Classic & Vintage - ~1986 trek elance

looked at one today, in good shape, reynolds 531 tubing, missing front wheel (doesn't matter, I would replace both w/ fixed wheelset)...otherwise overall good condition. Seller wants $50, I thought $40 would be fair, or too much? Also, is the rear spacing on a mid 80s trek likely to be 120mm or will I have to spread it?

Geez, 531 bike for 50 bucks? Buy it! :D

Spacing would be 126. No big deal to spread if you want to.

Investigate why it's missing a front wheel. In a front end crash? Look for a bent fork and bulging tubes behind the headtube. Otherwise, $50 is a good deal in my book.

Investigate why it's missing a front wheel. In a front end crash? Look for a bent fork and bulging tubes behind the headtube. Otherwise, $50 is a good deal in my book.

If the fork / frame is undamaged grab it for $50. A new wheel will be what, maybe another $50? I sold the same bike this past summer for $200.

A Trek 400 series were considered sport frames which have a slightly longer wheelbase then a racing frame but not as long as a touring bike, in otherwords the geometry was between a racing and a touring frame. They were medium weight bikes for the day weighing about 23 1/2 pounds, and they were equipped with decent Shimano components.

Price on this sort of bike if in average condition should bring about $75 if the front wheel was still attached! If in really good condition then maybe $150 but only if the front wheel wasn't missing. I would think your offer of $40 is more then fair considering you have to replace a wheel that will cost you about $150 or more.

But check the frame and fork very well to make sure there's no ripples in the paint or slightly bent fork and or frame. If you have another bike at home, or have a friend who has one, you could take the front wheel off of it and put it on this bike to test ride it to make sure it tracks true while riding with no hands. But be careful riding a strange bike with no hands.

Price on this sort of bike if in average condition should bring about $75 if the front wheel was still attached! If in really good condition then maybe $150 but only if the front wheel wasn't missing. I would think your offer of $40 is more then fair considering you have to replace a wheel that will cost you about $150 or more.

I had a similar frameset that I sold at a "discount" to a BF member. I had several local offers ('burbs of NYC) over $100. I'd say $50 is a good price for the frameset alone, at least in my market.

BTW, if it's truly an Elance, only the main tubes are 531 DB. The stays are likely tapered chromoly, which is better than high-tensile steel. A nice frame altogether.

I had a similar frameset that I sold at a "discount" to a BF member. I had several local offers ('burbs of NYC) over $100. I'd say $50 is a good price for the frameset alone, at least in my market.

BTW, if it's truly an Elance, only the main tubes are 531 DB. The stays are likely tapered chromoly, which is better than high-tensile steel. A nice frame altogether.I'm with JYB on this one. I think froze is lowballing just a bit. I have the '87 model, paid $100 for the complete bike, and considered it a bargain. They're lively, relatively light frames that make great commuters, because they have the rack braze-ons, including the top mounts on the seatstays. Mine's rear spacing is 126mm.

somebody else got it...don't know if they paid the full $50.

I had a similar frameset that I sold at a "discount" to a BF member. I had several local offers ('burbs of NYC) over $100. I'd say $50 is a good price for the frameset alone, at least in my market.

BTW, if it's truly an Elance, only the main tubes are 531 DB. The stays are likely tapered chromoly, which is better than high-tensile steel. A nice frame altogether.

Hell yes you did! My wife has been instructed to call me the minute it shows up! I paid $90 or so (including about $40 shipping) for the frameset and a few other parts and I felt like it was a good deal. I know if I can get a 531 frameset (let alone an almost complete bike) for under a hundy, I don't even have to think about it. Salt Lake City seems to be a pretty hot bike market too though, so depending on where you are $50 might have been a lot.

Hell yes you did! My wife has been instructed to call me the minute it shows up! I paid $90 or so (including about $40 shipping) for the frameset and a few other parts and I felt like it was a good deal. I know if I can get a 531 frameset (let alone an almost complete bike) for under a hundy, I don't even have to think about it. Salt Lake City seems to be a pretty hot bike market too though, so depending on where you are $50 might have been a lot.

Did she call? I just checked the tracking info and it appears to have arrived! Took longer than I expected.

Did she call? I just checked the tracking info and it appears to have arrived! Took longer than I expected.

I thought there was no tracking info since it went parcel post. I don't think she's home now, I hope they leave it on the porch or with a neighbor or something!

FWIW, I purchased an '89 660 off the Bay last year for $50. It's True Temper, not 531, so it probably lacks some cachet, but I thought I got a steal. It's been my daily commuter since November and I love it. It's light, stiff, rugged, and surpisingly fast. I bet quite a few races were won by those frames back in their day.

I bought a Trek 400 T Elance (triple) for $125 last year, spiffed it up and easily sold it for $250.

