Submitted by
Mari
a Cross Country Rider
from Maumee, Ohio, USA Date Reviewed: August 25, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Wa to Busa
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
Peace Corps issue!
Strengths:
all-around reliability
Weaknesses:
I'm not a bike guru, but I can say that the rims bent a bit easily, and the foam seat ripped up pretty soon (duct tape and a locally-made vinyl cover solved that). Grips got all sticky after a few months in the African sun.
Similar Products Used:
Univega hybrid(which I loved dearly until someone stole it from a balcony! Argh!)
I loved this bike and was sad when my two years as a volunteer in Ghana (West Africa) were up (Peace Corps property). :( I would've liked shoxx, but couldn't choose. The bike held up well on paved roads and bumpy bushpaths! Headset came a little loose, but that was to be expected. This bike might not be the best for gurus who want fancy expensive stuff, but I loved it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Art
a Weekend Warrior
from Parker, Colorado USA Date Reviewed: August 21, 2000
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$289.00
Purchased At:
Bicycle Village
Strengths:
My 820 is the 2000 model with quick fire shifters (great) and the front shocks. The bike handles well and shifts positive. I also love the brakes because they feel positive. The bike handles well, feels solid, shifts great, and stops well. Not bad for a bike in this price range.
Weaknesses:
The bike is heavy and I wish it still had the aluminum frame my wife's 1999 Trek 820 has. I wish it also had better pedals.
Similar Products Used:
1999 trek 820
Bike Setup:
Stock
Bottom Line:
The bottom line is that for 289 bucks it's a great entry level bike and for those of us older guys it will work fine for trails and light off road riding that I do. The warranty is excellent an when I compared it to other bikes in the same price range it won hands down. The components seem well thought out for a bike that Trek says is for light off road use. This is not a bike for an experienced and aggressive off road rider because you won't be happy and you will break parts.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
ralph machio thekaratekid
a Cross Country Rider
from newark, DE Date Reviewed: August 18, 2000
Favorite Trail:
doublehorseshoetolenapetosnowgoose
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
hehe
Strengths:
Cool Orange Paint Love the American Flag Free
Weaknesses:
Heavy Bad bar position
Similar Products Used:
Bontrager Privateer Trek 8000 Specialized Hard Rock
Bike Setup:
I swapped out the stem to a lower/longer one threw on a set of good wheels I had laying around Flat pedals and took off the front deraileur( wow, is an 8 speed as cool as a single speed?)
Bottom Line:
I use it to run errands and to goof off with friends on the trails. It's fun to ride a rigid bike now and then., Plus, It's ORANGE so how cool am I? Still, even though its rigid, I can feel the frame and fork moving when I get going and I love to ride it, it gets almost as much time as my other bikes. and it was free. And a big shot out to all the money makers in the house come on and help me turn it out.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brad Lawer
a Cross Country Rider
from Indiana, PA 15701 Date Reviewed: June 3, 2000
Favorite Trail:
the harsh ones my bike can suprisingly handle that i find and make
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
good handling. it steers well. the component setup is decent for a bike on this end.
stock except for specialized cactus tires, profile bar-ends, pedros grips, schwinn moab seat with kevlar wings, system bars, wellgo aluminum platforms
Bottom Line:
i like the handling, it works well on my trails. it isn't an 820, it's a 97 830, but this is the closest to it. i like the way it steers, it ramps well, on my trails it is the best thing to have because you can feel everything underneath it. it hasn't seen the bike shop's repair stand much cause it holds up well. sometimes it breaks, but not often
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Michael
a Weekend Warrior
from Toronto Date Reviewed: September 10, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Ravenshoe
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Frame Gears Colour Weight (for price)
Weaknesses:
handlebars are to close
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Gary Fisher
Bike Setup:
I am here to update my last review. Since then I have changed my stem ( positioned it farther away) I have got Shocks ( Rock Shock Indy C)
Bottom Line:
This bike is ten times better. Even the guys at the bike shop were impressed on how well I changed the set up. They said that the Indy C's were a good idea. I suggest anyone that likes off roading but cannot afford a higher end bike to do this. I only spent $660 canadian. And considering the Schwinn Messa is $699 and the shock arent even adjustable and the components aren't even that much better! I love this bike!
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike
a Weekend Warrior
from Quincy, MA Date Reviewed: September 9, 1999
Favorite Trail:
MA State forest/Cape Cod canal
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Solid Frame. 99' has upgrades like more comfortable seat, color, shifts well
Weaknesses:
no suspension
Similar Products Used:
puegot, specialized
Bottom Line:
Good solid bike for entry level rider. light (if you were used to huffy, etc!! like me growing up) Well worth the money for a good looking, solid, and easy riding bike. Would recommend to any weekend warrior who wants a smooth ride on trails or rails.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Michael
a Weekend Warrior
from Toronto Date Reviewed: August 17, 1999
Favorite Trail:
hardwood hills
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Frame price looks gears brakes
Weaknesses:
weight headset geometry
Similar Products Used:
gt specialized gary Fisher
Bike Setup:
new headset stock
Bottom Line:
Its a great bike but the handlebars ae positioned to close to you ( But this is supposed to be for rec riders so you can see why this is) It handles great, the gears shift well, and it is the best in its class for the money. Some people review the bike as shit, but these idiots are comparing a $359 dollar bike to a $600 dollar and above bike. And if you are going to be racing, my advice would be save up and get a better bike. But if your a starter this bike kicks ass!!!!
