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Submitted by
SanAntonioGuy
a Weekend Warrior
from San Antonio, TX
Date Reviewed: October 21, 2009 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike World | | Strengths: | Durable, trust worthy, reliable, solid | | Weaknesses: | Price | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Orange and blue, haven't seen more than 2 others like it. Great shocks. | | Bottom Line: | Bought this bike due to my height (6'4), very comfortable. I don't ride everyday, had it for over 5 years and not a single problem with it. Had offers from interested buyers but I can't let it go, it's a great bike. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jalh.jr
a Weekend Warrior
from Gastonia, NC
Date Reviewed: October 6, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Poston Trail, Lowell NC | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | Gaston Bicycle | | Strengths: | solid bike | | Weaknesses: | shifts without changing the shifters at times. A little heavier than I'd like. | | Bottom Line: | This is not my first Trek.. I had a trek road bike in the mid 80's and I wasn't disappointed. The 4300 is entry level but it sure can take a beating. I ride 40-50 miles a week and not on the roads. It has never let me down other than the "ghost shifts" It is responsive and this past year purchased clipless pedals and shoes. Great thing to have. Will be upgrading original components for a lighter bike and maybe paint the frame over.. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jdsegars
a Cross Country Rider
from Georgia, USA
Date Reviewed: September 3, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Any | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | Hub Bikes Athens, GA | | Strengths: | Solid build. Fantastic 1st bike. | | Weaknesses: | gears | | Bike Setup: | Converted to SS after a year and it has been my primary ride ever since. New wheelset, yeah they did cost more than the bike:D | | Bottom Line: | absolutely a fine ride! get rid of the gears and a fork swap (rst is crapola for actually mountain biking) and you'll be good to go for a long time.
FWIW, it was my 1st mtb and I wasn't certain I'd ride much...ha, with this in my stable I've got zero excuses not to ride! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
c puckett
a Weekend Warrior
from westport, wa
Date Reviewed: August 26, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Any | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | hoquiam bicycle shop | | Strengths: | Great ride for a hrd tail, pretty light, quiet and smooth | | Weaknesses: | immediately ditched the seat and the square knobbies and went with an aggressive street tread. I ride trails some but mostly commute 2 miles to work and around town. | | Similar Products Used: | giant full susp., Haro xct , specialized rockhopper, solid frame bud light model cannondale. | | Bike Setup: | i love the adjustable front forks because you can actually tell a vast difference in the adjustments you make, went with the disk brakes which is my first and they are wonderful, put a pretty heavy duty rear rack on for extra loads, fat aggressive street meats, gel seat, and the shifting is flawless | | Bottom Line: | i compared this to a couple giants. I have a full suspension one which although rides nice, weighs a ton. I often have to load/unloasd bike and was a pain. This bikes pretty light. I do miss the ride though, gonna try a seat post with the shock absorbtion tech., the handgrips start to slide off every now and then, and I owuld have liked for the gear ratio to be harder, easy gearing is nice, but i find myself in the hardest gear, peddling too fast and wish there was like 2 more gears to shift into for more speed | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gus
a Weekend Warrior
from Lansing, MI
Date Reviewed: October 9, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$369.00 | | Purchased At: | Velocipede Peddler | | Bottom Line: | I know many people think this is a cheap entry level mountain bike and I'm sure it is but compared to my last mountain bike (a Bridgestone MB-4) that I sold in 1993 (and have not ridden a bike since) this bike is incredible. Maybe I just haven't been spoiled yet.
On the other hand I don't really ride it that hard. It seems to handle trails pretty well and it is very good on roads. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeremy Cole
a Weekend Warrior
from Charlotte, NC
Date Reviewed: September 17, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | White Water Center | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Rack, Inc | | Strengths: | great price - great frame - solid brakes | | Weaknesses: | ghost shifts like crazy (even after tune ups and new chain), and the front suspension has very little travel...bottoms out constantly | | Bike Setup: | all stock...nothing has broken yet, so why fix it? | | Bottom Line: | I bought this bike a few years ago thinking that as components fell off I would replace them...haven't had to replace anything yet. Granted, I haven't really ridden it hard until the past two years, but so far this bike has really held up. I am 6' 2", 185 lbs...and haven't had any issues with the rims either.
I am getting ready to buy a full squish, and can't think of a reason to go with another brand - if the top end bikes that Trek makes holds up as good as this one I will be smiling for years to come. I doubt I will sell it once I get my new bike either...it is such a good stinking bike! I am sure that my son will love it as his first mtn. bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
shayn
a Cross Country Rider
from springfeild, oregon
Date Reviewed: June 21, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$420.00 | | Purchased At: | pauls cycle shop | | Strengths: | the feel of the bike is nice, very strong frame, i got hit by a car on the bike and the frame didnt suffer a scratch. | | Weaknesses: | too many things go wrong on the bike too quick, the gear system started to give me trouble within two months of owning it, tires went bald quick and the seat of the bike broke as well very quickly. the rims are weak! | | Bottom Line: | the bike is an ok bike for begining, very strong frame, just need to replace alot of stuff on the bike too soon. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Heath
a
from Titusville FL
Date Reviewed: April 18, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Santos trails. | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Strengths: | This is my first "real" mountain bike. I have had some Wal Mart bikes in the past. This bike was a GREAT value. I picked it up used (2004 model) for a mesily 100 bucks. The bike has a very strong frame and from the research I have done it seems to be pretty light for the money as well. I am still a bit of a noob but my skills have increased alot in the last few months and I am starting to fine things about this bike that (in the future) will limit me. I have replaced the stock handle bar and stem to save over 1 pound and clean up the bikes look. I also have a pair of Avid BB7 disc brakes for the front that are on the way. The stock V-brakes are strong enough although they got a bit wet on a ride not to long ago that resulted in some pretty weak stoping powr. I don't think anyone getting into serious mountain biking could go wrong with this bike. | | Weaknesses: | Well MY bike was not brand new when I bought it so its not fair to say for sure. but the shifters are kinds slow on downshifts and I have compressed the front all the way a few times. | | Similar Products Used: | Wal Mart crap...xr200 Mongoose. | | Bike Setup: | stock plus Yeti carbon riser bar and stem. | | Bottom Line: | Just like the most of the other reviews say. This is a awesome first serious mountain bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Hugo Flores
a Weekend Warrior
from San Diego, California, USA
Date Reviewed: August 24, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Morley | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | Craigslist.com | | Strengths: | The frame is strong and solid. Shifts well even under heavy shock. | | Weaknesses: | Brakes are poor especialy when they get wet. Pedals are terrible. Clamps are not user friendly. | | Similar Products Used: | Various | | Bike Setup: | Mostly stock. Better brake pads and pedals. | | Bottom Line: | Great bike for a begginer who will surely punish the bike repeatedly with falls and banging the crank onto rocks. It is a bit heavy but at this price (even full retail) it is a great choice. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Erik
a
from Texas
Date Reviewed: July 2, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Bicycles Plus | | Strengths: | Frame is super strong. Chain works well. Crankset didn't wear away quickly. | | Weaknesses: | Shifters, cables. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 800, Bruiser 3 | | Bottom Line: | Awesome bike. Lasted 3 years with no major problems. Easy to work with. I can do 3 foot jumps and will not have a problem with it. Goes fast, and parts last. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Weekend Warrior
from Sterling Heights, MI, USA
Date Reviewed: April 23, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$340.00 | | Purchased At: | American Cycle... | | Strengths: | Frame is strong and buke looks good. | | Weaknesses: | Front forks are crap. Chrome came off in a month. Shifting doesn't always take when going into big front gear. | | Bike Setup: | Changed seat, added lights. | | Bottom Line: | Great entry bike except front fork, and some shifting issues. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alex Ekkel
a Cross Country Rider
from Vroomshoop ( Ov) NL
Date Reviewed: April 30, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Whatever | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | budget Bikes (klos tweewielers | | Strengths: | Frame is excelent !! ( Allpha SL)(2005) Color, Orange metalic/charcoal
Great for any upgrade you want after some time... Frame is one of the best! | | Weaknesses: | Not found any yet. the seddle is very personal and different,for any person, also on a 5 or 6 hundred dollar bike! | | Similar Products Used: | None, just some old atb bikes, dot worth mentioning. | | Bike Setup: | Stock, just mounted some Bontranger bullhorns on the crowbar steer. | | Bottom Line: | This is my first NEW ATB. For this amount of money, it's very good, shifting these Alivio gears is like you drive a big V 8 chevvy automatic!! Great! of course, if you want a more profesional bike, buy a Trek 8500 or 9.8 Elite!
