Submitted by
Whitney Jones
a Cross Country Rider
from Wooster OH, U.S.
Date Reviewed: July 21, 2005
Strengths: It down hills like a teenage fellon escaping the police it is the best cornering bike out there and looks good. The Rolf wheels stay true and the fork is nice and heavy, but nice.
Weaknesses: It aint no climber , pedal induced bobing and is a tad bit heavy 29.3 lbs. The cranks suck and so do the breaks, but who uses breaks anyway. Oh yeah I broke the swing arm in three months.
Bottom Line:
The bike was fine for the price paid but the frame was to weak and broke in 3 months, but Trek will replace it with a Fuel.
Bike Setup: Trek VRX 200 stock except for stem, bar, grips and tires.
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Submitted by
Laurent CAZALS
a Weekend Warrior
from Toulouse, France
Date Reviewed: January 31, 2003
Strengths: frame, comfort
Weaknesses: no name brakes, continental explorer tires
Bottom Line:
I ride half of the time in the mountains (pyreneas). This bike is perfect to go far and ride a long time. My first vtt vas a hardtail, what a pleasure to ride the VRX! It climbs well on difficult rocky trails (rear shock bob is not yet a problem) and it is very fun to downhill. The rear schock bobs, it's true, but it's not a shame (have you ever tried a scott FX?). When the trail is almost flat and doesn't climb too much, it is not a dragster and it's better to climb cool... Ok for me, I'm not a racer. My bike vas sold with continental explorer tires, and my opinion is that it is not a good front tire. Michelin Hot have a better grip, and nokian front tires are excellent for this bike. Rolf salettite 24 holes rims does not look very strong, but no problem with my 82 Kgs during 2 years, so ok. Now it's time to upgrade. I will exit the judy XC, maybe for a psylo or a marzocchi fork.
Submitted by
doug
a Weekend Warrior
from parsippany, nj, usa
Date Reviewed: April 28, 2002
Strengths: strong frame...comfy ergonomix...short wheelbase(small frame) is good in the tight singletrack stuff.
Weaknesses: heavy, nowhere to grab the bike when you need to carry it over stuff!! the avid vbrakes suck. on the small size frame, the shock linkage hits the frame when you bottom out. rear suspension bobs too much for uphills, suggest a lockout shock.
Bottom Line:
it's time for upgrades. In stock form the bike is good for someone just getting into cross country riding. Definately a good price(at the time) for a full suspension bike with decent components. The cane creek shock is working well; however, i think i need a lockout shock, uphills are too damn hard even at high pressure. I'm 160lbs and have 170lbs in the shock and it still bobs.
QUESTION: anybody know how to change the rear shock setting between cross country and downhill? Supposedly there are two settings...but i don't see how, and no instructions came with the bike to show me how to change it? I think there's really only one setting and it's just a load of BS. The shop guys didn't know either, they suggested to ask trek. Email me if you have the answer. Thanks.
Overall this bike is good...i've had alot of fun with it so far...but it's time to upgrade the brakes and the suspension and tires. That also means the wheels are gone too. No gripe with the wheels...they're real good...but i'm goin to disc brakes so they gotta go. have fun on your vrx.
Bike Setup: mostly stock except: haro dave mirra seat(i ride roads too), 5degree crowbar riser bar, front fender.
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Submitted by
Justin D.
a Downhiller
from Victoria B.C.
Date Reviewed: November 19, 2001
Strengths: This bike has held up through a lot! Front end of the frame is bombproof.
Weaknesses: Rear end of the frame isn't so bombproof. I cracked it in a few places, from doing an 11 foot drop. I'm not sure really if the bike is made for that though.
Bottom Line:
This bike is made for more XC style riding than free-riding, but it can easily take the free riding. Even the XC wheels stood up to 6 foot flat drops, and 11 feet to tranny. I'm not sure what Trek was thinking with a flat bar, weak pedals with toe clips, and no name v-brakes. But once you up-grade these few things you have a nice bike. Also, the Cane Creek shocks suck, I blew out 2 of them in less than a month but then the bike shop gave me a Fox coil shock. :)
only 4 chillis for overall, because of the few weak components.
Bike Setup: RST Delta HL, Mammoth wheels, Avid brakes, HTI flat pedals, Fox Vanilla R coil shock.
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Submitted by
Aaron stein
a Weekend Warrior
from N. Van Canada
Date Reviewed: November 14, 2001
Strengths: The frame is nice and the bike handels pretty well ive been thoring some 6 footers at it its been holding up great.I gess the Judy xc is pretty good.
Weaknesses: The reer shok is a sad pieace of crap the peedels and cranks suck
Bottom Line:
This bike is a very good buy for the money it eats up 6 fott drops and relly tuff terrin on the north shpre u can upgrade it very easily Its a sweet bike
Similar Products Used: Vps buzz + drop pipeline Vrx 400 =300
Bike Setup: lx componts evry normal exsept i put a forula hydrolic disc and a new heel and fromula levers
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Submitted by
Necas Jorge
a Downhiller
from Lima, Peru
Date Reviewed: November 8, 2001
Strengths: Bontrager Jones tires, good for street - riding, good components, well - shaped frame, good rear suspension, good saddle, handlebar and stem also.
Weaknesses: Rolf Satellite 24 hole hubs instead of 32 hole, had to get new ones for new rims, Rock Shox Judy XC, not for downhilling and bad quality pedals.
