Thrift store find – 1981 Trek 710, 531 frame/fork

[FastJake]

Just picked up this beautiful Trek today at the local thrift store for $60. My size too! Ignore the horrifying stem and bars, those will get tossed. Seems like this is a frankenbike as far as parts go so I’m thinking I will sell the shifters and derailers on ebay and either put modern components on or make it a single speed for now. I’m really not interested in having a DT friction shifted bike. Plus, I don’t think many of the components are original anyway.

Thoughts on this idea? I’m torn on what I can do to build this bike up into something “worthy” of the frame. Usually all my bikes are old junk! Was the 710 a racing model? Sport touring? I’m not sure which direction to go with it.

Specs:
Frame/fork: Reynolds 531, 22" frame
Crankset: SR 170mm (118 B.C.D! )
Seatpost: SR Laprade
Headset: Tange Levin
Wheelset: Mystery Shimano hubs laced 36x3 to Weinmann 700c concave rims
Brakes/levers: Dia-Compe G
Shifters: Campagnolo (model?)
Front derailer: Campagnolo (model?)
Rear derailer: Campagnolo Nuovo Record
Saddle: Avocet Touring 1
Extra: Blackburn rack

[Bianchigirll]

Nice looking Trek and someone did a good job on the hybridization of it too.

Before stripping and selling stuff you should check the original specs and see what belonged on it. It may be a better ride with that old Campi

[brian3069]

Nice find!! Judging by the length of the chain stays, I think it's a sport touring frame. The hub are probably 600 or DA, I don't believe any of the lower groups had oil holes. Change the bars and stem, obviously, if You don't like the DT shifter, add on some bar end shifters. Ride it like as is for awhile, changes can be made later.

[wrk101]

At one time, the 710 was a touring bike (I have a 1979 version). It was basically the predecessor to the 720.

FWIW: I picked mine up at a thrift store as well, mine was a real mess component wise, and needed quite a lot of attention. Its still in the project queue, I plan to rebuild it as a touring bike (barcons, etc).

[Globallyoff]

I bought a new 710 frameset for my wife back in the day. They were supposedly silver brazed, and were very nice in construction and alignment. Great frames for not a lot of money.

[FastJake]

Thanks for the info everyone.

I was hoping for a racing bike, but then again I try to turn everything into a racing bike... Probably better that this is a sport touring model, as I could use something more practical in my fleet. Maybe I'll throw on some fenders and a Biopace triple I have laying around (sell the Campy) and make a nice longer distance bike for myself.

The size, condition, and the fact that it's a 531 Trek (something I am a fan of) make this a keeper for me.

[zukahn1]

Nice find for thrift store bike. I too would also likely change out the old Campy DR's and shifter for something that would do a better job with slighter larger range touring gearing and maybe triple up front.

[ncfisherman]

That's a great find. I have a '82 model. Can anybody tell me the difference in the 710 and 715 models? The only difference I could gather from catalogs is that the 710 was available as a frameset.

[wrk101]

Earlier models, 710 was just the frame designation. So the bike was really a 71x, where x was based on components. Same was true with other models, like 41x, 51x, etc. They made a couple of configurations of each.

[ncfisherman]

Thanks for the info wrk.

[Poguemahone]

I always thout the 2 in the numeric designation (ie 720) indicated the touring version. The 1s (410,710) indicate more of a sport touring or racing build.

[jjames1452]

Wow. That is a find!

[bikemanbob]

Fanatastic Find!

I hope you plan on keeping it! I own two Treks (600 and 560 Professional Series) and they are my primary bikes.

[FastJake]

Yes I will be keeping it and returning it to a road bike once again, although this will probably be a slow rebuild as I decide what parts I want to use.

I always thout the 2 in the numeric designation (ie 720) indicated the touring version. The 1s (410,710) indicate more of a sport touring or racing build.

From ~1983 on I believe you are correct. But in the earlier years, there are no pictures of each model in the catalogs. And the serial # database will just give the first two digits, so mine could technically be a 715, 716, or 719 depending on components (which do not match up with any of those models.)

Also, the 520/620/720 were not introduced until 1983.

[thinktubes]

Super-cool find!!!! You can probably sell enough of the parts to make it a "free bike". Love those old Treks!

