A friend of mine (who is new to cycling) just recently won this from ebay

https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=280316024251

This is a Trek 'Pro Series' 560 with Reynolds 531 and Shimano 600 parts throughout. I thought it looked like a pretty good bike, especially considering the frame material and components list, so what can you Trek guys tell me about the 560, or if the 'Pro Series' designation means anything. I advised my friend on this purchase, which is his first road bike.

So what you guys think??

Yay??...Nay??...Mixed feelings??

According to Vintagetrek.com, yellow and white fade was only done in 1986.

https://www.vintage-trek.com/images/t...rekCatalog.pdf

I love those old 560s. I bought one at a garage sale last year, but it was too big, so I ended up selling the frame. IIRC, stripped down, the 63cm frame, fork and headset weighed in at 7 lbs.

Nice buy; it looks to be in great shape. Your friend will enjoy the ride.

stan

Hey thanks, I'm hoping he can get acclimated to riding a road bike and not get discouraged. This bike should do pretty good for him for now though. Mainly I just wanted to find out what the concensus was for older mid 80's Treks with Reynolds 531 tubing.


Anyone else have any input??

Different bike but I have a Reynolds 531 1983 620. It is an awesome bike. Compared to what they typically sell for, you got a good buy. Assuming that it fits well and is in very good working order, you did well.

I've also got a 1985 460 and that is also a nice bike, although it is True Temper, not 531.

I have both a Trek 400 and a 500. They are great bikes , the frames were well built and many Trek fanatics would say they equaled many fine Italian and French built frames. I love my "vintage steel Treks" and its a real shame they quit making lugged frames.
The only steel bike left in their lineup is the 520 and its TIG welded, its strong but lacks the class of a nice lugged frame. Personally, I feel a lugged frame will outlast a welded one but thats just an opinion. They sure don't look as pretty.

I'd sell the 500 frame (burgany bike) if anyone is interested, or trade for touring gear.

Wish I knew how to post large photo's.

That looks to be a very good deal. Well done. (I own a '89 660 (True Temper, not Reynolds) that I've built up as a fixed gear commuter/rain trainer. I love that bike.)

I used to work in a bike shop in '84 that sold Treks. I really liked the 500 series bikes, especially for their price range. They were well made with Reynolds 531 straight gauge tubes and nicley equipped. I sold my good friend a black/red 560 which he still has. It's been an excellent bike. I trust your friend will enjoy his for many years, too.

I'm afraid that this is not correct. The 560 for a number of years had double-butted Reynolds 501 main tubes, True Temper for the remainder, and Tange forks. The lugs were Trek's own cast and investment cast productions. In 1986, a change was made, and the main tubes became Reynolds 531. There are no flies on the 501 tubing, but the 531 bike is the more enviable machine. My frame-set is an '85 with 501. These were crafted fames — although not in the same way as the first generation. I've been working on mine — prepping for paint and dealing with some rust and so on, and I keep seeing more and more little things about how it was assembled and designed. There is nothing to disappoint! It is just a lovely piece of work.

Your friend got a good deal and an excellent bike. The 600 group should be a terrific match. I think that the peddles could be replaced — for sure. Sylvan Lites for clips and straps are super light, very inexpensive, good looking — but non-rebuildable.

There is a lot of info over on the Vintage Trek site, and the tube sets for many of the different models can be followed from year to year. Sometimes it can be difficult to be certain about the ancilliary tubes. For example, it seems that some frames may have used three types tubing for the frame.

I say Yay with no mixed feelings at all — especially for what your friend paid. He/she will really enjoy this machine, and I predict that your friend may have other machines that come and go in the future, but will keep this one around.

Thanks 'Lenton58'. Sounds like you know your Treks pretty good. This buddy of mine has also bacame a new member of BF (to continue his education in bikeology ) and goes by the screen name 'Prowling Wolf'. Here soon he will formally introduce himself and start posting. He's a good family man that I work with that wants to be a roadie, so I'm trying to help him as much as I can.

Thanks you guys