Friday, August 14, 2015

1979 Trek 710 restoration - Very Cool - One of Wisconsin's best

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle After Restoration

I recently started work on this Trek 710.  I can't exactly put an exact year on the Trek 710.  My best guess from research is a 1979 model but a 1978 or 1980 model is probably just as likely.  It can be difficult to identify the exact year on early Treks.  Also this Trek has a lot of components that are not listed I the catalog specifications so I think it has had some upgrades or changes over time.

I love early Treks, they are such well built and well thought out bicycles.  Also I am a little bias growing up a Wisconsin kid.  This Trek 710 has a beautiful crank I have never seen before. Die-Comp Gran Comp brake calipers.  Reynolds 531 Tubing and Sun Tour Cyclone derailleurs.  All very cool.  I am thinking the Trek originally had 27 inch wheels judging by the 700c wheel fit.  The wheels are a nice upgrade.  I also thing the Trek 710 had Shimano 600 wheel hubs with silver alloy wheel rims, this Trek 710 does not have Shimano 600 hubs and has black rims.

The Trek 710 is in rough starting shape.  There is some rust here and there.  The cable brackets have a good deal of rust and the alloy is very dull and oxidized in some areas.  I think this will be the last tie the paint can be restored before needing a new paint job.  I think the alloy will come back beautifully and I will do the best I can on the rusted chrome cable brackets.  The Trek will receive a total restoration along with new cables, new cable housings, new Panaracer 23 mm tires, new tire tubes and new handlebar tape.  I can't wait to test ride the Trek 710, it has been a long time since I have restored a Trek 710 and rode a Trek 710.

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle Before

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle Before
Handlebars

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle Before
Stem & Handlebars

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle Before
Head Badge

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle Before
Front Brake Caliper

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle Before
Front Wheel Hub

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle Before
Front Wheel Rim

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle Before
3TTT Stem

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle Before
Head Tube

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle Before
Front Wheel Hub

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle Before
Top Tube Cable Bracket

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle Before
Sun Tour Shift Levers

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle Before
Saddle

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle Before
Reynolds 531 decal

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle Before
Seat Tube Decal

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle Before
Bottom Bracket

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle Before
Crank

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle Before
Pedals

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle Before
Cyclone II Front Derailleur

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle Before
Front Derailleur

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle Before
Seat Lug

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle Before
Rear Brake Caliper

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle Before
Rear Cyclone II Derailleur

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle Before
Rear WHheel Hub

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle Before
Rear Wheel Rim

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle Before
Rear

With the frame stripped of the components I can see some nice areas on the frame a few rough areas.  I gave the frame a deep cleaning and then started working through the polishing grits.  The paint came back nicely, I am happy with the results of the polishing.  The nice areas look really nice now and the rough areas are not so rough anymore.  It is a beautifully frame.

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Frame Before

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Frame Before
Head Tube

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Frame Before
Head Tube

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Frame Before
Head Tube

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Frame Before
Top Tube

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Frame Before
Down Tube

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Frame Before
Down Tube

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Frame Before
Seat Lug & Reynolds 531 Decal

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Frame Before
Seat Tube Decal

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Frame Before
Front Derailleur Bracket

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Frame Before
Bottom Bracket

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Frame Before
Bottom Bracket

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Frame Before
Bottom Bracket

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Frame Before
Seat Stays

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Frame Before
Chain Stays

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Frame Before
Drop Outs

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Frame Before
Fork

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Frame Before
Fork Crown

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Frame Before
Fork Crown

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Frame Before
Fork Blades

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Frame Before
Fork Drop Outs

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Frame Polished

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Frame Polished
Head Tube

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Frame Polished
Head Tube

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Frame Polished
Head Tube

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Frame Polished
Top Tube

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Frame Polished
Down Tube

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Frame Polished
Seat Lug

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Frame Polished
Reynolds 531 Decal - In great shape for a 531 decal.

