Submitted by
puffdaddy
a Weekend Warrior
from Sunnyvale CA USA
Date Reviewed: April 9, 2010
Strengths: Very durable. Tire and rims are good quality. Heavy bikes tend to be more comfortable which is the case with this.
Weaknesses: Somewhat heavy.
Bottom Line:
For the price, the bike is great. If you pay little bit more you should opt for the disk brakes as they will really help in rain or mud. Bike is on the heavier side because its not made from aluminum. That fact makes it more durable and more comfortable while riding.
Strengths: This is an outstanding bike. I would say it has withstood the test of time, as it has now been my only bike for nine years. It took over 3 years of riding about 25 miles a week in all weather (I live in NY) for the breaks to wear, and the frame is still in outstanding shape. Decent sized tires, and perfect for someone my size. I'd say the ultimate value in an entry level bike. Granted, I have never taken this thing through extreme trails...but for a get around, semi trail bike, it is more then I ever could have hoped for.
Weaknesses: The seat sucks. Way uncomfortable. No shocks. Bike is a bit tiny for most adult riders.
Bottom Line:
I would recommend this bike to anyone who wants a light weight (maybe 15 lbs at max), durable, simple bike that can keep up with more expensive bikes and live to tell the tale.
Submitted by
Dave Ankarlo
a Weekend Warrior
from St. Paul, Minnesota, Ramsey
Date Reviewed: May 25, 2007
Strengths: For the price this bike is exceedingly durable and a very comfortable ride. I personally love the front suspension for those moments when I do a little off-trail fun and still when I return to city streets the bike is a smooth comfortable ride all the way
Weaknesses: None that I have noticed.
Bottom Line:
This is an excellent bike and I recommend it to anyone. I am us to riding bikes designed to be used by law enforcement officers where you often need not only the speed for city streets but also the maneuverability, control, and durability needed for off road pursuits. This bike provided all those with a beautiful front end suspension that absorbs a good portion of the shock that result from off-roading to an easy to use and durable gear shift mechanism. Additionally the frame is light enough that when I am bike on city streets I don’t feel bogged down like I do on a conventional mountain bike. If you are looking for a good all around bike or just something nice to start out on I suggest purchasing this one. Trek 820 is amazing.
Similar Products Used: Trek Tactical bike lines used by my law enforcement branch.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Joe
a Cross Country Rider
from Allen, MI, USA
Date Reviewed: October 13, 2006
Strengths: smooth shifting, easily goes from road to light trail duty
Weaknesses: no shock
Bottom Line:
I got this bike for my 13th birthday in 1994...paid $318 way back then. The bike has taken years and years of abuse. I have obviously changed tires, tubes, brakes, and chains over the years, but everything else on the bike was completely stock until this summer. Yes, I abused this entry level bike for 12 years before needing to finally change the rear gearset!! With basic maintenance, cleaning, and lubing the components last. I currently use the bike for both road duty and trail duty just by switching out the tires. Yes, I still have the 12 year old rims on it. With 21 speeds the bike easily pulls double duty. I recently did the Hilly Hundred weekend in Ellettsville, Indiana with my continental contact 1.3 inch wide tires and can keep up with road bikes easily. The ride is a little rough on rigorous trails due to the lack of a shock on my old model, but nothing that cannot be tolerated. The frame takes a beating. Excellent bike for the price. If you are into both road and light trail riding all that is needed is this bike and two sets of tires.
Submitted by
Ryan
a Downhiller
from Somewhere over the Rainbow
Date Reviewed: June 16, 2006
Strengths: Holds up well when riding on the roads. And it is fairly cheap and comfortable.
Weaknesses: Just about everything. I try to keep up with my friends that all have Big Hits and Konas. It feels like your are trying to take a road bike down a mountain. The fork basically sucks. And my rear tire bent pretty badly.(and I've never done any heavy drops) I also have to change my brake pads frequently. Plus, the derauiller(spelled wrong) and rear cassettes get messed up after a few tough rides.