A'm verry happy with it and looking forward to ride across,
Holland's most ATB routes. ( sorry if some words may contain any spelling errors, i'm Dutch you know......) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Caleb
a Cross Country Rider
from Kempton
Date Reviewed: November 27, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Ithaca, NY trails | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$375.00 | | Purchased At: | Spokes Bike Shop | | Strengths: | +Very Cheap
+Good starter bike
+Relatively light | | Weaknesses: | -Shocks suck
-Shifting is somewhat random in terms of if the bike will acutally shift when you tell it to.
-Not the best for jumping, etc.
-Put new pedals on! Plastic? I don't think that's OK with me! | | Similar Products Used: | any othe hardtails in it's class i'd imagine. | | Bike Setup: | stock (plus climbing bars and new pedals) | | Bottom Line: | I bought this bike in 2002. I've had it ever since. Only now am I getting rid of it to upgrade to an '05 Cannondale Jekyll. I took it to Ithaca, NY, and hit some serious trails up there. Had a few all-day rides, and this bike held up pretty well. It was wet and muddy, and the bike got COVERED in mud and pine needels and gravel and dirt. Right up until the very end of the ride did the gears jam up, but any bike would have done the same. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Max
a Cross Country Rider
from Berlin, Germany
Date Reviewed: November 24, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$550.00 | | Purchased At: | Ring-Center FahrradShop in Berlin | | Strengths: | the only thing i can mention now is a blue colour that attracted me | | Weaknesses: | - tooooooo heavy (plus i had a bigger frame than i needed 21.5" instead of 20) and thus slow start, etc...
- poor brakes. Just block and doesn't braaaaaake
- low level of drivetrain
- inconvenient combo-blocks
- .... | | Similar Products Used: | Diamondback Vectra Comp 2001 | | Bike Setup: | InSync Fork, C050 front and Alivio rear der., etc. | | Bottom Line: | For 500 euros that I paid for this bike (about $550 that time) it worths nothing. Just brand. The poorest price-quality ratio I've ever faced with. I would never buy this bike unless it costs $200 and no more. And of course it could be a matter of choice only for a beginning beginner | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael
a Cross Country Rider
from Phelan, Ca, USA
Date Reviewed: July 23, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Blue Ridge | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | Victor Valley Bicycles | | Strengths: | Frame is a good quality product | | Weaknesses: | Forks, uugghh they are almost like having rigid forks, maybe not even that good. Component group does the job, for now. Need to upgrade to LX minimum | | Similar Products Used: | Nothing, Just dept store garbage | | Bike Setup: | Stock, just had Manitou Skareb Elites and a Cane Creek S2 Head set added | | Bottom Line: | Decent bike for the money, if your some bozo that thought you could get an XTR pacaged bike for 3 bills take it back because your obviously too stupid to own it. For the rest of you, the bike is great value for the money. The Frame is a great foundation to start building your dream bike from and one day when you have all the components you want you can go down and buy a new frame. Other then that it is great for begining and to learn on. You can figure what you hate and what you would like to upgrade to. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan
a Cross Country Rider
from Oakville ON Canada
Date Reviewed: March 15, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Hardwood Hills or Kelso | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Cyclepath | | Strengths: | The frame is really light and good bike to get into trail riding. | | Weaknesses: | The front shocks RST Capa's really suck. Their way too stiff for hitting the trails ocasionally. I've replaced them with Marzocchi EXRs which seem to do the trick. All for the parts on the bike are allright, the seat can get very uncomforatable for long rides so I also replaced it. | | Bike Setup: | Trek 4300 frame, Marzocchi EXR shocks, specialized racing seat, put on some welgo clipless pedals, and replaced the whole wheel setup completely. the rest is still stock. | | Bottom Line: | The frame is fantastic. Its light and hasnt shown any signs of stress other than a few scratches but thats about it. Unless you just stick to the street the shocks have gota go. Those RST's really didnt work for me at all. Some of the components on the bike could use updating. They are a little cheep, but they do the job nonetheless. this bike is great and if i got to choose again id definatly choose the trek 4300.
o yea, one more thing, dont underestimate the trek frames. for a light beginner xc frame they have some of the best around. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jon Myers
a Weekend Warrior
from Lexington, NC, USA
Date Reviewed: March 1, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Wherever. | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | christmas gift | | Strengths: | Good frame, nice seat, pimpin blue/aluminium color combo, good bike for getting into MTBing | | Weaknesses: | Derailer seems kinda so-so, bottom bracket has a crapload of play after 2 years of riding. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Stock at the moment, looking to upgrade to disc brakes and better derailers. | | Bottom Line: | Great value, some weak spots but it has a good solid frame so you don't have to buy a whole new bike later on when you want to upgrade.
I rate it five capsules of capsaicin for value, and 4 overall. Hey, it's a $300 bike, it can't be PERFECT... but it's pretty dang nice. :D | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jon
a Weekend Warrior
from Gillette, WY
Date Reviewed: September 10, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$330.00 | | Purchased At: | Spoke and Edge Sports | | Strengths: | This bike is great to get into the sport. It focuses on a key that is often overlooked in this price class - the frame. | | Weaknesses: | over time, the RST Capa fork, derailleurs, and the wheels. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 820 | | Bike Setup: | titec handle bars and bar ends, Kore stem, Koski saddle and 'post, cage platform pedals, lizard skins everywhere applicable, and stock elsewhere. I just bought a Manitou Black fork, so that will be the first major improvement. | | Bottom Line: | I started seriously mountain biking on this. First on little cross country singletracks and two tracks, and lately on some pretty exciting singletrack.
Most of the people I know, or at least most that I ride with, get alot better right away. You're better off buying a nice bike in the first place if you don't want the hassle of building a bike. I'm a college student, so I'm pretty well strapped for cash. I have to do it the hard way. I have one more major upgrade to do after the fork is installed. That's the wheelset. I'm going to get a deore/sun rhyno lite wheelset. $100... that may sound like a lot, considering it was a $300 bike. The majority of that price is for the frame. The bike doesn't come with all kinds trick stuff, just the essentials. You work it from there. My one regret is that I didn't buy the 4500. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Robby
a Cross Country Rider
from Park City, UT, USA
Date Reviewed: July 9, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Team Big Bear | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | High Gear Cyclery | | Strengths: | I liked the shifters. | | Weaknesses: | Everything else. The worst thing on it is the fork. turning the little knob at the top is supposed to adjust the travel, but you can barely tell a difference. When it's as soft as it can be, the only time it compresses is when your going off a drop-off. | | Bottom Line: | Don't buy it unless you're just going to be riding around the neighborhood. It's terrible for trails. I can't stand it and can't wait to get a new bike. It's not even worth $400. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tig
a Weekend Warrior
from Yorkshire,UK
Date Reviewed: June 22, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | anywhere | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$330.00 | | Purchased At: | All terrain Cycles,Cross Hills | | Strengths: | The Frame is strong coz I came off on a main road at about 40mph when some wanker of a lorry driver spilt veggy oil all over the road, frame didnt bend or break (most of the impact was taken buy my head and legs,thank god I was wearing my helmet, the ONLY drawback with having clip-in pedals is you stay with your bike when it all happens fast and goes pear shaped)
Looks OK for a low end bike.
