Sjtaylor

A few years ago I got back into bicycling after a forty year absence and my first touring bike was a used Novara Safari REI bike. I didn’t get along with it. The butterfly bars and plastic twisty shifters didn’t work out for me. A week ago I purchased a 1997 Trek 520 for a good price. That bike seems a lot like an 80s mountain bike with drop bars. So...I was kinda still looking.

Yesterday I bought a 1984 Trek 720, 24” frame. I liked the maroon color, it was in good shape for an older bike and it looked more like the bicycles I remember when I was a roadie. I didn’t research the 84 Trek 720 until after I made the purchase. I am pleasantly surprised.

I found the year from the serial number and notice that some of the components have been changed over the years, most notably the wheel change from 27” to 700c. I’ve been reading posts about the 720 to see what’s what.

i would normally ride a one size larger frame with a cozy stem so I’m thinking I can make this size frame work. I know already that I’ll probably get a quill stem adapter to raise the bars up closer to seat level. The older bars seem a bit narrow from what I’ve gotten used to so maybe another set of dropbars too.

I attempted to post a couple photos. I think may need to reduce the file size first.

fietsbob

720 model lives on, but the components they get now are different & to meet customer cost expectations
they are not made in Wisconsin any more..

Look into Nitto technomic stems they have a much longer quill shaft,,

Sjtaylor

Thanks Fietsbob! That stem will work. The stem on my new 720 has a sort of collet locking device in stead of the wedged lug and is super short. I’m going to check it out.

polymorphself 

Awesome, just bought one of these myself from a forum member, it’s on its way to me as we speak. Mine is a 1985 model which I believe is the exact same frame with slightly different decals. You did good especially for not having known what it was first! Alongside the Miyata 1000 and the Specialized Expedition the 720 is considered one of the best touring bikes of the 80’s, and some still consider them so.

Post some more pics up if you’ve got them! How are you enjoying the ride? I’ve already got some light touring planned with it for the fall.

Paul J

Fun seeing this as I would have scheduled it through the factory. This is such a beautiful bike and one to really enjoy. If you change out your bars you may want to offer that bar and stem up on the Vintage group here as it would have some value. I can't tell from the picture if it is a Cinelli 1A stem with 64-40 bars. The Nitto Technomic stem is a great option and you can find a compact bar in in that diameter in widths of 42, 44 and maybe even 46 pretty easily. I'd love to find one of these in 25". Enjoy

fietsbob

here is one for sale, made by a famous American frame builder ..

https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/b...153572598.html

Miele Man

An adjustable quill stem works wonders and allows you to lower the stem later if you want to. Or an upward angled quil stem works well too.



Cheers

robow

I realize the advantages of today's threadless headsets and their corresponding stems/spacers but at times I do miss those earlier simple design quill stems which allowed for so much height adjustmentl.

Tourist in MSN

A few years ago I fixed up an old Italian racing bike I had bought used decades ago and then put in storage a few decades ago. I instead opted for the quill to threadless adapter. The one I got was cheap a few years ago from Nashbar, but I suspect that a Velo Orange one would give more height. My bars were also way too narrow, needed new bars, chose to go all out with other upgrades, used new brake levers and interrupter brake levers too. The threadless adapter meant I had less adjustability for height, but I could swap out stems easily to tweak reach.



Retained the 60s vintage Mafac brakes.

Tourist in MSN

I thought 1984 would have been 700c, so I looked it up, and you are correct, was 27 inch wheel size. (A friend of mine had a mid-80s Trek 720 and his was 700c.)
1984 Trek Bicycle Brochure Part 3 - Touring Bikes

I assume you also no longer have the Helicomatic rear hub, if I recall correcty that was a hub that did not hold up very well.

Great find.

mark d

cool bike, good on ya

koenbro 

What stem is that? Thanks.

Miele Man

Sorry but I don't remember exactly what stem that is.

I have another one like it that's not on a bike and KALLOY is stamped on the lower portion of it.

Cheers

koenbro 

Looks good; that is the angle I am looking for on my old 520. Just ordered an adjustable one off ebay I believe it’s also a Kalloy.

stardognine

Nice bike, congrats! 👍 Pretty decent grab for a newbie. 😁😉

I have an ‘85 Miyata six ten, with 27” Ukai rims, and Sansin Gyro-Master hubs (with Sunshine skewers). These things roll like crazy, especially on the downhills. 😎

bwilli88 

I have 2 Centurion Pro-Tours both with riser stems

1983

fietsbob

nitto dirt drop stems are premium quality of that type https://www.rivbike.com/products/nit...nt=23337069825

Sjtaylor

I purchased a long quill to stem adapter and another stem to get where I think I need to be.

Thanks for the replies.