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Submitted by
Joe Tolisano
a Weekend Warrior
from East Hartford, CT, USA
Date Reviewed: July 8, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$725.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | Nice geometry, fairly light, smooth drivetrain. Feels very agile riding even technical trails and uphills. Pretty good descents if not too technical. But light weight does allow it to get knocked around a bit. Great bike if you're under 180 lbs. No problems with the frame creaking as others have mentioned. | | Weaknesses: | Aheadset completely and uterly blows. Didn't like seeing seal for bottom bearing split. What's keeping those bearing from falling out? Brakes squeal like mad when wet. Not too fond of the 2 tone paint job/silver rear triangle and loads of stickers. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized XC, Gary Fisher Cake, Gary Fisher Sugar, Cannondale Prophet, Giant Trance | | Bike Setup: | Deore rear, Alivio front, Bontrager Corvair rims, Bontrager, Bontrager...... | | Bottom Line: | I bought this bike after test riding several bikes at several LBS. After testing several bikes I realized it's really the components that make the bike. As long as you have a quality frameset that has a geometry that feels right and a good suspension design. So before I even got the bike I'm ordering parts. Then I start riding some really nice trails and decide I want more than 3" of travel. So I find a real nice 2005 Trek Liquid 25 frame in VERY nice shape. Now I'm just taking off a few parts like the cranks, seat, seatpost, bars and stem since I blew my budget. I'm doing what I wanted in the first place: Bulding my own bike. So does this mean I don't like the Fuel SlR frameset and geometry? Absolutely NOT! If I could have a second bike I would spend the extra $500 and get the parts I need to build up my Lquid and have 2 bikes. I just can't do it right now. I just feel that for many people that are getting into mountain biking will need something with more travel as their skills and ambitions progress. If this bike is used for trail riding or racing it's great. When you want to get a bit more aggresive, well that when you need to upgrade. The right tool for the job. I outgrew the capabilities of this bike very quickly. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Quincy Shanks
a Weekend Warrior
from Reno Nevada United States
Date Reviewed: December 1, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | keystone trail | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | N/A | | Strengths: | Pretty sturdy. Ok on downhills. Ok for the price. | | Weaknesses: | Tires have no grip. Horrible handling. heavy. all cables are on top of the top tube and that gets really anoying. fork freezes up in just a bit of cold weather. Brake levers squeez horrible and are not smooth.Really bad climbing. slow. Derailers constantly need to be readjusted(i meen all the time). | | Similar Products Used: | Giant Nrs 2 (great highly recomended) | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | bad bike don't buy it. but of coarse if you dont believe me go waist your money and see for your self. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael Kline
a Cross Country Rider
from Elmora, Pennsylvania
Date Reviewed: April 9, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | The Earth, and all on it. | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | no help from me for them | | Strengths: | Frame is fairly light, but also rugged. Great climber, good decender, great on technical singletrack, harsh as hell through rock gardens and studder bumps. Great value. | | Weaknesses: | Bontranger! Bontranger! Bontranger! and Promax brakes that couldn't stop a 90lb rider. | | Similar Products Used: | just a few demo rides on various fully suspended modles. | | Bike Setup: | Mavic X-517's/Hutchinson Scorpions gold elite 2.0 converted with Stans no tubes system. Thompson elite seat post/ Selle ti gel saddle. Sram 5.0 11-32 cassette/Pc-58 chain. Shimano 515 clipin pedals. Stock "Boontanger" crank.(Did not wear out yet,damn!). Easton EA-50 Monkey Bar 2" rise. Sette Edge stem. And Avid speed dial 7.0 brakes. | | Bottom Line: | Great value. After about 1700 miles the componets I've replaced have stood the test of time much better than the stock stuff. My next upgrade will be the fork. This thing is awesome when its above 55 degrees. Unfortunatly for me western PA in only above that mark four months of the year. I converted the stock AC Jones tires to my snow tires. Thats all they were good for. The knobbie patteren holds sheet metal screws very well. The stem was junk, the bars were junk, the rims gouged out in about 250 miles, and the seat post was made of iron or lead. Those damn cranks must have come of an old soviet T-72 tank, because they wont bend or wear. The crank also weighs somewhere in the lead category of the periodic table. I paid 1000 bones for it. It lasted six months with the stock set-up, so thats a pretty good value. I ride hard, I dont baby my bikes, and I sure the hell don't let nature dictate to me when to ride. Solid frame, upgrade as you go. My first full suspension bike. If your agressive, plan to upgrade. Beats any hardtail out there. NOT FOR HUCKING, OR DOWNHILLING. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Warren Cooksey