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Frame Polished
Seat Tube

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Frame Polished
Bottom Bracket

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Frame Polished
Bottom Bracket

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Frame Polished
Bottom Bracket

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Frame Polished
Seat Stays

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Frame Polished
Chain Stays

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Frame Polished
Drop Outs

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Frame Polished
Fork

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Frame Polished
Fork Crown

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Frame Polished
Fork Crown

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Frame Polished
Fork Blades

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Frame Polished
Fork Drop Outs
Now we start to get into the components that some match the catalogs and some don't.  The headset is a Campagnola headset, which I believe it should be and the bottom bracket is a Japanese model which I also believe it should be.  I am always mixed on Capagnola headsets, they are wonderful functioning headsets but there chrome never seems to hold up well and most I come across usually has some rust and chrome damage.  This headset is actually not all that bad with just a little rust.  I cleaned the pieces in the crock pot and got on with the polishing of the headset and bottom bracket.  The headset polished nicely with only a very slight pit of pitting.  I am very happy with the results of the headset.  The bottom bracket polished beautifully!  Best off all both the headset and bottom bracket are very smooth!

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Headset & Bottom Bracket
Before

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Headset & Bottom Bracket
Polished

1979 Trek 710 Restoration
Pressing Headset Cups

1979 Trek 710 Restoration
Headset Cups - Pressed

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Headset Bearings - Packed

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Headset Complete
Beautiful!

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bottom Bracket Bearings
Packed

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bottom Bracket - Complete

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Headset & Bottom Bracket
Complete

I love the handlebar, stem and brake lever set up.  A very classic setup.  The stem is a beautiful 3T stem.  Handlebars are Road Champion and the brake levers are Die-Comp Gran Sport levers.  The stem took a good deal of time on the polishing wheels to get looking good but in the end it polished beautifully!  I love the sharp top ridge on the stem.  The handlebars polished beautifully as well and installed the stem and handlebars look fantastic.

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Stem - Handlebars - Brake Levers
 Before

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Stem & Handlebars
Before

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Stem & Handlebars - Before

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Handlebars - Before

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Stem - Before

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Stem - Exploded

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Stem & Handlebars - Polished

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Handlebars - Polished

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Stem - Polished

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Stem - Complete

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Stem & Handlebars - Installed

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Stem & Handlebars - Installed

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Stem & Handlebars
Installed - I love this stuff!!

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Stem & Handlebars
Installed

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Stem & Handlebars - Complete

I like the Die-Comp Gran Comp levers a lot.  I really like the black lever.  If I remember correctly these brake levers originally had a gum hood that only covered the top part of the casing.  These brake levers will receive a new whole brake lever hood, a much better look and functions so much better.  I cleaned and polished the levers and installed the new brake lever hoods.  The brake levers turned out fantastic!  Later when I wire the bike I will fit the adjustment barrels in the brake hoods.


1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Brake Levers - Before

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Brake Levers - Polished
New Brake Lever Hoods

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Brake Levers - Polished

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - New Brake Lever Hoods
Installed

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Brake Levers - Complete

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Brake Levers - Installed
 The seat post is a SR Fluted post which I believe is original for the Trek 710.  The Selia Italia saddle I am not completely sure on original but it is very cool and in good shape so it will remain on the Trek 710.  I polished the seat post and it polished very nice.  I cleaned and installed the saddle and it looks good.  I am happy with the results of the seat post and saddle.

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Seat Post & Saddle - Before

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Seat Post - Before

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Seat Post & Saddle - After

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Seat Post - Polished

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Seat Post & Saddle
Complete

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Seat Post & Saddle - Installed

The brake calipers are very cool Die-Comp Gran Comp brake calipers in black.  There are some rough spots on the hardware but the calipers should come back pretty nice.  I disassembled the brake calipers and started the cleaning and polishing process.  The pieces polished very nicely, I am happy with the results.  The calipers look great, the black pieces with the polished pieces look great together and the calipers look even better installed.