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Nick Fenton
a Racer
from ClintonCt Date Reviewed: August 16, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Not Telling
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
price
Weaknesses:
frame geometry headset crancset
Similar Products Used:
K21000
Bike Setup:
Stx-Rc parts indy C fork negitive rise road stem ritchy pedals
Bottom Line:
This was my first real mountain bike before I started to really get into the sport. I got it for my birthday and upgraded the hell out of it. Then bought a K2 full suspention. On the trek be carefull I ripped the front end of this bike! It hates suspension forks! and the geometry screaws up the shifting. by careful with the crankset. Don't use it to go over over obstackless. There is no bolts on the chain rings so when it comes lose it falls of and cant be tightend or put back on for that matter.But for rec riding through town it's great
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bongo Billabob
a Weekend Warrior
from Gilroy, CA Date Reviewed: August 2, 1999
Favorite Trail:
levy
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
excellent brakes, frame, location of gear shifters, downhill
Weaknesses:
not smooth switch between gears, weight
Similar Products Used:
huffy, haro
Bike Setup:
stock, 19.5in frame, green
Bottom Line:
overall good bike, great for a sunday joy ride, not much competition considering it is a non-suspension bike, not bad off-road, love the brakes compared to my old huffys
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
james
a Cross-Country Rider
from auckland Date Reviewed: July 25, 1999
Favorite Trail:
49 traverse
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
paint job brakes wheels suspension fork
Weaknesses:
weight crap rear derailler heavy steam
Similar Products Used:
khs sport cannondale f500 mongoose gt backwoods
Bike Setup:
spinner,sync sus fork 2.5inc 21inc frame
Bottom Line:
steam is to heavy,good with downhill bars and a theadless steam adaptor needed,womans seatis crap good wheels chese tyres too damn heavy thats why im upgrading to a cannondale good allrounder,
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from B.C Date Reviewed: July 22, 1999
Favorite Trail:
fast
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
frame,brakes, SRAM shifters
Weaknesses:
weight, not as smooth of a gear change as I would have liked
Similar Products Used:
gt, scwinn, khs, norco
Bike Setup:
stock
Bottom Line:
This bike is grat for the money. I rides very well and it has a beautiful frame. My only complaint is that the shifting is not as smooth as I would have liked, But I think I can adjust that with time. I have put this bike through hell and it has held up very well.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Joel
a Weekend Warrior
from VA Date Reviewed: July 3, 1999
Favorite Trail:
anything around VA Tech
Duration Product Used:
tested or demo'ed only
Strengths:
strong frame, good starter components
Weaknesses:
brakes were kind of lame
Similar Products Used:
specialized hardrock
Bike Setup:
straight up from the factory
Bottom Line:
Rented one of the '99 models to give it a run while i was searching for a good commuter bike. Took it down an intermediate trail, held up well. Front shocks would have been nice, but they can be added later on. Great bike for the money. Grip shifts are killing me though. I'll give it 4 flaming burritos
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike
a Cross-Country Rider
from Toronto Date Reviewed: July 3, 1999
Favorite Trail:
anything fast
Duration Product Used:
less than 1 month
Strengths:
has a good solid frame. Brakes are strong
Weaknesses:
A bit heavy. Distance from seat to handel bars is a bit to short.
Similar Products Used:
Mongoose Raleigh Schwin
Bike Setup:
stock bike set-up
Bottom Line:
A good bike
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Eric Chou
a Weekend Warrior
from NJ Date Reviewed: June 14, 1999
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
smooth, solid, light for a cro-mo
Weaknesses:
brakes, tires
Similar Products Used:
RU Distortion Mongoose Frontier
Bike Setup:
Standard
Bottom Line:
Its a good bike, but the brakes coold use a little help
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Alex
a cross-country rider
from New York Date Reviewed: February 8, 1999
Bottom Line:
So I go tthis bike about 2 years ago. I thought it was the best thing than I reilized it wasn't that good. So I upped it a little. I put a RS Judy XC on it more agressive stem with an aheadset. I took it on trails. Then I became a more serious rider. I needed a more seriouse bike. I hooked up wit a 99' GT XCR 3000. The bike is a great entry level bike. (provided you hook up wit some suspension) 4 chillies for the durability -1 chilie for the components = 3 chillies
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Stevie
a cross-country rider
from Australia Date Reviewed: February 7, 1999
Bottom Line:
I've got one of these with heaps of XT stuff added on, 535 clipless pedals and a 98 RS INDY XC. OVERALL it is a decent entry-level bike -- tough as nails but difficult on climbs owing to heavier rear triangle. Take my advice -- replace the big kahuna tyres with something that will last longer than 100 miles.4 flaming nards.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt Kaufman
a cross-country rider
from Pennsylvania Date Reviewed: January 1, 1999
Bottom Line:
This is a good bike, it has a cro-mo frame, the colors are nice too! The only thing I don't like about it is the Grip Shift shifters, they do not shift right. I am putting on some 98 LX shifters on it. I also added a Manitou X-Vert suspension fork. I would rate it a 4.5!
Overall Rating:
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