To save $10, looks you lost out on a nice frameset.....

no, I didn't buy it to save $10, or whatever, I was wary of the missing wheel condition, though the frame could well of been in fine condition. I also don't have the capitol to buy frames, obtain missing parts, (wheels, etc.), then hope I can flip the complete bike for a profit. I have however bought several thrift store bikes for around ~$35, cleaned and tuned them, put new tires, tubes and bar wrap on them, and flipped them - much less invested. I'm still holding out for a nice(er) old steel frame to keep for a beater/commuter.

I thought there was no tracking info since it went parcel post. I don't think she's home now, I hope they leave it on the porch or with a neighbor or something!

Okay, I just checked again...I read too hastily. It arrived in your city this morning, but it doesn't indicate arrival at your home yet.

BTW, technically, USPS doesn't provide tracking on large parcel post packages. It's not like UPS which gives estimated delivery times. I'm not exactly sure how it works. Up until this morning, it only informed me that the package had been accepted at my local P.O. Now that's disappeared and it says it's arrived at your "unit" (P.O. I guess). I'll send you the delivery confirmation number via PM.

FWIW, I purchased an '89 660 off the Bay last year for $50. It's True Temper, not 531, so it probably lacks some cachet, but I thought I got a steal. It's been my daily commuter since November and I love it. It's light, stiff, rugged, and surpisingly fast. I bet quite a few races were won by those frames back in their day.

That was a steal!!

I'm with JYB on this one. I think froze is lowballing just a bit. I have the '87 model, paid $100 for the complete bike, and considered it a bargain. They're lively, relatively light frames that make great commuters, because they have the rack braze-ons, including the top mounts on the seatstays. Mine's rear spacing is 126mm.

Lowballing? you just said you paid $100 for a complete bike, condition unknown, but if you remember I said between $75 and $150 for a complete bike depending on condition, and you paid $100.

I bought a Trek 400 T Elance (triple) for $125 last year, spiffed it up and easily sold it for $250.

Bossman,
Good to know as I bought a 400 T Elance this past weekend for $65. Looks like I'll flip for $200. :D

Lowballing? you just said you paid $100 for a complete bike, condition unknown, but if you remember I said between $75 and $150 for a complete bike depending on condition, and you paid $100.Can't argue with you there. I thought your opinion on a complete bike's value was spot-on. What struck me as "lowball" was the notion that a bike missing only a front wheel might be worth only 30 to 40% of the value of a complete bike. Upon giving it more thought, though, that's probably a fair reflection of what one could expect to pay for a replacement wheel, tube and tire. So I apologize for the comment.

I guess my real point is that I think the market undervalues these bikes. I think mine was "worth" twice what I paid for it, though that's clearly not an objective opinion. I was never much impressed with Treks until I started riding this one. Now, every time I ride it, I feel a bit embarrassed to realize that I've spent ten times as much in the past on bikes that never felt this good.

I guess my real point is that I think the market undervalues these bikes. I think mine was "worth" twice what I paid for it, though that's clearly not an objective opinion. I was never much impressed with Treks until I started riding this one. Now, every time I ride it, I feel a bit embarrassed to realize that I've spent ten times as much in the past on bikes that never felt this good.

I agree with that; unfortunately when it comes to bikes it's the technology people buy into and not so much the classical value, unless it comes out of Italy. I also agree that your bike is indeed "worth" $200, but again people will say why when I can buy a new Schwinn road bike at Walmart for $250 and not have to worry about not finding parts. Personally I would rather pay $250 for your bike and not the Walmart Schwinn!! Because I know it will hold up 10 times longer, but I'm not like most.

I own classic cars and there are some cars that I feel are going for obscene amounts of money; and even if I had the cash to pay $100,000 or even more for a 60's muscle car I wouldn't because I don't think their worth that much. Just as I don't think an older Colnago going on E-Bay for $5,000 or more is worth it either when there were way better Japanese and British bikes. But when it comes to bikes there are some bikes that are old and now rare, but because they were made in Japan by some of the best frame builders in the world using the best tubing in the world at that time, with Japanese components probably the best components in the world also at that time...well, no one cares, and thats sad.

But it's the same old story...whatever the market will bear; unfortunately the market won't bear much on those older Treks including mine.

Sorry to further hijack this thread but I got my bike and it's incredibly nice. I can't believe it's 20+ years old! I have never seen a bike so well packed, thanks again JYB!

looked at one today, in good shape, reynolds 531 tubing, missing front wheel (doesn't matter, I would replace both w/ fixed wheelset)...otherwise overall good condition. Seller wants $50, I thought $40 would be fair, or too much? Also, is the rear spacing on a mid 80s trek likely to be 120mm or will I have to spread it?

So I was just browsing the forums cause I was bored this afternoon and happen to find this thread...Where did you see this bike at? If it was in North Raleigh, NC, I have the bike...I ended up buying that one and another lower end decent looking Centurion bike for my fiance ($100 for both). The front fork was indeed bent and I was frustrated when I got home and found out...But I put some muscle into it and got it fairly close to where it was...Threw an extra front wheel I had laying around on there and cleaned it up a bit and have been riding it to work the past couple days...