Originally Posted by junkyardbike

the frames for complete bikes sold as x model year are often manufactured the previous year.

Originally Posted by prof2k

i just went to the vintage trek trek site and that sn is towards the end of the range for bikes serialized in 85. That means it was made in the last couple of months in '85. Seeing as they start making (and selling) many months before in the year previous, at that time they would have been making '86s, so this makes perfect sense.

Originally Posted by prof2k

i still don't understand why you think the serial numbers don't match up. I'd like to see where that serial number matches up with the '85 model year. From the vintage trek site:
http://www.vintage-trek.com/serialnos85.htm

the table contains dates of frame serializing, and are not necessarily model year. At some time late in each year (generally september or october) frames were built for (then painted with colors for) the next model year.