chico81 

Hello All,

I’m seriously in the n+ too many bike projects. I would like to focus my efforts on bikes that are actually my size, and would like to pass on project bikes that don’t fit to those who would like to restore and ride them. One is a completely original Trek 720 that I got from the original owner. The bike is dirty, has a little surface rust on some components, and a sc**** on the seattube “Trek” decal, but other than that, it is in great shape and is ready for a restoration! Please let me know what a good and fair bikeforums.com member price would be. I don’t stand to gain much financially on this, so I would rather do local pickup over national shipping.

It is 21”, and is 100% original to catalog specks.

I really want this to go to a loving bikeforum member’s home for a reasonable price!

You’re advise is appreciated! Thank you!

chico81 

prairiepedaler

Really fine bike you have there. That is the one with the ultra long chainstays, yes? If I ever found one of those in my size locally I'd snap 'er up and keep it for good!

chico81 

When I saw this bike and the original condition it was in, I had to snatch it up. It has the Huret DuoPar derailleurs in great shape, tons of braise-in’s (including the front fork),Campagnolo dropouts, and 531 butted tubing throughout the entire frame. This is one of the greatest tourers ever made. Unfortunately, it’s grossly too small. I was thinking of doing a restoration myself, and then sell it, but I’ve just got too many other projects. I’m going to let another member pick it up and do the restoration if they so choose.

Alas, I’m not a trek expert. What would be be a reasonable asking price for this iconic bike?

SurferRosa

In that cruddy condition and with a helicomatic hubset, I'd say $200.

chico81 

Thanks SurferRosa. That’s about what I was planning on listing it for. Yes, it is in cruddy condition, but I just don’t have the time to restore bikes that don’t fit me anymore. I’ll be moving it to the C&V for sale forum.

wrk101

I’d say $250 to $300. The basic bike is all there. Some minor parts with issues. Popular size. Bare frame alone with HS at least $200, if not a little more.

jdawginsc 

Those were the days when Trek was very ecclectic with specification of parts....Cinelli bars, Sugino, Sun Tour GranCompe levers with cantis, Bar ends, French Huret, Mavic and Rigida, American made, English tubing with Campy drop outs.

Treks were fun in catalogs in those days..

chico81 

They really were! And you forgot SR pedals with Christophe cages and straps! This bike was definitely a product of the burgeoning global economy! I had to look at the catalog several times just to make sure this mosh-mash of parts were all original to the bike! Haha

chico81 

Thanks for the appraisal! I have it listed on the C&V sales thread for $200. I’m not looking to make any $$$ on it, just want to pass it on to someone who will show it some love.

jdawginsc 

Almost looks like Specialized tires, too.

bikemig 

$200 is a very good deal on this bike. $300 is a fair price. Vintage touring bikes command a premium. This is a sought after bike and the parts are all original. This is a cool bike.

Chr0m0ly 

Just to ramble about my '83 720...

I know you’ve likely sold this already, but I paid 550.00 for my ‘83 720 in about the same condition as yours. My wheel set had been modernized to 700c though, so that's about a 150.00 value.

Mine is a 24" frame and I took it on a camping 3 day tour with my wife. She was on a Cannondale ST 4 or 5 hundred from '85. I'd say the Cannodale was the more practical bike for the trip, because my 24" 720 requires a pickier set up. I had a ton of weight on the back and when I did that the tail was wagging the dog.

I do think my 720 would have ridden a lot better if I'd used front low riders. I also think that while I may have paid slightly more than FMV, I Didn't pay more than what I think the bike is worth to me. It's just so unique and iconic, That Reynolds 531 tubing is only made by special order now, so the tubes are almost unobtainium, much less the build quality, which is stellar.

The socket lugs of the '84/'85 720's may be sturdier, but the hand radiused lugs of the '83 are far more elegant, and the wheelbase on the '83 is a bit longer than the '84 too, so you really get an amazingly smooth ride. That's the plus and the minus of these old girls, the Cannondale might be a "harsh" ride unlaiden, but it's surely planted and stable when loaded up!

For a kitchen sink tour I would leave the Trek home, and use something stiffer, but that same give makes the Trek an amazing Century rider, Rando Bike, Credit card tourer, or even a commuter. If you were going to bike tour ultra light style, like under 35lbs or so, this would be perfection, more if it was distributed better.

As I've been doing this bike hobby more and more, I've come to believe that the value of a bike, while determined by location and condition to be sure, is also about how long you're willing to wait for the buyer who values it as much as you do.

udougu

Really Nice Bike!

NWsushi

I know this is an old thread. Did it sell?

abdon 

I'm willing to bet it did. That's a highly desirable bike and even a few years back I think that valuation was insanely low. Today the frame/fork could easily be $200~$300?

Sedgemop 

Agreed. A lot of us are thrifty and particular (I am), and the valuations can be more like "well, this is what I would pay." On the Sales Forum here, $200 for that bike is a saleable price.

Tommygunxs

only for information, but in sweden I would say that bike would go from 100 dollars to mayby 150 dollars on "Blocket" (ebay).

abdon 

That would be crazy. Any "top 3 vintage touring bikes of all time" list would include a Trek 720.

ramzilla

I bet that was a pretty expensive bike BITD. Awesome parts. (I would be dribbling drops of diesel fuel all over that thing to bring it back to life).

Despite all the great parts it has two blows against it. 1 Small frame. 2 Maillard Helicomatic hubs.

The helicomatic hub on the rear wheel of that bike is the kiss of death.

Good luck. Be good. That's it. That's all. Done deal.

RAMZILLA

sperry0202

I like these old Trek logos.

jPrichard10 

How many vintage Treks are you seeing in Sweden?

I don't tend to see old Treks in all my travels outside the US.

abdon 

I don't know about that. Mine has a Shimano XT rear hub. That's a legit upgrade

Tommygunxs

not many, it is a really big differense when it comes to bike and countrys. When I am in France, germany they have brands and bikes that are really rare in other contries. The sad thing is that more or less all bike are shimano components one way or another.

abdon 

You'll be amazed at what is common and desirable in one market and considered chopped liver on the next. Thailand, a country with a long history with gold ownership. In the US the US gold eagle is the standard, selling at a premium over all other common bullion offerings. In Thailand I saw them at the gold shops for melt price; to them they were uncommon and not even great for melting because they use a 90% or so gold content standard (it contains a full troy ounce but also other metals to make the alloy stronger).