Submitted by
Inspector Exacto
a Weekend Warrior
from Oak Creek, WI, USA Date Reviewed: June 12, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Where ever I feel like going
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Friend gave it to me
Strengths:
Strong frame, takes abuse well, reliable
Weaknesses:
A little on the heavy side (but what do you expect from steel fame?), shifts can be rough and slow, brakes tend to stick on one side
Similar Products Used:
Huffy crap
Bike Setup:
A friend gave it to me so I guess he added handlebar ends, metal pedels
Bottom Line:
A friend gave this to me because he joined the military and wasn't going to use it anymore. It performs well from my experiences. The gripshifts haven't failed me yet and I shift quite a lot. The metal brake handles suit me quite well but the brakes will often stick on one side and release only on the other. The rims were bent when I got it but luckely I got some for free. I would recommend this bike for people who ride on all-around terrain (paved and off-road mixture) but I don't know about serious trail riding as I havn't gotten a chance to do that.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rafn Kumar Bonifacius
a Weekend Warrior
from Reykjavik, Iceland Date Reviewed: September 21, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Not uptown!
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
Örninn
Strengths:
I can ride on it...sometimes.
Weaknesses:
The chain comes off all the time and it´s too heavy.
Similar Products Used:
Mongoose
Bike Setup:
Original
Bottom Line:
This bike is for strong men that don´t have anything better to do with their time than to put the chain back on the bike. Every time I hit the curb, the chain falls off. Every time I go up a hill, the chain falls off. And sometimes, even when I change gears the chain comes off!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kurt Hopkins
a Cross Country Rider
from Franklin, Maine, USA Date Reviewed: August 14, 2007
Favorite Trail:
every where
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Purchased At:
Mt. Airy cycles
Strengths:
This bike has lasted me eight years!!! I'm 14 now so this bike has had its use this bike can handle any thing, water, dirt, road, anything
Weaknesses:
I've only had to change the handle bar grips, back tube, and left grip shifer
Similar Products Used:
This is the only bike I have used!!!
Bike Setup:
all stock except grip shifter, and back tube
Bottom Line:
A awsome bike, that I have had since my sixth birthday, A great starting bike, hasn't broke on me yet! very re
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John Myslin
a Weekend Warrior
from Davis CA USA Date Reviewed: February 22, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Kneeland Hill (Humboldt Co., CA)
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Got it free!
Strengths:
Really strong bike overall, nice upright position, runs surprisingly smooth.
Weaknesses:
Low end drivetrain (Altus rear and crappy Tourney crank), Gripshift doesn't work too well and doesn't always shift when I want it to...maybe why I was given the bike in the first place.
Similar Products Used:
My Gary Fisher Aquila, Bridgestone MB-5, Bridgestone MB-6, Nishiki Blazer (I'm a bike freak)
Bike Setup:
Pretty much stock except I added bar ends. I still don't even know when I'll ride this bike, I have too many.
Bottom Line:
Good value for the money, but not what you would want if you plan to put serious miles on your bike. The low-end Shimano drivetrain might last 2,000 miles, if that.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Adam Stacey
a Downhiller
from Mobile,Al Date Reviewed: June 18, 2003
Favorite Trail:
off-road trail in woods
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$350.00
Purchased At:
Schwinn Cyclery of Mobile
Strengths:
very tough frame, cables are strong good low gear ratio, great pickup,Shimano parts
Weaknesses:
plastic grip shifts frequently cracking and being replaced, rims bend easily, heavy frame, oddball handlebars, no shocks
Similar Products Used:
Huffy,Schwinn,Gt,Pinnacle,Specialized,Trek
Bike Setup:
All stock with new grip shifter
Bottom Line:
The bike can and has beat every Schwinn I have raced, it has a 56" frame which gives me an advantage for more tork to the crank however, when going downhill expect a bumpy ride and a bent rim as the bike has no shock absorbtion whatsoever. It is a good bike for training to race offroad as it has a 26" wheelbase allowing more maneuver ability and can literally cut a line through the dirt. I would prescribe this bike to anyone who is beginning to race off-road or just ride the trail.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Fred
a Weekend Warrior
from Reading PA USA Date Reviewed: August 2, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
Wolvertons Bike Shop
Strengths:
Overall value for entry-level riders; small fram models good for kids.
