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Trek 720

1984 Trek 720 Touring. Serial #144239 with Tim Isaac designed BB marked as 58TSI

Other than the headset, this frame had never been assembled until I got my greasy mits on it. I have outfitted this with late model Shimano XT components befitting a heavy duty tourer. This is no sissy bike for the Rivendell crowd to take down to the local coffee roaster on Sundays. It's the real deal for long distance, global touring. Lots of modern bikes claim to be touring bikes but try finding any other "tourer" with a Reynolds 531 frame, cantilever brakes, full brazeons including three water bottle and 47cm chainstays. Still to come: fenders, racks and panniers.
Hiawatha Falls, Minn
Hiawatha Falls, Minn		 Cedar Valley Nature Trail, Iowa
Cedar Valley Nature Trail, Iowa		 g6/15/198315/3/76331298.3sxKQzFf.jpg g6/15/198315/3/72042703.hEeMPLZm.jpg
g6/15/198315/3/72042705.IpIKF0eI.jpg g6/15/198315/3/72042708.hwnLDfvO.jpg g6/15/198315/3/72042710.Kzxx4Zxd.jpg g6/15/198315/3/72042712.7InOVKVd.jpg
g6/15/198315/3/72042714.hOPZeHY1.jpg g6/15/198315/3/72042717.GrEt7829.jpg g6/15/198315/3/72134720.MQcDkz9C.jpg Trek 720
Trek 720
g6/15/198315/3/69268841.1thhwA5g.jpg g6/15/198315/3/69268842.T3QcxrcN.jpg g6/15/198315/3/69268843.HNeoUWsG.jpg g6/15/198315/3/69268844.oqGKIXZK.jpg
g6/15/198315/3/69268845.estNg3Re.jpg g6/15/198315/3/69268846.7o3T09VP.jpg g6/15/198315/3/69268847.96Mm0dxo.jpg g6/15/198315/3/69268848.q8mIbQ3D.jpg
Spreading rear to 135mm
Spreading rear to 135mm		 BB installed
BB installed		 Upper parts
Upper parts		 Brooks B17 Titanium Saddle
Brooks B17 Titanium Saddle
Nitto Crystal Seatpost
Nitto Crystal Seatpost		 Rear Hanger
Rear Hanger		 Stronglight Headset & Hanger
Stronglight Headset & Hanger		 Front End
Front End
Nitto Stem
Nitto Stem		 Nitto 177 Bar
Nitto 177 Bar		 Tektro Brake Levers
Tektro Brake Levers		 g6/15/198315/3/71821832.XQTqbn4g.jpg
Shimano XT Cantilever
Shimano XT Cantilever		 Front Cantilever
Front Cantilever		 Rear Cantilever
Rear Cantilever		 Sugino XD2 48x36x26 175
Sugino XD2 48x36x26 175
g6/15/198315/3/71821829.2ixVIlM8.jpg XT FD-M761
XT FD-M761		 XT Rapid Rise RD-M760 Long cage
XT Rapid Rise RD-M760 Long cage		 Rear XT HB-737 Hub & HG 12-25 Cassette
Rear XT HB-737 Hub & HG 12-25 Cassette
Front XT HB-737 Hub
Front XT HB-737 Hub		 720 Parts List
720 Parts List

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Court 28-Jul-2010 22:43
beautiful job building the 720 up! I am in the process of restoring my old 720 that I have owned since it was new. Mine was fully-assembled with an international set of components, most of which are still in perfect working order. Still cost me $700 to restore it, and that's not including the frame repainting I have planned, but this bike is a bike to ride until death. Or beyond...I've been hit twice and the bike has fared much better than I have. Congratulations!
mike 17-Aug-2009 23:50
man i had the lovliest 84' 520 with 83' paint (amazing blue) and graphics. took me everywhere, and i miss it so much! this is my dream combo (84 w/83) i lost it a few years later; i was a kid at the time and didn't realize what i was letting go. i will forever kick me in the butt. if anyone finds it, could they return it to their rightful owner? thanks.
or i will buy it too.
Thomas Dryden 01-Jun-2009 02:00
Hi Randy!

I just purchased my own '84 22.5" 720 (05/31/09). I've been waiting patiently for some time, and finally found one. My first Trek was an '05 520 (near same color) which has hauled me very comfortably around California, Oregon, New Zealand, England and Scotland. The '84-'85 720's are legends, as they defined what a serious touring frame was! I also have a '90 420 which is most certainly, a light touring frame (missing front rack braze-on's and only two sets of water bottle bosses), but is currently my favorite daily ride (lighter). You spread yours to 135mm. Was it originally 126mm?

All the best! You should post your latest photo of this beauty!
Lee Whiting 26-May-2009 06:11
Randy,
I am looking at my old friend 720 and am wondering what I need to do to bring her back to her place of former glory in time for my cross country journey next month. Her burgundy/gold/blue accents aren't quite as brilliant as yours! I have also gained some weight and am worried about me and all my gear loaded up-- there is concern for frame failure going down mountain passes or hitting a pothole or bridge expansion joint at speed! I originally bought the frame when I was working at a bike shop in Santa Fe in 1987. It was on a close-out from the factory and I got a great deal. I rode her all over Europe a couple of times and as a commuter and weekend tourer bike for many years. I rebuilt the wheels a couple of years ago, but what I think is ultimately true is that you will find this to be a wonderfully consistent bike. I am inspired by your detailed build-out list and it gives me a few ideas. Which ar end shifters did you use, and are the sleek fittings that are on the downtube part of that set? I really like that set up. Great job and nice documentation!
Mike Jones 17-Feb-2009 03:29
I'm pretty sure I remember this NOS fram for sale on Ebay and looked long and hard at it, ended up getting hammered with a bunch of unexpected medical bills though, glad to see it went to a good home. very nice.
George Otis 17-Nov-2008 20:58
Hi Randy,
Very nice bike. I think the 80's vintage 720's were the nicest mass-production touring frames ever made. I have a 1992 520, which is supposed the successor to the 720. But it's a very different bike, even more heavy-duty, basically a mountain bike with road geometry. It's great for commuting on bad streets and excursions on rough roads. But I'd love to get a lighter, prettier, and more classic 720.
Mark Krug 21-Aug-2008 21:08
Are you from Waterloo,and do you tour on this bicycle?It is a shame the Cedar Valley nature trail bridge is out across the river.
I rode from here in Waterloo,to San Diego last summer.My longest tour.
Your bicycle is a very nice ride.----Mark
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