking price?? Well worth it, but even better if you saved a bit of coin to re-invest in cleaning it up.
#57
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Gave $100 for it. Certainly not the thrift store steal that others have found, but I figure it was fair for a cool frame in good shape. The bike is actually complete, working and ride-able as well.
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I have one of these bikes. I did some research and found this thread.
It is exactly like the one pictured at the top of page and same color.
I has had little use and has a small size frame and is all original except for the saddle and w/o toe clips.
It is exactly like the one pictured at the top of page and same color.
I has had little use and has a small size frame and is all original except for the saddle and w/o toe clips.
Last edited by 10 Wheels; 01-06-14 at 02:22 PM. Reason: selling
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The early lugged Trek 750s are more common than the Trek 890. They have a touring geometry, making them very versatile bikes.
They're not really hybrids; they are a modern update to the old English 3 speeds. The long wheelbase makes them more suitable for city riding than a conventional road bike.
Nice find!
They're not really hybrids; they are a modern update to the old English 3 speeds. The long wheelbase makes them more suitable for city riding than a conventional road bike.
Nice find!
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Velocommuter Commando
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Would love to have one of these. Long frames ride oh so nice. I think you scored for 100 bones.
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Heh, funny you should mention that. Close to St. Louis? I have mine listed on our own C&V sales: https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...rek-830-a.html
Same frame, this model came with Suntour instead of Shimano component (including the coveted power thumbshifters) and different bars/stem. She's a looker! If you were willing to pick it up I'm sure we could make a deal. 18" frame.
Same frame, this model came with Suntour instead of Shimano component (including the coveted power thumbshifters) and different bars/stem. She's a looker! If you were willing to pick it up I'm sure we could make a deal. 18" frame.
#64
Senior Member
C&V sacrilege, blasphemy:
I found this in the discard pile at a local charity, Seasonal Workers Program bike rental. I do work for them, tuning and repairing bikes for the upcoming season of workers flooding in from away. Generally, eastern Europe and Jamaica. People in town know to donate their bikes there, and every season, it seems that something sweet turns up. Still rehabbing a Bianchi Volpe from last year.
In any case, bike was in rough shape, wheels were toast, chain and cables rusty, lots of corrosion. The frame cleaned up real nice, though, and a bit of effort with some steel wool cleaned up the stem, bars, seatpost, and crank. Bearing and races were cleaned and re-packed. Orig shifters were totally rusted solid.
Whole reason I got this bike is because a co-worker at the shop built out an old Schwinn with horiz d/o's as a Klunker ala Transition, with coaster brake. So of course I needed to build one, too. The wheels were closeout items from Trek, I had the Soma Okami saddle, Surly 36t chainring, and Fyxation pedals. ODI grips to match the wheels (kind of), KMC Pintle half-link chain, and Bontrager 1.75 HR3s(?). Orig frameset, BB, headset, stem, bars, seatpost, cranks. And the 80s vintage crane-style bell which came on the bike. 1.75 is as wide a tire as can be fit to this bike. Didn't have wheels to try it out, but I don't think 650b wheels/tires would fit.
So much fun. If anyone needs, PM me for original equipment take-offs. Hubs, Suntour derailleurs, chainrings, brakes, brake levers.
I found this in the discard pile at a local charity, Seasonal Workers Program bike rental. I do work for them, tuning and repairing bikes for the upcoming season of workers flooding in from away. Generally, eastern Europe and Jamaica. People in town know to donate their bikes there, and every season, it seems that something sweet turns up. Still rehabbing a Bianchi Volpe from last year.
In any case, bike was in rough shape, wheels were toast, chain and cables rusty, lots of corrosion. The frame cleaned up real nice, though, and a bit of effort with some steel wool cleaned up the stem, bars, seatpost, and crank. Bearing and races were cleaned and re-packed. Orig shifters were totally rusted solid.
Whole reason I got this bike is because a co-worker at the shop built out an old Schwinn with horiz d/o's as a Klunker ala Transition, with coaster brake. So of course I needed to build one, too. The wheels were closeout items from Trek, I had the Soma Okami saddle, Surly 36t chainring, and Fyxation pedals. ODI grips to match the wheels (kind of), KMC Pintle half-link chain, and Bontrager 1.75 HR3s(?). Orig frameset, BB, headset, stem, bars, seatpost, cranks. And the 80s vintage crane-style bell which came on the bike. 1.75 is as wide a tire as can be fit to this bike. Didn't have wheels to try it out, but I don't think 650b wheels/tires would fit.
So much fun. If anyone needs, PM me for original equipment take-offs. Hubs, Suntour derailleurs, chainrings, brakes, brake levers.
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