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Submitted by
Claymo
a Weekend Warrior
from Durango, CO, USA
Date Reviewed: January 29, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Hermosa Creek Trail | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Purchased At: | Used from friend | | Strengths: | Great frame and rear suspension. Corners great. Very stable at high speeds. Great climber. Keeps a good line. | | Weaknesses: | Wheels are pretty weak, front fork not the best choice. Heavy. Outdated by trek's new technology like "ABP" and "Full Floater" | | Similar Products Used: | GT Avalanche Expert, Trek Fuel EX 6.5 | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | This is a great bike for someone who who loves being able to track straight all the way up the mountain and then fly down. Good for beginner to intermediate riders. Seasoned riders that want to go faster will want something a litte more sturdy with better components and stopping power. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gianfranco
a Weekend Warrior
from Encinitas, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: July 27, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1400.00 | | Strengths: | Handling is great. The rear shock performs fantastic | | Weaknesses: | The fork | | Bike Setup: | Factory | | Bottom Line: | A great bike for all mountain. However, the frame broke right above the deraileur and it all happened on a relatively smooth trail . I read some reviews about this problem before I bought the bike but I thought that it was not endemic to this model. I was wrong! Too bad. Trek however honored their lifetime warranty on just send me a brand new 2007 Remedy 66 frame. Thanks Trek! Hope this one will not have the same problem. I give this bike 2 chilis overall because just because the frame cracked. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jonathan yoo
a Downhiller
from ridgewood NJ
Date Reviewed: October 16, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1600.00 | | Purchased At: | ridgewood cycle | | Strengths: | the rear suspension works the best has grear travel for the big jumps. The fork is the best and works great and the frame is very sturdy. | | Weaknesses: | the pedals are very small and bend if leaned to a ledge.
the weight is a little heavier then the fuel 100. | | Similar Products Used: | fuel 100 | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | It is a great bike and if you like to ride downhill on mountains or just down a local trail or even up it is great very smooth and it takes the jumps very great. The suspension was great and for those trails with mud, rocks, uphill, steep falls and sharp turns this is a perfect bike.
just try it for yourself and if u dont like it which u wont just return it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Robert Ryles
a Cross Country Rider
from Destin, Fl USA
Date Reviewed: March 14, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything in W. NC | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1600.00 | | Purchased At: | Built by me | | Strengths: | Beautiful, stong frame. Smoothe suspension. | | Weaknesses: | None so far. Only half dozen rides so far. | | Similar Products Used: | GT I-Drive. Early model with no provision for discs. | | Bike Setup: | Marzocchi Marathon, Mavis 317's laced to Kings, Hayes disc brakes, XTR shifters and derailleurs, Race Face bars and crank, King head set, Thompson stem and post, 540's, Selle Gel Titanium, Odi LockJaw, etc. | | Bottom Line: | I built this bike to replace my 6yo I-Drive using some parts off it, some used parts and some new. The frame I bought off the classifieds here. The suspension is plush and takes the roots/rocks much better than the GT. In the tight, twisty stuff, it does not handle as sharp as the GT. The GT must have a steeper crown angle. The Trek is a little longer due to the long travel fork. It's a trade off. I am in the process of rebuilding the GT so I will have both and my old Bronco is large enough to carry both. I will give it 5 flamers as I was able to build this ride with top drawer components at a reasonable cost. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Christian
a Cross Country Rider
from Lima, Peru
Date Reviewed: July 23, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Strengths: | Strong frame, Fox fork & rear suspension | | Weaknesses: | Noises from stock seat post and saddle. Needs to be lubed. Heavy from stock (could be lighter?). 6" Hayes Rear disc break. Stock pedals. | | Similar Products Used: | Raleigh RAM | | Bike Setup: | selle italia flite gelflow saddle, shimano xtr chain, 8" hayes rear disc brake, easton ec70 monkeylite xc riser bar, crank bros eggbeater pedals, thomson elite seatpost, panaracer fire xc pro tire (front & rear) | | Bottom Line: | I am 5'8" and weight about 160. My bike size is 17.5 and it weights about 30. The suspension is good. It cames with Fox Talas RL air spring (80/125mm on-the-fly adjustable travel). You have to set it up for your weight and style of riding. Also you can setup rebound/compression damping, lockout. With 5" of travel the roughest trails are smoothed out. Is a high performance do anything bike. It's too expensive for a beginner. Not for racing. Performs very well on the trails. Climbs very well and goes down at high speeds. If you like hitting small jumps, ledges, and bombing down hills, but you also like going up hill, this is your bike. Highly recommended. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Weekend Warrior
from North Yorkshire UK
Date Reviewed: June 19, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Descends beautifully, will ride over pretty much anything that gets in the way, rocks, roots, drop offs. TALAS shock is very easy to set up and super smooth, lockout is good for the road and the climbs too. Handles well on the technical stuff, and through woods and single track. The bike climbs very well, it digs in and responds well to pedal input. I have Marzocchi freerides on the front with ECC5 lockdown, which is great for climbing as it enables the front to be lowered to just the right angle.
The finish of the frame is excellent with an attractive black paint job. | | Weaknesses: | The frame is heavyish, which is most noticeable when shouldering over gates, stiles etc. Doesn't ride heavy though. | | Similar Products Used: | Orange Sub5, Marin TARA, Specialized FSR. | | Bike Setup: | Marzocchi Z1FR SL forks, XT Transmission, Hope Mini disc Brakes, Mavic X317 rims on WTB hubs with WTB Motoraptor 2.24 tyres. Easton EA50 bars, stem and seatpost, Hope quickrelease seatpost clamp. | | Bottom Line: | Very pleased with the Frame, I'm riding over stuff I wouldn't have done before on my old Specialized FSR, but still climbing just as well. The extra travel is well worth having, the travel adjustment I'm not sure about, as I have used it a lot but now tend to leave the bike in the max setting. The suspension is fully active, but I like that because of the comfort factor. The Bike really accelerates, with a very direct response to pedalling. For road sections the lockout is a bonus which I do use a lot. It is heavier than some other similar products, but I haven't found that to be an issue, its not the sort of bike you'd go racing on anyway.
Overall it does everything I want it to, and you can't ask for more than that. I've only given it 4 for value, because I have spent a lot of money on it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ray Green
a Weekend Warrior
from London
Date Reviewed: May 23, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Epping Forest/Bracknell | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Leisure Cycles, Hemel Hempstead | | Strengths: | Versatility. Most of my riding is done in my local forest where i use the bike predominantly in short travel mode. However I have made a few trips to Bracknel and Wales where the terrain is more rough and the bike just eats up the lumps and bumps. It climbs fairly quick locked out. Plus you can stand up and give it some up the hills. | | Weaknesses: | You notice the weight when your trawling through great British mud in the winter. My headset seized up within 6 months. My bottom bracket went within 9 months. The bars are the next on my list..going to fit some Easton carbon risers. The bike was advertised with a TALAS FLC but came fitted with a FL i.e. no compression damping or remote lockout. Also no quickrelease seatpost clamp. | | Bike Setup: | Stock except Hope headset, Hope seatpost QR and FSA platinum BB. | | Bottom Line: | Excellent alrounder. Excellent spec. Fox front and back say no more. More fun downhill than up but then that's biking fullstop. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dean
a Weekend Warrior
from Raleigh, NC, USA
Date Reviewed: April 23, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Bottom Line: | Update to previous review:
The headset finally gave out on the bike. LBS gave me $30 credit towards a Kris King and installed it for $15 (I guess I have to eat crow on the KK headset comments previously:-)
The Front Shock gave out not 15min. after I got the bike back. During the first part of the compression cycle it makes a loud "klunk" and the travel adjustment knob on the left stanchion just turns and turns with no resulting adjustment. Sounds like something has come loose internally. Sending back to Fox via LBS.