Weaknesses:
Considering the $, not many weaknesses on 2001 model
Similar Products Used:
Giant Boulder
Bike Setup:
Tweaked for my son
Bottom Line:
I purchased this bike for my 10 year-old son after eventually trying 3 WalMart bikes (lat one had aluminum frame), each having a problem and each more expensive than the previous model... I should have known better. This 2001 800 Sport with a XS 13" frame was quite an upgrade, my son immediately noticing the quality difference. It shifts well, rides smoothly, brakes well and is comfortable for my son. Other reviwers here note that it's heavy, but it's still lighter than the WalMart bikes and isn't really that heavy, especially with the XS frame. Beside, steel is preferred over aluminum for ride quality, especially on bikes without shocks. No, this isn't a bike for hard core enthusiasts but it IS much better than the WalMart and department store bikes. It's great for kids and the entry-level casual rider for which it's intended. My son loves riding it and can now keep up with his dad. He has no problem with shifting although I did spend some time adjusting the derailers for best performance. If you don't know how to adjust, make sure your bike shop has 'em adjusted properly for you. By the way, the 800 Sport costs less than the kids models with 24" wheels I investigated (Fuji, Trek, Giant). Is there a better new bike at this price point? I haven't yet found one unless you can find a great used bike that fits you.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rene
a Weekend Warrior
from NYC Date Reviewed: July 15, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Hartshorne Park, NJ
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$240.00
Purchased At:
Highland Park Cyclery
Strengths:
Great brand & durability at an affordable price. Comfortable seat. Good looks.
Weaknesses:
Heavy bike, no shocks
Bike Setup:
Stock
Bottom Line:
I've had a great time on this bike! I purchased this bike because I wanted to try mountain biking, but wasn't sure whether it would suit me. I love it, and this bike is ok for the tougher rides. Not great, but doable. Hills are tough because the bike is so heavy, and rough terrain is tough without shocks, but this is still a durable bike. I'm very happy with Trek, and I am already dreaming about "upgrading" to a front suspension Trek model. But if you ride easier trails or aren't sure how much you'll ride, the Trek 800 Sport is an affordable option. Would definitely recommend this bike over a cheaper brand-- it will just have cheaper components that will leave you stranded in the woods!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Gary Welsh
a Weekend Warrior
from Pittsburgh, PA, USA Date Reviewed: December 10, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Local Roads
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$280.00
Purchased At:
Bikeline
Strengths:
Strong, sturdy frame, quick release wheels
Weaknesses:
Heavy, cheap components, shifter and chain slips a lot, no shocks
Similar Products Used:
Schwinn, Huffy
Bike Setup:
Standard
Bottom Line:
I ride this bike 5-10 miles a day, mostly on local roads. It works great on back roads, trails, crushed gravel and so on -- what I'd call "light off-road riding." If you want to get into full-fledged downhill mountain biking, don't even look at this bike -- it has no shocks. Likewise, if you know you want to ride exclusively on the road, there are better choices out there. But if you are looking for something that is fairly inexpensive, sturdy, and versatile, then this bike might be worth considering. I add pressure to the tires to make it run quicker on pavement, since I ride mostly on the road. I've added a Specialized v-shaped seat, which helps a lot on the longer rides. This bike sure is heavy, pedalling up those hills... But if you're doing it for the workout, that's a good thing, remember?
