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Submitted by
Chris
a Racer
from Spokane, WA
Date Reviewed: December 22, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Bought frame off a friend | | Strengths: | Frame is super light and stiff, climbs great, responsive | | Weaknesses: | None I can see in the frame anyway | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 9.8, cannondale F-3000 | | Bike Setup: | manitou mars, 99 xtr tranny, thomson post and bars, yadda yadda yadda | | Bottom Line: | I love this bike!!! I bought the frame off a friend last year who was going to sell the whole bike. I took all the parts off my 99 Trek 8500 and stuck em on this thing. Since then I've replaced the Judy fork with a manitou mars, built new wheels, replace the cranks, bars, and post, and I've got the weight down to 22 pounds of pure speed! Now, off my soapbox. I would reccomend buying this bike if you can find one. The 97 parts are probably old and crappy, but if anything just buy it for the frame. Don't worry about what morons tell you about OCLV being at risk for breakage, they only say that because they're aluminum lovers. I've had no trouble with this frame after racing it all last season, and it was also ridden very hard by the previous owner. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andreas George Klauser
a Cross Country Rider
from Munich
Date Reviewed: May 22, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Light, comfortable, forgiving. | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | Hot Chili Zymotic, Cycle Craft CPS5 | | Bike Setup: | Manitou SX Carbon, tune wheels, Grip Shift Attack/Shimano XTR, Moots seat post, Richey Z-max WCS | | Bottom Line: | Very comfortalbe bike for long distance rides. On hard trails, very forgiving, flows over the trail like oil, does not bock like an aluminium frame. With 240 pound driver's weight, the frame is really enduring, and surprisingly, not too flexy at all. The parts are custom, of course, since I built it up myself. No complaints from that side. The ideal CC-Hardtail. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
treebark
a Racer
from over thar arkansas
Date Reviewed: January 14, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Pigeon | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | U name it. | | Weaknesses: | Paint job. | | Similar Products Used: | Is there any other bike than Trek? | | Bike Setup: | Full XT, Judy SL, WTB head, Monkey lite. | | Bottom Line: | Cant say enough about this bike. Ive raced this bike hard since early 97. Ive jumped it, crashed it over bluffs, if i had a penny for each time its smacked the ground i could buy a full XTR trainy.
It really takes the bumps. I race in the Ozark area, talk about rough trails! I tried riding an alum and it like to beat me to death. Carbon rulz. The Lx bb went out on me after 6mo, white marks appear after scratches, is the only thing i can come up w/. Ive had people try to buy my bike and i refuse, i love it. Just bought a 9.9 pro.
After reading all the posts, yes i too am concerned about breakage and dealership issues. However, the bike has given me over 3yrs of life, how can i complain if it breaks tommorrow? Im inspecting weekly. 5 chillis baby! Team OXB | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Walt Wehner
a cross-country rider
from LA, NM
Date Reviewed: December 22, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Bought the 9700 on sale for $800 5 months ago, and I love it! I upgraded the fork to a SID, and replaced the 535 pedals, but I did that because I'm a gearhead loser. The bike worked fine with the stock parts. I think a better crankset is warranted on a frame of this quality/pice, though. Broke several teeth of the STX crankset already jumping logs. I'll replace the entire drivetrain, and the wheels, as well as most everything else, but the frame kicks butt.Around 1500 miles thus far, and no significant frame damage or problems.
