sd5782 

Newbie collector/hoarder/accumulator thanks to this forum. I know folks want the "as found" pics, so this is as I found a 1983 Trek 700, except for putting the bars down an inch as they were out well past the insertion mark. I drove 50 miles on a craigslist posting that said "well cared for". This wasn't in as good of shape as I had hoped, but I thought it was worth the $125 price which included 1 new tire and 2 new tubes.



As found





Research doesn't show a whole lot of info for this model except that it is more of a mid/upper level "sport" model. That was the excuse I gave myself for the purchase as I really NEEDED one of those. Such enablers here. Actually, this is another chapter in my continuing C&V education. I recently bought an Italian, and a Japanese, so why not a vintage quality American too? It is also in my size. Perhaps I can turn it into a nice 50 mile day trip bike. I have been looking for a vintage touring bike with a triple crank to play with until this one came up.




non stock rear derailleur and freewheel






This bike seems mostly stock except the rear derailleur and freewheel at least. The pedals are catalog items for the 720. Obviously the sprung Brooks saddle is not stock either. The wheels have a couple dings but are fairly true, and it seemed to ride straight and stable. I think it needs some 32mm tires on it.





The worse scratches are on one side of the fork and on the one side of the chain stay. The guy I bought it from was 72 and in failing health. He said he purchased it from the original owner 20-25 years ago. This bike was stored outdoors in a small garden shed, so that may account for some of the nicks. As I said, not in as good of shape as I would have wanted, but maybe it will clean up decent. I am not sure about touch up for the paint. I guess I will learn that too.

riverdrifter

Congratulations! That is a cool bike!

bikemig 

That is a very solid deal at $125. I'd buy this all day long at that price. Nice bike.

sd5782 

Like I said, a bunch of enablers here. Waiting to here from the Trekkies here too, as I guess that is an opinionated and interesting group such as the Ironman folks when I bought that one. This Trek does have a full inch extra in the chain stay length compared to my Ironman, so should be a more relaxed ride. At least that is my purchase justification.

bikemig 

Enablers sure but sports touring bikes make great long distance machines.

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...g-bicycle.html

and this has a reynolds 531 frame so it's worthy frame to build up

Velo Mule

Nice bike, for sure. For touch up paint I usually get Testors model paint and mix the colors to get close. I don't always get the color perfect, but it will still look a bunch better. It usually takes two applications to fill the nick left by the missing paint.

Good luck with it. I think it will work out well for you.

Essthreetee

The nice thing about this group is there really is no justification needed.
My justification for any bike I buy is:
I work hard for my money
I’m not taking food or opportunities away from any of my kids or my wife, they have everything they need and want (within reason)
I am not jeopardizing the family with the purchase.
But most of all...if I want it, I want it.

Like you said, why not try an American made bike. I like your newly acquired Trek. Looks like it will clean up nicely.

As you get more into this craziness...bikes will come and go and you will discover the stuff that really gets you excited. Enjoy the process, enjoy the bikes for what they are, but most of all...enjoy the ride. Whether it be on a Trek, Bianchi, some unknown maker or a Huffy. Have fun.

edit: on the touch up...I use finger nail polish. A trick someone taught me was during cleanup, take the fork into the store with you...find a color you think is close, then use the clear tester sheets to actually spread the polish on something then compare the actual color...works great. Good luck.

PilotFishBob 

Nice Trek, you should be able to mix some Testors to get a decent paint match, if you can use an airbrush you're golden. They're great riders, I have a 660 that I'm very fond of. And yep, enablers we be! Hanging out on this forum is akin to having rehab in an opium den - with expected results....

Jon T

The front wheel is on backwards. The QR should run along side the fork, not stick out into space waiting to catch some thing and come undone.
Jon

CroManganMan

That is a great deal at $125 for a full Reynolds 531c frame and fork and Superbe components! Missing the rear derailleur may not be a bad thing according to the opinion of disraeligears.co.uk. Sounds like a beautiful piece of machinery with a design flaw.

Hudson308 

That would be a sweet score at twice the price.

20grit

Something was bothering me about it. I couldn't place it.

That front skewer. Gonna have to do something about that.