Comfortably riding position. | | Weaknesses: | Pedals-changed for Time ATAC within a week (Brilliant)
Acera mechs are not very good after a few months use and need constant adjustment,changed after 6 months to Deore. | | Similar Products Used: | 1980s Raleigh Burner!!!! | | Bike Setup: | All Deore running gear,Time ATAC,Smart lights,Continental Contact tyres for road. | | Bottom Line: | Its my first MTB and ive had it for over a year now and use it six days a week commuting to and from work (10 miles) and its done me fine.
The back end is a real pain in the a**e on rough terrain but thats only to be expected from what is a cheapish hardtail,I'll be getting a full-susser soon for off-road but I'll probably keep this bike for going to work. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian
a Weekend Warrior
from Leavenworth, Kansas, USA
Date Reviewed: May 29, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$310.00 | | Purchased At: | Tailwind Cyclists | | Strengths: | Frame and durability of most components. Seat is surprisingly comfortable. | | Weaknesses: | Front derailer is weak and needs frequent adjustment. Pedals are very cheap and start falling apart after a few off-road rides. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | I have ridden daily to work for over a year and ride the local single track trails about once a week. I am a medium weight rider (about 160 lbs) and have not had any problems with the wheels or front shock even though I have done a lot of curbs commuting and the trails here are fairly rocky. Fun bike to ride and I would definately puchase again. A real value. Great commuting bike for the person who also wants to ride single track. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jon
a
from Gillette
Date Reviewed: March 30, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$330.00 | | Purchased At: | Spoke and Edge | | Strengths: | The frame,sizing, value for your money, looks. | | Weaknesses: | some not-so-great parts, but not unexpected for a $300 bike. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 820 | | Bike Setup: | Kore light 3 stem, titec handlebar and barends, koski 'post and saddle, system 1 pedals & toeclips, Specialized tires | | Bottom Line: | Okay, for the money this is a great bike. Yes it is an entry level mountain bike, but you can always upgrade as you go along.
Here is what I like about the bike first of all:
Rapidfire Shifters - not a big fan of gripshift.
The Frame - same as upperlevel bikes, it is also lifetime garaunteed.
What you get for the money... hard to beat
What I've replaced:
The stem - weird short riser stem. Uncomfortable for me.
The H-bar - riser stems aren't comfortable for me either.
The seat - hard, and scuffs like none other.
Tires - had them from previous bike, hardpack specific.
seatpost - just aesthetics...
Barends - they really help out on climbs.
I'll end up putting on a new fork, and derailleurs too, but not until they break. I'm going to get a new wheelset too. This one isn't bad... but it comes out of true pretty easily. This way I can just swap wheelsets as necessary.
My bottom line? I should have spent the extra $70 and gotten the 4500. No, the colors weren't as cool, but you get better components, and a better fork. You end up paying more in the long run to upgrade in this case. sure you lose the pride in upgrading, but you can enjoy the benefits longer. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Monty
a Weekend Warrior
from Chico
Date Reviewed: March 17, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Upper Bidwell | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$260.00 | | Purchased At: | Folsom Bikes | | Strengths: | MOAB bomb proof frame. Super strong and not much vibration for aluminum, very heavy though. Cheap. Nice paint. | | Weaknesses: | Components are garbage. Shimano Acera is one step up from the Huffy specials. Plastic pedals are crap. Knockoff stem and handlebars are junk. | | Similar Products Used: | KHS Alite 1000, Specialized Stumpjumper. | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Stumpjumper - 02 xc shocks, lx, and firex. | | Bottom Line: | Better off buying a Giant or KHS. The Giant will have a similiar frame with better components comprabably priced, same goes for KHS.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Russell Ruggiero
a Weekend Warrior
from West Windsor, NJ, USA
Date Reviewed: January 21, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | R&D | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$330.00 | | Purchased At: | Jay's Cycle | | Strengths: | Frame | | Weaknesses: | Cheap Shimano Components | | Similar Products Used: | 4900 and 4500 | | Bike Setup: | Stem: ICON Onyx
HB: ICON Onyx
Grips: Lizard Skins
FD: LX
RD: XT
Pedals: System 3
Wheels: Superstock
Tires: Specialized Team Master SL
Seatpost: Bontrager Selct
Seat: OASIS | | Bottom Line: |
Dear
Reader
I own the following Trek products:
STP 200
4900
4500
4300
Both of my son's love to ride, and Trek was my first choice. The 4300 offers a great value for the money, but you should replace the following components when purchasing the 4300:
FD: Deore or Deore LX
RD: Deore or Deore LX
The 4300, 4500, and 4900 all share the same excellent Trek Alpha frame. This bike belongs to my older son, who was able to take it down to 28.75 pounds. The next step is to purchase a Shimano Deore crank-set with a set of M515 pedals, which should bring the 4300's weight down to 28.375 pounds. A very solid product offering by Trek.
Sincerely
Russ
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dexmax
a Weekend Warrior
from Dumaguete, Philippines
Date Reviewed: January 9, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Strengths: | The frame is good. Very stable ride. I can sustain pounding. I enjoyed using this product. I would recommend this product to the weekender. Its a fairly good bike. | | Weaknesses: | Components(derailers, rims, seat post, brakes) are not so good. Seats are a bit hard. plastic pedals are a "no" for me. For hard-core cyclists, I think this product won't do.. | | Similar Products Used: | Similar to my Trek 4900 | | Bike Setup: | I had to strip off almost everything. I replaced the chainwheel with a 52T-42T SVX, the bottom bracket with a sealed type shimano, replaced rims with columbus and hubs with a shimano deore. I also replaced the fork with a alloy columbus (non-suspension) fork. Replaced the Seat with a Vetta Gel Seat, replaced the headset with one from Cane Creek and used a specialized stem. After all my revisions, I finally decided to replace the tires with a 1.38x26. Now, the 4300 is mountainbike no more, but a mere roadbike with 26" rims.... I had also to replace the seat post with a GTS M5. I replaced the rear derailer with a Shimano 105, the front with a Deore LX, replaced the brakes with a Shimano Deore LX, shifters/levers with a Shimano Deore XT. I also added a Trek CycloComputer. | | Bottom Line: | The frame is good. But components are not so good. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jon Ludwick
a Weekend Warrior
from Fairmont, IL, USA
Date Reviewed: December 1, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | PontoonBeach | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$330.00 | | Purchased At: | south county cyclery | | Strengths: | Strong Frame! I got the 16.5 size, The Shifters are kickass when matched with the right Derailers. . . I thought the RST Capa fork was good. I like the separate right and left adjusters on the top of the forks! The wheels have stayed tru even after a year | | Weaknesses: | Derailers both front and rear a cheap, too much adjusting, the teeth on the front spockets wear too fast. . Chain falls off and would get jammed between the front sprockets and the frame. I scratched the hell out of the frame when this happened. . Not no more!!
