Why did they stop making bikes like this? Trek 7500 Hybrid gets a Tuneup and becomes my favorite!

No fluff, just the good stuff! From the 00's golden era of Trek Bicycle manufacturing before becoming a top-tier race bike manufacturer, this higher end Trek 7500 aluminum hybrid has all the good stuff in all the right spots. The more I got to know it, the more I fell in love.
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/ @bkefrmr
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[@scottrok13]

How lucky are we for you educating us about bikes (and your great conversational humor!)🎉

[@alexmorgan3435]

I still have a Trek 7500 Multi-track I bought new in 1998. It is dark green/graphite grey. Looks really smart still. I concur it is an extremely nice bike to ride. Build quality at this time for Treks was very good. The frame is very stiff but comfortable. Can ride it ALL day. However I haven't ridden it in years as like you I have other much fancier bikes, Rohloff with belt drive. I moved away from derailleur bikes as I just had had enough of them as they are Flintstones high maintenance technology. A real PITA. But your video brings back fond memories of my rides on my Trek 7500 Multi-track. Maybe I shall dig it out of my garage and go for a ride when the weather is nice. Thank you.

[@Sekhmet6697]

Beautiful bike. One thing I like to do is apply a few patches of clear tape where the housing contacts the headtube, before it starts eating into the paint.

[@droppinbeats.]

Love the spirit! Keep the positivity rolling forward, Big A (..see what I did there, now?)!! All the best!

[@MultigrainKevinOs]

Just a beauty of a bike, those components look sharp glad you kept it as original. 100% capable and enjoyable for many many years of riding.

[@user-yz9cr4gu9n]

Bicycles are like potato chips you can’t have just one. That bike was in great shape and it turned out beautiful I can see why you love it. Keep up the great work and stay safe out there.

[@user-rm8it1yo8h]

It looks like Schwinn Lime Green. I agree, it is a great bike. I like the new pedals.

[@btip3072]

I believe it's actually a suspension seat post, not a suspension fork. I really wouldn't like to sit on a suspension fork! I enjoy your videos. Keep up the good work! Cheers

[@thatguy00842]

I have a set of Specialized "Crossroad"s from a few years before this. Almost never ridden. Slightly lower spec (7 speed gripshift, solid seatpost, cantilevers) and chromoly instead of aluminum. I changed the tires because of dry rot and replaced the hardened brake pads with coolstop salmon. It's reliable, simple and will run really well with very little needed maintenance for the next 10 years.

[@dant6564]

Wonderful video. I'm riding a 1992 Trek Multi-Track 7900 as my daily commuter, converted to Rival 1x11, Gilles Berthoud fenders & rando bag.

[@kevinp2891]

Thanks for your content, I am glad I found your channel, you have filled the hole that RJ the Bike Guy left.

[@Jeromeeb]

Hope the guy is doing well, it's a shame he just disappeared

[@miket.220]

Oh, I didn’t know he was off YT. I loved his videos.

[@jpsuperstar]

​@@Jeromeebhe does appear to maintain a Facebook presence but it's hard to tell if it's really him

[@casperbenj]

Luv my old ladies Trek MultiTrack hybrid. Over the years, I have replaced the grip shifters with rapid fire shifters, installed new tires, flat pedals, a more comfy seat and grips. Still looks new.

[@BrianSPaskin]

I am taking my bike, Specialized Sirrus from 2015, for my yearly tune-up this week. I am definitely going to get slightly wider tires, based on the video. It also needs a new cassette after years of commuting. I am lucky to live in a city next to Boston, so we have some choices of bike shops. I do miss my old Trek 7500.

[@schrodingerthecat]

I love the color on that one! Thanks for another great video.

[@bassistadisinistra]

Great video again! Congratulation for your interview on wpr! 👍

[@SunnyvaleSupervisor]

Delivering a green MT730 to it's new owner today. Love the 700 series hybrids from the '90s

[@Christian_Call]

Thanks for another good episode Mr. Farmer!

