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Reviews 1 - 9 (9 Reviews Total)
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Submitted by
Ian
a
from EnglandDate Reviewed: January 14, 2005
Strengths: Brilliant for everything
This bike can take anything you can through at it
Weaknesses: NONEBottom Line: This is a great bike
Recomended to anyone
Duration Product Used: 6 months
Similar Products Used: I have Z3 bomber folks and they work brilliantly
Bike Setup: N/A
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from GulfportDate Reviewed: March 20, 2003
Strengths: Aggressive climber, tight geomtry for single track, light weight. With XT and XTR gear shifter and Bontrager quality it is hard to find anything wrong with this bike. But I will try.....Weaknesses: Bontrager tubeless rims are a pain in the ass to work with. I tried the tubeless ride at great expense and was rewarded with one hell of time trying to install the pythons only to get a flat tire two days later. (Never Again) The Bontrager rims a rugged but heavy, I switched out the rear wheel set with a Mavic 517/XTR for lighter weight. The stock pedals sucked, switched them out for ATACs but looking at going to the egg beaters.Bottom Line: I've ridden trail after trail on this bike. For the quality you get at the price you cannot go wrong with the 8500. It has conquered all I have put it through and in many occasions faired better than its rider. This bike takes corners and hills very aggressively. The geometry is great. The price is great The bike is and overall awesome deal.
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Price Paid:
$1500.00
Purchased At: Rays Bike
Similar Products Used: Cannondale
Bike Setup: Stock except for the new pedals and Mavic 517 rim / xtr hub and composite handlebars.
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Ken
a Cross Country Rider
from Pinckney MIDate Reviewed: March 1, 2003
Strengths: -Lite
-stiff
-Good shock
-tubeless
-Most of the Bontrager componenets don't suckWeaknesses: -Crankset
-Saddle
-PedalsBottom Line: Good: Nice lite frame. Good geometry. (Fits like a glove.) Quick steering, but not twitchy. Perfect for XC racing and singletrack.
Bad: Chain busted on me after one ride. Crankset creaks with any serious pressure on it. Wheelset is notoriously difficult to work with. Most likely will end up replacing all of the Bontrager parts through wear and tear.
Duration Product Used: 6 months
Price Paid:
$1350.00
Purchased At: LBS
Similar Products Used: Specialized Hard Rock, Gary Fisher Tassajara
Bike Setup: Stock except for WTB Saddle, PC-99 chain & Eggbeaters
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Mark F
a Cross Country Rider
from Lincoln NE USADate Reviewed: October 19, 2002
Strengths: Solid value and good ride. Rides fast (although it feels sluggish). Price was discounted for small dent in downtube.Weaknesses: Pedals were left with dealer in exchange for Eggbeaters (+$50)Bottom Line: For the price I paid I could chuck the frame and still come out on top. I like most things about the bike, I'll change bars/grips sooner than later, and reverse the stem for a lower ride position. I was generally impressed with the Bontrager stuff on the bike (i.e. normally I toss the saddle in a bucket and put on something from Selle Italia but this seat seems fine.)
Favorite Trail: any cross race
Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1050.00
Purchased At: Cycleworks Lincoln
Similar Products Used: Cannondales, Schwinns, GFs, Bridgestone MB-3, even a Diamondback
Bike Setup: Stock + eggbeaters
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Bloomer
a Cross Country Rider
from MichiganDate Reviewed: May 16, 2002
Strengths: decent weight, stiff as hell, stableWeaknesses: not the quickest bike around, stays are a little long.Bottom Line: I got this bike because i broke my homegrown and pacifc wont honor the schiwnn warranty. While the homegrown was as fast as a scalded cat, it was unstable in the air and in the slow stuff. The Trek on the other hand is more stable in the air, but slower. I have done a handful of rides on the new bike and wish it would accelerate a little faster. The schwinn was a much better climber and better racer. Ill have to see how this trek holds up on the race course. Overall not a bad back by any means, I just wish it had a little steeper head and seat angles.
Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month
Similar Products Used: Schwinn homegrown pro, trek 9.8
Bike Setup: sram 9.0, sid xc, hugi wheels, avid arch rivals
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
edwyn nieves
a Cross Country Rider
from lake ariel p aDate Reviewed: May 3, 2002
Strengths: bike climbs realy good, xt,xtr and rock shox duke is realy cool!Weaknesses: tires are not good for north east riding so i had to change to tires that gripped better in mud.Bottom Line: Basically the bottom line is that this is a great bike. It handles great, descends great, and feels good! It is a good deal, I definatley feel like I got my money's worth!HAPPY TRAILS!
Favorite Trail: promtom dam p a
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Price Paid:
$1400.00
Purchased At: bike hub blakely p a
Bike Setup: stock except for VELOCIRAPTOR tires
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Brian Dzak
a Racer
from JolietDate Reviewed: January 8, 2002
Strengths: -light weight
-avid brakes
-quality XT and XTR components
-rock shox XC
-quick and nimble
Weaknesses: -bad, low-grip tires
-ok handeling
Bottom Line: If yoru willing to spend between 1000 and 2000 dollars and you like the feel of trek bikes this is the one to get.
Favorite Trail: Cable
Duration Product Used: 2 Years
Price Paid:
$1600.00
Purchased At: Sunbombs
Similar Products Used: GT Zaskar
Bike Setup: Rock shox XC, Avid brakes, aluminum frace, Shimano components.
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Matt
a Cross Country Rider
from Chatsworth, Ga, USADate Reviewed: December 14, 2001
Strengths: Good components, aggresive climber, Great fork, A kick butt race ready bike that wont clean your bank acct!!!!Weaknesses: PedalsBottom Line: This bike rocks, if you like your climbs smooth, your singletrack tight, your downhill fast, your beer cold, your woman hot, your 4:20 kind, your competition in the rearview, then I suggest the 8500.
Favorite Trail: Iron Mountain#1
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Price Paid:
$1700.00
Purchased At: Scotts Bicycle Center
Similar Products Used: Cannondale, Fisher, Diamond Back, Quintanna Roo
Bike Setup: Stock, Xtr Rear der, xt front Der, Bontrager Race, threw some monkey bars on it!!!
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Risto
a Cross Country Rider
from LondonDate Reviewed: November 23, 2001
Strengths: Amazing frame, xtr rear, xt front, tubeless Bontrager wheels, all around Botrager stuff, while not the best are great for the money. Handling and fork.Weaknesses: None really to speak of...pedals were crap and I left them in the shop. Didn't personally bother me as I had DMR Magnesium V12 flats to put on. Can't get on with SPD's...Bottom Line: If you are after a lighweight x-country hardtail without completely destroying your finances (about $2100 in the UK) then I would recommend this bike 100%. I tried many with a budget of about $2500,- and this one it for me won easily. Just feels so right and climbs so well...one of those bikes that always makes you want to pedal faster. What more do you want...?
Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month
Similar Products Used: Marin Indian Fire Trail, GT Zaskar with full XTR gears, Specialized Stumpjumper M4
Bike Setup: Stock so far but will upgrade everything as wear and tear (and greed) dictates!
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Reviews 1 - 9 (9 Reviews Total)
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