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Phil Melson
a racer
from WA
Date Reviewed: November 7, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
What a piece of junk. I feel that this bike totally sucks. Why? A bad parts spec, flexy brakes, swaying BB, and THE ABSOULUTE WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE THA I HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED!! I got dicked around for four months went through countless e-mails and phone calls and then got a bunch of crap about how and other framesets aren't even comparable to it. CRAP,CRAP,CRAP. The bike fell over at 0 mph (literally) onto a stump and cracked the seatstay. I race for RockShox Devo and my local shop, and I know what forces can destroy a bike and what forces a bike can handle. Trek just gives out easy answers and never solves the real problem, their engineering. Buy a GT or a C-dale.-Phil
Team RockShox Devo/
Old Town Bicycle,
Gig Harbor, WA
-ClifBar-
-Marzocchi forks-
-Magura brakes- | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt Richards
a cross-country rider
from Brick NJ
Date Reviewed: July 14, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
My 1996 9700 is an excellent bike. I bomb around on it hard an it still doesn't break. For example, I broke two sets of wheels, broke my handle bars and not to mension myself. And the frame still looks and feels brand new. Rite now i have all XT, manitou mach 5 piece of sh_t shox, and srinergy rocx-xe wheels. i race norba sport and lose4 every race cause my bike bike weighs 27.5 pounds. But thats my fault. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mike cary
a cross-country rider
from Virginia
Date Reviewed: May 31, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Well I loved my 1996 Trek up until the 15th of April when the chainstay broke due to chain suck up to then if anyone had asked me I'd tell them to buy on in an instant now after 6 weeks and numerous call by the shop I bought the bike at I'm still waiting to get it back, as of the 27 of may trek had still repaired the frame even though they said they would two weeks earlier. So no matter what happens I wouldnot suggest for anyone to buy any products from Trek I know I won't be. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a
from cross-country rider
Date Reviewed: April 8, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I just purchased my 9700 3 weeks ago (97 model) and am very happy with the bike. The carbon frame is great, I rode tons of bikes made of steel, aluminum, M2, etc, etc..and found that carbon is the best combination of stiffness and comfort. The bike accelerates madly, and handles downhills with surprising ease. Just praying the frame doesn't break on me, but I don't see that happening. The Indy SL works ok, and the other components are well chosen and reliable. The bike weighed in at 23.7 pounds. Anyway..awesome ride..5 flaming big ones! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lauren K
a cross-country rider
from JERSEY
Date Reviewed: March 4, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
great bike! I had another Trek (aluminum frame) which is now most likely being ridden around the Bronx (what a waste) by the punk who broke into my garage and stole it.
The carbon frame is as light as my old one, but much smoother and forgiving. I don't get the thing with the gripshifters, but the guys at BICYCLE TECH, LINCOLN PARK NJ were most accomodating and switched them for me. No problems at all with this bike so far. (This one is NOT kept in my garage.) | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
randy carlisle
a weekend warrior
from mt airy, nc
Date Reviewed: December 16, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Well, I finally cracked the frame. It rode like a full suspension bike. Bikeshop replaced frame with a new one they had not built up yet, without sending it back. Now I have the cool blue bike. No complaints. Can't figger out how lightweight pissants keep breaking them if I only broke one in a year at 275 lbs. And now have a lifetime warranty, which is retro to the older bikes. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Shawn Pollock
a cross-country rider
from Rockford, IL
Date Reviewed: October 17, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Well, the only cross-country bike I would give a perfect five is the Moots YBB (it is suppose to be a cc bike and not true full suspension/downhill bike), however I easily give the Trek OCLV 4 stars (****). Although, I give the Trek customer service/product support 1 star (*). It is a long story, but I truly do love the ride but the company sucks! | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
fat boy
a weekend warrior
from somewhere in NC
Date Reviewed: September 8, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Well, after getting this bike perfected as far as fork, brakes etc., the frame has cracked. The bike shop swears that it will be okay, but we shall see. With a little work, this can be a sweet bike. Of course, by now I could have bought a 9800 or 9900and had about the same thing. But this is the best bike I ever ridden. Couldn't ask for better bike and have had no problems with bike til now, except for a seatpost and front rim (my fault). | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Travis Kelly
a racer
from Ontario
Date Reviewed: August 15, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
This is a great bike. The frame is excellent at absorbing the small frequency bumps yet it is still stiff. I have rode the frame for 2 years now aside for scratches in the paint, which leaves highly visible white scratches, the frame still seems strong. It handles great in tight single track and has awsome exceleration also it climbs like a dream. However the Mach 5 is cheese get either a Judy or a Bomber, Bomber being the preferred one. Another uprade would be the crank stx is cheese as I call it flex-tx, and if you put v-brakes on a brake boster on the rear is a good idea. Other than that it is a great bike. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David Waugh
a cross-country rider
from Brisbane, Australia
Date Reviewed: August 2, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I upgraded from a 1995 Trek 990 a couple of weeks ago - got a good deal on a '96 9700. The frame has been great, a similar responsiveness to the steel but more confidence inspiring when the going gets technical. I really do think the OCLV does a good job of small bump shock absorbsion. Stock parts on the bike suck though - the BB died after the first week. These frame breaks worry me a bit... Is it really that bad? (and are Trek that difficult to deal with?) | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
randy carlisle
a cross-country rider
from mt airy , nc
Date Reviewed: June 20, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
pretty good bike. I weigh 280, yes 280, and haven't broken the frame in six months. I don't jump, though. Have had several crashes. Scratches easily.
