Submitted by
OzzyDH4life
a Downhiller
from Puerto Rico Date Reviewed: April 25, 2009
Favorite Trail:
La Cuchilla and La Jova
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$500.00
Strengths:
very strong frame
Weaknesses:
low bottom bracket
Similar Products Used:
specialized
Bike Setup:
inverted fork, fox vanilla shock, danger boy stem, deity handlebar, atomlab wheelset, hayes rear and grimeca front brake (hydraulic), shimano alivio transmision, maxxis mobster 2.7 front and michelin 2.5 rear, amoeba scud chainguide, transition park n ride saddle
Bottom Line:
i love this bike. good bike to rebuild for dh
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jason switzer
a Cross Country Rider
from az Date Reviewed: July 2, 2005
Submitted by
nate
a Downhiller
from sioux falls, SD, USA Date Reviewed: July 30, 2004
Favorite Trail:
gavins point
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$750.00
Purchased At:
ace hardeware
Strengths:
the bike is very fast and very light. the rims are very good
Weaknesses:
the frunt suspension is very mushey
Bottom Line:
i like the bike alot for the leavel of ridding that i am at. but i think if i am going to start hitting bigger jumps i am going to need to upgrade some of the parts.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
KRJoseph
a Weekend Warrior
from Nashville, TN, USA Date Reviewed: March 10, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Hamilton Creek, Nashville
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$1300.00
Purchased At:
Bike Pedlar
Strengths:
Great handling on twisty trails and smooth when going down hill. Rode the VRX for 3 years and loved every minute of it.
Weaknesses:
Weak frame. I wonder if this is one reason it had a short life - didn't they only make these in 1999 & 2000? I had a crack on the swingarm mounts where the shock attached in 2001, and Trek gave me a new swingarm. Just last month found a crack along the weld at the gusset on the main tube the held the seat tube. No more in the warehouse, so Trek is giving me a 2003 Fuel 90 frame. Not a bad trade.
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
Pretty much stock. Replace the crappy LX brifters with Avid brake levers and XT shifter pods. Put on a Thompson post to get me a little closer to the bars. Added riser bars.
Bottom Line:
I absolutely loved my VRX, but I think the frame design might have been flawed. If you are thinking about buying one of the VRX's used - be careful! Look the frame over very carefully and watch for cracks along the welds. I think warranty applies to original owner only. Trek was fabulous when I had problems with the frame - the new Fuel is sweet.
I gave the bike 4 chilis because it was a great bike. Who knows, maybe I got the lemon and the rest of them will never crack. When you crank out 1000s of bikes, a few are bound to have a few problems, even when the rest are top notch.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
javier
a Cross Country Rider
from Sevilla España Date Reviewed: November 25, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Camino de Santiago (Guillena a Castilblanco)
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$950.00
Purchased At:
BICIS BUENDIA
Strengths:
El chasis (frame) es una maravilla, es increible con la precisión que se entra en las curvas, y como "flota" al frenar para entrar en ellas
Weaknesses:
Poco apoyo de los importadores a España, Con la garantia todo son PROBLEMAS. Pero la BTT va de lujo
Similar Products Used:
VRX 200, Canondale Full 2001
Bottom Line:
Todo muy bien
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
JR
a Downhiller
from A wannabe DH racer in WA Date Reviewed: September 27, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Capital Forest Trails in SW Wa (fav is #30)
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$780.00
Purchased At:
Bike Tech of Olympia
Strengths:
Cushy ride, quick handling, speed on flats and downhills. Shimano Deore Xt deraileur, Rolf dolomite wheelset, a replaceable derailleur hanger. High bottom braket cleance for such a small bike
Weaknesses:
Original front forks (cross country forks on a downhill frame). A pig climbing hill with "bob" if one forgets to lock the rear suspension. Short seat tube with little clearance. Wheel width is small for some types of terrain. And open spokes are an invitation to suffer for mistakes.
