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Submitted by
Dan
a Racer
from Santa Cruz, CA
Date Reviewed: October 16, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Used | | Strengths: | Light, smooth, and fast as hell. | | Weaknesses: | Hard to find. Trek discontinued these. | | Similar Products Used: | Litespeed Unicoi | | Bottom Line: | One of the lightest soft tail frames out there (not many to choose from in the first place). Weighs about the same as most hardtails. Carbon frame absorbs most of the impact and vibrations while the soft-tail feature dampens the larger hits. The only other choices out there for a soft-tail is litespeed or moots. I found the titanium frames too unforgiving, not to mention way too expensive. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from Marin, CA
Date Reviewed: August 12, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$2100.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Super light and FAST (I mean REALLY fast). | | Weaknesses: | Icon components are cheap. I replaced them with XTR, Easton, and Ritchey parts. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek Fuel 100, Trek Elite 9.8, Specialized S-Works, Kestrel, Litespeed Ocoee | | Bike Setup: | SID SL, '03 XTR | | Bottom Line: | The STP200 is perhaps the best bike I've raced on in my 30 years of riding. I shopped around for about a year and a half before I found this bike. After test riding it around the block, I knew I was going to buy it. I ended up buying the STP200 rather than the STP300 or STP400 because the only difference are the components. I figured I was going to replace most of the parts with my own custom parts so why spend the extra money for the same frame. Trek makes the best carbon frames out there. I abuse this bike daily and nothing has gone wrong with it. My only complaint is they are really hard to find since Trek does not make soft tails anymore. The only other companies out there that make soft tails are Litespeed and Merlin...but I'm not going to pay $3500 for a bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin
a Cross Country Rider
from Sydney, NSW, Australia
Date Reviewed: August 6, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Andersons/Oaks | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | Renegade Cycles, Lane Cove NSW | | Strengths: | light weight, nimble, well balanced, carbon frame | | Weaknesses: | components, descending | | Similar Products Used: | Klein Adept (test ride), Pro-Flex 555 (2 yrs, previous bike) | | Bike Setup: | pure stock, swapped to IRC tires. Time alum pedals. Broke seat post on first ride, replaced with previous generic seatpost. Current weight is 11.3 kgms (24.9 lbs) | | Bottom Line: | This bike, and the STP series in general, is great for hard tail rider who are getting just a bit sore after long rides. It is fast, fast, fast, at least until the trail heads downwards. Then just have as much fun as you can until you crash, because you will be bouncing.
I am 6", 180 lbs and I ride all day epic rides every other weekend (or so). I am never sore at the end of a ride, even for a metric century. The bike screams along single track and eats up hills, including technical climbs. The top tube is longer than most bikes, like all the Trek owned bikes. I like this geometry, but my LBS tells me my arms are long for my torso.
I like the feel of a carbon frame in an MTB. I'm a spinner and I never feel frame flex. The acceleration is very good, which I like for attacking rocky climbs.
The bike (or me?) has trouble in rocky descents. It's hard to get enough stopping power since there are no disc brakes. You can stay seated but you'll get a good bouncing, as the travel is only 38mm. So you're kind of bouncing around sliding down faster than you want to, well you can figure out the ending.
The frame is 4.2 lbs and it would be fun to throw $$ at it to see how light, fast, nimble it could be.
I am happy enough with this product that I'm leaning towards a Fuel 100 for my next bike. I like the frame material, I like the geometry, so if I want disc and full sus I reckon the Fuel is the same style. I'll keep this as a backup bike, or for buddies visiting Australia! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Doug Gibbons
a Racer
from Virginia Beach
Date Reviewed: July 30, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | York River | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | North End Cyclery | | Strengths: | Light, Light, Light
Strong Carbon Frame
Hardtail Feel | | Weaknesses: | Needs better components for serious riders! | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 8000, Trek 8500, Trek 9.8 | | Bike Setup: | 2003 SID World Cup, Bontrager Race Lite Crank and bottom bracket, XTR Shifters, Avid Ti Brakes, Rolf Propels, Icon Sterling stem and straight bar (light), Soon to add XTR FD & RD, as well as lighter seat and steat post. As is now 21 pounds. | | Bottom Line: | The STP 200 was made for a hardtail rider who wants a little give. This bike is fast up and down hill. The Carbon frame takes a lot of the vibrations leaving you feeling good after long rides. The frame is one of a kind; I know Trek no longer makes them, but if you are a hardtailer wanting a little something to smoothen it out a bit then pick up a use one. If anyone is willing to part with theirs. This is a bike I will ride for years to come.
