Trek 720 advice
 

Many years ago, 1985 actually, I bought a Trek 720 thinking I would do a lot of touring. Things happened, and those events kept me from riding much. Then kids, and you know the story. So I still have the bike and thought now is a good time to get back into cycling to stay in shape, have fun.

I went to the local bike store and asked about new road bikes, their interest in a trade, etc., and was offered $150 in trade. Seemed a little low, considering the bike looks like new and that the new Trek touring bike they had sells for over $1300. I couldn't tell that much difference. Anyway, will this be a good road bike or should I go newer? I doubt I will do much touring.

Thanks

$150? That's not a little low, that's either a completely un-informed opinion or a rip-off. A 1985 Trek 720 in like new condition would most likely fetch $800+ on ebay. A Trek 720 is a great bike and has significant collector/cult appeal.

If it's been sitting for 25 years, you will want to clean and repack all the bearings and replace the tires. It should give you a nice stable, relaxed ride and should be a very comfortable rider. It's a real classic bike.

I would agree with Iowegian, a 520 of that age at that price would be a steal, let alone a 720, which I believe was made with much better steel Reynolds 531 maybe? You should put it on ebay, or just use it. The problem with that frame is that it was probably made for 27" wheels and not 700C, which limits your tire choices. Also, you will probably need to make minor frame modifications as you upgrade parts. I would think that to use a modern 9 speed MTB drive train you would have to cold set the stays to accept the modern hubs, probably around the same time you do that, you would want to have the canti mounts moved for 700c wheels... then, you would have an outstanding touring bike... on the cheap :)

I went into my local bike shop the other day and asked if they had 700x35 Panaracer Pasela's. They went back in the back room and could only find 27" tires in that brand. So, I would look around before you give up on that size. Many of the internet bike shops offer that size.

Also, I'd be checking in with the Classic and Vintage Forum. I think you might find they would advise you to keep the bike. By reputation, it's one of the best.

John

Oh heck, ship the bike to me. I'll give you $200 and then you won't have to worry about it! lol

Okay, I am a little passionate about this particular bike. I had a 1982 Trek 720 that I rode for over 350,000 miles before it was stolen/destroyed by my lbs (while in for a "lifetime" warranty repair). I paid nearly $900 on eBay for another Trek 720 frame that someone had purchased in 1982 and never built up. With the exception of racing, you really can't beat an old 720. It was indeed built with Reynolds 531 steel and has a geometry that handles like a dream. The very long chain stays allow you to run very hard 23c tires without being pounded by crappy roads. Obviously, this bike was originally designed to be the ultimate touring bike so it has all the appropriate braze-ons (except for a water bottle on the seat tube) and the long stays mean you can keep your rear load forward of the axle without worrying about heel-strike (I wear size 16 shoes, so that's saying something). Don't worry about Jeveretts' comment, my wife and I have never used anything but 700c wheels on our 720s.

Take a look around the internet, there is a large following for the 720. Depending on the size, you should get close to $1000 on eBay for a mint condition bike. Like countrydirt says, ship it to one of us and we'll happily pay much more than the insulting offer your lbs gave you.

If I were you, I would keep the 720. There may be some issues:
1.) If you got the stock build, it may have 27 inch wheels with crappy hubs. You can get tires but may have more trouble finding the ones you want.
2.) I believe in '85 you're looking at freewheels as opposed to cassettes. Quality freewheels and large gear selections seem to be a thing of the past (if someone has a secret source, do tell), so your ability to alter the gearing may be diminished. Most people don't find this to be much of an issue.
3.) My wife's '84 720 has brake braze-ons that are uniquely placed for a brake that is no longer made and was not good enough to make in the first place. If you break the brake you will either say good-bye to cantilever brakes or have to replace the brake braze-ons. There are lots of good brakes available if that ever becomes an issue.

If you want a "faster" bike, get some quality wheels. This will mean changing your gearing system to something more modern, so you will also be buying shifters and derailleurs, but that is a one-time modernization issue. Heck, with the Euro in the dumps you could upgrade to Campy now and not pay much of a premium. You made a good call in '85 and, like fine wine, it has improved with age. I really don't see a bike on the market that competes with a 720 as a sport/touring everything bike. Use it or sell it to someone who will take it places, it's too nice a bike to sit in the dark.

