RobE30

I picked this up earlier this month and so far the only thing I've done to it is put my old Brooks Pro on it and adjust the headset. While adjusting the headset I noticed the fork seemed a little off. I pulled the fork and took it over to Spectrum to have it checked. It ended up being bent back and to the side, wtf people? The frame was in perfect alignment so that made me happy. After getting the fork and headset adjusted, it handled like a new bike. My plan for it is new tires, maybe better wheels and ride it.





Heading home with panniers full of groceries



About 20+ lbs of groceries and it is super steady with no hands



So far I really like it and I'm pretty sure it'll stay in the keeper section along with my 81 Trek 710. Now I just need a 959....

abellanti

Nice bike...check ebay ..a familiar 959 just was posted

RobE30

@abellanti I saw, little more than I want to spend though

Lascauxcaveman 

Cool bike, I want one!

new tires I get, but what's wrong with the wheels? They look original, are they in good shape?

Kobe 

It's looking good Rob. I see you took the back rack off, are you planing to just use the front rack?

I assume you have 27" wheels. If you decide to go ahead and switch the wheels to 700c, you already have the brakes that will reach. When I got my 620 it was just a frame and I played around with newer brakes none of them reached except older Dia compes. I really like the feel of newer Tektro's and was able to use them on the rear.

The Golden Boy 

Cool bike! The 620s with cantis Are the cat's pyjamas!

I didn't know the 620s were low trail. I've never been fond of riding with weight on the front end.

I'm sure you've got your own theory on 27s vs 700. I don't mind 27s. However, there's not a whole lot of room under the fork crowns of those old Treks. 27s and fenders can be a bit of a challenge. I had no problems with my 720 and SKS fenders, but haven't gotten Velo Orange fenders to work on the front of either my 620 or my Schwinn Voyageur SP.

icepick_trotsky 

Yeah, Trek experimented with the low trail thing in the early '80s with a few of the 600 line. The 600, 614, and 620 circa 1982/83 all had lower trail.

Duo

Nice bike. I bought one too, but mine has bar ends stock. Been wondering what year the thing is, guessing maybe 1985 because of the lack of DT shifters, is there any easy way to know the year. This bike was only sold for about 3 years.

Mine was almost new and barely ridden, so mostly had to clean it up, put on a new comfy seat and tires. This bike seems to be even lighter than my 9 speed Fugi touring which is kind of surprising. Recreational riders really need to look at steel touring bikes mostly because of durability; I don't need fast, just something that works when it needs too.

Anyone know the years of these bikes?

thanks.

The Golden Boy 

1985 would be blue.
1984 is pewter with cantis.
1983 is pewter with side pulls.

Desertdweller

1982 was Taupe if factory assembled (728) with Gran Compe 450 or 510. Pewter if purchased as a frameset.

toavii

I had the '83 with the sidepulls. Really liked the bike, very comfy easy ride on any surface. Was just a touch small for me.

fender1

Nice! Was that a local pick-up?

rhm

We're getting confused. Rob has a 620 with cantilever brakes. Not a 720, and not a 728.

But speaking of which...starting 1983, when the 720 came with cantilever bosses, it was either a frame (720) or a complete bike (728) with 27" wheels. But the 1982 model was made for 700c and was called 720 in both bare frame and compete bike form. And though the complete bike was supposed to come with Gran Compe 450 centerpull brakes, it is more often seen with sidepulls. Were some shipped with Dia-Compe 510 centerpulls?

Now we're really off topic ... but the differences between Gran Compe 450 and Dia-Compe 510 centerpull calipers just mystify me.

Desertdweller

Ah, I was somehow tuned into 720. Apologies. I believe my 1982 728/720 info is correct. Perhaps another thread on those brakes.

rhm

Gimme couple days, I'll bump the thread about mine. I have somehow ended up with a pair of DC 510's and a pair of NGC 450's... a embarrassment of riches for sure! Both lovely brakes, strangely similar, strangely different. Later!

