|
|
|
| |
Submitted by
Skipper Hays
a Weekend Warrior
from Jackson Mississippi
Date Reviewed: October 4, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | The one not taken... | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | E-Bay | | Strengths: | Holy Wowola!! Is this bike incredible or what ?? Tight /light/handles right !!Climbs up the side of everything like a scared cat..Smooooth ride, seems bulletproof.. not alot of flimsy appointments,,everything laid out right and in the right place..timeless design!! | | Weaknesses: | Too damn cool looking.... no more made..dont steal mine!!!! | | Similar Products Used: | Diamondback/Specialized | | Bike Setup: | I lucked up like a big dog!! Found a pristine one owner babied dusted loved silver /black large frame. All factory and like new!!!Yehawww!!Aieee!! I mean like the guy had it hanging on the mantle in his livingroom !! | | Bottom Line: | I did alot of checking around on the internet and among friends. Trek made a fine bike back in 1998. This design and combination of componets is very nice. There is alot of room for upgrades on the individual parts.The bike has a sportscar type of handling and a solid construction.The bike rides like a dream and handles all bumps and whacks without a rattle or a buzz.I plan to treat myself as I wear out the different parts and upgrade as I ride.Every review about this bike said if you can get your hands on one grab it!! They were not fibbin !! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rec_rider
a Cross Country Rider
from So Cal
Date Reviewed: December 30, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Wood Canyon | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$895.00 | | Purchased At: | Newport Beach TWOP | | Strengths: | What can I say about this bike. It does everything I ask of it and rarely whines back at me. I have abused the thing over the years and as long as I give it a little TLC it continues to work and not disappoint. | | Weaknesses: | Upgrading to rear disc is nearly impossible unless you know how to weld aluminum or can fabricate a bracket using the existing mounts. I have no idea what type of small caliper it was designed for but I doubt it can be found. | | Bike Setup: | Completely stock except for upgraded shifters (this year the LX shifters finally gave out). | | Bottom Line: | I don't have a lot to compare this bike to but I ride twice a week with other riders that have new bikes and this bike has no trouble keeping up. The bike is completely stock except for shifters but that's soon to change because the rear hub just came apart (LX). For a bike that I've ridden consistantly for 10 years, including various races, I can't complain. It's the only mtn bike I have and I have no plans to replace it. Everyone I ride with gives me the "what are you riding?" look but for those I come across that have had one in the past I get "I wish I still had it" remarks.
As with any bike, maintainance it is key to longevity. I've gone through bottom brackets, chains, and other wearable parts but that's it. I even have the original Manitou Spyder shock (shows you what I'm willing to put up with). However, I'm going to finally upgrade a few parts to make my life easier (shock, forks, brakes, and now wheels). I can't say it'll be a dramatic facelift as it will still have that vintage look but I'm looking forward to falling in love with it again.
For someone who's looking to get into the sport they can probably pick one up fairly cheap and have a bike that'll probably last longer than they want it to. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from CA
Date Reviewed: January 4, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Everything that is not pavement | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | U.C. Cylcery | | Strengths: | The design is pure genius, completely upgradeable, simple maintenance, and can handle all XC obstacles you can through at it, and if you equip it right, you can also make it a downhiller | | Weaknesses: | None | | Bike Setup: | Full 2007 XTR, Tora 318 front fork, 2008 Fox RP23 rear shock, Pro carbon raiser bar, gravitydropper seatpost, bonterage seat, Mavic Cross Land tubeless wheels, Kenda dual composite signature series tires, T.H.E spoilers. | | Bottom Line: | Like all of you fellow Y5 owners, I love mine. Down below you will find my first review after owning this bike for 4 years. I wrote that review in 2001. Today, 2008, I write this updated review with nothing less than the same attitude I did 7 years ago.
This is absolutely the best mountain bike Trek has designed. I do not see even the newest and more expensive Trek mountain bikes outlasting my Y bike in style, design, and customization.
