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Submitted by
Jethro
a Cross Country Rider
from Maryland
Date Reviewed: June 18, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | Joe's bike shop | | Strengths: | Great frame, Very reliable. | | Weaknesses: | The gears have been messed up since I got it, but it's a Minor problem. | | Similar Products Used: | MT Peak Rally MTB | | Bike Setup: | Computer (Speedometer), Watter bottle holder. | | Bottom Line: | I use this bike as my main form of transportation. I got it to replace a MT Peak Rally MTB that I got at Toys R us. The difference is like day and night. If you have never ridden a quality bike before, and you are considering getting a new bike this summer, consider this one. I have now been riding this bike for over 5 years and it still rides the same as it did the day I got it. You will never go back to Toys R us for a bike. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Neil Ostenfeld
a Cross Country Rider
from Asheville NC
Date Reviewed: May 6, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Mmmmycoct | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$399.00 | | Purchased At: | Liberty Bikes | | Strengths: | Price, functionality, quality, frame, handlebars | | Weaknesses: | saddle, shifters, pedals, stock fork | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 4500 | | Bike Setup: | 2004 Trek 4300 stock except Marzocchi 2007 MX Pro | | Bottom Line: | Great bike for me. don't have a lot of money to spend on biking but I still love it! I have taken this bike pretty much everywhere in bent creek. Places that exceed my abilities. Crashed it a few times. Only thing broke was the reflectors on my pedals. Decided to get a new fork because the RST Gila. wasn't giving me enough travel. it claims to be 80mm travel but most I've gotten is about 30 or 35. and that was when i ran nose first into a rock. bad day. good for climbing, tires aren't bad, want new ones though. Great beginner to intermediate bike. I liked it more than the 4500 model which was about 100 dollars more. Better fit, and if i would say better ride. I like how it looks too. I've taken it off about 2 foot drops it does OK with the Gila, yet to try anything past that with the Marzocchi. Still breaking that fork in. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Evan Lee
a Weekend Warrior
from Houston, Tx, USA
Date Reviewed: August 2, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$340.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Barn | | Strengths: | Great Frame! Great handlebars and headset! Wheels are decent, but back one could be replaced after a while. | | Weaknesses: | After a while the gears are kinda wacky, chain slaps the frame all the time. recently (three years after buying it) the forks no longer allow me to adjust them, i have had problems with the forks bottoming out. | | Bike Setup: | Stock besides some lights i put on there, and a ghetto-rigged lizard skin i made from tape and cloth. | | Bottom Line: | the bicycle is good for someone that wants to ride kinda of all around, but be warned they sold it telling me that i could put disc brakes on this bike. You can put them on there, but for good disc brakes it costs more than it does to get another bike! Shock has limited travel, i have ridden this bike too hard, but the frame is still strong and light, i think the frame is the best part! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jon
a Weekend Warrior
from Oakland, CA
Date Reviewed: July 31, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$345.00 | | Purchased At: | Missing Link, Berkeley | | Strengths: | Very fun to ride, light and responsive. Excellent value. | | Weaknesses: | It's a beginner bike with a somewhat stiff saddle that I think the majority of its intended market won't care for. The next model down at the shop had a much softer and slightly wider seat. | | Similar Products Used: | Fisher | | Bottom Line: | My last personal bike was a Fisher moutain bike bought around 1994, so most of my other experience has been renting and demo'ing bikes, everything from rented stump jumpers to konas to cannondales. That Fisher cost $325 back then and was great for the money at the time. The salesguys called it "a simple around-town bike that can occasionally be used for some trail riding, but nothing serious."
I knew buying a new bike nowadays that things had advanced but I was blown away by how fun this thing is. Very nimble on the peddles, crisp shifting. It just goes where you point it. The extra gears (my fisher had 21) seemed gimmicky, but on long, gradual climbs with my Fisher there were always times when I wanted a gear in between, and this partially solves that problem.
Funny, just like over ten years ago, I got the exact same description for the Trek 4300 from the sales guy, "a simple around-town bike that can occasionally be used for some trail riding, but nothing serious." And I see a lot of these reviewers are saying the same thing. Well, people, let me tell you something, this bike is LIGHT YEARS ahead of that old Fisher.