The Golden Boy 

There's no thread that a 720 discussion isn't relevant.

😺

RobE30

The wheels are fine but the spokes are a little crusty (galvanized not stainless) and Helicomatic hub makes me a little worried. I've heard horror stories about them. This one works fine but if I can find a decent set of wheels, I'll give it a go.
@fender1 it came from NJ via my usual pusher

Oddly, the chainstay protector is labeled 628. That's new to me
@Kobe I took the rear rack off because I didn't have enough time or motivation to bend the rack mounts to fit the frame. I have an early Jim Blackburn rear rack that mounts to the brake bridge so I might go that route. All the accessories are currently early Jim Blackburn stuff but I'm looking for a 3rd Jim Blackburn bottle cage. Eventually I'd like to get another set of Kangaroo panniers for the rear but I'm not stressed about that

noglider 

Beautiful bike, Rob.

The Golden Boy 

It's interesting on a lot of levels with that bike- are you sure the chainstay protector isn't just biffed up?

Now that you mention it- I don't recall seeing a whole lot of "jim blackburn" adjustable braze on racks- just the brake bridge type and the OEM racks. I ended up just giving up and getting one of the "blackburn" racks from the series right after.

IMO- it's not worth bending the OEM racks- they're made specifically for the size and model of bike they came with. Chances are your rack will not be level.

Regarding the Helicomatic, I know of plenty of people that are or were respected posters here that have had more miles on their Helicomatics than I've even ever ridden. That being said, I replaced my 700 level Helicomatic with a 600 level Maillard sealed bearing unit. I'm just afraid of them.

Desertdweller

Duo

thanks. Mine is brown er pewter with cantis...must be an 84. By your answer the bar end shifters don't count?

Anyway, great bike and I ride the thing mostly stock and may never go to 700c wheels. Eventually they tell me the stock Helicomatic wheels may have to go as there is some inherent flaw in the design. The LBS opinion is to 'shut up and ride', perhaps they know that only those riding around the world on these things should be concerned.

Duo

What makes the 720 so much better? My 620 seems quite good, but seems many rave about this machine. hmmm?

The Golden Boy 

As far as I'm aware of, no year of 620 came "stock" with bar end shifters. If yours has them, and they've been on a long time (or even from 'as new' from the shop) they're an "upgrade" to the stock shifters.

It seems almost odd that a shop wouldn't attempt to sell *something*

Again, it's a tight fit under that fork crown- if you want to use fenders- a switch to 700c will do you good.

Again, a lot of people have ridden Helicomatics thousands of miles with no issues. Just make sure you keep up with lubeing them heavily.

JohnDThompson 

FWIW, the 720 is all 531 tubing, the 620 is "only" 3 main tubes 531, forks and stays Tange or Ishiwata. And the 720 was fully hand-build in Waterloo WI, while the 620 used forks and rear triangle subassemblies from Japan. And the 720 had investment cast bottom bracket shell and fork crown, while the 620's were bulge-formed units.

The Golden Boy 

It's kind of difficult to exactly quantify "better" on a less than objective basis.

I have and ride a 1985 Trek 620 and a 1985 Trek 720.

I ride the 720 more often than the 620. I don't think it's just because I know it's a 720, or the model above the 620. It's the same, yet different.

Before I got the 720- I had the 620 for 3 years. That was my most ridden bike. When I ride the 620 I think "this is my favorite bike!" Then when I ride my 720 I think "this is my favorite bike!" Then when I ride my Schwinn Voyageur SP I think "this is my favorite bike!" But when I go outside and just grab a bike, most of the time it's going to be the 720.

I love the ride of the 620- although it can never be described as "nimble," there's a certain lightness to the bike- especially the rear end. Of course, that's at odds with what you do know about the tubeset- the stays are CrMo, not 531.

The 620 is a Great bike.


EDIT: John just quantified it quite well.