The Rear Shock no longer 3 adjustment settings. Only fully compressed or fully extended. The middle setting does nothing. LBS stated that FOX says that cycling the shock without air in it will cause this failure. I did this exact thing while packing the bike for a trip to Moab, UT. DO NOT CYCLE THE SHOCK WITHOUT AIR IN IT! Sending back to Foax via LBS. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan Z
a Weekend Warrior
from Chicago IL USA
Date Reviewed: March 26, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Kettle Moraine | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$2200.00 | | Purchased At: | Racine Cyclery | | Strengths: | Great Bike. Climbs very well for the suspension that it has. Bakes are just fine. XT/XTR setup is great. Fox front shock is the best ever!!! | | Weaknesses: | rear lockout just sucks, you really have to put a lot of air in it to keep it locked out for climbing | | Similar Products Used: | S-Works, Rockhopper | | Bike Setup: | stock but for Chris King headset, ProFires front tire, will be getting new seat this year | | Bottom Line: | For the price the bike is just great. A little too much travel for city riding seeing that I live downtown chi-town. but for trails the bike is great. Took it out to Colorado last year and had the best time jumping and racing around corners, keeping with the locals with there DH bikes! My only conern is that the rear lockout pretty much sucks, front shock is just great, everything from loking out to extending it in a hurry and the look and feel of this bike is just great!!! Everyone always asks me about it!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Charlie
a Weekend Warrior
from Raleigh,NC USA
Date Reviewed: March 4, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Rocky Road | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | Suspension is the best. Fox Talas makes a wonderful product. I should have upgraded to a bike of this grade earlier. Truly allowing me to do jumps and things I never believed I could do. Great product if you want to XC and do some jumps. | | Weaknesses: | Price point puts to out of most price ranges. I was VERY lucky to get this on Ebay. The stop putting the FOX Talas front fork on the 2004 | | Similar Products Used: | Gary Fisher Joshua. | | Bike Setup: | Stock. | | Bottom Line: | This IS the best dual sport mountain bike for cross country and some jumps/downhill. Or if you are >190 pounds. I you can find a 2003 model... GET IT! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jay
a Cross Country Rider
from Milwaukee,WI
Date Reviewed: March 1, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Exreme Ski and Bike, Theinsville, WI | | Strengths: | Looks, plush suspension, geometry | | Weaknesses: | P.O.S--- headset on an expensive bike. Its not really a headset at all, but a dirt storage compartment.
Typical Trek seat-tube creak.
| | Similar Products Used: | Intense Uzzi SL, Trek Fuel and Sugar | | Bike Setup: | Chris King Headset, Thompson seat post and stem. Super-X Tires. | | Bottom Line: | After sixs months of racing xc and endurance races I want to update my previous review. My overall view of this bike is unchanged. IT ROCKS ! Absolutely hands down my favoite bike of all.
Only two small issues have crept up in six months. First is the leaky seals on the otherwise fabulous Fox suspension that Fox has fixed under warranty. Second is what I suspect to be the chronic problem Trek bikes have of seatposts creaking. I have had two other hardtail aluminum Trek bikes that had the same sounds emanating from that area. In both cases the culprit was a 4" shim inside the top of the seat-tube of the frame that works loose. Warranty work did not solve my problem either time. I fixed it myself by clamping an old front derailleur (clamp only) aroound the seat tube about 2" down from the seatpost clamp. problem permantly solved! Now my liquid is acting up and I don't think my old remedy will work on this new frame since the seat tube is tapered and much larger at the top than any derailleur clamp I know of. Anybody have a solution ?? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dean Moss
a Weekend Warrior
from Raleigh
Date Reviewed: February 18, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | New Light | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2150.00 | | Purchased At: | Franklin Street Cycles | | Strengths: | Fox fork, beefy stanchions, no flex like in my old Rock Shox SID; TALAS fork/shock, really works nice switching to 4" travel on steep downhills (changing geometry), same for switching to 3" travel on the fork if you have a long climb (otherwise the front fork adjustment is too much trouble) | | Weaknesses: | Headset: I am not one of those riders that critiques every component based on name (it doesn't have to be a KING headset to work fine IMHO). I expect very few things from a headset but this one fails the most basic right out the box. There is no bottom seal on the headset! I thought that it must be an installation error so I looked at a buddies bike, exact same bike, purchased at a different place. Same problem. You can actually see the ball bearings and the grease if you turn the bike upside down and look down where the fork crown and the headtube meet. Must be a manufacturing defect. Anyone else seen this? | | Bike Setup: | More importantly, my setup: 205lb. rider w/o gear. Ride pretty aggressively 2-3 times a week. Like technical trails. Don't like climbing unless there is some downhill payback on the other side. However, must admit that short technical climbs are fun. | | Bottom Line: | Haven't had the bike long enough to tell yet. Can make one statement on this bike though. I hit my first honest 5' drop this weekend (actually did it a couple of times) and the bike never complained. Not one creak! The landings felt vey smooth even though the "dirt ring" on the front shock showed that I must have bottomed it out. Never felt it. Don't know if it was too much adrenaline or what.