RST capa Forks not enough travel. . .thats it! All in All good fork. . But don't compare Marzocchi
Oh and that old hard seat. man that was the frist thing to go. I got a Serfas gell seat on now
Plastic Peddals. . I no like | | Similar Products Used: | My friends 2003 4300. . They still have the same derailers. . Different and better RST Fork than a 2002 his headset seem to get loose all the time. . | | Bike Setup: | 2003 Marzocchi EXR, Deore LX crankset, Deore front and rear derailers, new seat and MOSH peddals. . everything else still the same | | Bottom Line: | I would buy this bike again because its a great good looking bike. Man it stood out from all the other colors that TREK made this year. . My buddy has a 2003 with bright orange frame that looks cool. . The derailers on both of the years should be the frist thing you upgrade on these bikes. . next to hard ass seat. . The 2003 also has Better medal peddal than the plastic ones that came on my bike.
I'm totally happy with what I paid for it! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nathan Smith
a Cross Country Rider
from Saint Joseph, Mo, USA
Date Reviewed: November 17, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | Ride Bikes | | Strengths: | The seat, and the frame | | Weaknesses: | RST suspention, unless you like your supention very weak, and the tires | | Similar Products Used: | walmart mongoose | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | This bike is great for beginers but can't handle alot of true mountain biking | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ken
a Cross Country Rider
from Conshohocken, Pa, USA
Date Reviewed: November 2, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | 340 | | Strengths: | Great entry-level bike for only a little more than a department store bike's price. | | Weaknesses: | Entry-Level bike. The components, especially the Acera rear derailluer do not stand-up to hard riding. Paint is weak. A bit heavy. | | Bike Setup: | Upgrades include: Bontrager Superstock wheels, Panaracer TrailBlaster 2.1 tires, XT V-Brakes, LX rear derailluer, Ritchey Comp flat bars, Shimano 424 clipless pedals and WTB Rocket V Stealth saddle. | | Bottom Line: | This is my first real mountain bike and I love it. With the money I've spent on upgrades I could have bought a 6700 but I wanted to do the upgrades myself as a learning experience. I've been able to shave off about 6 lbs with the upgrades as well and can see another pound or so coming off when I complete the upgrades.
The best upgrade so far has been the wheels. It was a totally different bike with them. Get rid of the rear-der if you don't want to tune your bike every 30 or so miles.
If you want to get into the sport or just want a cheap, but good bike to knock around on, this is the one.
5 for value, 3 overall. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
flash
a Cross Country Rider
from chicago
Date Reviewed: October 21, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Mad River, Conn. | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | Schwinn | | Strengths: | Frame and suprisingly the seat. | | Weaknesses: | Entire Drive train and shifters, pedals. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 6700 | | Bike Setup: | Stripped all but frame, seat, and head set. Judy Air TT fork, LX drive train and shifters, Richey handlebars and comp grips, Bonager seatpost and tires, Mavic rims, and clipless petals. | | Bottom Line: | Bought the bike in a pinch for the frame because I wrecked my GT. I rode it hard for about a month before stripping it out and upgrading. With the stock parts it was fairly heavy, and I had problems with the derailers and fork. The fork did not rebound well after taking a decent hit. It also seemed like it would bottom out and did not provide much travel. I prefer riding with a stiffer fork but this thing was nearly ridged. The bike also had numerous problems shifting when taking any kind of a drop, any sort of mud, and would gost shift. It is a bike that is best suited for recreation riders and newby's and is at an excellent price for an entry level bike. The frame is great on this thing though. It is very light and durable. Once I swapped everything out it was a completely different bike, basically the same as a 6700. It would be cheaper to pay for a higher end complete bike than upgrading but if you have the parts and the time you can really turn this into a sweet ride. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Weekend Warrior
from Lakewood, CO, USA
Date Reviewed: October 8, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Clearwater Canyon | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | Bicycle Village | | Strengths: | Frame, head set, Price | | Weaknesses: | Crank set, front derailer, rims, rear derailer, shock is to stiff and doesn't adjust much. | | Similar Products Used: | None. The last bike I had was a Univega in 1990. Things have changed allot since then. | | Bike Setup: | Upgraded: Pedals to clip less, saddle to body geometry saddle because the old saddle made me numb in a certain area, will be getting a new crank set and front derailer next month because I bent the original. Hoping to get an XT derailer in December. | | Bottom Line: | This is a good bike for the price. I bought it not expecting to get so into mountain biking. Living in CO can change your mind. If you are planning to ride hard, I would get the 4500 or higher because of the components. If you don't have the money right away or you are a beginner, this is a great entry-level bike to upgrade with your riding ability. I started riding in 1/02 and just now I am needing to upgrade. But now I have the cash. I am looking forward to being able to buy new wheels someday soon. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ghetto dude
a Racer
from riverside,Scamrent, use
Date Reviewed: September 14, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | mainstreet | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | Good Will | | Strengths: | Great overall, good for cruising poor areas, handle bars are great so is tires. | | Weaknesses: | handle bars are to long to ride with, they get in the way of my cuffs.
| | Similar Products Used: | Trek fuel, Trek fuel2, Trek fuelx3, Trek 4200 | | Bike Setup: | handles,wheels,ghetto rims, nice padded seat. | | Bottom Line: | Great for crusing poor areas of town, also good for trails and stuff, great for fast food workers. who dont have a car. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Liz
a Weekend Warrior
from Hampton, VA, USA
Date Reviewed: September 13, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Harwoods Mill | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$310.00 | | Purchased At: | HDK Cycles | | Strengths: | Good frame, Nice paint job, Lightweight.
I think its great for the price. | | Weaknesses: | Pedals suck, they have no grip whatsoever.