Best bike I've owned so far. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bob Campbell
a cross-country rider
from Peoria,IL.
Date Reviewed: May 23, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I really LIKE this frame.I've upgraded this bike with quality light weight components because I didnt care for most of the components, but I bought it for the frame, so I cant complain. Like everone I hope the frame never cracks but it has taken hard punishment for 1 yr.now and you cant beat the weight and feel. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
James Studer
a cross-country rider
from Round Rock, TX
Date Reviewed: May 23, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
The smooth ride of the 9700 is the first thing I noticed when I rode this bike.
I've ridden a 91 Giant Cadex for the last 5 yrs. It has held up pretty well for
the 6000 miles that were put on the frame. I have had a good experince with carbon
fiber. The Trek 9700 is light years above my old frame. It is lighter, smoother
quicker, and forgiving. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John K
a cross-country rider
from San Gabriel, Ca
Date Reviewed: December 16, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
Great bike. It handles single tracks like a dream. The ride is very comfy, but it is a very stiff bike laterally. It climbs incredibly. I recently went from steel to this carbon and the carbon rides a thousand times better than the steel (it was a Voodoo). I still am a little concerned about durability, but I know a lot of other people than own OCLV's and they haven't had a problem. One of my friends cracked his frame when he crashed but it was replaced by Trek. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
scott cole
a racer
from Vermont
Date Reviewed: October 22, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
With a screen name after my bike you can tell ilove it!! Had a great ride this season-It just got me through a 50 mile race here in Vt see ya on the trails | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
William Eng
a weekend warrior
from Houston, TX USA
Date Reviewed: June 21, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
model: 9800
Pluses
1. Very light and stiff bike
2. Handles very easy
3. Shifting is a dream
Minuses
1. The finish (nude) scratches off easily, leaving ugly whitish streaks along the frame
2. The bolts used are of low quality, the treads are easily stripped if tighted
to much.
3. The bottom bracket comes loose often, which I fixed with teflon tape.
4. Hard to put on a lock holder which is a requirement given that this bike costs
$2000.
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
conrad
a cross-country rider
from singapore
Date Reviewed: June 14, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
model: 9800
I've tried lots of frames and of all the bikes i've tried, nothing compares to the responsive and light nature of this carbon bike. Contrary to what people think about carbon being stiff and harsh is not true at all. The bike's geomatry makes it a great handling bike, great on climbs too! The slightly longish toptube makes it a really agressive racing bike. The only problem i face with the bike was the cable stops dropping off. However this was quickly remedied by ordering the epoxy from Trek, untill now the cable stop is still securely fastened to the frame. I would ride this bike any time anywhere!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim Fox
a weekend warrior
from St Louis, MO USA
Date Reviewed: May 30, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
I've had this bike for about 3 weeks. The ride is great, it feels a lot
like my steel 970 frame that I rode until I got this one. I honestly don't
know how to describe how it rides. Compared to aluminum bikes I've ridden
the ride feels smoother, especially while cornering. It is incredibly
light of course. The Mach 5 SX is very smooth and easy to adjust. The
gripshift 800s took some getting used to (I've mostly used thumbshifters
before), they give a nice crisp response and let you switch from cog 1
to cog 8 in a twist. Overall a great bike.
The frame construction is beatiful. The bottom bracket lug is huge and
looks bomb proof.
One thing that stands out (in a bad way) is the STX crank. Why they
decided to put an STX crank on a bike of this caliber, I'll never understand.
I upgraded to an LX crank and recommend it (its only about $30 difference).
Something else to watch out for: though the Trek catalog picture shows the
9700 with toe clip pedals, the specs say it comes with SPD-535s. The bike
shop I bought it from (Village Cycling in Chicago) tried to sell it to me
with toe clips until I pointed this out.
| | Overall Rating: |
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