1984 Trek 890 City Commuter "Urban Canyon" Bike, What to make of this beast?
12-12-12, 01:42 PM
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1984 Trek 890 City Commuter "Urban Canyon" Bike (UPDATE W/ PICTURES)
I just picked up a 1984 Trek 890, Reynolds frame, at my local thrift store for a smoking price. When I first stumbled upon the bike I could only see the top half, noticed the lugged frame, Trek decals and got excited. When I looked at it from the other side I was baffled by the sight of road frame with 26" rims and Panracer RADIAL tires; strange sight indeed. I have never seen a bike in person with such a long wheel base, looks funky. From what a read from the Trek catalog is that this bike was specifically designed for city commuting, first gen hybrid?. The bike is 100% original down to the tires and saddle. I have yet to ride it, needs a little work first, looking forward to how this beast rides. Looks like I have a nice little project for the winter. Any more information on this strange steed?
Catalog Link:
https://www.vintage-trek.com/TrekBroc...AllTerrain.htm
Updated Picture:
picture hosting
I have included a farm fresh picture, sorry for the quality.
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
Catalog Link:
https://www.vintage-trek.com/TrekBroc...AllTerrain.htm
Updated Picture:
picture hosting
I have included a farm fresh picture, sorry for the quality.
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
Last edited by Sir Tony; 01-31-13 at 08:19 PM.
12-12-12, 01:46 PM
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Wow, that's a very cool and uncommon score! Another bikeforums member uncovered one of these with the last year or so in Atlanta IIRC, he seemed pretty pleased with it.
Congrats!!
Congrats!!
12-12-12, 01:49 PM
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I think that's the same frame spec as their POLICE model, and if so, it's certainly almost bombproof.
NICE SCORE!
NICE SCORE!
12-12-12, 01:51 PM
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From the 1984 Trek marketing meeting:
Product manager: Now that mountain bikes have killed off road bikes, what are we going to do with all these road frame???!!!!
Designer: I know! We'll put mountain bike tires on them and a rack and sell them as commuters!
Product manager: Genius!!!!! Now, all we have to do is come up with a name......
Product manager: Now that mountain bikes have killed off road bikes, what are we going to do with all these road frame???!!!!
Designer: I know! We'll put mountain bike tires on them and a rack and sell them as commuters!
Product manager: Genius!!!!! Now, all we have to do is come up with a name......
12-12-12, 01:52 PM
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congratulations you have found one sweeeeeet ride.
12-12-12, 01:52 PM
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certainly thats no road frame with that chainstay length
12-12-12, 02:06 PM
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Very cool bike!
12-12-12, 02:08 PM
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put some swept back bars on that and you have yourself a limo.
12-12-12, 02:17 PM
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No fooling, it's practically an xtracycle! Here's the other 890 that I mentioned.
12-12-12, 02:47 PM
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These early MTB's were also marketed as great commuting bikes. Just shows how versatile they were.
12-12-12, 02:50 PM
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wow chris in miami that one is out of sight as well. my size too.........
12-12-12, 02:55 PM
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Sweet score! That one just seems to be begging to be reconfigured for touring!
12-12-12, 04:35 PM
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Tektro 720 brakes, 650B, drop bars and WOOHOOO!!
12-12-12, 04:39 PM
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Those first year Trek MTBs are outstanding. Enjoy!
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12-12-12, 04:42 PM
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you could custom fabricate some sort of large alloy storage box to go in that giant space behind the seat tube, that would be cool.
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12-12-12, 05:31 PM
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Lugged, reynolds 501, flat fork-crown. Awesome score. I really like these super-early Trek mtbs.
Anybody know why the 850 from that year seems to be spec'd above the 890 with a 531 frame and the deerhead components?
Looks like you could carry a six pack of beer in the empty space in that rear triangle.
Anybody know why the 850 from that year seems to be spec'd above the 890 with a 531 frame and the deerhead components?
Looks like you could carry a six pack of beer in the empty space in that rear triangle.
12-12-12, 08:43 PM
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The original model 890 shared frame geometry with the Trek ATBs of that day, but used standard diameter tubing and lighter-duty components. It was explicitly designed as an urban commuter bike, not an off-road bike. We actually contemplated using drum brakes but couldn't find any at an appropriate price point that still met CPSC brake standards. The Tektro brakes on your bike are not original; Dia-Compe cantilevers were the original spec. Those radial tires were my least favorite thing about that model -- they had a weird, squishy-squirmy ride that really bothered me. In any case, radial ply tires don't really make sense for a bicycle, so I suspect the use of radial plys was more a marketing ploy than anything else.
12-12-12, 08:52 PM
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I've been looking for one of these for a while with no luck. I came close to getting one until I realized it didn't have the original fork. Congratulations and enjoy.
12-12-12, 08:56 PM
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Yeah, that is a sweet platform to go full randonneur. Pump behind the seat tube, fenders, maybe one of these: https://store.velo-orange.com/index.p...rack-1235.html
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12-12-12, 09:24 PM
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And this is why I love the C&V forum! Thank you for the wealth of knowledge. I am not really sure what my plans are for it, I am tight on cash and its a wee big for me (I am a 54cm, this is a 23")(Nope it's a 21.5"!). I'm thinking on cleaning and tuning it up how it is and we will go from there. A little day dreaming never hurt anyone...
Last edited by Sir Tony; 02-03-13 at 11:10 AM.
12-12-12, 09:38 PM
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Very rare. I was a trek dealer then and we sold very few of those. Excellent find. Very unique
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12-12-12, 09:48 PM
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some of the ways you can tell it's designed for the road are the much steeper head tube and lower bottom bracket than a typical mtb. also looks like it was speced with road tubing, not mtb. i'm currently on the hunt for a frame like this.. nice one
if you look at the catalog link, it's actually pretty different geometry
The original model 890 shared frame geometry with the Trek ATBs of that day,
12-13-12, 05:52 AM
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Nice score...would make a sweet Gravelgrinder