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Die-Comp Gran Comp Calipers
Before

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Die-Comp Gran Comp Calipers
Exploded

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Die-Comp Gran Comp Calipers
Polished

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Die-Comp Gran Comp Calipers
Complete

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Die-Comp Gran Comp Calipers
Complete

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Die-Comp Gran Comp Caliper
Front Caliper - Installed

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Die-Comp Gran Comp Caliper
Rear Brake Caliper - Installed
 The derailleurs are very nice and very cool Sun Tour Cyclone II derailleurs.  The derailleurs are a little rough to start with and very gritty.  I disassembled the derailleurs and started a very deep cleaning of the pieces.  The rear derailleur decal wiped right off so I am disappointed with that.  With the pieces cleaned I started the polishing process, it took sometime but the derailleurs polished beautifully!  I could not be happier with the results of the polishing.  With the pieces polished I assembled the derailleurs and lubricated all the pivot points.  The derailleurs turned out beautifully and function super smooth and they don't look to bad installed.  The front derailleur does have some rough spots on the chrome cage that I wish was a little better. 

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Sun Tour Cyclone II Derailleurs
Before

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Sun Tour Cyclone II Derailleur
Before

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Sun Tour Cyclone II Derailleur
Before

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Sun Tour Cyclone II Derailleur
Before

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Sun Tour Cyclone II Derailleur
Exploded

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Sun Tour Cyclone II Derailleur
Polished

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Sun Tour Cyclone II Derailleur
Installed

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Sun Tour Cyclone II Derailleur
Before

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Sun Tour Cyclone II Derailleur
Exploded

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Sun Tour Cyclone II Derailleur
Polished

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Sun Tour Cyclone II Derailleur
Complete

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Sun Tour Cyclone II Derailleur
Installed

The Trek 710 has a crank I have never seen before, the name on it is Gipiemme.  For what I have seen the 710 had a Campagnola crank.  But that is okay because this Gipiemme crank is amazing.  It is extremely light and looks great.  The crank small hardware pieces are rough and I am hopping they clean and polish well.

I disassembled the crank and cleaned all the pieces.  The hardware polished okay.  Assembled the crank is beautiful.  It is new to me but I really like this crank.  It looks fantastic installed.

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Gipiemme Crank - Before

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Gipiemme Crank - Exploded

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Gipiemme Crank - Polished

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Gipiemme Crank - Complete

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Gipiemme Crank
Installed

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Gipiemme Crank
Installed

The shift levers are very nice Sun Tour levers that are a little rough.  The cable brackets are rough.  The bottom bracket cable bracket is very rough.  The bracket is an example of a beautifully designed Campagnola bracket with chrome that does not hold up well. 

I disassembled the shift levers as they where very very gritty and grinding when moving the levers.  I cleaned and polished all of the pieces and greased and lubricated the levers.  Assembled the levers look great and are functioning better then before.  Over all I am happy with the results of the shift levers.    

The cable brackets where rough.  I cleaned the brackets and started the polishing of the brackets.  The brackets only polished okay but they look a lot better then they did before.

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Shift Levers & Cable Bracket
Before

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Brake Cable Brackets - Before

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Shift LEvers - Exploded

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Shift Levers - Polished

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Shift Levers - Complete

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Shift Levers - Installed

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Cable Brackets - Polished

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Cable Bracket - Polished

That completes the main body components.

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle So Far

The wheels are in rough starting shape.  I think they will come back and be nice wheels but they are rough to start.  I broke down the wheels and found the grease to be very sticky.  The front wheel Skewer nut was frozen into place and with just a little pressure the nut broke the skewer off.  

I cleaned all the pieces and soaked and worked on the spoke nipple to make sure all where free and not frozen.  The hubs took a great deal of polishing and they turned out very nice considering there was a lot of staining and rough areas.   The rims polished very nice, the black color came back beautiful and looks great!  I packed the bearings and installed the new Panaracer tires in 23 mm size.  These tires are cool!!