If it weren't for it slipping out of gear and the chain occasionally popping off, I'd give this bike a higher overall rating. No matter how many times I get it adjusted, this is still a problem. Very annoying.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Vatid Charoensiri
a Weekend Warrior
from Bangkok,Thailand Date Reviewed: October 19, 2001
Favorite Trail:
local road
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
Rayong province
Strengths:
good brand name Very strong, may be lasted for 20 year beautiful, good construction
Weaknesses:
too heavy
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
none
Bottom Line:
I really like this bike because it was my first imported bike. I used to have 2 steel-frame bikes but Trek provides better riding feeling. I bought it in 1998 when there were few models similarly. Fortunately, the seller offered me very good price which close to his cost. I did not change anything and used it for 1.5 years. After that, I bought a used-alu frame so I changed the frame. I am 42 years old therefore this bike seems a bit heavy to me. Anyway I gave the frame for my lovely son. At present, I ride 2 bikes to go to my office which is about 2 km. The other one is Bridgestone MR 370 made in 1992. I searched from internet and got a lot of infomation.Any how, I couldn't find info.for this model. I think all frame was made of CR-MO. This bike is a bit small for me but I use it a lot. Trek 800 sport is a good choice for beginner or riders who mostly ride on flat terrain. Meanwhile, there are 2-3 local brand produced alu. frame bike at the same price with shock absorber. If I want to buy a bike now, I shall buy other local brand that is more money efficiency.But I still like trek. Is it mean long distance travel ? People who ride Trek probably as tough as Lance Amstrong.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dylan
a Weekend Warrior
from South Africa Date Reviewed: October 14, 2001
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$180.00
Purchased At:
Action Cycles
Strengths:
Good Value for money. Excellent bearings
Weaknesses:
A little too heavy
Similar Products Used:
Gary Fischer : Gitche Gumee
Bike Setup:
100% Stock
Bottom Line:
This bike has taken me through the easy and hard trails where it has performed reasonably. It is my first true mountain bike, and being and entry level rider, it has been brilliant. For riding around the city it is more than adequate. If you're looking for a bike to do the occasional off-road trail and to otherwise use daily and you want something that you can rely on. Then this is the bike for you.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
chris
a Weekend Warrior
from NJ Date Reviewed: September 1, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Trails that are in the woods in my neighborhood.
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$250.00
Strengths:
Good Reliable frame.
Weaknesses:
Cheap components
Similar Products Used:
K-mart special when i was 10.
Bike Setup:
upgraded to shimano acera derailers after the old cheap ones became completely destroyed after 2 weeks of off road riding. Needed to replace the brakes, wheels, tires and pedals.
Bottom Line:
This is the perfect beginner bike and i would recommend it to anyone who dosnt have any experience and wants to learn the basic skills of riding. If you are looking for a high quality bike that is easily upgradeable do not,i repeat, do not buy this bike. You will be completely dissappointed when you are attempting to ride up a moderately steep hill and then out of nowhere your chain just falls off. I got the 1997 model of this bike, but as far as i can tell there have been absolutely no changes. its definately a resionable price for an entry level bike but after riding it for so long i can not give it a good review because i have spent so much reparing stupid things like crappy plastic pedals, garbage derailers, garbage wheels and tires and brakes that dont work.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Terry McMullen
a Weekend Warrior
from Madison, Mississippi Date Reviewed: August 10, 2001
Favorite Trail:
none
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$260.00
Purchased At:
Indian Cycle
Strengths:
Better components than discount bikes. Stays together, good service from dealers
Weaknesses:
Considering the initial price of the Bike it has no weaknesses.
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
Added Specialized seat, bar extensions, bike computer.
Bottom Line:
I have ridden this bike for the last 2 years and have put over 2,000 miles on it. I am 50 years old therefore I do some light trail riding, which has resulted in some bumps and scrapes on myself and the bike. Most of my riding is 20-30 mile road trips. I have had the normal derailer adjustment problems and an occasional thrown chain, but the bike has performed great. The bar extensions help a great deal climbing hills, changing from offroad tires to semi street treads with higher psi has improved road trips. I moving up to another bike in the near future it will be a Trek. The 800 Sport is great for anyone just getting into biking and don't want to throw money away on the discount house bikes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brendan Murphy
a Weekend Warrior
from Chattanooga, TN, USA Date Reviewed: July 23, 2001
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$229.00
Strengths:
GripShift twist action shifting is easy to use, tells you what gear you are in; nice colors; comfortable; great value.
Weaknesses:
None.
Bottom Line:
This bike is very versatile. It is great for everything from mild-to-moderate off-roading to 20-mile road rides. If you want a mountain bike's capabilities for when you need it, but also do plenty of road / path riding, this is a good bike for you.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mintbeetle
a Weekend Warrior
from Raleigh, NC, USA Date Reviewed: July 7, 2001
Heavy, no shocks. The front derailleur won't go into the lowest gear. The rear derailleur won't go past fifth gear. The rear derailleur makes random and unprovoked shifts whenever it damn well feels like it. Grip Shift sucks.
