Bike Forums - Trek 400t Elance

Bike Forums (https://www.bikeforums.net/forum.php)

- Classic & Vintage (https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/)

- - Trek 400t Elance (https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/303923-trek-400t-elance.html)

Trek 400t Elance

A quick inquiry. I'm looking at this bike and was wondering if anyone knows - was the Trek 400 series in 87 assembled in Japan or Wisconsin? Thanks. Vintage Trek site a little vague on this.

http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/bik/341233082.html

Did you see this on vintage-trek?

Quote:

Originally Posted by vintage-trek.com

The Japanese Connection - Beginning in 1981 or 1982 (and extending through at least 1986), Trek used a subcontractor in Japan to build some frames and parts of frames. The 300 and some 400 series were a complete (unpainted) frame and fork from Japan, but painted and assembled in Waterloo. The 500, 600, and 800 (MTB) series had the main triangle built in Waterloo, the pre-assembled rear stays were attached, and the whole works painted and assembled in Waterloo. The 700, 900, and 170 series were completely built, painted, and assembled in Waterloo. Some 600 series were all Reynolds 531 frames. Trek had Reynolds seatstays and chain stays shipped from England to Japan, where they were assembled into the rear triangle assemblies and then shipped to Waterloo to be attached to the main frame.

Sounds like the frame came from Japan to me, but bike assembled here

Yeah - that's what had me confused, the "some 400 series..." Which 400's were Japanese and which were U.S.?

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtmann

Yeah - that's what had me confused, the "some 400 series..." Which 400's were Japanese and which were U.S.?

I'm wondering the same.

Thanks for the info. I have the following Treks

84 660 - Suntour Superbe
86 400 Elance
86 700 Tri Series
88 360

Wanting;
Trek 770 and 170.

I wonder if the frame tubing would be a clue? The 410 I had was True Temper, and it seems odd to think they'd ship tube sets from Mississippi (or wherever) to Japan then back. But I sort of think that some other frames had tubes from different places ... I bet a Tange or Ishiwata (were they still making bike tubes then?) or just "Chromoly" might be an Asian frame.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtmann (Post 4542498)

was the Trek 400 series in 87 assembled in Japan or Wisconsin?
http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/bik/341233082.html

Sorry, I don't know, but I'm curious to know why it matters.