2 chili's for the headset. 5 chilis for the bike because I haven't found a reason to give it any less yet. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
gregor
a
from san jose,ca,usa
Date Reviewed: February 13, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | tractor | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | hyland family bicycles | | Strengths: | the frame and rear shock. I weigh 240lbs and I have no worries with this bike under me. | | Weaknesses: | none that I can think of. | | Similar Products Used: | trek fuel 98, trek fuel 100, trek Y 50, | | Bike Setup: | psylo xc, xt discs, Phil Wood disc hubs the best in the world. sun rhyno lite hoops , Phil Wood spokes, Chris king hedset,Time pedals. | | Bottom Line: | I've ridden this bike all over the place from Demo & skeggs to long cross country rides at Henery coe. This might actually be the last full suspension bike I buy. This bike can do it all. If your thinking about buying A new bike this is the one!!!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason
a Weekend Warrior
from Houston, TX
Date Reviewed: January 26, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2800.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Barn | | Strengths: | strong frame, plush ride, beautiful bike to look at and ride. rear hub supposedly made by Hugi? comparable to chris king (lets hope so) and feels light when riding. suspension has saved my privates many a time! | | Weaknesses: | cant think of any? actually, it would be nice to have a remote lockout for the rear as well. its hard to reach down there and flick it off before a climb.. | | Similar Products Used: | my first full suspension bike. peugot and specialized hardtails before this.. | | Bike Setup: | stock for now except for wellgo mg-1 platform pedals (huge difference btw) | | Bottom Line: | for someone that lives in a flat city such as houston, the only available trails are at parks and such. we have a few singletrack trails and this bike eats it up easy. i'm a noob but this bike (after a few weeks) makes me feel like a champ. i rip through roots and drops like butter. suspension is plush and smooth. leave the back at 5" and keep it there. you may want to lock out the rear when climbing, its hard to reach down there while you are riding. some say they dont feel much pedal bob when climbing, but i feel some. maybe i should try to ride a little differently. for people wanting big air, this bike *can* handle it up to an extent, but go for a DH bike if you want to do 10 + ft. drops. the suspension only has 5" front and 5" rear which is plenty for XC and light urban (not trials obviously, get a trails specific hardtail for that) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason Flanagan
a Weekend Warrior
from Salem, OR USA
Date Reviewed: January 22, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | McKenzie River trail | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | Scott's Cycle | | Strengths: | Stout feel, bottomless feeling travel, adjustable travel,handling, BLACK!!!! | | Weaknesses: | No tubeless tires to go with tubeless wheelset, a touch heavy for an all-purpose trailbike. Pedals clip rocks on lowest travel setting (3") rides great @ 5" | | Similar Products Used: | Jamis Dakar Expert, Gary Fischer Katai | | Bike Setup: | Shimano XT/XTR mix with Bontrager cranks, Thomson stem and seatpost, Easton monkey lite carbon bars, Hayes Hyd. Discs,Time carbon pedals (the best!)Fox TALAS RLC fork and shock, Michelin tubeless tires | | Bottom Line: | This is a great all mountain bike, if you can only have one mountain bike, this is a great choice. The handling is excellent down hill and it climbs fairly well for a 28lb bike-and look at my parts kit, it won't get much lighter. On the lowest travel setting I tend do bang my pedals on rocky trails. The Fox fork is like butter, and I came from a Manitou XVert that I loved, this fork is vastly superior. The rear shock is also great feeling and much smoother than most air shocks I have ridden. I absolutely love this bike and my only regret is not waiting for the stable platform version that arrived in '04-no travel adjust but who needs it with stable platform. This bike has very minimal bob, and a fox propedal shock would most likely fix the bit it has. Highly recommended. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steven Hill
a Cross Country Rider
from Scottsdale
Date Reviewed: January 16, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | desert | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | Landis Cyclery, Scottsdale | | Strengths: | Great bike if you are well under 210lbs. | | Weaknesses: | Increasingly dangerous if you are a Clydesdale over 215lbs. | | Similar Products Used: | Entire Fuel Line. | | Bike Setup: | wheels, brakes, cranks, and chain. And a seat w/ post. | | Bottom Line: | This a followup to my Liquid Fuel30 and Fuel90 reviews in recent years. I have broken (4) fuel ZR9000 frames, (1) fuel98 OCLV carbon rear triangle, and (1) Fuel30 all-mountain frame. The latest catastrophic break occured while pulling a wheelie on my front street, no warning with creaks and such that I've experienced with Fuels. No visible cracks until the seat tube (not post) and cross bard severed and left me on the street. Trek again honored their lifetime warranty, but no frame credit to save me from a future accident. I will be back on this review in 3 months if my past history breaking Trek proves correct. I am 6'5" 235lbs and a solid XC rider, no FS, crazy jumps. Occassional rock field is most I do. Do not buy if you are/plan to be over 210lbs. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a Cross Country Rider
from Baltimore,MD, USA
Date Reviewed: January 11, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2600.00 | | Purchased At: | Joe's Bike Shop | | Strengths: | Great all around ride. Decends very fast on steep rocky down hills with lots of confidence and control. Feels very tight on single track and gobbles up roots, rocks and just about anything in its way. Climbs like a mountain goat. | | Weaknesses: | None! | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 9.8, Specialized Stump Jumper FSR | | Bike Setup: | Components are stock. Hayes Mag hydraulic disc brakes, XTR/XT drive train and rapid fire shifters. Fox Talas RL fork(125mm) and Fox Talas RL rear shock(5" travel),Bontrager Race Lite Disc Tubless wheels. | | Bottom Line: | The best ride I've ever had. After riding XC hardtails for years this is a major upgrade for me and I am glad I made the move to this long travel bike. Its heavier than I am used to but the efficiency and comfort gained from the longer travel and stability of the bike is worth the trade off in weight.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kenn
a Cross Country Rider
from Sin City NV USA
Date Reviewed: December 16, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | All at Bootleg Canyon | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Shop Henderson | | Strengths: | This a very strong frame. I am a clydesdale rider and I need a strong frame. 6'1 250 I am having an awesome time riding this bike. I like it a lot better than the Kona I had. It climbs like a beast and freerides with the best of them. | | Weaknesses: | Finicky shifting until it is dialed in. Other than that none. | | Similar Products Used: | Kona Kikapu, Redline Monocog, Gary Fisher Level Betty | | Bike Setup: | Deore Discs, XT cranks, Easton EA50 bar, XT shifters at both ends, Thomson Elite seatpost, Maxxis Minion 2.35 at both ends, Fox Vanilla 125 RL fork, Fox Talas rear,etc. | | Bottom Line: | The best ride I have ridden. Light and stout for a freeride bike. It can climb superbly and fly down the trails fast an in control. I was looking for a bike I can ride hard and not have any problems. I would definately buy a Trek product again. Also made in the US, a plus!
Thanks to Terry, Ray, Joey, Zubi, at the Bike Shop in Henderson for dialing me in so well. I would recommend his shop to everyone! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gary
a Weekend Warrior
from Front Range, Colorado
Date Reviewed: December 12, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | too many | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | Frame only on eBay | | Strengths: | Good dimensions for a clydesdale like me. Fox Talus! Can handle anything uphill or down as long as you don't get totally crazy on the hucks! (don't TRY to break it). Weight is very reasonable. | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | first full-suspension. Kona hardtails | | Bike Setup: | Rear Shock: Fox TALUS RL, Front: '04 Marzocchi MX Pro ETA -120mm, Brakes: Hayes Hydralic Disc, Components: XT/XTR/LX Deore Cranks. Wheels/Tires: Mavic/Continental | | Bottom Line: | If you want a super smooth FS bike that can handle any XC trail and reasonable DH (no 10' hucks) look no further. It may be able to handle more extreme DH but I don't want to risk breaking this sweet of a bike. I've broken a few at 6'4" and 200lb.
It took a lot a tweeking to build the bike up with my components off my Kona hardtail. The front derailer adjustment is especially tricky with non-stock components since the main bottom hinge sorta gets in the way.
The ride is amazing once you have it set up correctly. I love the rear geometry and the Fox TALUS system. Even in full travel mode, there is no pedal bob. Although if you think you need it you can adjust the TALUS down to 1/2, 1/4, and full lockout by flicking the switches. The Marz MX Pro ETA front shock is a much better choice than the Rockshox that comes stock. Flip a switch and your down in climbing mode; at the top flip it back and you've got your instant 5" of travel for bombing.
Big thanks to Tim and the boys at Balanced Rock in Monument (http://www.balancedbike.com) for building it up for me.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Robert
a Weekend Warrior
from Rockwall, TX
Date Reviewed: December 10, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Tyler State Park | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2300.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Fox suspension, XT/XTR shifting, Hayes Disk Brakes, Trek quality | | Weaknesses: | Cheap seat and pedals on an expensive bike. | | Similar Products Used: | Only the second bke I have owned... first was a Trek 4900 hardtail. | | Bike Setup: | Stock, but I plan to change the crank to XT and pedals to Crank Bros Candies later this month. | | Bottom Line: | I have been riding for 3 years and upgraded to the Liquid 30 about 6 months ago. It is a great ride. The bike goes everywhere and it makes me a much better rider. The Fox suspension is smooth and takes everything you hit. I leave the back suspension at 5" nearly all the time and experience very little pedal bob. The bike climbs good.