Bottom Line:
A sucky bike for rocky trail riding like I do. However, if you are mainly a cross-country rider, or road rider this is a DECENT bike. But overall, it's a good price for a rider just getting into the sport. Like me, 2 years ago. It's improved me, but now it is time to upgrade from this dumpy bike, to a Cannondale Prophet 400. w00t w00t
Strengths: The frame is an iron horse, I've crashed into more than one car and it still holds strong. Dependable bike for daily runs around a city.
Weaknesses: Brakes wore weak after 1 year, the fork/handlebar are weighty and inefficient, and the cogs wear thin.
Bottom Line:
It's a damn fine ride for consistent daily misadventures around a city. 3 - 10 miles a day for a while and it stills goes strong. The frame is a beast that takes on cars with force, whether my fault or the drivers, the frame still holds up. Just keep in mind that it's labeled as a rec bike.
Bike Setup: I put on a RockShox Indy SL (fork) and Yeti Hardcore grips, new tires soon. I have put about $90 into this bike.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Andy Rek
a Weekend Warrior
from Janesville, WI
Date Reviewed: April 10, 2004
Strengths: Frame has stood up to quiet a bit of abuse, comfortable and reliable most of the time.
Weaknesses: Cheap brake, rims, front fork and shifters.
Bottom Line:
It's a great bike for little stuff, but once you get into more hardcore stuff get ready to drop a good hunk of change into it to make it better, I'm still waiting to put a better fork on it. But if you got the cash to waste its a decent hardtail to mess around with.
Submitted by
Jeff Quesnelle
a Weekend Warrior
from Ontario
Date Reviewed: April 12, 2003
Strengths: The frame is strong and the headset is strong but to long.
Weaknesses: The rims are crapy because I did a 8 foot drop and warped both the rims. The tires wear down and I blow a tube every couple weeks or so. The forks and brakes are really bad so I put manitou's and hydralic disc on.
Bottom Line:
The frame and some of the other parts are good but not the tires, forks, tubes, brakes, seat, and rims. It is great for a begginer though but not for me I guess I just am to rough with it.
Submitted by
David
a Weekend Warrior
from Illinois
Date Reviewed: November 17, 2002
Strengths: strong frame
Weaknesses: i didnt like the fork that came with it, didnt shift well after extensive use, brakes were shot after about a year, my handlebar got bent after a 5 footer, rims bend easily
Bottom Line:
This bike is good for what it is meant for but i used it for other than that. I beat this bike to shreds dirt jumping and urben drops. The gears skip tremendously, the brakes were horrible and the rims bent easily. This is a good bike if you are just using it for light xc trails or transportation but as soon as you start getting crazy and doin drops and dirt jumping this bike gets ruined.
Bike Setup: Titec ctem, new flat pedals, new front rim, new tires, WTB seat
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
brad
a Weekend Warrior
from ogden, ut, usa
Date Reviewed: June 21, 2002
Strengths: strong and durable. great brakes, nice factory tires. comfortable lengths from saddle to peadal and saddle to handle bars.
Weaknesses: having a lot of problems shifting. not sure if its the cables or the derallieurs?.?! the bike is also a bit heavy but not too bad.
Bottom Line:
ride this bike before u get it. dont buy a floor model. have the cables pre-stretched. that helped but still haveing problems. also, look into nicer pedals. all in all its a good smooth bike with lots of potential as far as i can tell. handles dirt trails really nice.
Submitted by
Mason
a Weekend Warrior
from Columbus OH
Date Reviewed: May 24, 2002
Strengths: It's not crap! And fairly light for a steel bike! I really like the handlebar position. It just generally feels right.
Weaknesses: No suspension (on my '96 model), shifting is somewhat unrelaible.
Bottom Line:
Just thought it would be fun to write about this bike, as I've had it for 6 years! It's been a good bike for general recreational purposes, and I took it to Moab, UT recently and showed up alot of people on much more expensive bikes, which was fun. I'm buying another Trek soon though, I think its time for aluminum...
Strengths: Frame is well manufactured, cheap, some good componentry.
Weaknesses: Frame is poorly designed and diffucult to work around, stock forks suck, shimano altus deriallures, weak stock rims. no-name brakes suck-ass, are impossible to maintain, wear through shoes every week or so.
Bottom Line:
Good if all you want to do is ride through the city and don't want to spend too much, could be a good entry bike - but you'll grow out of it quickly (within three months).