[@richardchaney6990]

Ghost buster reference….awesome! “ handy tip there Egon”! …….great movie. Great channel. Great content. Thanks, Key West Rick

[@dant.6364]

A Fuji Absolute is nice too. I bought a high end 2011 Absolute w/carbon fork used for $150. The triple drivetrain is perfect for hilly Appalachian terrain with the low gear at about 20 gear inches.

[@jimmansi9046]

This channel is so therapeutic, I lovethis stuff, so well explained, he’s right, these old tracks are great BIKES!

[@gwgorham]

Man that is a gorgeous bike and an inspiring episode (most all of the. are). Thank you so much...

[@isaiahwelch8066]

Hey Andy. Glad to see another video! By the way, I wanted to tell you that when it comes to dork disks, you are 110% spot-on. Roughly a week ago, we had a nice night for riding in my area, and while I was out, my chain over-shifted and destroyed my dork disk -- but my spokes and wheel was saved. And this, on a generic 29" hardtail that has an aluminum frame. So, telling everybody out there, the dork disk is needed, because I keep my bike tuned, and it still overshifted going uphill. Better to replace a $7.99 dork disk, than to spend $160 on labor and $5 on new spokes and nipples.

[@xmateinc]

I keep my bike tuned and have never needed a dork disc. Here at our shop we don’t use em. If your chain is dropping off the back there is something wrong. I can even make a tourney derailleur not over shift.

[@isaiahwelch8066]

@@xmateinc : You can make any derailleur overshift by not having the limits right. What I think happened is my cable stretched at just the right time, and my derailleur wasn't tuned properly with proper limits. Hence the overshift.

[@mattgies]

@@xmateinc Derailleurs get whacked and bikes fall over. Then the hanger is bent and the derailleur absolutely will overshift. If you don't know this, sorry but you're not qualified to work on bikes unsupervised.

[@xmateinc]

@@mattgies if you knock your bike on your derailleur then get the hanger straightened, I’ve ridden across this nation and commute daily as I don’t own a car, never have a problem with my chain falling off because I keep it within its limits and know when something happens to it that needs fixed. So no need for a dork disc.

[@mattgies]

@@xmateinc You and I know about straightening hangers, but our customers mostly do not, and that's why they keep ripping off their derailleurs and chewing up their spokes. I don't have spoke protectors on my own bikes, but I don't remove them from customers' bikes unless by request (which is rare).

[@nothankyou4859]

I recently got a very similar era trek 720 to get myself back into biking... Inspired now to give it a tuneup myself thanks to all your tips :)

[@natehernandez8693]

Hi from 509 Wa state love your vids and I do same I get bikes and try and fix them and resale them you inspire me to bike I learn alot from you

[@MNpicker]

Definitely a big fan of green bikes 👌

[@numinouspalimpsest]

That Kelly green 🔥

[@rpapplebee]

Dude - I am loving your videos. As soon as my financial situation improves a bit I will be joining.

[@user-ul5sb3ku9k]

I followed you cleaning, polishing and tubing procedures on my two recumbents and the results were as good as you showed, and quite easy. I went one step farther as I had a can already and used never dull on the spokes and shiny bits...they look great, one of them is 26 years old too. Thanks for the tips....

[@kylenorris5391]

Hey bikefarmer! Enjoy your videos Theirs just somthing I love about a refreshed used bike I currently have 3 bike all 10 years old + I continue to shock people with my older road bike its a canadian tire aluminum frame thats all been upgraded I really enjoy it, i commute 4 months of the year minimum

[@user-jr2fk9zh4j]

Thanks!

[@6479rob]

Great Video keep them coming.

[@dsonyay]

I have a similar hybrid, but it wasn’t upright enough so I bought some new handlebars with a lot more lift and Man.. What an improvement that made.

[@miket.220]

Man, this video got me. My return to regular cycling happened in 2007 when I bought a brand new Trek 7100, which is the same as this one just with cheaper SRAM components. I rode that bike to pieces up until 2019, when I replaced it with a Trek Verve 1. Replaced half the components due to them eventually breaking. I wish I still at least had the frame for the 7100, it was a great bike.

