I have a '83 Trek 620 for a side project. I plan to build it up as my commuting/light touring bicycle. I got it striped down to the frame and want to add some nicer components, but the cost of everything I want gets pretty high. I'd be spending nearly $800 after I exercise my options. Is this bike worth putting all that money into, or should get a LHT for that same money instead?

Wow, $800 is a lot, especially for a commuter!

What are you looking to put on this bike? You should be able to upgrade for less I think. Do you have pics?

For commuting and light touring, I'd stick with the trek. One option is to buy a bike on craigslist for the parts and then sell the frame. I have the same frame as you have, built with mostly shimano 600 7-speed parts from another bike, and I can't imagine wanting anything fancier. It's a great frame for your purpose, IMO.

Fancy stuff like Nitto parts, phil wood hubs, Schmidt dynohub, brooks. The shop where I brought it from sold it to me for $375, which is kinda expensive. But it was an impulse buy because I wasn't much knowledgeable about Treks at the time of purchase. I couldn't run fenders with the 27 inch wheels, and that wheelbuild was expensive. I plan to use it as a beater bike, so. . .it I shouldn't invest all the money in it?
Pics: https://www.flickr.com/photos/6489757...7631825013219/

Are you using it as commuter ot beater? Some of the members here have some pretty nice commuters.

I agree 800 sounds like alot to rebuild a midlevel bike you already own. If you really want Phil hubs look for used ones on ebay, same with the dynohub.

It all comes down to this: do you like the way the Trek rides, and does it fit you comfortably?

If it does, then there's your answer... keep it, and build it up the way you want it.

Personally, I'd take the 620 over an LHT any day of the week. I have an '83 620 also, built up with an 8 speed Shimano drive train.
Old school Deore XT, friction shifting and it rides like a dream. Of course, on your frame the crown jewel is that Sugino AT crank set.

why would you put phil stuff and a dyno hub on a beater?

I don't think $800 is particularly expensive for a commuter. Build it the way you want. And I'd put Phil stuff on a commuter in a heartbeat. That Sugino AT crankset is a keeper also. That Trek has more class than others are giving it credit for. It should ride like a dream and has all the necessary eyelets for racks fore and aft. Can you tell I like the bike?

Scott

I'm not saying it's a bad bike at all.

It actually looks pretty darn nice. But when somebody say's it's going to be a commuter/beater, than no, I wouldn't dump $800 into it just to lock it up to a pole or do errands. I'd actually only dump that much into a bike if it's truly something special. But hey, it's the OP's bike and he can certainly do it if he likes, but he did ask.

What part's came with the bike anyway?

$800 is over my limit for sure. I would probably rob the parts bin, put 700cs, dual pivot brakes, aero levers, and barcons on it.

I put aerolevers and 700c on my 1984 620. The 1984 came with canti brakes, so I did not upgrade the brakes.

Of course, I have never put $800 into a bike, including the purchase price. So I am probably the wrong guy to ask.

Commuter=/= beater. I'd submit that you want the good stuff on your commuter, because that's what you're going to be riding day in, day out. Over the course of a year, you will spend weeks in that saddle. Make sure you enjoy the ride.

i guess i don't consider a commuter to be equal to a beater. the op said it was going to be his beater... i don't know how a trek 620 with the parts listed could possibly be a beater. if you're commuting on it and not locking it up and leaving it then sure go ahead those are great bikes and they are worth it.

Good advice. Buying used parts when possible will lower the overall cost of your upgrades quite a bit.
I'd much rather have your 620 than a LHT.

My commuter is my beater -- 1970 Peugeot UO-8 w/ SunTour barcons, Sugino aero crank, Cyclone rear derailleur, Shimano Titlist front, KoolStop pads, junky Avocet saddle which needs to be replaced, period correct Pletscher mousetrap (best rear rack ever), small cylindrical Bellwether front bag (again, best ever). Total investment was maybe $100, thanks to used parts on eBay and a $10 yard sale donor bike. It has a delightful faded glory look -- those 1970 Peugeot decals were classic -- and is far more fun to ride than any bike this cheap has a right to be.

I have been thinking about this a bit. I don't know where the OP lives but if I was going to build a nice commuter I would go with a IGH like a Shimano Alfine and their Dyno front hub. The IGH would eliminate the need for a RD and depending on terrain the FD as well, then a chain case/guard could be fitted. I think the cost for a pair of prebuilt wheels may be less than just the fancy Phil and Schmidt dyno hubs.

Pictures.