Similar Products Used:
Schwinn Frontier
Bike Setup:
stock parts
Bottom Line:
I wouldn't reccomend it because of the shifting problems, and it's just not that impressive in general.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John Lockjaw
a Weekend Warrior
from Blacksburg, Va. USA Date Reviewed: May 27, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Brush Mountain
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
East Coasters
Strengths:
Good durability, nice seat, durable frame, nice brakes
Weaknesses:
Very Heavy, no shocks
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
???????????????????????
Bottom Line:
Nice bike, very durable, but heavy and without the shocks the rocky trails can give the bike a heavy beating. Overall, a good bike for beginners, and a great price for what you are getting. If youi are a begginer, I would recomend buying it- it is really worth the money, but it doesnt have much fancy stuff on it. Overall, a good bike for what you are paying for.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
James
a Weekend Warrior
from Singapore Date Reviewed: March 23, 2001
Favorite Trail:
bt. timah, singapore
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$300.00
Strengths:
Good Beginner bike, suitable for both road and off road. It's a Trek! Solid frame
Weaknesses:
Very heavy bike, cheap components, bike parts are hard to find coz of the sizes.
Bike Setup:
Manitou Answer Forks, michelin Hot 'S' tyres, Shimano XT derore drivetrain, avid V double digit 3.0 brakes, Fire X sl cranks, specialized body geometry comp seat, Mavic X517 rims, Shimano LX derore hubs, 24 speed
Bottom Line:
The 800 sport is good for beginers. The bike is'nt that good for going for some serious off roading, the components are'nt suited to take such abuse and i've ended up changing everything but the frame. The frame is pretty heavy but once you get used to it, it's not much of a problem. Besides damaging my orignal rims quite often, the original shifters were pretty slow so i changed that too. The sizes for the headset and the seat post are quite unusual sizes and it's hard to find forks or seat posts suitable for the 800 sport. Its a cheap bike but by the time you spend all the money upgrading it, its better to buy a new bike. With such a heavy frame, the frame has taken quite a beating from my riding and it has never failed me, the rigid fork was also quite solid. Without suspension the bike still absorbs some amount of shock.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jim
a Weekend Warrior
from Anderson, S.C. U.S.A. Date Reviewed: July 29, 2000
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Every Trek bike is a high quality bike. I love the quick release seat and tires. The 21 speeds are nice also. It's a great price for a Trek bike!
Weaknesses:
No suspension. Tires are wide and limits long rides.
Similar Products Used:
Mainly department store bikes such as Huffy and Free Spirit.
Bike Setup:
Shimano Components and Diamond Track tires.
Bottom Line:
This is a much better value that a department store bike. A friend of mine got a department store bike for about a fifth of what my Trek costs and I would swear that the Trek is a better value. The gears click into place every time. The chain never comes off and the tires maintain their pressure very well. This bike is not well suited for competition, but it's an excellent choice for an entry level bike and you get a lifetime warranty on the frame. If Trek is good enough for Lance Armstrong then it's surely good enough for you and me.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Zeik Zefwin
a Weekend Warrior
from Ontario, CANADA Date Reviewed: July 16, 2000
Favorite Trail:
The Cross Canada Trail
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
It whoops the derriere off my old "CCM ECCO".
It's got groovy touring handlebars for city streets.
I got it for $369.00 Canadian, NO TAX!!!
Weaknesses:
Doesn't come in fuschia.
No water bottle or bell.
Similar Products Used:
A horribly dangerous "Canadian Tire" bike, which wasn't up to the challenge of the daily commute to work.
Bike Setup:
I've replaced the stock seatpost with a Tranz-X suspension seatpost, for a mere $30.00 Canadian.
I've also added the CCM Mega-Gel seat-cushion from the previous nightmare bike.
I've added two "Canadian Tire" water-bottles, which came complete with mounting cages, for the low cost of $2.00 Canadian.
The stock tires were exchanged for custom street/dirt rubber.
Bottom Line:
I bought this bike to avoid being hamburgerized by inconsiderate motorists.
