1985 Trek 420
 

I have been in the market for an older road bike to ride around and take on some short tours through the texas hill country. I have found this bike for $150 and all it needs is handle bars and tape. Do you think it's worth it by the condition of these pictures? All orginal group except for a new chain and a new BB.

Looks like a pretty good deal to me, and the bonus is it looks like the comps have been cleaned. Does it come with a front wheel?

yes it does the guy said it was in the attic and he forgot about it before the pictures. I think i would attempt to polish everything to make it extra shiny so this way i wouldn't even need to take it apart for that.

Yes

Not sure... Is there a front wheel included? That's a true temper frame (albeit double-butted). I think you can do better with $150. This is probably a 26 lb bike.

I think there are better deals out there. A few weeks ago I bought two just like it for $50 each. Assembled and ready to ride.

http://www.fototime.com/1C5FCFDE33CB157/standard.jpg

Have I gotten better deals? Sure. Is this Trek worth it? Yes. The 420 is a nice bike and the pictures look pretty good to me.

I am assuming you have the time/tools/capability to assemble the parts. If not, I would pass as if you have to pay full shop rates to assemble the parts, it will get expensive.

A good condition 420 of this vintage for $150 is a fair deal, but the fact it is disassembled would worry the hell out of me, especially given that there are parts that aren't even in the picture that the guy has stored somewhere else. I would think there would be a very good chance there are other things missing. And why was the bike taken apart?

- Mark

the guy had the bike, disassembled the bike to put new components on it then recently bought a new frame and transferred the newer components to the newer frame so he didn't put the old ones back on before listing it.

first email he sent me:



Still looking? I have a 57cm Trek 420 (http://www.vintage-trek.com/images/trek/85TrekSport.pdf). It is currently broken down to frame with all the comps in a box. I recently rebuilt it to 9 sp brifters and then quickly moved it all to a new carbon frame. It is missing a handlebar sine I put that on the new frame. You can have it all fro $150.
You can see the paint scheme in the brochure above. Mine has always been kept indoors and has normal wear for a 25 year old bike. I can send actual pics later this evening if you are interested.

I think $150 is a good deal. In fact that is what I paid for my 1985 420. I'm not sure where you live, but any steel Trek is a good find...assuming all the parts are there. The bike is not a lightweight, but it definitely does not weight 26 lbs. Mine comes in at just about 24 lbs without the rear rack.

This is what it looks like put together. (Sorry for the flash)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3530/...6fc63930b9.jpg

Sounds like you've got a decision here: You can either go for what appears to be a decent deal at $150.00 (I'm in agreement with that opinion - not a fantastic deal, far from a ripoff), or . . . .

. . . . . . . you can hold out to find a $50.00 version like a few guys on this thread have been lucky enough to do, only you're not riding while you're holding out, AND you have no idea how long it's going to take to get that bit of luck rolling your way.

The lucky $50.00 deals NEVER happen when you're actively looking for something - they just pop up when you don't particularly need them. And you jump on them because they're such a good deal, even if you're figuring in the back of your head just where you're going to store another one.

Trust me on this: I never dreamed I'd be owning a Rossin . . . . . until the day that one popped up and was offered to me insanely cheap.

looks pretty sharp, i think im going to go for as I'm not looking for a crit racer just a solid bike take around and get out and ride. He emailed again and says he will have the bike put together when i come to look at it, i just need to find a handle bar and tape for it.

Thanks!

The bike will definitely fit your needs :thumb:

ill be sure to share a picture over here when i get it this weekend.

i would counter with $100 and see where it goes. last year i bought a 1985 520 for $175 in great condition (and built).

i did offer less but he says there are other interested and im first in line. it fits my needs and is 50 less than my budget so that's a good thing.

Good deal, as long as you can assemble yourself. Sykerocker is 100% correct, in regards to finding deals when you don't need them.

yes have built a few bikes on my own from the frame up so i should be good to go. thanks for the opinions and thoughts! C & V still the most helpful forum on here!

I have a 1985 410 that I picked up this summer, gotta taken for a ride at $275. I was naive to the value (and that the seller had just bought it on ebay for $150), though the bike is mint. I say go for it.

I think the price is reasonable. I'd pay it. I have a '87 Trek 560 and it's a nice bike. And I could assemble that 420, and most likely, make a profit here in the sf bay area. But I'd keep it to ride.

Btw, I just paid $100 for a Nishiki mixte frame and box of parts, and yours looks in better shape. But to me, that frame and box of parts looks like it's going to be a lot of fun for the money.

I hope so, as a poor college kid it will be nice to get away from all the hustle and bustle on it. is there anything i should look out for when i look at the bike? besides the normal cracks at welds and such?

The obvious: see how it fits you and how it rides with you. (on a second thought, it's all disassembled... never mind)

seriously now, you got to ride it, esp. if you are a college kid and this is a substantial investment for you. Make them put it together...

in one of my posts i said he will have it put together i just need to get some handlebars because that's the missing link. then i'll be able to ride it when i test it. It should fit, i have a 58cm schwinn (seat tube c-c) and 55 cm top tube. This bike is a 57 cm so it should fit just fine.

if you paid yourself $100. an hour - how many hours and how much money would it take, (plus handlebars) to get this project rideable? if you have issues and spend time shopping from store to store for stuff - the bill an hours are gonna pile up.