The chain skips badly if you push it, seems like its actually gonna fall off if you are really going. | | Similar Products Used: | Cheap ass Roadmaster..lol | | Bike Setup: | All stock at the moment, plan to upgrade when I get the $$. Pedals need to go! | | Bottom Line: | I like this bike alot, good deal for the price paid. I am a beginner so I think its good for me. Good variation of sizes, I found the perfect fit for myself. It has alot of potential for being a great bike after upgrades. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dennis
a Weekend Warrior
from East Lansing, MI, USA
Date Reviewed: September 11, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Keewenaw Peninsula | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$319.00 | | Purchased At: | Denny's Cycling, Lansing | | Strengths: | Frame, or so I read; in my experience, the best aspects thus far have been light weight frame, and value. | | Weaknesses: | Shifting is bunk, autoshifts when you really push it and throws chain(if it moves it at all on front derailleur). | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 800 | | Bike Setup: | Stock, added Specialized Dirt Rods. | | Bottom Line: | Sweet bike for the price I paid. I have rode it pretty hard for its price class, and have had no problems. Its been wet, dirty, sandy, and crashed, and besides the brake lever getting scratched, no sweat. Granted, I haven't really given it a run for its money yet, still getting acquainted with the bike, and I am gonna need a new shifting package asap, I would buy it again if I had it to do over in a heartbeat. I HIGHLY recommend this bike to any rider or potential rider looking for a quality first or second bike and don't have a large cashflow. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Raymond
a Weekend Warrior
from Rowland Heights, CA
Date Reviewed: August 31, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$290.00 | | Purchased At: | USA Cyclery in Riverside, CA | | Strengths: | -Nice frame (same frame as the 4500 and 4900)
-Excellent beginner ride (nice and cheap, but as you ride you will want to replace the weaker parts)
-Very nice paintjob (you will get lots of compliments) | | Weaknesses: | -Pedals! (they are Wal-Mart quality plastic pedals, but then again, they have saved my shins and are pretty light)
-The chain will eat up your chainstay unless you slap on a Lizard Skin
-Kinda heavy, but the weight will put you into shape quickly as you ride up those hills | | Bike Setup: | Stock everything except for a Kore Stem, Ritchey barends, alloy platform pedals, and a Cateye computer--but you can bet I'll be upgrading almost everything else just as soon as I can pilfer enough money from my student loans | | Bottom Line: | (this review is directed at beginners)
Alright, people have been complaining about the cheap pedals, the chain ring bending, the rims becoming untrue easily, the RST Crappy fork, and the front derailleur popping and squeaking. Well, what do you expect from a bike that costs $300? It is a great bike for the amount of money that you will spend. If you are a beginner, just BUY THE BIKE and as you ride and start to have problems with the stock components, then upgrade the part. By the time you upgrade you will know what you want and what to look for. That way you don't end up spending $700 dollars on a bike with components that you don't even want, and at the same time, you have a ride that you can use to get hooked on mountain biking with that you can easily upgrade as you gain more experience. You only replace the parts you have trouble with, and keep the cheap parts that don't give you problems! It will come out way cheaper for you. The rims do come untrue easily, so you will quickly learn how to true your own rims. The fork is something you should look into replacing as soon as you figure out what you want in a fork. Ride the bike, observe the fork, and figure out what you dont like about it. Then get yourself a nice little fork. I don't have problems with my fork, so it's still on there. The pedals dont grip at all, and this became a problem for me as I was going 30 on a descent and felt my foot sliding off...not a very nice experience. Oh...and put a Lizard Skin on your chainstay. If you don't, you will end up with a chainstay that is ate up (like mine). If you are thinking about buying the bike, DO IT! It is the best value you will get out there. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew
a Weekend Warrior
from Westport CT, USA
Date Reviewed: August 20, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$430.00 | | Purchased At: | Westport Bicycle | | Strengths: | great bike for a beggining rider | | Weaknesses: | bad fork. works well with as little use a possible | | Bike Setup: | stock except for shock post and and toe clips | | Bottom Line: | The bottom line is that this is great for an entry level bike. It was just wat i needed to get hooked on mountain biking. I recently took it on a few two week bike trips and basically killed it. After that there were alot of little problems. i have some shifting problems and funny noises from crank arm when i pedal and from front derailer when im in a high gear. But overall i dont regret getting this bike because it was just wat i needed at the time and im moving on to more advanced riding with a new bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dustin Gordon
a Weekend Warrior
from Mount Albert, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: August 20, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$420.00 | | Purchased At: | Nothern Cycle | | Strengths: | This bike is a great overall bike for the price range. Components are solid, frame is nice and light and has handled all the abuse i have thrown at it. i have done over 450 kilometers on oly one tune up and everything rides smooth and shifts cleanly. | | Weaknesses: | too much chain slap, chain creaks in lower 8th gear when really pushed hard. ok shocks, but can't handle really hard drops | | Similar Products Used: | norco bush pilot | | Bike Setup: | stock, but wish to purchase clip pedals and possibly upgrade shocks and seat in future | | Bottom Line: | great bike for the cost, nice light aluminum frame, upgrade shocks if you are doing serious riding and seat for longer distances. i would recomend to purchase, trek is known for it's great value and great bikes | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Warren M
a Weekend Warrior
from London, UK
Date Reviewed: August 19, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Kent wilderness | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$430.00 | | Strengths: | I bought this bike, when I knew absolutely nothing about Mountain biking. I only knew the name Trek. It has got me totally hooked on the Mountain Bike Game.
Great frame and good gears (So Far) Chucked it down some serious drops and it still lives. | | Weaknesses: | The components are rubbish, but you should expect this for the price and the fact the frame is really good. Original Fork and Seat have been removed and replaced. Pedal were rubbish too. | | Bike Setup: | Now with dual SPD Pedals, Marzocchi MXC ECC forks (BRILLIANT) , more comfy Body Geometry Seat and Suspension Seat Post, make the end of the ride more comfy. | | Bottom Line: | Great entry bike, with limitless upgrade possiblities.
Good for the Money | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chaddi Pelwaan
a Weekend Warrior
from PIScataway, NJ
Date Reviewed: August 4, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | NJ Turnpike | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$288.00 | | Purchased At: | Highland Park Cyclery | | Strengths: | Definitely the frame. A lot of chumps complained about the seat, but so far feels comfy to me ! | | Weaknesses: | Since I was all out of loot, I had to steal the pedals off the huffy from KMART. (Not sure if they will fit)
I have yet to push the forks on the dirt to see exactly how much they suck!
| | Similar Products Used: | The KMART special!(Huffy) | | Bike Setup: | So far Stock, but will be starting with the Plastic Pedals! | | Bottom Line: | This is my first "real" mountain bike and I did not want to spend my Month's salary on it. I thought 4300 is a good choice because it uses the same frame as the 4500 and the 4900? Only with cheaper components that can be upgraded with time, and experience!
Bottom line is that for the value, you cant beat it.
PS-Dont think you can put the pedals on ebay because the insertion fee will be higher then what you might sell it for ;)
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nathan
a
from Lincoln, NE
Date Reviewed: July 30, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$299.00 | | Purchased At: | Blue's Bike and Fitness | | Strengths: | Can't beat the frame for the price. The aluminum provides a very solid & controlled feel. | | Weaknesses: | The cheap plastic pedals are a downer. I also found the seat a bit uncomfortable. The fork isn't great for off-road, although it works. Hey, they had to skimp somewhere to keep the price around $300.00. | | Similar Products Used: | Giant Rincon, Trek 800, Trek 4500 | | Bike Setup: | Currently, stock except a Trek Fusion computer. Will replace the seat and pedals in the near future. | | Bottom Line: | This is a great bike for the entry level mtn. biker who doesn't have a fist full of cash. Yet the bike is decent enough to put some money into it as you feel you need to upgrade. I'm thinking about a new fork at somepoint. If you have the extra money, you may consider the 4500. But if you are planning on upgrading the fork at some point (as well as possibly some other things) the 4300 is the way to go. Plus, the 4300 comes in a cool blue/silver color scheme that isn't available on the 4500. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
andrew ******
a Cross Country Rider
from Kansas
Date Reviewed: July 25, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Shawnee Mission Park | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$330.00 | | Purchased At: | Bikerack | | Strengths: | the frame is strong and i have had no problems with that. the rst fork is very nice and plush. the rst hasn't bottomed out of anything. seat is also very cumfy. | | Weaknesses: | brakes. bottom line is the brakes. the front won't stop me going downhill, and i only wiegh 104 pounds. the rear brakes stick, and got stuck be for, its in the shop now, getting fixed. the chain rings bend very easily, the chain skips, and the stock parts stink. | | Similar Products Used: | 2002 Giant Rainier | | Bike Setup: | to poor to upgrade. | | Bottom Line: | for my needs the bike stinks. its good for street riding and street riding alone. i broke all the stock parts, the brakes stink, and the stock drivetrain is just easy to break. the only good thing on the bike is the frame. so, my advise is to but the frame only, and build a bike. may not be cheap, but u will have one nice hardtail. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alexander Mattal
a Downhiller
from Estonia
Date Reviewed: July 21, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Deeeeep Forest =) | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$370.00 | | Purchased At: | BikeShop | | Strengths: | Great FRAME! For that kind of price it's one of the best bikes for upgrade... =) And one of the best at all for beginners | | Weaknesses: | Frame is only thing should stay on bike after upgrade... =) All the things like fork, pedals and so on are too weak even for an amateur downhilling =( | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 4500, Kona Blast | | Bike Setup: | I've done this upgrade for only 470$:
-RockShox Duke SL 100mm 2002
-Avid SD7 Brake System
-AC DH Holeshot Chainring
-Front Der. Deore LX
-Rear Der. Deore LX
-Front Wheel:
-Tioga Factory DH Front Rim
-Ritchey DT spokes
-Rear Wheel:
-Tioga Factory DH Rear Rim
-Ritchey DT spokes
-Nokian Gazzaloddi Tire (26*2,3 1100g) | | Bottom Line: | Great bike after upgrade! Therefore, where could you such great bike for only 370+470$ with a lot of part to sale with =)?
