Bicycle Mechanics - Swapping components between bikes

Back in 1995 I got the crazy notion that I wanted a bicycle so I did a lot of research and bought an ice green Trek 730 Multitrack. I rode that bike on a regular basis for about 5 years and then off-and-on for several more. Fast-forward to a about 3-4 years ago and I decided to start riding again and that I needed a new bike. I went out and bought a 1997 Trek 7.2 FX and rode it sporadically. In the past couple of months I've gotten back into riding in an obsessive way and I've come to realize that while I love the components of my Trek 7.2, I really prefer the feel of my the steel frame of my old 730.

How feasible is it to strip that 730 down to a bare frame and install everything from my 7.2 on it? Would it be a crazy involved project? Would it even work?

You will need to measure parts to see if they will fit. from 95-97 not much changed, headsets were on their way out in '96 to aheadset, and their sizing went from 1" to 1 1/8th".

If you've got the dates of, and the 7.2FX is form 2007 (http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/2007/archive/72fx), then there could be more, but you will need to measure.

Why not just ride the 730? It came with better quality components than the 7.2.

You will need to measure parts to see if they will fit. from 95-97 not much changed, headsets were on their way out in '96 to aheadset, and their sizing went from 1" to 1 1/8th".

If you've got the dates of, and the 7.2FX is form 2007 (http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/2007/archive/72fx), then there could be more, but you will need to measure.

Thanks for the quick reply. This is the type of thing I thought could be problematic but I don't know enough about bikes to know for sure. The 730 is a 1995 and has a 1" headset and the 2007 FX has the aheadset, like you mentioned. I don't know enough about bikes to know what that means and I'll do some research to educate myself. My main concern is whether the stem and fork from he 7.2 will work on he 730 even if I have to change headsets (if that's possible). I look forward to learning more about the mechanics of bikes.

Why not just ride the 730? It came with better quality components than the 7.2.
LOL, problem solved

Thanks for the quick reply. This is the type of thing I thought could be problematic but I don't know enough about bikes to know for sure. The 730 is a 1995 and has a 1" headset and the 2007 FX has the aheadset, like you mentioned. I don't know enough about bikes to know what that means and I'll do some research to educate myself. My main concern is whether the stem and fork from he 7.2 will work on he 730 even if I have to change headsets (if that's possible). I look forward to learning more about the mechanics of bikes.

I really don't understand why you are changing all these parts... maybe if the tires are in better condition use those, but almost everything on the 730 is better quality than what is on the 7.2. In fact, it is likely that some of the components on the 7.2 (like the wheels specifically) are what gives the bike a not-so-nice feel compared to the 730 - not the frame.

If I were you I would do a rebuild of the 730 - tear down and clean and regrease all the bearings, replace cables, chain, and cassette on the 730, add new tires and grips and you have a bike that is superior in every way to the 7.2. Keep the 7.2 intact and ride it while you do the work on the 730, then you can sell it, which will pay for the parts needed for the 730.

One more thing:

The 1-1/8 inch threadless stem can not be used in the 730 frame. No way. You can get a quill adapter to mount a 1-1/8" ahead stem on a bike with a 1" threaded fork, though.

I'm glad I posted this here. I had no idea that the components on the 730 were better than those on the 7.2! I guess newer does not equal better! This makes things so much easier!

Thanks!

I'm glad I posted this here. I had no idea that the components on the 730 were better than those on the 7.2! I guess newer does not equal better! This makes things so much easier!

Thanks!

The only thing I would change is the Gripshifters... a lof of people like them but I always thought they were a pain in the arse. If it were me I would find a set of rapidfire shifters to replace them with. Sram and Shimano (http://www.speedgoat.com/Catalog.aspx/Browse?Cat=C170&Prod=7116) still make 7 speed trigger shifters that will work great. But if you like the gripshift then ignore this advice.

The only thing I would change is the Gripshifters... a lof of people like them but I always thought they were a pain in the arse. If it were me I would find a set of rapidfire shifters to replace them with. Sram and Shimano (http://www.speedgoat.com/Catalog.aspx/Browse?Cat=C170&Prod=7116) still make 7 speed trigger shifters that will work great. But if you like the gripshift then ignore this advice.

Actually, after discovering that the 730 is good as is, I decided that I would change the shifters. The housing on at least one of them is cracked, pretty severely, and I've gotten used to pushing levers rather than twisting. Also, I'm playing around with the idea of trying friction shifting. It seems that some of the Shimano shifters have an option for either friction or indexing so If I don't like it, I'm not necessarily stuck with it. No decisions made yet....just considering the option.