Classic & Vintage - is a 1984 Trek 720 considered vintage?

and would this be the right forum to come to for advice on rebuilding it?

Or should I ask my question in the bike mechcanics forum?

THe bike is in really good shape, but needs some clean up. New bar tape, fresh lubes, new tires, maybe new chain (not sure how old the chain is, may be original), and I think a new paint job down the road.

I want to use this bike for a tourer/commutter.

I will likely leave it pretty much retro, even if I do have to replace parts.

Just how are you suppose to wrap bars with Barcon shifters? or should that be its own post?

And it has what I think is a very weird combo for the triple crank. It is a Shimano N600 Touring Forged Alloy, 48/44/28. Is it possible to change the individual rings?

Yes its the right forum.
Now, I have a penchant for old Treks so I say it is more
than appropriate to restore/fix it and yes
84 is vintage in my book! (I have an 84 770)
yes you can change the rings, but remember this bike was
built as a fully loaded tourer so the gearing was set up for that.
Real world touring gears.
Have no idea about barcons.

Marty

To me, anything pre-brifter is vintage.

Please post a photo of your Trek. It sounds like a nice ride.

Was that the one that was on craigslist? If so, you got a great deal!

Anyway, the 48/44/28 is a half-step, plus granny gearing set up. Sheldon Brown sez:

-----
Half-step Gearing
In the days of 4- and 5-speed freewheels, 8- and 10-speed bikes were commonly set up with chainwheels that were very close in size, for instance, 46/49, or 47/50. When used with typical freewheels of the era, the difference between the two front gears was about half as large as the difference between adjacent gears on the freewheel. (One reason for this was that early front derailers couldn't handle much more than a 3-tooth difference reliably!)
With half-step gearing, the larger shifts are made with the rear derailer, and the front is for fine tuning. This allows an 8- or 10-speed set up to have a reasonable range with fairly close spacing of the gears. One downside of half-step is that it uses all possible combinations, including those that run the chain at a fairly severe angle. This is not a big deal in an 8-speed rig, but is kind of marginal for 10-speeds. Another serious disadvantage is that every other shift in the normal sequence is a double shift (front and rear derailers simultaneously).

Half-step gearing is most suitable for riding in flat terrain, where shifting is rare. For bicycles with few speeds, it does allow finer gradations to get as close to the "ideal" gear for the particular wind conditions as possible.

Modern shift patterns use larger jumps on the chainwheels to select general ranges of gears, and fairly closely-spaced 7-or-more-speed clusters for the fine tuning. This greatly simplifies the shifting pattern, allowing constant adjustment to different grades in rolling terrain, with only occasional need for double shift.
-----

I'm not going to touch the bar-con / bar-wrap question. There are so many opinions on that it's almost as bad as a helmet debate.

Bob Hufford
Springfield, MO

Yes its the right forum.
Now, I have a penchant for old Treks so I say it is more
than appropriate to restore/fix it and yes
84 is vintage in my book! (I have an 84 770)
yes you can change the rings, but remember this bike was
built as a fully loaded tourer so the gearing was set up for that.
Real world touring gears.
Have no idea about barcons.

Marty


And I do intend to tour on it, but being used to a 52/42/30 I was thinking of changing the Trek to something like a 48/38/28 or even smaller on that granny gear chain ring, a 24t if I can make it work just so I can have "billy goat" climbing gears.



Was that the one that was on craigslist? If so, you got a great deal!

Anyway, the 48/44/28 is a half-step, plus granny gearing set up. Sheldon Brown sez:


I'm not going to touch the bar-con / bar-wrap question. There are so many opinions on that it's almost as bad as a helmet debate.

Bob Hufford
Springfield, MO

Yes this one was listed on Craigslist, thanks for the link and infor from Sheldon (great site), I am still gonna look into changing the middle ring though I think.

I am going to keep the current 6 speed heliomatic hub for as long as I can.

I will make another post on the bar-con/ bar wrap and see what I get.

To me, anything pre-brifter is vintage.

Please post a photo of your Trek. It sounds like a nice ride.

