Originally Posted by
The Golden Boy
I didn't know they did the Elance entirely anywhere but in Waterloo. I know the rear end and I think the fork were put together in Japan (I think that's why you have the Reynolds main triangle and the Tange stays and fork) and then assembled in Waterloo.
I know there was a batch of 1984 420s that were entirely built in Japan. I had one of those- and it was a really swell bike.
I'm sure the 400, even though it wasn't built in the USA, would have been a great bike, there were other factors leading to my passing on it.
Originally Posted by 1983 Trek catalog
"The Trek Model 400 is the first Trek International Series bicycle. The International Series designation distinguishes a Trek designed frame, which has been imported, in unfinished component form from Japan, taking advantage of the latest high volume production technology for heat tolerant Mangalloy tubing. These frames are finished, painted, and assembled at the Trek factory to exacting standards. The results? A special value in Trek bicycles."
I don't believe the 400s started getting 531 until a few years later when the Elance name came. The earlier 400s were all Tange.