a Cross Country Rider
from North Lake Tahoe
Date Reviewed: December 30, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Tahoe Rim Trail | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | Friend sold it to me. | | Strengths: | Nice frame design, can be modified to be good all around bike, light, can climb all day, handles great on technical single track. | | Weaknesses: | Most of the stock components suck and will NOT stand up to hard riding. If you plan on riding a lot you will probably end up saving money and getting something else with better components. You get what you pay for. | | Similar Products Used: | None, first full suspension XC. | | Bike Setup: | Marzocchi MXR 4" travel fork, Fox Float Race rear shock, Azonic Shorty Stem, XTR V-Brakes | | Bottom Line: | This is a great all around bike, I had mine for 2 years. I took mine out to Moab once and I was very glad to have that bike there for the XC riding, it works well on technical single track, you can bomb it on the downhills as long as you thread it through any larger objects, however, it is light and if you are going fast it will get knocked around a lot. I would recommend this bike to anyone who likes to climb and ride a little bit of everything. Just be aware that the components that come stock on the bike really aren't good at all and probably won't last more than a year of moderate riding. If I was considering buying a bike like this new I would probably do some research on similar bikes. I sold mine cuz I needed something with more suspension. If you like hauling ass downhill, I would look at something more of a "freeride" rather XC. Otherwise, I can't really complain. Rode 3-6 a week last summer and mine held up okay. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tom Gormly
a Downhiller
from Australia, Sydney
Date Reviewed: July 11, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Lizard Rock | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Price Paid: |
$2800.00 | | Purchased At: | Turrammurra shathole cycles | | Strengths: | Strenghths: you can sell it for as much as you bought it if your quick enough. | | Weaknesses: | The fact that you bought it is a personal weakness in you, but the bike is pissweak. Trek components are made by companies that went out of business coz they were crap, then trek bought them... ie Bontrager, Gary fischer etc | | Similar Products Used: | Panasonic oven, and macintosh computer | | Bike Setup: | Bontrager sucky licky components that smell | | Bottom Line: | This bike used to be in its penseive years, now its just
EX-pensive. dont buy it coz it is smelly and a big fat poo. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris "No way" Ray
a Downhiller
from Lake Forest, IL, US of A
Date Reviewed: May 22, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | 30 foot cliff to the beach | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$750.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike shop from CO | | Strengths: | Back suspension works like a dream, frame is amazingly light;strong; and stiff, the overall product is great | | Weaknesses: | Front Manitou's suck my left and so does the front deraluier (?) cant spell. Replace them both | | Similar Products Used: | Trek Fuel 30 | | Bike Setup: | Marzocchi Dirt Jumper III's, Fox rear, Hayes disc. MARZOCCHI'S ARE THE ONLY GOOD FORKS OUT THERE!:P | | Bottom Line: | Buy the bike ('02) 'cause you'll get it cheap since it's a year old, replace the front fork and front deraulier and you can do anything! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Moe
a Cross Country Rider
from Seattle
Date Reviewed: May 6, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | McKenzie River Trail, Oregon | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | Little old lady who thought she would like riding but didn't | | Strengths: | Great Frame, Bike climbs like a hardtail, and descends just as well as most of the $2000+ bikes out there. Looks good too! | | Weaknesses: | Components, throw away the derailleurs ASAP. Could not keep chain from slapping, and flinging right off the sprockets every time I hit a bump. | | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale Jekyl | | Bike Setup: | XTR, XT, FOX, RACE FACE, EASTON | | Bottom Line: | Awesome bike after a little component swapping. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
matt
a Cross Country Rider
from saratoga, ca , u.s.a
Date Reviewed: December 28, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | $699 | | Strengths: | The frame is nice and light and the bike is fully expandable. It has a comfy saddle. | | Weaknesses: | The back shock blew out after 2 months of use. The shimano components are mediocure qulaity. | | Similar Products Used: | Gary fisher joshua, specialized uno | | Bike Setup: | Front fork: Rock shock judy c
