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2004 Trek T900 tandem frame bent?

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2004 Trek T900 tandem frame bent?

Old 08-21-16, 08:58 PM
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2004 Trek T900 tandem frame bent?

Just bought a used 2004 Trek T900 tandem (The blue one). Discovered something today that makes me wish I had bought a 2005 or later.

On the 2005, the top tube comes into the rear seat tube about 1"-1.5" higher than on the 2004. On the bike I bought, the rear seat tube is slightly bent forward at the intersection of the rear top tube. 2004 was the first year for these. I'm thinking they had a problem and corrected it in 2005.

Also, from the pics I can find on the web, the head tube angle is steeper on the later models. I wonder if they corrected a handling issue or saw that as a way to strengthen the fork.

Anybody know if there were indeed frame bending problems on the 2004? My wife and I total about 375 lbs and I had always wondered about the lack of triangulation in that part of the frame, but figured it must be OK. Now I discover that Trek changed the frame the very next year.

Anybody familiar with this?

Thanks!
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Old 08-22-16, 06:04 PM
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I've been comparing photo's of the 2004 with later models in Google images. I see that the top tube comes in slightly higher like you said but I do not see any "bending forward of the rear seat tube". In any case that would have been considered a major production defect and would not have made it to retail sale. Most new tandems have done away with the extra lateral in favor of fatter tubing for the main triangles. And yes I see that the head tube is steeper on later models but I doubt it was done to "correct" anything. More like an "improvement" in the design, there is a subtle distinction. It would definitely not do anything to strengthen the fork. We're only talking about a couple or three degrees at most and the stresses on a fork are mainly from forces that originate at the contact patch where the tire meets the road. I wouldn't worry too much about the purchase. Enjoy.
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Old 08-22-16, 11:38 PM
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The (blue) stock image from 2004 doesn't seem to correspond to other images I found of actual customer bikes, the actual bikes seemed to be more like the (grey) 2005 stock image.


The 2004 stock image is either preproduction or the design was modified in 2004. I don't think a 1-1/2" change in height would have much of an effect on its strength.
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Old 08-28-16, 07:56 PM
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Thanks everybody! I, too, began to wonder if the image on BikePedia of the 2004 was pre-producition because I went to the garage to check my T900 and the rear top tube came into the rear seatpost in the same place as the 2005. Head tube angle? Checking mine, it looks like the steeper angle to me.

I could have avoided this whole exchange by checking my actual bike and not just the web photos.

Nevertheless, I appreciate the replies!

Cheers,
Mark
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