I spent a lot of money on this bike, but after 6 months riding... I have no regrets... love to ride this bike! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
TomasZ
a Weekend Warrior
from Prague, CZE
Date Reviewed: November 25, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Suspension, geometry, design | | Weaknesses: | Bit heavy for pure XC riders (not me), price | | Similar Products Used: | Trek Fuel 90Disc, Specialized Enduro FSR | | Bike Setup: | stock frame, Psylo SL, XT/LX, Hayes MAG, Rolf wheelset, WTB mutanoraptor 2.24, bontrager components, Easton EA50 mid-rizers | | Bottom Line: | I got this frame as a replacement (and I paid the difference between stock frames) for my old poor broken Fuel. First ride was a BIG surprise - I was faster than my friend who got Enduro FSR a no brain in descents! Suspension is comparable with FSR. However it is bit lazy when I go uphill, but than is really minor problem. Bottom line is: When you got good deal on this bike, go for it. It is worth your money. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin
a Weekend Warrior
from CA
Date Reviewed: October 20, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Rock-it / Whitting Ranch | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1450.00 | | Purchased At: | local seller | | Strengths: | The Fox Talas front and rear suspension, Shimano XT/XTR components, and the Hayes disk breaks. | | Weaknesses: | Bontrager components, except the rims they are great. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek Y22, test ridden a friend's Specialized stumpjumper/Rockhopper. | | Bike Setup: | Totally stock for now. | | Bottom Line: | This is the best damn MTB bike I have ever ridden and it's an under statement. Although I just got the bike recently but I have tried other bikes through the same trail. This bike just rocket through whereas my other bike fails. The Fox TALAS forks/rear suspension is in a tatally diffrent league compares to the rest of the the suspension, not that the others are bad but the Fox's are better. The bikes geometry is impeccable, especially on the climb. Even set at 5" in the rear when climbing you can bearly feel the "bob". Through the quick tight turns uphill and downhill this bike just shines through it all. In my opinion this got to be one of the best bike on the market. A little expensive when purchase new at full price but I got it for a steal at $1450 from the local ad. Partially used but still in excellent condition. Highly recommend this bike for future upgraders. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Big&Heavy
a Weekend Warrior
from Clarksville, TN, USA
Date Reviewed: October 6, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | LBL | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2500.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Adaptable, light enough to race on weekends. Great over rough terrain. | | Weaknesses: | Seat sucks. Stock tires are too big. | | Similar Products Used: | Fuel 98, Raleigh M80 | | Bike Setup: | Full XTR 2003, Hutchison Python 2.0 tubeless. Selle Italia Flite Ti Gel saddle. Easton carbon seatpost. Fox Talas RLC fork and shock. | | Bottom Line: | This is a great bike. It is light enough to use on races. Lockouts for when you don't need suspension. The new XTR shifters work great and quick to get used to. The FOX fork and rear shock are the best I have ridden. The stock tires are too big but changing to the 2.0 made it ride very similar to the Fuel 98. It climbs great even out of the saddle. I am about 220 lbs. and have no complaints with the overall ride of this bike. It really soaks up rough terrain and makes an all day ride enjoyable. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
The Beast
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa Rosa, CA
Date Reviewed: September 1, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | South Berma | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1700.00 | | Purchased At: | Rincon Cyclery | | Strengths: | Sweet frame. ZR 9000 Aluminum is strong and light. Fox suspension is second to none. Fast and light (relativly) and perfect geometry. Fits my style perfectly | | Weaknesses: | Headset... CRAP! Have to run a very short chain so the rear deraileur doesn't rub against the casset... If you know how to shift properly this doesn't matter. Grips sucked. | | Similar Products Used: | Fuel, Specialized FSR (My old bike), Santa Cruz line, Intense Spider, Marin Mt. Vision | | Bike Setup: | Stock but for new grips | | Bottom Line: | I work at a shop and could get just about any bike at a great price but this was the one for me. It really does kick ass. I'm 6' 1" and about 195 pounds and this thing can take anything I throw at it. Big jumps, big drops, tight single track and ruts and rocks till the cows come home. Beautiful to look at and even better to ride. The adjustability makes it work in ANY situation. I just can't think of a better bike for my aggressive riding style. I try to get other people to buy 'em but every one wants the Santa Cruz bikes.... they are great bikes but these people have no idea what their missing out on in not getting the Liquid. In a word... it flows! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
HUGO JACINTO
a Weekend Warrior
from LISBOA-PORTUGAL
Date Reviewed: August 27, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | SINTRA | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1660.00 | | Purchased At: | CICLOVIAS-best bikeshop Lisbon Portugal | | Strengths: | rear shock,aluminium ZR9000 | | Weaknesses: | NONE | | Similar Products Used: | LIQUID 20 WHITHOUT LOCKOUT | | Bike Setup: | STEM AND SEATPOST THOMSON,ANDLEBAR PROTAPER,CONTINENTAL VERTICAL PRO UST | | Bottom Line: | Its the best bike i ever had and i tried | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jay Graupp
a Racer
from Milwaukee, WI USA
Date Reviewed: August 18, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything Technical | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Extreme Ski and Bike Theinsville, WI | | Strengths: | Plush, yet efficient suspension. Damn nice to look at! | | Weaknesses: | When used for it's intended purpose, none yet | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized fsr, Fisher Sugar, Intense Uzzi Sl, Trek fuel | | Bike Setup: | Stock, with Bontrager Super-X Tires | | Bottom Line: | Most fun bike I've ever ridden. Mostly due to the fox suspension, but the geometry is just more fun to ride than "pro race" XC geometry in almost all situations. I think my Trek STP-400 will spend much more time on the bench.
Like to ride long wheelies and do some jumping? The Liquid does it all better. When I ride now I don't worry about things like bending or breaking a frame or stressing the wheels, I just ride the way I WANT TO. Since I don't notice the extra beef while riding, I will use it for my next xc race and see if my lap time suffers any. If not, who do know wants to buy an stp 400 ?
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kerry
a Cross Country Rider
from Ann Arbor, MI
Date Reviewed: August 12, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Potowatomie | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1800.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | This is the most awesome mountain bike I've ever ridden. I am 6'4" 215 lbs. and it works perfectly for me. I bought a Liquid because I fear I would brake Fuel frames. I have a motocross background and this bike's suspension is friggin' awesome! I love being able to lock out the front and rear for road training. The bike is a little heavy but to be able to jump it, and go anywhere with no worries is worth it to me. | | Weaknesses: | Absolutely none! | | Similar Products Used: | Schwinn Moab, Kona Bear Dee-lux | | Bike Setup: | Full XTR, Easton EC70 carbon seatpost | | Bottom Line: | I got a great deal on this bike, I would definitely recommend this bike to a larger person, who wants a little more travel and doesn't want to worry about broken frames ffrom a pure cross-country bike. This bike feels like a part of me already. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pat
a Cross Country Rider
from Mission Viejo
Date Reviewed: August 12, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | SJT and Noble | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1900.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | Fox, Hayes, buttery smooth suspension | | Weaknesses: | Weight | | Similar Products Used: | Enduro, Stinky, Liquid 10,Intense, turner 5 spot, Trek 9700 | | Bike Setup: | Stock so far | | Bottom Line: | This is a great bike. I was lucky to find one brand new in the box on ebay for a good price. I've read the reviews and some people knock the adjustability of the suspension. It is a completely different bike when set up in the short travel mode front and rear. The bottom bracket is lower, more like a hard tail and it handles differently. Get to the top of the climb and switch to the full lenght of travel and you are ready to bomb down steep trails and technical descents, which is where this plush bike excels. If you are a XC rider looking for something that you can push harder than any short travel xc bike then this is it. Lock out the suspension and it climbs great. Even when active the suspension gives little bob unless you get out of the saddle. the suspension also makes technical climbs easy, because you don't need to use any body english to get over obstacles. I'll take the trade off with the in-house spec of Bontrager,(which isn't that bad) for the top of the line shocks and disc brakes, mixed with XT and XTR.
