Converting 1984 Trek

[Mark Evans]

This is quite premature as I have not actually seen the frame yet... but

I'm looking to do another conversion - one with a bit more get up and go, perhaps drop bars for both commuting and county rides.
I was contacted by a fella in town who has a 1984 Trek (does not name the model). He says it probably came with 27" tires originally.
He also says the fork is a bit narrow (?)

Just checking to see if anyone out on the group has done any Trek conversions of this vintage - that may have come with 27" wheels - successfully.
And if so, what brake set up you resorted to.  My donor 'winter 650B' bike has Tektro R556's that I'd like to install on the new bike if poss.

I do note that in the catalog, the RACING Trek bikes came with 700's that year (1984), but the Sport Racing mostly came with 27's.
Seller is checking details for me later.

Thanks for any sage advice.

Mark

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[franklyn]

I converted my wife's 82' Trek 720 to 650b. The frame has enough space to fit probably 38mm tires, but now uses 35.5mm CdlVs. The Tektro R556 brakes work, but barely in the rear. Playing with the centering-adjustment screw a little you can get the two brake pads to plant firmly and entirely on the rim surfaces. I have to look to find out if 82' Trek 720 uses 27" or 700c wheels originally.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/franklyn/6252572663/in/set-72157627787869627

Franklyn

[Ken Freeman]

See if the seller will turn the bike over and read off the S/N.  then go to the Vintage Trek site and look up the year and model of the frame.  Then find the bike and at least a representative geometry in the on- line brochures.  The as-new build specs will be there, too.  Tell us what model it is.  Then I can see if it matches my bike and tell you about it.

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[ejg]

Mark, I converted a 1984 TREK 660. This was one of the racing models. All in all I am happy with the conversion. It rides wonderfully and is comfortable long rides. The clearances are very tight. My frame is maxed out with Pari Moto 38's. Originally I was running SKS fenders, as the frame has no eyelets for racks or fenders. No matter what I tried I couldn't stop having fender rub without changing to a narrower tire. The Tektro R556 work fine. The fork is also "narrow" on mine its a sloping unicrown fork. http://www.flickr.com/photos/31238317@N03/7382146614/in/photostream There are a bunch of shots of this conversion on my flickr page. 

As it stands now I am starting work on another conversion that has better clearances. 

Hope this helps

Jason

[Mark Evans]

The seller sent me the serial # which makes no sense (he thinks the first # is a '6' or an '8' which would make it a mountain bike from '86 or some other model from the 90's). But if the mystery # is a '0' then it would be a 22.5" 520 from 1983 (ah, correct size according to his measures). I'm waiting for a picture or at least a color to confirm. the frame was scraped up and has all decals removed... something that makes it less desirable - unless I repaint. He describes the 'Trek' lugs.

Web research shows galleries of a 1983 520 conversion by RCNUTE (group denizen I believe), so that might have potential. That year the 520 came with caliper brakes. As it'd not be a cargo bike, it might work (wouldn't mess with the rake and all that jazz.)

Any speculation on that model conversion would be much obliged

Mark E Madison WI


I may get to see it this weekend.

[David Dillard]

Mark--

 

I have a 1984 520 that I converted.  It started out as a 27" cantilever touring frame, and after few different setups, including first a 700C commuter, I sent the frame to Franklin Frames near Columbus Ohio for framework (primarily moving canti studs for 650B) and painting.

 

Here are a few pictures from the process:

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/53347917@N02/sets/72157627463312531/

 

Mine fits Hetres with no problems, but I also did a 1985 Trek 500 series that didn't really have enough room.  Those pictures are here:

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/53347917@N02/sets/72157626243507009/

 

David Dillard

Louisville

On Thursday, July 5, 2012 10:40:51 AM UTC-4, Mark Evans wrote:

[rcnute]

Some other folks did all the work but the '83 520 made a fine 650b
bike with added canti studs and dimpled chainstays--fit 38s just fine,
bottom bracket not too low.

I bet an '83 620 would work too.

I'd guess that whether a racing vintage Trek will make a good 650b
conversion is whether the chainstays are long enough to get sufficient
width. I had an '85 560 and it barely fit 700c x 25mm tires without
fenders.

