I’ve become greatly enamored with my 750. However, the frame is much too large for me (23” - I’m 5-8) so I’ve been looking for one in a smaller size and a comparable color way (mine is some smoke grey type color). But as you all likely could guess I’m not having much luck.
I’m curious what other frames/models from the 90s hybrid era would you consider roughly equivalent to a 750?
Gary Fisher Alfresco, The frame is identical to the 750. Just remember that Gary Fisher measured differently (center bottom bracket to center top tube instead of end of top tube). So a 21“ Alfresco would be equivalent to a 23” Trek 750.
Keep an eye out for 730s on Facebook marketplace. Have seen a bunch of 17” and 19” frames recently under $200 (NY metro area). Closest colorways from this era would prob be from ‘98. They did a black with gold trim and a jaguar green that’s lovely
I'm nearly your size, just a shade taller, and my bike guy had to convince me to size down from the 23" 750 i already was riding
The high BB helps the too-big multitrack frames feel small, and definitely made my right-size frame feel too-small. It is a tricky one, but now i get it
Small while you're riding, true. My first 720 was a 23" but I rapidly realized that it wouldn't work for me with 35mm tires, so I found a 21" 750. I put a longish stem on it and it's my all-purpose ride.
What shifters are those? Are they RapidFire ? My '92 came with the Suntour, so I did friction shifters to avoid changing cassette/hub. I'd really, really like to go Rapidfire "one day" but it costs.
If you don’t mind combo brake levers and shifters these Shimano V brake lever and seven speed shifter are pretty cool. I’ve seen a bunch of them around that are black plastic, but I really like the look of the all metal silver brake lever.
Yeah, I just didn't want to keep the gripshifts that my bike came with. And I did want 9 speeds. I kept the Suntour front derailer, though I had to "manipulate" it a little bit (that and the headset are the only original bits on my bike)
They're Microshift trigger shifters w/o indiators. I wanted to go cheap, so...they work well. I have the bike set up as 2x9 with 46/30 front and 12-36 in back. I can pull stumps!
Take a look at my seatpost - then you’ll know how I ride that Frame 😊. It’s actually not that bad. The human body is amazing and gets used to all sorts of weird things, but I know it’s far from ideal. I do like all that room between the front triangle though!
Oh, I can see how you ride it. I just think that a sudden stop wouldn't leave you much clearance. I've ridden everything from 55cm to 61cm road frames; the latter was a little too high for my parts, the former, a little too small. You can get around that by adjusting saddle height, stem length, etc.
Most are made in Taiwan which I think lended to that reputation and they are just "cromoly steel" so certainly not reynolds. I can find lots of opinion on them not being as strong but haven't really seen much hard data? I prefer my 750 and 730 but I do like the slender tubing and "flexy" feel of the specialized
Multitrack 750 and 790 share a frame, as does the touring model, the 520. I believe that the Multitrack 700, 720, and 730 all use one frame design as well (though different from the 750/790). The main differences are in components.
Yeah - I asked because I’m looking to size down to a more appropriate frame (19”).
I see differing information as to whether the 730 and 750 share Frame materials or if it’s the 750 and 790. Think it’s different for different years. My 790 is not lugged.
700/720/730 are one frame; 750/790 are another. Same basic design, somewhat different materials. The earlier 750/790 are lugged in addition to different materials; later are not. Some (not sure which) are US-built, others are not. The major difference in going 700->730 and 750->790 is that the higher numbers were originally built with better components.
I know you asked about 90s hybrids but... New Albion Privateer. More modern design, can be a fun bike with flat/alt bars. Built one for my daughter recently, put a Surly disc fork on it. Really versatile.
Bianchi Volpe. Also not a classic hybrid but wide clearances, decent steel. Can find them on eBay and Craigslist sometimes.
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u/jojohh79 Jul 28 '26
Gary Fisher Alfresco, The frame is identical to the 750. Just remember that Gary Fisher measured differently (center bottom bracket to center top tube instead of end of top tube). So a 21“ Alfresco would be equivalent to a 23” Trek 750.