I’d been fantasizing about the perfect do-it-all bike for years. I read about old Multitracks online, and they seemed to check a lot of my boxes. I checked FB marketplace and lo and behold, there was a nice ’96 750 nearby, in my size, and for a reasonable price.
I’ve mostly kept it stock. The drivetrain is solid, with nice wide gearing for a 3×7. The rear hub has a ‘silent clutch,’ adding to the all around smoothness of the riding experience. The frame is double-butted, True Temper steel tubing, USA made, and in good shape. The wheels were perfectly fine.
Here are the changes I made:
– 42mm Soma Shikoro tires
– Brooks cambium c19 saddle with cut out (I believe its a hair wider than the venerable b17)
– Shimano cx50 anti brakes (the plastic around the spring had cracked on the stock brakes)
– Some period-correct shimano trigger shifters 😉
– Nitto b356 M’s Bar handlebar
– Nitto periscopa stem
– Shimano dual sided pedals
– Tubus duo front rack
I absolutely love the Shikoros. They look great, they are the perfect size, they have durable enough casing to run nice and low, and they are just smooth and perfect. They do surprisingly great on gravel for being almost completely smooth. I find myself involuntarily ripping when I hit an unpaved path. We have fun!
The handlebar is a Bluelug adaptation of the Rivendell Albatross, flattened at the bends to offer an additional hand position. You can basically grab the bar anywhere and you’ll be in a great riding position, and never be far from the brakes or the shifters. I had some sqlab inner bar ends on them, but decided to take them off. They worked great, giving me a comfortable more aero position but I thought it looked too ungodly (see the last pic). I’m a huge practicality nerd, but I have my limits.
I use this bike to commute, and obviously its great for that. Its also a pleasure to just take on a nice long ride. And it holds its own at some light off-roading. The last few bikes I had were also very practical, but were maybe too practical and were just never that fun to ride. I’m so pleased. I found a bike that does everything I want it to do, while still being a blast to ride. I would love to see how it does at some loaded touring.
I like that its pretty unremarkable and a little boring. I don’t worry too much leaving it locked up somewhere. This is a bike I would like to grow old on. So I guess the adventuring I will do with this bike is the aging process itself. Lol.
You better believe I wear spd sandals when I ride this thing! Wahooooo!
Thanks for reading.
a517dogg on
Love it! Get some blingy inner bar ends instead!
CorporalScottBukkake on
Looks great! How do those tires fit? I’ve got 38C gravelkings on my 1991 750 and I don’t think I could go any wider.
_cobbleton on
Beautiful, man! Getting ready to build up a specialized hybrid, and there’s a lot to love about the aesthetics you have here. Going for something similar myself, but this trek is a looker!
4 Comments
First time posting here, howdy folks.
I’d been fantasizing about the perfect do-it-all bike for years. I read about old Multitracks online, and they seemed to check a lot of my boxes. I checked FB marketplace and lo and behold, there was a nice ’96 750 nearby, in my size, and for a reasonable price.
I’ve mostly kept it stock. The drivetrain is solid, with nice wide gearing for a 3×7. The rear hub has a ‘silent clutch,’ adding to the all around smoothness of the riding experience. The frame is double-butted, True Temper steel tubing, USA made, and in good shape. The wheels were perfectly fine.
Here are the changes I made:
– 42mm Soma Shikoro tires
– Brooks cambium c19 saddle with cut out (I believe its a hair wider than the venerable b17)
– Shimano cx50 anti brakes (the plastic around the spring had cracked on the stock brakes)
– Some period-correct shimano trigger shifters 😉
– Nitto b356 M’s Bar handlebar
– Nitto periscopa stem
– Shimano dual sided pedals
– Tubus duo front rack
I absolutely love the Shikoros. They look great, they are the perfect size, they have durable enough casing to run nice and low, and they are just smooth and perfect. They do surprisingly great on gravel for being almost completely smooth. I find myself involuntarily ripping when I hit an unpaved path. We have fun!
The handlebar is a Bluelug adaptation of the Rivendell Albatross, flattened at the bends to offer an additional hand position. You can basically grab the bar anywhere and you’ll be in a great riding position, and never be far from the brakes or the shifters. I had some sqlab inner bar ends on them, but decided to take them off. They worked great, giving me a comfortable more aero position but I thought it looked too ungodly (see the last pic). I’m a huge practicality nerd, but I have my limits.
I use this bike to commute, and obviously its great for that. Its also a pleasure to just take on a nice long ride. And it holds its own at some light off-roading. The last few bikes I had were also very practical, but were maybe too practical and were just never that fun to ride. I’m so pleased. I found a bike that does everything I want it to do, while still being a blast to ride. I would love to see how it does at some loaded touring.
I like that its pretty unremarkable and a little boring. I don’t worry too much leaving it locked up somewhere. This is a bike I would like to grow old on. So I guess the adventuring I will do with this bike is the aging process itself. Lol.
You better believe I wear spd sandals when I ride this thing! Wahooooo!
Thanks for reading.
Love it! Get some blingy inner bar ends instead!
Looks great! How do those tires fit? I’ve got 38C gravelkings on my 1991 750 and I don’t think I could go any wider.
Beautiful, man! Getting ready to build up a specialized hybrid, and there’s a lot to love about the aesthetics you have here. Going for something similar myself, but this trek is a looker!