No Cut Seatmast - This is an integrated seatpost technology Trek has developed to achieve 100 grams of savings. Common in road bikes, Trek adapted it to fit the needs of mountain bikes where seatpost height adjustability is an option. Also, cutting the frame for fitting is avoided with this design. Two seatpost lengths are available, 185 mm and 245 mm and they fulfill the needs of about 90% of the users of regular seatposts.
Net molded BB and head tube and pivots - This technology allows bearing sockets to be molded in the carbon fiber frame with extreme tolerances of +-.001 inches. Thus bearings can be dropped in with no threads or additional aluminum structures that add weight.
BB90 Bottom Bracket - This allows the use of drop in bearings for less weight. Also, using a 2×9 crankset developed in collaboration with FSA, a very low Q-Factor is achieved. The Q-Factor is 10 mm narrower than the Shimano XTR setup
Strengths: The whole bike is very laterally stiff.
XT cranks rock. The other XT stuff is solid too.
ABP makes it so plush for rough courses.
Looks awesome!
Integrated headset.
The RL saddle is awesome! So comfortable.
Weaknesses: The 2009 bikes came with bad rear hubs, but the 2010 hubs are better.
I can't get the handlebars low enough. If I flip the stem, my shifters will smash into the top tube during a crash.
The Sid Race is HORRIBLE. Check yours, mine came with ZERO oil. Long story, but the Sid is no good. The Fox on the 2010 should be much better.
The RL stem is very flexy and I snapped a bolt on it.
The integrated BB is cool, but I have to clean it very often. Mud gets in the system very easily.
The grips that come with it aren't too great.
Check your pivot bearings and the torque on all pivot bolts! Make sure there is grease and that they are tight!
Bottom Line:
There is no section for 9.8 ABP bikes, so I'm reviewing it here. I outlined my major points above, and that's all I have to say. The weaknesses were a bit of a PITA, but I have them sorted out now and the bike is pretty much dialed. It is fast and fun. It can be set up really plush or really firm. I really love it. The components on the 2009s had some issues, but I think they have been sorted out for the 2010s. The bike rocks.
Bike Setup: 24 lbs out of the box for an 2009 XL 9.8. I've had it down to 23 lbs and up to 25.5 lbs.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Mark Berggren
a Cross Country Rider
from Mt Pleasant&Chicago
Date Reviewed: June 6, 2009
Strengths: Point it an it goes precisely there. Great steering in and out of turns, lateral frame flex is almost non-existent. detail and finish very clean decals (while ugly) are masterfully applied as always. Carbon shows through Metallic glaze like a cat's eye. Very light with well designed open areas for mud clearances. BB90 is pure genius, Rigid, efficient, and power-imparting. Full-floater is Plush when you want it, strong and stiff in all the right places.
Weaknesses: Dual Rivet Cable guides for Front and Rear Derailleurs are drilled and attached without adhesive, and apparently without care -- Upon First ride the rear cable guide popped off the frame very suddenly, and with no warning, rendering the deraillurs to their default sprung positions. This means Rear to Highest (smallest gear), and Front to Lowest (Smallest Gear). while this could be worse, perhaps a brake boss in a cable actuated brake... losing Braking effectiveness... There is absolutely no reason why Trek would make a bike of this caliber with a flaw this significant. When on the back-side of one's favorite trail, the legs burn climbing the 2x9 drive-train out of the woods in "9th Gear" For Shame Trek... You blew it with the Q.C. on this One.
Bottom Line:
Cable guides should never pop-off. Not on a trek 800, or a Top Fuel Full blown Race Bike. 10-15 years ago, Trek would send out a field service kit when Down-tube shift bosses broke off of Carbon Down-tubes, and Aluminum seat stays. No problem apparently because these were only for shifting. Serious issue if it was the brake Boss. In day's past, These posts were mounted/bonded and riveted erroneously after paint was applied, and this was a mistake and lesson learned more than a decade ago.
I do not know what the tensile strength or the sheer strength of this Vendor's Rivets are supposed to be, but when Red carbon lets go of these rivets on Day One!... Trek should perhaps roll out the red carpet to clean up this Mess and address the Customer with a silver tongue, to mitigate both their liability of bad press, and their legal exposure. No special Treatment, just faster-than-normal turn-around. Perhaps a UPS Call Tag?.. or advanced Replacement Policy, and Priority shipping both ways. If only because the dealer pays the tab to disassemble the bike, Ship it, and re-build it, if and when it gets fixed.
Favorite Trail: Secret Places you've never heard of
Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month
Purchased At: Trek Store Mt Pleasa
Similar Products Used: Trek 9.9 carbon Hard-tail, Klein Full Suspension, Fuel, Specialized Full Bouncer, etc...
