My dad unearthed this old Trek from his basement. Likely 80s, don’t know much more about it unfortunately.
I’m thinking it’d be a fun project to get it riding again. Thoughts on how feasible this is? Will parts be exorbitantly expensive and rare?
by dangerous_james
7 Comments
That will be a nice riding bike, absolutely worth keeping on the road. Parts are still readily available. My bike is an 82 and no issues. Looks to even have the same 6 speed indexed drivetrain. That means freewheel and probably 126 mm rear hubs.
Doesn’t look like it needs much other than rubber and almost surely brake pads. Not sure if you have ever ridden down tube shifters, will be an experience. I’m still riding those on my 82 Bianchi
Sort of lower end components but will ride fine.
I would start with giving it a good thorough cleaning and see how far that gets you. You probably won’t have to replace too much.
Very feasible! It will be a fun project and keeping a bike like that on the road will be very rewarding, and probably less costly than a new bike. I would def proceed.
[1986 Trek Elance 400](http://www.vintage-trek.com/images/trek/86TrekCatalog.pdf)
you probably only need grease,lube, tires, tubes, brakepads, maybe cables and elbow grease.
considering it looks basically original I wouldn’t change more.
Worth noting that bicycles aren’t like cars. Unless it’s exotic or exceptionally high end (of which this bike is neither) the drivetrain, brakes, and wheels are made as separate products. You can get shifters, derailleurs, brakes, and drivetrain bits (cranks, chains, cassettes) from Shimano or SRAM. Other things like wheels and tires have way more options from a shitload of manufacturers.
You can absolutely modernize it and convert away from downtown shifters. Either way you’re staring at the business end of $1,000 for the stuff you’ll be able to easily access. Included into this figure is that it’s your first time in the wild world of bike repair and restoration so you’re going to buy the wrong shit or get hosed on specific parts.
Man, it looks nice and sleek. I would turn my head if i saw someone riding this. I do super amateur stuff so i would just make it more relaxed, from gearing to throwing some comfy bars with rise. Keep the downtube shifters lol.
Rehabbed one of these a few years ago. I didn’t keep it 100% original though because 80s brakes and shifters are… not great.
Slapped some modern bar end shifters, modern brakes and brake hoods, new bar tape, cables and housing all around, and disassembled the bottom bracket and headsets — no pitting and no rust so cleaned and repacked with new grease. Didn’t even bother looking at the chain I just chucked it and slapped a new one on.
I have another I went a little wild on. Tore it down to just the frame, cleaned, polished, and waxed it after touching up paint chips. Then I coated the inside with T9 boeshield to prevent rust, and slapped a modern 11 speed Shimano Ultegra group set on it with new wheels, seat post, saddle, and bars and an expensive threadless headset conversion.