Originally Posted by
crank_addict
'M' code early Trek 4xx were all Japan made, tubing and frameset. Remarkable quality and offering back when for its class and price range, especially compared to other well recognized brands including those from Europe.
Makes one wonder what the Trek boardroom was thinking. Ramping up for production demand? Exchange rate / tariff considerations? Ishiwata went away, including the Japan made Trek.
The Waterloo factory was unable to keep up with demand, so the 4xx series frames were outsourced to Japan. When I started at Trek in 1980, production was about 10,000 bikes/year. This was in the new facility that replaced the old red barn in downtown Waterloo. By the time I left in 1986, Trek was selling over 180,000 bikes per year.
The 4nn series frames were imported bare to avoid tariffs on complete bike imports. They were painted and assembled in Waterloo.