Similar Products Used:
Santa Cruz 99 Super8, 02 Bullit.02 Kona Stinky Delux,01 Giant Ac Air, and various bikes that are not FS
Bike Setup:
Most of the set up is original. Small size frame,with graphite cockpit components, Shimano Deore LX and XT drive components and brakes, the Rolf wheels with Bontager Jones foldable AC 49/54s mounted. Quick release seat post adjuster. Cane Cred AD5 shock. After market 02 Marzocchi Black Bombers, ODI BMX grips and Sun Riesen flats.
Bottom Line:
A bike that had a bum rap and no chance to prove them wrong! Great bike for the begining to Advanced rider. Best bang for the buck and still be american made!Both back in the day it had full retail and especially the price I aquired it for. The Rolf wheelset is surprisingly strong for its appearance and has taken brutal punishment before I realized what they cost! LOL! Though a bit of a workout on climbs, its weight is still below the DH bombers that compadres ride. It screams like a cat on fire going down and with the new forks rolls over obstacles smooth and steady. On a flat, the only thing holding it back is ME! I began riding the bike with a weight of 180#. And it has taken quite a few urban drops to flat pavement over 3ft. Now at a weight of 155#, I doubt I'll ever break it (unless I drop it onto the Freeway in front of a Peterbilt!). I plan on one more fork upgrade and disc brakes. I hope for a wider wheel by the same maker to put meats on it! Some Gazzis maybe. The wheels are still true and the paint still shiny in most spots. It is the perfect freeride machine but was marketed to XC, hence its extinction. The Frame is the bomb! If you can get one, DO SO! The long trailing arm is a weak point for the Bender's of this world, but is stable&trustworthy otherwise. There may be people who can break it, but they are likely the type who can break ANY thing! Nothing is Indestructable! But this comes close!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Eric James
a Weekend Warrior
from Gettysburg Date Reviewed: February 9, 2002
Favorite Trail:
trail 19 at bear creek ski
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1100.00
Purchased At:
Gettysburg Cycle and Fitness
Strengths:
Frame and rear shock, cool wheels for XC
Weaknesses:
Swing arm, fork, Be warned the Trek has the rear shock set up to be very linear. Read the Cane Creek manual and adjust the volume of the shock. it makes the bike so plush and progressive like it was meant to be.
Similar Products Used:
Mountain cycle shockwave, modified specialized enduro, mongoose xr250, gt lts 2000, cannondale jeykel, and a few others
Bike Setup:
z.1 with ecc, panaracer DH tires, hayes mechanical, sun rynolites on XT hubs. riser bar with cross brace. DH stem. Various custom made pieces of aluminum and carbon. Fenders, fork gaurds, rock ring, etc.
Bottom Line:
Well I was really happy until about a four weeks ago. I was doing some regular maintence and while I had the piviot apart to put some grease in it I noticed a crack in the weld right above the piviot on the chain side of the swingarm. Lifetime warrenty, no problem. Right Well they are out of vrx stuff at Trek and for three weeks they have been sitting on my swingarm not knowing what to do. I haven't ridden in so long. I'm writing this as I am taking a break from trying to mount the mongoose swingarm on the VRX front triangle. I'm glad my dad has an aluminum foundry and a machine shop, or I'd really be S.O.L. My dealer says I might get a fuel frame, but I broke a VRX I think I should be given a Diesel. I am dissapointed not only by the fact that I broke a "bomb proof" frame, but that Trek also claimes "the best warranty in the business" They lied about bombproof, I'll let you know how I feel about their warranty if I ever get a frame from them. The biggest drop I ever did was only a little over four feet and that is stretching it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rob Lawson
a Weekend Warrior
from Newcastle upon Tyne, UK Date Reviewed: December 19, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Alwinton
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$735.00
Purchased At:
Cycle World
Strengths:
I LOVE THIS BIKE!!! Big bargain in the UK, but worth so much more. Suspension irons out every little bump, climbs hills even better than my old Gary Fisher h/t. Far too nice to ride, I just wanna look at it ;) Its not a pure downhill tool, but for all-round use it'll take some beating.
Weaknesses:
The Bontrager saddle. don't even try it, it WILL give you a sore arse!
