https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/bik/800690284.html Its not mine, I just thought it was a bit high? I'm wrong maybe?

These have been going pretty high on ebay lately. It is a great touring bike.
This one went for $960

https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWA:IT&ih=019

$1,000 is high IMHO, but when you consider that it's closest modern equivalent, the Rivendell Atlantis, goes for $1600 for a bare frame and $3,000 for a complete bike, it is not suprising.

Dang it, where were the photos? If I'm going to spend good money on a bike, I'd at least like to see what I could be buying .

East Hill

when you consider that a surley long haul trucker goes for under $1000 US complete and is A WAY BETTER bike FUNCTIONALLY speaking. It seems damn high.

Some might argue this but let me start.

Pros of LHT:
Mad tire clearance for bigger tires = better loose surface handling
Surley is double butted 4130 with oversized TT and 1 and 1/8" headtube which = more rigidity and the abaility to easily swap stems and put the bars higher without needing a to buy the one and only stem that could do this on the 720, a nitto technomic. This also means you can run oversized bars on the LHT and ergo bar are harder to fit onto quill stems... larger diamter bars are better for big guys who want a more solid front end, and are running a bar bag.
I know from experience that the surly is more stable than the old skinny tubed lugged frame and this is VERY IMPORTANT when touring loaded.

Personally if you are actually serious about touring buying a vintage 720 for that price is absurd.

On another note if you are buying the 720 to set yourself apart with a unique and cool older frame and only want to commute with relatively light loads or do some light multi day touring then that is different all together. Still from a value point of view it doesn't make a lot of sense.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I recall one of Trek's ads for this bike ca 1980,1981 saying something about it being "this year's model of the bike that John Rakowski rode around the world"

I had a 620 which was essentially the same frame and it was adequate for middlin' tours (1800 miles/21 days at 95lb all up).

It was a very capable bike. I see no reason why it would not be so now.
Of course, these days I'm thinking something like a LeTour might actually be better in some ways.

Adequate and capable yes. I have done similar distance on a nishiki international and yes it was adequate but I found myself wanting larger tires on rough loose surfaces and that the stem and bars had a lot of flex which translated into instability. The long headtube on a 25" frame also has a lot more flex. Yes you CAN travel around the world on the trek, but if it is a question of which bike is more versitile and better equipped to do the job, the surly wins hands down. That is what is was emphasizing in my previous post, not that the trek is not a good bike to do long distance touring on, but that for the same price you can buy a new bike with stronger components and a design that has benefitted from 20 years more of bike design and technology development for the same price.

I just thought it was overpriced. If I could find a 720 frame I would build it up myself for less than that, I think I have enough spare parts here to do it.

Oops, sorry. I think it's more than I'd pay.
But... I think the one in the CL ad is a year or two older than the one in the 'bay link, 81, 82 maybe?
At some point if it's in good condition, it will likely be worth that and more.
But for a rider... you ought to be able to do better, I think, if you're patient.

I have at least 2 other builds to do before I can think about something like that. I'm always cruising the ads though. Still looking for a mixte frame and fork that isn't French for the his and hers build

It's a good bike, but the rear derailer is cheap replacement and the wheels are crappy. I doubt the bike has a lot of miles on it however, otherwise the wheels wouldn't be stock.

As a general rule of thumb, classic bikes are often not a good value compared to new ones (Surly bikes are really the best value bikes of all time in my opinion)

But it's a cool bike for sale in city with lots of bike posers with any extra $1000 laying around. somebody will buy it, somebody will enjoy it.