The other day I actually send a message to Trek via their comments/suggesting webpage link.
I suggested they should make a tribute to the Y bikes by designing a new Y bike, whether it's made of ocvl carbon or aluminum it doesn't matter, or make one of each. But I told them I thought doing something like that, would most likely make all of us go out there and probably buy it, at least I would buy the frame and change the components out of this one to that one.
Critics have nothing to say anymore, all suspension technology has developed to the point where the bob issue is non existent on the Y bikes anymore, where ever the pivot point is located at.
So, i think it would really show Trek caring for their old customers, and also really showing a visionary approach to what they have done in the past, in the present, and how they want to be perceived in the future.
My 2 cents.
Checkout this forum post here, there are also photos of my Y5.
http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?p=3935108#post3935108 | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jason kersten
a Weekend Warrior
from milwaukee WI
Date Reviewed: September 11, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$375.00 | | Purchased At: | craigslist | | Strengths: | super light frame, great handling with smaller front end. | | Weaknesses: | can't lock it up! stock set up is way too long/ wide. | | Similar Products Used: | gt xcr, assorted treks, | | Bike Setup: | truvativ XR stem, chopped bontrager riser bars, mavic 517s, paint stripped to bare aluminum. weight down to 27 lbs. | | Bottom Line: | looks dated but its an amazing bike for its age. a few upgrades and it really gets nice for someone just getting started. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Weekend Warrior
from Austin, Texas, USA
Date Reviewed: December 12, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | any | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$275.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | very nice, pretty light, | | Weaknesses: | wheels heavy shocks are not the best but work very well | | Bottom Line: | If you see this classic for sale it is way worth the money to buy it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
STEVE LABUD
a Weekend Warrior
from POUGHKEEPSIE
Date Reviewed: December 26, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | THE GUNKS - NEW PALTZ AREA | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | WHEEL & HEEL | | Strengths: | Polished frame - no scratchs or chips, no problems with the bike over the 4 year period. Simple design. | | Weaknesses: | The fork is almost useless and shifters/cranks(STX-low grade options)they worked great but 24 speed. | | Similar Products Used: | EPX - TERRA Shark | | Bike Setup: | Current set-up - XT derailers/shifters, LX crank, XTR hubs/ryhno wheels | | Bottom Line: | I had the bike for 4 years and had no problems with it. It's a ruggid and a simple design. I did some upgrades and its a great 27 speed - easy to upgrade. Buying a new fork this month. It's a great intermediate bike-it takes a beating. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Carlos Ruiz
a Racer
from Gurabo, Puerto Rico
Date Reviewed: March 27, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | All local trail are excellent | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Brother's gift | | Strengths: | Kind of light for an old full suspension bike. Very strong frame is suitable for local technical trails. The look is so clasic and clean! Easy to keep up-grading. | | Weaknesses: | Old rear suspension technology requires a lot of thinking to buy a new shock whenever needed. No stickers available on the market to make it look current. | | Similar Products Used: | This is my fisrt FS. I used to ride HT all the time (Voodoo HT, Nishiki HT and a Trek USP 5200 Road Bike). | | Bike Setup: | Full 2005 XTR with Bontrager Race Lite Cranks, Mars Black Super with Lock-out, stock Fox rear shock with new "mountainspeed srings", Stan's-no-tubes on Specialized S-works, Titec Ti Bar, and much more... | | Bottom Line: | I decided to give it a try and started loving the thing! I am a very aggresive 35 years old XC racer (age group - also do triathlons and marathons) who does a lot of climbing and loves speedy decends. My back thanks me for the change to FS even though I was used to my sub-22 pound Voodoo! I also feel I keep a very good piece of art alive by upgrading this bike. I know there are more technologically advanced machines, but it is so fun to see those guides eating dust left by your "old beauty". This bike is good for mature riders and not good for tech-freaks who spend dad's money on dream bikes. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from Blue Mountains, Australia
