Katzenjammer

I'm looking for a widewheel bike to turn into an urban monster and replace my current monster which is too large. I'd say "mtb" but it could probably be a "hybrid" or "city" or one of the other vague terms. Trek bikes seem to get a lot of props around here, so that's what I started looking at. But their numbering system doesn't convey any meaning to me (I'm starting to suspect it hasn't any to convey).

I'm looking for a CrMo non-suspension frame with a high-quality group, wheels, etc., and preferably all the braze-ons. I don't care how old it is (this is C&V after all) but it needs to be old enough not to be one of the ones with the top tube 6 inches off the ground and a 4-foot seat post.

Do any C&Vers know Trek well enough to point me at the model numbers I should be looking at/for?

Grand Bois

You can look at older Trek models here;
vintagetrk.com
I have a '93 930 single speed "urban monster" that is a lot of fun, but it does have a slanted top tube.
I think you should also consider a Bridgestone:
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/bridgestone/index.html
I love my MB-2:

Katzenjammer

Thanks for the pointer, DD. They seem to have moved, though, since that url doesn't work but www.vintage-trek.com does. 930, huh? I could deal with a slanted top tube as long as it wasn't outrageous.

Thanks for the Bridgestone idea, too. I can see why you love yours--that's an awfully nice looking protomonster. Which is probably why they seem in short supply. There's an MB2 on ebay right now, but it's got some nasty looking owies, so I think I'll pass.

kemmer

I love my 95 Trek 850. It's a great bike, I've had it since it was new and have only recently had any issues at all with it. My right rapid fire shifter is getting flakey and the BB sounds like it needs attention. Not bad at all considering the abuse this old bike has endured. It's light wieght and sturdy. I don't think I'd go much lower down the Trek line, but even the lower end stuff is decent in my experience. Keep in mind that Trek = $$ to crackheads and thieves, so a Bridgestone might be a better choice if your gonna be locking it up.

Grand Bois

My daughter rides a '92 Trek 850. She says it's the best of the bunch.

greybeard87

Another vote for the Treek 850. There are lots of them out there, came with rigid forks, so you could probly find pretty cheap. Problem with a Bridgestone is that people are willing to crazy overpay for them.
I have an early orphaned 90's 850 "antelope" that I converted to a Cross Machine with drop bars running 1X7 speed with a bar end shifter, and 26X1.3" Tires. Its a solid bike, not too heavy, rides great.

Grand Bois

My MB-2 is not a better riding bike than the Trek 850 my daughter rides, even though the Bridgestone was a much more expensive bike. We ride the same size, so I've ridden her Trek a lot.

roccobike

The 800 is cheap, readily available, but NOT a full chro-moly frame. (at least the pre 2001 models were not full chro-moly) Only the seat tube is chro-moly, but you have to read the fine print on the seat tube label to realize it. Still, the 800 is an OK performing bike IMHO.
My brother-in-law has a 850 and really likes it. The frame is full chro-moly.
Edit: I almost forgot, I believe the 820 is a full chro-moly frame MTB, otherwise similiar to the 800.

cudak888 

I think this would be better off in the Commuting forum.

Sounds as if you're looking for a '90s-era MTB at the least, and most current "butt on the ground, hands in the air, feet sprawled out in front" hybrids are definitely not C&V.

Take care,

-Kurt

Grand Bois

Why?

wrote4luck

GT Karakoram is a good 4130 frame from back in the day, it was my first good mtn bike.

caloso

The late 80s-early 90s Specialized Rock Hoppers are very similar. Excellent for your purpose.

Grand Bois

1993 Trek 930. The frame is butted True Temper OXII. It has nice investment cast lugs and Imron paint with clearcoat over the decals. It's the last of the lugged 930's and was made in Wisconsin. I paid $25 for the frameset.

JunkYardBike

You should also look at some of the Miyata "Cross" bikes.

TBART

Dirtdrop, I like what you've done to your lugged 930, looks really nice!

Katzenjammer

So it sounds like the 850 is what I should be looking for, with B'stone & possibly Specialised or Miyata as options. Thanks, folks -- C&V comes through again!

(Side question: DD, what rack bag does your spouse have on her mixte? It looks nice and narrow, just what I need to go along with the Nashbar Townie panniers since they stick up above the rack and prevent anything wider like a basket from being used)

Grand Bois

It's a Jandd economy bag. It's foam lined to maintain its shape, but the foam also acts as an insulator to keep snacks and drinks cool.
https://www.jandd.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=FRRPE
By the way, here's my daughter's 850:

I hate the saddle, but she won't let me change it. It's a big frame. I think that a mtb for the street should fit like a road bike.

USAZorro

I'll pile on. The Trek 850 is great. The 830 is quite nice too. Have one of each.

kemmer

I forgot to mention, I also have a Giant Butte and I had a Rincon for a while. I do like how it rides, but I think it's a bit heavier. It's hard to say cause they are set up so differently. My trek has a heavy rack and a basket, while the Giant is a single speed. Giant doesn't have "steal me" written all over it like Trek, Specialized and C'dale do. Just a thought.

kknh3

This TREK 750 is listed on St. Louis Craigslist. The 750 has 700c wheels if that makes a difference to you. I have this same bike in a larger size. It's pretty nice.

https://stlouis.craigslist.org/bik/251832419.html

jcm

I have no particular loyalty to Trek. They just happen to come my way and I have three right now - a 520, an 930, and a broken 830 (bought new), which was my past favorite UrbanMonster. Like the OP, I also like the old school frames with the horizontal TT. I have no need for clearance-on-trails and prefer the extra space for a frame bag. They have all the hardpoints needed to be all purpose bikes. The 830 actually had more than the 520! Hmmm... now thatI have it down to the frame, I might just play around with it and replace the dropouts, just for grins...

'88 Trek 830 - summer trim:
https://i14.tinypic.com/2n6hef8.jpg
Same bike - winter trim:
https://i11.tinypic.com/2ed5tgm.jpg

EDIT: Oh yeah, that numbering system. I gave up a long time ago. Just go by the stickers to get a good frame...

'93 Trek 930 with salvaged guts off the 830:
https://i10.tinypic.com/2cgn76w.jpg

JunkYardBike

That's an understatement! Look at this X0-1 on eBay, one which would be a good candidate for the OP. I love the color, too.

From Sheldon Brown:

I'm almost finished reconditioning my RB-2. I can't wait to sell it! (No way it competes with a X0-1, though)

JunkYardBike

Where are you located, Katzenjammer? Here's a 930 in NYC for $200 on CL. Looks welded, not lugged, if that's important to you.

https://newyork.craigslist.org/lgi/bik/252498061.html

wahoonc

If you aren't hung up on Treks take a look at the Giant line from the same era. Good solid bikes and usually pretty cheap. I beat the crap out of a Giant Iguana, had it stolen, recovered, road it some more then sold it to a buddy for $150 and getting ready to buy it back for $40 I have no idea what the frame material is but IRIC it was CroMo. Rigid no suspension. I had it rigged as a commuter with slicks, fenders and full racks.

Aaron

Grand Bois

jcm

I'm sorry, but that's not a '93 Trek 930 you have. This is what a '93 Trek 930 looks like:

I'd prefer to have an earlier one with a level top tube like yours.