Bottom Line:
It is a really good bycicles for the people that like doing strong Cross Country riding or freeriding, also Downhill, nice looking bycicle (style), very comfortable and safe, also good for the people that like to go to the streets to make some jumps or that kinds of things. I´m very happy with my bicycle, I like it a lot and Iñm gonna like it more when I put the 2002 Hayes Mechanical Disk Brakes and Shimano XT hubs, also a coil suspension (4.75 inches travel)(Fox Vanilla R).
Similar Products Used: lots of downhill bikes, freeride and Cross Country.
Bike Setup: Stock except the Sun Rhino Lyte DH rims, Noleen Chubby LT suspension, Specialized rizer handlebar and Kujo DH 2.35 tires, also Shimano LX rear hub and Specialized DH front hub and DT Swiss Spokes.
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Submitted by
Tim
a Weekend Warrior
from Portland Or USA
Weaknesses: Horrible suspension bob, toe clip peals on a bike in this price range give me a break!, cc shock has horrible rebound, no name poor performing brakes and pitiful tires. poor frame design and funky shock movement and placement of pivot points.
Bottom Line:
If you are looking at f/s bikes.....do your self a favor and do not purchase this bike. You are much better off with a kona, cannondale, or specialized. I might buy this bike for $500, but at its price it just cant keep up with todays fast moving budget f/s bikes
Submitted by
Senior Dan
a Cross Country Rider
from Brandon, Manitoba, Canada
Date Reviewed: June 14, 2001
Strengths: Frame
Weaknesses: Nothing sincw the upgrades
Bottom Line:
The bike weighs in at 29.8 pounds. The 11-34 cassette helps on climbs(bob is minimal). This is a great FS/XC bike. I'm over 40 so comfort is a must. I also ride a Trek Fuel 90 which is a fast bike but not as comfy.
Strengths: Frame and Rear Suspension Linkage Rock! Wheel Set looks cool and has stood up to everything that I can dish out to it.
Weaknesses: Factory suspension, breaks and levers, are low end! I replaced the Cane Creek AD-5 with a Cane Creek AD-10. Upgraded the Judy XC to a Rox Shox PsyloXC (125mm of travel for 250$ sick deal). I also upgraded to XTR V-Brakes and Levers. When you upgrade all that you have a sick slalom machine!!!!!
Bottom Line:
If You can afford to upgrade and swap at the shop then the VRX 200 is a sick bike for X-Country riding, Shore Style and Downhilling!
Strengths: Really nice suspension for 1000$. Durable and not vewry complex. Sweet cross country bike. I ride dirt jumps and freeride on it and it holds up well. VERY lightweight which is good for urban assult riding
Weaknesses: I dunno if other riders have had this but the fron deriller hasnt worked well since i bought. Also -the bike comes with factoryt messed up can creek rear shock so it blows in 4 month or so. the good thing is they send you a new and improved model for free.
Bottom Line:
It's OK but i suggest you get something else unless you really want this bike for some reason
My first full suspension bike- I did'nt expect this bike to handle so well, its amazing. Eats up very rough trails without difficulty. A little on the heavy side but not heavy enough to ruin climbs. Stock Bontrager tires slipped a little on wet or rocky inclines. Velociraptors don't. The suspension is awsome, Takes all I'm capable of dishing out. I gave this bike some major thrashings and, other than brake loosness, nothings gone wrong. Bottom Line? Bike Kicks Ass. Almost makes me want to move south, Nah Gotta snowboard. Peace.
Bike Setup: Shimono 545 Pedals- Icon fatty Barends-Velociraptor tires- Icon Grafics Stem Cut 4inches off the bottom of the seatpost with a hacksaw plugged bottom with grip end, removed during bar end instalation, less wieght loks great. THIS YEAR- Scram 9.0 Brakes and levers.
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Submitted by
Justin D.
a Downhiller
from Victoria B.C.
Date Reviewed: February 22, 2001
Strengths: Great frame style, tourque and beefy welds. And the cross-country rims suprised me when holding up on 5+ foot drops, and never had to true them!
Weaknesses: THE NO-NAMER BRAKES! The Cane Creek rear shock was bunk, I broke it, got another from warranty, and broke it also! And I bent the seat rails too, and ouch the seat is very un-comfy!
Bottom Line:
It's a beefy sylish lookin' bike that holds up on 5+ foot drops, and the cross-country rims have blowin' me away with there stregnth! With all the added DH gear it still only weighs 30 pounds. I hate the brakes and the levers don't hold up either. Putting 2.4 tires on the rim was extreamly hard to do, because of the width of the rim. But over-all I love the bike and would recommend anyone buying it defineatly, BUT you would also HAVE to spend a bit more cash to replace some things (such as the brakes). If you are interested in seeing a picture of my suped-up VRX 200 e-mail me and I'll get one to you within' 24 hours.
Bike Setup: Rock Shox Judy XL Dual-Crowns, IRC downhill tubes w/ Rokko 2.4 DH tires, Ovation Riser bar, HTI clipples DH pedals and a Fox Vannila R rear shock (the Cane Creek's BLOW!)
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Submitted by
Tim
a Cross Country Rider
from Juneau, Alaska
Date Reviewed: February 10, 2001
Strengths: Very Upgradable, Can't beat it for the money. Tires, Rolf Wheels, Overall Ride, Looks. Stump Jumper from Hell. Makes Canondale riders cry and hold their wallets. This bike is able to easily digest anything I throw at it.
Weaknesses: Judy XC Blows Goats, Brakes need help. Both easy fixes.
Bottom Line:
If your looking for a longterm trail buster, you won't be disappointed. Best bang for the buck by far! Holds up to harsh wet muddy trails as well as it does in ice and snow. If it holds up to thumping Alaska style you can take it anywhere, And look damn good doing it! It ain't perfect but its an unbeatable start.