Bike Setup: Stock, this bike is awesome stock.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
shawn3putt
a Racer
from Gainesville, Florida
Date Reviewed: May 22, 2009
Strengths: It accelerates,climbs and corners so fast and carries speed through the trail very well. Very plush and has a bottom less feeling to the rear suspension with out interfering with the performance of the bike. (climbing and accelerating)
Weaknesses: Only comes with one ABP quik release for the rear. If you are out of town for a race or just some how loose this quik release your out of luck cause I would bet that no Trek dealer will have an extra on hand.
Bottom Line:
I am 5'10" with a 32" inseam and purchased a 18.5 and I'm right in between a 18.5 and 19.5. So if your looking to purchase this bike make sure you look at the sizing very carefully. If you have the bank account to with stand the cost or if you want to go so fast that the skin on your face starts to melt off which only hurts the first few rides after that all nerve endings are dead and you cant feel anything but pure joy.
Submitted by
addctd2adrnlne
a Racer
from San Bruno, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: March 8, 2009
Strengths: Plush ride, plows through the rough stuff; quick, predictable handling; remote lock-outs for front/rear suspension. Really light for a dual XC bike.
Weaknesses: Noticable pedal bob when on road (Shock fully active). Remote for DT Swiss shock remote was stubborn to set up, wouldn't always release. Not as light as all the reviews claimed (but I've become used to that with magazine reviews on new product). Cluttered handlebars (even with out the computer).
Bottom Line:
When cruising on the road to the trail head, I could notice the suspension bobbing a bit, but that was quickly solved by the remote lock out for the DT Swiss shock.
The DT Swiss shock remote was a bit of a pain in the butt. The cable wouldn't always return when released. So the suspension wouldn't always 're-activate'. After a couple rides of fiddling with everything, I replaced the cable/housing and lubed the remote, seems to be working now. I'll let you know after I get a fair amount of time on the bike.
On the trail the suspension soaked up all the bumps, I could finally maintain my cadence and actually pedal through the rough stuff (I was previously on a scandium hardtail).
Climbing - On smooth steep climbs I would occasionally lock out the fork/shock, but for the most part I kept everything fully active. Traction was great and I didn't really notice any loss of power to the suspension.
Descending - I didn't get to push the limits yet, the trails are fairly wet and slick at the moment. But with that in mind, the rear end maintained traction even under heavy braking on rough terrain, no brake jack.
Flat/Rolling Stuff - When the trails were flat/rolling, I just left the suspension fully active and pedaled through all but the roughest stuff, it is a XC bike afterall.
If you get this bike or the Top Fuel 9.8, make sure you put on all the vinyl stickers they give you. Missed a spot and just the first ride put a large rub mark that was starting to wear all the way through the paint.
(Warning - small rant here) Many of the magazine/website (non-consumer) reviews I read stated that the bike weighed somewhere between 20 lbs. and 21 lbs. WITH 4 Ti Eggbeaters from Crankbrothers. I weighed my 19.5 in after it was assembled out of the box, no pedals, 21.91 lbs. But I still had the tubes in. So take out tubes, put in rim strip/valve, 30 mL in each tire, do some math to calculate net change in weight. Best I can figure is that going tubless with the same tires saves me 92 grams or about .2 lbs. That would bring my bike down to 21.71 lbs. with out pedals. And I don't think a 17.5 in frame weighs more than a pound less than mine with pedals.
The weight of my 19.5 in bike with the Kendas, Time pedals, Cateye computer, and Bontrager Race X Lite carbon cage - 23.5 lbs.
Bottom Line - Efficient ride that gobbles up the trail. Climbs very well locked, out or not, and descends exceptionally well, braking included.
5 Flamin' Chilis for value - compare to the Scott Spark LTD ($12,420), Specialized S-Works Epic Carbon ($8800) and other high end super light dual XC rigs. $6500.00 isn't a bad price, even $7150 won't be bad if the 9.9 is available with the Race XXX Lite Carbon wheels.
Favorite Trail: Annadel State Park, Santa Rosa, CA
Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month
Purchased At: Summit Bicycles, Bur
Bike Setup: Mostly stock. Changed tires for better traction in the mud to Kenda Dred Treds. Using my ancient Time ATAC composite pedals until my 2 Ti Candy pedals come in from Crankbrothers. Cateye Micro Wireless Computer
I have only ridden this bike once at Ray's indoor mountain bike park in Cleveland. The suspension feels "bottomless" due to the unique setup of the shock mount. I felt for my needs a triple crankset was more functional, as well as a riser bar which felt to "slow" the steering a bit, but adds a bit more control. I plan to use it for 24 hour and cross country racing.
