Submitted by
Jason E.
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa Rosa Ca. USA
Date Reviewed: January 20, 2004
Strengths: Super Light, Stiff, and Responsive, this bike seems to be bullet proof. Incredible Climber. Versatile.
Weaknesses: Pricey. No forgiveness at all.
Bottom Line:
This bike is one of the best if not the best hardtail ever produced. I purchaced the frame used online taking the chance it might brake on me, well I have put more miles than I can count on it hard miles at that and this frame just asks for more. If you are looking for an awesome hardtail for ANY application this is the bike for you I have even thown on slicks and gone so fast I cant even pedal anymore. If you are a technical rider and want to feel every part of the trail this bike is for you. I would suggest buying the frame seperate and building it up to your specs. I have a 19.5 and it is 22lbs plenty light for me but you could even get it lighter if you needed to. This bike is badass even to the most unimportant detail the paint job is awesome black on one side blue on the other. Just plain SICK.
Similar Products Used: Klein, GT, Gary Fisher, Schwinn, Cannondale, Giant.
Bike Setup: Rolf tubless, XTR shifters, derailers, avid speeddial7levers, avid brakes, easton monkey lite carbon handle bar. selle italia max flite trans-am saddle magnese rails, XT 180 cranks hollowtech BB etc. SID SLs
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Submitted by
richard e
a Cross Country Rider
from wisconsin
Date Reviewed: June 9, 2003
Strengths: stiffest frame ever. period
Weaknesses: this is a race bike it rides like one. it will bruse you up the first few times because it is very very stiff. not really a weakness but a condition you need to relise is that this is not a forgiving frame.
Bottom Line:
this frame is fast, very very fast. throw some road rims on for road use, and it flys. this frame is so stiff it realy shows the weeknesses of the components you use. unless you top of the line crankset and BB( or new 2003 XTR crank) you wil feel flex when you pedeal. once u get top components that is when this frame shines. i love look of this frame (i think the decals look cool) and the split color paint job looks awsome. I reccomend using en E type front derailleur. it may weigh 20 grams more (meh) but you will thank it when you get chain suck (an e type will protect again chain suck prtty well.) they did a great job on the BB design. OCLV carbon is pretty unbeatable (i wish they would use the oclv 110 with hardtails). REMBER if you get an chip in the paint ( it happens with harsh use) and the carbon is exposed, GET IT COVERED. sunlight ( Specifically UV light breaks down the resion used to hold the caron togeather) trek has awsome customer service, if you claim seems vaild the shoudld repoint the frame for free. I could reccomend this frame for racers only, because it is A. expensive, and B. a very harsh rider, this is most definitly not a road comfort frame. i've been riding hardtails for 14 years and have been considering an full suspension and because of this frame i think ill be riding an hardtail for ever.
Bike Setup: xtr, etc. i got (frame only) on ebay for 700$
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Submitted by
Peter fusco
a Racer
from Elmira, NY , US
Date Reviewed: September 16, 2001
Strengths: The best bike in the world. Stiff, light, responsive. Closes think to riding a road bike off road. Climbs like you would not believe. Great on downhills.
Weaknesses: Very hard on body. So stiff that you feel every bumb. However, it is worth it for the incredible perfomance.
Bottom Line:
The bike is the best on the market. I actually can go faster on down hills than I could on my full suspesion y22. The bike came stock with sid sl and rolf propels. They both suck. They are lite but are very squirly on down hills and flex terable on climbs. I am going to go with crossmaxs ust wheelset and a manitou fork.
The bike is the best on the market and is worth every penny.
However, i got it for 2200, but if I had it, I would spend full price.
Strengths: Light, responsive, light, fast, and good looking
Bottom Line:
The best bike I have ever ridden, faster than anything else out there. A bit hard on you during training but worth it. The bars sit up a bit higher than I like, I may get a lower rise stem, but this thing handles really well. My dream bike is finally mine.
Weaknesses: - decals - racing attitude - hard - black side
Bottom Line:
This is a racing bike. Very hard on your body while you train. Unbeatable when it's climb or sprint time. I weight it on a digital scale at 9.4k (20.6pds), ready to go. If you wanna have pleasure with your friends, get a Jekyll. If you wanna beat them & beat them badly get this bike ! The wheels are strong, true, light & noisy. The fork is light, harsh & needs attention. The components, once broke in & tight are forgotten. I never had any problem with this bike when I took care of it since a year of racing. 5 stars !
Bike Setup: Like on the catalog + Monkey lite bar + Kosmik lite tires
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Submitted by
Dave
a Cross Country Rider
from Wyoming
Date Reviewed: February 13, 2001
Strengths: Unbelievably low weight. Rides, climbs, descends and turns like an extension of your body. Very comfortable and the reflective decals are cool. Divided paint scheme makes it look like a totally different bike from the other side.
