trek 820 antelope 1991

90s Trek MTBs - Steel frames, rigid forks, 26" wheels

Full list of steel, rigid fork mountain bike models Trek made between 1990 and 1999, grouped by year, containing details on frames and main components for easy reference.

Based on riding style, build level and performance, Trek offered these in two series. The 9XX series , called Single Track , consists of a range of race, competition and performance bikes, aimed at pro riders and serious off-road enthusiasts. The 8XX series , called Antelope until 1993 and Mountain Track from 1994, covers a range of multipurpose models, from commuting and recreation to trail and light mountain biking.

1990 View catalog

Trek 990 Single Track (1990)

Trek 970 Single Track (1990)

Trek 950 Single Track (1990)

Trek 930 Single Track (1990)

Trek 850 Antelope (1990)

Trek 830 Antelope (1990)

Trek 820 Antelope (1990)

Trek 800 Antelope (1990)

1991 view catalog.

Trek 990 Single Track Competition (1991)

Trek 970 Single Track Competition (1991)

Trek 950 Single Track Performance (1991)

Trek 930 Single Track Performance (1991)

Trek 850 Antelope Performance (1991)

Trek 830 Antelope Mountain Sport (1991)

Trek 820 Antelope Trail Performance (1991)

Trek 800 Antelope Sport Trail (1991)

1992 view catalog.

Trek 970 SingleTrack Competition (1992)

Trek 950 SingleTrack Performance (1992)

Trek 930 SingleTrack Performance (1992)

Trek 850 Antelope Performance (1992)

Trek 830 Antelope Trail Performance (1992)

Trek 820 Antelope Sport Trail (1992)

Trek 800 Antelope Sport Trail (1992)

1993 view catalog.

Trek 970 SingleTrack Competition Race (1993)

Trek 950 SingleTrack Performance (1993)

Trek 930 SingleTrack Performance (1993)

Trek 830 Antelope Performance Trail (1993)

Trek 820 Antelope Sport Trail (1993)

Trek 800 Antelope Sport (1993)

1994 view catalog.

Trek 970 SingleTrack Competition (1994)

Trek 950 SingleTrack Performance (1994)

Trek 930 SingleTrack Performance (1994)

Trek 920 SingleTrack Performance (1994)

Trek 850 Mountain Track Performance (1994)

Trek 830 Mountain Track Performance Trail

Trek 820 Mountain Track Sport Trail (1994)

Trek 800 Mountain Track Sport (1994)

1995 view catalog.

Trek 990 SingleTrack ZX Series Competition (1995)

Trek 970 SingleTrack ZX Series Performance

Trek 950 SingleTrack Performance (1995)

Trek 930 SingleTrack Performance (1995)

Trek 850 Mountain Track Sport (1995)

Trek 830 Mountain Track Sport (1995)

Trek 820 Mountain Track Recreation (1995)

Trek 800 Mountain Track Recreation (1995)

1996 view catalog.

Trek 990 SingleTrack ZX Series Competition (1996)

Trek 970 SingleTrack ZX Series High Performance (1996)

Trek 950 SingleTrack High Performance (1996)

Trek 930 SingleTrack Performance (1996)

Trek 850 Mountain Track XC Enthusiast (1996)

Trek 830 Mountain Track XC Enthusiast (1996)

Trek 820 Mountain Track Recreation (1996)

Trek 800 Mountain Track Recreation (1996)

Trek 800 Sport Mountain Track Recreation (1996)

1997 view catalog.

Trek 930 SingleTrack XC Series Performance (1997)

Trek 850 Mountain Track XC Series Enthusiast (1997)

Trek 830 Mountain Track XC Series Enthusiast (1997)

Trek 820 Mountain Track Recreation (1997)

Trek 800 Mountain Track Recreation (1997)

Trek 800 Sport Mountain Track Recreation (1997)

1998 view catalog.

Trek 920 SingleTrack Performance (1998)

Trek 820 Mountain Track Enthusiast (1998)

Trek 800 Mountain Track Recreation (1998)

Trek 800 Sport Mountain Track Recreation (1998)

1999 view catalog.

Trek 820 Mountain Track Recreation (1999)

Trek 800 Mountain Track Recreation (1999)

Trek 800 Sport Mountain Track Recreation (1999)

Acronym for all terrain bike.

Trek's exclusive fork design.

A tube having different wall thicknesses along its length, while its diameter remains constant.

Low alloy steel with a medium carbon content, that gets its name from the primary alloying elements, chromium and molybendium. It has an excellent strength to weight ratio and is considerably stronger, harder more durable than mild carbon steel.

Trek's exclusive fork design using taper gauge tubing and provides a blade with more elasticity for better shock absoption.

