Big Pond

tiredhands 

Correct, the 90-92 750s were pretty much identical to the 89-93 520 with different kinds of True Temper tubing. Poor lighting in these photo, but here's my '91 Trek 520 in all-road touring mode and a '92 750 in the same configuration:




Can also confirm that they ride like a freight train and fear nothing. The bottom bracket is high on these, making it feel like you're riding a monster truck. Also capable of carrying super heavy loads with no sweat:


The 520 is currently getting rebuilt as a singletrack slayer/bikepacking rig, and the 750 is getting rebuilt as a randonneuse-style sport tourer.

This '84 Trek 510 is supposed to be my gravel-grinding rig but I have yet to really ride it on any gravel. Currently running 32 GravelKings but it will fit 35s on 700c rims with stock Dia-Compe brakes.

davlafont

Are those the original brake arms? I look at my 720's brakes and I'm not confident they have enough pad adjustment for 700c.

otg 

My Schwinn Tempo converted to 650b

belacqua

Yes, they are the original Dia Compe Gran Compe 960s. The setup works fine with 700c and Kool Stops. My understanding is that 27"-700c cantilever compatibility is luck of the draw, as various framebuilders used different heights and widths for canti mounts. 700c also works fine on my 1986 Voyageur with Dia Compe 981 cantilevers. The Schwinn offers much more tire clearance than the Trek.

belacqua

This thread reminded me how much I admire @Unkle Rico's Ironman

Slightspeed

'73 Super Course with 28c Pasela, could go wider, Campy large flange hubs, Mavic MA40 rims, Weinmann centerpulls with Koolstop dual compound pads. I have a Sugino AT triple, 32/40/50, with a Shimano Megarange 6 speed 34t in back, shifted by Suntour VGT Luxe, and Suntour bar ends. Cyclone II handles the triple front. I also have a compact Sugino double that I might try since we both survived this year's Eroica. Nice bike, first build for me from a found bare frame. Done two part gravel/pavement rides, fun on both surfaces.

cooperryder

Remarkable timing on this thread from my perspective in that on Monday I picked up a 1992 Trek 750 multitrack in the white color that was a bit rough.

I decided to strip it down to bare metal and run it that way for a time.

I have between 7 to 8 months or so on another frame I have done this strip down to bare metal.
It is rust free with maintenance of wiping it down about every 6 weeks with a WD-40 equivalent.
Perhaps a pain for some folks to do this but I like the look and don't mind the maintenance to keep the rust at bay.
I keep it in the garage and do not ride it in the rain.

Tuesday I stripped the paint off the 750 and on Wednesday built it up with parts I had on hand.

I am enjoying a ride on it this morning in its new state.

Those cheap Kenda tires on it measure 34mm and I am thinking I can get at least a 44 or 45 mm wide tire in there.

I am looking at prospective new tires for it very soon.

Interestingly for two years Trek offered a 790 Multitrack in 1990 & 1992 according to the Vintage Trek site as a step above the 750.

I saw that the specs showed the 790 and 750 frames with the same tube and fork
with just different parts.

When I stripped the bottom of the bottom bracket shell I found this frame was stamped 790 along with a 23 for the frame size.

It is currently set up as a 1 x 7 but I will be changing to a double crank soon.
I went ahead and installed the front derailleur in anticipation of this soon coming change.

Now I need to find some gravel to grind on this thing.

cooperryder

tiredhands,
Love the bar tape on your 510.

Is your 1992 750 the white color?
That is what mine started out.

I made an attempt to lighten your pictures but I'm not sure how much good I did.

tiredhands 

Looking good! I'm painting my 520 and 750 frames now, but I liked running them in the nude for a few years. With a 1x drivetrain the chainslap was pretty loud, and both frames would resonate at a certain speed and hum audibly. Very weird.

45's seem to fit according to this guy's PedalRoom page. Looks like my dream of running Rock and Roads on a vintage frame will come true sooner than I thought!

Johnn0

The 750 looks great!! I can fit 42s on my Seral just fine. Maybe even 45s would fit but it would be very close.

dschell

42mm 700c Soma Vittesse EX on CR18 rims measure 37.5 mm wide. Plenty of room and stock cantis adjusted easily for 700c rims. Will build a little wider rim wheel set and have enough room for fenders

dschell

650b conversion, bike co-op centerpull 40mm fatty rumpkins lotsa clearance. If you can get past the swiss bottom bracket cups, I found an eBay sugino with spindle for a triple, they are wonderful on the dirt and gravel.

dschell

The post inspired me. Why not ride the old Motor-Beacon! 5miles , 499 ft of alt gain got my heart started

rustystrings61 

I went the other way regarding gearing - this is my '73 Raleigh Competition Mk. II set up with 35mm Continental Cyclocross Speed tires and stock Weinmann center pulls. The drivetrain is 44/42T chainrings with a Surly Dingle fixed 17/19T cog on one side and a White Industries Dos Eno 20/22T freewheel on the other side. I get a 70-in fixed-gear for pavement, a 60-in fixed for gravel, and the option of a 60-in coastie or (should I feel brave) a 52-in gear for gentler single track. It works nicely for me!