Similar Products Used:
Marin, Giant, Gary Fisher, Klein
Bike Setup:
Original, except Time Atac carbon pedals and new seat.
Bottom Line:
What more can I say, I asked a hundred people and listened to a hundred more, but I don't think I woulda beat this. Build quality is awesome and the components are top notch. If ypu can find one at this price, just laugh at the competition. I even like the colour!!! :)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Eric
a
from Gettysburg, PA, United States Date Reviewed: November 6, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Anything and everything
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1099.00
Purchased At:
Gettysburg Cycle and Fitness
Strengths:
This is a follow up review, so I won't be too detailed. I have yet to break anything on the frame. The Rolfs are great, but too narrow for my "style" (or lack there of) riding. I'm 6'3" with long torso and this frame fits me great.
Weaknesses:
The fork, could have used disk breaks, silly linkage, Icon cranks
Z.1 MCR, 2" riser, bmx grips, 2.35 tires, custom made guards of rubber aluminum or carbon fiber, custom made adjustable swingarm shock mount, 14.5" bottom bracket, head tube reinforcing ring, truvativ 5D cranks and rings, wellgo flat pedals
Bottom Line:
I love it, I freaking love it. Yeah I druel at the DH rigs at the races, and I am still saving for disk brakes and some sun rynolite wheels it is good for me. It is a fun bike that can do everything. I have yet to lose a race to any of my friends. They have a shockwave and an Enduro. I can still ride up hills and four footers aren't a problem either. There are a lot of good all around bikes out there at good prices. Too bad Trek took themselves out of that area of the market. Whatever bike you have, ride smart, ride safe and have fun.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Clay Bailey
a Weekend Warrior
from Seattle Date Reviewed: August 29, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Tiger Mountain & Seattle streets
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$700.00
Purchased At:
Bicycles West (close out sell)
Strengths:
Weight, looks, rear suspension set-up, vesatile, components for the price.
Weaknesses:
I'm not too sure about the Monitou SX forks.. Tunning does not make alot of difference. The Crane Creek is sweet but does require maintenance.
Similar Products Used:
Cannonadale 500v, Specialized Enduro Pro
Bike Setup:
Went to Hayes Hydraulic discs which required me to replace the beautiful Rolf Dolomite rims with Mavic Crosslinks which I have had no problems with yet either.
Bottom Line:
I toss, slam, and tweak this bike with no signs of being fragile. I do most riding on the streets of Seattle where you can enjoy a whole other world of technical mountain biking. Road bikes are over rated here. The V brakes just could not handle the hills here and with my Hayes I can take the hills down at 40+ mph, catching huge air then still do a rolling stoppie to zero with no fade. This bike is perfect for me. I'm going to upgrade to another fork but want something light that is fully tuneable and doesn't have problems.. Hard to find.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chris
a Weekend Warrior
from North Grafton, MA, USA Date Reviewed: August 17, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Vietnam in Milford, MA
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1199.00
Purchased At:
Trek Stop North Grafton, MA
Strengths:
So far the bike seems completely bomb proof!!
Weaknesses:
The Judy XC shock seems to be weak and a little too bouncy. Seems to bottom out to easily.
Similar Products Used:
Trek 820, Trek 7000
Bike Setup:
Stock for now...till i can afford a new front shock.
Bottom Line:
Basically the bike will take whatever you throw at it, as long as your body can handle it too. I usually ride pretty tough terrain and the bike kicks its ass.... If you just like easy rides through the woods with your girlfriend, this isn't the bike for you. The bike wants to be ridden by someone who can push it to the limit. Keep Riding......
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
john
a
from lake stevens wa usa Date Reviewed: July 30, 2001
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
frame,rims
Weaknesses:
cranks,fork
Similar Products Used:
univaga ds 900,canonadale super v 700
Bike Setup:
stock,except for zuzu pedals
Bottom Line:
great bike only problem i have had as of yet is bent chainring and bad bushing in the font fork, witch was warantied. i yhave had three trips over the bar so far this year and have not been able to do any damage but sratches.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kyle
a Weekend Warrior
from Portland Date Reviewed: April 25, 2001
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$749.00
Purchased At:
The Bike Gallery (Warehouse sale)
Strengths:
Speed, frame (it sucks up the bumps baby!)