The freewheel gearing ratio is so cool!  That is a race freewheel gearing and that is cool!

The wheels look fantastic installed on the Trek 710.  Those tires are a great look for the Trek and I am super happy with the results of the wheels!  I am very proud of the work done on the wheels.


1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Rear Wheel
Before

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Rear Wheel Hub - Before
Crazy Cool Freewheel!

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Rear Wheel Rim - Before

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Rear Wheel Hub - Old Grease

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Rear Wheel Hub - Polished

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Rear Wheel Bearings
Packed

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Axle Components
Broken Skwer

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - New Panaracer Tires

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Rear Wheel - Complete

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Rear Wheel Complete

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Front Wheel
Before

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Front Wheel Hub
Before

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Front Wheel Rim - Before

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Front Wheel Hub
Old Grease

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Front Wheel Hub - Polished

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Front Wheel Complete

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Front Wheel Complete

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Front Wheel Rim
After

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Rear Wheel Rim
After

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Wheels Complete

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Freewheel - Complete
 With the wheels complete it is time to wire the Trek 710.  I chose the dark silver grey colored cable housings to compliment the dark blue paint.  The cables turned out great and look great.


1979 Trek 710 Restoration - New Cables & Cable housings

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Brake Cables - Complete

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Brake Cable - Complete

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Rear Brake Cables
Complete

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle Wired

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Rear Derailleur - Wired

Now time to install the handlebar tape.  Black of course!  I think black is the color for the Trek 710, it goes very well with the blue, the cables, the tan walls and the brake lever hoods.  The handlebar tape looks fantastic installed, the Trek 710 is really coming along nice!

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - New Handlebar Tape

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Handlebar Tape - Installed

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Handlebar Tape - Installed

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Handlebar Tape - Complete

The pedals are very nice SR pedals.  They are a little rough to start and the toe clips are to far gone but they still spin very smooth and tight even before work done to them.  I cleaned the pedals and polished the alloy and the pedals look great with the black and the polished alloy.  I lubricated all the correct areas and they spin even better.  Awesome pedals!!

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - SR Pedals - Before

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Pedals - Polished

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Pedals Complete

That Completes the Trek 710.

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle - Complete

The Trek 710 turned out just beautiful.  I might be bias because to a Wisconsin kid growing up this was the top.  I took the Trek 710 for a test ride, a rather long test ride because it is a Trek 710.  The Trek road just perfect, I did not even half to do any road tuning, it was spot on from the start.  This is one fast, light and nimble bicycle.  It flies around corners like nothing.  It rides super smooth and dampens the road beautifully! The shifting is smooth and easy although I would not want that freewheel in a hilly places.   What is nice about early Treks is this is mainly a race bike but Trek did not go crazy aggressive geometry so not only is it fast it is also very comfortable.

The looks of the Trek 710 are fantastic.  It looks like its going 30 MPH sitting still.  The classic Trek metallic blue came back nicely.  The components and colors all go together so well.  The black rims give it a mean look.  I love it!

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle Complete

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle Complete

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Handlebars

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Stem & 
Handlebars

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Head Tube

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Front Brake

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Front Wheel Hub - Poor Photo

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Front Wheel Rim

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Handlebars & Brake Levers

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Stem

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Head Tube

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Shift Levers

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Top Tube

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Front Half

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Saddle

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Reynolds 531 Decal

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Bottom Bracket

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Drive Train

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Crank

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Cyclone II Front Derailleur

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Rear Brake Caliper

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Rear Cyclone II Derailleur

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle Complete
Rear Wheel Hub

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle Complete

1979 Trek 710 Restoration - Bicycle Complete

2 comments:

  1. Excellent work on a beautiful classic tourer! I have a 1981 Trek 710.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Beautiful job on restoring that Classic Trek 710. I am also the proud owner of a near mint 1980 Trek 710 that I Purchased new. I even still have the owners manual. It is still a fantastic ride.

    ReplyDelete