[@johnhufnagel]

I'm still riding my Trek 7.2FX (circa 2006) and the kid is riding a 7300FX (circa 2007). 7600 and 3600 miles respectively. the wife's 2005 Specialized Expedition is at 6800 miles now. she REALLY got started riding a lot more when 'rona hit; there was plenty of time to do it, not much else to do, and we didn't want any more kids. :D

[@Traildude193]

Love my 7300fx. I've pretty much swapped all the parts on it, the only stock parts left bars,stem,front deraullieur,fork,frame,seatpost.

[@jeffcoleman355]

Enjoy these helpful videos.

[@BrettG64]

Per brake toe-in: When I do mine I use the small size zip ties and wrap it around the rear of the pad to create a thin spacer. Then line it up, squeeze it together and tighten per usual. Using the zip tie keeps me from trying to hold too many things at once. Once tightened, cut the zippy off and done.

[@kelmuna]

You da man, Bike Farmer! Thanks for teaching and sharing🤙!

[@bkefrmr]

Wowza! Thanks hey!!

[@Tarmaccyclocross]

Thanks

[@robertmcfadyen9156]

I have a cobalt coloured 2004 GARY FISHER TASSAJARA to build soon . All the parts for it are "NEW OLD STOCK" , period correct . Work trinkets and barters over time .

[@kona0197]

Nice! I like this bike. I would love to ride it!

[@ericsande5345]

I'm going to the garage after lunch and am starting to make comments and stupid jokes while I work on my bikes. Thanks a lot.

[@robertmcfadyen9156]

A visitor laughed today when during an incoming phone call , a client asked "how"s your baby going"? I replied , she's looking great , as I looked at my TREK custom build 26'er . The visitor cracked up as he saw the satire . I will ride "Bontrager Baby" , on Tuesday with that visitor as well as some other TREK/GARY FISHER owners .

[@czechmademan8028]

i like how you played u fixed the howling brakes :D

[@bongmayor4828]

totally agree! best bikes ever built. Had one of those through the years

[@romemancer7905]

I have one just like yours with the rare disc brake option...Early U.S.A made TREK bikes had the narrow CRO MO tubing just like a vintage bmx or race bike...Really hard to find tho ...they had SUN rims fitted....I remember seing the first generation hybrid bikes in the late 80s...a really nice shogun would set you back nearly 1000 dollars...alot of money back then...

[@BrettG64]

I can remember back in the good old days, manufacturers used the nice, shiny chrome spoke protectors... no yellowing on those!

[@seanoconnell6735]

Love your videos! This new one caught my eye and what really intrigues me is the Trek 7500 you tuned up here. I don't know much about Trek bikes, but I really like the geometry and in researching it, looks like it has some things I would like with more of a purpose built commuter bike......i.e. gearing, 700c wheels, etc. I did a search on Craigslist in my area and found a near exact version of this bike for sale. It is the 7500 SHX model......with the suspension fork. Asking price is $125 and it looks like in good shape. My question, if you are willing to answer, is multi-fold. I am guessing I can get the sale price down a bit, but what I think I would likely change are the seat post/seat, front fork (go conventional/rigid), and new stem. Looks like a great platform bike for my needs, but are there other bikes that would be as good but not require so many changes? Last question, does the frame have mount locations for a rear rack?

[@bubblesezblonde]

nice ride

[@dane5896]

My Brother gave me his 7500, it's a great bike. Very comfortable.

[@nealart]

I just did exact same procedure on this same bike! I use clean green scotch bright pad on the rims for brake squeal.

[@lee-tx5mw]

toe in youre brake blocks too about 4mm on steel bikes as the bosses flex under force ,thats why we used brake boosters back in the 90s

[@robertmcfadyen9156]

Andy Gibson's hair is growing back . My hair had been cut as a wager after losing a wrestling club match last month . At least I will go faster during upcoming rides .

