Strengths: - Excellent value for the money I paid. - Much better than cheaper department store bikes. - Easily able to upgrade to better components.
Weaknesses: Bontrager Sport Crank - Can't find any info about this crank anywhere. OEM model perhaps?
Bottom Line:
I am adding the following upgrades to this bike:
- New Shimano XT 8 speed shifters - don't want 9 speed yet. - Deore brake levers with Avid SD7 V-brakes both front and rear. - Shimano XT rear derailleur and LX front derailleur.
Upgrades planned for 2008 include - Deore, LX, or XT crankset. Might do it this summer if I have the extra cash.
Bottom Line - I bought this bike because I couldn't afford the Trek 4900 or better models at the time. I do not regret it one bit. Now that I have a bit of extra cash, I am starting to replace components for better ones. I think the bike is great. Highly recommend to anyone!
Bike Setup: Currently - Stock Upgrades to be added in two weeks.
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Submitted by
Doug
a Weekend Warrior
from Georgetown Ky, USA
Date Reviewed: April 15, 2007
Strengths: Held up to 4 years of riding pretty well, nothing has broken. 15.5" frame fits me perfect (5'7")
Weaknesses: May be a little heavy. Judy II fork seems a little stiff, but I did buy this bike in '03.
Bottom Line:
This has been an excelent first bike. It's time for me to upgrade and since I can't really afford a full supsension, I may just upgrade all of the parts on this bike....I'm that content with it.
Strengths: Quite strong. I've put this bike through everything and its kept going. I've done 6' drops with this and it was fine. A great duel slolom/xc bike. Pedals well. Its light enough to get you up hills no problem and strong enough to get you back down, jumps included.
Weaknesses: The rims it comes with aren't the best and the stem is a piece of crap.
Bottom Line:
I've pretty much killed this bike but its still running strong. only brought it to the shop twice in four yrs. Strong, low maintenence, and cool colours make it a pretty sweet xc ride.
Strengths: The Frame! That's the real good thing! You can't find a better deal for that frame. Especialy if you go used like I did. Hey and the only good componet on the bike the handle bars, and the rims are actually ok for me.
Weaknesses: What can I say! Every componet on the bike is crapey. Just to name a few the shocks, the gears (all of them), the seat post, the brakes, and etc.
Bottom Line:
Great Bike for the money, just re-do the gears and all. The frame is what you are paying for. Go used you can't go wrong! Get better tires than ircs get some michaleans if you can spring for it. RIDE ON!
Bike Setup: cat eye comp., new seat, dual headlights, irc tires, Hayes disc brakes, and decore gears
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Submitted by
cory
a Cross Country Rider
from maine
Date Reviewed: December 24, 2004
Strengths: Solid bike for geting into freeride/all moutian comes with good seat, good deal
Weaknesses: comes with ok stuff
Bottom Line:
I love this big i can do 5 foot drops and fell like the bike will role with me. Good for learning on but needs mods to take you to the next level. good for technical sigle track. ok on the north shore because it is easy to find the balence point. wake up and ride dont need to spent much time working on it. because i have the smalled frame it is a little easer to do the 180s and stuff but hard or epic rides. ok in urbin, and in dirt jumps it could use a little help and takes geting the fell of the bike
Bike Setup: lx rear surfas burner tires, 17 inch frame, every thing stock
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Submitted by
Trevor
a Weekend Warrior
from Lakewood, WA USA
Date Reviewed: November 4, 2004
Strengths: fairly light, good quality, good components used, great waranty and coverage, great brakes
Weaknesses: i cant see anything yet except for my hadlebar grips are getting allitle worn and they havent been used roughly or that much
Bottom Line:
this has been a great bike. i loved my specialized but i out grew it and liekd that the trek came in the 22.5" frame. the tread is wearing down because the brakes are so good i can help but skid sometimes. you will not be dissapointed if you buy this.
Submitted by
Mountain Biker
a Weekend Warrior
from Costa Rica
Date Reviewed: September 9, 2004
Strengths: Light frame, sturdy parts. The handlebar grips and tires are good. Sweet first gear!
Weaknesses: i had problems with the suspension, and it is not very adjustable. Could use toeclips. The seat is relatively hard.
Bottom Line:
Normally this bike costs less. Because i bought it in Costa Rica it was more expensive. For the price it is a great bike. It can handle all kinds of terrain, though to me it seemed a bit sluggish on pavement. However, the 27 gears are a little excesive, although the first gear is really good. If you want a sturdy, simple mountain bike, then this is the bike for you.
Submitted by
Josh
a Cross Country Rider
from W. Rutland, VT, USA
Date Reviewed: August 20, 2004
Strengths: Light Frame, very rigid, stands up to the 4-5ft drops I've put it through.
Weaknesses: Needs a longer travel fork, derailleurs could be smoother shifting, need to upgrade those.
Bottom Line:
Great Bike, one of the best Hardtails I've ridden for the money. Trek did a good job with this one, even though it cpould use some upgrades for it to be truly awesome.
