916calinotch

Both mint stock condition which would you choose?

tugrul

Without knowing the years, it's hard to say. Preludes, for example, came in different geometries. They also don't come in the same sizes, so fit might be better on one than the other.

Trek 560s, at least those contemporary with Preludes, came better equipped.

I don't think it's a reach to say 560s are more respected in the market. They have all of the unique Trek investment cast lugs, and the Reynolds 531 ones carry that name recognition as well.


Personally, I'd have to test ride a 25.5" Trek to decide, as I'm not sure the 24" "race" geometry was for me, but a 25" Prelude would probably be my choice.

cinco

What years/components?

I have an '87 560EX and it's a good ride, but compared to most of my others I find the ride to be a bit twitchy. Maybe I just need to cut down on the coffee. Still, it's an awfully nice bike and I rather enjoy riding it. I've never even ridden, let alone owned, a Prelude but I'd be happy to tell you some lies .

abarth

You are not the only one who think the ride to be a bit twitchy. A few 560 owners I talked to thought the same thing. AFAIK, we all love the twitchyness of the 560. It is very entertaining to ride, just take a bit more concentration.

bobbycorno

IIRC, the 560 (and the whole 500 series) was made from Reynolds 501, not 531. 501 is a seamed, butted tubeset, slightly heavier than 531 of the same vintage. I have seen cases where 501 tubes have split along the seam, but that's quite rare AFAIK, so it's probably nothing to worry about.

And the investment cast lugs that Trek introduced in 1985 were a major step DOWN in quality IMO. The design was strictly for reducing labor costs: all you had to do was chop the tube off square, shove it in and braze it. No more of that nasty time-consuming mitering. And no finish work necessary.

All that said, I'd take an '84 560 over a Prelude, but I'd take almost any Trek over the equivalent Schwinn.

SP
Bend, OR

abarth

Yes, 84 was lower quality 501 tubing. The 86 and 87 was 531 main triangle, chomoly fork and stays. Check the catalog.

huerro

I've never ridden a 560, but I absolutely loved my 86 Prelude and kick myself regularly for getting rid of it. It is by no means a racer, but it is a very good all-arounder. I used it for trips to the grocery store, centuries, and relatively fast group rides down country roads with the spandex guys. I built it up with 9 speed Tiagra.

If someone told me I had to pick just one of the bikes I've owned to be my only bike, it would be the Prelude. (With the rigid Stump Jumper i rode all through high school coming in second)

Bianchigirll 

I am not a Trek fan but if as Tugrul is is the 'fancy' frame with those cool saycap/dropouts and the RD cable through the stay I woulf go for that. if they are from the same seller try for a package deal.

tmh657

560's, '83, '84 and '85 = 501. '86, '87 = 531. '88 = True Temper. I have not ridden the True Temper 560 but had a '84, '86 and '87 go through my hands. All were nice and can't say one was better.

The twitchyest Trek I have ridden was a 1984 660. Short wheelbase, toe overlap and really fun.
I can't say anything about the Prelude but but as mentioned a Reynolds framed Trek will get more attention than a Prelude, at least as far as a sale on Craig's list goes.

abarth

Was the '84 560 the same size as the '84 660? Because they shared the exact same geometry, just different tubing and components.

916calinotch

Thanks for input guys its 501 tubing on trek 560 its black also I own the prelude 1986. Is this a case of the grass greener on the other side but I look at the trek today I hope it has shimano components?

tmh657

Oops, just checked my own post and I meant I rode a 1985 660 that was very twitchy. It had a fork offset of 3.8 as opposed to the '84 which was 4.5. Wheelbase on the '85 is 6/10" shorter than '84. Geo for the '85 560 and 660 are the same. Ditto for ''84. That is for a 22.5" frame.

tmh657

Black 560 is the '84. Not Shimano
https://www.vintage-trek.com/images/t...rek1Racing.pdf

mazdaspeed

I would take a prelude hands down but only an 89.

abarth

Looks like Trek went back and forth on fork offset until they settled on 4.2cm for the last few years of production. My '87 was quite twitchy(still feel safe), can't imagine riding an '85 with 3.8 offset on a 40+mph decent.

Chombi

I think the Trek 560 would be a natural choice for most C&Vers because of the brand name, and unfortuantely, many still look at Schwinn as mostly a maker of cheap "gas pipe" framed bikes that school kids ride and beat up. The Prelude was not chaeply made as it was a successful effort by the company to make bikes of quality that mostly matched the international competition, specially at this mid level model area. A different, more exotic sounding name on the frame would have surely changed more peoples mind about them.
I'd take the Prelude myself. Anyway, in addition to the good frame build quality, IIRC, they had better looking graphics/paint scheme than the Trek. You can always upgrade components later, if you want to.

Chombi

916calinotch

Thanks for the input I'm just itchy for some better wheelsets, derailers, I would like to know how to increase the gears from 6 to 9 . I got the prelude free, dad's attic find so I can upgrade. I think I'm just getting the fever you know where you have to have more than one bike!

Chombi

Uhm...... you need to check the rear triangle width (from inner dropout faces) measurement. If it measures 126mm, you will need to cold set (spread) your triangle to accomodate more speeds to at least 130 - 135mm, needed to accomodate a newer 9 speed freewheel cluster.
Six pseed bikes from that time usually have 126mm spacing. Have a good bike shop do it for you if you are not sure if you can do it yourself correctly. It done all the time and the bike shops should have the proper tools to maitain drop out alignment when spreading them out.

Chombi

abarth

Cold setting the rear triangle is not necessary, when you go from 126mm (6sp) to 130mm (8-10sp). It is only 2mm each side.

916calinotch

Yeah mm is small very small now cm i can see having to spead so I guess if its 130mm it will be snug going in? I just talked to a couple bike shop and they seemed scared to cold set!? both shop shy away from doing it.

tmh657

Just a little bit but it's easily done.

huerro

You shouldn't need to modify the frame at all for a 9 speed group.

The easiest way to switch from 6 to 9 is to buy a donor bike with the parts you want in good condition and transfer them over. It will be much cheaper than doing it piece by piece. Since you won't need to worry about frame size, material, color, etc, for the donor you should have a lot to choose from. Transfer everything over (which will require some special tools for the cranks and bottom bracket), have someone check your work if you've never built up a frame before, and ride off into the sunset.

Then you can sell on the old frame set

Frogbutter 

My first USCF bike was a 1984 Trek 560 (Black Beauty, Reynolds 501) and if you look at my sig you will see I currently own a Prelude. I put thousands upon thousands of miles on the Trek, 3+ RAGBRAIs, training, racing, club rides. In 1985 I moved onto a Trek 770 to race (Pink Wonder, Reynolds 531), but still choose to ride the 560 for everything else.
Now the Prelude with the Columbus Tenax is a really nice (Stable) ride it is not the 560 and never will be. Had my wife not wrecked the 560 I would still have it.
Also I sold the 770 to equip a Bianchi that I raced from 88 on, wish I had never changed teams and had not sold the 770.
If your an old fart like me (46) ride the Schwinn. If your young and can control a stallion like the Trek, I say ride the Trek!

916calinotch

Thanks for all your input it has helped. I am keeping the schwinn just going to put red bartape and a red saddle to accent the grey paint scheme. Brifters and shimano components down the road

wallymann

less offset = more trail = slower handling

its all math and geometry