Originally Posted by
zoom26
Thanks, it is a 1987. Just couldn't see the part where it really says 400, maybe it got scratched out. Previous owner touched up scratches with a different color and it isn't even with the surface too. So it looks like it had drops of candle wax there. Planning to probably sand it down then either brush or spray paint the tube then lugs. I think I would just want a monocolor on the bike, probably just red then choose a different decal for the bike. I'm liking this kind of decals for the red. Just not sure if I should go and repaint the bike as a red only with the exception of a black or chrome fork.
https://www.google.com/search?q=trek...RyTuY_AuDhoXM:
Part of what makes old bikes cool to me is the history of them.
To me, the 86/87 Elance is at kind of a crossroads for Trek, Reynolds and bikes in general (kind of because what happened with Trek and Reynolds). Prior to 1985, Reynolds 531 was expensive enough that only upper end bikes could use it- so for Trek that would be the 700 and 600 series bikes. Trek's manufacturing advances (the socketed lugs among other things) made automation easier- which made manufacturing zillions of bikes easier. Where you hear of Trek being "The Borg," THIS is the very beginning of that. This is the last year of the cool brass looking head badge, the last year of the block lettering- it's still very much a quality bike- at an affordable price. When you hear "Trek's entry level bikes are as good as other companies' mid-level bikes" THIS is that. The Trek 400 Elance is a 531 framed bike with CrMo stays with good componentry- it's effectively what a 600 series frame would have been prior to 1985.
The Dupont Imron paint is as tough as automotive paint comes- and it's tougher, brighter, deeper and more beautiful than MANY other paints used on bikes.
Unless the paint looks significantly worse than it does in your pix- I'd suggest you to not repaint the bike. Personally, I think the block logo (with the gold "go fast lines") used on the 86/87 models was the best looking logo Trek ever had- they used the same font from 84-87, but the 86/87 had a nicer color scheme. While I think it's quite OK to mess with components- swapping out and replacing things can get make significant changes to the bike- but I don't like making changes that can't be reversed. I have an 86 Elance- IMO- it's my most beautiful bike- I've replaced most of the components with top of the line stuff- it's a great riding bike and it's gorgeous. As long as you've got the stock paint on there- it's an 87 Trek 400 Elance. After you paint it and re-decal it, it becomes a random frankenbike. If you love it- and ride it until it falls apart- Fantastic! If you don't...
1986 Trek 400 Elance by
Dave The Golden Boy, on Flickr
1986 Trek 400 Elance by
Dave The Golden Boy, on Flickr