Weaknesses: What's up with all the decals?? If Trek was compelled to put that many on, you'd think they'd at least all be on straight. Cheesy faux carbon chain suck protector on the right chainstay could defintely be improved upon.
Bottom Line:
If you can pick up the frameset cheap, it's an awesome bike-no way non-racer types like me could justify it otherwise. Rides like a dream, and makes you feel like a world class racer, even if you're not!!
Five steamin' piles for "American Bicycle Technology"!!! (One of 1,218 decals on the bike)
Strengths: Light, strong frame. The slack top tube angle pushes front wheel down and makes climbing a breeze. Bottom bracket is extremely stiff, and if anything, you gain power when you pedal instead of losing some.
Weaknesses: Seat coller is a mixed blessing, it tightens very well, but you could easily over tighten it and crack the frame. Right where the BB meets the chainstay the frame easily gashes from chainsuck and the crank.
Bottom Line:
I have had this bike for about 3 months and have noticed the following. When you look at the bike from a front view and slightly to the side, the bike looks just the a race car. There are about 10-15 stock decals on the frame, rolf propel wheels have decals, and the tires just set it off. With the tire system I have, THE LIGHTEST IN THE WORLD, (maxxis minotaur 380) the bike weighs under 19.7 lbs. Unfortunatly my sid race steerer (195mm) wont fit the frame which requires a 212mm steerer. Other then that, the most noticible aspect of this bike is its climbing abilities. The top tube stretches you out, and the medium length stem and narrow handle bars mean a medium handling bike. Which means that you dont meander up the trail, you just point and go. On the Descends you once again get benefits from the stem/handle bar system. THe handling is very smooth.
The seat stay is very vibration exorbing, and although with a 31.6 seatpost, it almost feels like a softail. Other then that the short chainstay enables extremely quick shifting with a rapid rise xtr rr. dr. and xtr shifters. IT also enables the chain to travel less, giving the bike un paralleled acceleration.
Once again with the wheel system, Rolf Propel (non-tubless) with torelli X-tra light tubes, and minotaur tires enables the lightest wheel system you can buy. You would be surprised on how much weight tires put on your bike. With the wheels system, the front wheel (complete) weighs 1050 grams, while the rear wheighs 1270 grams. Which is lighter then even Lance Armstrongs rims.
I am soon switching to avid arch supreme brakes, because they perform way better then xtr's. If you are planning to do this, do it fast, because avid has discontinued there arch supreme brake.
All in all, a trek 9.9 will let you get to the finish line faster then any other bike, unless its another 9.9! IF you live in EXTREMELY rocky areas then you might want to check out the STP400, because its only about 2 lbs heavier then a stock 9.9, and has a sid rear shock with 1-1/4" travel.
Weaknesses: Could think of better stems and handlebars than the Icon Sterling, but they are still good light and strong components.
Bottom Line:
Great fast straight from the factory, ready to race machine. The carbon frame is a dream to ride on. Ready to take off like a rocket whenever you want it to. Super stiff so it climbs, descends and corners like nothing else but it still absorbs alot of trail bumps. Light enough that you can toss it around or over obstacles easier than anything I've ridden (weighed in at right under 21 on my scale). Being 6'1" and 190lbs geometry works perfect for me for all types of riding. Tires are meant for fast dry hard-packed racing so if mudding is in your riding plans, plan on buying new tires with some good knobs. Only real downside would be retail price but I got mine through friend at LBS so only paid about half of retail. Also, got the last one that Trek had at their main warehouse, so you would have to get lucky and find a bike shop that had one if you did not want to buy used. If you get the chance to ride one, I highly recommend you try it. I will never buy anything but carbon since I have ridden this.
Similar Products Used: Trek:8000,6500. Fisher:HKEK,Paragon,Sugar 2,Big Sur,Supercaliber. GT:Pantera. Specialized:FSR. Schwinn:Moab.
Bike Setup: OCLV HC Carbon frame. Reinforced w/aluminum BB and aluminum chainstay. Full XTR components except brakes themselves which are Avid Mag's. Rolf Propel cermaic coated rims w/titanium skewers. Thomson Elite seatpost w/Selle Italia Flite gel w/titanium rails saddle. Time ATAC carbon pedals. Icon Sterling stem and handlebars. WTB headset. Revolt Super X tires.
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Submitted by
Mark PRICKETT
a Cross Country Rider
from NEWARK DE. USA
Date Reviewed: August 21, 2000
Strengths: Compliant ride well laid out geometry great acceleration climbs and descends well Zero lateral flex
Weaknesses: Whats up with those decals?