Knowing what low-end mountain bikes were like over ten years ago, ignore those people saying stuff like "you can't do single track", or whatever. A comparable bike to the Trek 4300 back in '94 would have cost well over a thousand bucks and people were definately banging their bikes up hard on all terrain at that price point back then. The technology has trickled down for us to enjoy - this bike will take just about any beating a beginner can throw at it.
People that think you need to drop $1500 on bike "to ride single-track..." well, they don't know how to ride single-track or their confidence comes from their wallets and not from their riding skill. People have been riding single track just fine well before suspension was the norm or affordable.
Bottom line, don't fall for the myth coming from the credit card commandos. I think an entry level rider could get two or three hard years out of this thing before really needing to upgrade. But on the flipside, if you don't get serious it's still an excellent value. If your ego needs an upgrade and you absolutely must impress the clif bar crowd, then fine, drop another 500 bucks on something else.
My only negative about this bike is the seat. At its price point, the 4300 should come equipped with a slightly wider, softer seat. The moment I mentioned this to the salesguy he launched into this offer to swap the seat for credit on another, as if he was very well-practiced at this talk with customers and saw some potential commision dollars a-coming.
I adjusted the angle of the seat and it took about a week to get used to with daily riding, problem solved. However, for those truly casual riders who just pull the bike out once or twice a month, this is definately not the seat for you. You'll be paying for it for a couple days or more after every ride. Not fun.
Other than the seat, a very solid package and a superb value for entry level riders. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan Cargioli
a Weekend Warrior
from Munroe Falls, OH, USA
Date Reviewed: April 1, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Any Trail | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | Eddy's Bike Shop | | Strengths: | Strong frame, smooth ride, off-road capabilities, nice components, and overall looks. This bike looks awesome!!! | | Weaknesses: | Stiff seat. I had to tamper with the brakes after taking it out of my car and putting the wheel on. | | Similar Products Used: | GT Timberline | | Bike Setup: | 100% Stock | | Bottom Line: | I love this bike. The best bike I had before this one was a Huffy and the difference is amazing. You get more for the money out of Trek than any other manufacturer, I shopped around!!! Someday I may upgrade but I think I will keep this bike for a long time. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
RJ
a Cross Country Rider
from Corvallis
Date Reviewed: February 23, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | Corvallis Cyclery | | Strengths: | Light frame
High reliability
Versatile bike
Excellent price | | Weaknesses: | Stock pedals don't grip well, saddle can definitely be uncomfortable. I have also had trouble with derailleurs (over time -- no immediate problems). Brakes don't grip well in wet weather | | Similar Products Used: | Giant, Gary Fisher | | Bike Setup: | 21" frame. BMX pedals, better fenders, better pad brakes. | | Bottom Line: | Very excellent bike for your money. Performs well in all conditions, and may be used for everything from mid-distance road trekking to moderate downhill runs. Keep it well-lubed and it will be good to you! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason
a Weekend Warrior
from North Carolina
Date Reviewed: November 16, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Legend Park | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | Spin Cycle | | Strengths: | It has a sturdy reliable frame. And really good pad brakes(just like disc brakes)! | | Weaknesses: | Fork | | Bike Setup: | Nysnc fork(80mm) Shimano V brakes and gears | | Bottom Line: | I think that it is a good bike if you are a beginner at mountain biking and want to get a realiable bike. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Blake
a Weekend Warrior
from Cookeville
Date Reviewed: October 28, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | Cookeville Bicycles | | Strengths: | Solid Frame to build on | | Weaknesses: | Shocks pop at times, front derailer gets jammed at critical times and I have to gear back down | | Similar Products Used: | Haro V2 | | Bike Setup: | 2005 stock | | Bottom Line: | No sense in spending a $1000.00 to see if you are going to like the sport. This is a great starter bike and a good price. If you later decide you really enjoy the MTB, then you can upgrade on the frame. It is disc brake equipped. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jason
a Downhiller
from australia
Date Reviewed: October 11, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Strengths: | I have the 05 model and the frame is the best part of the bike, looks and strength. | | Weaknesses: | Pedals came loose fast, the fork makes a clicking sound, the gears dont change that smooth and the wheels seem to be slightly buckled. | | Similar Products Used: | notin similar. | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | This bike will suit the average rider, you wont have any problems if you just ride without gettin rough too often. if your a recreational rider this bike is perfect, if your an insane rider only get the bike to practice narly stuff on in order to keep your good bikes from harm. I have this bike to practice tricks on because of its light frame. other bikes i have include the specialized demo 8 pro, stinky deelux and norco scrap. I have used this bike for downhill once and its not a fun ride, this bike is however pretty good at jumping and small drops. this bike can take a lot of abuse, ive taken it to hell and back and its still together. it can take 6ft drops ok if your a good rider. keep in mind i dont care if i break this bike. this thing holds together through abusive riding, for the price its a good bike. just dont go too big on it to stay safe :). but to anyone, i suggest you save a bit more and get a better bike, if you want to go fairly big cheap, get a kona scrap, very cheap jumping bike. i got mine for about 500. dont rely on the 4300 if you are really into mtbing.enjoy. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Todd