Please post a pic! I've been looking for a 620 or 720 for quite awhile. Just want to drool at the pic. :D

Please post a pic! I've been looking for a 620 or 720 for quite awhile. Just want to drool at the pic. :D


I will post a picture tonight when I get home from work

Another "trekkie" checking in, here. I love 'em. Spiff it up and ride the wheels off it.


About the bar tape.....can you go with the pattern wrap that is already there or has the tape been removed? If I recall from back in the day you would keep the cable runs out of the way of hand placement. Sorry if that sounds too obvious.

Hope you enjoy that fine bike!



Olds

Another "trekkie" checking in, here. I love 'em. Spiff it up and ride the wheels off it.


About the bar tape.....can you go with the pattern wrap that is already there or has the tape been removed? If I recall from back in the day you would keep the cable runs out of the way of hand placement. Sorry if that sounds too obvious.

Hope you enjoy that fine bike!



Olds


The guy I bought it from is the original owner, he had the bill of sale even. ANyway he wrapped that bars at one point and the wrap is now coming off. The shift cables are also in the way when in the drops.

The guy I bought it from is the original owner, he had the bill of sale even. ANyway he wrapped that bars at one point and the wrap is now coming off. The shift cables are also in the way when in the drops.





How about taking some electricians tape and with just a lap of tape begin to "tack" the cable into just the right spot for you so it's out of the way. When you get it just right then put the new bar tape over it.




Olds

odd that no one has mentioned it so far...Skip Echert's page (vintage-trek.com) is fairly brimming with information on vintage steel treks. Check it out (from yet another trekkie!).

Here it is

http://members.cox.net/jhanman/tk1.jpg

Here is a link to more pictures and a much larger picture

My Trek 720 (http://members.cox.net/jhanman/Mytrek.htm)

That's a very nice bike! Looks factory new! Too bad for the original owner that he didn't ride it more often, but good for you.

My husband and I just picked up a 1985 720 this weekend. Serial number indicates it was made in 8/84. It has blue Blackburn rack and front lowrider, plus the water bottle cages. The Brooks saddle was no longer on the bike (stock in 1984 and 85). We took it to our local retrogrouch bike shop to have it tuned up. Michael picks it up this afternoon, and will then proceed to ride the heck out of it! This bike handles like a dream, and the barend shifters are great.

Now I want one in *my* size.

These '84/'85 Trek 720s were the Cadillacs of the production touring bikes (along with the Specialized Expeditions and Miyata LT-1000s). They have held their value over the years and will for a long time to come. I regretably sold an '85 720 frame and racks a year or two ago for a little less than what you gave for the complete bike (so you did quite well! -- The Brooks Pro still lives on on my Paramount). The only thing "wrong" with the Trek might be the Helicomatic rear hub, but if it dies you can replace it with an XT or something and it could possibly be a "forever" bike. I'm envious.

Bob Hufford
Former Owner of One 720 and Two Expeditions
Springfield, MO

Here it is

http://members.cox.net/jhanman/tk1.jpg

Here is a link to more pictures and a much larger picture

My Trek 720 (http://members.cox.net/jhanman/Mytrek.htm)

WOW! Nice bike. Now I am drooling! :D

The only thing "wrong" with the Trek might be the Helicomatic rear hub, but if it dies you can replace it with an XT or something and it could possibly be a "forever" bike. I'm envious.


Apparently the Helicomatic hub didn't work out on the 720 I just picked up. The original owner replaced it with a Suzue sealed hub. I guess this gives more options, ultimately, for adding more gearing? Anyway, I hear it's a good hub.

Yes this one was listed on Craigslist,

You just beat me to this. Excellent price!! Best price on a 720 that I've seen in awhile. nice bike! Congrats

You just beat me to this. Excellent price!! Best price on a 720 that I've seen in awhile. nice bike! Congrats

I missed the price - what was it? Gotta see how it compares to the deal I got! jk!

I missed the price - what was it? Gotta see how it compares to the deal I got! jk!