The only reason I gave it an overall rating of 4 is the component issue. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Arno
a Racer
from Germany
Date Reviewed: May 12, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Strengths: | weight; geometry; wheels | | Weaknesses: | (if any) no: no disc brake socket at the rear | | Similar Products Used: | Bergwerk Gemini; Stevens F9 | | Bike Setup: | Sram9.0 RD / Magura Hydraulic Brakes | | Bottom Line: | Wondering about the price? Welcome to Germany! Prices stink around here: the regular price-tag is 3000$.
Down to more important things:
The thing handles wonderfully. Climbs well. Frame is very rigid and thus stable on fast descents. The (somewhat outdated) excellent Judy Race is very plush and smoothes out everything a non-downhiller might expect.
For sentimental reasons I fitted ym old Magura Racelines. Guess what: they are excellent, too. Got rid of that XT RD and the dreadful rapidfires. Now on gripshifters/9.0 (and a 12-34 Sram cassette, for that matter) gears work well but not excellent.
This is not a full-suspension. But it takes that painful sting of the rocky bits. Which is just what I was looking for. I will ride this baby for years to come.
Bottom Line: This thing is wonderful. I am very happy to have bought one of the last available in Germany. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Russell Ruggiero
a Weekend Warrior
from West Windsor, NJ, USA
Date Reviewed: February 6, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | R&D | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Jay's Cycle | | Strengths: | Frame | | Weaknesses: | Fork/Wheels | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 8000 and 9.8 | | Bike Setup: | ICON Graphite Stem
ICON Graphite Handlebar
ICON Graphite Seatpost
ICON Graphite Crank
Lizard Skins
Shimano M858
Selle San Marco Ergo (USPS)
| | Bottom Line: |
Dear
Reader
I have been enjoying this product more and more as time goes on. At 24 real pounds, the STP 200 is a true two wheel rocket. It allows the rider to climb at speeds, which are shocking.
Upgrade Path
ICON Graphite (STP 300) components are both well made and pleasing to the eye. Currently, these componenets are very inexpensive and offer a good value. The LX/XT combination is bullet proof, but XTR/XTR is a logical upgrade. The standard RE-1's are awful. Time and Shimano have some great offerings. Changing the seat will give you the biggest bang for the buck. The standard Bontrager FS 2000 weighs in at 370g, which pails in comparision to the Selle San Marco Ergo at 230g. Regarding grips, try Race Face and Lizard Skins, which are much better than the stock Bontrager offering.
Bottom Line
The STP 200 offers a great frame with fine components. Note the word fine. These are all respectable components, but none are top of the line XTR, which are found on the much more expensive STP 400. Trek now offers OCLV on their new Fuel 100, which is about three times the price of a STP 200 leftover. In a nutshell, the STP 200 is great value.
Sincerely
Russ
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael Baker
a Weekend Warrior
from Portland, OR, USA
Date Reviewed: December 20, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Onion peak | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | The Bike Gallery | | Strengths: | frame
weight
shocks | | Similar Products Used: | Trek Fuel 90, Trek 5000, Fischer Sugar 2+, 3+, Klein Attitude Race | | Bike Setup: | stock w/ fenders | | Bottom Line: | I love this bike! It's perfect for my kind of mountain biking: exploring logging roads in the coast range where I have to carry a lot, and riding long distance. It's incredibly light and responsive, tracks well, and smooths out the bumps. My last bike was a steel hard tail, and after a long ride, my wrists would ache. This bike's carbon fiber frame takes the hits and doesn't transmit the shock. I bought it as a close-out, and as such, it was a fantastic value.
I don't know if heavy-duty dowhillers would like this bike, but average riders should find their skills improved by riding it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Russell Ruggiero
a Weekend Warrior
from West Windsor, NJ, USA
Date Reviewed: December 9, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Washington Crossing | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Pay's | | Strengths: | Frame and Wheels | | Weaknesses: | Crank/Seat-Post/Stem | | Similar Products Used: | 4900 (LX/XT), 4500, 4300 (LX/Deore)
8000/8500/Fuel 90
| | Bike Setup: | Stock and M858 | | Bottom Line: |
Dear
Reader
The STP 200 offers one of the world's great frame-sets. Please note that I own Trek's 4900, 4500, and 4300. They are all fine mid-priced products for weekend use. The STP 200/STP 300/STP 400 are all professional quality products. Below are my finding on the LX and XT components.
