Submitted by
Rene Valle
a Weekend Warrior
from Mexico City
Date Reviewed: August 18, 2004
Strengths: Light, light, light, fast and strong. Did I mention light?
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
Brilliant bike,even though it's four years old, I haven't found anything that's better. If something better comes along I'll buy it, but so far nothing rides like this bike. It's extremely light, very fast, and very strong. I've taken the crap out of it and besides a few scratches it looks like new!!! If you can find one (as it's discontinued) buy it!!!
Strengths: As an earlier posting I expressed my concern for the longitivy of the frame. My concerns were right my stp400 frame broke at the chainstay and trek replaced it with a 9.8
Weaknesses: chainstay
Bottom Line:
I no longer have the frame due to a broken chain stay.
Submitted by
RANDY SMART
a Cross Country Rider
from GREENVILLE
Date Reviewed: January 11, 2003
Strengths: Light weight,handles great,superb climber,very fast acceleration, carbon frame is stiff and absorbs impacts with ease, rear shock takes care of the big hits.
Weaknesses: This bike is not made for a soft ride, or a strong downhiller, bike is built for speed and climbing. Still takes the hits with ease for its lightweight.
Bottom Line:
This is a great all around bike if your looking for speed and climbing abilitys. The carbon frame is extremly light and absorbs a lot of the bumps, along with the rear shock which helps with the larger impacts. The Trek fuel 80 is a great bike if you want a smoother ride, but since the bike weighs more it does not have nearly the speed that the STP 400 has or the climbing ability, yes you will have to take more bumps but its worth it. If your a downhiler, or want a full suspension feel this bike is not for you. From a scale of 1-10 for suspension on the trek fuel 80, I will give it a 9, for the STP 400 I will give it a 7, the STP 400 bike realy is amazing. The front fork is light and tends to roll over obstacles with ease, going downhill the fork can throw you around a little bit but not extreme, it absorbs bumps incredibly well. Due to the light weight fork the front end is more maneuverable, and requires less arm work for control and climbing. The rims are lightweight and can take a lot of abuse. This bike is flat out fast, and can climb!
Strengths: The XTR Group, Carbon Frame, Weight, Performance
Weaknesses: The Cane Creek Headset sucks, the rear shock doesn't help to much
Bottom Line:
This bike is awesome! I'm coming from a bike that had 5" front and rear I thought I was going to die on this bike, was I wrong! The light weight lets you though the bike around through the technical sections. I can actually go faster in the technical sections and the downhill’s. The XTR drive train is unbelievable, I have experienced no trouble with it. The rolf wheels are light and strong. The only section on the trails that I wish I had more travel was a set of stairs made out of logs. Overall this bike is awesome and performs flawlessly !
Similar Products Used: Cannondale F-400, Specialized FSR enduro
Bike Setup: Switched the Avids to XTR's and the front fork to a 2002 Sid SL, soon a Chris King headset
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Ron Jeremy
a Cross Country Rider
from California
Date Reviewed: November 2, 2001
Strengths: Fast, Responsive, Light,
Weaknesses: Carbon Fiber Durability, $, Bottom Bracket area flexes like a rubber band, Makes a bunch of noise plastic creaking etc.
Bottom Line:
Very fast and responsive bike. Very similar in ride to the 9.8 but a bit easier on the body with the slight travel in the rear. Check out how bad the frame flexes when you put some weight down on the cranks. WOW! My STP developed a ticking noise from the bottom bracket area that no one could figure out. I have heard this on many other STPs and it could drive a man insane. Carbon Fiber has made me nervous in rocky sections. When going down fast fire roads rocks will bang up the frame bad. I always have the feeling the bike might just crack on me. That is just my opinion. Overall Im not all that impressed. The travel in the rear is hardly noticeable at all. (I realize it is only a soft tail) The frame is expensive and given all the small dents on the bottom of my bike, the amount of frame flex and the plastic ticking noise it makes under power Im not sold on the durability. If you race and are sponsored by Trek it would be great. For everyday rider I wouldn't recommend it. Id just go out and buy a full suspension. The soft tail doesn't do much at all.
Bike Setup: SID race ; SID dual Air ; Group XTR ; Wells Propel ; Sten + form + seapost = Easton EA 70
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Vince Talavera
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver, Colorado USA
Date Reviewed: March 4, 2001
Strengths: Light a sthe wind for a full suspension. Not a true full suspension though. It is a XC racer will a tiny amount of travel in rear. Climbs and decends like a dream
Weaknesses: SID rear shock needs tweaking to get it right, but once its on its awesome. Rolf wheels were changed immediately to UST Crossmax tubeless. Huge upgrade and worth every penny.
Bottom Line:
The bike is pricey, but if you want the ultimate XC racer with a little give in the rear without compromising weight and climbing ability, this is the bike for you. Do yourself a favor and demo the bike. It will be love at first ride. I get a lot of compliments with my ride.