Weaknesses:
Front Derailleur, possibly the rear brake. (still too early to tell.)
Similar Products Used:
n/a
Bike Setup:
Manitou SX front fork, Cane Creek AD5 rear susp., Lx shifters and front derailleur, XT rear derail., Rolf Dolomite rims, Bontrager AC tires, Bontrager RE-1 pedals, Bontrager seat, Onyx cranks.
Bottom Line:
A great bike for what I paid. I was planning on paying $700-$800 and found a great deal on this bike. Couldn't pass it up. More bike than I need, but that's okay. Seems like the rear brakes might need an upgrade. Front derailleur is a bit finicky as well. Haven't had it long enough to have major gripes, but a few choice upgrades will make this an epic bike. I think this bike is great for most riders, though not necessary. You can pump up the rear shock and tighten down the front if your going to go XC; then make the necessary adjustments for the DH or Freeriding.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt LeClair
a Downhiller
from Rothesay, NB, Canada Date Reviewed: April 25, 2001
Favorite Trail:
none now
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
Intersport
Strengths:
None
Weaknesses:
All
Similar Products Used:
Roast, LTS2, P3
Bike Setup:
Psylos, discs and all the sh!t
Bottom Line:
I used to believe that this was a strong frame, not anymore. I have snapped the swing arm clean in half, and cracked it on the weld. Trek is not sure about warrentying. The welds on this frame are horrible and the aluminum is way to thin.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
gordon brezicki
a Downhiller
from mooresville, nc USA Date Reviewed: April 22, 2001
Favorite Trail:
gightner
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1199.00
Purchased At:
cool breeze cyclery
Strengths:
frame goes nicely with the suspension. good components
Weaknesses:
you have to set the cane creek ten lbs more than you weigh, or it will bottom out. manitou kinda sucks
Similar Products Used:
gt palomar
Bike Setup:
rolf dolomite wheels, cane creek ad5, manitou sx, deore components
Bottom Line:
excellent bike for all around downhill/trailride/freeride. it couild use a cheap bomber instead of the sx. if you are an extreme rider but don't want to spend a lot, this is a good bike. i like the color.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Pascal Rijzinga
a Cross Country Rider
from Groningen, Holland Date Reviewed: April 14, 2001
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
Stappenbelt
Strengths:
The design and his ride. It feels like your flying.
Weaknesses:
Haven't find that out yet, but that seems to be the shifters. They suck hard when you've always used Grip Shift
Similar Products Used:
Trek ST120
Bike Setup:
Rolf Dolomite wheels, XT back and LX front, Magura HS33 Race Line (model 2001), Manitou SX, Cane Creak AD5, Bontrager components.
Bottom Line:
This bike is awsome. Pritty hard to get overhere but finally I've got one. The first impression when i ride this bike was, that it doesn't "pogo" (or how you call it) when you're taking a hill. The front and rear shock do their work. No negative things until now about this bike. Hopefully it stays that way.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brian
a Weekend Warrior
from Detroit, Michigan, USA Date Reviewed: April 5, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Pontiac Lake
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$750.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
This bike is very fun to ride.
Weaknesses:
The darn pump that came with the bike to air up the rear suspension really sucks. And the Frenchie valves prevented me from riding the day that I received my bike.
If you can buy this bike for under 1000 do it! You will not regret it. I read all of the reviews on this site before I bought it. Thanks for all of you writing in about all of the products. This helped me make a wise decision.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Shane McMillan
a Cross Country Rider
from Kutztown, PA Date Reviewed: March 7, 2001
Favorite Trail:
the Boondocks Brake-Away
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1700.00
Purchased At:
Pounds (LBS)
Strengths:
THIS IS A TREK FUEL 90 DISK!! The bike rocks, except for the Rolf Wheels....and disc. Rolf alone, and disc alone are great, but together...the disc just rip the wheels out of true...almost regularly. Other than that, its a cool looking bike...a little pricey for what you get, but nice. Everything works as you'd expect.
