Submitted by
zoothslooth
a Weekend Warrior
from Cordova, TN
Date Reviewed: January 15, 2011
Strengths: Cushy, easy on the rear end.
Weaknesses: Cushy, lots of pedal bob on the uphill, I hated the rear shock.
Bottom Line:
I really disliked the bike, even though I really wanted to love it. I guess all mountain is not my style so maybe it was just a poor choice for location and riding style. I never could get the rear shock stiff enough, I felt like I wasted so much energy on the uphill. I sold the bike and got a full rigid steel 29er and a Fisher Paragon, I prefer either of them over the liquid. If you're looking for a cushy, el dorado cadillac riding style bike, this could be the one. If you want a responsive, maneuverable bike, you might wanna pass on the liquid. Coincidentally my brother who is a few inches shorter and lighter than me loves his liquid. One difference that I noticed b/n the liquid and other FS bikes I've owned is the rear shock manufacturer. I'll only buy a bike with a Fox rear shock. That's my bias now, after owning this liquid for several years.
Bike Setup: XT drivetrain, hayes carbon 9 hydraulic brakes. WTB tubeless wheelset. Manitou One front shock
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Submitted by
2eyebox
a Weekend Warrior
from east coast
Date Reviewed: February 24, 2010
Strengths: Versatility! The bike is very good to great at just about everything.
Weaknesses: I really can't come up with any weaknesses...that is none that couldn't be the RIDERS weakness.
Bottom Line:
this is for the 2005.If you can only afford ONE mtb...but do different types of riding,look no further.I only changed the fork because the Manitou black is not for 230lb riders (IMHO)but my lighter 180lb buddy loved it.I wanted to get the rp23 rear shock..but the swinger 3way does an AWESOME job once you get it set to your preference.no fumbling for the propedal switch(like some ppl i ride with)Take a shock pump ride all day...pump the SPV valve just until it stays locked then reduce by 1/2 lb increments after riding 30 minutes(it takes about that long for the shock to totally adjust)write those digits down and set it and forget it. The bike performs well in all areas but its long wheelbase is not the best in technical uphill swithbacks,but what it lacks there it more than makes up for everywhere else..especially long descents and ground obstacles.The Swinger 3way turns it into a hardtail when you start hammering the pedals making it a surprisingly good climber.we all switch bikes around while riding and everyone who rode it was impressed at how it is so good at so much...AND at how well the swinger performed.No frame issues here and I am 230 lbs with no gear...the bike can take a pounding.
Similar Products Used: Cdale prophet,g fisher cake,giant trance,
Bike Setup: mostly stock except for fox float in front,king headset,carbon seatpost,rhythm elite wheels,2.4 mutanoraptor front tire,bonty jones acx-b in rear
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Submitted by
TuckerC
a Weekend Warrior
from Helena, Montana
Date Reviewed: May 31, 2009
Strengths: Frame is very strong. Nice components for the price. Climbs great.
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
Great bike! I would recomend to anyone to is seriously into mountain biking who wants a bike that is a great climber but is also very good and strong for the downhill. I am planning on getting into racing a little and I think this bike will be fantastic! I am in high school and all my friends that I bike with payed way more for their bikes and I have the nicest and most fun bike out of all of them.
Similar Products Used: Specialized Hardrock Haro Shift R1
Bike Setup: Stock, except for tires and saddle
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Submitted by
Andrew
a Weekend Warrior
from Adelaide
Date Reviewed: April 15, 2008
Strengths: Absolutely bombproof. A real tank.
Weaknesses: Standover height is a little on the hight side, even for my 6'1" self. Stock tyres.
Bottom Line:
I have had this bike for 3 and a bit years now and it has been subject to some real abuse and a few bad crashes. No sign of the frame cracking or any damage at all as some others are complaining about, and I weigh 95kg. As for the suspension problems people are talking about, take a shock pump on your first ride and spend some time fiddling with the pressures, its not set up right straight out of the box. Long wheelbase makes it a little tricky on real tight and twisty single track but its not meant to be a XC racer, or big huckin' freerider either. Use it for its intended purpose and it should give you years of faithful service.
Bike Setup: Stock apart from new Kenda Nevegal tyres.
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Submitted by
Mark Twitchell
a Weekend Warrior
from Redding, CA
Date Reviewed: February 9, 2008
Strengths: Had a good time on this bike
Weaknesses: The frame broke
Bottom Line:
I posted back in 02/05, that I'd broke 2 of the carbon fiber-stayed Liquids and then was upgraded to the newer model, well, here it is 3 years later and my "new" frame just broke. I's noticed some squaking, but never figured it out until now. It broke right at the top of the seat stay gussett where this connects to the top tube. The top tube broke clean through. I'm appreciatin' Trek's lifetime frame warranty about now. Don't know what they're going to do yet.