I will still ride my hardtail for races, but this has become the daily ride bike. I'll give it four chilis for overall, because you will lose momentum on short power climbs where locking it out doesn't make sense. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rob
a Cross Country Rider
from NH
Date Reviewed: August 5, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | The Triple | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2300.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | Frame design, adjustable fork, riding position, "cadillac ride" feel | | Weaknesses: | Bontrager parts, heavy, no airbag | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Enduro, Trek Fuel 100 | | Bike Setup: | 2003 XTR shifters and discs, Crossmax, Easton carbon post and bars, Fizik Aliante' saddle(yes it is worth the rediculous coin), Speedplay frogs. | | Bottom Line: | The first thing someone says when they ride this bike is "This thing rides like a Cadillac." I think its more like Jeep. Point it and hold on. It will make it through anything and you'll come out with a big grin. I did lighten it up quite a bit.(30+ to >28 lbs.) Never rode it with the Bontrager stuff on it but believe the plush ride is due to the Fox fork and rear triangle design. The "golf club" seatstays seem to be holding up and working well. Personally the rear adj. travel is unnescessary, leave it on 5", but the front fork adj. is very usefull. I may be overstating it but the ride is much closer to a motorcycle than my fuel was. You just stay seated and pedal over everything but the big stuff. Find myself taking more drops lately too. Steep climbs do take a bit more effort and you will bob if not in granny(you can lock-out), but on rolling single track hills it just shines. Then theres the downhills, bring a toothbrush to clean the bugs from your teeth. It may not be the perfect trailbike out of the box, i.e. 2004 brings platform suspension to this frame, but it is a blast to ride, and thats all that matters. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam
a
from Oconomowoc
Date Reviewed: August 3, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Suspension, Versatility, Comfort | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | This bike is worth what you pay. The brakes seem to need constant adjustment or you just have to learn to live with a little rubbing every once in a while. This bike is very fast downhill and climbs real good. It is the best mountain bike I've riden so far overall! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dennis
a Weekend Warrior
from Pittsburgh, PA U.S.
Date Reviewed: July 28, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Brady's Run North Side | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2460.00 | | Purchased At: | Shoels | | Strengths: | Awsome suspension,handling is superb, this is the Porche/Hummer of mountain bikes. The Hayes brakes are hands down the best hydrolic disc brakes on the market. The suspension makes a log feel like a twig and it climbs like a mountain goat. Carves the single track like a Thanksgiving Turkey. Like the XT components. | | Weaknesses: | A little on the heavy side but doesn't feel heavy once your on it. Price is a bit steep but if you can afford it buy it or better yet have the luxury of some and work for a dealer. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 970, Trek Fuel 90, Marin(Indian Fire Trail), Rocky Mountain Fanatik, Seven | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | Best Freeride Bike I've ever riden. Highly recommended for the all around, all conditions rider. The lock-in lock-out suspension gives riders the flexibility to ride any trails in any conditions. Road to Rocks. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Northern NJ
Date Reviewed: July 17, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Ringwood State Park | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2800.00 | | Purchased At: | Local shop | | Strengths: | Absorbs everything | | Weaknesses: | Heavy | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Time pedals everything else stock | | Bottom Line: | Used to ride a hard tail Giant XTC SE1 and would suffer with aches and pains for days. This full suspension bike is so smooth I ride longer and have less aches. I feel I've increased my down hill speeds by 25%. Love the bike and after 200 miles feel like its part of me when I'm on it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
itras
a Weekend Warrior
from italy
Date Reviewed: July 5, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | xc & freeride | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$4025.00 | | Purchased At: | bicimania - monza | | Strengths: | The Fox suspension and Hayes brakes are great. The TALAS works very well. Very good frame. | | Weaknesses: | I don't like Bontrager components. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized, Cannondale | | Bike Setup: | Shimano pedals - tire Tom Ritchey | | Bottom Line: | I'm very happy of my choise. It's a great bike.
E' veramente una grande bici, soprattutto ha grandi ammortizzatori. Che dire di più. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Triple
a Racer
from Lausanne, Switzerland
Date Reviewed: July 4, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$3600.00 | | Purchased At: | Michel Seppey, Uvrier | | Strengths: | Cadre, fourche incroyable, géométrie, TALAS | | Weaknesses: | Composants Bontrager un poil cheap (potence, selle 380g!!!, roues tubeless impossible a utiliser tubeless... hein Fred?) | | Similar Products Used: | K2 Razorback, Thoemus Tomcat X-Team, Rocky Mountain ETS X-70 | | Bike Setup: | Stock, selle SDG ti 7000, guidon answer riser | | Bottom Line: | Quand on a un tank pareil, le poids est secondaire parce qu'il grimpe de manière incroyable. un fauteuil en descente. un vrai vélo de vrai mountain bike!
Quand on s'arrete on a déjà l'envie de repartir...
à ne pas mettre dans les mains de tout le monde...
