1986? Trek Elance 300 pictures
 

I bought this bike new at Georges Cycle in Boise Idaho and like it a lot. It is the only bike that I have that states it is triple butted. It was not at the top of Trek pecking order but I sure do like it.
http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/k...s/IMG_1103.jpg
http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/k...s/IMG_1104.jpg
http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/k...s/IMG_1105.jpg
http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/k...s/IMG_1106.jpg
http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/k...s/IMG_1107.jpg
http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/k...s/IMG_1108.jpg
http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/k...s/IMG_1109.jpg
http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/k...s/IMG_1110.jpg
http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/k...s/IMG_1111.jpg

i think you may be right in questioning the year. my 300 has a pump peg sticking out of the rear of the headtube between the downtube and the toptube. plus, if i'm not mistaken the 86 (first year of the offereing according to the "vintage trek" website) had Ishiwata 022 tubes and sticker. as mine did before new PC...

anyway, what really matters to me is that it is, without question, my favorite frame of all time. it's just solid.

BTW, to be sure about the manufacturing date, check the serial number against the info about them on the "vintage trek" website. that's about as definitive as you can get, i guess.

now that i think about it, there may have been two different models in '86, a 310 and 320. and although there is no reason to believe that all the components are original, those rims don't look like the araya 27" red label rims that were on and were spec'd on the '86 310.

Looks good, seems like it will shine up real nice!

here's a pic of my pump peg on my headtube.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7005/6...f23d4850_m.jpg

I think the 1986 Trek 300's and 310's are the best deal of the decade. Components are OK, but the frames are top notch.

Sweet bike! Very clean ;)
Georges Cycle in Boise is still alive and well.

Cheers,
Chris

it's nice to hear confirmation! i just stumbled across mine on SF Craigslist.

i was beginning to believe i was just imagining it. although, i have reason to be somewhat objective, in that i ride a different bike everyday for five days (and they all have identical components at the touch points). then repeat.

you bought this new? have things been replaced over the years? there is a Biopace chainring (88? to 90?) ona Sakae crank, Light Action (bottom of the line indexing RD then) but the shifters are friction and the brakes are older looking style 600s

seems like a odd mix of parts for new off the shelf bike.

Here's a of picture of my '86 Elance with the original equipment as purchased on CL a few years back.

+10
These bikes provide a level of performance and handling that belies their original price tag. IMO, they were among the best Treks from Trek's best era.

i just double checked the 1986 trek brochure. there are two elance models listed for 1986. the 300 and the 310. the 310 has a few (very few) more gimcracks. like brazeon shifter bosses and yes pump peg on headtube. both use the same tubing. oh heck read for yourselves --> http://vintage-trek.com/images/trek/86TrekCatalog.pdf

probably requires a pdf doc reader to be installed in your browser...

This ’86 400T Elance with 531 tubing that I picked up sure opened my eyes. (pic is as-found.) I think ’86 must have been a good year for Trek; the thoughtful designs and quality finish appear to reveal a more confident and experienced company from the earlier years. I’ve gone from up to down to up on the desirability of older Treks. I believe the “Elance” line was introduced as an economical alternative to some of Trek’s higher-end models, perhaps incorporating Ishiwata tubing into their early frames to reduce production costs.

However; not to diss on Ishiwata Tri-butted tubing, but if you step up from the Elance 300 to 400 with Reynolds 531 tubing, that seems to me like a silent jewel.:thumb:
http://i700.photobucket.com/albums/w...TElance003.jpg

The '86 300's and 310's (this year and models ONLY) were made by Bridgestone.

According to vintage trek.com 1986 is the only year that the 300 elance was made in the color combination I have. The only thing I remember changing were the pedals and the Biopace chainring. The tires are also new but that is to be expected.