That frame looks like a great find! I like your thoughts about not wanting it to be like what you already have. It’s a versatile frame, and you need more bikes in your life, so I’d be tempted to either build it up with a wide-range 8-speed cassette and trigger shifters, or put compact drops on it with MicroShift (or some such) brifters, still probably as an 8 speed. I look forward to seeing where you go with it.

A great deal for $50!

Well, I'm back. In the 'collection reduction' thread I had posted that it was going to be time to move the 750 on, as it was a little too redundant to my Trek 990 700c conversion. But hot dang. Got back on this one and it is the smoothest riding bike I've ever been on, even with 23s. Totally silent, just a lovely ride. It's as if it was choosing me. I can't say no!

I really want to take my time and build it up right. Lots of changes to come. But what a great bicycle. These USA Multitracks are absolute gems.

Well, I finally found a lugged one in my size. Popped up for sale right in my neighborhood and I just stumbled upon the ad for it. 23" 1992 Trek 790 MultiTrack. Threw some tires I had on it, but I want to get some 40mm ones on it soon. Looks like the original GripShifts and flat bar were swapped out at some point.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f88bc4835c.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...750afa6cf6.jpg

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d3cb9a0b21.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...868b60c13d.jpg

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...489c72d5ef.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...cfbc71e933.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...034a95684e.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...75ef6864ef.jpg

'

Awesome find. So many people back in the day purchased these bikes, rode them a couple times, then put them away for 25 years. Many pop up in this sort of shape, and will a thorough cleaning, can be present nearly as new.

This will not last forever.

Got some new 40MM shoes for the '92 790. These WTB Nanos were on sale, but they are a cheap feeling tire. If I had paid more, I don't think I would be happy. The logo is only on one side?

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...608ed63fde.jpg

My 750 got a new handlebar and some rack extenders to push the rack rearward.

Due to the geometry of the rack and the enormity of the panniers I just bought, combined with the shortish chainstays (435 mm) these bikes have, my feet hit the bags every time.

So I made some extenders:

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...586349fd1.jpeg

And a few gratuitous shots because I like my bike:

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4d45bae711.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...51027d3f06.jpg

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3f5fd4c8e4.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8140c56c83.jpg

Thanks for looking!

Nice work on the extenders!

I have a pair and I don't like them either. They quickly lose traction on fine loose gravel. Fine for blasting about on hardpack though.

The extenders look well made. I like how you're using both eyelets. Does the extender contact the outside of the eyelet to transmit loads, or is it all going through the bolts?

I wonder though if you have heavy loads in your humongous panniers, will these eventually lever the upper eyelets off the dropout? Would a (custom) rack that extends further back but loads vertically/diagonally onto the eyelet be more robust?

Yes, they rest on the top of the eyelets and the face of the eyelets. The bolts only serve to hold the extenders up tight to the face of the eyelets. They are leveraged, but shear strength of a grade 2, 1/4-28 bolt on the threads is 1,616 lbs each. I couldn't find an easy answer regarding M5 bolts so went with the 1/4-28. Chart I used is here. I expect the M5 bolts numbers to be similar. The load is distributed across 2 bolts so I'm confident this arrangement will be sufficiently strong to withstand the maybe 25 - 30 pounds I'll be infrequently loading on it. As far as the eyelets being leveraged off the frame? Not likely. The dropouts are forged one piece then post machined. The eyelets are not brazed on. If I'm carrying a load sufficient to separate the eyelets from the frame, the flimsy rack will buckle long before there is any frame damage.

I stripped the parts off the '95 today and lined it up with the '92 to compare, since I couldn't find detailed numbers from the Vintage Trek catalogues and anyway I find it more helpful to see it. Looks like the bottom bracket is about an inch lower on the '95. Now I've got to decide if that makes it worth moving everything over. I took the '92 for a mixed gravel/road ride yesterday and had a great time, but also felt like a lower bottom bracket would be nice - if I put the seat so I get proper leg extension then I'm a bit higher off
the ground than I'd like, and if I can get my foot down where I'd like then my knee stays too bent at the bottom of the pedal stroke.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d7a3ea694b.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...81012a107c.jpg

That's a good looking 750 frame! Take care of the metallic paint - I found it was prone to flaking off around the head tube.

