Trek 2001 6500 Hardtail Bike

USER REVIEWS

Showing 1-10 of 24  
[Feb 11, 2002]
Jeff
Weekend Warrior

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
5
Strength:

Love the yellow frame! Good weight, not a bad component package. Highly upgradable!

Weakness:

Chain =(, The tires, and mabye the shock (depending on what kind of riding you do)

I got a good deal on the bike. For the price, the components were the best in that range. My chain broke 3 times, before I replaced it. I had to get new tires after about 500 kiloneters(1/2 a summer). But Other than that, I love the bike, The frame is really stiff. I ride it hard, and it just asks for more. I just ordered a Marzocchi Z2 Atom 80, now all I need is disk brakes(Which the bike is compatable!)!!!! this was the best Student loan money I ever spent!!!

[Oct 30, 2001]
joe

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
5
Strength:

this thing works geat!

Weakness:

my front fork is kinda sticky and the chain broke multiple times and the tires kinda suck

this thing was a great deal for the money, i figure its a 8 hundred dollar bike for 700. the chain broke and the tires arent perfect but they get replaced after a while so i had no real complaints.

Similar Products Used:

old steel bikes

[Sep 13, 2001]
Chris Percy
Weekend Warrior

OVERALL
RATING
1
VALUE
RATING
1
Strength:

Uhmmm... It's Aluminum. That's pretty cool. The seat is kinda comfy. My fiance thought it was pretty.

Weakness:

The drive train sucks outloud. What did they make that front deralleur out of, aluminum foil? It hasn't shifted properly since the first week of use. My fiance used it to ride three blocks to work, never took it off road and it needs a tune up after every hour of use. The pedals suck. The geometry is wicked uncomfortable. For an aluminum bike it feels very, very heavy.

Let me tell you a little story. I once bought a GT Karakorum. I was so thrilled. I rode it two weeks and the XT shifters fell apart, the bottom bracket went to hell, and when I took it to the bike shop, they said they couldn't fix it because they were all factory defects. I called GT and traded the $900 piece of crap in on a BMX.

The Trek 6500 reminded me of that. After riding my fiancé's bike for about ten seconds, I could not wait to get back on my Gary Fisher. The Trek feels heavy and poorly balanced. The cheap ass drive train rattles and makes you feel uncomfortable. Every time you change gears you can feel how very weak it is. I don't let her ride on the same trails I go on because I am afraid she will brake the hell out of the cheap ass bike and have to walk home while I am blazing past people on my Fisher.

As soon as I can I will buy her a Fisher and destroy the Trek so no one else has a chance to ride garbage. I wish you had a negative Chili rating. THIS BIKE SUCKS!

Similar Products Used:

GT Karakorum, Trek 830, Gary Fisher Kaitai.

[Sep 11, 2001]
Jason Bush
Cross Country Rider

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
5
Strength:

Light, strong, smooth shifting.

Weakness:

Crank set, tires, pedals. Rear hub was bad from the start.

I love this bike. It's fast, extremly stable at high speeds, the shifting is A+. The only thing I don't like is the crankset. The second week I got it, I was going down a beginner trail and when I shifted from the smallest ring to the middle ring, the middle ring bent, making it unsuable until I bent it straight again. Since I bought it the rear hub has had a bad bearing in it making an irregular noise. But I'm going to get that fix sometime this week.

They should include some clip pedals with the bike. It would save 60-100$ to buy them after.

[Mar 12, 2004]
Megan
Weekend Warrior

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
5
Strength:

Price, look, component package

Weakness:

Shocks, saddle, tires, Thought the bar was too long and had to have it sawed of about two inches. No quick release for the seat tube, which is a pain.

I traded in an older bike for this, and learned to "really" ride with it. Kind of stiff shifting uphill sometimes, but maybe it's due to the chain (now that I'm reading other reviews). Overall, this has been super reliable and easy to handle. Fast and light and easy to upgrade.