Date Reviewed: January 2, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Blue Mountains anywhere | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$455.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | No pogo stick effect with my light weight, gear ratios, light weight frame, simplicity of design, climbs so effortlessly. Love the Gripshift gears. It rides beautifully on the road as well as bush tracks. | | Weaknesses: | Can't really think of any. I can't stand clipless pedals so I'm replacing them with cage pedals to fix that. The Manitou Pro forks are a touch hard even at softest setting. | | Similar Products Used: | Malvern Star Outlaw FS | | Bike Setup: | Stock standard for 1997; Gripshift 24sp, Deore LX, Fox Vanilla, Manitou Pro, Shimano SPD pedals, Bontrager stem & bars, Swami Matrix rims, Shimano V brakes. | | Bottom Line: | Exceeded my expectations by far. Although it's a 7 year old bike I love it to death and love riding it...the only other bike I could want is one of the original Y33's. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jack
a Cross Country Rider
from Bay Area, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: August 18, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | they are all special in their own way | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | Local Bike Shop | | Strengths: | Keep it simple! Light, clean, functional, sound. | | Weaknesses: | Not for the thrashers. | | Similar Products Used: | Canondale V700, Nishiki Cyclocross bike | | Bike Setup: | Mostly stock tranny (xt, lx, stxr), New Fox Vanilla 125R, EA50 Riser Bars, Avid v-brakes, Bontager asym rims | | Bottom Line: | She's still hanging in there. I Finally trashed that old Manitou junk stock fork and put a sweet Fox Forx Vanilla 125R on it (with the heavier springs). I Had a Cane Creek S2 headset pressed in too. The front end is super nimble now and matches the quality and nimble feel of the rest of the bike. It's not a hucking bike but if you have grace and finesse you can take the moderate hits without worry. There's a bit of bob in the rear, but a quick crank on the fox vanilla R rear shock coil will stiffen it up. It's long so you've got to lean forward a bunch when climbing steep grades to keep the front from coming up.
All in all, she's a good all-around sexy machine. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
coldpack
a Weekend Warrior
from Nor Cal
Date Reviewed: September 29, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Annadale in SR | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1100.00 | | Purchased At: | Rincon Cyclery | | Strengths: | Beutiful Bike. Climbs well, not great. Comfortable ride! Nice LX components. Great Wheels. | | Weaknesses: | Heavy. Some stock parts no good. Bent cranks right away. | | Similar Products Used: | Joshua is similar. | | Bike Setup: | Swapped stock parts and loaded it up with XT components. | | Bottom Line: | This was a great bike. Climing had the bobbing issue. Cranked down the pre-load and helped. All in all, a great bike....until I cracked the rear triangle. Will attempt to return due to breakage. Now going back to a hardtail for the weight issue. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Myles
a Weekend Warrior
from North Bay, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: June 4, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Annadel | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | Burly frame and rear triangle. Unique looking. Simple design. Easy maintenance. | | Weaknesses: | Not the lightest thing out there. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Stumpjumper | | Bike Setup: | Y5 medium frame, Titec bars, Race Face SyStem, Marzocchi Z1 BAM fork, Truvativ Stylo Team Cranks, Egg Beaters, Stratos XC Pro Shock w/lock out, XT shifters/hubs/der's, Avid SD7 brakes, Thomson seatpost, Sun Big Fat Mammoth rims. | | Bottom Line: | This review is for the Y5 frame only. I bought the frame used on ebay for cheap. It was in good shape with no cracks. I was in no rush to build this bike so I got fat deals on every component. Total I spent about $900 bucks for a sweet bike with good components.
I really like this frame. It motos up any hill that I can throw at it. The Stratos XC Pro rear shock with lock out is definitely the way to go on these Y bikes. I'm running an old school Suntour XC Pro thumbie to control the rear shock. Contrary to what I've heard the rear suspension is pretty darn active. I like to occasionally catch air and the rear is definitely soaking up my landings. The single pivot makes maintenance easy. Bottom line, if you can find one in good shape for cheap then go for it.