Weaknesses:
Rolf = great wheels Hayes disc = great brakes Rolf + Disc = constant truing problems!
Similar Products Used:
Giant Hardtail 99 VRX 300 Rocky Mountain hardtail
Bike Setup:
all stock....hopefully a more solid wheelset in the future..BUT the Rolfs just may get their act together with a bit more age...but 3 months seems long enough...maybe
Bottom Line:
Awesome bike...at an acceptable price...the Fuels are a bit more expensive because they are new...I payed 1700, but I see the bike as worth around 14-1500....no big deal. Trek does make a really nice bike, with ok customer service. The bike as a whole gets only 4 Chilis, because of my (perhaps one-in-a-million) problems...but the wheels aside, the rest of the bike still Kills 'Em All! Ride the Lightning! Ride FUEL!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
B
a Weekend Warrior
from LA Date Reviewed: January 23, 2001
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$900.00
Strengths:
Wheel set, travel to weight ratio, XT/LX group, tires, riding position
Weaknesses:
saddle, handle bars
Similar Products Used:
sug, FSR, Giant something or another, c'dale sup v
Bike Setup:
Kalloy riser, SDG saddle, balanced and bp'ed 351 c.i.d. V8
Bottom Line:
I chose this bike over a '00 Sug 3, and a '98 (brand new) SV 2000 Freeride. Like most of the previous reviewers have mentioned, the VRX is the best of both worlds. I know that the C'dale is not really a modern freerider, but I do not plan to fall off of roofs any time soon anyway. The Sug is nice, really nice, but just a little too mellow.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt LeClair- A freerider not a
a Downhiller
from Rothesay, New Brunswick, Canada Date Reviewed: January 10, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Any thing with drops
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Frame, Thats about it. :)
Weaknesses:
Everthing but the frame
Similar Products Used:
Kona Roast, Lts-2,GF Kaiti, RM Spice etc
Bike Setup:
2000 VRX 300 with RockShock Psylo SL's, Stratos Helix pro, Rhynolite rear mavic 317 front, Formula Hydro Disc on front Avid Arch 50 on rear, XT deraillur {will get around to replacing it,) Ameoba Dh bar, Icon cranks, soon to be XT raceface bashguard, VP dh pedals (646 Knockoff's) Maxxis Mobster 2.75 front tire, Specialized rear.
Bottom Line:
I have decided to stick this one out and build this bike up the the tits. It is working better now. I have made some serious upgrades and am beginning to like this bike now. I took my old Manitous apart and the oil was Black and chunky :(. There were also loose pieces in the bottom. The cane creeks seals exploded off a 12 foot drop... i will not argue that it wasnt its fault. I originaly bought this bike for XC use then discovered Freeriding and DS.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Roger
a Weekend Warrior
from South Dakota Date Reviewed: October 22, 2000
Favorite Trail:
DIRT
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1200.00
Purchased At:
Dakota Outdoors
Strengths:
Frame Design (bomb proof), Build Quality, Cost vs Value
Weaknesses:
Manitou SX Fork (short travel), Swing Arm Decals (lack of clear coat)
Similar Products Used:
Fisher F3 & F4, GT XCR 3000, VRX 200
Bike Setup:
Titech Hellbent riser bar, Race Face Turbine crank set, SRAM Attack 8spd shifters, SRAM 5.0 Cassette (8spd), Rock Shox Judy Race (set at 100mm), Avid 2.0 brake levers
Bottom Line:
This is follow up on my earlier review. Having ridden the bike more extensively and having made some upgrades, it's time to get down and dirty. This started out as a good bike for the money. With the fork and drive train upgrades this is now an outstanding bike. The RS Judy Race ballances well with the AD 5 at 4 inches of travel. It makes the bike feel much more balanced. This creature has taken everything I could through at it (including to hard crashes) in the last six months and keeps coming back for more. It is stable on the decents and even climbs fairly well (in or out of the saddle). This ride is deffinately a keeper. As stated in my initial reveiw, the VRX is NOT a racer, or a DH bike. It's a great fun trail bike, and will handle mild freeride. It's to bad that Trek dropped the line for 2001. If your in the market for an excellent, fun to ride trail bike that smooths out the rough stuff, takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin', get thee to the LBS and see if you can pick up a VRX on year end clearance. It'll be an even better value at clearance prices!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt L
a Downhiller
from Rothesay Date Reviewed: October 6, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Nything with drops...