Similar Products Used: Fisher Sugar, Litespeed, Moots
Bike Setup: STP 400 frame with Sid SL RACE, UST Crossmax tubeless Full XTR group,King Head Set with Profile Stem SRAM 9.0 shifters
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Shard
a Cross Country Rider
from Perth, WA, Australia
Date Reviewed: January 26, 2001
Strengths: Light, responsive and all in all an awesome bike. I personally feel that the Trek STP is one the best soft tails on the market even with the majority of the competition being made from Ti instead of Carbon. Been riding this bike cross country for close to 2000 KM and it has not given me any problems.
Weaknesses: Protective varnish on the frame chips and cracks easily, purely cosmetic though. Rear shock requires a fair amount of trial and error in tuning before you get it right.
Bottom Line:
People looking for a Full Suspension bike should probably try a Gary Fisher Sugar or Trek Fuel. Even though the Trek STP is marketed as a Full Suspension (Soft Tail), it is really a Hard Tail. It sure rides and handles like one. In all honesty, the rear shock is more of a gimmick than anything, you hardly feel it. Having said that, this is an awesome bike and you will be hard pressed to find anything better.
Lastly, different individuals have different requirements and it is always the test ride that will tell you if the bike is right for you and not someone elses comments/reviews.
Similar Products Used: Litespeed Tsali, Moots YBBeat
Bike Setup: Easton CT2 Handlebar, Easton CT2 Seatpost, Kore Elite Stem, Chris King Headset, RockShox SIDney Front Suspension, RaceFace Next LP Crankset, RaceFace Ti Taperlock BB, Rolf Propel Wheelset, Avid Single Digit Mag Brakes, XTR Front and Rear Derailleurs, XTR Brake Levers and Shifters, Time ATAC Ti Pedals and Bontrager FS2000 Saddle.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Psyc
a Cross Country Rider
from Ontario
Date Reviewed: November 19, 2000
Strengths: This is LIGHT like the sun,.My first time on the bike felt like I needed to go faster. It also induced a considerable amount of confidence.
Weaknesses: Had trouble clipping the left foot in (cause)-broken pedal from factory,warrentied no prob. On my second ride my rear wheel pinch flatted and dented the rim....I have come to find out that rolf propells are non servicable. I have a new wheel on order..not impressed with that Ill tell ya. Also 2 things to get used to..the dead feel and sound of carbon fiber, and how this bike goes squish over everything. but like I said thats getting used to.
Bottom Line:
I am going to build a set of xtra wheels that are serviceable cuz doin city trials and hard riding the propells cant seem to handle it. and they are xpensiv but very fast so Ill use them to race with. I dont regret buying this bike, I wanted some specific riden characters and this bike has them. shock set up is personal preference but I found that 100 psi in + 140 psi in - gives me the proper sag and uses allmost all the travel on a 4 ft drop off. If you can afford this bike....BUY IT.
Similar Products Used: none. Only owned a gt psyclone hardtail.
Bike Setup: as you buy it.I might install riser bars, havent decided yet.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
The Capn
a Cross Country Rider
from Utah
Date Reviewed: September 28, 2000
Strengths: Light, comfortable, great climber.
Weaknesses: None as of yet.
Bottom Line:
This bike rides like a race bike. It's stiff and goes where you want it to. It's incredibly light and pretty comfortable. I don't know if it's the slight rear-wheel movement or what but it climbs like a cat. The sid rear shock is kinda finicky to get set up initially but once I got it dialed I haven't had to mess with it. The Sid hydraair fork is the best on the market AT ANY PRICEPOINT. Overall, I'd have to give the entire package a rave review. Hope to enjoy many, many miles.
Strengths: Light Weight, Equipment, Durability, Rigidity, did I mention its Light Weight?
Weaknesses: Some creaking in the BB "One word plastics" -The Graduate
Bottom Line:
This is a follow-up review. My concerns for the durability of the softtail design are unwarranted. aside from riding three or four times a week here in TX I have taken two extended trips to ride the western US this year and this bike has rocketed up & down the trails in Moab, Logan, Gooseberry Mesa, Brianhead UT, Sadona, AZ, Bear Lake ID. and Santa Barbara, Laguna Beach, San Juan Capastrino CA. I keep the maintenance up, clean (sometimes) & lub for each ride and All I've have had to do is true the rear wheel once and replace a bolt that fell out of the crank and of course replace the tires & brake pads a couple times. I've beat the crap out of this bike, this thing is SOLID. My previous value rating was 4 chills that is now moving up to 5 this bike is worth all the money. Life is Good!
Bike Setup: As factory equipped: XTR, SID Race, SID adjust , Avid SD Mag, Rolph Propel wheels & Monkey lite monkey risers
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Ik-Goo Cho
a Cross Country Rider
from Seoul, Korea
Date Reviewed: July 11, 2000
Strengths: Nice, Exellant,
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
I have three of Rocky mountain bike. The feeling of Rocky Mountain bike's riding is like a Japanese car. I still love my beautiful bike. It is not good for a long trip. So, I bought the STP 400 of Trek. It is like a caddilac. It is a perfect bike for long mountain trip.
Weaknesses: A littly pricey (but for this bike you won't care)
Bottom Line:
Simply the best bike on the market...it covers the best of both worlds (x-ctry and DH) for most riders. Obviously it doesn't have the travel needed for serious downhillers, but for the other 95% of us, you CANNOT find a better bike.(period)
