Are old Trek mountain bikes any good?

Oddly enough, I've never had a mountain bike.  When I was a kid in the 60s and early 70s we rode all over, but on pre-Gary Fisher balloon-tire old Schwinns.  After that it was an English racer and then on to ten-speeds and such.  In the mid-90s I gradually switched over to hybrids, and then just a few years ago I started riding a road bike again, too.  

Reading about and now watching videos of Big Marsh, which isn't too too far from me, I'm thinking that some mountain-bike lite might be fun.  I won't be doing jumps (at least not on purpose), but I might be able to handle some single-path through the fields, or maybe a little gravel somewhere.  For that I would be looking for a basic used mountain bike.  I like my Trek 730 hybrid, and I'm thinking that a chromoly bike like a Trek 830, 850 or 930 would be a good complement to that.  Plus, I'd know how to work on those already.  I don't think I'd necessarily need a suspension.  I have a couple of suspension seatposts lying around that I might try.  

I'm sure many Chainlinkers, either in the day or recently, have had experience with those old Treks.  Do you think they'd suit my purpose?  I'm certainly open to other suggestions as well.  Just trying to dip my toe in.  Thanks!      

 

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Permalink Reply by Tom A.K. on November 17, 2016 at 4:22pm
Yes !
And I think you would appreciate a Trek MTB with the shocks and suspension.
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Permalink Reply by Irvin Steinert on November 18, 2016 at 3:24am

I love my old Trek MTB but it is more suited to placid trails and much better as urban transportation. My converted 820 in foreground is great for riding with slower friends...

Permalink Reply by Irvin Steinert on November 19, 2016 at 6:17am

pre-conversion...a decent commuter but not particularly agile on technical trail

Permalink Reply by Filka Bean on November 18, 2016 at 7:41pm
I had a black 820 which I would still be riding if it hadn't been stolen out of my yard several years ago. It was great, and I liked the rigid frame & fork, on pretty much everything. I've seen the bike around the city a couple times since, but whoever has it now added fenders and a rack, replaced the grips... I figure it wasn't built up as a commuter by the thief themselves, but, so yeah, let us all know how that Craig's list hunt works out for you. Grrr...

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