The thickness of the tube at both ends is thicker than in the centre.

Shifting system, where part of the handlebar grip rotates back and forth, clicking into each gear.

Low alloy steel that can withstand significant stress before breaking or becoming deformed. The term 'tensile' refers to the amount of stress a material can endure before failing.

Steel tubing connected with socket-like sleeves, called lugs.

Shimano's multi-condition brake system with specialized shoes, levers and cables designed for enhanced stopping power in rain, mud and snow.

A house brand for Trek during the 80s and early 90s.

Optimal Dimension; Trek's large diameter, thin wall tubing design.

Oversize; Trek's large diameter, thin wall tubing design.

Shimano's oversize hub system designed to minimize wheel flex.

Shimano's under handlebar, two-finger shift system, giving riders the ability to downshift more than one gears in one stroke.

Brake lever system that lets riders adjust braking power modulation.

Shimano Integrated Shifting. Shift mechanism indents control cable advance for quick, precise gear changes without over-shifting.

Shimano Linear Response. Friction reducing levers, cables and calipers.

Japanese steel tubing manufacturer for bicycle frames.

A tube having a maller diameter at one end and a larger diameter on the other end.

Tungsten Inert Gas welding is an arc welding process that produces the weld with a non-consumable tungsten electrode.

Trek-designed components. The higher the number ona given component, the higher its performance level.

Three different wall thicknesses along the length.

American tubing manufacturer.

Special all-terrain tubing, developed to withstand demands of off-road cycling.

A lighter weight version of the AT frame set, featuring a triple-butted down tube.

Zero Excess; Trek's guiding principle of making stronger bikes with less material.

Related posts

• Pinkbike.com
• Register New User
• First Looks
• Friday Fails
• Community Blogs
• Fantasy League DH
• Places Directory
• Vintage Bikes

1991 Trek Antelope 820

Cool Features

• CALCULATORS

Thursday, May 14, 2015

The life of a 1991 trek antelope 820 -- drop-bar conversion pictures.

2 comments:

Saw your post on my 1.2 vs 1.5 (http://chitownmike.blogspot.com/2014/07/2014-trek-12-vs-2014-trek-15.html), very nice build! What crank are you using? I was pondering doing another one again, but maybe with a GT frame since I really like their looks. Or a higher end Trek from, I really enjoyed my old mash-up and it was a blast to ride even if it was a little smaller than it should have been.

Yeah, mine is just a touch small as well. I think those Treks had a little bit of a cramped cockpit...one of the negatives of using them for a drop-bar build...They are TONS of fun though! The crank is a bottom-end road double takeoff from a Schwinn. I just took off the big ring and moved the small ring (42t) out to make it a single. You'll have to let me know if you start another build. I would love to see what you do!

• Forum Listing
• Marketplace
• Advanced Search
• Vintage, Retro, Classic

What would you do with this Trek 820 Antelope?

• Add to quote

Donate it to Sally and get a bike worth owning.  

woah, i can barely see you on your high horse up there. i already have a trail bike.  

That's an exact match to my first mountain bike. I was on top of the world when I got it and thought I could ride it anywhere. Took it to Jim Thorpe and came down a super rocky descent and scared the crap out of myself. Great times!  

Single-speed it. I've got an old Bianchi that sold in about the same price bracket that I converted with a tensioner. It rides like a big BMX bike.  

i was working on an 820 yesterday chain hanger, full braze ons, it was a nicely set up ride. a bit of spray lube on the shifter prawls and it returned to life. that one has a tall stem for a tall ride. Everything looks GTG right there.  

put some road slicks on it with some fenders and a rack  

I'd ignore it completely.  

is it really that bad?  

It has the potential to be a nice commuter. I think from the pictures i see eyelets for fenders and racks. I say full on commuter. some decent cross tires, repack, lube everything. I'm beginning to thing i want something with a little wider tire for my ride into and home from work.  

doc Zox said: well 800 series treks are the official VRC forum scapegoat, but they really are nicer bikes than a lot of the pricepoint competition from that era the lugged 950s were nicer groupos and had lugged frames Click to expand...

Well it's a steel frame and fork, and steel frames these days seem to go for a premium. It runs pretty damn smoothly already so I think I'll just put some new grips on it and call it a commuter that I don't need to worry about getting stolen.  

Perfect!  

I love my trek 820 as my commuter! Fittings for a rack, fenders, smooth solid ride. Changed bars to origin 8 citiclasssic to get more upright and some ergon knockoff grips. Not fast at all but my commute of 4.5 miles is very enjoyable👍  

Rule #1: Never zip tie the computer wire to the headtube.  