Check it out in Bike Shots:
http://gallery.consumerreview.com/mtbr/gallery/files/TrekR(01)(1).asp
********************************************************** | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Stern
a Cross Country Rider
from LA
Date Reviewed: May 7, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Aiea Loop Trail | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | 1000 | | Strengths: | Great looking frame, durable bike, and good for climbing. | | Weaknesses: | Some coponents are weak and heavy: rims, fork, cranks shifters and brakes. | | Bike Setup: | Manitou Mars 80mm, RaceFace Next LP Isis Cranks, Shimano SPD M959 pedals, xtr brakes, levers and rear derailleur, xt shifter and fr derailleur, Sun Rhino Lite Rims with xt hubs, Continental 2.4 fr and WTB 2.3 rr tires, WTB Rocket V Laser Saddle, bars, headset, stem, rear shock and seat post are stock. | | Bottom Line: | I bought this bike five years ago, right before I moved to Honolulu, Hawaii and before I knew anything about mountain biking. I guess I bought it because of looks, fit, and price.
I rode a lot of single track and even a road race on this bike in Hawaii with good results. And even though I dis the factory coponents, they held up very well and were only replaced for upgrades. The only stock parts that broke were a dropout and rear derailleur from crashes. I have crashed this bike alot, ridden expert down hill trails and even some ramps without damaging the frame. The Y 5 has out performed bikes twice its price and continues to smoke hi-end cross bike on climbs. You sit a little too high for the narly trails and quick turns are hard to pull off (wider bars could fix this).
I started converting it into a freeride bike but found that the geomtry wasn't suited well for jumping and the rear travel was suffient so instead I have lightened it up(about 26lbs). I used it now for long trail rides and training. If you are looking for an equally kick ass freeride bike, check out the Yeti ASX (sweet and cheap).
I don't really like Trek bikes anymore. They seam to have fallen behind the times and just copy what everyone else is
doing but they got it right with Y 5 and even the Y 11 (except I would have broken the Y 11 frame by now) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Al
a Cross Country Rider
from Derbyshire, England
Date Reviewed: February 5, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Second Hand | | Strengths: | It's light and the geometry is well suited to larger frame riders. Good all round bike that'll surprise you, just have confidence and go for it. The handling is just great for an all-round great bike - very stable, yet nippy. | | Weaknesses: | You've gota service the rear swing arm pivot point and keep it well lubricated. If you don't do this, you'll think that the shock is rubbish, but it's far from it! If you ride through wet/mud then place a sleeve of old innertube over the rebound adjuster on the rear shock to stop sand and grit getting into the cracks - if this happens, just remove the shock from the bike and spray lots of WD40 into the adjuster and keep working it. The general group set and finishing kit are a bit weak, the bars are too narrow - replace with decent wide riser bars and make the handling even better.