Chr0m0ly 

I have this bikes younger brother, an ‘84 610. It has the same 43cm chin stay length, and the head and seat tube angles are only different by half a degree, your bike has 73.5 and mine with 73 even.
I use mine ALL the time. I’ve had a couple Cannondale Crits from ‘88 pass through my hands, and I have some grail tourers, a Trek 720, and a Miyata 1000. The Trek sports geometry just plain works. It’s a true balance and I don’t think it’s a compromise between the extremes of bike geometry.
It will track straight when I’m tired at the end of a long ride, but it’s still responsive enough to whip around traffic cones or the odd door being opened into the bike lane.
It manages to be responsive and stable at the same time. For my uses of commuting on the daily, and the occasional 3-5 hour weekend group ride, it’s ideal.
As much as I love the ride of the tourers (and believe me I do!) the 610 is what I reach for most often, and by a large margin.

mgopack42 

Back in the day all Treks used Dupont Imron paint. you could find a Dupont color chart, and have some of the right hue mixed. perfect match, unless there is some fading going on.

madpogue 

Of course you NEEDED this bike. Every bit as much as it NEEDED to go to a good home. Now you NEED a Superbe RD....

Interesting, they chose a brake bridge mount rack, and looked right past the nice braze-ons on the seat stays.

Get that icky pump mount off the panel. Modern pumps are fine, but the bracket should tuck behind the bottle cage.

You could use the Imron color data as a guide, but I would go with the above suggestion of Testors for the actual paint. It's got just the right consistency to fill in the nicks. Size the application tool to the size of the nick, so it juuuust fills in the nick and doesn't overwhelm it. You can even use a toothpick for the real itty bitty ones.

sd5782 

Thanks all for the kind words and encouragement. I just got home from work, so I didn't mean to not respond to the many responses.

Yes, I do Need it as stated. I am 62 and don't blow much money, so why not?

The paint touchup will probably be a winter project when not as much is going on. My skill level points to the Testers paint touch up.

As to the skewer being askew, I noticed it and fought my urge to correct it before pics. I know people like those "before" pics. I do too. I guess it is important to see these in not pristine or sorted out state too. One can then learn to look past minor things to see the whole picture. I only put air in the tires for a ride and lowered the handlebar stem to a safe position.

With a few hours of work, the wheels will be set properly. The matching new tire installed. The velcroed broken mirror taken off. The pump mount taken off. The stem and spoke reflectors taken off. The electric flashing post mounted tail light taken off, and some cleaning will get done. Should look 100% better. That is the easy part.

Afterwards, mechanicals will get sorted like perhaps a 28 or 32 freewheel and maybe a vintage Suntour rear derailleur too. Bar tape and seat too, but I just wanted to post the "as found" condition.

Triplecrank92

Ha ha, we're following the same path so we must be lost twins. We'll just have to figure out which is the good twin vs. the evil one. I picked up a Centurion Expert a little over a year ago given all the praise from the Ironman thread. Great bike. And then just a couple of months ago, picked up a 1983 TREK 700 just like yours. I'm in the process of rebuilding it which is posted under the title "83 Trek 700". Haven't had the chance to ride it but looking forward to it.

Your's looks to be in better condition than how I found mine. And, there is a Testor's color that is very close to the dark blue on the 700: Artic Blue Metallic.

ryansu

Agree you got a solid deal especially with a sprung brooks saddle attached that you could easily pay $65 for on the used market all by itself, Enjoy and keep looking for a vintage Touring bike, I would say mid 80s Japanese but then I am biased.

sd5782 

I also got an Ironman a year or so ago. It is an 1985, and got me more interested in these lightweights after riding my fine old Super Sport for over 40 years. Thanks for the testers paint color input. I will be following your build. I also am planning to switch out the RD at some point and put on a 14-28 freewheel. It may take me awhile, as I have others torn down now too

sd5782 

I saw that review of the stock RD also. Funny how the other poster with a 700 is missing the stock RD too. I will keep my eye out for a Vintage Suntour. Maybe the bike co-op will have something. The bike is fairly rideable, so I can experiment and see which way to go.

amerikaner

Great deal! According to Vintage-Trek.com the '83 700 was a 1 year only bike.

qcpmsame 

From another 62Y.O., and long time enabler of C&V Disease, you done real good on rescuing this one. Very nice bike, enjoy everything about it, especially the riding.

Bill

J.Higgins 

Good bike, and a good deal too. I'd have driven a couple hours and paid $125 for that bike no problem.