My previous ride to work was a very unpredictable department store piece of s#%t, and the enraged motorists showed no mercy.
Since purchasing the "Trek 800 Sport", I feel safer in psychotic evening traffic, and I'm delighted with the handling...I can ride this baby with no hands...Something I couldn't do with the "CCM ECCO".
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
kevin
a Weekend Warrior
from winnipeg Date Reviewed: July 15, 2000
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
looks, reputation
Weaknesses:
WEIGHT!!!! (16.5 inch frame and still weighs a ton) not sure, but suspect the fork is not Cro-mo SRAM shifters/brake levers (one-piece) hand-grips (keep coming loose)
Similar Products Used:
Giant Yukon (rigid fork) Extra #80 Cdn., but a better bike.
Bike Setup:
stock
Bottom Line:
My wife and I bought this bike for her and our teen-age girls to putt around with - and for this purpose, the bike will do, I guess. But this bike is really heavy. Especially the back-end. Does this extra weight mean that the bike will be extra strong? Maybe. More likely is that this bike is heavy only because Trek wanted to save some $$$$ and used cheap steel. Also, you'll have problems down the road if anything happens to the brake levers or the grip-shifters, because they are a one piece unit. Again, penny-pinching. The brakes do work nice, though. The hand-grips also keep coming loose - whether this is because the LBS didn't put them on right or not, I don't know, but my LBS has been really reliable and exacting with MY bike. Oh well...... I'm also starting to notice a lot of grease coming out of the bottom-bracket and head-set bearings.
I'll give this bike 2 pickles for value because we paid $389 Cdn. for it; not a lot of money, I'll admit, but my Giant Yukon was only $469 Cdn. and it's 6061 aluminum frame was good enough to upgrade extensively into the great bike which it is today (24 lbs.) Even if we had gotten a deal on the Sport 800, I still would have to say it wasn't worth it. It's just too darn heavy and not upgradable. This bike will NEVER, I repeat, NEVER EVER be a race-rocket. If you want "just a bike", buy this one - that's what you'll get.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
j j
a Weekend Warrior
from j Date Reviewed: July 5, 2000
Favorite Trail:
j
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Breaks are pretty good. Front brakes on mine were defective, but were fine when fixed.
Weaknesses:
Shifting is hard. Chain falls of gears and scratches paint alot. Steel frame weighs a ton. This bike also uses cheap components and can't be upgraded easily. No suspension fork so you feel every little bump.
Similar Products Used:
1999 TREK 820
Bottom Line:
This bike should only be purchased by someone who is an entry level rider or by someone who just wants to get away from the super low quality department store bikes. It is a great bike for the money though.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John Stevens
a Weekend Warrior
from St.Louis, MO, USA Date Reviewed: July 4, 2000
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Low price, brakes are decent
Weaknesses:
The entire drivetrain is crap, looses accuracy over time and hard shifts guarantee the chain getting jammed or falling of the gears, cro-moly frame weighs a ton.
Similar Products Used:
Trek and Schwin MBs, Trek Roadbikes.
Bottom Line:
For the price it cant be beat, its far better then a department store bike, but for any type of serious riding, get out of the 800 series.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Billy Bianchi
a Cross Country Rider
from Farmington hills MI Date Reviewed: June 29, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Island lake
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Nice product for the money, i like the grips and its a sturdy frame.
Weaknesses:
Too Heavy. Components broke down and started to get out of tune in a short while. Rims are too Weak and the stem and bars are yet to be desired.
Bike Setup:
Judy C rock shox, ahead headset, kore elite stem, fizik saddle
Bottom Line:
Good bike for the money, got me started with mountain biking. Not a good serious bike for racing. Accelerates well, good component choice for the money, not very good for hoping up with additional parts.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Joshua
a Cross Country Rider
from Henniker, NH, USA Date Reviewed: April 4, 2000
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Relatively durable, considering low price ($200!)Comfy seat. Extreme rise to the bars.
Weaknesses:
You get what you pay for. components arn't that great. Dented rear rim several times. The front grip shift cracked and disintegrated. Extreme rise to the bars.
Bike Setup:
All stock.