LX: Will be more than anyone needs if properly, adjusted, and maintained. It is a good solid product.
XT: Will be more than anyone needs if properly, adjusted, and maintained. It is a great product.
I ride 150 miles per month with my 4900, which uses the same LX/XT comination as the STP 200. Sand and water trails are common and this setup is quite respectable. The STP 200 gives the buyer a great platform to build upon, and provides many options (e.g., XT, XTR, etc.).
The STP 200 is great overall product, which offers the rider a smooth well balanced ride. As for me, listed below is my future path:
FD: XTR
RD: XTR
Crank: XTR
BB: XTR
Seat Post: XTR
Just imagine augmenting the afore-mentioned items with a set of Rolf Propel's, and a SID SL fork. Hot or sweet? Maybe both!
Enjoy
Russ
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
eric camerino
a Racer
from san diego, ca, usa
Date Reviewed: April 9, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | snake | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | the only shop in SD to go to... Mission Cyclery | | Strengths: | hmm.... fast, faster, and even faster than faster. oh ya, it's comfy, too. predictable xc handling, and just a phenomenal ride. definitely built with the racer in mind. | | Weaknesses: | the fork, crank, and pedals, but i'm not complaining. you are after all paying for a $1500 frame, and the parts spec. on the bike is actually pretty awesome, for how much your spending. | | Similar Products Used: | cannondale f1000, spec. m5 fsrxc, fisher sugar2 | | Bike Setup: | only upgrades i made were xt shifter/brake levers; xt cranks, m545 pedals (they just came off my other bike, but will be replaced with 959's soon), profile stubby barends, and spec. pro ti saddle... | | Bottom Line: | this thing is a rocket. does exactly what they said it would do, and appeals to who it was targeted at, xc racers. that is what trek said this bike was for, didn't they? the geometry is a little funny at first to get used to, but once you get used to it, it works perfectly fine. let's put it this way: i haven't even touched my granny gears,yet. it's beautiful, just beautiful. not to mention the color scheme. the frame is absolutely awesome. the fork, cranks, and pedals, i could do without, but hey, who cares? you're just end up upgrading that stuff anyway. it is mountain biking after all anyway, so stop reading this review, and go out there and ride! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike B
a Racer
from Bend, OR
Date Reviewed: November 8, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1100.00 | | Purchased At: | trek direct | | Strengths: | Great frame! The carbon is light and strong. The shock takes enough off to keep you back feeling good after a 3 hour ride. The combined ability of the STP to climb and descend beats that of a hardtail or full suspension. | | Weaknesses: | The component group on the 200 model is absolute garbage. The E-type front derailleur was forged by Lucifer himself. The Rolf wheels aren't worth the price of the aluminum used to make them. The Rock Shox Judy Race in orange would make a nice boat anchor but please keep it off a bike. The Icon crank is light but is as stiff as a marshmellow(I burnred up the middle chain ring in 2 months!). | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized FSR S-Works, Fisher Sugar, Klein Attitude, Cannondale Jekyll and Scalpel. Most big name MTB's. | | Bike Setup: | I have replaced the original component group with more ones more worthy. XRT traditional front derailleur, Race Face crank and BB, Gore-Tex cables, Mavic 517's on Hugi(front) and crosslink hub(rear), Mars Elite Fork, XTR V-Brakes, Thomson seatpost, Ritchey WCS stem, Ritchey Pro pedals, Mythos XC tires, Cane Creek S-6 headset, EA-70 bars, XT skewers. Original seat and LX shifter/brake levers. | | Bottom Line: | This is an awesome lightweight frame that is great for racing and everyday trail riding. There is no need to worry about the strength of this carbon because I have done tons of 5 foot drops and there are no problems. I would recommend this bike to anyone who doesn't want true full suspension, it's more for a hartailer whose back hurts. Also buy just the frame or pony up for the 2002 STP 400. It is the first one with a normal derailleur and it has a non-Trek crank(XTR). If you buy the 200 model you will be disappointed because of the parts spec, not the frame. My rating reflects the complete bike as a STP 200. I would give just the frame the highest rating. No wonder these didn't catch on. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Endoman
a Cross Country Rider
from Dallas, Tx
Date Reviewed: October 14, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Boulder Park | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1100.00 | | Purchased At: | Bicycles Plus | | Strengths: | Its a TREK!!! OCLV Carbon Frame, rear shock with the right amount of plushness providing a forgiving ride!
| | Weaknesses: | None. | | Similar Products Used: | TREK7000, & GT Backwoods | | Bike Setup: | Stock, and Titec bar ends. | | Bottom Line: | This bike is awesome right off the rack. Its a shame that TREK is not building this for 2002! This is my first carbon mtn bike, and will not be the last. I like how this bike handles, its holds a line when climbing, and when going downhill its like a swooping bird of prey. It corners like a sports car, and accelerates like a starship jumping to lightspeed!!! I don't mind all the Icon components on the bike, in fact I like the idea that I can personalise the bike with what I want, and it does help keep the price down.
