1981 Trek 610 - Worth Saving? (Warning! lotsa pics)
#1
My legs hurt
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Farther behind you than I'd like to be
Posts: 683
Bikes: Vaya, Brompton, '73 Schwinn Super Sport, Cresswell Fold-it, '81 Trek 610
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
1981 Trek 610 - Worth Saving? (Warning! lotsa pics)
Hi all.
Yesterday I made an impulse craigslist purchase. What was advertised as a 'Trek bike -- perfect shape' for $50 or best offer.
It turns out it was right around the corner from my house, so I thought what the heck, I'll take a look.
This is what I found:
The headset and bottom bracket was rattling about, and the hubs feel a little gritty, but but the frame looked straight enough. I figured I take a shot and walked away with the bike and $40 less in my wallet.
When I got it home, I looked up the serial number on vintage-trek.com, and it turns out that it's a 610. 531 butted main tubes, not bad, I thought. A few small dents in the top tube, but nothing that would significantly compromise the integrity of the frame.
The seatpost & stem aren't seized, and aside from the hideous paint-job, everything looks salvageable. I figured if nothing else, a strip, respray, and re-assemble and I could either re-sell it on, or keep it -- it's my size.
But then, I noticed something. the seat-tube is slightly deformed. It's out of round not so much that you can see it, but enough that you can feel it with your hand. The deformation is about three inches long, and more or less in the center of the tube. the tube is otherwise apparently straight.
Provided when I strip off the paint, and I don't see any cracks or other nastiness, should I proceed to fix'er up ?
Is it possible to fix the deformation without replacing the tube?
Just ride it?
I probably won't sell the frame on with this defect, but if it's reasonable safe, I certainly consider riding it myself.
Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Yesterday I made an impulse craigslist purchase. What was advertised as a 'Trek bike -- perfect shape' for $50 or best offer.
It turns out it was right around the corner from my house, so I thought what the heck, I'll take a look.
This is what I found:
The headset and bottom bracket was rattling about, and the hubs feel a little gritty, but but the frame looked straight enough. I figured I take a shot and walked away with the bike and $40 less in my wallet.
When I got it home, I looked up the serial number on vintage-trek.com, and it turns out that it's a 610. 531 butted main tubes, not bad, I thought. A few small dents in the top tube, but nothing that would significantly compromise the integrity of the frame.
The seatpost & stem aren't seized, and aside from the hideous paint-job, everything looks salvageable. I figured if nothing else, a strip, respray, and re-assemble and I could either re-sell it on, or keep it -- it's my size.
But then, I noticed something. the seat-tube is slightly deformed. It's out of round not so much that you can see it, but enough that you can feel it with your hand. The deformation is about three inches long, and more or less in the center of the tube. the tube is otherwise apparently straight.
Provided when I strip off the paint, and I don't see any cracks or other nastiness, should I proceed to fix'er up ?
Is it possible to fix the deformation without replacing the tube?
Just ride it?
I probably won't sell the frame on with this defect, but if it's reasonable safe, I certainly consider riding it myself.
Any input would be greatly appreciated.
#2
Keener splendor
That paint job is hideous, but you can strip that. For $40, you did just fine.
I think job 1 is strip the parts. Job 2 is strip the frame. See what's under the paint. It might not be so bad. If it's out of round without any hints of indentation, borrow some frame blocks and roll it. It might just pop right back into round. You can try that with the little dents on the top tube, too. This is going to be an "expensive in time" to restore it to a rider.
I think job 1 is strip the parts. Job 2 is strip the frame. See what's under the paint. It might not be so bad. If it's out of round without any hints of indentation, borrow some frame blocks and roll it. It might just pop right back into round. You can try that with the little dents on the top tube, too. This is going to be an "expensive in time" to restore it to a rider.
#3
my hubs are dirty
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 148
Bikes: Nishiki Olympic, Bridgestone RB-2 (sold!), Bridgestone MB-5, Schwinn Le Tour, Handsome XOXO
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Looks like you found a new beater
@TimmyT, I had no idea what frame blocks were... pretty neat!
https://www.bicycletool.com/frameblock1.aspx
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...-dent-in-frame
@TimmyT, I had no idea what frame blocks were... pretty neat!
https://www.bicycletool.com/frameblock1.aspx
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...-dent-in-frame
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Port Angeles, WA
Posts: 8,016
Bikes: A green one, "Ragleigh," or something.
Mentioned: 194 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1627 Post(s)
Liked 629 Times
in
355 Posts
What!? And lose that sweet pantographed seat post?
__________________
● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Middle Earth (aka IA)
Posts: 20,505
Bikes: A bunch of old bikes and a few new ones
Mentioned: 178 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5877 Post(s)
Liked 3,445 Times
in
2,066 Posts
#6
I got 99 projects
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Hills of Central NH
Posts: 1,603
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 42 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
As long as the frame is sound, it's absolutely worth saving. Spend as much time as you want and as little money as you can. The drivetrain is solid and very good quality. Keep as much original as can be managed. Drop-kick the seat, though.
#7
My legs hurt
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Farther behind you than I'd like to be
Posts: 683
Bikes: Vaya, Brompton, '73 Schwinn Super Sport, Cresswell Fold-it, '81 Trek 610
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Thanks for all the helpful replies.
I'll start stripping it out, and decide what do once I can actually see the frame
Cosmetics aside, is there a major downside to just leaving the seat tube out of round?
I'll start stripping it out, and decide what do once I can actually see the frame
Cosmetics aside, is there a major downside to just leaving the seat tube out of round?
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Baltimore MD
Posts: 3,972
Bikes: '72 Motobecane Grand Record, '72 Gitane tandem, '72 Raleigh Super Course, '73 Raleigh Gran Sport, '73 Colnago Super, '76 Fiorelli Coppi, '78 Raleigh SBDU Team Pro, '78 Trek 930, '81 Holdsworth Special 650B, '86 Masi GC, ’94 Bridgestone RB-T
Mentioned: 67 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 784 Post(s)
Liked 515 Times
in
279 Posts
Nice. Ride it like you paid forty bucks for it on Craigslist. Love the half/granny triple, and Deore RD. One of these days I'll find a 531 Trek in my size.
__________________
The man who dies with the most toys…is dead. - Rootboy
The man who dies with the most toys…is dead. - Rootboy
#10
Nigel
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 2,991
Bikes: 1980s and 1990s steel: CyclePro, Nishiki, Schwinn, SR, Trek........
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 384 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
6 Posts
The only downside is that you know that it is out of round. It is 531 (an alloy steel); a little dent or bulge will have no measurable effect on performance or reliability.
#11
Old fart
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,937
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3571 Post(s)
Liked 3,368 Times
in
1,916 Posts
#12
Keener splendor
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
storckm
Bicycle Mechanics
4
06-05-13 07:48 PM
melicha8
Classic and Vintage Bicycles: Whats it Worth? Appraisals.
6
11-05-11 07:10 AM
10speedterror
Classic & Vintage
1
09-04-11 09:03 PM