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Frame is good
Weaknesses:
SX is sh!t.... it not bangs when coming up and makes loud cracking noises and the seals are blown... XT is junk bangs of frame and spring is shot... going back to LX or XTR
Similar Products Used:
KHS FXT with 7inchs rear and 5 front from MR.T's
Bike Setup:
Same as previous post
Bottom Line:
If you do anything with drops dont buy....XT dont work with sh!t cause it bounces too much... nothing like hearing that smack when it bangs off youre frame. Cane Creek AD-5 is loosing air by the second. LX front is impossible too tune. Manitou SX is f'ed up makin cracky noises and you can here it suck in major air when it come up seals are blown.... f'in plastic preload screw is stripped... AND I NEVER BOTTOMED OUT ONCE. Brakes dont work worth sh!t... levers feel like crap not responsive at all..... Overall dont buy it.... As soon as i can sell it im buying that KHS
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Eric James
a Weekend Warrior
from Gettysburg, PA, USA Date Reviewed: September 21, 2000
Favorite Trail:
anything and everything
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1099.00
Purchased At:
Gettysburg cycle and fitness
Strengths:
Light for what it can take(28.5 lb large frame), massive rear travel. Long top tube length, good bb clearance, manitou is smoooooth, the trek guys know how to weld, made in the good old USA, good components for the price.
Weaknesses:
slight flex in the crank(onyx) when really standing on it, front fork should have more travel to match the rear 5 inches, needs a riser bar for anything except xc, bent saddle during first dh race.
Similar Products Used:
2000 Mongoose xr250 all 48 pounds of it. 1995 Mongoose switchback 1998 gt lts 2000 (sir bobs a lot) 2000 fsr enduro comp (too many links)
Bike Setup:
Stock except 2" k-alloy riser bar, and soon to be made chain ring gaurd (aluminum teeth are too easy to smash off on rocks)
Bottom Line:
This is a great machine. I have ridden a good number of bikes, and Trek didn't lie in their ads. The VRX 300 is the best all-around full suspension bike on the market. Everywhere I ride I feel like I'm holding the bike back from what it can actually do. The rear suspension geometry is great, minimal bob, and it rolls right over small bumps for good traction when climbing. Don't worry about the minimal energy lost on the up hill, you'll be passing everyone on the downs. If you are looking for a DH bike this isn't it, if you are looking for a XC bike this isn't it, it is really close to a Free Ride bike, but it might not even be that. This bike is the Jack of all trades, and can be the master of some depending on upgrades and the rider. Perfect for the person who like to ride it all and have a ton of fun doing it. Safe riding everyone!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Joshua AuBuchon
a Cross Country Rider
from Riverside, CA Date Reviewed: September 15, 2000
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$2200.00
Purchased At:
Don's Bikes in Rialto
Strengths:
Great Bike all around.
Weaknesses:
Well, originally it was $1100, but with a grip of upgrades it came to $2200 out the door. Still well worth it since I got what I wanted for the most part.
Similar Products Used:
GT Timberline if that's even considered similar, hardtail with solid forks, definitly not a smooth ride.
Bike Setup:
2000 VRX 300 Large frame, Cane Creek AD-10, Manitou X-Vert Super, Hayes Full Hydraulic disc brakes, Michelin Comp-S tires with Air-B downhill tubes, Rolf Dolomite Disc wheels, Shimano M-323 clip/platform pedals, the rest is stock but may be changing to Shimano XTR components all around (excluding brakes) soon.
