Submitted by
mike
a Cross Country Rider
from Austin, TX
Date Reviewed: July 24, 2003
Strengths: Feel of steel, carves turns like a dream, climbs like a goat, takes a lickin & keeps on tickin'.
Weaknesses: ? Not the best downhiller, but it's a hardtail so..so what?
Bottom Line:
Bonti's a classic. Damn you Trek!!! This bike is one of the best sigle-trackers EVER. It always brings a grin to my face as it carves up the singletrack like ski. It was a great deal when new, even better now 'cause you can still pick one up cheap and it will last forever.
Bike Setup: Not much stock left. Bonti Valiant rims on XTR hubs. XTR derailleurs, King headset, raceface cranks, titec Ti bars, titec stem
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Submitted by
Pedar
a Cross Country Rider
from Sacramento, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: March 21, 2002
Strengths: "Very" affordable, even when it was new Smooth ride Straighforward handling Relaxed cockpit Simplicity (no need for a team of mechanics)Reliability/durability of steel.
Weaknesses: Stock Bonty stem allowed too much flex with riser bars, so check out a much stronger stem if you plan to go with wide bars.
Bottom Line:
When all is said and done, this bike handles like a dream, lets you enjoy your surroundings and afford gas to get you there. If that huge smile isn't enough, rest assured that this bike will take a beating and keep on rolling for years.
Bike Setup: Stock Judy C (80mm), Kore 3bolt stem, panaracer fireXpro's, homespun Sun 0degree/Specialized Stout wheels
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Submitted by
Pet Shop Vader
a Weekend Warrior
from Manchester, England
Date Reviewed: August 10, 2001
Strengths: Survivability - you can chuck her off cliffs and she'll still come back for more. Handling. Suppleness. Quick tyres. Rasta paint job.
Weaknesses: Tyres aren't the best for turning on, and get a bit sketchy under braking and in the mud. Rasta paint job - gets a few stares from the heavy dudes in Moss Side!
Bottom Line:
This is atually a review for the UK 1998 Comp, but it's the same frame (just like the ones in America, except smaller ha ha ha :) English humour there - everything's bigger in the US), so what the 'eck - it's a frame you can keep for a lifetime: a classic, sweet handling, dream of a bike. Though the geometry puts lots of weight over the front end, thus making wheelies a bit of a problem for someone with little sense of balance like myself (ah, memories of the olden days, before sussy forks, when you had to wheelie or bunny hop everything). Picked her up second hand in 1999 - no hesitation, despite the colour (does grow on you). Who cares if the frame weighs a pound more than an alu jobby - it's only a pound in 26 when it comes down to the whole bike - the geometry and resiliance are spot on. Forget fad and fashion - who wants to spend their time maintaining and replacing the pivots on a full susser - get a Bonty and do NO maintenance - go to the pub instead. 5 lamb bottis and no mistake!
this bike ROCKS!!!!! a steed for people who love the feel of cro-mo steel.the only bike i can really compare it to is a(sadly missed) bridgestone mb-2 i owned back in the early 90's. alas, like the bridgestone, the bontrager name is now gone (from frames,anyway), a victim of corporate "upsizing". i was fortunate enough to purchase a leftover '97 from a dealer two weeks ago for 650.00 and it has proven to be worth every penny. it takes on singletack like it was on rails and its ride quality is greater than the sum of its parts. the only downsides were the ecco seat that i swapped out at the dealer and the clunky obsolete indy xc fork that i intend to replace with a sid xc first chance i get. if you can find this bike anywhere, BUY IT!!! one for the ages.
Submitted by
Aaron
a Weekend Warrior
from Seattle, WA
Date Reviewed: July 18, 2000
Strengths: This frame is a fantastic singletrack carver. I can just whip in and out of trees with little effort. The rear end is very compliant, yet lateraly stiff. The frame weight for a 19.5" is 4.3 lbs which isn't too shabby for a production steel frame. Even though it is a Trek made frame, the welds look very clean and well done.
Weaknesses: Not a neutral bike, requires your attention when carving the singletrack.
Bottom Line:
I got this frame as a warranty for my Trek 970 frame that cracked at the down tube/head tube junction. The frame is actually a custom painted job that is rasta, but different from the production rasta paint jobs. The frame is 1/2 lbs lighter than my old 970 frame. Even though it isn't a Santa Cruz frame, it still has that Bontrager feel. It kicks a#@!
Bike Setup: ESP 9.0 8 speed, Marzocchi Z3 Light, Race Face Turbine LP cranks, Thompson Elite seatpost, Easton Monkey Light rise bars, XT Hubs, brakes, cassette, ft derailuer, brake levers, Mavic 517 CD rims.
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Submitted by
Erik Maresjo
a Cross Country Rider
from Reno, NV
Date Reviewed: May 29, 2000
Strengths: Lightning quick in the twisties stable at speed
Weaknesses: Weak Judy fork traded to Marzocchi Z-2 X-fly less than comfy saddle
Bottom Line:
The last of the Bontrager's works well in any and all conditions (dry, rocky, mud, snow, etc.) anyone looking for a lively steel ride that doesn't have big bucks should check this bike out. Too bad they don't make it anymore. Damn you trek.