Bottom Line:
This bike would be horrible for serious mountain biker but is a great starting bike. It's the bike that got me into mountain biking. If you intend to ride too much more offroad than fire roads expect to have to replace things ocasionally. It can't survive rough abuse for too long. As extpected the stem and bars are really high. This is comfortable and aids in downhills (considering there's no suspension), but is bad for climbing. I've been up too many hills where I had to put my head right next to the bar to get foreward. All in all it's held up well, been through a few rock gardens in its time. Great begginer bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bobby Filar
a Cross Country Rider
from Albany, OH USA Date Reviewed: January 24, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Wayne National
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Trek Name Price Frame
Weaknesses:
Components Weight
Bike Setup:
EA70 Bar Bontrager race lite ends Manitou Spyder Shocks Nashbar Clipless Pedal Ritchey Stem Wild Gripper Tires
Bottom Line:
Now after getting some work and more to come this is a great bike for the money. $250, when the frame is worth more than that.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt
a Racer
from Orleans, Ontario Date Reviewed: December 25, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Road racing
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Very durable, good acceleration, good looks, lots of compliments, fun to use
99 Trek 800 CCM Speedometer Specialized bar ends super-sport tires
Bottom Line:
Great bike for the money! Very fun, you throw it around and it just hangs on... Weak going up hill, bar ends do help! Great on-road and mild-offroad. Very predictible in handling. I think Trek has done an excellent job!
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jlayton
a Racer
from seatlle,wa Date Reviewed: November 15, 1999
Favorite Trail:
bpa trail
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
good deraler good for flat riding
Weaknesses:
climping hills
Similar Products Used:
mongoose d50!
Bike Setup:
planning on putting rst 281 on the bike
Bottom Line:
this is a tight bike for none rugged trails
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
S Norton
a Weekend Warrior
from LA, CA Date Reviewed: October 13, 1999
Duration Product Used:
less than 1 month
Strengths:
price quality of parts
Weaknesses:
steel frame
Similar Products Used:
TREK 830
Bottom Line:
It is a pretty good bike for the money
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Lee Everett
a Cross-Country Rider
from Reading Date Reviewed: October 1, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Sulham Woods
Duration Product Used:
less than 1 month
Strengths:
The Price
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Trek 9.8Elite
Bike Setup:
800 Sport Rock Shox Judy xc
Bottom Line:
It Rocks
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
George Ehrhorn
a Cross-Country Rider
from Williamsburg VA Date Reviewed: September 28, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Waller Mill
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Cost
Weaknesses:
Weight Lack of Suspension Noisy on rocky downhills handlebars (curvy??)
Similar Products Used:
GT
Bike Setup:
stock with added bar ends
Bottom Line:
Good bike for getting around. If you go off road a lot you will begin to drool over your friend's bikes.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
oscar rivera
a Weekend Warrior
from new york ny Date Reviewed: September 1, 1999
Favorite Trail:
central park drive
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
it's cheap and has a reputable name.
Weaknesses:
rear crank derailer has been nothing but trouble
Bottom Line:
i love this bike but there has been a lot of noise coming from the crankshaft of this bike and i get alot of funny looks from employees of the bike shop when i take it in for repairs
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
oscar rivera
a Weekend Warrior
from new york ny Date Reviewed: September 1, 1999
Favorite Trail:
central park drive
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
it's cheap and has a reputable name.
Weaknesses:
rear crank derailer has been nothing but trouble
Bottom Line:
i love this bike but there has been a lot of noise coming from the crankshaft of this bike
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
seth
a Weekend Warrior
from spingfield,mo Date Reviewed: June 22, 1999
Favorite Trail:
any medium to hard trail
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
wienmen 519s shiamano brakes sram light weight comfy good to upgrade durable frame
Weaknesses:
SIS! SIS! SIS! SIS! pusy handle bars,OK with bar ends
good bike,i am currently instaling rock shox judy xc's,bar ends,& have made many upgrades.TREK IS THE BEST BRAND OUT THERE,I'M STUCK.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tony
a Weekend Warrior
from Washington, DC Date Reviewed: June 2, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Too many to choose
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
A lot of bike for the price. Good brakes. Looks cool in black :)
Weaknesses:
A bit heavy (though not too bad). The cheesy curved hybrid-style handlebar has got to go; I felt the front wheel leave the ground going up a not-very-serious hill once. Grip shifters feel spongy
Similar Products Used:
Trek 820AL (not worth the extra $90 IMHO); GT Palomar (too heavy)
Bike Setup:
Currently stock, but upgrading to a straight handlebar with bar ends.