If the guys at TREK read this, GREAT JOB YA ALL!!! This is my second TREK, and soon I maybe looking for some FUEL other than power bars for this rider. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ty
a Cross Country Rider
from hartford, CT, USA
Date Reviewed: July 26, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | *Light Weight
*Made by TREK
*OCLV
*Hardtail ride...with a little cushion to take the edge off
*looks F**kin' cool as hell (blue frame sparkles in the sunlight)
| | Weaknesses: | *sorta low BB height...but not that bad
*Trek needs to have a bigger variety of frame sizes | | Similar Products Used: | Moots, Litespeed w/ old style softtails.....gee i wonder why the poineers of softails are switchin' to the sid shock in back? Trek must be doin' something right!!!! | | Bike Setup: | marzocchi Z-2BAM(helps keep the front end down), XT drivetrain, 80mm stem w/XC riser bar, gripshift"rocket- shorty"...nukeproof hubs w/valaint rims, race day Ti seat, michelin tires...only thing stock: avid brakes, seatpost, seat collar, and cable housing
| | Bottom Line: | First off the only reason why i got this bike was because of the sweet "one of a kind deal" i got @ my LBS. I wont mention the price because it would probably make some people cry. (well lets just say it was in the 3 digit range)
(The bike is the same as the 2000 model except for updated sid rear shock)
Anyways, when i first took this on the trail, i couldnt stop smiling. Im used to hardails and this was the best "hardtial" ive ever ridden. The combonation between the OCLV frame and sid rear shock created a nice feel on the trail. It tracked very well over everything and held lines better than a hardtail at speeds between 0-20mph on a trail(i.e. this is where the inch of travel is most noticable). But once u go over 20mph or just hit really rough technical terrain it basically performes just like a regular hardtail.
When climbin' in the saddle it gripped the trail better than a hardtail. Very stiff...flexs only in the right places. When encountering short and steep technical stuff it was hard to get the bike to hold a line, (this i think is attributed to its light wieght and the riders skill)
I mentioned the bb height to be a bit low..u'll only notice this yur first 2 rides.
Make sure you protect the chain-stay from the chain..the sticker doesnt do anything.
I setup the sid rear shock according to what it said in Treks technical manual...(ask LBS)
Make sure u put electrical tape where all the cables come in contact with the frame, to protect the paintjob. The clear coat will crack after awhile.
(u better hurry if u want an stp 200..cause in 2002 trek is only making the pro model(stp400) which is alot of $$$$) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nick
a Cross Country Rider
from F-town,Ohio
Date Reviewed: July 13, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Toas and Pontiac Lake | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$999.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | The best thing about this bike is it a hardtail ( it mine as well be because it only has 1.25in of travel on the rear shock), spiked with a bite of full suspension. It is the perfect bike for climbing and provides that little edge and comfort down the mnts. You can climb like a hardtail and go down like a fs. I love this bike because it SO light. OCLV is truely the only way to buy a bike. I have tried out the downhill bikes (Y-3, Y-33, Trek Fuel 100, Canondale Jeckle, and GT ) and all those bike are torture on the uphill battle grounds. I have also tried many hardtails ( Trek 9.8, Trek 6500, Trek 7000, Shwin, Specialized, and I am sure there are more) but they are all harsh when it comes to going downhill. This bike provides the best of both. Buy it or you're stupid. | | Weaknesses: | So far the only thing is the components that come with the factory issued bike. They are pretty weak, but upgrading is something everybody does. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 9.8 is the only bike close enough to compare. | | Bike Setup: | This bike is mean, XTR cog set and rear derailleur, XT shifters/brake levers, XT front derailleur, Avid Mechnical disk brakes, Marzochi Atom 80 front shocks, XT crankset, Mavic Crossroc UST wheels, and Panaracer tires. | | Bottom Line: | This bike is what you smart people want. If the price is right jump on this. This pivot is perfect and confortable, and the ride is easy. The lightness of the bike makes me want to puke. This bike was handed from God to Trek so please be smart not stupid. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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