a Weekend Warrior
from East Meadow, New York
Date Reviewed: June 27, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Bethpage | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$320.00 | | Purchased At: | Brands Bike Shop | | Strengths: | Most of the stock parts are top of the line for the price.
| | Weaknesses: | The stock pedals could have been better. I actually put a good set of BMX pedals on them. | | Bike Setup: | Stock, right out of the shop. | | Bottom Line: | This is my first mountain bake after racing BMX for 10 years. If you're on a tight budget, this is the bike for you. I have been hitting some good trails and this bike can definitely take the moderate to heavy abuse!!!! | | 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: | The frame nis strong and very light ( Alpha SL type 2005)
Color: Orange metalic/ Charcoil) Very good for any further upgrades like Deore, and stuff like that... | | Weaknesses: | Mayby the saddle, but that is a personel thing also on a 600 dollar bike..... | | Similar Products Used: | Old ATB's, not worth mention it.... | | Bike Setup: | Stock bike, just mounted some Bontranger "bull Horns" on the crowbar steer. | | Bottom Line: | This is my first NEW ATB. For this amount of money, it's avery good bike, 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
mike hien
a Cross Country Rider
from california
Date Reviewed: February 11, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | the loup | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Purchased At: | rock'n'road cyclery | | Strengths: | all the parts on the bike are high quality.for the two years that i have had the bike it has always out performed the other bikes that i have ridden | | Weaknesses: | not for the hard core downhill rider | | Similar Products Used: | TREk 4100 | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | if you dont have alot of money and want a high quality bike that you know will last forever this is the bike for you. this bike is an entry level bike not intended for downhill use. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ray Han
a Weekend Warrior
from Flushing, New York
Date Reviewed: October 26, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Strengths: | The cosmetic of the bike is awesome. I love the bright yellow-grey-black color of the bike. The price is amazing for a great bike brand and the components the bike came with. | | Weaknesses: | The chain has came off several times when I am in the middle of switching gears. It might be that the bike needs a tune up, but what ever the reason for this malfunction, it has been very bothersome. | | Bottom Line: | I believe for $250, this is the best available bike out there. I would shell out $300 for this bike without much of a thought. This is one of the best novice level mountain bike in the market. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John Doe
a Cross Country Rider
from Seattle, WA
Date Reviewed: September 8, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | EVERYTHING at Whistler, BC | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$450.00 | | Purchased At: | Greggs Cycle | | Strengths: | Super strong super light frame, pretty good derailer, very good disc brakes (optional), shifters | | Weaknesses: | Pedals, handal bar, derailer cannot handle to much | | Similar Products Used: | Other trek bikes, motivs, giant, specialized | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | The bottom line here is that for the price this Trek bike is a very good buy. I think anyone who has bought this will think the very same thing. I had a motiv earlier but the dereailier kept breaking off and I thought it was about time to get a new bike. I went to many stores to check out what they had. I had my eye on a Trek bike and didn't want to spend to much money and thats when I found this bike. The Trek 4300. I fell in love with its super light super strong frame, shimano parts and most of all its disc brakes. I spent around $450 for this bike and so far nothing has happened to it. I've been riding it hard for the past week. Hitting trails, jumps, and cliffs. I hit a 6ft cliff and landed and got off my bike and to my surprise nothing had happened to it. Its just so light I can barely feel it under me. I do a lot of plain riding and since its so light and its 8 speed its perfect for going pretty good distances. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bryce
a
from Cody, Wyoming, USA
Date Reviewed: June 1, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | dry fork | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | Absorka Bike Shop | | Strengths: | smooth ride, very manuverable, strong and very light parts and frame. | | Weaknesses: | nothing that every new bike doesn't have | | Similar Products Used: | trek 800 | | Bike Setup: | stock except for fenders | | Bottom Line: | great bike, two days after i bought it i went on my first real mountain biking adventure and i was in love the bike was very easy to get used to and keep on the road, i was catching air on my first day and i loved it and would reccomend it to any one i hiled the bike up hill for half a mile and it was so light it was hardly there. it was really easy to get used to and ride even for a chunky guy like me.