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
CW
a Cross Country Rider
from Houghton
Date Reviewed: June 30, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Cross Country Sports | | Strengths: | Great all around bike. Bontrager wheels have the best weight to strength ratio. Fox TALAS RLC, Hayes brakes, Tires | | Weaknesses: | Headset, Pedals | | Similar Products Used: | Fuel 98, Dawg Dee-Lux, Dawg, King Kikapu, Fuel 90, Liquid 20, stinky, stinky 6, stinky d | | Bike Setup: | Shiny gold sealed headset. Magnesium flats. | | Bottom Line: | This is the swiss army knife of bikes, it can be used anywhere and handle almost anything. The adjustable travel is a great. This bike comes with a lot of great parts. The frame is great, the Fox fork is super stiff and smooth. Bontrager wheels are sooooo much stiffer and stronger than comparable mavic wheels ie. Crossmax disc. The brakes are great. The tires can handle anything. It is a little heavy for a race bike, but that is what the other bike is for. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from Illinois
Date Reviewed: June 15, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Wapahini (Bloomington, IN) | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1450.00 | | Purchased At: | factory direct (it pays to work for a dealer, he he he) | | Strengths: | suspension versatility, not too heavy for a full suspension XC bike, the brakes are tremendous once you get them adjusted properly, the thing just looks awesome darn it. | | Weaknesses: | It'd be nice to get full XTR components on a bike that retails for over $3000, the wheelset could be a little nicer for the $ too, chain suuuuuck (recently remedied by a generous helping of Liquid Silk), some color options besides black would have been nice (of course you can get custom colors for 2004 now that I already bought the '03) | | Similar Products Used: | Liquid 10, Liquid 20, Fuel 98, Specialized Epic Disc, Giant NRS-1 and NRS-air | | Bike Setup: | Titec 100 carbon bar ends, chainstay guards, Velociraptor 2.1 tires, VDO computer, the obligatory decals to make it stand out in the crowd | | Bottom Line: | I'm still suprised at how much components cost these days. The premium for getting the self-proclaimed "top-of-the-line" components is ridiculous. For close to $3100 you'd think you'd be there, but almost all the components are XT and Bontrager instead of XTR and something else. Although I did do some checking in the QBP catalog, and some of the XT components are actually a couple grams lighter than the XTR's. Go figure. Of course if I was really worried about grams then I wouldn't have a few beers every weekend, either, and if you're looking for a light bike instead of an all-around performer then go buy a hardtail. Working for a dealer, I have the opportunity to test a lot of products and could have had pretty much anything I wanted at a substantial price reduction, and this is what I picked. That should be testimonial enough to this bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
nick
a Cross Country Rider
from japan
Date Reviewed: June 12, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$3000.00 | | Purchased At: | local store in tokyo | | Strengths: | dual susp. design and product choice. Fox shox are awesome. very versatile riding mountain bike. | | Weaknesses: | have had a little trouble with the hayes brakes but most people swear by them so i think its just my luck. the see m to require constant tweaking. its driving me nutz. Is a little heavy on the epic xc rides, but you cant have everything. and of course the price is a little stiff but you get what you pay for and more. | | Similar Products Used: | trek 8000 | | Bike Setup: | stock minus the tyres. | | Bottom Line: | this bike is versatile. pop the seat up lock off the rear suspension drop the front fork and your ready for some xc racing. open the front fork unlock the rear and drop the seat and your ready for some serious free ride, with some proper tyre changes of course. if you like to mix it up and have fun this is it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
chub
a
from London
Date Reviewed: June 11, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Killer Loop North Downs | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2450.00 | | Strengths: | Frame, those Foxes and the Hayes certainly stopppp.... | | Weaknesses: | It's noisy.. where's my earplugs | | Similar Products Used: | Fuel 90 disc | | Bike Setup: | Bog except Thomson elite seat post. | | Bottom Line: | Great bike that suprisingly has improved my technical up hill work. Not as heavy as I would have been led to believe, so weight weenies stop moaning..
The chain slaps against the chainstay and the XTR rear mech bangs away.. a couple of Lizards skins has quietend it down.
Has anyone solved the banging rear mech issue?? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
sung na
a Cross Country Rider
from seoul,korea
Date Reviewed: June 8, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | full | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$3000.00 | | Purchased At: | seoul | | Strengths: | good | | Weaknesses: | nothing | | Similar Products Used: | trek 4500 | | Bike Setup: | aa | | Bottom Line: | aa | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ross Currier
a Cross Country Rider
from Gilmanton, NH
Date Reviewed: May 14, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Local Snowmobile Trails | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2600.00 | | Purchased At: | Piche's Ski Shop | | Strengths: | Versatility; Range of Suspension Travel; Brakes; Handling | | Weaknesses: | Saddle; Weight; Bontrager Components; Pedals; Grips | | Similar Products Used: | Nothing - Upgraded to Liquid 30 from GT Richochet | | Bike Setup: | Bone Stock | | Bottom Line: | As Andrew said in his review, I wanted to let the new-bike-infatuation wear off before I started forming an opinion on the Liquid 30. I've put about 150 miles on the bike so far, of which half has been on actual trails (NH's mud season just didn't want to quit this year!)
First let me say that I am so impressed with full-suspension technology in general. Compared to my '96 GT Ricochet (a hardtail), the Liquid 30 handles like a dream on the downhills and rough stuff. I get giddy whenever things get dicey and realize there's no need to be scared. I'm still getting used to how much more this bike can handle if only I had more courage to push it!
The steering is extremely nimble, but never feels squirrelly. I know for a fact that the Fox Fork front suspension saved me from what could have been a painful endo one day on a steep descent. The suspension ate up a big rock impact very well instead of stopping my momentum completely it sucked the impact up and let me down gently (PHEW!). Very impressive. And the brakes are always there when you need them...what a difference disk technology is over my old v-brake.
The lockout on the rear shock isn't bad either. However, compared to a true hardtail, it isn't perfect. One of the places I noticed it most is on hard surfaces such as hard packed gravels or smooth rock. The bob-effect is still there, but can be controlled by smoother pedal strokes. The front travel adjustment is great for changing the geometry on the uphill grinds.
At first I liked the saddle, until I did my first 27-mile jaunt on it. OUCH!! The sides of the saddle are too flexible which allows for too much lateral movement (rocking left to right over the horn), which results in a sore taint by the end of the ride. On short rides (10 miles or less), the flex isn't that noticeable, but I like my Specialized Bodygeometry saddle on my old bike better.
The only problems I've had so far are: 1) Chain Suck - the dealer took care of this by removing the factory-applied lube which is very sticky and applying ProLink instead. The chain suck was caused by dirt build-up on the lube which wouldn't let the teeth release from the links and 2) the rear wheel developed a rattle inside the rim which turned out to be a temporary clip (used to hold the joint together when being welded at the factory) that fell off inside. Since the clip can't be removed without cutting the rim, my dealer is trying to get the rim replaced for me.
As far as all the Bontrager components are concerned, I wished they had used less of them. Not that I have any issues with Bontrager, but for a bike that costs as much as this one, why couldn't they have mixed it up a little? (I think I know why...isn't Bontrager owned by Trek?)
Time pedals are WAY easier to use than the Shimanos (Shimanos are really hard to release from). And lastly, the stock grips have a cushion to them that makes them feel like they're twisting on the bar. I think I’ll be upgrading these to something a little denser.
Some reviews aren't very favorable for the tires. I personally find them to be fine, but I really don't have anything to compare them to.
So, despite all my criticisms, the bottom line is this: I can't get enough saddle time on this bike to satisfy my craving! I researched quite a bit before buying this bike, and for my riding style I don't think I would have been any happier with another bike. If you have the extra coin and can afford this "built-like-a-brick-s***-house" bike, do it. You won't be disappointed.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew Webster
a Cross Country Rider
from Toronto, Ontario
Date Reviewed: May 11, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2924.00 | | Purchased At: | Sport Swap | | Strengths: | The frame is incredibly still, also no pivot in the dropout area to loosen or flex, and beefy yet balance so othat it does not feel like dead weight. All of the pivots are rolling on sealed cartridge bearings and held together with Ti bolts. The main pivot uses the same oversized bearing as is used on the Diesel DH bike. The ease of adjustment for both fron and rear travel is by far the best in the industry. Damping performance on the fox fork is unbelivable - best feeling air fork ever. The spec of the bike is solid throughout, some of the lesser knows specs are a Truvativ GigaPipe DH Team bottom bracket and XT cassette, Trek didn't cheap out on parts that are often overlooked. Bonrager wheels are surprisingly strong, light and durable, tubeless compatibility offers a good place to loose some weight on somewhat chunky bike. Bontrager Race Light cranks are made by Truvativ out of 7050 aluminium, nice and stiff. | | Weaknesses: | The bike does weigh a lot, but once your on the bike you don't feel it. The headset and pedals were poor choices - but made that way to make room for upgrades and keep the price down. Weak aluminium ring bolts snapped when installing bash guard, repalce with steel easily enough. The tire are bad and the seat tube is poorly reamed at the bottom. | | Similar Products Used: | Sugar 2+, Trek Fuel, Giant AC | | Bike Setup: | Chris King headset, Time Z pedals, FSA bash guard, ODI Ruffian grips, Geax Blade 2.25 tubeless | | Bottom Line: | After riding the bike for a few months, today I fell in love with it. I was holding out on reviewing the bike until I felt I had a fairly un-biased opinion of the bike. That was a lot harder to do than I thought.