Bottom Line:
This bike is it, totally adjustable ride from stiff to soft, can take a beating and weighs about 30 pounds. my brother is kicking himself for not getting one when I did cause they're no longer made now. I had all the changes done before I bought it since I wanted a VRX 400, but they didn't have a frame in my size. So I had the shop add it all to exactly what I wanted and it came out one awesome little ride. I took it to Mammoth Mountain with me for vacation and it ate everything I threw at it with no problems, not even a flat tire. If you can get a hold of one still get it quick cause it's a better design than the "fuel" that's taking it's place.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Robert Fiori
a Weekend Warrior
from Davidson, NC, USA Date Reviewed: September 11, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Huntersville
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1099.00
Purchased At:
Cool Breeze Cyclery
Strengths:
The suspension is sooooo comfortable.
Weaknesses:
None that we've seen so far.
Similar Products Used:
My wife and I had twelve year old mountain bikes with no suspention.
Bike Setup:
Stock
Bottom Line:
My wife and I are not equipment experts. We pick the VRX 300 because of the reviews submitted by other owners. We both feel that these bikes are great rides. We've only ridden on non-technical trails so far - small hills and streams with some small logs, and can hardly believe the ride. The VRX 300 is definitely the right tool for the job if you are new to trail riding and have a moderate amount of money to spend. We got a good deal on the 2000 model because it was the end of the season (September). I had to convinse my wife to spend the extra money, but she now admits that it was worth it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt LeClair
a Downhiller
from Quispamsis, New Brunswick, Canada Date Reviewed: July 8, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Any Freeride
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Good mix of components. Frame is F***ing NUKEPROOF!!! ditto for the Rolf Domolites. Good Handlebars. Seatpost.... Excelent designe on swingarm... Light as a feather... well for a FS
Weaknesses:
Front shock should be an X-Vert... rear should be Stratos Helix pro or at least fox float
Excelent Freeride rig... Would recommend to nyone as long as ur not too extreme. Frame will take it but the stock Cane Creek Ad-5 wont.. you will blow the seals.. well worth the 2300$ canadian i payed. Plan to put on disk breaks.. and a Stratos helix pro on rear, Marazocchi Z3 LT on front.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andrew Fox
a Cross Country Rider
from Sheffield, UK Date Reviewed: June 27, 2000
Fantastic trail bike, comfortable, solid, and easy to climb with. Just too damn scarey going down with those bars and stem. The lack of width and rise makes the stearing very twitchy, and steep downhills stain-inducing. Worth an immediate upgrade. Not enough to tarnish an otherwise excellent package though.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brent
a Weekend Warrior
from Little Rock, Ar, usa Date Reviewed: June 22, 2000
Favorite Trail:
arkansas
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
awesome handling, feels sooooo stable over the rough stuff, frame and wheels are bomb proof, really cool pedals, you can kick in easy with muddy feet, and it looks really cool
Weaknesses:
wish it came with a shock pump, but nashbar has one for 20 bucks, Trek changed some of the specs which was confusing but after talking to them, it makes sense why they did !!
Similar Products Used:
hardtails, ever watch a low rider truck going down the road with no shocks ?? looks uncomfortable doesn't it....get a full suspension, what tiny bit of power you lose into the suspension on the climb is minimal compared to the comfort/stability (fewer crashes) the entire rest of the ride
Bike Setup:
added a computer and prob bar ends, slightly longer stem
Bottom Line:
.Awesome bike, a great rookie bike, b/c it self corrects for so many mistakes, feels super stable, suspension is amazing, rough rocky sections that used to intimidate me now I ride over with a confident smile, far unlike anything else I've ridden, climbs totally adequately once you get it dialed in just right, and learn a more circular pedal stroke,(comes from riding a softride roadbike, think of pedaling front to back, instead of up and down) but def makes up for any loss in climb on the downhill side, def makes for a much funner all around trail riding experience, you can't appreciate it until you ride it, you just keep on pedaling and let the suspension do all the work, and no chain slap, bike is silent over rough stuff due to the swing arm rear end. I never knew mountain biking could be sooo fun !!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Debbie
a Weekend Warrior
from Oxford, England Date Reviewed: June 19, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Coed y brenin
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Gentlemen if you want to get your ladies to join you on the trails then I would suggest buying them a VRX300
Weaknesses:
Location of bottle mount. Really don't fancy drinking from something covered in British mud or mud from anywhere else thank you!!
