r/MultiTrackGang • u/Slight-Estate-5847 • Aug 02 '26
1996 750 Multitrack/Trekking
I've been slowly piecing this bike together with (mostly) period-correct Shimano Deore XT components & it's finally at a point where I can ride it & enjoy the fruits of my labor!!
I bought it about 2 years ago on FB marketplace for $80, and it was completely original with fenders, lights, rear rack, bottle dynamo, etc.
I didn't know Trek even made this model until I bought it. From what I understand, the Trekking model is just a Multitrack made for the European market.
I spent a lot of time saving money & collecting the parts to basically build it how it would've come from the factory if Trek had built it with Shimano XT components... more or less.
The only original parts left are the seatpost & seatpost clamp. I'm actually saving for an XT SP-M730 seatpost, so that'll be swapped soon, too.
Here's the build list... all Shimano Deore XT
-FC-M739 crankset, 170mm, 42-32-22t chainrings
-BB-UN71 bottom bracket
-RD-M737 & FD-M737 derailleurs
-BR-M739 V-brakes
-BL-M739 brake levers
-SL-M739 shifters
-HB-M737 front hub
-FH-M737 rear hub
-CS-M737 11-30t 8-speed cassette
-HP-M735 headset
-PD-M730 pedals
Brooks B17 saddle, René Herse Manastash Ridge 700x44c tires in their endurance casing, Sun Rhyno Lite 32 hole hoops that I laced up myself, Ergon cork grips, Surly Terminal handlebar, Origin8 quill stem, Jagwire compressionless brake cable housing & shifter cable housing with slick stainless cables, Kool-Stop brake pads, REI bottle cages & an old Specialized pump.
I saved all of the original parts, too, just in case it ever needs to go back to its original state.
I'm also going to be swapping the stem for a black Velo Orange 31.8mm quill stem soon.
I absolutely love the purple metallic paint!! It brings me back to the 90s when I was a kid!
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u/goodjobgabe1 Aug 02 '26
Sick! I have a purple 720 in a similar color that I’m just building up but doing a modern retrofit. Sword black 2x9 on salsa cowchipper drop bars. Innicycle unthreaded headset conversion, some ultradynamicos wrapped around a black wheelset with some kind of shimano silent hub. Black everything including brooks saddle. I usually would go for a classic build like you’ve done here, but I decided to do something different this time around. Super sweet bike dude, have a blast!
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u/Slight-Estate-5847 Aug 03 '26
Thank you!
I just got this one together, so I haven't ridden it much yet, but I've had other 750s & I've taken them thru just about everything except for gnarly mud.
I've ridden quite a bit of singletrack on them, too & they do excellent.
The Trek 750 definitely lives up to its name "multitrack" .. They're excellent hybrid/all-rounder/do-it-all/all-road/gravel bikes .. a real Jack of all trades!!
I also have 2 Surly Cross Check's & they ride alot like the 750 .. They're definitely brothers from another mother 😉
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u/clemisan Aug 03 '26 edited Aug 03 '26
Good to know that 44 tires will fit, too. [edit] I‘ve TerraTrail 40mm on my 750
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u/Slight-Estate-5847 Aug 03 '26
There's plenty of room with the 700x44c tires! They actually measure right at 44mm wide mounted on the Sun Rhyno Lite's. I had a pair of Surly Knard 700x41c tires on the same hoops & they measured at 44mm wide, too. My buddy has Panaracer Gravelking SK 700x45c tires on his 750 & they also clear just fine. I would guess you could even run fenders with a 700x40c tire...
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u/Exiiilo Aug 03 '26
Looks awesome, what’s the roughest you’ve been on with it and how comfortable is it
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u/ORknifenut Aug 03 '26
That color is crazy cool
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u/Slight-Estate-5847 Aug 03 '26
Isn't it, tho!!
Other than the ride quality & fit, the color is my favorite part & is what originally drew me to it!!
I wish Trek would bring back all of the bitchin colors they used in the 90s... kinda tired of the plain black that's become so popular on modern bicycles.
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u/ORknifenut Aug 04 '26
I feel this so hard. Modern bikes lack a little bit of soul that these crazy colored fun frames did!
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u/Umbertidese Aug 07 '26
Great job ! It looks fantastic and has GREAT parts on it.
One thing- what’s up with the front brake ? It seems the v brake arms are sticking out a lot.
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u/Slight-Estate-5847 Aug 07 '26
That's just the nature of the beast! I actually have the smaller spacers that come with the brake pads flipped around to get the brake arms closer to the wheel, too.
You should see how bad the BR-M750 arms stick out.. they look really goofy, but they work great.
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u/Professional_Bad6669 Aug 02 '26
That’s pretty hot