over all it is a strong bike and if your not going to jump it off a cliff (on Purpose) it will surve you for mountain and urban.
if you are begining or upgrading this is a good way to go. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Liam
a Cross Country Rider
from Flint Hill, VA USA
Date Reviewed: April 2, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$340.00 | | Purchased At: | BikeStop | | Strengths: | Cheap price; good for an introductory bike or weekend bike outings. Pretty good warranty from Trek. | | Weaknesses: | For cross country, single track the cheap parts did not hold up; the bike is also too heavy. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | standard except for Shimano M515 clipless pedals and Bontrager bar ends. Added a Sigma Sport 600 computer. | | Bottom Line: | I bought this bike thinking I wasn't going to do much mountain biking, but I really started to get into it and like it. And since I am going to start racing, it was time for an upgrade. I just got a custom Trek 8500 from BikeStop.If you just want a bike to ride around every once and awhile, the 4300 is fine. If you want to do some real single track, I would get the 4900 or the 6700. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gary Nebeker
a Weekend Warrior
from Omaha, NE
Date Reviewed: March 25, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Lewis & Clark Monument | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$330.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Rack, Omaha, NE | | Strengths: | Value and durability. | | Weaknesses: | See below | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Stock except for Nashbar flat-bar, Cool-Stop brake pads, and Cat-Eye Enduro computer | | Bottom Line: | This was my first mountain bike. As a forty-something 10K runner, former roadie, and 70s era motocrosser, this bike was my rite of passage into the sport. For that reason it served its purpose well. However, once bitten by the MTB bug I learned the 4300 had some shortcomings. First, the front brakes squealed badly and required constant toe-in adjustment. I replaced the stock pads with Cool-Stops and this eliminated some of the problem, but they continued to require adjustment. Second, the seat post tended to slip ever so slightly after intense single-track riding. You need to keep your eye on it. Third, it is a recreational frame bike and as such it puts you in a more upright riding position. While this has its benefits, you pay the price on long, steep climbs. You have to lean on the front end to keep the bike’s nose planted. Fourth, because the 4300 is an entry-level bike, it is rather heavy, about 32.5 lbs. sans water bottles and tool-pouch. Despite these minor critiques I have to say that dollar for dollar this bike was worth every penny of the $330.00 I paid for it. Maintenance-wise, this ride was virtually hassle-free. In ten months I put over 1500 miles on it, many of which were on gnarly single-track in Nebraska, Iowa, and Colorado. For those on a budget I heartily recommend this bike as a great entry level ride. But if you are a serious rider and anticipate more intense cross-country riding, then you may want to consider the 4900 as an alternative entry-level bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan C
a Weekend Warrior
from Reno, NV USA
Date Reviewed: January 13, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | still looking | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$310.00 | | Purchased At: | Sierra Cyclesmith | | Strengths: | Affordable, durable, reasonable components for the price. | | Weaknesses: | Brakes squeak LOUD, derailleurs need frequent tweaking, front shock not very smooth, saddle uncomfortable on longer rides; BUT, at this price these things are excusable. | | Similar Products Used: | GF, Specialized test-ridden in same price bracket. | | Bike Setup: | Azonic love seat! Avid SD7 brakes, Marzocchi Z4 bomber dual coil FS, XTR/Mavic 517 wheelset, WTB Weirwolf 2.1's | | Bottom Line: | Great starter bike! I like long, slow grinding rides and this is perfect. I'm too slow and clumsy to get this thing up in the air or otherwise hit anything hard/fast enough to break anything. The LBS includes free tune-ups for 12 months and they showed me how to do it myself when my freebies were over. The replacement FS, brakes and wheelset I got cheap on Ebay and I end up with a much nicer bike than a Trek 4900. I also learned a lot about bike maintenance and repair, too. If I again wanted a $300 bike I would again buy the 4300. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
LARRY NEWMAN
a
from Tucson Az