Limited choice of disk brake fittings available, as the rear isn't an IS mount, is a Manitoo or some other thing, so can't fit Hope M4's, and no clearance for 8" disks. A general issue if you are tall and also want to do DH riding is that to ride this bike efficiently on the flat you've gota keep seated with the seat high, when you switch to DH, you've gota have the seat really low, but you can't have both, as the rear swing arm will hit the base of the seatpost when it bottoms. I find lopping off about 1.5" from the seatpost is about right, but when the seat is fully up with my height, the post is only about 3/4 of the way down the little down tube/seatpost tube. The hubs are a bit weak, especially the Icon branded front. | | Similar Products Used: | Lots of BMX's and road racers/time trials bikes over 20 years. | | Bike Setup: | DMR V12 pedals, Marzocci MXCOMP ETA 03 forks, 2.5" front tire, 2.1" rear. Magura HS11 Hydraulic rim brakes with boosters, Funn riser bars and stem. QR seatpost clamp. | | Bottom Line: | If you can get one in good condition SH, get it! Make sure the forks actually work and are not frozen solid, as they are very light in weight and need lots of TLC. MX COMP forks are perfect for this bike. Outstanding all-round bike that'll take a lot of wear and tear. I regularly to 12' drop offs down onto a steep slope and wet grass and hardly notice it! Perfect bike if you are on a budget, lot of bike for little budget, and hey, they still look great. Only reason it gets 4 is the "Icon" brand finishing kit bits are weak and the wrong size/strength for this bike. E.G. Bars, stem, front hub. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jack
a Cross Country Rider
from SF Bay
Date Reviewed: July 15, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | used at local bike shop | | Strengths: | Not as heavy as some of the newer DH bikes. Long (large has nearly 25" top tube) wheel base. Well proportioned. Simple single pivot design. Not outdated yet! | | Weaknesses: | One bottle mount under downtube, lame place to reach for a drink. | | Similar Products Used: | '98 Canondale Super V 700 Comp, '98 Cannondale Super V 900 Comp w/ carbon swing arm, '03 Rocky Mountain ETS 50 (awesome) | | Bike Setup: | Shimano misc group w/ XT RD, LX: FD, Hubs, Levers, Shifters, STX cranks, Fox Vanilla (older) rear shock, Super Crappy Manitou low end front fork (it's being replaced soon). | | Bottom Line: | Picked this baby up a few days ago used at a bike shop in the East Bay. Big fat old-school platforms, 2.0' tires, super clean and with low hours/miles. Never been through a set of tires. I am going to try my best to thrash this thing within an inch of it's life! First thing I did was do a curb check to see how the suspension worked (nice) and then launched a flight of 9 stairs (didn't clean it, but rode out of it). Nice bike for hella cheap (now you know I am live in the Bay, nobody else would say "hella"). ;-) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Cross Country Rider
from Grand Rapids, MN
Date Reviewed: April 25, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Sugarhills singletrack | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$900.00 | | Purchased At: | Itasca Bike and Ski | | Strengths: | Its strong. I'm 200lbs 6'4", and its still in the same working order when I first got it 4 years ago. I take big drops, big jumps, and even bigger diggers and my y5 has stood up to my antics. The chrome look is unique and really catches peoples attention. Great buy, I'm still satisfied. | | Weaknesses: | Nothing has really gone wrong beside normal wear. It would be better for them to put a higher end shock on it, or a dual-crown. Can't fit very large tires on the rear. I am riding a 2.1 now, but I don't think you can go any bigger. | | Similar Products Used: | I have ridden older Trek bikes, and they definitely keep up with the times! | | Bike Setup: | Mods include: Manitou X-Vert dual crown, tough Sun Mammoth wheels, riser bar, and $5 Nashbar break boosters. | | Bottom Line: | If you want a dual suspension and someone is selling their old Trek Y5, and it's reasonably priced for the changing times, I'd buy it. Grab the Y frame before they're completely extinct. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from CA
Date Reviewed: November 13, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1100.00 | | Purchased At: | U.C. Cycler | | Strengths: | The Whole bike is a pice of art!, it is great in every aspect, and it stll runs like a brand new bike! I bought this Y5 the first day it came out, and since then I've always been in love with it. I look now at all the other new bikes out there, and there is no other that can take my eyes away from the Y5, beautiful design and awesome colors! | | Weaknesses: | I've heard about the potential problem with cracks on the welds, well every bike has a problem with these type of cracks for it is EVERY bike weakness. So, if enough time goes by, and you ride it pretty hard, you're going to get those cracks no matter on what bike you are. | | Bottom Line: | Unfortunately, they don't seel the Y5 anymore, and they have discontinued it. However, if you do have one or a friend is selling you one, ought to get it or keep it!, because these babys' like these don't come around anymore!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jacques