Ryan

On Jul 6, 5:34 am, Mark Evans <mstuar...@tds.net> wrote:
> The seller sent me the serial # which makes no sense (he thinks the
> first # is a '6' or an '8' which would make it a mountain bike from '86
> or some other model from the 90's). But if the mystery # is a '0' then
> it would be a 22.5" 520 from 1983 (ah, correct size according to his
> measures). I'm waiting for a picture or at least a color to confirm. the
> frame was scraped up and has all decals removed... something that makes
> it less desirable - unless I repaint. He describes the 'Trek' lugs.
>
> Web research shows galleries of a 1983 520 conversion by RCNUTE (group
> denizen I believe), so that might have potential. That year the 520 came
> with caliper brakes. As it'd not be a cargo bike, it might work
> (wouldn't mess with the rake and all that jazz.)
>
> Any speculation on that model conversion would be much obliged
>
> Mark E Madison WI
>
> I may get to see it this weekend.
> On 7/5/12 9:55 AM, franklyn wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > I converted my wife's 82' Trek 720 to 650b. The frame has enough space
> > to fit probably 38mm tires, but now uses 35.5mm CdlVs. The Tektro R556
> > brakes work, but barely in the rear. Playing with the
> > centering-adjustment screw a little you can get the two brake pads to
> > plant firmly and entirely on the rim surfaces. I have to look to find
> > out if 82' Trek 720 uses 27" or 700c wheels originally.
>

> >http://www.flickr.com/photos/franklyn/6252572663/in/set-7215762778786...

>
> > Franklyn
>
> > On Thursday, July 5, 2012 7:40:51 AM UTC-7, Mark Evans wrote:
>
> >     This is quite premature as I have not actually seen the frame
> >     yet... but
>
> >     I'm looking to do another conversion - one with a bit more get up
> >     and go, perhaps drop bars for both commuting and county rides.
> >     I was contacted by a fella in town who has a 1984 Trek (does not
> >     name the model). He says it probably came with 27" tires originally.
> >     He also says the fork is a bit narrow (?)
>
> >     Just checking to see if anyone out on the group has done any Trek
> >     conversions of this vintage - that may have come with 27" wheels -
> >     successfully.
> >     And if so, what brake set up you resorted to.  My donor 'winter
> >     650B' bike has Tektro R556's that I'd like to install on the new
> >     bike if poss.
>
> >     I do note that in the catalog, the RACING Trek bikes came with
> >     700's that year (1984), but the Sport Racing mostly came with 27's.
> >     Seller is checking details for me later.
>
> >     Thanks for any sage advice.
>
> >     Mark
> >     --
> >     Check out the latest work by Mark at Mark Evans Image Galleries

> >     <http://www.markevansart.net>

>
> >     Follow Wheels for Winners on FACEBOOK

> >     <http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=734289628&v=wall&ref=profile#%...>

>
> --
> Check out the latest work by Mark at Mark Evans Image Galleries

> <http://www.markevansart.net>

>
> Follow Wheels for Winners on FACEBOOK

> <http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=734289628&v=wall&ref=profile#%...>

[Ken Freeman]

Ok, so if its a 1983 520, the chainstay length is 43 mm rather than the 44 mm of the 620 of that year.  I have a 1984 610 with 43's and a 1983 620 with the 44's.  

My Hetre/Synergy wheels have their widest point (41 mm tire width) at a distance of 325 mm from the axle center.  At that point the clearance between the chainstays is 43 or 44 mm (I measured 43 on mine and someone else measured 44 on his), and both my 610 and 620 have that clearance.  I'd expect your 520 is not far from the same.  My assessment of the Hetres is that none of these three models have enough clearance to safely handle Hetres.  The tire can be made to fit, but any variation in frame alignment, wheel installation alignment, or wheel truing could result in a tire that rubs and cannot be made to clear without shop work.  On mine I'll stick to max tire size of 32 mm (5 mm per side), if I go to 650b on one of them.  I would use fenders, so I want that much clearance.

To use a 38 mm tire, it's just a judgement call on how much clearance you want to be able to have (this is 3 mm per side), and what is the fattest fender you can fit and still have room for the tire/rim to dither when it needs to. 

But the Hetre would only show about 1 mm per side clearance, with a perfectly aligned frame, wheel, and tire.

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Ken Freeman
Ann Arbor, MI USA

[Bob Chmara]

HI Mark,

 

I converted an ’83 Trek 613 which originally had 27” rims.  My Tektro R556s did not have enough reach to work.  I ended up using a set of Weinmann 750 calipers.  Not sure what he means by the fork being narrow.  Let me know if you have any other questions.