As a commuter ride it as is. No need to swap bars or tires. Just put a rack on it and go.. Agree with Ed,remove the zip ties on the stem and headtube.  

Well. That's nothing to write home about. Maybe try the Commuter forum.  

I would donate it. The parts aren't work anything and it's too junky to take up space at my pad. No 2nd thoughts or regrets. I would never take possession of a bike of this caliber to begin with. If it gets stolen, someone just did u a favor.  

klasse said: I would donate it. The parts aren't work anything and it's too junky to take up space at my pad. No 2nd thoughts or regrets. I would never take possession of a bike of this caliber to begin with. If it gets stolen, someone just did u a favor. Click to expand...

That old Trek looks like it is in pretty good shape to me. Clean and lube, ride it as is (or sell it on CL for cheap to someone who needs transportation). Not a frame you want to put money into - unless for sentimental reasons (like the 820 was your first MTB or something like that). Ditch the cheesy bike computer, though.  

Nice to see the function specific design chainstays. Thats why I bought a 930 back then. Considered a cannondale but I was leery of their moon phase specific design.  

92gli said: Considered a cannondale but I was leery of their moon phase specific design. Click to expand...

Who cares what the OP is riding? As long as He's out riding something! Many people have started out on Walmart bikes and ended up on high end bikes. And many people have started out on high end bikes only to sell them to me at a very discounted price on Cl.  

But I don't post pictures of my 1964 4d impala on a classic chevy forum unless I was prepared for the donate remarks.A pos is a pos no matter........  

That's true, but, he didn't say "Look at my super rare bike". He just asked a question about it. Totally legit IMHO.  

mk.ultra said: how mad are you that my main bike is a 2011 GT Avalanche 3.0, I have loads of fun on it, and I love it? Click to expand...

What would I do with a peachy 820? Pin and mount it, like a butterfly.  

Camry? Its an AMC Gremlin. A Bridgestone MB-2 is a Camry  

The 800s are barely Corollas. The Trek Camry is the 900 series.  

Gremlins have a following. I think it's like pintos or anything that has a 100c engine.  

• ?            
• 15.5M posts
• 517.6K members

Top Contributors this Month

• Скидки дня
• Справка и помощь
• Адрес доставки Идет загрузка... Ошибка: повторите попытку ОК
• Продажи
• Список отслеживания Развернуть список отслеживаемых товаров Идет загрузка... Войдите в систему , чтобы просмотреть свои сведения о пользователе
• Краткий обзор
• Недавно просмотренные
• Ставки/предложения
• Список отслеживания
• История покупок
• Купить опять
• Объявления о товарах
• Сохраненные запросы поиска
• Сохраненные продавцы
• Сообщения
• Уведомление
• Развернуть корзину Идет загрузка... Произошла ошибка. Чтобы узнать подробнее, посмотрите корзину.

Oops! Looks like we're having trouble connecting to our server.

Refresh your browser window to try again.

Trek 820 Bike 1998 or Older

• USER REVIEWS

I bought my 820 new in 1998. I added a RockShox before I picked it up. It has been mostly indestructible. It is nice to ride. Yes, it is a little heavier than a CF frame, but you get what you pay for. I just rode it on the Ride 2 Recovery Honor Ride for 27 miles. It was comfortable and performed well. I have taken the time to maintain it over the years so it still shifts properly, brakes correctly and is still balanced. If yours does not, have it serviced by a professional. It is worth it.

As others said, it is a steel frame and heavier than a CF frame.

This is a nearly indestructible bike that rides well.

good durability, good handling, decent components, built to last, priced well, availability

weight (if you're used to lighter bikes)

I have a 1991 820 antelope and I love it. I use it for everything, mostly commuting with road slicks on it, but sometimes I put my knobbys on it and ride it on singletrack. It handles very predictably and precisely. As others have stated if you get an older model with rigid forks don't expect to be clearing massive jumps on it anytime soon but you will definitely like it. Mine has shimano 200gs components and they still work pretty good. Overall it's a great old bike that you can find on craigslist for pretty cheap (mine was $50 with brand new armadillo street slick tires on it), I would definitely recommend it!

Solid frame, ok geometry, rudimentary but functional Shimano drivetrain, tektro rim brake isn't too flexy, tires are good on pavement and hardpack. THE G.D PRICE! LIFETIME WARRANTY ON FRAME, 5 YEAR WARRANTY ON BONTRAGER PARTS... beat that Walmart.

Obviously it's heavy... it's steel, the Tires only half work offroad, The Suntour fork is pretty useless at anything other than absorbing potholes.