For my taste, I felt like the '96 750 had a more dialled ride compared to the '91, but so much of that depends on overall bike/rider fit. I used an inline seatpost to compensate for the slightly longer top tube, but still had enough room for a 100mm stem and some fairly compact (~70mm reach?) gravel bars, on a 21" frame.

Just got my ‘91 750 done as a gravel bike.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d3e35dd99.jpeg

Hi Clyde, nice build!

A little late to ask but what changed between the 520 and the 750 frame from 1993 onward? I have a 1995 520 and would say at least the tire clearance is lower on the 520.

745 Trekking Model
 

Hi! I just finished a 745, which only was produced for one year (1998). I wonder if there are any pictures out there of some 745 builds? It comes with a shimano gear hub

​​

Got a pair of 7300s, both are 20" and in very good conditions. Think they are from around 2003. So far, worked on the step-through; changed the saddle, handlebar, added a rear rack and front basket. Really enjoy it.https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0f240ffe9.jpeg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f067a7ee7.jpeg

Just back from Ragbrai. I did see several steel Multitracks on the ride. I was thinking it's not my first choice for a longer 7 day ride but then I remembered I rode my 750 on Ragbrai in 2010 6 weeks after my heart attack because I wanted to keep my speed and effort lower and the extra low gears on it would help on the bigger hills.

here are a couple that I photographed:


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e77c5aee98.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1da28c1d28.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c9d1776fab.jpg

Finished the man's today. Installed a front rack and basket. Also changed the handlebar and a no name leather saddle.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2eec5efeb.jpeg

Hybrid turned gravel bike.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f28ef90cf.jpeg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...326dcf805.jpeg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d9dee7532.jpeg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1ed0f4dec.jpeg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...dedaf22ea.jpeg

^ A lot of drop bar conversions look dorky but yours is really well done.

Aluminum Trek 7000 Multitrack.

previous owner tried to do a gravel bike conversion. Didn't work well. The frame is very stiff and bounces all over on gravel. Still has the Trek Invert 700c x 32 tires which were not meant for loose surfaces. The MicroNew 3x7 brake levers are not compatible with the v-brakes on the bike. They also used gear cables for the brakes. Yikes. I do like the 7 speed MegaRange freewheel. Low gear is low enough for the biggest hills. I'll be installing flat bars, the original stem and and grip shifts before flipping it. The 7000 was the base model and it has noticeably heavy parts. I had to change the rear tire & tube and I was surprised at how heavy the rear wheel was. Trek Matrix rim but still rather beefy.Shock seat post seized. came with a rear flat and rear tire worn out but I had a matching tire. note the "aero cage". I put a shorter stem on for today's ride.


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a856eeced7.jpg
as received. Tilt stem all the way forward, out of my reach.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7b8a1be1b3.jpg
microNEW R7 (right 7 speed)
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ce3fe09133.jpg
microNEW L3 (left 3 speed)
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...241d58bbf9.jpg
microNew right: lower lever for up shifting, upper button for downshift release.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...799e1c577.jpeg

Sounds like you are set to re-home it, but if I were going to keep it and wanted it to be multi-surface capable if not a full-on gravel bike, I might try some cantilevers from the co-op with cable stops to be compatible with the levers and some gumwall gravel tires as big as will fit to see if that would improve the ride on unpaved surfaces. But then, I so far have not been good at knowing when to walk away. 😀

How well do those MicroNEWs work? I haven’t tried a set of those yet.

microNew
 

Yea, my first time with them. I thought they worked well. It's just a different layout for shifter controls. I have Shimano Dura Ace STI's on my own road bike so the different buttons are not instinct for me. Like any shifter, it would take some time to adjust to them. Also they look to be mostly plastic so I would not expect them to last forever.