trek 400?
 

Found one here in NY for $200 . I've always heard great things about vintage Treks, and this one's my size. Anyone give me advice on what to look for and whether or not this is a good price? What's so special about them, anyway?

thanks,

max

Personally I think its a bit steep for a 400. You can probably
do better with a bit of patience.
What year? (serial number?)
components?
it would help when assessing if it truely is a good deal (i.e. frame may not be
all that great but if original owner kitted it with full campy Super Record it's
a deal).

Marty

Thanks for the info; only thing is that here in NYC, people tend to be pretty competitive about anything of nice quality. Prices tend to get inflated, even on the used market:(. I'll try and find out the serial #, year and components from the guy.


max

I love my 460! It was going for 75.00 but came down to 35.00. Replaced tires, tubes, tape, pump and that was it. Frame and geometry is perfect....fits like a glove.

Even if you pay a bit more it's still a decent bike. The 400 series were not a compromise on quality, they still used good componentry. Mine has Suntour Cyclone group and DiaCompe brakes.



Olds

There's a guy in the local hooligan roadie group that has been riding a 400 elance since 1986 (and he bought it used!). He still hammers us almost 20 years later and only the saddle, chain and tires are replacements. Well, maybe the bar tape, but probably not...

Not a bad price for NYC on a nice bike... They go for around $100-$150 here in Denver.

Is this it? http://www.vintage-trek.com/TrekBrochure1983Part1.htm

Vintage-trek.com can help you figure out year based on serial number. The most desirable of the 400 series had Campy components, but I've also seen them with Suntour Cyclone M II, which is IMO a vastly undervalued group - really good performance! All the older steel Treks (prior to maybe 1986) were built with good to very good tubing - msotly Reynolds 531 or 501, but occasionally Ishiwata 022 or some variety of Tange (often Tange 900), and very occasionally Columbus. I've ridden a handful of 400-series bikes from 83 to 86, and I've liked them all ;)

What's special about them is that prior to about mid-1985, they were all handbuilt, and they've generally got comfy, nimble geometries - you'd pay a lot more for such attributes in a modern bike!

offhand, I'd say if it's got true temper tubing (likely on a 400), talk him down. Half that is reasonable, unless the bike is in excellent condition or overdressed component-wise. The Ishiwata is very nice stuff, but undervalued, where Columbus and Reynolds somewhat inflate the bike's value.

"All you out there in the world of the real bike economy can have the benefit of know-nothings selling their bikes in less competitive markets."

Heh-heh-heh. That's what you get living in an overheated market. I've said this before, but I am constantly surprised at the incredible geographic variation in used bike prices. The pre-84 Treks are special, but the 400 model is likely mid-late eighties.

It's a 1985 based on the decals.
1984 decals included the model number on the downtube.
1985 decals only had the name TREK with the shadow font (not
sure of name) and the model number on the chainstay protector.
1986 the model changed to the Elance 400D and Elance 400T
1984 decal:
http://www.vintage-trek.com/images/t...rek760_129.jpg
1985 decal:
http://www.vintage-trek.com/images/t...ekdowntube.jpg
images courtesy VintageTrek.

Marty

Marty

suprising he didn't even go down on price, another reason why stuff in ny can seem spendy at first every one is a haggler, I used to sell guitars at the nyc show and I'd mark everything 2x what I'd normally sell it for, people never bought the stuff when I was selling it cheap,

I just spent over $300 on an old specialized touring bike I was looking around at frame prices and even if I went with the cheapest parts I'd never match the price. and now I have a really nice old bike instead of a cheap new one,

NY craigslist has ridiculous prices but people must pay or come close to paying them, but the price for new bikes in the city is so inflated by the high sales tax as well as the double taxation faced by business owners that to get a bike that's ridable now that I can pay for and maybe talk the guy down on will force more people to go the slightly cheaper route,

if you are looking for an older trek maybe print out a cheat sheat from vintage treks site so if you can't get to a computer you can double check the info,

sucks you went out to see it and he wouldn't play ball, but worst case you ride it for a few months then sell it for the same or a few bucks more,

what size was the frame?

at least you didn't have to make the trip to wrong island, odd that he didn't budge even a token amount, sounds like he does it alot and will get the price eventually, it's hard to fault people for reselling old bikes for profit that would otherwise be tossed in a landfill, scrapped, or just bought by another suburbanite that would let it lie unused for an indeterminate time, but you can't praise them when they sell things at inflated inflexable prices just because they can in a market like nyc which is one of the few places where bicycles are used as transportation by a large amount of people,

at least now you don't have to worry about it getting stolen,

there were plenty of those made and another is bound to show up,

Do you recall seeing "460" designation decal on the chainstays? My '85 460 has them and yes, you are correct about the rear changer cable going through the chainstay (a nifty little trick). Stay with the deal because he may not be able to sell it for his asking price. The ride the 460 gives is really nice. It was Trek's entry level road racer that year.

I'd really question the shimano components. My bike is completely factory stock and has the Suntour Cyclone shift group and DiaCompe brakes. Maybe the owner has changed out the derailleurs?



Olds

On another note, I'd forgotten to mention that I saw a 400 (85) over at ebay. It was the patriotic model with red, white and blue theme?? Bids were very low with no reserve at the time of viewing. I think the bid line was like 79.00.

You will find what you want depending on luck and patience :D



Olds

168409 was serialized 1/10/85. In all probability the bike
was brazed late 84 and got the new decal set.
21 inch frame. They were nice bikes.

Marty

You might discreetly remind him that your offer stands - and wait to see if he's any softer...

Why that's utter blasphemy :D

Well, that should let you know what you are dealing with. Someone probably told him what they thought it was worth and he is sticking to it because it doesnt cost him anything to keep it.

Tell ya what, you just be patient and keep looking because it's a big, bikin' world out there. There is a nice one just waiting for you to find it.

Persistence is the best tool in the box!




Olds

anything ever happen with this bike?

fwiw I paid $200 (talked down from $225) for a 1986 Trek 500, in Manhattan on CL. I saw it the first day it was posted, hit the ATM, test rode it in the hallway outside the dude's apt and made the deal jiffy quick.

Mine was 99% original (missing toe clips and straps, and the bar tape was shot) and just needed new tires. The front rim had a blip but I didn't let that stop me as I had a spare front wheel at home. Turns out I straightened it out and it trued up well enough for the slow and steady rides I am using it for. A few months later it turns out the chainrings were bent, as was the rear axle - two shops have told me it isn't bent but it feels funky. I'll probably put new chainrings on if I ever change out the back wheel to a more modern cassette, with chain to match.

Point is, I knew $200 was kinda steep for mine even in pretty nice condition, but that's NYC. It was in a nice small size with a decent length top tube, which I prefer. I knew that wouldn't last with all the women who ride in NYC so I grabbed it.....I am glad I did. Not sure if I will always keep it with a new bike or two in the stable but I think I will after some really pleasant rides on that thing. Mine is friction shift 12 speed, Shimano 600 and sr crank, Reynolds 531 main tubes and tange stays and fork.

I just found a 84 trek 400 for sale. Does anyone know if the bike has horizontal dropouts? Any thoughts on whether this bike would make a good single speed?