Bike Setup: Parts from prior bike (Psylo fork, etc,) frame from latest Liquid
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Submitted by
Mike Considine
a Cross Country Rider
from Londonderry, NH
Date Reviewed: July 13, 2007
Strengths: I purchased the Liquid frame (only) to replace my broken NRS frame. The Liquid has typical performance qualities of other bikes in this price range. The bike/frame is nothing special.
Weaknesses: I was looking for a solid frame from a reputable company - I found neither. I cracked the frame at the bottom weld on the seat tube (just above the bottom bracket) following just 6 months of use. Trek agreed to replace the frame but 5 weeks have passed - no frame, no bike, no riding.
Bottom Line:
Trek obviously has a problem with the reliability of their welded frames (see other reviews on this page). Trek also has little interest in getting me back on the trails. I’m one unhappy customer and would not recommend Trek products.
Similar Products Used: K2 Razorback, Cannondale Jekyl, Giant NRS
Bike Setup: Shimano XT
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Submitted by
Amandio
a Cross Country Rider
from Barrie, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: April 2, 2007
Strengths: Easy to handle through tight single track or faster downhill riding. The suspension does a great job of absorving most bumps. After 3 years still not had any problems with the shock or the fork.
Weaknesses: I broke the frame and it took 6 weeks to get a replacement.
Bottom Line:
This is a follow up post from a couple of years back. When I read reviews of people braking frames I though these were crazzy guys doing monster drops but guess what I broke my frame on tiny 2 foot drop. In actual fact now that I think about it I had a crack in the weld above the bottom bracket the entire spring last year. It was annoying as hell as I couldn't figure out where the creaking noise was coming from. I tried adjusting the head set back and forth, readjsuted the brake calipers, replaced pads, checked hubs etc... but the creaking never went away unti.... the frame broke. It broke exactly where people were saying it did above the bottom bracket at the weld. Trek replaced the frame with a brand new frame which I believe is from a Treck Remedy. The new frame is a beaut. It is an improvement in that it has a lower top tube which gives me more standover clearance. The only draw back is that I have lost some climbing ability which this bike has been awsome at climbing but it is still quite strong. Overall I have been using this bike for over 3 years and I am very happy with it. There is nothing that at my level of riding I have not been able to do. It can do alot more than I have thrown at it so far but I am improving so hopefully the new frame will hold out. Waiting six weeks for a replacement frame was a real pain since I do not have another bike as backup. It's too bad Trek has stopped making this bike because it is a great all around bike. Light enough to keep up with the with the weight weenie bikes and strong enough that you are not worried about braking something when you hit some rough stuff. Geat bike too bad for the frame braking. If it were not for that and the 6 weeks down time I would gladly give it 5 chillies all around.
Similar Products Used: None so far. My previous bike was a Schwinn Hardtail. Have ridden a buddy's Santa Cruz Blur but like the liquid better.
Bike Setup: Stock except the cranks which I have upgraded to Shimano XT.
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Submitted by
Mark Twitchell
a Weekend Warrior
from Redding, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: March 29, 2007
Strengths: Durable
Weaknesses: See Below
Bottom Line:
I last wrote a review in Feb, 2005. At that time, I just broke the 2nd of 2 of the initial Liquid Frames, the ones with the Carbon Fiber seat stays. The Bike shop replaced the entire frame, bottom bracket, shock, etc. with the new 2005 frame with normal, (pivoting) seat stays. I gotta say, it's still going strong. Our theory here is that the carbon fiber stays were stressing the frame to the point where it broke (both frames broke almost exactly after 1 year, and both broke at the same spot,which I notice is where other Liquids have broken). So, it appears to me that Trek has fixed the problem, and I'm a happy camper. I'd buy another Trek, no problem. (and thanks again to all at The Bike Shop.) Funny thing, the only other frame I've broken (did I mention I'm 275 lb?) was the old Fisher Montare curved seatpost, elevated chainstay, short coupled thingie that he built for Moab climbing (shudder!). I broke 3 of those babies at about 6 months each. All at the same point just below where the chain stays hit the seatpost. Kinda like the Liquid, they weren't around long. After #3, Rex put me on an Aquila. Now there was a nice, well balanced bike!
Weaknesses: really unstable in the air, does horrible at drops, REALLY bouncy if trail is even a little technical.