Date Reviewed: January 5, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Tortolita Mountains | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$340.00 | | Purchased At: | Tucson Bicycles | | Strengths: | 2004 Trek 4300: Price, lightness and smooth shifting lever's, and the Black Matte looking frame color! | | Weaknesses: | seat was very uncomfortable, so far that's it.. | | Similar Products Used: | Mongoose Alta | | Bike Setup: | added a front Cat Eye LED headlight, adding a Cat Eye tail light and Cat Eye Computer, had shop put thornproof tubes in when it was delivered from Trek before assembly. A must in Arizona. A new seat from Specialized, BG Comfort seat for men. | | Bottom Line: | Good bang for the buck, the lightness impresses everyone, a great buy for a beginner or a biker who has not ridden or had a good bike in a long time, you can pay more for better bikes, but this one is a great value for the casual biker who rides on pavement or a turn down an easy trail. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan Warr
a Weekend Warrior
from Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: December 29, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | N/A | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$625.00 | | Purchased At: | Local Bike Shop | | Strengths: | good fork | | Weaknesses: | rims, derauiller | | Similar Products Used: | CCM heat, supercycle garbage | | Bike Setup: | factory | | Bottom Line: | I paid $625 Canadian for this bike. It was a big waste of money. This is the worst bike you can buy for the money. First of all wheni first got the bike within 3 days the derauiller seized up even after i oiled it. Then then at day 9 the rear sprocket broke off. So i got a new derauiller and sprocket. Then after hitting a jump on day 11 the rear rim bent and the front one was mangled after a branch locked in between the spokes. I had to pay $200 for 2 new rims. then about on day 28 the arm on the crank snapped off which caused the crank to fall of and break when it hit the road. I ended up getting a whole new crank. About a month later the handlerbars bent and the front derauiller broke as well and the rapid fires snapped off. I traded this crappy bike in and bought a Specialized which was $999 canadian and it hasent broke after 6 months of riding. If you have any questions email me. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David
a Weekend Warrior
from Andover, MA.
Date Reviewed: December 22, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Too many to list | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$349.00 | | Purchased At: | Belmont Wheelworks | | Strengths: | Great ride. All of the components seem to work together without complaint. This is my first aluminum frame and I do indeed like its ride. | | Weaknesses: | Saddle and wheels could stand to be a little better. However the are still o.k. The peddles are not the best either, but are still a pleasent surprise concidering the price. | | Similar Products Used: | Raleigh M-50 which I promply traded in for this Trek. The Raleigh M-50 was my original purchase and it was an aweful bike. The Trek 4300 eats the Raleigh alive. | | Bike Setup: | No changes as of this posting. | | Bottom Line: | For the price, you cannot go seriously wrong with the 4300. I was impressed and suggest that you give this bike serious concideration especially those who are recreational mountain bikers. A friend of mine has a 2001 model that he has been using for downhilling and stunt riding. That bike has shrugged off most of that beating and is still going strong (except for a few component replacements which is quite normal for any bike and rider). | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
richard
a Cross Country Rider
from england
Date Reviewed: December 16, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | ? any ? | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$450.00 | | Strengths: | everything, for the money, except........ | | Weaknesses: | crankset, tyres | | Similar Products Used: | old balance al450 | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | i have a 2004 model in lava dome black. For the money this bike rocks. It was all i could afford at the time, but i would not give it up now. The frame is light, supple and very tough, the wheel set is OK, nothing special but does the job and the matrix rims are very tough. The fork is insync 323 fork is ok once its bedded in and actually gets quite smooth after a while (ive done around 2000 miles on this bike) the finishing kit is the same as most treks, even the more costly models. The mechs are not super light and the front does require quite frequent adjustment.