[@JamesHarris-iy6rz]

Dude you make so much sense. I started listening to you in like February. At first I didn't like the opinionated attitude but that grew to respect. As I realized you were just unapologetic honestly. I myself also flip bikes well havnt made any money but im trying to build a name. Ive donated a bike to my ex step son behind moms back because she wouldn't allow it. And now im working on one for a cancer patient that lost his bike to drug addics. I myself don't drive and I fully agree in normalizing bikes. As a 34 year old licenced gas tech it sucks when people don't take you seriously because I showed up on a bike. I respect what you do on the highest level. Your work is just what you would probably be doing anyways. That's what I aspire to. You've really inspired me to TRY to open a bike clinic this summer and I'm really scared lol. Keep doing what your doing fuck all the naysayers. You taught me a lot too.

[@oldcrowcornhole]

When I have to toe the pads I use a penny on the back edge of the pad to get the spacing about right.

¡Gracias!

[@davidrobertson3673]

Screw pliers. Might you have a link of where to get. I enjoy what you do. Thank you

[@mort5065]

I just bought a trek 7900 multitrack with a Shimano deore dx groupset yesterday this is perf timing lol.

[@Galiuros]

What a beautiful bike!

[@brittweir8844]

Reminds me of a Raleigh, Green mountain bike I recently converted to a Bafang mid-drive E-bike❤,(steel framed).

[@craigpuetz7020]

In addition to the tools and supplies it would be helpful if you posted links to some of the major parts you like to use. Tires, shifters, saddles, etc. Perhaps even your favorite brand of "dork disk!"

[@xmateinc]

Pedros bike lust doesnt make your brakes squeal. 100 percent agree with you on toe clips. Those and down tube shifters!

[@titaniumismagical8643]

I love clips, it keeps my feet locked into the right position on the pedals that corresponds with my seat height. I guess to each his own. Down tube shifters I don't miss.

[@willbill9683]

I definitely don't need to add another bike to the herd, but have you ever considered an Ebay store for your finished bikes?

[@Orney]

love that color

[@Thomas-yr9ln]

Green is my dad's favorite color.

[@matthewlewis9356]

l love hybrids brilliant job well done 😊

[@tinygeko7523]

Your Tuneup videos do remind me of Bob Ross painting videos a lot

[@Biggie1231]

One of my fave bikes.

[@robertmcfadyen9156]

My in - law's Wheeler 4900 has an Alivio groupset (full) . It is black with red graphics .

[@jamessimpson4336]

My first new bike as an adult was a 1996 Rayleigh C-300 hybrid. Aluminum frame, shimano bottom bracket, center-pull brakes and shifters, steel fork, Weinmann rims. I rode that thing everywhere, including on my first century ride. These bikes are great "do anything" bikes and aren't fashionable, which makes their pricing reasonable.

[@69Harveyb1]

I love that color. Have a Trek Millennia in whatchamacallit... ice blue? Really nice tradeoff with the cream decals. Candy apple green... gotta remember that. ps if I pester the wife and the weather's purrfect she'll join me for a short ride on her green 7300. I'm short. She isn't. But I swear that bike fits me better than any of my bikes.

[@abchaplin]

Yes, I got your Ghostbusters reference without you prompting us. 😜

[@jasonxiong8259]

Great job again! 🎉Maybe you could take those brake pads off at first before doing the spray and lube stuff, this will save you a lot of time dealing with brake howling.

[@bkefrmr]

No it won’t, but thanks for the tip!

[@robertmcfadyen9156]

This one is from 1998 based on the groupset . My in - law has a 1998 Wheeler 4900 with similar components .