Similar Products Used:

specialized rock hopper

[Apr 17, 2003]
Chrispy G
Cross Country Rider

OVERALL
RATING
2
VALUE
RATING
2
Strength:

Frame, without a doubt

Weakness:

brakes; chain; cranks; seat; tires;

I know this bike: this is my third season on it so I have the right to say that. It's seen mud and gunk in Ontario and Michigan, the Black Hills of the Dakotas; Montana, Whistler, North Shore (I walked most of it!), Alberta Rockies and heaps of roads of all sorts. Since it is no longer made no worries because I would nevr have bought this bike if I knew what I know know about biking. The frame is great--truly a rocket but most of the components need replacing sooner rather than later. For another 500-600 bucks one could buy a much better bike overall. In three years I've bought this bike over several times with breakdowns and upgrades. Mind you, I love this baby and will always--it is my warp speeder. If I came about some serious money though, she'd be my road rider.
So, here it is: Chain broke on me all the time when I first got it. The gearing sucked in mud as did the squealing brakes. I suffered from so many flats!!! The puppy climbs like yer mother twenty years ago on crack but the front is quite light! One might as well chomp down on the handle bars to climb steep sections. I replaced the chain and cranks and rear cog and derailleur soon after buying it and I wasn't beating it! It got muddy quite a bit but it didn't take any really rough trails. After those upgrades she ran much much better and took some heavy beatins out west. I finally just spent some cashola on new tires, brakes and sus seatpost: I have to say, the Trek is now bionic, a phoenix arising from the ashes, re-born to conquer as theframe was designed to do! Too bad I can't afford another fork but I did have the old magnum relubed and tuned up--much better now. Now I love my bike as a new one but it has cost me dearly. I wish I could go back and buy again but then again, I've learned so much from this Trek. I imagine that one I spend the money on a right good full sus I will be a finesse rider from all these years on the hardtail trek riding epic rocky mountain terrain.

Similar Products Used:

none--first 'real' bike

[Sep 22, 2001]
HardmaN
Cross Country Rider

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
5
Strength:

Solid frame, decent components

Weakness:

Cheap pedals, cheap shifters

Great bike for the money. After having a horrific wreck on my old Raleigh M50 because the fork just didn't absorb a hard hit, I got up, brushed myself off, and decided it was time for a new ride. In comes the the 6500. The Bontrager components are great, but the Corvair rims just had to go. The fork started leaking oil after about 2 weeks of riding, but I fixed that by upgrading to a Bomber about a month ago. One of the pedals also started to knock, but the wrench at the LBS fixed that for free (I've since upgraded to clipless, which I highly recommend). The rear derailleur continues to perform great, but the front derailleur has some trouble getting into the big chain ring; I suspect a bad shifter... guess I'll have to upgrade again soon. Overall, this is a great entry level bike as is, and is perfectly suited for an upgrade junky like myself.

Similar Products Used:

Raleigh M50

[Oct 08, 2001]
bobdole
Weekend Warrior

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
Strength:

great frame, good parts for the money

Weakness:

first chain broke 2X. second time the links cracked in 13 places, no one told me not to use simple green on it. seat post can't take much of an impact. bike shop replaced that. brakes suck hardcore

very happy with my toy. been out a couple time a week since may. will be ugrading things as i go, for fun more than wear.

Similar Products Used:

nothing

[Jul 09, 2001]
Dan K.
Weekend Warrior

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
Strength:

Trek went all out on the frame its great. The bike has great components for the money and the Manituo suspension is the best.

Weakness:

The price. It's a great bike for the money but it's still $700!

It's the best bike you can but if you are a weekend warrior like myself.

Similar Products Used:

Trek 6000 & Trek 7000

[Jul 13, 2001]
Mike J.
Weekend Warrior

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
Strength:

I love the frame on this bike. Most of the components are what I was looking for.

Weakness:

The brakes fade a bit as the ride progresses. I have had a lot of problems with the seat adjustment bracket. It will not stay tight. As I am several miles into a ride, the damn thing rocks back as I sit down on it. This usually occurs when I am taking the bike to it's limits. Still, I feel the seat should stay tight..

I just love my bike. I love to ride it and just sit back and look at after a ride. It's a great bike for the money and I recommend it to anyone who is looking for a good upgradable mountain bike. I bought it with the idea that if I really got into mountain biking that I would not have to upgrade the whole bike soon..I have become obsessed with mtb riding, and this bike will carry me through many miles of serious biking. Just go clipless before you leave the bike shop..

Similar Products Used:

none

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