This is an inexpensive ride with inexpensive parts. Functionally it works fine, but having said that don't ever expect it to shift under load, it won't stop on a dime when you pull on the brakes, and you'll probably need to true the wheels often if you ride it in the trails much. The Shifters, derailleur and cassette being matching Shimano really helps the cause... THIS BIKES IS A MILLION TIMES BETTER THAN A DEPARTMENT STORE BIKE (despite the fact it's no featherweight).

Similar Products Used:

I'm a bike mechanic...

Sturdy,great all terrian tires. Ride it daily back and forth to work, smooth ride and rugged.

Nothing really, great bike for the price!

Holding up well in the heat and dust/sand! Keep it clean and lubed and you'll have no problems!

Good jumping bike, easy to menuever

dont have any yet

Very good bike for teens and young adults

the deraiuller!! I have had some serious headaches with this thing.

IF you want to actually take your bike off the asphalt, I would not suggest this bike.

Scott Aspect 60

tough and solid. excellent commuter. takes a beating.

-front derailleur, -yes, it is heavy, but nothing i can't deal with -not much travel in the front shock.

a great bike for the price. almost every review i have read about this bike has remarked on the weight, but that's the price you pay for it's durability. it's a low maintenance bike that i will use for a long time.

specialized hardrock.

Quality construction. Rides very nice. Awesome beginner bike.

A little heavy. Shocks need more travel.

very nice bike for the price. nice beginners bike. perfect for weekend warriors that also ride on asphalt. This is our second one. I purchased the first one 2 years ago for my wife and i just bought myself one.

Very fast, durable, is an awesome bike, great on and off road

No shocks(mine is a 1987 model)

A very good bike I can't ask for anything more!!!

Magna great divide mountaine bike, redline 360 bmx

Great bike, have had no major problems keeps on going and going. ride it every monday and thursday cant complain. jumps ok and handles alright.

heavy, and needs a better front shock.

if u want to get a mountain bike for a good price and that will last you the 820 is perfect. its durable strong and awesome. the best hardtail i bought for 300 dollars.

jamis parker 1, gary fisher

Get the latest mountain bike reviews, news, race results, and much more by signing up for the MTBR Newsletter

Hot Deals See All Hot Deals >>

• CLASSIFIEDS
• TERMS OF USE
• PRIVACY POLICY
• ADVERTISING

VISIT US AT

© Copyright 2024 VerticalScope Inc. All rights reserved.

Brochures | Price Lists and Values | Trek History | Trek Timeline | Serial Numbers Component Dates | Gallery | Contact | Buy/Sell Suggestions Refurbish/Upgrade | Bike Resources | Home

*Trek is a trademark of Trek Bicycle Corporation, Waterloo, WI

All copyrights in the TREK brochures, pricelists, owner's manuals and photographs displayed on this website are the sole property of Trek Bicycle Corporation, Waterloo, Wisconsin.

All materials in this site not copyrighted by others are Copyright © 2001-2015 Skip Echert Web Associates , All rights reserved.

Trek 820 Review – Is This Bike Worth Buying?

The Trek 820 is almost certainly the least expensive “name brand” mountain bike you can buy. With an SRP of $439 (check the Trek site for the latest MSRP ) it hardly seems possible that this bike comes from the same manufacturer that produces some of the most respected – and expensive – mountain bikes on the market. It does, though, and that makes a difference. Trek is a large company that makes lots of bikes. That means they make lots of frames and they order lots of components from some of the biggest names in the industry. That gives them pricing leverage that they pass on to the customer. It would be almost impossible for a smaller or less well-connected company to produce a similar bike at the same price.

You’re also getting the expertise of some of the industry’s top bike designers and builders, and that shows in the design of the frame, the component selection, and the overall value.

The Trek 820 is a basic bike that steps away from many of the trends that define modern mountain bikes. The bike features 26” wheels, not the 27.5” or 29” versions that dominate the industry today. The brakes are old-school rim brakes. The drivetrain has 3 gears in front and 7 in back, and the front fork offers only 3” of travel. Clearly this is not a race ride or a big hit machine, but how does it stack up for its intended purpose: around-town riding and introductory trail rides?

Let’s take a look..

Quick Overview: What I Think of the Trek 820

For older riders (like me) who took up mountain biking back in the 90s, the Trek 820 has a “blast from the past” feel to it. Back in those days we all rode bikes with rim brakes, short-travel forks, 26” wheels, and steep angles. We had a ton of fun and rode some steep, rough trails. We didn’t feel limited by those bikes, because there wasn’t anything else. We didn’t know they were supposed to limit us, so they didn’t.