[@ashley-tm1uk]

i love this bike!…i think mainly because it looks more substantial than most. it must translate to the feel as well… something i did to allow adjustment to the bars on a similar set up…i used a seat post clamp bolt that i can loosen and tighten to make adjustments on the fly…i’ve never seen any adjustable bars that don’t require any tools to make adjustments….you’re welcome to try and share my trick… would you have the clearance to add 2.5” tires on these? i loved my thickslicks and now even better hookworms…i also believe in the 29s …i think i’d want to go the full monte on this one if it were mine, and go for the 1x8 rapid shifter group set, 48 t chainring ,bull moose bars, fenders, rear bike rack, and b-17 brooks saddle with swept back seat post…i want one! btw…did you know that all harbor freight stores deliver packaged cargo to any other harbor freight store in any city at a very reasonable cost? it may take a little longer to arrive, but it’s worth it…

[@chrislang7146]

Green, the best bike color ever.

[@morg52]

Except for the solid front fork and smaller size this bike looks identical to the 7500 that I have an estimated 40000 miles on. Mine came with a Rockshox fork that was installed with the steer tube cut just a little too short. I was able to get a new cheap, Rockshox fork in Davenport IA just before the Grand Excursion bike ride. The fork eventually bottomed out but I left it on because it was a bomb proof fork. Eventually I replaced that fork with a black Surly fork.

[@Jeromeeb]

It's all your fault broski... I currently got 15 bikes in the van to sort whats scrap and whats repair worthy 😂

[@bkefrmr]

I’ve learned to start with the easiest and work towards the hardest. Eventually, you end up with a good pile of charity bikes to haul off to your local co-op.

[@numinouspalimpsest]

Omg drop me a pin! Got a couple boxes and frames now

[@ClintDowd]

Not 15 but same story here. This guy MADE me spend my money on bikes I can't even ride.... Just fix and sell😅

[@ClintDowd]

I haven't sold any of my flip bikes yet 😭 On the upside my neighbor now pays me to do the brakes on his flip bikes (lower quality than mine).... Its kinda steady side work.

[@robertmcfadyen9156]

I have a challenging Bianchi road bicycle from 1982 to do shortly . It is white / red /yellow fade colours . Tange ultimate road tubeset .

[@user-nl4nu9qp3m]

I'm watching the video as I type but these look like they're a little bit better quality than the ones that came right after? I didn't get my first Trek until early 2008 model. It still was a great bike but by that time everything had moved to China. Still I wouldn't mind having a USA made bike anyway. If I could find one in great shape or cheap enough that I could restore. I remember when I first rode it to work truck shop old-timer looked at it and said that it looked cheaply made for a Trek bike😅 namely the "sprockets" great videos man!

[@jesselabelle7210]

Hey Bikefarmer, love the channel, I watch it weekly. Just wondering why you bathe the bikes in Tri-flow? Do you towel it down and blow dry it off camera too?

[@trep53]

Your bike service videos have the side effect of encouraging me to ride my bike! BTW I always thought it best to remove all accessories and clean my bike before taking it in for service. This way my bike guy just needs to focus on the technical issues. Also it lets him know I care about my bike so your cleaning tips are very useful.

[@mattgies]

Haha at 10:06 I thought I was a weirdo for thinking of "Wiggle It", but I guess you did too. Also they didn't exactly stop making these. The Multitrack 7X00s became the FX 7.Xs, which became the FX Xs, which are still in production.

[@mattgies]

Ope, I missed a step! In between "Multitrack 7x00" and "FX 7.x" were the "7x00 FX" range.

[@drpulpit]

Toe-in Tacos; great crank burrito; what will you do? Thanks, hey! for the video.

Hello. Many thanks for your videos!! 🙂🙂🙂 Why do you say that the 00's is the golden era of Trek Bicycle? I've heard some people saying that it was on the 90's and others saying they were on the 80's. I 'm a spanish fan of the brand, but I'd like to hear a little more about this subject. Why don't you organise a round video table to treat this matter with Oldshovel, Spindatt and DePue's Shop or the guys you consider the best for it?

[@mcgrimus1455]

I've always said my Raleigh was candy apple blue. Apples aren't blue, obviously, but you know what I mean!