Bottom Line:
This bike is my 1999 beater I was so impressed with its performance that I bought a 2000 also. Currently There has been a-lot of rain, (all summer) and the bike has been the best muddy conditions bomber that you could imagine.No matter what you ride , if its wet and muddy get those hayes! This bike has about 4000 hard miles on it and it just keeps taking abuse. I ride it like its a full suspension rig! No breaks or cracks in the frame. I,m a 200+ lb Big ring masher, so if you are unsure of carbon's durability ,don't worry.
Similar Products Used: Other trek products Friends rides
Bike Setup: Full Xtr ( the best)Ibis Ti stem flight saddle King headset raceface flat bars Mustang asym rims with hayes hugi superlight hubs And those fantastic hayes disc brakes
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Submitted by
Bogie
a Cross Country Rider
from Western PA
Date Reviewed: August 1, 2000
Strengths: Everything that is good about Ti, aluminum, and CroMo - i.e. good dampening, stiff and responsive.
Weaknesses: Durability?
Bottom Line:
I was looking for another high end hardtail and was talked into this bike by some racers that I know. I was concidering another Lightspeed or a Moots, but decided to try carbon. Good initial impression. Carbon in the best frame material if durability is not the primary concern. Ti is not as light, but will last forever. Hope that I don't need to turn to Trek for the warranty. My other bikes keep each other company in the garage while I'm learning to appreciate the 9.9. Will sign in again after some more riding, but for now it climbs very well with overall solid handling.
Similar Products Used: Litespeed, Fisher, Cannondale, Merlin, and Specialized.
Bike Setup: XTR, King headset, Easton Cockpit, Rolf Propel wheels
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Submitted by
Phil McNamara
a Cross Country Rider
from Ireland
Date Reviewed: July 16, 2000
Strengths: Weight, stiffness, frame colours
Weaknesses: price
Bottom Line:
This really is a great bike. Even though it is from Trek, and after all, Trek sell more bikes than anyone, it surprised me that it was so good to ride. I did the Pro World Championships (came 69th) on this bike and it was a dream to ride. On the Klein I had, I felt every bump, rock and hollow. With the Trek, it really is like Titanuim going down, aluminum going up, and steel cornering. It has all the great qualities that you want in a bike. Trek can be a pain in the ass to deal with though....it really was a pain getting this bike in time for the Worlds. It really is a great all round bike though. Buy it if it is in the store and you really want pro material.
Submitted by
Scott Siefert
a Cross Country Rider
from Midlothian, VA, USA
Date Reviewed: July 15, 2000
Strengths: Light weight, unbelievable combination of stiffness and comfort, rolf propels also light weight and stiff
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
I agonized over this bike or a limited travel full suspension. I have been extremely pleased with the comfort and have been rewarded with a bike that just loves to climb. Wish it was a little less money - but hey I love to ride and I'm not going to worry about a few dollars. OCLV carbon is the best frame material on the planet and thats the bottom line.
Strengths: Nice frame characteristics- damp, very stiff and light. Great handling and quick as a goat. Light, once you make a few upgrades *gulp*
Weaknesses: Not full XTR?! Crappy Icon parts in a few places- brakes, stem and handlebar. Rolf Propel Wheels are a mixed blessing- light overall, but heavy at the rims (where it counts most) If you are delicate with wheels, then go for them, otherwise truing sucks with all of the gaps between the spokes. Bontrager tires good only for very buffed out trails.
Bottom Line:
Great bike if you know someone at Trek who can get it for you at a reasonable price. Very nice and light (21.4 lbs according to two different scales) and quite race worthy. Anyone can appreicate the dampness of carbon and there is no flex anywhere in the frame. For this much money, Trek should be putting all top of the line components on this bike, but they don't :-( Get it if you can get a great deal or just want one of the lightest hardtails on the market. Many other people claim to have <22 lb bikes. They all lie :) You can get this bike well under 21lbs if you want to start doing things like full SRAM and light inner tubes/tires. Not a very good value at MSRP, but overall, pretty sweet :)
Strengths: Great descending, climbs like a cheetah on coccain, and turns like it is bolted on the trail.
Weaknesses: I couldn't put a weakness on this bike if someone payed me!
Bottom Line:
I only was able to ride my neighbors bike for a few minutes, but It changed my mind. I want ONE. If I eventually got the money, I would also buy a White brothers Sc72ul, so I could switch between the plushnice of the white brothers, and then put the sid back on to the finish line. I have a delema though, The trails in my area are rocky/rooty as hell, so I might opt for the stp. Any way, trek rules!!!!!!!!!!