Similar Products Used:
Gary Fisher Sugar 2 Marin B17
Bike Setup:
As bought but changed the front suspension to Marzocchi Z3 Flylight 100's last month
Bottom Line:
Got my bike November 1999. Cannot stop raving about it. It climbs with positive traction, it speeds down hill and leaves others standing, extremely responsive, light (even when covered in mud I class this as a definite plus)
Easy to ride, even nicer to look at.....go on buy one you know you want to!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
JJH
a Weekend Warrior
from USA Date Reviewed: June 14, 2000
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Strengths:
-Good Frame -Good Front Shock (Answer Manitou SX) -Good Rear Shock (Cane Creek AD-5) -Good components -Looks cool
Weaknesses:
None!
Similar Products Used:
Trek VRX 200
Bike Setup:
Stock
Bottom Line:
This is a great all-around full suspension mountain bike. It has a good frame, shocks, and components.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
overDbars
a Cross Country Rider
from LA Date Reviewed: June 8, 2000
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
This bike is sooo light for a FS! CC air shock, bombproof frame, rolf wheels(ohmigosh they're great), great tires,lx/xt components, amazing value(sale$969)!
Weaknesses:
Still waiting- nothing can be this perfect!
Similar Products Used:
marin fs, specialized fsr, various hardtails
Bike Setup:
stock
Bottom Line:
I LOVE this bike! I have ridden hard tail(suck on the dh), other full suspention (tanks), and more expensive bikes($), and I am so glad this is what I ended up with. I searched for three months for a bike that I could afford, didn't weigh more than me, and didn't have a set of components that I would have to change out in a month, and this was it! LADIES if you have problems finding a bike that fits this bike is great- Y frame so stand over is not a problem, good top bar length, and again its so light. I talked about my bike so much that my friend bought one as well- loves it, is taller than me, and rides the same size just has the seat and seatpost in different positions.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Roger
a
from South Dakota Date Reviewed: February 28, 2000
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
rear shock, design, quality, bang for the buck. Climbs well seated or standing once you have the shock dialed in. Deffinately not a rocket on the climb, but a real bomb on the down hills.
Weaknesses:
Same old gripe (for any fs bike), bottle mount location. But I got my camel back. No problem! Manitou SX fork does not complement the AD 5 very well. They shoulda put an xvert on this ride. Decals on the swingarm still are not clear coated and will be toast before the season is out.
Similar Products Used:
Fisher F3 and F4, VRX 200
Bike Setup:
99 Judy XC with Med/Firm spring set. Icon Diesel riser bar. All else is stock.
Bottom Line:
This is a sweet ride for gonzo XC or mild free ride. The frame is bomb proof, the CC AD 5 rear shock is matched well to the swing arm/linkage design. The front fork (00 Manitou SX) does not compliment the bike very well with only 76mm of travel. An XVert or Judy Race would be a much better match (this is an upgrade I plan in the near future). The components are an excellent mix of LX front and XT rear derailleurs, Icon Onyx crank, and integrated LX shifter pod/brake levers. The integrated shifters could be a minus for those that don't like the LX style brake lever or the integrated system however. The Avid 1.0 brakes perform well and will haul the bike down quickly. Over all this bike is an outstanding value, and well worth the $1500 retail (even better if you can strike a deal for less, what I saved on mine will pay for the fork upgrade). The 300 performs and is speced as well as models costing considerably more. I would recommend this bike to anyone loking for an all around trail bike as long as you aren't anal about weight. The VRX 300, Large frame, stock, tips in at 28.5 lbs out of the box,(29 flat with my saddle bag full of crap). Don't buy this bike if you are looking for a serious XC racing type FS bike, the VRX ain't it. But if you are looking for great fun ride the VRX is an excellent value and an outstanding ride. I rate it a five for value and 4 overall, gotta knock one off for the fork and the integrated levers.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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