I seriously feel that a 4 to 5 inch travel bike with adjustable suspension and a lockout is the perfect bike for about 70% of mountain bikers, and thre Trek is a very well executed example. The frame is heavy, but the weight is in the right places - huge main pivot, super stiff down tube, 31.6 mm seat post diameter (a lot more impotant than you'd think in increasing the durability of a seat post), cartridge bearings, GigaPipe BB - It all adds up to a very solid bike. The ride is sweet and I cannot forsee a reason for riding my hardtail every again. The bike is at home when turning on rough terrain. The bump perfomance of the fox fork blows me away on every ride, and the Hayes are by far the best stoppers out there.
On the downside, due to the added height nessecary for five inches of travel, the seat is rather far off the ground with the saddle up for tame XC riding, also the seat post is way too long and due to ghosts from the welds distorting the inside of the seat tube, the last inch of insertion is rougher than the first eight. The IRC Trailbears are absolutly terrible - they deflect of rocks, slip on roots, pack up with mud and roll slowly to boot!
As far as adjustment goes, many people say they leaving in five inche and forget about it, but i don't think thats the best idea. For steep downhills pop it into four in the rear, five in the front and make the head angle even slaker than the five/five setting of 68.5 degrees. Riding on smooth, tame XC, put the rear back in five inches, lock it out and put the fork down to 85mm. This is also great for climbing as it steepens the head angle to 72+ degrees and shifts weight forward.
Everything else is good - the cranks do their job, shifting is fine and wheels have been trouble free except for the cassette coming loose once.
All in all, I love this bike and you should to. The versatility, handling and strength combine with a sweet parts to make a bike that will soon rule the world, It is a bit expensive but working at bike shop helps my poor ass afford it, even though I'd still buy it if I was paying $5000! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
marc kleinmann
a Weekend Warrior
from dallas, tx, usa
Date Reviewed: April 27, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | gv northshore | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | RBM | | Strengths: | trek geometry, fox, fox, fox ...... | | Weaknesses: | bontrager components | | Similar Products Used: | giant nrs1, tested specialized enduro | | Bike Setup: | stcok - changed out 34 cassette for 32 because of rubbing in the largest cog, will change outr seatpost and saddle. | | Bottom Line: | BEST BIKE I'VE EVER RIDDEN !!!!!!!!!! got at great deal at my lbs, anyone looking at this bike... go get it ! sucks up the downhills and is great on the climbs. fox suspension system rocks. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Hugo Correia
a Weekend Warrior
from Brussels ,Belgium
Date Reviewed: April 20, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$4000.00 | | Purchased At: | cicli fransman | | Strengths: | from full rigid to on-the-fly fullsuspension freeride suspensions ,frame ,wheels ,the Hayes mag and looks great
| | Weaknesses: | bontrager specs and probably weight(but with the extra weight comes more strenght so...think about it) | | Bike Setup: | raceface realseal, diabolus stem, low rizer bar, xyo seatpost, evolve fr BB, turbine lp isis, hayes mag(front 200, back 160), and for the rest stock | | Bottom Line: | concept- the possibility to have an rigid bike(road use) and adjust on-the-fly for fully(hammeringyour favorite trail).
They say it's not a freeride bike but it shore can handle it.And with the proper specs.
If you are looking for a does it all and asks for more ,really good looking low profile bike this is it!!
I want to by the same for my wife!
and those suspensions...it's one of the main reasons I went for the30 liquid model ,today for me ther is no better front or rear suspension on the market | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Don
a Weekend Warrior
from New York, New York, USA
Date Reviewed: April 20, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | 909 Acres MUA | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$3000.00 | | Purchased At: | Wheel and Heal: Fishkill, NY | | Strengths: | The Fox suspension system is unmatched. In addition, the ability to change the length of rear travel is beneficial when traveling up or down hill. | | Weaknesses: | Price. Need I say more. At a little over $3000 the bike is expensive. But, who wouldn't want to pay less to get more. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek Fuel 100; Santa Cruz Blur | | Bike Setup: | Stock. | | Bottom Line: | I just took my bike out to Moab and did Porcupine Rim and Slick Rock Trail. Porcupine Rim begins with approximately 4 miles of uphill travel followed by 15 miles of rocky downhill. I left the rear shock unlocked during the 4 mile climb and felt no BOB whatsoever.
On the downhill, I opened up the rear suspension to 5" of travel and sped down the hill. There were no points where I felt like it was getting away from me and I hit some pretty big jumps.
I am very happy with my Trek Liquid 30 and would recommend it to anyone interested in buying a full suspension bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe
a Cross Country Rider
from Ashland
Date Reviewed: April 18, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Price Paid: |
$2700.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | The Fox suspension and Hayes brakes are great. The adjustable travel works very well. XT, XTR drivetrain works very well. Trek's quality is superb. | | Weaknesses: | Bontrager components are not my favorite. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek fuel, Cannondale | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | This is a great bike. The shifting is very positive, and the disc brakes gives me confidence on the descents. The adjustable travel is wonderful. The Fox TALAS shocks are some of the best. Highly recommended to people seeking something with more travel then an XC bike, but less weight then a free ride bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Slice
a Weekend Warrior
from Salt Lake City, UT, USA
Date Reviewed: April 14, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Jordan River Parkway ;-) j/k | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2500.00 | | Purchased At: | The Bike Shoppe | | Strengths: | The suspension and brakes are superb and instill a temendous amount of confidence when descending. The adjustable travel works great. | | Weaknesses: | So far none - maybe the weight, but it's an acceptable trade off for the increased travel and braking power. | | Bike Setup: | stock - XT/XTR drivetrain, Bontrager Race Lite wheels, cranks, bars and stem, Hayes Mag Hydros, Fox TALAS front and rear. | | Bottom Line: | Coming off a hardtail (a superb Salsa!), I was having a difficult time deciding whether to go with a more XC style full suspension or something with more travel. In the end I went with more travel and better braking and I am glad I did. I've had the bike out for about 50 miles of riding and haven't really noticed the weight on the climbs. But I have definitely noticed the extra travel and braking power when descending. Point and shoot. It truly is a liquid ride. When summer is in full swing and we start doing some of those longer epic rides, we'll see how the extra weight effects me. But I'm sure I'll be still having a blast coming down. Do you like to moto?
