 |
| 1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul - Bicycle After |
Today I am starting an overhaul of Dave's 1984 Trek 720 touring bike. For me and people like me who love touring bicycles, randonneuring bicycles, gravel grinders and brevet bicycles the Trek 720 is a holey grail bicycle. It was a sad day when Trek put the 720 marking on the Trek hybrids of the 1990's.
The Trek 720 is in good shape, very good shape. It is dirty and greasy but should clean up very nice. The Trek 720 will get new bearings, cables, cable housings, handlebar tape, tires and I think I am forgetting something.
This isn't exactly a restoration, its more of a mechanical overhaul maybe? The Trek 720 has some very high end components and of course the famous Reynolds 531 tubing, a roller bearing headset, very nice bottom bracket, nice Shimano cantilever brake calipers, a super nice Sachs Huret rear derailleur, a nice Simplex front derailleur, Cinelli Stem and handlebars and more as I go.
 |
| 1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul - Bicycle Before |
 |
| 1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul - Handlebars - Before |
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul
Bicycle Before - Brake Levers |
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul
Bicycle Before - Stem |
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul
Bicycle Before - Front Brake |
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul - Bicycle Before
Front Wheel hub |
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul
Bicycle Before - 531 Decal |
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul - Bicycle Before
Front Derailleur |
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul
Bicycle Before - Crank |
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul
Bicycle Before - Rear Brake |
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul
Bicycle Before - Rear Derailleur |
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul
Bicycle Before - Wheel Rim |
I stripped the frame of components, the frame paint is in excellent shape, very few chips or scuffs, only a dullness to the paint from normal use. The frame will look incredible after polishing.
 |
| 1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul - Frame Before |
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul
Frame Before - Reynolds 531 Decal |
 |
| 1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul - Frame Before - Bottom Bracket |
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul
Frame Before - Rear Brake Studs |
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul
Frame Before - Drop Outs |
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul
Fork Before |
The frame polished beautifully, I couldn't be happier but then it was in good shape to start, mainly removed the dullness.
 |
| 1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul - Frame Polished |
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul
Frame Polished |
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul - Frame Polished
Bottom bracket |
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul
Frame Polished - Reynolds 531 Decal |
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul
Frame Polished - Rear Brake Studs |
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul
Fork Polished |
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul
Fork Polished |
Slightly different order from here, frame cleaning and polishing will be posted soon. The headset and Bottom bracket was put into the crock pot for cleaning but not all of the headset components. The grease is very sticky in the headset and the bottom bracket grease is very dry. The bottom bracket was set way to loose so it is a very good time to have the overhaul.
 |
1984 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul - Headset 7 Bottom Bracket
Before |
The headset cleaned very nice, I am totally amazed by how light it is. A lot of times a headset is said to be light and you test it in your hand and you feel no difference, this is nothing but difference. The cable stop is also being replaced at this time, the original was built into the reflector, the new is a very nice Shimano with a tension release lever, very nice. The results of the headset are perfect, it spins so smooth!
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul - Headset & Bottom Bracket
Polished |
 |
| 1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul - New Shimano Cable Stop |
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul - Top Headset Bearings
Packed |
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul
Headset Complete |
The bottom bracket is also very nice although the bearings are shot, in the photo below you can see the little bit of pitting in the old bearings. With the new bearings, cleaning, new grease and set the bottom bracket correctly the bottom bracket spins like butter.
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul
New Bearings Installed in Cages |
 |
| 1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul - Bearings Packed |
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul
Bottom Bracket - Complete |
At this time I disassembled the derailleurs for cleaning and lubricating. The Sachs Huret rear derailleur is super nice, it has such a cool and smooth action to it. The rear derailleur was very very dirty, the jockey wheels where caked in grease and what looks like twine. I disassembled the rear derailleur for cleaning and overhauling, it is a fairly complicated rear derailleur so I reassembled it right away. The derailleurs look great after a good cleaning and some time in the sonic cleaner.
 |
| 1984 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul - Derailleurs - Before |
 |
| 1984 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul - Derailleur Exploded |
 |
| 1984 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul - Derailleur - Cleaned |
 |
| 1984 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul - Derailleurs - Complete |
At this time I installed the crank before the stem and handlebars so I would not hit my head on the handlebars. The crank was dirty but cleaned very nice and is a fantastic crank. It feels very light and installed easy.
 |
| 1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul - Crank Before |
 |
| 1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul - Crank Complete |
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul
Crank - Installed |
Now I installed the stem and handlebars. The stem was pretty rusty and dry and took a bit of work to remove so it was a good time to have it overhauled. The stem is a beautiful Cinelli stem, I love it, the handlebars are also very nice Cinelli's. I love a beautiful stem, makes the bike.
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul
Stem - Before |
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul
Stem & Handlebars - Before
Rusty Stem |
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul
Stem & Handlebars - Complete |
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul
Stem & Handlebars - Installed |
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul
Cinelli Logo - One of my favorite logos ever.
That is the Graphic Artist in me Talking! |
The brake calipers are Shimano cantilevers, a shape and design I like very much. The brake calipers cleaned very nice and installed fine. In the after photo you can see the new cable yokes, no much nicer then the originals. I will photograph the new yokes after the cables are installed. Dave really thought out the details of his Trek 720, it shows in little things like getting the much nicer cable yokes, Awesome Dave!!
 |
| 1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul - Brake Calipers - Before |
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul - Brake Caliper - Cleaned
New Cable Yokes in the Front. |
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul
Front Brake Installed |
 |
| 1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul - Rear Brake - Installed |
The brake levers are very nice Die-Comp levers I think but Dave has even better Shimano 600 brake elvers to go on the Trek 720. The Shimano 600 levers are also in incredible condition, the brake elvers are a little rough but I would not change them at all, its takes time to get that patina that is so beautiful.
