Senrab62 

Just a quick opinions of people who are smarter and more knowledgeable about bicycles than myself.

1989 Trek 660 (True Temper)

or

1985 (i think) Schwinn Super Sport (Tenax)

Both in basically the same shape, which would you choose and why. Please bare in mind that frameset and brake caliper and levers are the only things that I will be using. Drive-train components will not be used for this build.


They are both great riding bikes. Don't have money for both, otherwise I wouldn't be posting this thread, lol.


Thanks in advance

sloar 

Trek, because it's a Trek.

romperrr 

^^samesies

Knet

Trek 660 in a heartbeat. 531 Reynolds tubing, the '88s have the really good lugs and the 600 series have a nice geometry.

I rode a 640 back in the day, so I strongly favor that series.

mstateglfr 

No disagreement, I just find it interesting that this is a commonly held opinion. Trek seems to be more valued on the local CL too.
They made everything from entry level to higher end back then and still now. Same with most bike companies, but Trek seems to have a default love that few large bike companies have.

rhm

Trek, because it's not a Schwinn.

Jicafold

Well, you text says "1988 Trek 660" but your poll says "1989 Trek 660". So...which one is it? The 1988 was Reynolds 531 but the 1989 was True Temper. The True Temper banner was also emblazoned across the top tube which I never cared for.

Senrab62 

Sorry, fat fingered error.

It IS the True Temper 660 (89) and the Schwinn is a Tenax 600 equipped Tenax.

gaucho777 

Need more info about the project and how you plan to use the bike. Since you say no drivetrain parts are needed, I suspect you plan to build as a SS or FG. Trek 660 is a racing model and the Super Sport is, you guessed it, a sport model. Trek will be lighter, livelier, and overall higher quality, but you'll compromise in other areas such as less tire clearance, no eyelets for racks/fenders. They both fit?

oddjob2

I have a 1988 TREK 360, most likely the same TT RC-1 frame as the Trek 660 you are considering. Smooth and fast, fits me great.

Probably more room for wider rubber than the 1985 Super Sport as well. I can run 28mm on the 360. I don't have an 87 SS, but and 85 Prelude Tenax which sported 27" tires that year. Can't fit 1 1/4" rubber. I have a 1987 SS which is 700c frame, but pretty tight clearances too, IIRC.

Senrab62 

My interpretation of a "clubman". IGH S3X fixed wheelset is already in my possesion. I would prefer at least 28c tires, but my eyeball test thought that either frame would fit these no problem.

I have not done a full century fixed, but have done several metric centuries fixed and this would be seeing regular use. I generally ride fixed when I can. No need for racks or fenders. If it doesn't fit in a Jammypack, beercuda, or jersey, then I don't need it! I have a townie style bike for around town stuff. Next build will be a tourer, but I have been putting this build off all spring.

They both fit very well. Pricing is similar. It just becomes preference. I was leaning towards the Trek, but the Tenax Schwinn rides well also. Trek felt "more connected" and a little tighter, but both are nice.

dailycommute

I would grab the trek as it was the end of the lugged era. I ride a 1988 560 (last year produced), 1989 was last year for 660. The 1988 560 is made with true temper vs 531, same with both 660 models. Personally I think the tt is a great tubeset but it was as if trek executives knew they were killing the steel lugged lines off and were trying to use up stock (generally lower models like 3xx and 4xx were using tt).

rhm

Both have horizontal dropouts?

What about guides for cables, cable stops, shifter bosses, etc? Most likely there is little if any difference between the two, but if there is, I'd give preference to the frame that has less. The S3X hub will work best with the traditional Sturmey Archer cable routing, that is a fulcrum on the top tube and a pulley at the top of the seat tube. You may be able to put the SA shifter on a shifter boss, but cable adjustment will be more finicky.

I had the S3X hub on my Lambert for a few years, and did a lot of centuries in that configuration, but eventually just made it a fixie. I look forward to hearing how you like it.

Senrab62 

Yes, both mostly horizontal dropouts.

I will leave the guides as I will be using a dual brake set-up. For shifter bosses, etc, they will have to stay put in case I change set-up. IIRC, the Trek has internal routing for RD, but my memory is not as crisp as it should be.

Also, if I am remembering correctly, they sell the pulley guides on the interwebs. Not the cool metal ones like on my Schwinn 3 speed. Do you have any suggestions regarding set-up? I know SA sells all kinds of removeable cable routing options. I kind of wanted to use a bar end shifter, but I have seen a cool (don't know about functionality) set-up with a thumb shifter on the seatpost tube.

My buddy has his set-up on his downtube boss and it works well, once he got it dialed in.

Bandera

Origin 8 branded pulleys & cable stops for various tube sizes were readily available online when I needed them a couple of seasons ago, not chromed steel but that which works, works.

edit: The SA bar-end shifter works a treat, particularly for a LD/FG machine. A Trek of course.

-Bandera

Wileyone 

x10

Steve Whitlatch 

I had a TT Trek 660 that was too small for me. I noticed nothing about it that would lead me to believe it was special in any way. Nice frame, not overly light feeling. Not sure why anyone would assume it to be better than anything else mid level? Trek had high end racing machines that year?

Lascauxcaveman 

I have a TT Trek frame I haven't built up yet, but I sure love the Tenax Tempo in my fleet. Stiff and lively and loves to climb. Just from moving the True Temper (Trek 400) frame around in my shop, it seems about the same weight.

What am I missing? Why is this frame supposedly so much better?

plonz 

Me thinks there is some misinformation floating around here. The Super Sport is not a sport bike, it is one step up from the Tempo in what Schwinn called their Competition lineup. In Schwinn's world, this was a racing bike and the 1985 model weighed in at a spritely 22lbs.

I don't know a thing about the True Temper tubing on a 660 but assuming you want light and responsive, I'd make my decision based on how it stacks up against Tenax tubing. I know from riding my Tempo, Tenax is good stuff.

daf1009

Simple...I dislike Trek...so...Schwinn...but...that is an emotional response, not a reasoned one...

Senrab62 

Does anyone know what the 23" 660 weighed? As previously mentioned, the SS in 23" was 22lbs which is solid for the year

Scooper

I honestly don't see much difference between the Super Sport's Tenax (25 CrMo 4 chromoly) and the '89 660's True Temper RC Team Issue (AISI 4130 chromoly) tubing. 25 CrMo 4 and 4130 are virtually the same alloy, both tubesets are seamed cold-drawn and double-butted. Both are quality frames from reputable builders. There may be some differences in geometry and tire clearance that could influence the decision one way or the other.

Personally, I'd go with the Super Sport but YMMV.

OrangeBike

I have a 1987 Super Sport I rebuilt. DA 7400 7sp, Sugino crank, 105 brakes... runs a peach. Love it.

T Stew

Love my '86 Schwinn Super Sport (SSS?). If I'm not mistaken it was the highest-end of all the Tenax-framed Schwinns, though when you strip off all the components I suppose that eliminates most of the differences.

sleepy

Schwinn.
Only because I looove my Tempo with Tenax tubing. Nice steady climbing!