If you lookat Trek models for 840$... Trek 6700, Trek 6500?
And if you don't have such money at the moment?
So buy it and upgrade while collecting money...
I think, it's the CHEAPEST MUSTbuy bike!
BUY and UPGRADE and JOIN! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ian
a Weekend Warrior
from Lodi, CA USA
Date Reviewed: July 17, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Mr. Toads, Tahoe | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$380.00 | | Purchased At: | City Bicycles | | Strengths: | Frame is stiff
Components are good at first
durable (except rear deraileur)
everything(except rear deraileur) | | Weaknesses: | rear deraileur-just crap, buy a deore or sram 7.0
| | Similar Products Used: | gary fisher marlin-better components and fork
specialized hardrock-frame feels mushy, just doesn't match up | | Bike Setup: | sram 7.0 rear deraileur, hell bent bars, longer stem, new fork in the works (probably manitou), i'm gonna trick this bikeout! | | Bottom Line: | this bike is excellent for a person looking to get into biking. start with a hardtail and only ride hardtails!!! Only girls who can't suck bumps need full suspension. This bike isworth every dime. you don't have to worry about putting good components on a crappy frame.
overall = 4 because no bike is perfect. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dean-0
a Cross Country Rider
from Morgantown, WV
Date Reviewed: June 24, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | White Park in Morgantown, WV | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$275.00 | | Purchased At: | Wamsley Cycles | | Strengths: | Good strong frame. Good buy. Easy to control. | | Weaknesses: | Bent rims first time on a trail. Cheap pedals (but they can easily be upgraded). | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 800 Antelope | | Bike Setup: | Stock with computer (budget) | | Bottom Line: | This bike has been a great purchase for me. I was looking for a XC bike under $450, and I found it. I thought about the 4500, but I needed to save some cash. The first time I took it out on a hard trail, I bent both wheels a little bit. After I had them tightened, I haven't had any troubles. I took the bike on a trip this weekend, and I totally thrashed it. Had no problems whatsoever. I would recommend this bike to anyone who is either getting started in XC riding or wanting to get back into it (like me). It's especially nice on the wallet. I had to buy a helmet and some other accessories too, and my total bill was $376. Can't beat it.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
William Lewis
a Cross Country Rider
from Morgantown, wv, usa
Date Reviewed: June 17, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | i like em all | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$309.00 | | Purchased At: | wamsley cycles (great place) | | Strengths: | price, 24 speed ez-fire, color, frame is really sturdy | | Weaknesses: | Pedals, rear wheel really comes untrue easily, capa tl fork | | Similar Products Used: | gt lts-3 (Stolen). this is my first hardtail | | Bike Setup: | specialized bar ends, system 1 pedals, 2 cages. | | Bottom Line: | this is a great bike. i weigh 230 pounds, and i ride hard. its taken a pounding. rides like i weigh 190 pounds. very smooth riding bike. if you are looking for a bang for the buck, this has to be the best value out there. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alexandra S
a Weekend Warrior
from Burbank California USA
Date Reviewed: June 15, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | $320-Glendale Cyclery | | Strengths: | frame, paint job, PRICE! | | Weaknesses: | cheap assed plastic no grip pedals, front shocks | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 820 | | Bike Setup: | those pedals touched me feet for the duration of the test run only and never made it out the shop (I had to get a pedicure afterwards just to console my soiled footsies) | | Bottom Line: | C'mon, brand name tried and true frame for $320??? Just con your pro friends into upgrading their Specialized's and giving you their "old" Rock Shox.
Great bike for beginner mountain bikers like myself and best for the price by far.
A more experienced rider would pass it up, but they would definitely NOT scoff. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Randy W
a Cross Country Rider
from Birmingham Alabama
Date Reviewed: June 15, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Oak Mountain State Park (Home of the "BUMP & Grind" | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$339.00 | | Purchased At: | Cahaba Cycle | | Strengths: | Just about everything. | | Weaknesses: | I wish all hardtails came with suspension seatpost. | | Similar Products Used: | Cheap discount store bikes. | | Bike Setup: | Stock. (except for the pedals) | | Bottom Line: | If you don't race every week, or try to commit suicide busting insane drops, buy this bike and save the extra cash for when you come out of the woods. I ride hard, way 200 pounds (its muscle, not fat) and the bike has held up just fine. If you would love to ride the same bike for years without worry, buy this one. Its very upgradable so you want have to buy a new bike in a year. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lumberg
a Weekend Warrior
from Boulder, CO
Date Reviewed: May 30, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | only been on one! | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Price Paid: |
$365.00 | | Purchased At: | University Bikes on Pearl | | Strengths: | *comfortable
*frame (light weight, cool design, and disc mounts) | | Weaknesses: | *drivetrain seemed out of whack, then again i have no idea what im doing, so it was probably my newbie shifting techniques.
*fork (2.5" my ass!)
*pedals are gonna bust soon, i know it! cheap plastic.
| | Similar Products Used: | BMX Mongoose in like '89 - Trek 820 | | Bike Setup: | factory (plus whatever my homies can hook me up with from their garage full of spare parts) | | Bottom Line: | Definitley a good purchase for a beginner. Be prepared to upgrade the fork, and probably the entire drive train in 6 mos. The frame will last a long time. Just work more OT and get those parts you want!
Bill Lumberg, CEO, IniTech | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew Laughlin
a Weekend Warrior
from Gettysburg, P.A.
Date Reviewed: May 17, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Mischaux | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$360.00 | | Purchased At: | Gettysburg Bicycle and fitness | | Strengths: | Great frame and headset | | Weaknesses: | everythingthat i didnt name above. The handlebars, crankset, rear derraileur, fork, stem SUCK!!!!!! | | Similar Products Used: | NONE | | Bottom Line: | Great bike smooth ride (for a park ride). Not made for jumping. Handlebars bent of 6 foot stair jumps. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jon Staldine
a Weekend Warrior
from Gillette, Wyoming, US
Date Reviewed: May 3, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Thunder Basin Grasslands outside Weston | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$320.00 | | Purchased At: | Spoke And Edge Sports | | Strengths: | Great Frame! Decent componentry, variation in sizes, looks, build quality, reputation, great transfer of power for a MTB. | | Weaknesses: | Mine had a fork defect, in an already fledgling wussy of a fork. Tires are, um... not that great. Pedals? Ha! Those never left the shop! I made them fix the fork and slap on some alloy cage pedals with toe clips, works wonders! | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 820, Schwinn Moab (the cheaper one), GF Mamba | | Bike Setup: | New pedals, funtioning/adjustable fork. Rack (hey, I go to college next year! Have to have some way to schlep my stuff!), I am saving up for a Marzocci fork... | | Bottom Line: | GREAT bike, especially for the money! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Daniel Garand
a Weekend Warrior
from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 2, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$545.00 | | Purchased At: | Olympia Cycle & Ski | | Strengths: | +Alpha custom aluminum frame
+average components(acera)
+awesome paint
+excellent geometry | | Weaknesses: | -fork(rst Capa tl)-got to go!