 

Bob Chmara

Southfield, Michigan, USA

--

[Alex Wetmore]

The 1984 520 used cantilever brakes.  The 1983 520 had caliper brakes.  I've experimented with 650B wheels on 4 1983 Trek frames with the same geometry (2x 520, 620, 630).  In all cases the 75mm reach Teketro R556 brakes worked just fine.  One of these bicycles is used by Bicycle Quarterly for tire testing because it is trivial to switch the single front brake between 650B and 700C wheels.

 

The tire clearance is going to be most limiting in the chainstays.  Hetres "fit", but there is no clearance to handle any rim wobble or a poorly mounted tire.  The CdlV and Trimline are a much safer fit.

 

The 620 and 630 (which have 1cm longer chainstays) fit the fatter tires a little bit better.  The 520 has a little more sporty tubing mix (it is 9/6/9 butts all around, the 620/630 have 10/7/10 downtubes and 8/5/8 top tube). 

 

The geometry on these bikes is pretty nice with 73 degree head and seat tube angles and a 55mm fork offset that gives about 45mm of trail.  They handle pretty nicely with a front load.

 

I think that these are some of the nicest bikes that Trek built.  I wish they came in a size that fit me better, the 22.5" is a bit too small and the 24" is a bit too large.  My 1983 Treks, Kogswell P/R, and Bridgestone RB-T are probably the three mass produced bikes that have had the most influence on my geometry preferences.  Most of my personal bikes are built using a blend of attributes from these three models.  If you can get a 1983 Trek in your size for a reasonable price then I'd say pick it up and try it out.

 

alex

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From: 65...@googlegroups.com [65...@googlegroups.com] on behalf of Mark Evans [mstu...@tds.net]
Sent: Thursday, July 05, 2012 7:40 AM

To: 65...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [650B] Converting 1984 Trek

[Steve Chan]

In case anyone is looking for some 531c Trek 700's, it looks like
this seller has 3 for sale:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/TREK-FRAME-VINTAGE-ONLY-ONE-YOU-CHOOSE-/140789187515

Serial numbers indicate that the larger ones are 22" 1983 Trek
700s. From the catalogs, the 700 seems to be a "sporty" version of the
720, with 43cm chainstays and a steeper angles, looks like an ideal
650b conversion candidate. It won't be a low trail setup, but maybe
someone can get them bent for you...

No relation to seller, and I need another bike frame like I need a
gushing arterial wound, but maybe someone else needs a project
frame...

Steve

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habit, reap a character. Sow a character, reap a destiny." - Samuel
Smiles

[rcnute]

And if they don't work out as 650b conversions these Treks make great
700c bikes too!

Ryan (should be working on the two '83 620s in the shed)

On Jul 6, 9:49 pm, Steve Chan <sychan...@gmail.com> wrote:
>    In case anyone is looking for some 531c Trek 700's, it looks like

> this seller has 3 for sale:http://www.ebay.com/itm/TREK-FRAME-VINTAGE-ONLY-ONE-YOU-CHOOSE-/14078...

> > [mstuar...@tds.net]

[Mark Evans]

The seller rustled up a picture of the mystery Trek he might have for sale for my 650B project.
Due to scheduling, I still have not gotten over to see it.
As noted the decals were stripped off. He said it was a little nicked up.
Looking at the 1983 catalog, it's closest to the 400 or the 500 (the 700 has that different colored head tube)
The fork does not look original fork but the seller has the original fork.
It would be lovely to have a pristine frame with few nicks, but...
Looks promising, eh?
what do we think?

Mark

[Steve Chan]

   As Ken Freeman already pointed out, vintage treks usually have a serial # stamped on the bottom of the bottom bracket shell. Once you have that, you can look it up on the Vintage Trek site and know exactly what model the bike is.

   Steve

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[Ken Freeman]

Generally this is the best advice, but in this case it won't help, since the number is a little mangled.  But if the OP would like to send me the number I'll see if I can isolate a best guess that makes sense.  Based on color and configuration it's hard to tell much with all the different blues they used.  The bike is built as a fixed with non-quill stem, looks like a carbon fork as well, so no component clues can be used.  There are no painted features, so it could even be from the earliest '80s before paneled seat tubes.

I don't think I'd pay more than $150 for it, maybe not even that.  It could be 531db, or 0.9 mm straight gauge.

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