revcp 

Any 620 riders out there who can recommend a currently available front rack that will fit (i.e. one that doesn't require a hose clamp, but on which attachment points will lineup with the dropout and midfork mounts?). Best of all would be a rack with a small platform above the wheel and a low rider pannier crossbar.

ironwood

Maybe the Nitto Campee? $$$. Or the VO Campeur front rack? $$.

AZORCH

I realize you want a currently available model, but if you can locate a Jim Blackburn front rack it may fit your needs. I come across them every now and then, generally for not much money.

ironwood

I should have mentioned that. The original Blackburn front rack would allow you to attach the Blackburn low rider . I toured with a Blackburn rack in the eighties, until it didn't survive an airplane trip.

revcp 

Thanks.
Amazing VO can make something that ugly and charge $200 for it.
The Nitto Big Front Rack would work, but $218.

stardognine

If you can locate one for the OP, and one for me, that'd be great. 😎

icepick_trotsky 

Have you looked at the Specialized Pizza Rack? It'll mount to your mid fork eyelets and fork crown. Flat platform and pannier use.

Flog00

Contact @The Golden Boy
He might have some ideas.

AZORCH

There's two on evilBay at the moment, but they're richer than I'd shell out for. I've got two on the wall waiting for a build, and one other on my '71 Raleigh International. I don't think I've ever paid more than $25 for one, and they pop up down at the co-op from time to time. They don't polish up as shiny as the VO racks I'm running, but they are far superior in every other way for my money.

Rare Vintage Jim Blackburn front and rear Bike Bicycle touring racks | eBay

Dale's Fund Raiser Blackburn front rack & low rider set for panniers | eBay

CountryBiking

Azorch... Can you polish Blkackburn racks or are they anodized? Thank you.

AZORCH

No, none of the Blackburn racks I've had will polish up. They are flat aluminum.

The Golden Boy 

I don't know about that...

I don't know how well it shows up, but this is my Jim Blackburn front rack on my Trek 720- you'll see where the straps for my front bag polished up the aluminum. Just from riding. My guess is that a little sanding and a little polish- that thing might just shine up pretty doggone nice.

revcp 

SURLY CROMOLY FRONT RACK 2.0. It's not fancy dancy sparkly like a VO or Nitto rack, and not minimalist like a Blackburn low rider (which would not work because of the absence of a platform), but it has all the right attachment points and will be bombproof.

CountryBiking

Looks like a great (and sturdy) rack!

Salamandrine 

The Blackburn racks were always anodized. There's not much stop you from polishing them up if that's the look you prefer. As Golden Boy's pic shows, the anodizing was pretty thin. Blackburn still make Lowrider front racks, but not in silver. That would be the period correct choice. Rack mounted 'handlebar' bags basically were not used in the 80s, so the top shelf wasn't necessary.

I also think the Surly front rack looks good if you want a top shelf too.

palincss

The '85 Trek 620 has cantilever brakes. If it has a center hole in the fork crown (I can't tell for sure from the photos I've found) you could use a small front rack that mounts to the canti brake studs like the Compass M-13:




and a standard lowrider rack like the Tubus Tara to carry panniers. The M-13 is available in a wide and a narrow version, the “narrow” version fitting bikes with medium-width tires and/or tight clearances between fork crown and tire. $155. https://www.compasscycle.com/shop/co...lever-brakes/# I don't think the Tubus Tara requires much in the way of introduction, being about the best lowrider rack on the market today.