Home | Reviews | Manufacturers | Trek | Full Suspension Bike

Login  |  Register
Trek 1999 Bikes Y3

MSRP $ 500.00
# of Reviews 12
Average Rating 4.33/5
More Products from Trek

Submit a Review









Submitted by Joseph Midthun a from Northfield, MN, USA
Date Reviewed: January 27, 2002
Favorite Trail:Lutsen
Duration Product Used:More than 3 years
Price Paid: $600.00
Purchased At:Sports store
Strengths:Good deal on an entry level full suspension bike. Can't go wrong with the proven Y frame. No rust with Aluminum. Great rear suspension.
Weaknesses:Trek could have put a better fork, Pedels, seat, and maybe some bar ends.
Similar Products Used:Y5, Y11, something by specilized
Bike Setup:Shimano clip pedels, RockShox Psylo xc fork, A different seat.
Bottom Line:First real Mt. Bike I ever bought. I got a good deal and this bike has been great for me. I had to replace everything the chain touches, but that was my own falt. This bike is great for people who dont have alot of money and really want to get into Mt. Biking. Sadly, Trek stopped making the Y3.
Value Rating:4Overall Rating:4

Submitted by Ossi a Weekend Warrior from Espoo, Finland
Date Reviewed: November 22, 2001
Favorite Trail:Snowstorm
Duration Product Used:2 Years
Price Paid: $800.00
Purchased At:Tapiolan Pyorahuolto
Strengths:Really fast in the city. Jump up the curbs and cut the corners, you'll love it.
Weaknesses:This is my first full suspension. Maybe a little too soft going uphill Front break wear rapidly, much more maintenance than with my previous bike.
Similar Products Used:Tested Y11, felt bad.
Bike Setup:I use lock pedals. I have shortened the handlebars for easy city surfing. I have studded tires for winter and iceriding.
Great on icy and slippery surfaces because suspension keeps the touch to the surface all the time. Makes it possible to ride on mirrorflat lake ice where others skate or windboard.
i'm planning to buy summerslicks because this buy will be real fast with thin slicks.
Bottom Line:My best buy for a long time.
Value Rating:4Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Nick Highveld a Cross Country Rider from U.S.A
Date Reviewed: July 19, 2001
Favorite Trail:Kariba
Duration Product Used:3 months
Price Paid: $700.00
Purchased At:cYCLELAB
Strengths:Great Front Shox with an 80mm travel. Fox VAnilla X back shox great, can be stiffned or bouncy. THe Deore LX is the best one I've had, no problem. GREAT MADE IN USA
Weaknesses:Onlt that the brakes look a bit too Chineese.
Similar Products Used:Gary Fisher Sugar4. Schiwnn Rocket 88. The Y3 is better than all of them.
Bike Setup:Lx Derailers, Rock Shox Jett, Fox Vanilla X rear with Alpha Aluminium Frame.
Bottom Line:A great bike, buy and it can go anywhere Downhill its suberb and cross-country very fast and durable.

BUY IT.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by bill white a Downhiller from West hartford
Date Reviewed: March 22, 2001
Favorite Trail:Resivor
Duration Product Used:More than 3 years
Price Paid: $800.00
Purchased At:bike shop
Strengths:good for x country fairly decent at climbin. iv gone of many 4 or 5 foot drops with out havin the schocks bottem out
Weaknesses:had to replace brakes after about 2 months. crapy front and rear deraliar
Similar Products Used:trek Y 5
Bike Setup:shamino xtr leavers xt brakes (had to get rid of the ones it came with) shamino front and rear derraliar
Bottom Line:over its pretty decent if i had the chance again i wouldent buy it....over all i put about 400 dollars back into it. I wouldent buy it
Value Rating:2Overall Rating:3

Submitted by Joe Bob a Cross Country Rider from Utah
Date Reviewed: March 6, 2001
Favorite Trail:Canada
Duration Product Used:2 Years
Price Paid: $800.00
Purchased At:My local bike shop
Strengths:Bang for buck, eventhough i dont know what that means. Cheap
Weaknesses:pedals, for the 1999 models no name parts,(i got myself and 1998 model and they are worth more for less if you can still find them!)
Similar Products Used:Schwinn S 20 or something like that
Bike Setup:time clipless, xt ders, and better front brake(mine broke, i guess i use it to much.)
Bottom Line:Good bike buy the 98 model if you can still find a new one, or just hassle the bike dealer to 700 dollars if possible. Tell them about how the parts got cheaper but the price did not. Anyway, buy this bike, it looks cool and is worth the price. Oh yeah what ever you do dont buy a bike from The Sports Authority , have you seen those things i mean what were they thinking, pay the extra 300 dollars and get a real bike. I give 5 flamin poos for value and 4 for overall.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:4

Submitted by Y G a Weekend Warrior from Tel Aviv ISRAEL
Date Reviewed: January 6, 2001
Favorite Trail:Jerkon riverside
Duration Product Used:2 Years
Price Paid: $900.00
Purchased At:Trek Dealer
Strengths:Great looks, good geometry and manuverability, great value for money...
Weaknesses:not so great components, needs a lot of up-grading.
Bike Setup:Full XT upgraded.
Bottom Line:I fully recomend this bike as an entry + level to full suspension. They look and feel like a million dollar bike, they are easy to manuver and handle on different terrain. Shame though they used No-name brakes and shifters, and a horrible front derail. but then again, some of the fun in MTB riding is also the upgrading of the bike. I would say a big AYE to this bike... 5 roasted shrimps from this here rider for value, 4 for Rating...
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:4

