Mountain Biking - Help identifying Trek 830.... My First Trek

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Michael Shaw
11-21-12, 08:15 PM
Can anyone tell me the age of this old treat ??

I picked it up for $15 today and am delighted with it.

The serial number starts out "T7I followed by 5 numbers, which does not agree with any kind of TREK serial number data on the internet.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/4370787/Trek_7351.JPG

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/4370787/Trek_7352.JPG

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/4370787/Trek_7353.JPG

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/4370787/Trek_7354.JPG

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/4370787/Trek_7355.JPG

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/4370787/Trek_7356.JPG

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/4370787/Trek_7357.JPG

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/4370787/Trek_7358.JPG

It has the rear brake calliper behind the bottom bracket and oval Sakae chainrings.

Mike

Svr
11-30-12, 04:07 PM
Pics don't work, but a U-brake on the chainstays indicates 1987-1988.
dminor
11-30-12, 04:19 PM
Fixed the pics. Hint: use the bracketing code instead of 'URL' and they will show in your post.


According to the Vintage Trek (http://www.vintage-trek.com/index.htm) site, it's an '88. "...also medium gray with teal blue decals.."

http://www.vintage-trek.com/model_numbers1.htm

As far as the SN, they say this under FOREIGN-BUILT FRAMES AND BIKES AFTER 1982: "An 8 or 9 character alphanumeric code was used for mid- and low-level frames subcontracted in Taiwan. Most of these bikes were labeled "Made in Taiwan" (although the sticker often is easily removed). This form of serial number appears to have been used during the period 1987 to 93. The number leads with a T (for Trek?) then a numeral, one letter or two, then five (sometimes 4) numerals. Sean Hickey suggested the first numeral is the year of manufacture, and the letter is the month of the year (A - L). This is confirmed by serial numbers that were submitted by other Trek owners. If there are two letters after the year numeral, the first is the month. The second runs from A through at least Y. It might be a way of extending the 5 digit number series by a factor of 26."

http://www.vintage-trek.com/SerialNumbers.htm#late86

roccobike
11-30-12, 10:04 PM
That's a sweet deal on that Trek. They usually flip for about $100 to $150, depending on condition. Rigid fork bikes actually bring as much or more than suspension fork bikes because folks have learned, old suspension forks frequently need to be replaced and that cost serious money. THose old rigid fork bikes are solid commuter or light MTB trail rides.
LesterOfPuppets
11-30-12, 10:12 PM
$15 = deal of the century! Hmmm, Trek Catalog shows them only going up to 22" but that kinda looks bigger than that to me.

Love that Tange MTB tubing.
Michael Shaw
12-03-12, 07:21 AM
$15 = deal of the century! Hmmm, Trek Catalog shows them only going up to 22" but that kinda looks bigger than that to me.

Love that Tange MTB tubing.

The seat tube measures 59cm, exactly twenty-three and a quarter inches, from the centre of the crank to the top, so it is taller than 22 inches. I think this one is the tall 1988 model.

It rides REALLY nicely and the guy who owned it did not ride - it still has the little clear plastic sticky protective covers on the gearshift lever labels !

I retired my Miyata Elevation to Kijiji (sold it on Saturday) and this Trek is going to be my bike for trotting about town.

Mike