Rear shock: cade creek 4.0
shimano: derailer | | Bottom Line: | sick bike for a nice price. Worth dishing out some hard earned dinero. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chas
a Cross Country Rider
from TN
Date Reviewed: December 10, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | all | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$830.00 | | Purchased At: | Cumberland Transit in Nashville | | Strengths: | All | | Weaknesses: | None considering the price.Just basic mid grade working parts. | | Similar Products Used: | Test rode many bikes at every shop around Nashville. | | Bike Setup: | Fuel 80 mostly stock.Wellgo BMX type pedals,Oury grips,Kool Stop Dual coumpound break pad set(great pads),GT bar ends(indestructable)Azonic love seat(love it) | | Bottom Line: | Needed a strong bike to rehab a bum knee and have some fun.After reading most everything printed on these things it looked like a mountain bike would do the trick.This fuel had the best proven rep for crosscountry type rideing.Only guys complaining seemed to be bashing their bikes.This Fuel 80 has given me no trouble in 120 miles.Great Frame with a low center of gravity.Worth upgradeing parts to XT or XTR as the stock stuff wears out.5 Richard Pryers running down the street for this one... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Heath Day
a Weekend Warrior
from Kodiak,AK
Date Reviewed: November 20, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$960.00 | | Purchased At: | 58 Degrees North | | Strengths: | Gtreat frame and suspension set-up for the price! or too little. Rear suspension is just right, not too much not too little. | | Weaknesses: | The components are of course not top quality, but the price is the reason. | | Bike Setup: | Cane Creek Crono wheelset, XTR brakes, Avid levers, Kore stem and skewers, SPD's, | | Bottom Line: | I did not plan to buy this bike, I was going to upgrade my faithful hardtail with a new front fork and drivetrain, but for the same price I was able to do a comlpetely new bike upgrade. Great riding bike, with a great suspension front and rear,(springs up front were too soft, but that can be fixed). This bike rides hills like a hardtail, no bob, and doesn't feel like a couch on the rough downhills, but smooths things out while allowing you to enjoy your ride. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bill Singer
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa Rosa, CA USA
Date Reviewed: November 10, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Anadale | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | The Bike Peddler - Santa Rosa | | Strengths: | Upgraded components for 2003 model. Air shocks keeps the weight down. Rear shock is smooth with hardly any bob. | | Weaknesses: | Front shock had a leaky valve, causing air to escape. Bike shop fixed it for free. | | Bike Setup: | Stock. | | Bottom Line: | This is my first full suspension bike. I wanted a bike that wouldn't cost too much, but one that I would be happy with for a few years. I did a ton of research on this and similar bikes, and I'm very happy with this purchase. You definitely get better quality than similarly priced bikes from other manufacturers. I love my bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason
a Weekend Warrior
from Moss Bluff, LA
Date Reviewed: November 1, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Long Leaf Pine Trail - Sam Houston State Park | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$995.00 | | Purchased At: | Capitol Schwinn | | Strengths: | Manitou Black Fork. | | Weaknesses: | Stock seat very painful. Some ghost shifts. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Stock, except I replaced the seat with whatever came on a Giant Warp DS3 | | Bottom Line: | I love this bike! I have just gotten into trail riding, and can't imagine a better ride. The bike is much better than I am as a rider right now, but it positively inspires me. This thing climbs like a billy goat while carrying a rider built like a bear. Highly recommend to beginning / intermediate riders. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Skip
a Cross Country Rider
from Acworth, GA, USA
Date Reviewed: October 23, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything fast with jumps! | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$700.00 | | Purchased At: | eBay | | Strengths: | Frame is AWESOME, switched out almost everything else. | | Weaknesses: | Fork(Judy) could be better | | Similar Products Used: | Demo'd several other bikes | | Bike Setup: | 2001 Fuel 80 Frame, Manitou Mars Fork, LX Splined Cranks, XT Shifters/Levers/Deraillers/Cassette, SRAM chain/Brakes, IRC Mythos Tires, Powertools 45mm stem, Time clipless, OEM - wheels/seatpost/saddle/bars | | Bottom Line: | This is an absolutely incredible bike! It climbs wonderfully (not sure what people are talking about when they say the front end pops up on them, My fork is 1.5 lbs less than oem and I have a 45mm stem). Descents are the best! Never gets too squirrelly, very controllable. This was my first Full Suspension bike. It made the change very comfortable. Now that I'm used to it, the upgraded parts make it that much better! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