[zukahn1]

Super-cool find!!!! You can probably sell enough of the parts to make it a "free bike". Love those old Treks!

+1 If the Campy DR's work good and match the shifter you can likely sell them on E-bay for enough to get the correct stuff for the bike and maybe have change left over.

[wrk101]

Yes I will be keeping it and returning it to a road bike once again, although this will probably be a slow rebuild as I decide what parts I want to use.



From ~1983 on I believe you are correct. But in the earlier years, there are no pictures of each model in the catalogs. And the serial # database will just give the first two digits, so mine could technically be a 715, 716, or 719 depending on components (which do not match up with any of those models.)

Also, the 520/620/720 were not introduced until 1983.

+1 Earlier years, the 71x was a touring bike. 51x, 71x, and 91x were all touring bikes. 73x and 93x were road bikes. Wheelbase, chain stays and rake were all longer on the touring models. As far as components, the 514, 714, and 914 all had the same components, just different frame tubing. Check one of the early catalogs for details.

[Poguemahone]

+1 Earlier years, the 71x was a touring bike. 51x, 71x, and 91x were all touring bikes. 73x and 93x were road bikes. Wheelbase, chain stays and rake were all longer on the touring models. As far as components, the 514, 714, and 914 all had the same components, just different frame tubing. Check one of the early catalogs for details.

Ya loins sumtin new every day, as Popeye might say. Thanks guys!

[cycleheimer]

Not a frankenbike, but an exceptional find! Original owner was probably somewhat of a serious cyclist, or wanted to be. Would not recommend single speeding it, or doing anything but minor changes to. It's got some solid value to it as a drop bar road bike with Campy derailleurs. The Jim Blackburn rack is propably worth $25 alone! + I like the Campy decal that it has right on the frame!!! Switch back to drop bars, an appropriate stem and hooded Dia-Compe brake levers (new hoods are $8 at Niagara) and you've got a Campy-equipped vintage Trek "sport touring" bike with Reynolds 531 frame and forks. Great riding bike. IMHO, too nice to do anything but minor changes to. Definitely a nice $350+/- bike with the correct handlebars. You've come across something really nice there. Outside of the bars, it looks to be in exceptionally good condition. You may have come across this site already, but if not .... more info on Treks ...


http://vintage-trek.com/

[sonatageek]

Congratulations on a super find.

[FastJake]

hooded Dia-Compe brake levers (new hoods are $8 at Niagara)

The original Dia-Compe brake levers are still there, mounted on those awful bars. I think I will keep them along with the brakes. Are these the hoods I would want? http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dia-Compe-Ca...item416513568b

As for the Campy, it's going on ebay. If this bike gets gears (and I think it will) I'm putting indexed Shimano components on, probably with bar-end shifters.

[auchencrow]

...

As for the Campy, it's going on ebay. If this bike gets gears (and I think it will) I'm putting indexed Shimano components on...

[FastJake]

Hey, at least I am not re-painting it!

The components aren't original anyway, and all my bikes are riders. I really have no interest in using friction shift Campy.

[cycleheimer]

The original Dia-Compe brake levers are still there, mounted on those awful bars. I think I will keep them along with the brakes. Are these the hoods I would want? http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dia-Compe-Ca...item416513568b

As for the Campy, it's going on ebay. If this bike gets gears (and I think it will) I'm putting indexed Shimano components on, probably with bar-end shifters.

Looks like them, non-aero (cables go through the top part of the hoods). That bike is most likely original "as purchased new"...except for the bars. Don't forget the Campy sticker down by the BB. Old Treks in that good of condition are worth some serious bucks intact. If you hold onto the Campy, it probably will go up in value over time...like an investment. Great bike...great long-term investment. You will not see something like this later on new, unless you're willing to spend thousands of dollars. If it's not your style, why not just put the entire bike on E-Bay for about $600?

[bikemig]

I always thout the 2 in the numeric designation (ie 720) indicated the touring version. The 1s (410,710) indicate more of a sport touring or racing build.

These were the first generation Treks when the bikes went mass market. The 700 was a racing bike, the 710 a sports touring, and the 720 a touring bike with seriously long chainstays (I own one that I turned into a single speed commuter). They were nice bikes and Trek's top of the line at that time.