Submitted by
graeme murray
a Downhiller
from edinburgh, scotland, UK
Date Reviewed: May 31, 2007
Strengths: ok just to clarify, i only purchased the frame... it was my first full susser and what a frame it was! the fox vanilla shock was EXTREMELY plush all be it a short amount of travel. 3 different settings on the fully independant link for various riding styles give the frame completely different feelings. the frame was excellend at climbing hills as well as bombing back down them. good entry level downhill/freeride frame
Weaknesses: where the fully indipendant link is a strength it is also a weakness as it isnt the strongest suspension system on the go but as stated before works very well all the same.
Bottom Line:
excellent frame that jumps as well as most hardtails and rides downhill very well with the plush travel on it. its an excellent frame but obv has past its time with the frames you can get these days. i have since moved on to a scott high octane :D final note: great entry level freeride/downhill frame i would reccomend to anyone with an interest in starting out on an MTB
Similar Products Used: ellsworth joker, orange patriot, 24/7 dark angel as well as a few others
Bike Setup: 06 jr t forks(bolt thru), hayes 9 discs 200mm on the front, halo SAS wheels and a shoddy RPM crankset blinged with an e-thirteen bashplate:P
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Submitted by
dut
a Cross Country Rider
from oak view , ca , usa
Date Reviewed: April 25, 2004
Strengths: price 1400 new , relativly light and versitile machine with a solid feel , good warrenty
Weaknesses: Broke the frame and the swingarm around 4500 miles in two years. Trek replaced both, no charge no questions!
Bottom Line:
Good price great all around bike. My VRX 400 is 32lbs. with a few upgrades. Once again 4500 rocky miles before it gave up on me. That is more than I can say about any other aluminum bike I have ever owned, including hard tails and bmx bikes for that matter.
Bike Setup: nothing fancy or expensive,lx shifters,xt cranks and bb,hayes mechanical disc,bontager rims,psylo front fox rear
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Submitted by
billy sanderson
a Downhiller
from kelowna, b.c. canada
Date Reviewed: April 15, 2004
Strengths: easily upgradable(except for the rear disc), takes a beating, turns a lot of heads
Weaknesses: oem v-brakes, front deraileur, front fork, seat, b.b. threading
Bottom Line:
they should have kept making the vrx for more people to enjoy, if you can find one you should take it for a spin it is a great bike and she is one of the loves of my life!!!
Strengths: cool looks.awesome colour and plush suspension. the bike isnt that heay as i thought (would be nice if trek came out with titanium/carbon frames) amazing touch-stop hayes disc brakes. z1 front shock rox.
Weaknesses: only 2 adjustable positions xc and dh
Bottom Line:
the factory tyres, jones sux like s*&". the hayes brakes make a funny squeaky sound sometimes
Strengths: Decent value, fantastic brakes (best Hayes I have used, amazing feel and power), good fork. They are still intact.... Shifters and derailers are all right. Shifts good.
Weaknesses: Cheap & weak; cranks, seat post, handlebars, bottom bracket, wheels, etc... Oh, the 2 broken swing arms from this summer were a real bummer. Also, rear brake mount never lines up and makes for real bad brake rub.
Bottom Line:
In all fairness I ride this bike much harder the it was intended to be riden. As a trail bike (definately not a good race bike) it is pretty cool. Could climb better, but very nice when working with gravity and not against it. I love the feel of the bike, very nice size (med frame, I am 6 foot) and good handling.
But the spec on this thing was stupid. You get great brakes, a decent fork and the rest sucks. Super cheap stuff (except the the Shimano gadgets that always work as well as Shimano always works...) The cranks rounded out and after I replaced them i rounded out the seccond ones in less than 45 minutes. Bent 3 BB in the process. Now i ahve DH BB and Husslefelts. They rock hard and are real reasonable, maybe the best deal in mountian biking right now. Seat post head striped out real easy and the rails bent on the saddle easily. the wheels are easy to kill too.
Some upgrades make it tolerable but the swingarm's weld on the driveside, by the pivot is weak. Crack 2 this summer. Warranty fixed me up though.
Strengths: Plush ride, works on technical trail downhilling, turns on a coin yet feels stable at normal (under 60 km/h) speeds, adjustability of the suspension, brakes that really work, nice price
Weaknesses: Heavy, flexes too much which can be felt during accelerating and agressive high speed descending, air forks are for xc people
Bottom Line:
A fine bike for the price. An engine would be nice when climbing.