Bottom Line:
Good bike for someone on a tight budget who does not do heavy mountain biking (Trek never claimed it was for that anyway). After a three-year hiatus and a Sears bike before that, this bike is perfect for me for the next couple of years.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Francis
a Weekend Warrior
from Kingston, Pennsylvania Date Reviewed: May 29, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Jim Thorpe Area
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
Good beginner MB
Weaknesses:
Components cheap (but price of bike is reasonable too)
Similar Products Used:
Giant, Mongoose
Bike Setup:
800 Sport
Bottom Line:
The Trek 800 sport is a bike designed for the beginner mountain biker. I bought mine for $209 so many bikes in K-Mart are similarly priced. The 800 Sport is by far a better quality than these K-mat bikes for about the same price. OF course, if you match the 800 sport up with other mountain bikes it will come up short--you can't compare a $200 bike to a $800 one. But Trek hopes the 800 sport will just be one of many Trek's you will buy in the future. Things do tend to break on this bike tho--but that's to be expected if you ride it hard. Overall, I like mine but am considering getting a more advanced Trek model in the not too distant future. Just what Trek planned. Francis
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
S.Ganesh
a Cross-Country Rider
from Singapore Date Reviewed: April 21, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Bukit Timah Biking Trail, Singapore
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
1. Durable Frame 2. Great Colour(Gold) 3. Has given me wonderfull rides 4. Comfortable 5. Fast 6. A great beginner bike 7. It is also a great bike to train for racing 8. Easy to control
Weaknesses:
1. TREK's high tensile steel is heavy 2. Lousy Components which wear out easily 3. I spent more money on upgrading the bike 4. Not Race ready 5. Not a good climber unless you add bar ends. 6. Not good accleration
This bike will really get you involved in Mountain Biking. But the components are not going to last. This bike will satisfy the hardcore Mountain Biker for only a year. Also for beginners who are starting to mountain bike. I would like to tell you that there is a huge differance between a high performance MTB and a MTB made for comfort. I guess that TREK's focus when they build bikes is to create a model which is durable and long lasting but it would be better if TREK uses EASTON steel alloys instead of making their own tubes. The TREK 800 sport would have been a much more faster and aggressive machine if it was welded with EASTON steel alloys. For the racer, this bike is great for training as the bike is I guess 3 to 4 times heavier than other bikes. If you climb a 30 degree slope with the TREK 800 sport, climbing the same slope with a Voodoo Bokor is such a simple affair. Downhills are a bit frightening with the TREK 800 sport. But once you get to know the bike and the terrain, downhills will tend to get easier.Overall, this bike has given me some of the exciting rides I've had so far. It has always been my dream to own a TREK and so far, I am only dissapointed a bit. I ride a lot on the road and off-road. So far I have covered 3934km. I've had this bike for a year.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
S.Ganesh
a weekend warrior
from Singapore Date Reviewed: January 11, 1999
Bottom Line:
It is not worthwhile to buy this bike if you plan to ride a lot off-road. riding off-road requires you to have good components and a light frame. After 10 months of riding this bike, I have been getting a lot of problems. This bike is suitable for recreation riding on the road but not well suited for trails. It is not a good climber, you will require bar ends if you wish to successfully climb a moderately steep hill. I am planning to get myself a new bike(most probably a TREK 8000 or an Airborne Ti, both of them will have my choice of components: Shimano XT). This a marvelous bike for the beginner but a miserable bike for someone who has gained experience in off-road riding. I have grown quite attached to this bike because this bike was my first true Mountain Bike which could actually conquer Bukit Timah Biking Trail(Singapore's best technical MTB trail). With this bike I can complete the trail in 1 h 30 mins(best timing) after pushing of the bike up the steep slopes(in certain areas; only 5 times)... the pros can complete the trail in 45 mins
Overall Rating:
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