Sjtaylor

I picked today to build my newly acquired 720. The 720 came to me kind of tired so I’m doing a frame up rebuild with some modernization. The donor bike is a 2013 Trek 520.

If there is an interest I’ll post some work in progress photos during the day.

So far I cold set the dropouts to 135mm and prepped the frame for reassembly. No frame restoration, maybe some fingernail polish here or there.

mxred91

Nice color on the frame. I am interested to see how you progress. I really like the old Trek bikes, mine is a 1994 930 I have had since new. Converted to a commuter in 2012.

deux jambes

I agree with the member above. That’s a very nice paint color. I don’t like red for bikes so much, but that shade is in the right spot on the pallet for my tastes. Very close to a resprayed Super Course I once had. Works great for a Trek with the “brass” headbadge.

And you have interest from me if you wanna go ahead with progress posts. I always enjoy watching a great steel lugged bike develop from the frame up.

Sjtaylor

Outboard bearing bottom bracket. Amazing compatibility after almost forty years.

Sjtaylor

Wanted to use these Avid brakes on the build. They work great on the back but the brake pivot lugs are too close together in the front. Going to cleanup the old brakes and reinstall them.

Back brakes will fit good.

Front brakes. Id need a real skinny rim

jlaw

Yes, the 620s and 720s with canti brakes had the posts very close together - 60 to 65mm which means you are limited to certain brake options. Fortunately, the original Shimano XTs are very nice brakes and polish-up nicely with a buffing drill bit and some polishing compound. Put some unthreaded Kool Stop pads on them and you're good to go! If you use the Kool Stops with the longer pads (MTB) you may need to trim them a bit for the front pads to clear the forks.

Lots of threads on BF re: brakes on the 620s and 720s - including this one - especially post #18 and beyond. https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...work-pics.html

Photo courtesy of The Golden Boy

Sjtaylor

I put the original brake back on the front. I wanted to use the newer drop bars and they have Tektro levers with a longer throw. Have to see how that will work.

Sjtaylor

Just before midnight the build is done but the bar tape. I want to verify cable routing before I wrap.

Here is a couple of end of day photos. It was fun.

Sjtaylor

This build is complete except for a pair of schwalbe marathon plus tires and the fenders and racks that came with the bike.

This frame is one size smaller than I normally ride. Need to see how get along with it.

Thanks To those that followed this. The big question is how to continue doing these fun

build projects with collecting a garage full of bikes. I don't want to part with them once they're done.

BocaJr

Nice work! Looks like a comfortable cockpit ready for many miles. I just finished up an '85 Trek 720 in real bad shape, no racks left. Put it back mostly stock.

polymorphself 

That thing was in “real bad shape?” We must see something before photos!

BocaJr

I don't want to hijack Sjtaylor's thread, but here's a few pics. Stuck seatpost, stuck BB cups, bent derailleur hanger and someone bludgeoned the NDS chain stay and seat tube, perhaps someone attempted to steal it once???

The Golden Boy 

Didn't you have one of the 'taupe' colored 720s?

BocaJr

Yeah, I still have the '83 720. I just couldn't pass up all this fun for $40! Another case of a cheap project costing in the long run. LOL