Ugliest Trek ever?
#1
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Ugliest Trek ever?
...and I like Treks.
from CL - mid 90's?
from CL - mid 90's?
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I think they may have been closer to $2000. I bought my first real MTB, a '93 8000, in November '93 for exactly $1000 plus tax. Fully rigid with an LX group.
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It may be ugly but it was cutting edge then and I lusted for one at the time. The pivot placement was called Sweet Spot and I forget the name of the guy who designed and licensed it. Schwinn also used it.
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Gazelle had a similar design for a few years. I'm not looking for one but I'd love to build one up in all kinds of funky colors.
Gazelle Skyhawk special Y-frame
Gazelle Skyhawk special Y-frame
#8
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#9
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The first time I rode a full suspension bike was on a K2 rental bike at a lift-served downhill venue. The suspension on that K2 looked similar - just a swing-arm hanging off the back. I stood up on it to pedal and I thought the back wheel had half-collapsed because it was such a noodle. But, it was certainly better going downhill than the 1980's Trek rigid MTB I had been riding downhill up to that point - truly punishing.
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The first time I rode a full suspension bike was on a K2 rental bike at a lift-served downhill venue. The suspension on that K2 looked similar - just a swing-arm hanging off the back. I stood up on it to pedal and I thought the back wheel had half-collapsed because it was such a noodle. But, it was certainly better going downhill than the 1980's Trek rigid MTB I had been riding downhill up to that point - truly punishing.
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There a guy in Michigan who has been trying to sell a Proflex 555 @ $500 for about two years now.
https://thumb.craigslist.org/bik/d/p...717464446.html
https://thumb.craigslist.org/bik/d/p...717464446.html
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This is the one we lusted for. Likely for the wrong reasons. Like a Hummer.
https://forums.mtbr.com/attachments/p...have-image.jpg
There were a lot of ugly bikes in the early 90's, exciting or not
https://forums.mtbr.com/attachments/p...have-image.jpg
There were a lot of ugly bikes in the early 90's, exciting or not
#14
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I thought that the Trek Y-bikes worked pretty well, I had a Y-5 aluminum, though it seemed like most of the bikes back then had crummy front suspensions.
The bike I raced in '96 was a ProFlex 856 with elastomer springs and ODS oil dampers. The bike begged for a longer and better front suspension. As it was the bike didn't go downhill well, and put me over the bars more than once.
The ProFlex rear suspension had a high pivot, so that it's anti-squat and "chain growth" behavior depended on what chainring that you were in. Somewhere between the middle and big rings, the suspension seemed optimal, pedaling wise. Using the granny ring caused the suspension to extend with each pedal stroke, and with a fast-kicking spin it would find incredible climbing traction. Climbing while pedaling slowly would mean that if traction was broken for an instant, the entire pedal stroke was like pedaling on ice, this because of the suspension compressing in response to any sudden reduction in chain tension.
Early on, I believe Girvin/ProFlex trademarked "Dig In", which appeared on a decal on the swingarm, and which was meant to characterize the high-pivot design's anti-squat force under increased chain tension while in the smaller two rings.
The earlier, 1st-gen Cannondale, Trek and GT hi-pivot frames had even higher main pivots, and the suspension was thus set up with high enough spring-preload to effect a static zero-sag. Those bikes actually sprinted very well if the spring preload was set high enough for the rider's weight, since the suspension remained locked out by the chain's tension pulling the axle forward under the main pivot.
The bike I raced in '96 was a ProFlex 856 with elastomer springs and ODS oil dampers. The bike begged for a longer and better front suspension. As it was the bike didn't go downhill well, and put me over the bars more than once.
The ProFlex rear suspension had a high pivot, so that it's anti-squat and "chain growth" behavior depended on what chainring that you were in. Somewhere between the middle and big rings, the suspension seemed optimal, pedaling wise. Using the granny ring caused the suspension to extend with each pedal stroke, and with a fast-kicking spin it would find incredible climbing traction. Climbing while pedaling slowly would mean that if traction was broken for an instant, the entire pedal stroke was like pedaling on ice, this because of the suspension compressing in response to any sudden reduction in chain tension.
Early on, I believe Girvin/ProFlex trademarked "Dig In", which appeared on a decal on the swingarm, and which was meant to characterize the high-pivot design's anti-squat force under increased chain tension while in the smaller two rings.
The earlier, 1st-gen Cannondale, Trek and GT hi-pivot frames had even higher main pivots, and the suspension was thus set up with high enough spring-preload to effect a static zero-sag. Those bikes actually sprinted very well if the spring preload was set high enough for the rider's weight, since the suspension remained locked out by the chain's tension pulling the axle forward under the main pivot.
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I think one of the Trek Y-Foil Carbon Road bikes might be cool, although I probably wouldn't keep it original.
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I would nominate the Trek R200 as the ugliest Trek... and ugliest recumbent... ever. And I like recumbents.
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Jeff Wills
Comcast nuked my web page. It will return soon..
Jeff Wills
Comcast nuked my web page. It will return soon..
#18
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That is actually post '95. The earlier stuff is like the 554 with its CroMo swingarm, before they began using aluminum swingarms. Incidentally, K2 already owned Proflex by about '95 but they changed the bike name to better unify the product line across the sporting world. I was repping for them at that time.
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#20
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Actually, IMHO your bike looks pretty cool with the big tires, 3 spoke wheels, and the grey/black color scheme. That Craigslist bike with its little tires, giant bar ends, and the blue/yellow color just looked goofy to me - a bike that some poor guy was riding around around his cul de sac following his 4 year old on a tricycle..
But then again, when I saw the CL bike I had just been admiring all the bikes in the 'French Fender Day' post - more my thing and certainly a jarring comparison! Who am I to judge?!
But then again, when I saw the CL bike I had just been admiring all the bikes in the 'French Fender Day' post - more my thing and certainly a jarring comparison! Who am I to judge?!
#23
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I had one about a year ago, they were crazy looking , it was a nice Maroon color. but it didnt really impress me so i sold it
Sorry for the fuzzy picture.
1995 Y22
Sorry for the fuzzy picture.
1995 Y22
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I hope to own a Y-Foil someday. And also a Softride, if I can find a big one with the the beefier beam meant for heavier riders.
I suppose this makes me a terrible person, doesn't it?
I suppose this makes me a terrible person, doesn't it?
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● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
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"Concept 2 Road Bike
Atlantic Beach, NC · 3 days ago ·
$50"
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...roduct_details