Bike Setup: size s bike, z1 fork extended to 130 mm travel with soft springs & compression damping drilled, Nokian gazzaloddi dual tires, wider dh bar, ac setting at the rear with 20% stiffer spring
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Submitted by
lemmin nicolas
a Weekend Warrior
from switzerlan
Date Reviewed: March 2, 2001
Strengths: resistance, very well equiped for its price, god apparence, good pieces
Weaknesses: heavy, could have a better rear shock
Bottom Line:
If you want a very good bike that is pretty cheap for its strongh and good equipment, get it !!! But you must be also strong enough to be able to make it move, it is rather heavy… It's the best one I saw in its category of prices.
it's a good bike for the price but crank and hubs are soso. The saddle broke after one week and i broke the front der. after one month, since no problems. The rest of the bike is correct.Front fork and brakes don't work well in winter but in summer it's excellent. Stock tires are good but not enought wide. It's a good bike for freerider.
Bike Setup: vrx 400, mavic 321 disc, front der. xt, maybe xt hubs, the fender
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Submitted by
Darrell Fung
a Downhiller
from Delta BC Canada
Date Reviewed: October 5, 2000
Strengths: cheap, no rear shock bob,strong, Flies if you are strong enought to ride it
Weaknesses: not enought travle fream flex a bit. Stock tires and rims sucks,the rim broke after one week.
Bottom Line:
This bike is fun,but stell,not much travel.If you go to downhill,the bike can take it. Hayes doesn't stop me down the hill, my hands get so tired by squeezing the levers. Stock tires sucks,I mean....well it just suck if it is a stock bike (like all the athers), but what you pay is what you get, its' made to be change parts. You shout buy it if you are poor and want extra Fun.(like me...hehe)
Similar Products Used: rm6 ,stinky ,vps2,and all north shore and free ride bikes (this one stell has best value after changing parts)
Bike Setup: marzocchi Z1 QR20, mavic D321 rims, Azonic Hummer steam and oversize Chubby bar,Hayes Disc, some 2.6 tires
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Submitted by
Pete Fabian
a Racer
from Lancaster PA USA
Date Reviewed: September 3, 2000
Strengths: For the amount that it weighs this bike rides very light. In the cross country setting it is very quick and nimble although its still incredible in the longer travel setting
Weaknesses: SPDs arent the greatest pedals but most bikes dont come with Times
Bottom Line:
For what it was designed to do this is an amazing race bike, and its flawless on the downhill.
Strengths: Marzocchi front fork, FIL linkage, Hayes hydraulics
Weaknesses: It's heavy during climbs. But that's my only complaint
Bottom Line:
As recommended by a bike mechanic I changed the rear linkage. I put the shock in the "AC" position and moved the "dogbone" from its original position to the "XC" shock mounting position. This will give you a little more travel. Otherwise this bike is awesome!!!!!!
Bike Setup: As it was out of the box. I haven't had it long enough to start buying stuff. But, eventually I think I will have to buy something extra for the bike.
This is my first bike and I love it. I spent months check out all the local bike shops and when I first got on the 400 I loved it. For the price you can't beet it. Its very easy to change the suspension for the ride ahead. I liked this bike so much I bought one for my wife. The only thing I can complain about is the front derailer. It seem like I or the bike shop can not get it tuned in. I have a hard time getting in to the lowest gear. other then this its a great bike.
Strengths: bomb proof frame, i jump off my roof and it holds up great. front sus. is very plush, good idea if u get a softer sring for the rear. disc brakes are amazing!
Weaknesses: wheels! they suck! very poor going uphill, if you are going uphill, walk it, it saves time and energy.
Bottom Line:
its a great bike for doing technical crap, i'ld use it on the north shore because of its long frame and set-up, if you do get the bike i suggest that you get different wheels, because the bontrager corvair wheels or disgustingly bad.
Similar Products Used: kona stinky, shwinn 4 banger, gary fisher x-caliber
Bike Setup: every red lizard skins, the downhill front fender, michelin red hot s tires, yellow bontrager race disc wheels
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Submitted by
Mark Westmaas
a Cross Country Rider
from Ede Netherlands
Date Reviewed: April 30, 2000
Strengths: The braking is superb, suspension perfect, on downhill tracks you blow everyone of the track, rear shock is just perfect it's just almost f***ing good.
Weaknesses: Very heavy during climbing, it's too flexible, the brakes aren't rotating freely, suspension is too soft for climbing
Bottom Line:
It is a very nice bike when you don't have to climb. On Downhill tracks it is just perfect. You only have to set your suspension on the perfect pressure. For the price it is fine.