Thanks for the advice.

It was a nice cool morning today so I took it out for a ride and remembered why I bought it. It is a very nice ride. It's certainly fast enough for my 50+ years.

It's been kept in the house all these years so everything is still good, including the tires, no weather checking at all, just a very small tear on one of the hoods. Shifting was still smooth and pretty accurate, and it wasn't too long before I figured out the best gears for me.

I found a vintage Trek website, and it is, as I thought, a stock build. The specifications match the bike components perfectly. Because everything works, at this point I don't see the need to replace anything, at least not till something wears out or breaks. Except for maybe the Brooks saddle. That seemed less comfortable than I remember.

Here's a picture. (I removed the front rack)

Easy bike to make the conversion to 700c if you choose. It's only a 4mm difference on the brake pad location, probably have that much clearance to move the pads without moving the mounts

that bike is worth far more than 150.

never go back to that LBS. In fact, call them and tell them why.

That good of condition could probably go for $1000 on ebay.

I'd give $50 for that beaut... but i wouldnt take less then $500 if i were to sell it, too perdy.

Sweet ride. Is it just me or does that chan look a link or two short? The rear derailleur looks pretty stretched out and it's only on the middle ring with one more cog to go on back.

heh... it still has the plastic spoke guard behind the freewheel... :)

Beautiful bike, keep it as is. Don't change the Brooks saddle; once you get used to riding again, that saddle will be perfect. It really is/was the best saddle out there.

Lots of people love the Brooks saddles. I'm not one of them.I hated my first one in 1968 and I still hate them. Modern saddles are vastly better designed to protect your "man parts" and keep everything functioning well into your dotage. If it feels bad, hunt down one that feels good. There's no use becoming numb-nuts just for style points.

The bike, in the condition your describe, is probably worth $600 - $900. If you want to go modern, sell it and go on down the road.

I think your bike can be found in this brochure. http://www.vintage-trek.com/images/t...rekTouring.pdf

It lists a 5 speed rear freewheel with Heliomatic hubs. Those are unique hubs, but generally good. I would surmise that, if it has sat for 20 years, you've probably got low grade varnish in those hubs. Clean out the grease and bearings in the wheels with a good solvent and have them tuned up and lubed with some new product. Freewheels vanished for 7 speeds and beyond because it put the bearing inboard of the right chainstay to the extent that you could bend the axle with some heavy torquing. I toured for a long time on 7 gears in back with a 14-34.

A 32 tooth top gear can save you a lot of sweat. You can still find freewheels here. http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/freewheels.html

27" tires? No problems. Plenty of those around. http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/tires/630.html

Even if the tires LOOK good, they've had the atmosphere attacking them for 25 years. Get some new ones, tubes also, before something goes POW while you're doing 20+ on a downhill.

A couple of years ago I rode across Oklahoma with a guy who had six gears on a 1980 something Peugot.

The bike looks good. Ride it and enjoy. Or sell it to me.

That bike is beautiful. Lots of 27 inch tires on the internet stores. I'd cherish that thing.

While there is nothing really wrong with freewheels, there is something wrong with the Helicomatic. Unique they are, but good, not so much. Parts are virtually impossible to find, and while the repairs ostensibly easy to do, the proprietary tools involved are near impossible to come by. I'd replace it with a modern cassette hub (7,8,9, or 10, it doesn't matter to me what you do). While you're replacing the wheel, you might as well go to 700c, just in case you want to run a really narrow tire, or a really wide tire that isn't available in 27 inch.

Grease breaks down with time, even if the bike was kept indoors, the hubs and BB need repacked with new grease.

Repacking the headset is not as critical but would be a good idea as well.

I just had the BB, hubs, headset repacked and the wheels tensioned and trued, plus new cables, but leaving the original housings.

Anybody finding themselves in possession of an unwanted brooks... particularly a green one... I will take it off your hands. :)