856 vs 756

[Kirk Preston]

Just a quick pre purchase question for all of you techies reading this. Is there any differrence between a 756 and an 856. I'm looking at them and they seem identical. Even the same color.  I can't find old spec sheets to see if it was just a component issue or not. Any help is appreciated.

[Dan Irby]

differences 856 has ODS/elastomer, 756 had friction elastomer. 856 had xt derailluers with x-ray twist, 756 has LX with sram 600 twist shift. 856 had mavic 221 rims, 756 had mavic 238 rims. 856 came with clipless, 756 with cages/traps

similarities-same frame, swingarm, bars and Girvin AL fork assembly.

Girvin used to make some mid-year improvements as I recall. You may find my comparison/contrasting incomplete or incorrect depending on wheather the bikes you are looking at are 19951/2 to 1996.
Both are absolutely wonderful single-track eaters. Wish I kept my trusty 756. Dan Irby

[zulu]

I have a 856 & if you are trying to decied between the two the 856 is the better choice it has better components and if it has the MCU's you can remove them and add springs to the unit which is a inexpensive but worthy upgrade.
Enjoy the ride!  

[kiwi]

Dans pretty well on the money.In my neck of the woods all 756's are blue and all 856,s are red.I would buy the bike that has obviuosly been ridden the least...that way there is more life left in the frame.Most of the other stuff you will need to upgrade by now anyway.

[Paul_Harhen]

I broke a couple of the 756 WC frames before they upgraded me to an 856 with extra gussets. The pass-through for the center pull brakes seems to be a real weak point. The 856 frame they gave me was set up for side pulls and did not have the pass-through. It has lasted me 2.5 years so far. The others died after less than 2 years.

[Peter_K2_Bike]

The frames are identical, unless it's a mid-year 856 which is set up for v-brakes only and does not have the rear brake cable routed through the seat tube.  756 came in blue, 856 came in purple, red, and titanium (the color, not the material).