Tulok

I'm looking to pick up a 1990 trek multi-track 720, it has canti's and a triple.

My question is, how fat of a tire can I fit into the frame there (it came with 700x35), and will the frame hold up to gravel roads and smooth singletrack/washed out double track?

I've got a rigid aluminum trek su-200 but it is heavier than heck and the 26" wheels don't roll well compared to 700c imo. I've also got a real road/racing bike, and a "real" suspension MTB, but I feel this will be a fun cheap way to have simple fun.
Any input?

corwin1968

I've got a 1995 730 Multitrack and the technical manuals says the max tire clearance is 41mm. I suspect it will take a bit more than that. It had fairly fat 38mm tires on it when I bought it and there was still plenty of clearance.

The bike is designed for riding on pavement and hard packed surfaces so for your purposes, it should be good.

These are 38mm Specialized Armadillo Nimbus tires:

Tulok

cool, thanks for the help! You'rs looks pretty nice

runwiththewind

Hi,

I have a vintage '90 Trek 720 Multi-Track. I'm just getting back to riding it again - stayed away way too long. You might want to email Trek or call

TrekBontrager_Consumer@trekbikes.com

WilliamRand | Trek Bicycle Corporation |Technical & Customer Services Representative | 801 W. Madison St, Waterloo, WI 53594 | 920.478.4678

Good luck.


click picture to enlarge. (notice I'm not a purist)

phillybill

A true classic,,,,,,,nice find

rumrunn6

I was lucky to get a similar bike (Trek multitrack 750) for my son when he was ready for an adult size bike. I felt really happy to get it and thought I might like a ride or two on it myself. He likes it a lot but thinks his sisters (Trek 7.1 FX) is sportier looking, and it is ... these pics are from when I just got both before cleaning & adjusting them and adding rear racks for our summer jaunts to the beach, etc. Both bikes should last them a long time.

corwin1968

Based on my experience with the 730 and the Trek 7.2 FX I owned, the 750 is a much better bike in that it has higher level components. Don't tell your daughter that, though.

I consider a 750 to be great find. Double-butted True Temper cro-moly frame & fork, made in the U.S.A. back when TREK was the go-to brand for bicycling enthusiasts.

In my experience, the FX models ARE more sporty in their appearance and in their ride.

rumrunn6

oh thanks, I'll share that with my son only ... thanks for sharing!

corwin1968

I got my 700c x 40 Schwalbe Duremes today and mounted on Velocity Dyad 25mm rims, their actual measurement is 38mm wide. On my 730 there is still quite a bit of room. The only issue might be a bolt on the back of the front derailleur. If not for tha bolt, the frame would accomodate much fatter tires, I believe. Maybe even Schwalbe Big Apple 50's.

mikehall

So am I to understand that the Trek 720, 730, and 750 have enough clearance for 700c wheels & tires? Is there somewhere I can find a comprehensive list of models able to take 700c tires? I've been searching Craigslist non-stop for a nice steel mountain bike or hybrid that I can turn into a 'monstercross', so to speak. I've looked at every Trek, Specialized, GT, and Bridgestone out there, but can't seem to make up my mind or find a bike that I have to have. Thanks for any input!

pierce

converting a 26" bike that uses cantilever or v-brakes to 700c, the brakes are about 6mm too low to reach the rims properly. you're much better off starting with a 700c aka 29er frame.

check out the Surly Ogre for some evil ideas.

corwin1968

I don't have any experience with "monstercross" tires but the Multitracks will easily take tires into the 40mm range. Once you start talking knobbies.....I'm not too sure.

I pulled both of these images from the internet. The blue bike was described as a mid-90's Trek Multitrack frame and the black one an early 90's Trek 750 (there may have been some geometry differences between the early 90's and mid-to-late 90's models).

mikehall

The blue bike above is exactly what I'm after. I'm not concerned about putting knobbies on it, I have my Soma Groove if I need to do any serious off-roading. Would you happen to have link to where you found the blue bike online, so I can try to find more details? Thx...

pierce

that bike looks rather heavily customized, using bitsa-this and bitsa-that. bikepedia suggests that trek 730s or whatever from the mid 90s were 3x7 geared, using Alivio type groups, adn they had flat bars and 700x38 tires. that blue bike sure doesn't look like its got a threaded 1" headset, either, so its been modded quite a bit.

rumrunn6

these are cool with drop bars

corwin1968

It was this blog: https://fortyonethirty.blogspot.com/2...1_archive.html

I have two 730's and they come with 1" threaded forks but 1" threadless forks will work. BB shell is 68mm, chainstays are 43cm, seat-tube angle is 73, head-tube angle is 71.5, bottom bracket drop is about 60mm, fork rake is 40mm (yielding a very stable trail measurement of 74), drop-outs are 135mm, seatpost 27.2.

Tire clearances is pretty high as mentioned in my first post. This is my bike with Schwalbe Dureme 40's and there is room to spare:

Proline69

Blue bike is exact bike on working on right now . Ill post pics when im done .

Spoketurner

Have you ever finished this. Sorry for the bump just came across this thread. Looks intriguing. Those frames are a dime a dozen my way

hokiefyd 

Spoketurner, where is your way (just curious). The market where I live is pretty hot for these, and you very often see basic 700s and 720s asking for $200-250 on Craigslist. I got lucky and scored a 750 a few months ago for $65, but I just don't think the guy knew what he had, and I was lucky enough to see it nearly immediately after it was posted.

timgriffin2

So what exactly is the difference between the 750 and 950 Treks? They seem similar but the 950 is called a Singletrack and the 750 a Multitrack

hokiefyd 

The 7xx series were the Multi Tracks, street/trail hybrids. 8xx series were the Mountain Tracks, more or less their "entry level" mountain bike line. The 9xx series were the Single Tracks, their higher level mountain bike line. Looking at geometry charts, the 7xx and 9xx series do share some of the same basic measurements.

7xx Multi Tracks used 622mm wheels (700c). 8xx and 9xx used 559mm wheels (26").

The higher levels of model in each series were made in the United States, in Waterloo. Generally, the 730 and 750 were, as well as the 830 and 850, and the 930 and 950. This sometimes would vary by year. I have two '97 Treks, a 750 and an 850, and both use Ox double-butted chromoly frames made in Waterloo. Neat bikes.

Spoketurner

I live in the Harrisburg PA area.

hokiefyd 

Interesting. That's not too far from me (Winchester, VA) to take a drive for a good deal. I'll keep an eye on your Craigslist region for some gems.

Spoketurner

Yea, not to far. About 2.25 hours down 81. I'm passing through on Saturday on the way to Harrisonburg on Saturday.

Proline69

Lol , NO not yet . Almost started working on it this week , then realized this has break bosses . Im supposed to be starting to a drop bar 700c coaster brake build .