Submitted by
ecubyrd
a Cross Country Rider
from Seoul, Korea
Date Reviewed: September 19, 2009
Strengths: light and stiff
Weaknesses: none so far
Bottom Line:
I bought this to compliment my fs Jamis. It is mainly used as an urban commuter, as my Jamis is my trail bike. It is a joy to ride, even if I'm not using it on the trail. I've always been pretty partial to hardtails, and this one does not disappoint whatsoever. It was a great purchase. The value rating reflects what I paid for it used. It is in great condition and the previous owner added some nice upgrades (I added the Thomson stuff and it is still a good deal).
Weaknesses: Bottom bracket spindle squeaks and moans...
Bottom Line:
I have really enjoyed this XC aluminum hardtail for around six years now. I use it mostly for commuting to work and school, so it lives an easy life (compared to what it was designed to withstand). The bottom bracket has always squeaked since it was new. Others have complained of the seat tube squeaking, but that has never been a problem for me. Unfortunately, I think my Trek 8900 may have rolled its last mile today. I noticed a small crack in the weld at the bottom of the left seat stay. I'm quite surprised to see this, since I am so gentle to the bike during my commute and only weigh 147lbs. If it weren't for this fatal flaw, I would rate the bike at either a 4 or 5 (out of 5), but a cracked weld is simply unacceptable. Don't get me wrong, this is an extremely fast and capable bike, so long as it remains in one piece.
Strengths: it's stiffness. STIFF! STIFF! STIFF! this frame is awesome! that just kicks my assssssss!!!!!!! It climbs like a rocket!! whenever I meet a lot of roadies, I always beat them with my 8900SL! hey, it's not a road bike but this stuff is so fast that i can catch up with every roadies!!
Weaknesses: none, nothing
Bottom Line:
the bottom line is that you just feel it if you get a chance... the first padal stroke would make you grin.
there r many other pricy and great frames out there but 8900's charicteristic's unparalled!
it's not difficult to speed up to 60Km/h whenever i want to.
about 5-6hours long ride doesn't hurt me never makes me feel tired..
Similar Products Used: yeti, s-work M5, nicolai argon cc. etc.
Bike Setup: 8900sl MarathonSL Full XTR Chris King Wheel set...
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Tom Tubular
a Downhiller
from Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Date Reviewed: November 18, 2001
Strengths: Outlasted my expectations
Bottom Line:
First off, I didn't use this frame for its intended uses. Instead of pushing it up hills, I was pounding it down Bromuont (mountain bike/ski resort in Quebec, Canada). Therefore I am only rateing it on its durability. Last year, befor I got a real DH bike, this was my only ride. I rode it hard, very hard. Each time I went to Bromount people peerdicted that that would be the last day for the frame given it abused history. Well, the frame still works without any cracks or warps. I'm very impressed. The perfict score below is based on durability, I wont pretend to know it's XC charactoristics enough to write about them (though I heard its good for that to!).
Bike Setup: Magura brakes, Z1 CR, DH stlye stem and wide handle bar.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Peter Nelson
a Weekend Warrior
from Colne
Date Reviewed: November 5, 2001
Strengths: I got it as a replace from trek under warranty when I snapped my Trek 7000 Frame :). Since i have it i've never looked back stiff and strong and very light and brilliant frame design, super fast on everything.
Weaknesses: No rear disc mount so having to use an adatper.
Bottom Line:
Even with all that heavier kit on it still seem light to ride. You just don't feel like your having to put effort into ride so you can just sit back and enjoy knowing that the bike will get you down anything in one piece whatever the speed. This frame ROCKS :)
Strengths: The frame design seems to work from everything I do. From the marathon race days with the monster climbs and 6-8 hours saddle time to midweek thrashes and plain training it just does the job.
Weaknesses: Haven't found one yet. ( Despite 2000 metre climbs, downhill courses, stacksgalore ! ).
Bottom Line:
A mate put me onto this thru 2 magazine articals and I got a dealer who'd do me a good price with some other parts thrown in ( I was doing a custom build ). Trek have a good solid reputation on frames anyhow and add to that Klein, Fischer and Bontrager working on this design - I was sold.
No regrets. This frame has taken all sorts ( even a two week trip over the Alps ) and delivered more than I ever expected. My favorite is still to ride over rough singletrails with short sharp nasty climbs and drops - the bike responds so quickly and surely I just point and shoot and hop my way along with a huge grin.
Hardtails have just about been disigned to death and this frame geometry and ultra lightweight 6013 aluminium has to be up there with the best of them.
Similar Products Used: Specialised stumpjumper which had nice geometry but was rough for long rides and a bit heavy. Canondale F2000 which I hated as the headshox broke twice before I put Manitou SX-Tis in. The CODA crank threads stripped when I tried to remove them. I was glad some people think Cdale are good so I could get rid of it easier !!
Bike Setup: SID 100, Mavic 517s, a rockshox post for the marathons, plain ole V-brakes and pile of other good-value solid lite gear gathered in end of season sales. 10,5kg - yum yum.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Chris U.
a Cross Country Rider
from madison WI, usa
Date Reviewed: June 30, 2000
Strengths: This frame is very light and very strong
Weaknesses: I don't think it has any
Bottom Line:
this frame is the bomb the bottom line is that it is very light very stroung and is perfect for the hardcore cross-coutry rider------and also don't buy cannandales my friend SAM broke his frame
Similar Products Used: Giant AXT 875,TREK 8000;Scott Team Racing'00,Cannondale Killer V800'98
Bike Setup: Trek 8900 SL Frame with XT Components,RS SÝD SL'99...
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brian Buell
a cross-country rider
from N.R.H, Tx
Date Reviewed: October 5, 1998
Bottom Line:
Oh man!!!! this is a beauty! I ahd a '96 Trek 850 frame for about over a year, put almost 3000 miles on it until *CRACK*!!! it broke on me!, then I got this one for about 50 bucks off the 400 dollar pricetag (WORTH THE PRICE!!) and when i first got all my stuff on it, Oh baby, I'm only 16 and I still love to ride I'm startin' to race soon, and this is the bike to do it on the colors I got on it match perfectly, got a '97 manitou SXTi fork, Shimano alivio shifters (upgrading) Alivio brakes(upgrading) Continental Traction Pro Dual (the Yellow one's) and I got red grips, blue bar ends, and with the Yellow and blue frame it matches PERFECTLY!!! (if you want to see it go to HTTP://www.angela.net/gizkid if you go too soon it might noe be on just yet) but this bike outcorners, out climbs, DEFINATLY lighter dropped about 2 pounds from my 850 to this one!! and MAN i can jump on this frame now, I suggest this to anyone who wants to have a Top-O-The Line frame. not only does it look good, it's got some good size tubing, very light weight 6013 Alpha Aluminum, and it climbs, corners, accelerates, and has literally almost no flex if ANY at all!! THEREFORE it diserves 5 flamin' hot chili's
Does anyone have a fix to adapting a Rear Disc Brake upgrade to the above frame? I just spoke w/ Trek and they have no adapter for that frame.
Is there someone that makes this? Read More »