If you want a bike on a budget that will do almost everything you ask of it, buy this bike. My answer to anyone who complains about the components on this bike is, you get what you pay for, dont buy a budget bike and expect it to come with all the bells and wistles, you tight arse, you should have spent more and bought a 6000 series trek instead | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sean
a Cross Country Rider
from Saskatchewan
Date Reviewed: December 7, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Any | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Strengths: | Strong Frame, good mechanical disc brakes, resonable wheels, good comfortable saddle. Lifetime frame warrenty. | | Weaknesses: | Crankset (the rings are riveted on, what's with that?) Fork, might as well have a rigid fork for all the good it does, basically just wrecks what would otherwise be a good handling bike. Spokes, had to replace all the spokes in the back wheel, the crappy black coated spokes just don't hold up, put in DT stainless instead and haven't had a problem. Seatpost, it should have angle adjustment on it. Heavy damn bike, weighs almost as much as my freeride hardtail. | | Similar Products Used: | Norco Sasquatch, Cannondale F1000 | | Bike Setup: | Right now I have ICR slicks on it, panniers and rack, PD-M515 pedals, and a cateye computer. Also lowered the handle bar down about 1.5" and switched the elastomers in the fork around so it is plusher. | | Bottom Line: | This is in addition to the review I did a year ago. The bike is a 2002, lately I've been using it for touring, it has about 1700 miles on it since the middle of the summer. Some things that I've noticed in that time. The Sram cassette is already toast, however my chain is also way past it's prime too so that may have wrecked the cassette. I took the fork apart and cleaned and greased it, also switched the elastomers around, fork works a little better, but still is a piece of crap. I need a new crankset, Trek cheaped out with the Suntour cranks, you can't even change the rings. This is a really heavy bike for what it is, weighs more then my friends Steel Walmart bike, why? Derailers are crap and need to go as soon as I have money. Seat is comfortable for 90+ mile rides, but what is up with the non-adjustible seatpost that weighs a ton? Rims are awesome for the price, so are hubs, but they cheaped out on the spokes which break if you look at them the wrong way, replaced the back ones with DT stainless 15gauge, not a problem now. Overall a good bike for beginners or people who want a good non-race trail frame that they can slowly upgrade to better parts, but why not just buy a 4900 and save the trouble? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
RJ
a Weekend Warrior
from BRONX,NY
Date Reviewed: November 23, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | van cortlandt/urban jungles | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$270.00 | | Purchased At: | metro bicycles(15th&6th)nyc | | Strengths: | can't beat the colors,light frame,price,rimsand did i metion PRICE!!! | | Weaknesses: | the saddle will have you sore for day, pedals are cheap, handle bar too high,shimano acera, need i say more | | Similar Products Used: | '01 raleigh m80 | | Bike Setup: | stock for now, until i can afford better part | | Bottom Line: | the bike has been pretty good to me(hasn't broke yet),can handle alot of abuse. the paint is incredible(like a can of sunkist).disk brake option (once you can afford them),and did i metion the price(270.)can't beat that with a bat, great for week'enders and beginners, pro's need not apply | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason
a Cross Country Rider
from Kansas
Date Reviewed: November 2, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$385.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Tek | | Strengths: | I have the 04 Black Model. Awesome appearance. Trek Reputation. Not a lot of investment. | | Weaknesses: | Shifting can be rough under stress otherwise not an issue. | | Similar Products Used: | Schwinn Ranger POS. | | Bike Setup: | Stock | |
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$ 339.99