scott bilhorn
a Cross Country Rider
from St. Louis, MO, USA
Date Reviewed: October 3, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Grotpeter, Chubb | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$865.00 | | Purchased At: | sunset cyclery | | Strengths: | Great frame, rides like butter. Very responsive. Fox float rear shock is great. No bob! | | Weaknesses: | Good geometry but feel a little scrunched up on up hills. Center of gravity way off. Climbs well but have hard time keeping front down. Judy sc air sucks getting fixed right now after one week! Also warped middle chain ring due to tork! What the hell is that all about? I only weight 175 | | Similar Products Used: | Specealized stump jumper comp (Rigid) | | Bike Setup: | Factory excepy for 135mm 0 degree Kore stem, Titec flat bar, and bar ends to keep my weight forward on uphills. Clipless pedals | | Bottom Line: | Great bike, Great frame Trek tried to slide one over by using sub par accessories. I know this isn't the Fuel 100 and all but come on. Good bike For people who don't want to drop more than a grand right away and easily upgraded. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew F
a Weekend Warrior
from Mississauga,ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: September 20, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Kelso | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Purchased At: | cyclepath oakville | | Strengths: | This is a great bike for the money. It is my first real mountain bike and I think that handels very well. I have jumped off many stupid things on this and it has not failed me yet. | | Weaknesses: | The components are worth upgrading and it ghost shifts a lot. I did a fairly rocky trail one time and it was almost impossible to ride. With a better drive train this might be fixed. | | Similar Products Used: | Giant atx rocky carve and fuel 90 | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | A great bike for the money. I find that this is a very easy bike ride on a low budget. With some basic upgrade it could be as good as the fuel 90 for far less of a strain on your wallet. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Weekend Warrior
from Morgantown, WV
Date Reviewed: September 3, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$950.00 | | Purchased At: | Wamsley Cycles | | Strengths: | Nice overall. Great frame, decent suspension. For the price, good overall components. | | Weaknesses: | Seat-> you might as well sit directly on the seat post | | Similar Products Used: | various Specialized and Giant bikes | | Bike Setup: | Stock with new seat | | Bottom Line: | Great bike for the price. As everyone else has said, I will upgrade as things break. The frame on mine has been great, no squeaks at all. The decals are coming off the front fork, they have been from day 1. My local mechanic said Manitou thought the decals looked cool with the bubble effect(which they do), but that they don't stick well at all. Once they do peal off significantly, the shop has offered to put regular decals on it.
The seat is terrible, after a couple miles you can't sit down anymore. Definetly upgrade that. Other than that I've had no problems with any other components. The frame is awesome, and components break, so buy it for the frame. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Robbie Rauch
a Weekend Warrior
from Moore, OK
Date Reviewed: August 23, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Lake Hefner | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$999.00 | | Purchased At: | Al's Bicycle | | Strengths: | Great entry full susp. Trek name. | | Weaknesses: | Seat broke on second ride. Decals on Fork came off. Get Clipless pedals. Seat post collar slips. Lots of chain slap. Brakes wore out fast. | | Similar Products Used: | Giant, Cannondale | | Bike Setup: | Upgraded to wellgo ($30) clipless pedals. will upgrade as stuff breaks or gets old. | | Bottom Line: | Good overall bike. Could use some upgrades. Seat, pedals, brakes. No prob with components yet. Will upgrade to xtr once the stock kicks it. Raced in an Adventure race with it and it did well. A great bike for the budget. Buy if you want a full suspen. but cant afford 3k for the real deal ones. Upgrade as you go and soon you will have a bike that feels/performs like a 3k bike. "the working mans bike." | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike Harris
a Cross Country Rider
from Burlington, NC, USA