Submitted by
bobby
a Cross Country Rider
from england
Date Reviewed: August 13, 2004
Strengths: this bike is fantastic strong frame great on trails and a fantastic ride on roads it has gr8 gearing i dont know why every1 says their rubbish.
Weaknesses: tyres wear down a bit fast only problem ive found
Bottom Line:
this is a great bike looks beautiful great gearing and long lasting. It is good value for money and will suit all riders from beginers to pros
Bike Setup: i have kept the same setup as it came from the shop
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Submitted by
Mike Merkley
a Cross Country Rider
from Pocatello,Idaho
Date Reviewed: July 20, 2004
Strengths: This is an excellent bike. The frame is basically what you pay for on this bike. It is a sweet ride for the money.
Weaknesses: Componentry! The Deore rear derailleur is fine, but you will want to upgrade the front derailleur, the shifters, the wheels, Definitely the fork. The fork seems nice at first, but you will quickly learn that it has virtually no rebound. Upgrade what you need to.
Bottom Line:
A very solid bike from Trek. I haveupgraded alot of the componentry and consistently win races in the expert category. This bike weighs about 27 pounds stock, but that is reduced after you upgrade. For example, My Black Platinum is lighter than the Judy TT. my bike weighs like 20 pounds now, and I surprise people at the local bike trails. They see me pull up with my bike and immediately the snickering and jokes start. I get my laughs out of the fact that none of them are able to stay with me once we get going. So, if your like me, and building bike is a passion of yours, then this is a good way to go. I have spent over $1000 on my bike, and I love more each time I ride it. If you have questions, Email at mikey42186@yahoo.com. I'd love to hear from ya.
This is a great bike for beginners. I haven't had any serious problems yet, but the components are pretty average - you get what you pay for the money. I will have to replace the derailleurs and crankset after this season, if not sooner. I have had seroius shifting problems, as other reviewers have experienced. However, spending another ~ $300 on upgrading the pedals, crankset and derailleurs (get Shimano Deore components)is well worth it - for ~ $600, you will have a pretty decent mountain bike that ought to last you 5-6 seasons.
Submitted by
dido dido
a Cross Country Rider
from phoneix
Date Reviewed: May 12, 2004
Strengths: speed and weight and bLance blance
Weaknesses: none not to be expected maybe the chain derailleur likes to jump gears sometimes but not a not hard to correct .
Bottom Line:
this is a great bike for the type that likes urban riding and is pulled onto trails were this bike will pull no puches if forced onto the single track.I give it a top rating because it is so strongly mixed.and I like the cross country stuff more like cross urban 5 flamin chils good stuff.
Submitted by
marty g
a Weekend Warrior
from rochester, NY
Date Reviewed: May 12, 2004
Strengths: this bike has a great frame, frame doesnt twist, i love the style of shifters it has, and even thoim only 15 this bike is great!! the stock tires are very good, strong rubber, and i still have them. rockshox judy TT are very nice, and they treat me well.
Weaknesses: has sh*** parts!!!! i regularly do 6"-24" drops, and the frame can handle it, but the rear wheel cant. i snaped 7 spokes, and bent 3, not a pretty sight. i replaced both tubes, the seat was too skinny(im not a small guy) so i replaced it, i had the bottom bracket, whole crank assembely, and pedals replaced. the front and rear durraillers are failing, and the new chain i had put on is crap, but enough said, the components on this bike suck!
Bottom Line:
this bike is an excelent bike for the price, but if your serious about biking, u might want to upgrade the components, but the frame can handle just about anything u throw at it.
Bike Setup: stock frame, new but factory same crank and bottom bracket
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Jesse
a Weekend Warrior
from Burltington,VT
Date Reviewed: April 15, 2004
Strengths: looks nice
Weaknesses: This bike is a piece of junk. It's given me nothing but trouble since the first day I bought it. The entire shifting system from the chainwheels to the shifting levers constantly needs adjustment and seldom works. The crankset is weak and bent without me even jumping anything. I definately got ripped off.
Bottom Line:
Don't buy this. It's a waste of money. I don't even use it that hard and it fell apart/needed adjustment EVERY DAY.
This bike is a piece of junk. It's given me nothing but trouble since the first day I bought it. The entire shifting system from the chainwheels to the shifting levers constantly needs adjustment and seldom works. The crankset is weak and bent without me even jumping anything. I definately got ripped off.
Submitted by
aussie joe
a Cross Country Rider
from Australia
Date Reviewed: October 12, 2003
Strengths: Reliable!
Weaknesses: Firstly, obviouse I paid too much :( 2nd, it's a bit over weighted
Bottom Line:
All moving parts are very reliable even after eight months it felt into the river after I atempted to ride across it :P (I just re-wax the chain) Now done 1200+km with all the gears shifts accurately. (Ofcourse nomal adjustments are needed but seem Alivo has not worn a bit.) The weight of it may seems heavy compare to other bikes, but it definately ride smoother/easier than other cheaper, lighter bikes.