-cheap rims( not recommended for big jumps I learnt the hard way!)
-cheap nylon pedals with reflectors?!?!?!?!? | | Similar Products Used: | Norco bush pilot 02' | | Bike Setup: | stock except for fork( manitou black ), metal pedals | | Bottom Line: | The trek 4300 has some serious good looks but also has a component package to back that up! For a brand name hardtail with an aluminum frame decent components,(I can't forget the price! 545$ canadian) it's without a doubt the best bike for it's money hands down! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ankur Vakil
a Cross Country Rider
from Davis, California
Date Reviewed: April 29, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | salmon falls | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$320.00 | | Purchased At: | city bike works in sacramento | | Strengths: | everything works, the frame looks and works great, but a tad heavy (4.3 pounds) | | Weaknesses: | the fork, is horrible, but needs to replaced | | Similar Products Used: | rockhopper, and schwin mesa | | Bike Setup: | xtr rear derailuer (stuipd i know), manitou mars c air fork, carbon fiber bars and titec stem (big AL) | | Bottom Line: | this bike works for entry level ppl. But if you are a carbon fiber junkie like me, or want all LX, u may not like it. the fork also never gave me "63 mm" of travel, thats a joke. they should stop making that thing. Overall its a great bike and buy it if you are just getting into mtb, cuz it will get you hooked. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Justin F
a Cross Country Rider
from Utah
Date Reviewed: April 22, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Easy poser trails | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | bike shop | | Strengths: | Blue is a good color, but not as good as red, the color of Matt's Kona Stinky | | Weaknesses: | It is not as cool, strong, or as much of a chick magnet as Matt's Kona Stinky | | Similar Products Used: | It's not really similar, but I used Matt's Kona Stinky which is better | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | It is a good bike, but not near as good as Matt's Kona Stinky. I ride around and I see him crusing around on his Kona Stinky and he gets all of the ladies and he goes off of cool jumps on his Kona Stinky. I want a Kona Stinky like Matt so I can be cool and get ladies. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John O'Hara
a Cross Country Rider
from Nr London, England
Date Reviewed: April 16, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$450.00 | | Purchased At: | Hatfield Cycles | | Strengths: | All round component strenghths, except the pedals which were changed b4 it even left the shop! Great all round bike for what i want | | Weaknesses: | chain rubs in some of my most comfy gears, bent rear rim in 3 days,the tryes were changed to road/off road cross to suit my usage.Also not to chuffed with the riser bar but i guess thats just me coz all bikes seem to have em now! | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | factory, except the tyres & pedals of course, looking to upgrade rims, seat post, bar and whack a brake booster on if poss but havent got a clue where to start !! | | Bottom Line: | great bike for me at the mo although i will start to upgrade parts as i do more off road as most of mine is road at the mo. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steven Soares
a Weekend Warrior
from Land o Lakes
Date Reviewed: April 11, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Carter Road in Lakeland, FL | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$310.00 | | Purchased At: | Dud Thames | | Strengths: | Good frame to build on, rapid fire shifters, and brakes are responsive | | Weaknesses: | Seat ripped within a few months, Soft Chain Ring is warped easily, The RST Capa shock blows big monkey balls, rims untrue easily, tubes could be tougher got a flat from a sand spur, plastic pedals are weak but save your shins, 8 gear cassette comes with 7 gear chain | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 820 | | Bike Setup: | Slapped on a lizard skin b/c chain tears up rear tubing and just upgraded front shock to Manitou Six Deluxe | | Bottom Line: | This is a great bike for any one who just wants to get out and tear up the trails. It has taken much abuse from me and is still hangin tough. The RST shock is ok but its cheap and mine had a defect. Trek replaced it though. Just to inform the RST USA company has had to recall 3300 forks b/c they were breaking and messing people up. Since 99' RST has disappeared and resurfaced as Mozo, or so I hear. Sounds like fishes to me. Overall this a great bike if you want something thats durable and will take the beating you can dish out. Shop around, do some research, and don't let any salesmen talk you into buying something they may be trying to get ride of. Peace | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dennis Willman
a Cross Country Rider
from delaware,ohio
Date Reviewed: April 11, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | a homemade one of of the scioto river | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$360.00 | | Purchased At: | break-a-way | | Strengths: | this bike is great for beginers, good colors, strong, and great componets. | | Weaknesses: | scratches easily, at least for me but i ride it hard. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bottom Line: | the trek 4300 is a great bike for beginners. It treats me well and does what i need it to do. Its a very good buy. i smoke my friends on and off the road all the time. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt
a Weekend Warrior
from Grand Rapids, Michigan
Date Reviewed: March 30, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | I love 'em all | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$380.00 | | Purchased At: | Chicago Drive Schwinn | | Strengths: | Frame Strength, light weight, powerful, sweet paintjob, awsome stock parts | | Weaknesses: | Original sprocket was weak, chain rubs front derailer even when adjusted correctly, weak plastic pedals | | Similar Products Used: | Gary Fisher Mamba, Trek 800, 820, 820 Sport, 4500 | | Bike Setup: | Upgraded to a SunRace sprocket, upgraded to all metal mtb pedals, replaced riser handle bars with flats | | Bottom Line: | This is an awsome bike! Even for a 180lb guy like me, it performs like I was half my weight. I owned a Pacific TimberRidge before this, and now that I have a Trek 4300, it feels like I drive a Mercedes. I recrommend this bike to everyone, it provides dirt ripping torque, and can act as gentle as a feather. This is a great bike! For the 11 years I have been riding bikes, this is the best yet! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael Solowiow
a Racer
from Colorado Springs, CO
Date Reviewed: March 17, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Powerlines, Ridgeline, and the AirField Dash | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$325.00 | | Purchased At: | Criterium | | Strengths: | Inexpensive, brand name hardtail. Great value for the money. Good components compared to its rivals. | | Weaknesses: | Main drive gears, bent after some heavy riding, but easily bent back with pliers. Shock is hard as a rock in cold weather. | | Similar Products Used: | Giant Iguana, Huffy (borrowed, of course), Schwinn Moab | | Bike Setup: | Stock except I replaced the plastic pedals with metal cages, and I put bar ends on to protect my hands from the low pine branches | | Bottom Line: | Excellent beginner bike. I just got into cycling and this was the bike I started with. The fork is good enough for fun rides on the trails around here, the shifters are quick and fairly precise, and the brakes are good enough for technical trails. I absolutely loved it compared to the Giant and old Huffy I borrowed (please, don't ride this except on dry pavement, you WILL inure yourself). Thanks to the exceptional performance of this bike, I am now a dedicated member of the Air Force Triathlon team with a Trek 2300 (another excellent bike). If you want to get started in Mountain Biking, this is the bike to do it with. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dylan
a Weekend Warrior
from Princeton, NJ
Date Reviewed: March 16, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything new | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$316.00 | | Purchased At: | Jay's Cycles in Princeton, NJ | | Strengths: | Very nice ride and low price. | | Weaknesses: | Cheap plastic pedals | | Similar Products Used: | Tested the Trek 820, not a bad bike, but the Aluminum 4300 was well worth the upgrade for less than $40.00 | | Bike Setup: | Factory setup exept for the pedals. I replaced them with metal platforms, HUGE difference in grip!!! | | Bottom Line: | A great bike and a great value for a newbe like my self. Others have commented on the quality of the components and the fork, but if you don't know what Baluga Caviar tastes like, your just as happy with the cheep stuff. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
herb silio
a Weekend Warrior
from miami, fl.