That doesn’t mean that the Trek 820 is an ideal ride for steep, rugged trails. If you can get a modern full suspension slack-angled trail slayer you’ll have a much better tool for that job. But if you don’t happen to have a few thousand dollars ready to pour into a bicycle, you can buy a Trek 820 and have a great around-town ride that can do more on the trail than a lot of riders realize. Those modern trail bikes are great, but don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t ride trails without one.

In short: if I could choose any bike I wanted, I wouldn’t choose a Trek 820. If I had to choose a bike that cost under $450, I probably would choose a Trek 820. It may not be the best bike you can get, but it’s probably the best you can get for $439.99

What You Get

Let’s look at the key components of the Trek 820.

The Trek 820 frame is made of steel. That means three things. It’s heavy, it’s strong, and it’s inexpensive. Because it’s a Trek, it also has a sleek design, impeccable welds, and high-quality finish and paint. The 820 will never be a light bike, but you will not break the frame and you won’t get tired of looking at it. 

The 820 carries a simple coil spring suspension fork from SR Suntour, a leading Japanese manufacturer of low to mid-end suspension. Travel is 75mm (3 inches), very short by today’s standards but enough to suck up the impact of rough roads, curb drops, and small root-and-rock trail chatter. It won’t hold up to big hits, but that’s not what it’s meant to do. It’s sturdy and durable and should deliver solid service for years.

The 820 comes with a Shimano 3×7 drivetrain: 3 gears in the front and 7 in back. The shifters and derailleurs are from the Shimano Tourney series. They are the cheapest drivetrain components Shimano makes, but they are still produced by one of the world’s two premier drivetrain manufacturers. That matters, because Shimano lets its technology trickle-down: as new upgrades are introduced in the premium levels, the old premium features move down to the lower level parts. 

The Tourney drivetrain won’t win you any bling points at the bike shop, but it will get the job done. You’ll have appropriate gears for level ground, moderate climbs, and all but the steepest steep climbs, and you’ll be able to shift smoothly and precisely. You may have a problem if you want to upgrade the drivetrain. Due to compatibility issues, you’d have to replace all the parts simultaneously, potentially an expensive proposition.

Because the Trek 820 is a beginner-oriented bike, I’ll point out that the durability and performance of drivetrain parts depend heavily on good tuning and the use of proper shifting technique. If you buy your bike – any bike – online, be sure that it’s set up by a qualified mechanic. Take the time to learn good shifting technique. Your equipment will perform better and last longer if you use and maintain it well! Many of the complaints you see in online bike reviews are not issues with the bike or its components, but with the way it was assembled and tuned.

The 820 carries Tektro alloy linear-pull rim brakes. These brakes work by clamping two rubber pads onto the rim of the wheel. This is an old-school braking technology that has been largely replaced by disc brakes on more expensive bikes. It still works, and it’s been used successfully for many years. Disc brakes will perform better in very wet or very muddy conditions, but rim brakes will stop you and control your speed very effectively.

You will have to be careful if you want to use another wheel. Mountain bike wheels (of the same size) are often interchangeable, but rim brakes must be used with a compatible rim. Many rims designed for use with disc brakes don’t have a flat surface designed to be gripped by rim brakes.

The 820 carries a basic, solid wheelset that will do its job, in keeping with the overall theme of the bike. The wheel size is 26”: that size is no longer popular but it was the mountain bike standard for decades, and provided solid service to a generation of riders. The Formula hubs are durable and effective. The rims and tires are from Bontrager. Trek has a long-standing relationship with Bontrager, which supplies many of the components for their lower-end bikes. That relationship brings two advantages. Bontrager makes solid, utilitarian parts, and because Trek orders a large number of parts from the company, they get competitive prices, which they pass on to the consumer.

The Bontrager LT3 tires are a compromise. They are knobby enough to give decent grip in moderate trail conditions but don’t have a high enough profile to create massive tire drag on cement. They won’t grip the trail like an aggressively knobby tire would and they won’t roll as smooth and fast on cement as narrow slicks would, but they will give you a solid platform on a wide variety of different surfaces.

Note that the maximum tire width is 2.0”, which may constrain your options if you want to step up to a wider more trail-capable tire down the line.

Other Components  

Trek fills out the 801’s component spec with what you’d expect: solid, reliable parts, primarily from Bontrager. Nothing is high-end, and you won’t see any featherweight titanium bits or elegant hyper-precise CNC machining, but everything there will do its job and hold up to abuse. 

The 820 frame comes with a full range of mounting points for luggage racks and other accessories. This feature is important on an around-town commuter bike: if you’re going to work or running down to the store you may need to carry a light to moderate load, and the racks make that a lot easier. They also make the 820 suitable for use as an entry-level bikepacking bike. The mounted kickstand, rarely included on pure mountain bikes, makes short-term parking easier.

