Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - Trek 728_1982

I am looking at pictures of this bike and it appears that the down tube decal is missing and I only see 2 chain rings. Also 1 wheel is not stock and it looks like the crank might not be original.
I know the frame alone in good shape would be pretty desirable but what about the missing decal? Is that a huge deal?
Ideas on value?

"Trek 728 21” touring road bike. According to the Serial number this bike is of the 1982 vintage and is considered one of the best touring bikes ever made. It is equipped with:

21” Cromoly touring frame with Reynolds 531 tubing
14 speed drivetrain with Suntour bar end shifters and Huret derailleurs
Cinelli quill stem and handlebars
Rigida front/ Super Champion rear wheels
Jim Blackburn rear rack and water bottle cage
Dia Compe brakes
SR seatpost with Avocet saddle
For the most part. It appears that this bike has OEM equipment – sans the rear wheel and saddle. The generator lighting system has not been tested. It is in used condition and it needs a tuneup, tubes/tires and rear wheel hub work."

I am looking at pictures of this bike and it appears that the down tube decal is missing and I only see 2 chain rings.

....

14 speed drivetrain with Suntour bar end shifters and Huret derailleurs


There could be 3 rings because the 2 biggest are 50 and 45 and would be difficult to distinguish in the picture... the granny ring is 28.

If indeed there is a 7 cog freewheel back there, this is not original either. The original should be a suntour 13-14-17-20-24-28. Maybe someone change the whole back wheel, since the rim is not original as well.

Nice bike. See how it feels. It is not a lightweight and left the factory with fatty 700x32s. About 26-27 lbs or so but a nice bike for long rides.

Full 531 has value, friction shifting reduces the value some; depending on the market $200-250 (you are in SoCal, correct?) might worth in ride-ready condition...

I am looking at pictures of this bike and it appears that the down tube decal is missing and I only see 2 chain rings. Also 1 wheel is not stock and it looks like the crank might not be original.
I know the frame alone in good shape would be pretty desirable but what about the missing decal? Is that a huge deal?
Ideas on value?

"Trek 728 21” touring road bike. According to the Serial number this bike is of the 1982 vintage and is considered one of the best touring bikes ever made. It is equipped with:

21” Cromoly touring frame with Reynolds 531 tubing
14 speed drivetrain with Suntour bar end shifters and Huret derailleurs
Cinelli quill stem and handlebars
Rigida front/ Super Champion rear wheels
Jim Blackburn rear rack and water bottle cage
Dia Compe brakes
SR seatpost with Avocet saddle
For the most part. It appears that this bike has OEM equipment – sans the rear wheel and saddle. The generator lighting system has not been tested. It is in used condition and it needs a tuneup, tubes/tires and rear wheel hub work."
Nice catch. The saddle is likely original. The crank is not -- they came with Sugino AT triple cranks. The front derailleur is also a replacement. The first run used Huret Jubilee front derailleurs, which had a tendency to break. Yours was probably replaced in the field with the Huret Success. Later runs from Trek came with a Simplex Super LJ unit.

A lot of these were sold as a bare frame, in which case the only original parts would be the Hattaswan headset and a Sugino BB. I know this because I have one, an '82 that I bought as a frame in '83.

Someone said that's what the '728' designation refers to: a bare frame. I don't know about that.

At any rate, as far as I can remember, mine never had any decals. It was exactly this color (which I hated) and had this head badge. Mine does not have the TREK cast BB like this one, though; my BB is Cinelli. Like this one, mine did not have studs for cantilever brakes.

These bikes were sized for 27" wheels. To make Suntour Superbe calipers fit, I had to get the campy drop center bolt for the rear brake.

As I recall my frame cost $325 new (in June '83). Judging by the high reputation these frame still enjoy, I'd guess this bike will bring $200 easily, and maybe quite a bit more.

It sold for $220 on the local Goodwill auction. I was outbid in the last 5 seconds. I don't know if that's a manual snipe or automatic. It's only my second Goodwill auction. I got beat on the last one too.

That's ok since both times the bikes sold for more than I was willing to pay. There are no returns on those auctions and I don't think you can ask any questions.

Someone said that's what the '728' designation refers to: a bare frame. I don't know about that.
"720" indicates a bare frame; "728" is the full bike.