Date Reviewed: August 16, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1100.00 | | Purchased At: | The Elon Bike Shop | | Strengths: | Looks great, good price but you will need to upgrade, climbs good (no bobbing), good handling, very strong frame, and the last but no the least it is a TREK!! | | Weaknesses: | Drivetrain needs to be upgraded, but that is what you get for the money. | | Similar Products Used: | Mongoose | | Bike Setup: | Easton MonkeyLite XC riser bar, Easton EA70 stem, Thompson Elite seatpost, Sella Italia Prolink seat, Race Face good n' evil grips, Shimano SPD-M515 pedals. That is all I have had a chance to upgrade now. | | Bottom Line: | This is a great bike for the beginner or intermidate rider. This bike needs to be upgraded, which you can do as you progress as a rider and you get more money in the wallet. The frame is light and strong and is a good foundation for building an awesome bike in the future. Let's get real. Everybody loves to upgrade their bike to the way they want it. That's what this bike is for. Don't get me wrong if you don't want to upgrade in the future, this is still the bike for you as long as you don't plan on doing any serious racing or hard core riding. I haven't had any of the problems that some of the reviews below have mentioned. This bike looks as cool as they come. It climbs hills wonderfully with no pedal bob. The Black shock on the front is a great shock, but if you weight over 170 you will need to replace the spring with the firm riding kit. Which that is not that expensive. The Fox Float is a good rear shock but does need rebound control. That's why I'm getting a Float R to replace mine. The stock drivetrain is good for your normal everyday XC rider, so don't go thinking everything on this bike is junk. It's just that this bike has alot of room for growth with the components. Which you can do as the money permits. If everybody was rich then everybody would go out and buy a $3000 or more top of the line race ready bike. Don't we all wish!! Personnal I think this is a great bike for the money, and the best part is that if you do upgrade like me then no one will have a Fuel 80 like anybody else. Just go and at least test ride one before you buy any other bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rick
a Weekend Warrior
from San Jose, CA
Date Reviewed: August 14, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | still looking | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$699.00 | | Purchased At: | Reeds Bike Shop | | Strengths: | Sturdy light frame, quick and agile on both dirt and paved surfaces. | | Weaknesses: | many components (ie.)drive train, pedals, cassette, etc will need to be upgraded | | Similar Products Used: | na | | Bike Setup: | upgrade front shock to Duke SL 100, Bontrager clipless pedals, and seat post quick release. | | Bottom Line: | I have just started riding bike again and wanted to try my hand at off road riding. I am 165 lbs at 5'10". Before buying this bike I realized that the componets would need to be replaced, but I figured that as my skills increased I would be able to change what I needed. Overall the bike has been great. The frame has been stiff in switch backs and good on climbing. Since I changed out the front shock (Judy C) I have noticed a smoother ride. I would recommend this bike to many beginners as it allows for growing room. The bike shop has also been really great. I am fortunate to live in California where I have a wide array of terrian to ride in. This weekend I will hit some trials in Death Valley and next weekend I will be up in Tahoe. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason
a Cross Country Rider
from Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
Date Reviewed: July 17, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Big Water (Millcreek) | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$999.00 | | Purchased At: | Guthries (700 E. 2100 S.) | | Strengths: | Light frame, sturdy construction, nice suspension set up, reasonable price (more on this later). | | Weaknesses: | CRAPPY COMPONENTS (only purchase if you intend to upgrade anyway and can afford the upgrades). NOTICE - YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR! | | Similar Products Used: | Mongoose Alta (hardtail) | | Bike Setup: | Stock (but in the process of upgrading entire drivetrain, brakes, pedals, seat, etc.) | | Bottom Line: | When purchasing this bike, you are getting a nice frame and suspension setup. However, the stock components are crap. Consider them a such, ride them 'til they fail and replace. I have had the bike for 3 months now. During the spring, I spent the majority of my time riding it on a local trail that is fairly level and paved (Jordan River Walkway). The bike actually performed quite well at this time (with the exception of the front deraileur which I replaced early on with a Shimano XT). On July 1, my favorite local trail opened up and I decided to give this bike a real test. The results were not pretty. 'Til now, the bike showed no signs of wear, but after this ride it certainly did. The brakes sucked (replacing). I totally shredded the front drivetrain (bottom bracket, crankset (outer and middle rings were entirely bent). I was not happy and my local bike shop did not prove too helpful. Worse thing is that I am not even a very aggressive rider. I would hate to see what someone who was would do to this thing. Anyway, like I said, you get a great frame and decent suspension when you purchase this bike. But don't be fooled. The $1000+ bike will soon end up costing you another $500 to $1000 in upgrades (which may still be a bargain compared to other bikes). | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ty