Submitted by
Ryan Lorenz
a Racer
from Milwaukee, WI. USA
Date Reviewed: May 28, 2000
Strengths: Phenomenal versatility. Climbs like a billy-goat. Descends like nobody's business. Keith designed it.
Truthfully, I have the frame only. Everything else was done to fit my riding style and my bio-mechanics (as the way a bike should be made). The frame rides incredibly great. I crave high end cro-moly. This frame offers one of the best derivatives of the good stuff. It rides straight, true, and stiff. It isn't like stradleing a 2x4 like most aluminum bikes and it isn't like riding slop like some poorly designed cro-mo bikes (Tange). The bike's strength is confidence inspiring. If I had a small frame I would turn it into a trials bike. It was a great buy at 2 Bills.
Weaknesses: Could be a little lighter (true temp vs. Renoylds), but that's what I get for not buying the Racelite frame.
Similar Products Used: '99 Hoo koo E koo, Scott Boulder,& RockHopper
Bike Setup: Chris King, XT/XTR, Racelite parts, Mavic 517's, SID, and Bad ass decals.
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Submitted by
Steve
a Weekend Warrior
from Chicago, IL
Date Reviewed: February 17, 2000
Strengths: great steel frame, LX/XT components, handles like a ferrari
Weaknesses: Indy XC (not on par w/ other components)
Bottom Line:
Great bike that I was able to score for $625 new. I already have a 99 Trek 7000 but couldn't resist after reading some of the reviews here for bontragers. However, riding not reading is believing. Peace.
Bike Setup: 96 Bontrager Privateer S (stock) w/ Bontrager Race Lite bar ends
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Submitted by
Pete
a Cross Country Rider
from Boston
Date Reviewed: February 14, 2000
Strengths: Ride quality, Handling, Durability, good looks
Weaknesses: Trek killed the breed...
Bottom Line:
After som time riding this bike, I decided to post a another review. This bike is great. It can do everything well but it really shines in tight technical singletrack. A few months ago, Trek stopped produciton of Bontrager bikes completely...A moment of silence... Hopefully Keith can start making them again someday... And maybe in SC again! This newer model may not have the mystique of the Race Light (or other 1" head tube Bonti's) but it is still a great ride that will last and last and last. And I have yet to see another with the Rasta paint job...(a good thing!) Five thingy's for the last of the Bontrager's!
Submitted by
Chris Kailher
a Cross Country Rider
from Hanson, MA USA
Date Reviewed: February 12, 2000
Strengths: feel of steel good components, nice wheels old school looks
Weaknesses: don't like the crowbar handlebars, I'm going to swap out for a flatbar. old school looks.
Bottom Line:
I did alot research and test rode the bikes listed above. Bontrager had the best overall feel. The Klein was a close second. I went with the Bontrager because it was $200 bucks cheaper.
Since I bought the bike, I ride it every chance I get. I can't get enough. It's the best bike I've ever owned. I've taken it through all kinds of stuff and it's been awesome.
Strengths: Geometry, you can bomb down hills and climb like the wind
Weaknesses: could be a bit lighter
Bottom Line:
This bike does it all, epic rides, race, DH, with no problems. I had a nasty spill and bent the dropouts but a quick trip to the LBS took care of the problem. I have had no worries or problems sence. GOD BLESS STEEL
Submitted by
Peter Lindberg
a Cross-Country Rider
from Bloomington, MN
Date Reviewed: June 21, 1999
Strengths: sweet, smooth steel frame. stiction-free 63mm travel Judy XC, which feels like a marzocchi. paint job is also way cool
Weaknesses: steel may rust (get it rust proofed). also, a large portion of the paint job is a big sticker. durability issues?
Bottom Line:
this bike rocks. steel still is the best thing to build a bike out of. it may a little more, but if you are not a hard-core racer you don't need a flyweight aluminum frame. the steel mimics the feel of titanium, just without the astronomically high price tag. this bike is peferct for all day epic trail rides. the riser bar and geometry put you in a real heads-up riding position, which is good. this shifts a lot of your weight up front, so you have to get used to that, but its not a big issue. anyway, don't be a slave to the aluminum crazy, steel is real.
Similar Products Used: 93 Gary Fisher Marlin. oh yeah baby.
Bike Setup: standard factory setup in the large size
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Pete
a Cross-Country Rider
from Boston
Date Reviewed: June 3, 1999
Strengths: Ride Quality, Handling, Paint Job
Weaknesses: NONE
Bottom Line:
this bike rocks. I did the aluminum thing for a bit with a C-Dale. The ride of the Bontrager is SO SMOOTH. I will write more when I get more familiar this bike. Oh and the paint job rocks. It is a shame that Trek will inevitably screw this up too.
Similar Products Used: GT Karakoram, Cannondale Caad 3
Bike Setup: LX/XT mix, R/S Judy
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Greg Strachan
a weekend warrior
from Grand Rapids, MI
Date Reviewed: March 1, 1999
Bottom Line:
Tremendous ride quality — much better than any aluminum bike I've tested in its class. A superb value. Should come with SPD's, but that's a cheap upgrade. Trek had better keep their mits off this one...