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bill Meadows
a Cross Country Rider
from Van Nuys, Ca, USA
Date Reviewed: April 13, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | The one i haven't ridden yet | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2500.00 | | Purchased At: | Universal Cycles(Universal City) | | Strengths: | super strong and stiff, comfy steering, tons of adjustable suspension(Fox Rocks!!!!!!), awesome paint job, very predictable.... | | Weaknesses: | sort of pricey but ya gotta pay for progress. im not a huge fan of all the bontrager stuff but its alot better than the junk that came on my fuel 100 a couple of years ago...kinda heavy but i like it | | Similar Products Used: | 2000 Fuel 100, some junky REI bike, loads of BMX bikes | | Bike Setup: | race face cranks and bb, turbomatic saddle, king headset, thompson seatpost, and time z pedals. | | Bottom Line: | after the first few months of riding i gotta say this bike is alot more suited for a guy like me(5'9", 210 lbs). im not some super light xc racer, i like to jump around a bit a generally just sort of ride around. this thing is tough, reliable, and a joy to knock about on. one thing that has surprised me is how well it climbs for the sort of bike it is! and im a BAD climber. but i gotta say the one thing that i love the most is the suspension. if yer rockin' downhill just open it up and go it takes seconds to do and you can do it on the fly as well! too cool! another cool thing is to leave the shock alone and open up the fork all the way, this puts yer weight back just enough to help ALOT when yer bombing. all in all an awesome bike for people who just want a solid, comfy ride. rock on.... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steven Hill
a Cross Country Rider
from Scottsdale
Date Reviewed: March 11, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Amoun | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | Landis Cyclery, Scottsdale | | Strengths: | It is like a monster truck compared to my old Fuel. I thought I would suffer on the climbing, but it is either better than my fuel climbing rocky singletrack or I am just having such a blast riding it that I don't notice. Plus I am riding considerably faster on the downhills. The big difference is that my 'envelope' has been increased to the point where old white knuckle sections of trail are now just a screaming hoot to blow through. I am the one to catch on the downhills now. If you are a claudesdale XC rider, consider going to All mountain. | | Weaknesses: | None at the moment, other than MSRP price. If I was walking in off the street for an all mountain ride, I would probably buy the Giant V-1 for its component and value. But in my situation, I am very happy and excited to own it for less than a grand. | | Similar Products Used: | M-4, StumpJumper, Fuel 80, 90, 98, 100, Giant V-1, Blur | | Bike Setup: | Stock plus Chris King headset, XTR rear derailleur, carbon riser handlebar, and M-545 pedals. | | Bottom Line: | I've broken four Fuel 90 and 98 frames (ZR9000 and carbon)in 20 months. Trek upgraded me to the Liquid30 and components above for $1000.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ben
a Downhiller
from California
Date Reviewed: December 12, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2700.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Climbs like none other i thought because of the 5" of travel it would not climb as well as my trek 9.8 but it has almost eleminated bob and keeps the relitive frame geometry the Talas(for all those who dont kno T.A.L.A.S. stands for Travel adjustable linear air spring) rear shock is phenominal and truly lives up to they hype the frame is stiff and light thanks to Bontrager Race Light Componets and XTR/XT derailleurs new Hayes Mag with a open caliper will help to cool pads this year | | Weaknesses: | it doesent corner as well as id like it too and i may excange the fork out with a terralogic fork (Brain or interta sensitive valves technology)and the tires with Maxxis High Rollers as with all high-end bikes it costs way too much Black magic seatstays dont really add a whole lot to the frame the 6" Disc Roters are a incredable decrease in power over 8" | | Similar Products Used: | Trek Fuel 100, Trek Liquid 20, Santa Cruz Blur, Santa Cruz Heckler, Santa Cruz Super8, Santa Cruz Bullit, Santa Cruz V10(sweeeet!), Santa Cruz Superlight, Specializied Big Hit, Specializied Epic, Specializied S-works FSR/HT, Intense Uzzi SLX, Intense M-1, Intense Spider....a whole lot | | Bike Setup: | Stock Except M-969 Petals | | Bottom Line: | This bike is the one to buy this year boasting an array of advanced componets including the Talas fork and rear shock light enough to XC but strong enough to take a hit not for the ultra Weight weenie but will satisfy the rest of the world being feathery light wouldent recomend it for FR i dont think it compatable with a 7" DC fork but if you must i would reccomend the shiver SC but for the rest of us needing to haul it up a hill the stock configuration is exccelent being able to lock front and rear a definate contender for a XC Race to a DS course | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jim
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: December 12, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$3017.00 | | Purchased At: | Mission Cyclery | | Strengths: | Overall performance. The bike handles exremely well. At the end of the day when I have finished riding I felt good about the performance of the bike. | | Weaknesses: | The bike is not as light as I thought it would be. I had to take the bike back several times to the dealer to correct cable stretching, but was extremely pleased with service provided by Mission Cyclery. I purchased a Liquid 10 for my wife and had the same problem with gear cables. | | Similar Products Used: | TREK Liquid 10 | | Bottom Line: | Am extremely please with the purchase. Would recommend the bike to anyone who would stick with, (serious) mountain biking. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ben Douglas
a Weekend Warrior
from Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: December 11, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$3100.00 | | Purchased At: | Cyclepath Kingston | | Strengths: | Fox Talas System - the Talas RL fork is a thing of beauty, the float shock is pretty cool...fun to play with the travel adjuster
Hayes Mag are ridiculous...can't believe I've ever used anything else
Nice paint job, nice looking bike
The "liquid" feel | | Weaknesses: | Cheap headset and pedals for the money....the paint on the crown of my fork started chipping off the first day I had them...the brake line for the rear brake keeps falling out of the guides....looks like Trek used a 10 cent piece of rubber to shim the line....didn't work | | Similar Products Used: | Giant NRS 1 | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | I'm up here in Canada and at university so between freezing weather and exams, I have only been able to get out on the bike once.
The bike handled very well on the trail and was a blast to throw around in the technical stuff. The Talas system seems pretty easy to use while riding although I didn't notice all that much difference between travel modes
I was a little worried when I oredered the bike about the carbon rear stays, but they seem pretty tough. This is definitely not a bike for hucking off 10 foot drops but for the other 99% of the terrain out there, this bike is perfect.
All in all, a pretty sweet ride... can and will take anything I throw at it.... Highly recommended | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kerby
a Cross Country Rider
from San Francisco
Date Reviewed: November 30, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Can't tell you! | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2900.00 | | Purchased At: | Avenue Cyclery | | Strengths: | It's a Trek. It has disc brakes. It has the best fork on the market (Fox Float RL). The adjustable suspension. Nice colors. And finally Trek comes out with a head badge. | | Weaknesses: | The $10 headset it came with. And the Shimano 515 pedals. This bike deserves platform pedals like the Shimano 646 or Time Z's | | Similar Products Used: | Owned Yeti ARC, Salsa Singlespeed, 2002 Trek Fuel 98, 2002 Klein Attitude Race. Demo Klein Palomino, 2003 Trek Fuel 100 | | Bike Setup: | Stock except for: Chris King headset, Time Z pedals, and Flite saddle | | Bottom Line: | I waited 3 long months for this bike to arrive. And I must say it was well worth the wait. What a Beast! This bike rolls over everything and wants more. Talk about confidence builder. If this bike doesn't make you faster on the downhills, nothing will. By far this is the best bike I have ever owned and I have owned some nice bikes in the past. I love the suspension on this. It has the nicest shocks money can buy. It has a front and rear lockout. I do use the front lockout quite a bit. But as far as the rear goes, there's no need. It's perfect for my style of riding which includes cross country single track and bumpy technical descents. This bike is a hair short of being a downhill bike without the big weight penalty. However I must warn you this bike is on the heavier side compare to all the other X-country bikes that are rolling out these days. If you are looking for something superlight, you might want to get the Fuel 100 instead. But if you are willing to sacrifice a few pounds for a plush, smooth, buttery ride then get this bike. Trust me the extra weight is nothing compare to how much more bike you get and how much a better rider you will be. I considered the 2003 Trek Fuel 100 which was an awesome superlight race bike. I also considered the Klein Palomino which was pretty impressive also. But bottom line I looked at my style of riding and the Trek Liquid 30 was the winner hands down. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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