Sorry just saw this. I think $300.00

well, everyone on this forum got me so excited about getting an older Trek tourer again I just picked one up off ebay for all of $150 shipped complete. An 85 620. Lot of frame scratched in the picture, but I am sure my autobody guy can repaint like new for me.

we'll be wanting to see pictures. A 620 is a very nice bicycle, also...

I'm looking at a 1984 Trek 720 to use as a daily commuter, 20 mile round trip. Haven"t seen it yet but it is advertised as all original, low mileage, Would this be a good commute ride? I assume based on this thread and similar, you can substitute modern components for the 1984 design, if needed.

Al

Well as regards the original question: I've always set up my BarCons before wrapping using some electrical tape to hold the cables in place and then wrapped. Cable runs under the wrap along the "front" of the drop and exits the wrap near the top of the bend. This gives a nice curve, esp. if you've got the original SunTour "spring" housing, to the downtube cable guides. It should not get in the way of your hands when in the drops.

Start the wrap at the bottom of the bar. Only cosmetic problem here is that if your wrap is not adhesive you'll need to secure it with some electrical tape or such.

:beer:

I'm looking at a 1984 Trek 720 to use as a daily commuter, 20 mile round trip. Haven"t seen it yet but it is advertised as all original, low mileage, Would this be a good commute ride? I assume based on this thread and similar, you can substitute modern components for the 1984 design, if needed.

Al


Currently I use my Trek 720 for a 20 round trip commute and it works great for that. You can sub alot of the components with modern but chek with your LBS first to be sure. One thing that comes to mind is my Trek 720 came with 27" wheels, so I have to be careful if I change the entire braking system.

I need to post some new pics as I have rerouted the barcon cables inside the handbar. they come out next to the stem. Looks much cleaner and works pretty good. I am still thinking about changing them to down tube shifters though

Nice ride!

Are you sure it's an 84? it looks like my 86. did u check the SN through www.vintagetrek.com ?

pls b sure to post pics if you mod anything. I should post scans of my Trek after I modded and cleaned it up (I kept the downtube shifts but installed aero brake levers)

Nice ride!

Are you sure it's an 84? it looks like my 86.

Look again at the pics. The decals changed yearly from 1984, 1985 and 1986.
This one has the model number on the downtube (520) which was a 1984 feature
in 1985 and onward the model number was removed from the downtube. In 1985
it was on the chainstay protector.

[Yes its the right forum.
Now, I have a penchant for old Treks so I say it is more
than appropriate to restore/fix it and yes
84 is vintage in my book! (I have an 84 770)]

Lotek,
I have a '76 TX500, I'll share some pics as soon as I can get them downsized for uploading.

Yes this one was listed on Craigslist, thanks for the link and infor from Sheldon (great site), I am still gonna look into changing the middle ring though I think.


Hi, I am in the process of purchasing a 720 that is in good shape. I am trying to get an idea of its worth. If you don't mind may I ask you how much you paid for your trek?

Yes this one was listed on Craigslist, thanks for the link and infor from Sheldon (great site), I am still gonna look into changing the middle ring though I think.


Hi, I am in the process of purchasing a 720 that is in good shape. I am trying to get an idea of its worth. If you don't mind may I ask you how much you paid for your trek?

This thread is 5 years old. The 720 is a pretty high end bike, I would start a thread in the appraisal section here: http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php?273-Classic-Vintage-Bicycle-Appraisals-and-Inquiries

Make sure to leave as much helpful information as possible, detailed pictures are the best of course.

Another "trekkie" checking in, here. I love 'em. Spiff it up and ride the wheels off it.


About the bar tape.....can you go with the pattern wrap that is already there or has the tape been removed? If I recall from back in the day you would keep the cable runs out of the way of hand placement. Sorry if that sounds too obvious.

Hope you enjoy that fine bike!



Olds

I think the actual wrapping with the barcons will be the same as it was withour barcons. But you have to strip the bars, install the barcons and cables, route and secure the cables however you plan to do it (but keep the cable away from areas where you will be resting the weight of your hands), then wrap the bar with new tape (probably you'll need new tape, and if not, it's a cheap bit of spiff) as you normally would. Park Tool has a really good set of instructions on wrapping on their site.