a Weekend Warrior
from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Date Reviewed: July 1, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | Olympia cycle & Ski | | Strengths: | Good value, great rear shock. tough frame | | Weaknesses: | stock saddle is uncomfortable decals on front shock come off | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | stock, with time atac pedals, and selle italia seat | | Bottom Line: | I love my bike! paid $1650 cdn. You get a lot of bike for the dough! My last bike was a GF Tassajara (hardtail). I would never go back! This bike is comfortable for both city riding and smokin' down the trails. The rear shock remains stiff when riding on smooth surfaces, and soaks up the bumps when it's needed. As soon as i got the bike i put a set of time atac pedals on it. With a bike of this caliber, clipless is almost a must. Just replaced the seat with a selle italia, the new one is much better! Only problems, seat, and the decals on the black up front come off to easily | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John Pfeiffer
a Weekend Warrior
from Auburn Hills, MI
Date Reviewed: June 25, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Independence Oaks | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | Scarletts Bike and Fitness | | Strengths: | Fairly light weight, Nearly decent brakes, Maybe a good value if Trek could fix all the major problems (which they've had for HOW LONG?). | | Weaknesses: | Fork sucks - right side seal blew out after 5 miles on PAVEMENT. Rear shock is garbage - bouncy. Frame creaks like it's going to break any minute.
| | Similar Products Used: | Various no name cheapo MTB bikes that laster longer. | | Bike Setup: | Stock except for Serfas saddle, Weyless Mag pedals. | | Bottom Line: | Swapped the stock seat after I sat on it in the store. wasn't real bad, but not exactly comfy. The Chain popped off and chewed the frame as soon as I got it home and rode it around the yard in first. Great dealer set-up or what? Maybe it's just another sign of Trek quality. Is it normal for a Answer fork to blow a seal after 5 miles of mild asphalt riding? I guess it is considering the quality of the rear FOX shock and the wonderful frame (which started creaking about 1 mile before the fork blew. Nice job Trek. If I can get rid of this hunk of junk for half of what I paid, I'll be ecstatic. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tony Aluishish
a Downhiller
from Smallton, Ohio, USA
Date Reviewed: June 19, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Bradley Park | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1100.00 | | Purchased At: | Smallton Sports Center | | Strengths: | Awesome shocks and performance. Outstanding overall bike! | | Weaknesses: | none! | | Similar Products Used: | Xtc NRS 3 | | Bottom Line: | I truely recommend this bike over most other bikes, and it has great value! If you love biking, this is the bike for you. It is light-weight and lasts long. People spend too much money on other "fancy" bikes, yet this bike could rank above them. It is so great and I have a blast riding it! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rene Debets
a Weekend Warrior
from Hoensbroek, Netherlands
Date Reviewed: June 17, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | Dealer | | Strengths: | Very fast and good handling. On the road it is almost as fast as my Trek 7500FX road bike and certainly more pleasant to ride. | | Weaknesses: | The drive train isn't as bad as some reviews suggest but I'm going to upgrade to XT anyway. The Fuel also started to creak but thanks to another reviewer this was easily fixed (see below). | | Bike Setup: | Stock except XT drive train and brakes. | | Bottom Line: | The review that was warning about the creaking sound in the frame is a bit off in the way to fix it. The dreacking comes from the two tubes in the seattube, but you cannot fix it from the bottom bracket. Instead just take out the seat post and you'll see the tube inside the seattube. Take some motor oil and slowly let some oil run down the seat tube inner wall. It will automatically go between the outer seat tube and the inner tube. Then flip the bike around a couple of times to make sure that the oil reaches all surfaces where the two tubes can make contact. Then put the bike upside down and let the oil drip out of the seat tube. This fixed the problem and I haven't heard a creaking noise since. Now that you know how to fix this, go and buy the bike and don't worry about this 'problem'. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
JJ
a Cross Country Rider
from San Lorenzo, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: June 15, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | lakeside, backcountry | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$950.00 | | Purchased At: | |
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