I found this running an errand! Trek 620 but what year?
08-02-11, 07:42 PM
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I found this running an errand! Trek 620 but what year?
Hi friends, I found this nice Trek running an errand. based on the serial number 157848 it appears to be from 1984. When I say found, I mean a place of business! :-) I would appreciate your comments and feedback as always! I'm actually more in to racing bikes not touring bikes, so my plans are to put it on ebay. Can someone please educate me about those strange breaks calipers? :-) First time I've come across a bike with those. Thank you for your time and help. Very much appreciated. The link is below amigos!
https://s912.photobucket.com/albums/a...70/Trek%20620/
Flash
https://s912.photobucket.com/albums/a...70/Trek%20620/
Flash
08-02-11, 07:51 PM
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Yeah, those strange brakes are junk, you don't want 'em. Send them to me, along with the rest of the bike.
08-02-11, 09:15 PM
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You wanna pass it along or keep it? I've been looking for a good touring rig. Those brakes are called cantilevers, and I think they're dead secksy.
08-02-11, 11:35 PM
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The brakes are classic Cantilevers. For many years they were considered the most powerful and efficient brakes available and for that reason they were commonplace on custom French Touring bikes or Tandems - either of which might be found carrying heavy loads down steep alpine roads. They were later considered essential stopping power for early Mountain bikes.
Those particular cantilevers (made by Shimano) were among the best conventional canti designs of the mid-1980s era. The small black plastic discs beside the brake shoe posts (they're seen with the little pointy tabs extending upward on the rear brakes in this photo: https://i912.photobucket.com/albums/a...%20620/016.jpg ...and again in this one: https://i912.photobucket.com/albums/a...%20620/013.jpg ) made it possible to "dial-in" the toe-in of a brake pad for best approach to a rim - without having to bend, adjust, or mess with anything else... a great concept!
The rear derailleur appears to be a Sachs-Huret "Duo-Par" and although they may look very crude and funky those were often considered the finest available in their day for shifting through a very wide gear range.
Reynolds 531 (main tubes) decal is always a good sign.
And notice the bosses for three sets of water bottles!... remember, this was years before CamelBack hydration systems.
Pedals look like MKS but they are from SR (Sakae-Ringyo). They're probably still in good shape but the dust caps can be easily opened and they can be adjusted and re-lubed if needed.
The "safety lever" extensions always look dorky on a bike and make it seem cheap, but don't let that throw you.
The blue paint with white lettering would indicate a 1985 model. You can see a picture and read about the geometry and original specs in this pdf brochure from the Vintage-Trek website: https://www.vintage-trek.com/images/t...rekTouring.pdf
The 720 was the top line Trek touring bike and had more fancy components, but this was a really fine touring bike, all the same.
Great find!
Bob
Those particular cantilevers (made by Shimano) were among the best conventional canti designs of the mid-1980s era. The small black plastic discs beside the brake shoe posts (they're seen with the little pointy tabs extending upward on the rear brakes in this photo: https://i912.photobucket.com/albums/a...%20620/016.jpg ...and again in this one: https://i912.photobucket.com/albums/a...%20620/013.jpg ) made it possible to "dial-in" the toe-in of a brake pad for best approach to a rim - without having to bend, adjust, or mess with anything else... a great concept!
The rear derailleur appears to be a Sachs-Huret "Duo-Par" and although they may look very crude and funky those were often considered the finest available in their day for shifting through a very wide gear range.
Reynolds 531 (main tubes) decal is always a good sign.
And notice the bosses for three sets of water bottles!... remember, this was years before CamelBack hydration systems.
Pedals look like MKS but they are from SR (Sakae-Ringyo). They're probably still in good shape but the dust caps can be easily opened and they can be adjusted and re-lubed if needed.
The "safety lever" extensions always look dorky on a bike and make it seem cheap, but don't let that throw you.
The blue paint with white lettering would indicate a 1985 model. You can see a picture and read about the geometry and original specs in this pdf brochure from the Vintage-Trek website: https://www.vintage-trek.com/images/t...rekTouring.pdf
The 720 was the top line Trek touring bike and had more fancy components, but this was a really fine touring bike, all the same.
Great find!
Bob
08-03-11, 05:43 AM
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Thanks to all for your comments and feedback. I appreciate it. Special thanks to you, Stronglight, for the extensive information about the bike. I greatly appreciate it. I did look at the brochures for both the 84 and 85 years, and the bike does match the 85 specifications. Thanks again!
Flash
Flash
08-03-11, 08:49 AM
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Perhaps the OP has already dated the bicycle, but if not he or she is welcome to have a look at How Old Is My Bike? That should shed a bit of vintage light on the subject.
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"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
08-03-11, 10:58 AM
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sssshhhhh you've blown my cover! :-) Thanks my friend, but I think the bikes are everywhere. But 90% of sucess is just showing up! While others sleep during the weekends, I'm........ :-) One place where I would like go is Boston! It is unbelievable the amount of great bikes that are there just for the taking. Every day on CL there are 10 plus gems being practically given away. I'm thinking about taking the Greyhound over there, and rent a Train compartment fill it up with bikes, and head down south to Orlando! ;-) Thanks again!
Flash
Flash