Component Roundup

You won’t find high end parts on the 820. That’s expected: this is a bike designed to be the most affordable name-brand mountain bike on the market. What you will find is an intelligent selection of parts carefully selected to deliver durability and serviceability at the lowest profitable price.  

Let’s rate the 820 component mix on a 1 to 5 scale relative to other bikes in the sub-$700 range.

The components of a bicycle don’t work alone: everything has to fit together and work together to deliver the performance you need. Let’s look at how the total package performs.

Sizing 

The 820 comes in two versions. The 820WSD is five sizes, from XS to XL, and fits riders from 4’6” to 6’8”. The 820 also comes in a version designed for women, the 820WSD, which features a sharply dissenting top tube that provides very low standover height, a very appealing feature for smaller riders, especially less experienced smaller riders. The WSD comes in three sizes: XS, S, and L.

The smaller sizes of the 820 make this bike a great option for younger riders. If you want to buy a good quality bike for a growing child but you don’t want to overspend on a bike that will be outgrown in a year or two, the 820 in S or XS is a great option.

If you’re a beginning rider the whole concept of bike geometry may seem too complex to grasp. Even experienced riders may be confused over the details! To put it very simply, “slack” or “modern” geometry places the front wheel ahead of the handlebars, which adds stability and reduces the tendency to go over the bars on steep descents. This may also cause the front to wander on steep climbs.

“Steep” or “traditional” geometry places the front wheel under the handlebars, which gives stability on smooth roads and steep climbs. It also makes it easier to tip the bike forward on a steep descent, so you’ll need to drop the saddle down and keep your weight well back when the trail turns down.

The Trek 820 is very much in the “traditional” category, which is appropriate to its purpose. That will serve you well on road rides, but if you ride steeper trails you will need to adjust your body position to keep your weight low and back and the downhills. It’s absolutely possible – aggressive riders rode steep-angled bikes for many years – but it might take some effort.

Performance

The quickest way to sum up the Trek 820’s performance is that it rides above its price tag. This is a bike that carries a price tag not much above department store bikes, but has none of the looseness, squeaking, or rattling that so often go with inexpensive bikes. Part of that is because Trek sells through a network of credible dealers with trained mechanics that assemble and tune the bikes they sell. Many department stores or general sporting goods stores sell bikes that are assembled by unqualified staff members, and that often results in poor assembly and tuning, which in turn can create issues with the brakes, drivetrain, and most other parts of the bike.

The 820 is solid. It’s heavy for a hardtail, but that goes with the price: bikers say you can have two of cheap, light, and strong, but never all three. The 820 drops the lightness, but it’s cheap and sturdy, and that’s what you want in an inexpensive bike.

This bike is a hybrid designed to serve two purposes. As an around-town commuter, errand bike, and exercise/recreation tool it would be hard to ask for more. A pure road bike will be faster and more efficient, but the wider tires, wider bars, and more upright riding position of the 820 will feel more secure, stable, and comfortable for beginning riders. The shifting and gear combinations will serve for all but very steep hills, and the entry-level Shimano drivetrain shifts smoothly and easily. The multiple mounting points make it easy to set up a rack system to carry your daily loads. The low-end nature of the bike will not limit you to any appreciable degree in this type of riding, and if you have a chance to ride a more expensive bike you may wonder what makes it worth that price tag.

The limitations of the 820 may be more evident on the trail. You can certainly ride this bike on mountain bike trails, but you will feel the bumps and you will have to learn some basic skills from the start. That’s not a bad thing. Learning to stand up on the pedals, let your knees work as shock absorbers, and move your weight forward for climbs and back for descents is important. Those skills will help you even on a much more sophisticated bike. The limited suspension will force you to pick a line rather than plowing over obstacles and letting your suspension do the work. You won’t be doing jumps or drops, but you wouldn’t expect to on a bike like this.

The Bottom Line

If you haven’t ridden a bike before or if you rode as a child and are getting back on a bike for the first time in a while, the Trek 820 makes a perfect entry point. It’s affordable and you’ll get the kind of quality that will assure that your learning experience is good and your equipment doesn’t hold you back.

If you’ve ridden bikes before and you need a highly affordable bike for daily use and around town and occasional trail rides, the Trek 820 will be one of your top picks. If you’re looking for a stable, secure bike to ride around town, to work, and to school the Trek 820 will be a perfect fit.

If trail riding is your priority and you’re looking for a dedicated mountain bike, you might be better off saving a little more and looking for a bike designed for that purpose. If that’s not realistic from a financial perspective, you can go with the Trek 820 and ride trails with it. You’ll just need to understand the limitations of your equipment and work within them, leaning more on your skills than on your bike.

