If your idea of a great day is testing the limits of your skills on a bike that can take you up, down, and wherever you want to go, Remedy is your ride.
Frame: OCLV Mountain Carbon main frame & OCLV Carbon seatstay w/alloy chainstay, Carbon Armor, ABP Convert, Full Floater, E2 tapered head tube, magnesium EVO Link, oversized pivot bearings, replaceable derailleur hanger, 150mm travel
Wheels: DT Swiss XM 1550 Tricon, 24 hole, 15mm front hub, 142x12mm rear hub; center lock, tubeless rims (no spoke holes)
Weaknesses: Not much here except I did have to send the rear shock in (under warranty) for a rebuild because of leakage.
Bottom Line:
This bike climbs! I couldn't believe it and I wouldn't have even looked at this bike if I hadn't been coaxed into trying it. Its a bit heaver than I was looking for, but it feals much lighter on the trail. I'm not sure how it works but I was sold the first ride. I have ridden every trail in Tucson and my confidence has gone through the roof after riding this bike. I went from walking down most drops on mt lemon to cleaning every drop except one (and its just a matter of time before I clean that one too). Its an expensive bike... but you know what, thats what I was looking for, and I got a hell of a deal so it was even more worth it.
Similar Products Used: Previously owned a Trek Fuel. I've ridden quite a few other brands, but too many to count.
Bike Setup: Pretty much stock setup except I swapped out my large ring for a bash guard and changed my small and medium to 36 and 46 respectively so basically a 2x9 setup... also upgraded to the joplin 4 seatpost. I haven't had any problem with the originaly joplin except it was just an inch too short for my confort.
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Submitted by
DHmonkey123
a Downhiller
from San Anselmo, CA
Date Reviewed: April 2, 2011
Strengths: stiff, slack, good suspension, loving the joplin
Weaknesses: it isn't mine :(
Bottom Line:
This bike rips. rode it up techy single track and it was very good rolling and no pedal bob with propedal and the 120mm setting up front. descending was great with the 160mm setting and no propedal. joplin was dropped as well. it was smooth, fast, didn't blow through the travel, and was nice and slack. a wee bit overkill for what i rode but only by like 20 mm. i was used to it the second i jump on it. just had to get used to the fact that it was only a demo bike. tires are very grippy but i had too much air in them. over by 10 psi. you have to be exact with tire pressure. whips/jump real easy too. definitely look into it if you are a freerider with no way of shuttling. definitely #1 in its class.
Strengths: Light, stiff, perfect geometry for aggressive riding. Easy to maintain speed, feels even lighter than it is.
Weaknesses: The saddle is a piece of wood. My crotch is still numb and that was yesterday. Grips not so great. Personal preference on the tires. Fork and shock needed a little more tuning to work together better. They had a hub on it that had the loud pawls, really annoying when the bike was silent otherwise.
Bottom Line:
I could've rode that bike all day. ( If not for the crap saddle). Once up to speed it was easy to keep it fast and just focus on handling the trail. And it does that very well. Stable when you need it and able to steer quick between trees with a slight tug on the bars. That nice swooping feel in banked turns with some g out. It felt very similar to my Kona Coilair, but at what felt like half the weight, and a little more sitting in the bike rather than on it. The fork and shock weren't operating together as well as I thought they should have. The fork eating everything and the shock reacting to stuff, not as plush. The exact same for the Fuel EX9.9 I rode the same day. Probably a set up issue. Not much difference with the Propedal on or off. If you look at the rocker it moves with each crank, but otherwise you wouldn't know it. This is now a real close decision between this bike and the Pivot Mach 5 I demoed. The Trek is that good. Probably an even better all mountain, aggressive riding bike. Change the saddle, grips, tires, some tuning and this bike could be close to perfect.
Similar Products Used: Currently ride a 94 coiler for urban, 95 enduro for cross country, 96 coilair for all mountain
Bike Setup: Stock except for a prototype hub they were testing.
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Submitted by
Da Chetster
a Cross Country Rider
from Buena Vista, CO, USA
Date Reviewed: May 23, 2010
Strengths: Light weight, Trek technology (OCLV Red frame, ABP, Full Floater, Evo Link, proprietary DRCV Fox shock, E2 headset, proprietary Fox Talas RLC fork w/ through axle), Crank Bros "Joplin" seatpost, Avid Elixirs
Weaknesses: Price - but it's still less $$ than a comparable bike from other brands would be - killer Trek value once again. I may change the tires for something more locally-specific but the Bonties are a fine all-around, all-mountain tire. Some one argue there could be more carbon (in the spec mainly) but this is an all-mountain ride built for all-mountain conditions. Fully kitted out, my 18.5 comes in at just over 28 lbs.
Bottom Line:
Remedy 9.9 makes no compromises. Trek continues to build the best values in the cycling industry. If you tried to build up a bike like the Remedy 9.9 the cost would be prohibitive; if you bought it from another vendor the price would be much higher. The Remedy 9.9 is almost a concept/technology demo bike but it works now and is available now. Adding the "Scratch" to the line-up allowed Trek to dial the Remedy in for all-mountain and epic riding. I bought it because riding our local conditions frequently, even what is "cross-country", demands the more robust attributes of an all-mountain bike. Day long rides on rough trails take a toll on the bike and the rider. I'm getting older and I've worked hard, so I need and can afford the bike. The ride is smooth and comfortable, and I'm going over and off obstacles I'd begun refusing, despite my best intentions. I will be riding longer and more difficult rides more often again. If you can find any way to buy a Remedy 9.9, do it. No compromises.