Date Reviewed: March 9, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | All trails are my favs | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | Raleigh Bikes | | Strengths: | Price, Shifter, Frame | | Weaknesses: | Front Derailer, rims, seat | | Bottom Line: | As a begginner to the sport I looked at all hard tails under 600.00 and found that this bike , for its price and reliability, was the best I found. i average about 6-20 hours a week on this bike now and must agree with all others that have posted here, my seat was the first to go, front derailer is constantly needing adjustment, rims do get out of whack rather easily. But other than that I find my self being able to go where all other bikes go | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Christopher
a Cross Country Rider
from Tulsa, OK
Date Reviewed: February 16, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | powerline | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Purchased At: | T-Town | | Strengths: | +price
+frame strength
+saddle
+ease of shifting | | Weaknesses: | -CRAP pedals (step 1: remove reflectors!)
-CRAP tubes (busted both in less than 10 rides)
-Front casette dented twice (hard riding or bad construction, I don't know) | | Similar Products Used: | '99 giant ??, '02 rockhopper | | Bike Setup: | factory (clipless on the way | | Bottom Line: | Puts up with lots of abuse.
Dented the front cassette, probably from hard riding on very rocky trails.
A litle heavy, but not worth spending another $300 for all LX stuff.
If you're a beginner, BUY THIS BIKE!
If you're a serious rider, save for something lighter | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Thomas Canu
a Weekend Warrior
from Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA
Date Reviewed: January 22, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Appalachain Trail 18 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$310.00 | | Purchased At: | HDK Cycles | | Strengths: | Rapid fire shifters, strong frame, awesome response when brakes applied | | Weaknesses: | Rims untrue easliy, seat leather easy torn, tire tubes were rather weak, front derailleur rubs chain when in some gears, even in adjusted properly, pedals suck | | Similar Products Used: | Bo-Bo hardtails | | Bike Setup: | Original Components - But I've replaced those horrific treads and taken off the pedal reflectors - one word - UGLY | | Bottom Line: | For the money it's the best out there for a beginner. The fork should be replaced, along with the pedals. Don't spend over $320 on it. Get it on sale. If you are into heavy races, get a high quality TREK. GO TO TREK | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lynn
a Cross Country Rider
from Ohio
Date Reviewed: January 3, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Still Looking | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$319.00 | | Purchased At: | Rocky's in Marion, Ohio | | Strengths: | Frame, paint and finish, welds | | Weaknesses: | Pedals, wheels staying true | | Similar Products Used: | Tested M50, 820, 4300Disk, 4500, 4900 | | Bike Setup: | Stock for now....... | | Bottom Line: | Been touring rider 40+ years with all kinds of great bikes.. average 7k to 8k per year...this my first mountain bike..... friends asked me to go with them to WV to run some hills on Christmas break .... I needed a bike so looked at many bikes and compared specs ....... 4300 best value ..... same excellent frame as 4500 ... and I think 4900 ....... great starter to build on ..... can add disk breaks and replace components as I learn more about this sport and have a good basic frame to use for long time ....... I rate it as great value for the money and better than several bikes priced much higher .... nice finish ....... and I had a ball my first time out on the trails with it ... for my money this is a great bike for a beginner like me .......I am hooked !!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ed
a Weekend Warrior
from Richmond, VA
Date Reviewed: January 1, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$349.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS - Agee's | | Strengths: | - Strong Frame
- Relatively inexpensive
- Good starter bike | | Weaknesses: | - Most of the components are heavy, and cheap
- Rims goes out of true easily | | Bike Setup: | Stock except the peddal - TIME ATAC. | | Bottom Line: | The 4300 is a great starter bike. It is great for anyone that is just getting into the sport.
My only complains are of its components. They are heavy, and some of low quality (i.e. peddal). Also, the rims went out of true without much banging on it (about 40 miles worth of intermed. single track).
But, for $350, what do you expect?! Get this bike to start, and upgrade the components as you go. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Carl the Bold
a Weekend Warrior
from Montgomery, Alabama
Date Reviewed: December 19, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Swayback Bridge is the only game in town | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$336.00 | | Purchased At: | CycleEscape | | Strengths: | Value, Frame, and yeah, it looks cool | | Weaknesses: | Forks, pedals | | Similar Products Used: | GT, Specialized (rented) | | Bottom Line: | I shopped the sub-500 dollar range for bicycles extensively. I simply couldn't find a better bike for the money than the 4300. I'm new to biking, and if I keep riding like a maniac, I'm sure I'll upgrade some components. That aside, right off the shelf the bike has been everything that I need for my level of riding. This bike's frame is great, which makes it the perfect platform for beginners or people who have other things to spend their money on. It's a great way to get into the sport without making your wife freak out about a second mortgage to pay for gear. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Aaron Rahim
a Cross Country Rider
from Oakville ,ON ,CANADA
Date Reviewed: December 5, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Any twisty fast trail | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$330.00 | | Purchased At: | Cyclepath | | Strengths: | Frame is on the heavy side but its great | | Weaknesses: | rims (whos the dude who said they were good? theyre monkey sh**. Front derailleur. crank | | Similar Products Used: | 4500,4900, rocky moun. rm7 | | Bike Setup: | z5 , discs sooner or later. race face crank | | Bottom Line: | Great bike! This bike is a great bike , as long as you replace the rims.Buy it now and upgrade whatever you think sucks. The capa cl is ok but i needed more travel and quality so i got a z5. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
adam
a Weekend Warrior
from atlanta,ga
Date Reviewed: December 4, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$320.00 | | Strengths: | frame, rims, tires | | Weaknesses: | peddels, chainrings | | Similar Products Used: | marin, garyfisher | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | great bike for the price. i have ridden the crud out of it(about 3 times per weak)only problems so far was a squeeking and popping sound from the peddles and crankarms, but was fixed easily by tightening, the only true weakness is the chain rings the bend really easy, especially going over obsticles.bike is great for a starting mtb'r | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kirby Reed
a Weekend Warrior
from West Lafayette, IN, U.S.
Date Reviewed: December 3, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Hickory Ridge | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$320.00 | | Purchased At: | Hodson's Bay | | Strengths: | Overall Quality for the price | | Weaknesses: | Front Derailer could be improved a little | | Bottom Line: | I purchased the Trek 4300 towards the end of August,2001. For the money, this is a great bike for someone just getting into mt. biking. I have used my extensivly on trails and the street (almost 400 miles) and have had very few problems. Overall, if you can afford it, look into the Trek 4500, but if you are on a tight budget, the 4300 is a good buy. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sean Thomas
a Weekend Warrior
from Harleysville, PA USA
Date Reviewed: November 18, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Jacobsburg | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$329.00 | | Purchased At: | Indian Valley Bikeworks | | Strengths: | Stong, Light Frame. Nice looking paint. | | Weaknesses: | cheap plastic pedals | | Similar Products Used: | rented Giant Boulder | | Bike Setup: | Stock with Cateye computer | | Bottom Line: | Being new to mountain biking, I have done some things with this bike that I shouldn't have like jamming the crank into a boulder at speed at French Creek. As a result, the cheap pedals are falling apart, but everything else has held up great in more than 200 miles of off-road riding. The bike rides like a tank and seems very durable. As an entry level mountain bike, you can't go wrong for the price. I would recommend this bike to anyone new to mountain biking as it provides an enjoyable riding experience at a budget price. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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