Submitted by Kevin Leach a Cross Country Rider from Peterborough, Ont., Canada
Date Reviewed: September 7, 2000
Favorite Trail:Ganaraska Forest Center (24 hr. race loop)
Duration Product Used:2 Years
Price Paid: $1000.00
Purchased At:Spokes and Pedals
Strengths:For a two hundred pound guy, the bike can't be beat with a stick. I've done just about everything with this bike except drop it off the back of the truck. A great bike!!
Weaknesses:The rear shock calfed in the first two weeks,and was replaced under warranty. The front forks (Indy C long travel 76mm)need to be up-graded, they are rather mushy, but overall it's easy to live with.
Similar Products Used:I have ridden a Big Stick, Klein Mantra Race,KHS Team and a CCM Shockwave(this bike is presently used as a boat anchor!)
Bike Setup:Axiom riser bar,Shimano LX V-brakes,Shimano clipless pedals(the cheapies, I'm on a budget), Specialized Ergo Design Saddle.
Bottom Line:Like I said earlier, this bike can't be beat with a stick. For the price, you'll be hard pressed to find another dual suspension that will do everything like this one will. Sure, some of the bikes I looked at are a lot lighter,but really, whats a few pounds anyway. I dropped those pounds riding my bike, so I don't think it's that much of a big deal. Maybe next year, if my financial situation improves, I can afford one of those lighter bikes, but for now I'll ride this bike till the wheels fall off.
Value Rating:4Overall Rating:4

Submitted by Ray a Racer from SF CA
Date Reviewed: March 21, 2000
Favorite Trail:lake chabot
Duration Product Used:3 months
Strengths:lite and cheap
Weaknesses:pedals,no name brakes, fork
Similar Products Used:fsr sport
Bike Setup:clipless pedals, tenko brakes, rock shocks judy SC
Bottom Line:this bike is cool, love it on up hill and downhill, paid $700 for it. this bike you can up grade and enjoy for a long time
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Alex Sainato a Downhiller from Brooklyn NY
Date Reviewed: March 20, 2000
Favorite Trail:cheese quake state park (New Jersey)
Duration Product Used:More than 3 years
Strengths:very light, strong, durable and its as nice to look at as it is to ride.
Weaknesses:should come with pedal clips and the positioning of the water bottle needs to be changed cause dirts goes directly onto your bottle
Similar Products Used:trek y5 and specialized full suspention
Bike Setup:ergonomic seat ( to protect ur privates)..... pedal clips
Bottom Line:ok the bottom line is ........the bike is great and it handles very very good. and like someone else said 5ft drops no problem even for some one my size 200 lbs . its a beauty to look at and to ride. I originally bought the bike cause I wanted something to full suspention and that looked good........well what i got was a exactly what i wanted and some . I go to cheese quake state park in jersey and even thought the name sounds bad i assure u that i trials are fast and techical at the same time and the bike tackles the bumps and the logs and the dips and the 5 ft drops like the the bast of them. i compared it to my friends y5 and to a specialized and even though they paid more the bike is just better, in everything ,,,, handleing weight and durablilty. i would defenitly recomed this bike if u like to ride alot and are going to put this bike to the test,,,,,,,trust me u wont regret it.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Brian K a Cross Country Rider from Pittsburg, TX
Date Reviewed: February 7, 2000
Favorite Trail:Lake Bryan in College Station, TX
Duration Product Used:3 months
Strengths:It's a strong bike, good starting package. Lots of fun to ride, is real smooth. Makes me look good.
Weaknesses:The front shock is crap. I've been blowing out tires weekly since I got it (I ride hard though).
Similar Products Used:Only friends' bikes.
Bike Setup:Factory setup.
Bottom Line:It's a good bike, but I'm afraid I paid too much for it ($800) I wish it had better components (like the Shimano XTR 9spd and a Judy XC front fork). For the price I kinda feel like they should have been there.

Good starter bike, I don't regret buying it.
Value Rating:4Overall Rating:4

Submitted by alan davies a Downhiller from plymouth
Date Reviewed: January 16, 2000
Favorite Trail:newlyn quarry
Duration Product Used:2 Years
Strengths:very strong and very very lightweight
Weaknesses:it is quite bouncy up hills although you can ajust the suspension which puts the problem right
Similar Products Used:Trek VRX 200
Bike Setup:full XT and raceface chainset and amoeba handlebars
Bottom Line:It is a brilliant bike to ride and is very fun, it is also very easy to do 5ft drop offs
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Alan Craft a Weekend Warrior from Oxford.UK
Date Reviewed: January 15, 2000
Favorite Trail:Morthleach
Duration Product Used:1 Year
Strengths:Light weight and stong
Weaknesses:Bouncres quite a lot going up hill on hard smooth surfaces
Bottom Line:Excellent ride and a very upgradable package. Most of all it's fun to ride and own.
Value Rating:4Overall Rating:4






What's New
» BEST OF MTBR - Check out the highest rated bikes, parts, & gear!
» LED BIKE LIGHT SHOOTOUT 3 - We test all the newest products and latest light and battery technology in this comprehensive guide»
» INTERBIKE - See all the latest 2010 bikes, parts, and gear in our extensive Tradeshow Coverage»
Latest Articles and Reviews:


Quick Poll
(sponsored by Moots)
Do you own a GPS?

  yes, dedicated GPS
  yes, smart phone w/GPS
  not yet, but looking to buy
  no

Photo Caption Contest

(sponsored by Maxxis)

Enter here

Contact Us  •   About Us  •   Terms of Use  •   Privacy Policy  •   Advertising
 MtbREVIEW.com  RoadbikeREVIEW.com  OutdoorREVIEW.com
 PhotographyREVIEW.com  VideogameREVIEW.com  ComputingREVIEW.com
 AudioREVIEW.com  CarREVIEW.com  GolfREVIEW.com
Copyright ©1996-2009 All Rights Reserved.ConsumerREVIEW.com, a business unit of Invenda      RSS Feed