Bottom Line:
don't buy this bike if you are even thinking about getting into freeride. it doesn't inspire confidence, shuddery on technical trails, and the suspension is nothing but trouble. i've already had to replace the rear shock, and my rear deralleur was giving me alot of trouble before i bought my new bike. the only people i'd recommend it to are the occasional xc rider. other than that, this bike just plain sucks.
Bike Setup: regular components, didn't upgrade much
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Submitted by
Phil Pugliese
a Weekend Warrior
from NTS, Pa
Date Reviewed: September 1, 2006
Strengths: Balance and versatility. I demoed a couple of bikes before I found a deal on this one off of CL, it rocks.
Weaknesses: None yet.
Bottom Line:
Buying a used bike is always a bit of a crapshoot. I lucked out on this one. It was dead immaculate, I don't think the bike had seed 10 miles on it. I am very hapy wit the bike for my riding needs, I can't see me needing anything more.
Strengths: Looks good. Reasonable components. Nice suspension. Very comfortable and solid ride
Weaknesses: Slightly heavy, therefore not too agile. Frames snap! I had two frames snap on me above bottom bracket within 3 years. (I notice several reviewers had the same issue). Was just doing some single track both times. Now, you'd expect Trek to do more than just replace the mainframe (making me keep all the old linkage and components) on the second failure, but no! Trek deny that there is an inherrent flaw in this bike and made no effort to ease the pain of disapointment. It took a letter from my solicitor to get any redress. How can I ever trust Trek again? The fact that they no longer produce these bikes says it all. Absolutely disgusted with Trek customer support
Bottom Line:
This is quite a nice bike to ride, but I cannot recommend this bike because of the inherrent design fault. How can Trek produce this kind of bike for the money and allow this kind of failure? I, for one, will be boycotting Trek. Shame, because they had a loyal customer before this - I'd been riding treks for over 15 years.
There are many comparable bikes on the market for the money that do not snap.
Similar Products Used: Only hardtails before the Liquid
Bike Setup: Standard
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Submitted by
Colby
a Cross Country Rider
from Great Falls, MT USA
Date Reviewed: July 21, 2006
Strengths: Nearly Everything! The bike is super soft and yet when it comes to climbing a steep technical climb, the thing is a billy goat! It is so incredibly versitile!
Weaknesses: I noticed the other day that the cassette is a SRAM and it's running on an XT rear deraileur. I havent noticed any problems with it, but it kind of bothers me. The crankset isnt much to marvel at either, but is still pretty nice.
Bottom Line:
Behold! The Nimble Tank! This thing is like riding two pillows down a mountain, but is stiff as a shot of Jack when you're climbing. I can make climbs on this thing that I cant make on my Bianchi X-C full suspension. A truly amazing machine!
Submitted by
James McCabe
a Cross Country Rider
from B-Water
Date Reviewed: July 1, 2006
Strengths: Pretty strong, sorta light for the bike. Rims are good... 8" in the front is nice, the Bonti. stuff is okay. Did I mention lock on grips? I like those...
Weaknesses: Tires are horrible, fork is flexy... uhh that's about it.
Bottom Line:
Works well... thinking about making it lighter for racing... doubt it. Works great for just about anything you throw at it. Won't let you down!
The overall experiance with this bike has been very good. It would have been great except that Trek didn't do a very good job of quality control in the build of this bike. I kept noticeing a clunk coming out of the rear suspention whenever I rode on flat ground. At first I thought it was the SPV shock doing its thing, until one day when I was washing it down I noticed on the right rocker arm there was NO BEARING where the seatstay bolts on!!!.Newington Cycle took care of it right away(great shop)but come on man this is over a $2,000 bike. Other than that I love this bike.
Similar Products Used: GT I-Drive 3.0 (Great Bike)
Bike Setup: BG seat, Excavader tires
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Submitted by
Jesse
a Weekend Warrior
from New Bern, NC
Date Reviewed: May 2, 2006
Strengths: Geometry, smooth suspension, great climbing
Weaknesses: the seat is a real pain, the seat post likes to slide on it's own, front shock is a little spungy
Bottom Line:
This is my first high end mountain bike ($1500 plus) I got it as an '04 left over and it immediately made me a better rider. I felt more confident in my skills and also more eager to improve on them. I rode most X-country at first where it rode very smooth, it actually did most of the work through the roots and rocks laiden parts. Other than the seat being a real pain after about 30 minutes of climbing, it felt very efficient the entire way.
The best part was when I took this to Diablo DH park in New Jersey. I'm 6'1" 200 lbs, and I hit some big air and the frame never cracked on me, even after an entire day of Downhill runs. This is a great all mountain bike that will satisfy the novice downhiller and affluent single track lover alike. If you lean more toward technical single track, try to shed some weight, other wise...it's a perfect ride.