Trek approaches their low-end bikes with the same care that they put into designing their high-spec packages, and it shows. The Trek 820 is very inexpensive, but it’s intelligently designed and specced, solidly built, and effective. If you’re on a limited budget and you need a working bicycle, it’s a great choice.

Let’s compare the Trek 820 to other name-brand bikes in the sub-$700 range as an overall purchase. Remember that the 820 is in most cases going to be by far the cheapest option in that category. If you compared the 820 to department-store no-brand bikes in its price range and below you’d be looking at a 5 rating right down the line!

Vintage Trek Catalogs

Table of Contents

Here you can find all the Trek catalogs from 1976 up to 1999. If you’re looking for a specific model for a specific year, you can find them further in the article.

Trek Catalogs

• Trek Catalog 1976
• Trek Catalog 1977
• Trek Catalog 1978
• Trek Catalog 1979
• Trek Catalog 1980
• Trek Catalog 1981
• Trek Catalog 1982
• Trek Catalog 1983-1
• Trek Catalog 1983-2
• Trek Catalog 1984
• Trek Catalog 1985All-Terrain
• Trek Catalog 1985Trek2000
• Trek Catalog 1985TrekRacing
• Trek Catalog 1985TrekSport
• Trek Catalog 1985TrekTouring
• Trek Catalog 1986
• Trek Catalog 1987
• Trek Catalog 1988
• Trek Catalog 1989
• Trek Catalog 1990
• Trek Catalog 1991
• Trek Catalog 1992
• Trek Catalog 1993
• Trek Catalog 1994
• Trek Catalog 1995
• Trek Catalog 1996
• Trek Catalog 1997
• Trek Catalog 1998
• Trek Catalog 1999

History and Iconic Models

Trek started out in 1975 by providing only frames. In 1976 they would supply entire bicycles.

For many people Trek is most famous for sponsoring Lance Armstrong’s U.S. Postal team during the late 90’s up to his retirement.

But Trek already pioneered the use of carbon fiber in 1989 with the Trek 5000.

It would result in the short-lived but daring design of the Y-Foil, introduced in 1998. One of the few bikes that is designated with something more than just a number.

They were also early adopters of the mountain bike craze, with the Trek 850 launched in 1983.

Their early foray in using carbon fiber would be later used with the introduction of the iconic Y33 and Y22 models. Mountain bikes with a monocoque carbon fiber frame. Although it used the suspension technique URT ( unified rear triangle ) which would turn out to be rubbish, the original design was considered iconic.

If you’re interested in learning more about vintage Trek bicycles, please visit vintage-trek.com .

Trek Models

Mountain bike, you might also like.

Vintage GT Catalogs

Here you can find a selection of GT catalogs from 1990 up to 1998. If you’re looking for a specific model for a specific year,

Vintage Kona Catalogs

Here you can find all the Kona catalogs from 1989 up to 1999. If you’re looking for a specific model for a specific year, you can

Vintage Giant Catalogs

Unfortunately I was only able to find a couple of Giant catalogs. Although it’s a huge bicycle brand, finding the Giant catalogs proved to be

Vintage Cannondale Catalogs

Here you can find all the Cannondale catalogs from 1983 up to 1999.  If you’re looking for a specific model for a specific year, you

Barnevelderstraat 17 1109BX, Amsterdam the Netherlands +31 618 744 920

Quick Links

Trek 820 Antelope

Super commuter/beater bike with “sleeper” parts. Got the frame for free from someone who found it abandoned by the river. At first I had it built up with a Crust Clydesdale fork.

Frame: Trek 820 Antelope

Fork/Headset: CrMo/Origin8

Crankset/Bottom Bracket: Deore XT 737/UN55

Drivetrain/Cog/Chainring/Chain: Deore XT 8 speed/SRAM/Stronglight

Derailleurs/Shifters: Deore XT 8-speed

Handlebars/Stem: VO Klunker

Saddle/Seatpost: Brooks C17/Uno

Brakes: Deore XT

Front Wheel/Hub/Tire: Velocity Dyad/Shimano DH3N72/Schwalbe Big Apple

Rear Wheel/Hub/Tire: Mavic 717/Deore XT/Schwalbe Big Apple

Accessories: Soma mini front rack; Wald Basket; Yuba-sourced front and rear dynamo lights; VO dual-leg kickstand; Tubus rear rack

Added about 4 years ago by brianmarkmcdermott . Last updated about 4 years ago.

