Bikedued

This is 83-87 era most likely. Decals are all but gone maybe polished off at some point, or maybe never existed? 531 frame and fork, Mafac cantilevers. Light Charcoal grey and black head tube. Has fork mounts. Any idea on the model? 720 probably. Do not want to post pictures and get sniped, sorry. I will post some if I get it.

jPrichard10 

1985 was the last year for the 720.

None came with mafacs specced (I think John Thompson out them on his though).

If it has the fastback seat stay it could be a later model 520 or 620.

Bikedued

Has the seat stays that wraparound and say trek on them, and a LOT of room between the seat tube and rear tire. Was John Thompson 6' to 6"3" If so this could be his, hehe.

Bikedued

Well, the deal is done pretty much, so no harm in one pic, the only one they posted and non drive side of course. Looks like a total garage queen, even the Suntour bar ends are sparkling and have the lock nuts
intact. Specced in true 80's style with the trapezoid handlebar bag mount, foam slip on bar padding, and flick stand. Why no seat tube panel though, unless the original purchasers didn't want to draw attention and peeled it off?
Kinda looks like an 83 to me?? Black head tube instead of dark grey? Maybe late production and ran out of paint of the correct color?,,,,BD

jPrichard10 

That color scheme sounds like an 83 720, and if you're finding it in the 25.5" size then I'm extremely jealous...

Edit: you beat me to it. Looks nice, and I'm glad it looks like a 24" so I don't have to be as jealous.

Bikedued

I think I have an 84 520 in that size possibly if you're interested. I had a set of wheels built for it about ten or eleven years ago with cartridge bearing Suntour hubs, and the front hub broke from the tightness of the spokes. I remember the front wheel going slightly out of true on the first ride, and while straightening it the spokes seemed REALLY tight. I am VERY glad it broke while sitting in the garage, and not on the road. It's been sitting ever since. It always bugged me since no room for fenders on that model. What were they thinking? Sport touring maybe, since the rear wheel sits closer in.

RiddleOfSteel

From the immediate description, I was thinking '83 720 as well. I am also glad it wasn't a 25.5" because I'd looooooove to find one of those. [for the record, I am glad that you got an absolute diamond, Bikedued--531 Treks are the best!] Devastating color combo IMO. There was an '85 720 down in Texas a week or two ago, on CL, for like $250 or something. A lost cause for buying and shipping, but man oh man was it in good shape and did I want it.

Bikedued

Update, we'll have to see how this plays out. The sellers reviews on marketplace aren't the best. One guy drove an hour to buy something, and the seller told him the item was sold, yet left the ad up. He has a LOT of things listed,
and apparently bike knowledge isn't high on his agenda looking at his bicycle prices. Valuable stuff is low, and lower end stuff that's clean is overpriced. Fingers crossed that I don't waste my lunch hour if I get there and he disappears on me or tells me it already sold. He did answer rather quickly, so I will do my part and see if
he follows though. $150 is a steal IMHO.,,,,BD

I have seen a few of these bikes with no seat tube panels, and one or two with black head tubes not slate grey as well. Was that a fairly common thing back then? Every Trek of that era I've had, has one.

madpogue 

Head tube color was year- and model-specific; many years and models didn't even get a contrasting head tube. I used to say "serial number will tell all", but of course we've now even seen exceptions to that. It'll still be interesting to track the serial number to a year/model. Shift cables under the BB suggest 1983 or later.

The panels weren't indestructible. The one on my '82 613 scrunched up at one end to the point that I just peeled it off.

JohnDThompson 

Correct. MAFAC cantilevers were not stock on 720s. The first year, they came with Gran Compe centerpulls. Later production used Shimano MC-70 cantilevers.

I put MAFAC tandem cantilevers on mine, but I built it before the stock 720s were specced with cantilevers.

No, I'm not that tall, and I still have my 720.



1983 looks about right. It has cantilever mounts, so not the first production year. It has the Signicast bottom bracket shell, which came in around late 83 or early 84. I can't tell from the pictures whether the dropouts have single or double eyelets. Early production had Campagnolo 1010 dropouts with double eyelets front and rear, later production had Shimano SF dropouts with double eyelets, final production had Shimano SF dropouts with single eyelets.

Bikedued

I just blew up the picture and I can see another bolt head beside the one holding the rear rack so it does appear to have double eyelets.

I would probably just clean it up as is, as long as the hubs aren't blasted put some nice wrap on the bars, some skin wall panaracers, and some SKB silver fenders that I think I have in the garage. How big do you think I can go on the tires? The spec says 27 x 1 1/4. If I can get away with that and fenders that would be perfect.

JohnDThompson 

I run 27" x 1-1/4" on my 720. It's a little close under the fork crown, but I haven't had any problems.

non-fixie 

That is a good-looking bike. Really loooong rear trangle, though. But for $150 I'd want to try that in my size.

Bikedued

Holy crap the pictures really told no part of the story whatsoever. It has the nice breaks and that's only the beginning. Custom built Wheels with bullseye cartridge bearings hubs, cinelli stem and bars, campagnolo triple crank, Phil Wood pedals just everything you can imagine of cool stuff all packed into one bike if I get back in time to work I'll take it out of the back of the truck and take some pictures. I'm kind of over the moon right now as you can imagine.,,,,BD

Bikedued

He said he bought it for $20. He was in the right place at the right time apparently, as was I at $150.

Bikedued

Just three pictures for now I got to get back to work now.

Bikedued

And yes it does have the duopar RD

John D

Also looks like a Titanium Huret Duopar on the rear.

Bikedued

dddd

Wow, awesome find, congratulations!

These bikes ride like Cadillacs, not so great for sprinting, but soak up the road surface like no other.

Not having the original Helicomatic hub is a blessing, yours should shift gears with the best of them, better yet using modern chain.

Bikedued

Oh I know about the joys of helicomatic. I have one of the wrenches still.

retroshifter

Back in my touring days in the mid 80s, I was envious of the riders with the trek 720 (I rode a mid level Bridgestone T700). I’ve never actually seen the Phil CHP pedals in person. I think the trek 720 originally came with the SR SP11 pedals which is on my daily rider. The Phil CHP looks like it would be very slippery when wet; I find that the sp11 is even a bit slippery. Enjoy

Bikedued

There are a few components on this thing I've never seen before in person. One of them is the bottom bracket. It's some kind of bizarre looking red anodized thing and it's something I've never seen or even heard of.

jPrichard10 

Wow, that is quite the find!

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madpogue 

Hard to make out the serial number because of the angle; can you take a more straight-on shot?