[@xmateinc]

Hey bike farmers, Ive learned that a 27.5 tapered fork, with crown rack/fender mounts, and lower and mid mounts, with a 15x100mm thru axel doesn’t exist. Has to be able to fit up to a 2.5 tire or atleast 2.4. Ive searched every fork on QBP, all the 27.5 whiskey makes don’t have the crown eyelet.

[@dant.6364]

I have a question. If you converted the bike to Shimano cues drivetrain, would you have to re-dish the rear wheel?

[@robertmcfadyen9156]

The rear derailleur doesn't match the rest of the groupset . It is from a later generation . I have four of them in stock . I saw one of these 7500's when new at a shop I worked in at the time .

[@samuelknowles7990]

Show us your personal fleet!

[@StayZero556]

It’s so clean but I’d still probably convert it to Cues. But I just really like modern components on vintage frames.

[@xmateinc]

Modern gear ratios are just way better.

[@miniac60]

Stop abusing your screws on a wire wheel! Taking off the chrome like that just makes them rust quicker. Try some Evapo-rust liquid overnight, good as new.

[@plinthley]

I have the 7500 in that same color. Bought it new in 1998 and 26 years later it still works like a champ, even though it has never had a professional tuneup. @4:19 "It's been a minute since it's had any attention." My handlebars are wobbly, left to right. I've tightened up the quill stem as much as I dare, but it still wobbles. Should I replace the gray rubber gasket?

[@staticdisaster]

You may want to readjust the upper headset bearings - when you loosen the lock nut make sure to *hand tighten* the upper race with the bearings and then back off so slightly when you feel resistance. While you're there you may as well regrease. If it's still wobbly, it could be the actual stem. The adjustable quill stems tend to wobble and creak after a few decades.

[@gaskelldave]

That looks a great bike! Were they an aluminium or steel frame? And what was the wheel size, 700C? If anyone has one of these for sale in the UK in similar condition please let me know, thanks.

[@spyrosg3172]

"I'm pretty relatively confident that things are good" Bike Farmer, April 2024

[@Fetherko]

Are they lightweight and efficient?

[@Jeromeeb]

If you were close by I'd buy that bike, I tried for several months to buy a trek single track in the same color but they wouldn't give a reasonable price. They still have it for sale a year later 😂

[@bkefrmr]

It will sell quickly

[@gusnuk68]

Hybrid bike is underrated

[@thomasullmann7447]

I have an irrational love of putting drop bars on bikes like these, not often for one's I sell but it's really good to have drop bars in windy areas to make life easier cycling into a head wind.

[@AnthonyFrey]

For real. I'm in Madison and through the whole video I'm thinking "If he had put drop bars on that I'd drive out there right now and buy it!"

[@xmateinc]

For that geometry I would just get a longer headset so I can stretch out more.

[@thomasullmann7447]

@@xmateinc you mean stem? Possibly, I dont know the stack and reach. With drop bars on frames designed for straight bars you have to go the other way and put shorter stems on to compensate for the extra reach of drop bars. I really think there is something that can be said for the urban gravel bike, drop bars and fat tires for rough asphalt/patches of ice, but where you can get your head down in head winds. I particularly like this on 26" wheelers as the centre of gravity is so low.

[@F3udF1st]

The vintage dank disks were made from aluminium and look great.

[@bryantucker1266]

I like that bike

[@bibasik7]

That power outlet with no faceplate mildly irritates me

[@georgemartinezjr]

How do you sell your Flip Bikes for

[@spyrosg3172]

I'm working on an old steel bike. It's old enough that the cable stops don't have the notch that makes it possible to undo the cables, for cleaning. is it worth taking a hacksaw and CAREFULLY cutting that notch, at least for the rear derailleur? The frame will need to be repainted anyway..! Thanks!

[@bkefrmr]

wouldn't bother me. nail polish would keep the rust at bay for a while.

[@spyrosg3172]

@@bkefrmr Thanks! What I meant was that I'm going to repaint that frame either way. I was worried that cutting a slot in the cable stop(s) might be, let's say structurally unsound for the cable stop itself... but the newer, slotted ones don't look any beefier, so I guess I'm overthinking this.