No Comments Yet

• View brianmarkmcdermott's Profile

brianmarkmcdermott's Other Bikes

RIDER STYLE Antelope

The 1991 Trek 830 is for the aggressive trail rider looking for a bicycle that adds to the off-road experience. For the Shimano Exage 300 LX components and 21 speed Hyperglyde means smooth, reliable shifting and efficient energy transfer when you need it most. The geometry of this frame features short chain stays for quick, responsive handling that gives this bicycle the trail performance characteristics you will grow to love.

MTB CATALOGUE All models

All 1991 models, all catalogues, original specs for this model.

Frame Fork Handlebar Rims Hubs Pedals Brake Set Derailleurs Cassette Chainrings Cranks Seat Stem Tyres

Tg CRMO Mtubes Trek CrControl HL Comp Araya VP-20 Shimano 36H HTI Nylon Exage 300LX Ct Sh Exage 300LX SHGlide 13-30T 300LX 48/38/28 Sh Exage 300LX Mtx Lycra Gell Matrix OS CRMO Matrix CDX

Tioga Avenger

14.5/16.5/18/20/22

Fork Travel

Original Colours

Gallery Bike by @re-rides

Content © mountain bike catalogue document.write( new date().getfullyear() ); . contact. site by pxxl..

• Forums Trending Search forums
• What's new New posts Latest activity
• Members Current visitors

trek 820 antelope bike

• Thread starter 7window
• Start date Sep 29, 2012
• OT Discussion Club

Golden Member

• Sep 29, 2012

with 24 in wheel(21 speed). Can a adult ride this? Is this an adult bike?  

Capt Caveman

It has 26" wheels and is a men's bike. Google is your friend.  

What size frame? Do you have the chance to sit on it before you buy?  

guy wont tell me the frame size. Haven't ridden it yet. 24' and 26 is a big difference?  

7window said: guy wont tell me the frame size. Haven't ridden it yet. 24' and 26 is a big difference? Click to expand...

If he's talking about what I think he is, it's a teen sized bike.  

Fritzo said: If he's talking about what I think he is, it's a teen sized bike. Click to expand...

the guy is not responsive. .  

No, antelopes can't ride bikes. Their hooves make it extremely difficult.  

Capt Caveman said: The seller is an idiot. There is no such thing as 24" wheels, it has 26" wheels and the frame size should be somewhere at the bottom of the seat tube. Click to expand...

https://picasaweb.google.com/101843292712126886888/September292012 so is this a kids bike or adult bike?  

Meghan54 said: Actually, there are 24" wheeled mountain bike-type bikes. They're a stopping point in frame size increases for kids as they grow up. And actually, in the Trek 820 series, which was produced in the early 1990's, there is one frame size, the women's 15.5", that did indeed have 24" wheels. Here's a link to a partial 1991 catalog capture, in .pdf format: http://www.vintage-trek.com/images/trek/91/1991TrekCatalog.pdf Next to last page, in specs, notice in the 820 block.....a 24" wheeled bike listed. Imagine that. So, who is an idiot? Someone potentially correct with his assessment of his own property, or the one criticizing someone with NO idea what he's talking about. Idiot. To the OP....it's a woman's 15.5" bike , which is why it's listed as having 24" wheels. The rest of the 820 frame sizes had 26" wheels. Click to expand...

7window said: https://picasaweb.google.com/101843292712126886888/September292012 so is this a kids bike or adult bike? Click to expand...

JulesMaximus

edro said: No, antelopes can't ride bikes. Their hooves make it extremely difficult. Click to expand...

thedarkwolf

Diamond member.

What are you wanting to do with it? That thing is ancient so unless you are getting it nearly free and just want a commuter pass.  

thedarkwolf said: What are you wanting to do with it? That thing is ancient so unless you are getting it nearly free and just want a commuter pass. Click to expand...

• Sep 30, 2012

Capt Caveman said: Touche. I actually owned a '92 Trek 820. Click to expand...

TRENDING THREADS

• Started by TheF34RChannel
• Jun 18, 2017
• Replies: 23K

• Started by DisEnchantment
• Sep 29, 2022
• Replies: 11K

• Started by Vattila
• Oct 6, 2019
• Replies: 13K
• Started by Tigerick
• Aug 22, 2022
• Replies: 8K

• Started by Eug
• Nov 10, 2020
• Replies: 7K

• Advertising
• Cookies Policies
• Term & Conditions

• This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies. Accept Learn more…

1993 Trek 820 Antelope

• Serial: unknown
• Manufacturer: Trek
• Model: 820 Antelope
• Primary colors: White
• Frame Material: Aluminum

Distinguishing features

White paint job with black fibering, which makes the bike look quite dirty. Handlebars wrapped with black electrical tape and has mount for headlight on the handlebars.