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul - Brake Levers
New Shimano 600 on left old Die-Comp on Right |
 |
| 1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul - Brake Levers - Installed |
The wheels are very nice Mallards. The same hub are on the Peugeot PB-14 I restored and have up for sale, it can be seen by
clicking here. The rear hub is a Helico Matic,, they are not seen much anymore but I like them a lot.
The wheel set is unusual that the rear wheel hub has the small bearings and the front wheel has the larger bearings. The wheels cleaned beautifully, the bearing grease was pretty nasty so its a good time to replace the bearings and grease.
New Panaracer tires are being installed, nice wide 27 x 1 1/4 inch or about 32 mm wide. The look of the gum walls and wide tires is perfect for the Trek 720 and personally I like wide tires.
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul
Rear Wheel - Before |
 |
| 1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul - Rear Wheel Hub - Before |
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul
Helico Matic Hub - Before |
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul - Rear Wheel Hub
After |
 |
| 1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul - New Bearings - Packed |
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul
Front Wheel - Before |
 |
| 1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul - Front Wheel Hub - Before |
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul - Front Wheel
Old Grease |
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul - Front Wheel
New Bearings - Packed |
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul
New Panasonic Panaracer Tires |
 |
| 1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul - Wheels Complete |
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul - Rear Wheel Hub
Complete - Looks Awesome! |
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul - Front Wheel Hub
Complete - Also Looks Awesome! |
With the Trek 720 at this stage its time to get to the details like the cabling, handlebar tape,toe clips and racks. The cabling went good, no surprises, new Jagwire grey cable housing was used for the brake cables and new old stock Suntour Accushift cable housing was used for the derailleurs.
With the cabling done the new Bontragger cork handlebar tape was installed. I really like the color of the handlebar tape, it fits the bike well.
 |
| 1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul - New Pieces |
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul - Cables & Handlebar
Tape - Complete |
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul - Handlebar Tape &Cables
Complete |
Installing the racks came next. Dave was able to find an original Jim Blackburn rack that is the correct size for the size of the Trek 720. The rack is in perfect condition and I like the blue color. It is an original Jim Blackburn for it has Jim Blackburn stamped on it, newer racks just have Blackburn. I had a bit of trouble getting the front rack correct but in the end it turned out good.
 |
| 1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul - Jim Blackburn Rear Rack |
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul
Rear Rack Installed |
 |
| 1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul - Jim Blackburn Samp |
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul
Racks Installed |
 |
| 1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul - Racks Installed |
The last thing I did was install the new toe clip straps, I wanted to do this last to keep them as clean as possible.
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul - New Toe Clip
Straps |
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul - Toe Clips
Complete |
I was curious what the weight of the Trek 720 would be especially with the racks installed. I put it on the scale and it came out to 26 lbs and 15 oz. It actually came in right about where i thought it would but it does not feel heavy at all.
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul
26 Lbs 15 oz |
I feel lucky to have worked on the Trek 720, it really is a fantastic bicycle. The Trek started out in good condition so that has a lot to do with the final results. The Trek will need to be fine tuned to Dave's fit but that should be pretty easy.
I love the look of the 720, the maroon color with the handlebar tape and all the shine is beautiful. I love touring bicycles and all there many variations, I also love commuting bicycle and working bicycles, there is something about what they offer in daily life.
Below are the final photos.
Thanks Dave!!
|
| 1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul - Bicycle Complete |
 |
| 1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul - Bicycle Complete |
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul - Bicycle Complete
Handlebars |
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul - Bicycle Complete
Front Brakes & Racks |
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul \
Bicycle Complete - Stem |
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul - Bicycle Complete
Drive train |
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul - Bicycle Complete
Rear Rack & Brakes |
 |
1985 Trek 720 Touring Bicycle Overhaul - Bicycle Complete
Rear Wheel |
Thats a beautiful clean up. Very glad to have found your blog while googling for ways to restore a trek I picked up late last week. I am from Singapore, hello!
ReplyDeleteI have the same bike. I drove it across Europe in 1986, and used it as my daily commuter for 27 years when a motorist blew through a stop sign and I t-boned her at velocity (going down a long hill). Forks are trashed (not to mention broken femur). Any ide if I can pick up new forks to fit her. The guy at the bike shop was saying it would be difficult with the headset design. She sure was good to me, doesn't owe me anything. I owe her.
ReplyDeleteHello. I scored a lightly ridden 1984 Trek 620 last Fall. I've decided to keep it and enjoy for riding/getting around/ camping around the Phila area. I wanted to repack the hubs myself and was wondering if you can confirm bearing sizes for the the Helicomatic. I've read that it's 5/32 but is that on one side or both? -C
ReplyDeleteFantastic job restoring that rig... I was lucky enough to score a clone of it last year! There's nothing like owning a high end vintage ride that is in great shape that costs a fraction of an equivalent bike today. Keep on with your amazing restoration work, it truly inspires me.
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI know this post is old but I'm hoping you can help answer a question. Did you find that installing 32mm paselas restricted fender clearance? Based on some of the photos it does not appear there is much, if any room at all, and 32mm isn't even all that big. This would be a shame for an otherwise perfect touring bike. It could just be the angles of the photos though. Anyways, I'm asking because I'm looking to pick one up soon but don't want to pull the trigger if it can't comfortably fit fenders with 32mm tires. Thanks!