a Weekend Warrior
from Colorado Springs, CO
Date Reviewed: May 5, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$900.00 | | Purchased At: | Velo Bike Swap | | Strengths: | Great Reliability. Does everything(downhill, xc, etc.) Still great after 4 years. Takes the crashes | | Weaknesses: | starting level full suspention | | Similar Products Used: | joshua | | Bike Setup: | xt, xtr | | Bottom Line: | This bike has given me many good years of riding. As my first full suspention it did a great job. Got a great price on it at Velo Bike Swap when the bike was new. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jay
a Weekend Warrior
from Garrison,NY,US
Date Reviewed: April 11, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | anywhere that no one else thinks is possible | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | Wheel and Heel | | Strengths: | My Y5 has been amazing! I've brought it through water, downhill, x-country, and of course just everyday use without disappointment. It is a very quick, reliable bike. I've just recently bought a raven 2000 and i still find myself going to grab the Y5 for a week end bike trip. | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | Y3, joshua, etc .. | | Bike Setup: | manitou mars shock, fox vanilla rear shock, lx components | | Bottom Line: | It's been there and back and i cant complain about anything. OF course there are lighter bikes out there, but this one is just fine with me. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tweezer
a Weekend Warrior
from Kansas
Date Reviewed: August 19, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Landahl | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$950.00 | | Purchased At: | Pro Bike, OKC | | Strengths: | Good starting point for a full suspension bike. Great frame to build around. Cockpit layout is the most comfortable I've been able to find. I'm 5'10 and the frame is a large. Easy to maintain and clean. No Bobbing problems here. | | Weaknesses: | Weight and THE WELDS. | | Similar Products Used: | specialized fsr, vrx, gt i-drive | | Bike Setup: | xt and lx mix. pretty much stock except upped to marz super fly fork. | | Bottom Line: | The bike HAS been perfect for my needs. I don't race but I do ride pretty hard most every weekend(my lab demands it). My point to this post is to let you know that I just found five (5) hairline fractures on the welds on the main frame. I can't believe it. Sure I'm wanting a new bike(XTC, Superlight, Tracer) but I was hoping to get it at my leisure. Now it seems a sense of urgency has befallen me. I don't know how Trek is going to handle this. But since they don't make the 5 any longer I'm sure I'll be having some decisions to make. FOR YOU Y-5 OWNERS...CHECK YOU WELDS!!!
I will post again to let you know what happens. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve
a Weekend Warrior
from Bris. Australia
Date Reviewed: March 30, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Bunya Gully | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Response well to all input. Sprints well. Climbs well when you learn how. Decends well. | | Weaknesses: | URT strength, Shock mounts. | | Similar Products Used: | Fisher Joshua, Klien Mantra, Cdale V500 | | Bike Setup: | RST MOZO Pro 4.5, 747 pedals, XT V Brakes, Mavic 217 DH Rims | | Bottom Line: | After I learnt to ride you there was very little we could not do with ease. Climbing with you meant I had to learn to spin properly. To decend on you I had to learn to nurse your seat between my thighs and apply some weight to your suspension to make you active.
You and I have conquered everything from sweet single track to bombing downhill's. We have climbed every mountain, and ridden in all conditions day and night.
Unfortunatley, the you seemed to have a life of about 3000 km's. You did not suffer from pivotal problems or mechanicial failure of any kind, you did not squeal, squeak or whine like all the multilinks out there, you simply took the abuse with quite confidence.
But on two occasions your URT snapped and multiple cracks appeared around your shock mounts.
Trek's representatives in Australia did a fantastic job on both occasions, new backbones(frames) no hassles.
Last week you broke again. The boys from Trek said no more.
No more Y5's for me.
So next week I will get to try my new VRX 400 frame set with all my gear. So, far well old faithful steed, you have served me well.
A new adventure, and a new friend await.
A stronger, younger ride and a pretty gold colour as well?
Thank you MR.TREK
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a Weekend Warrior
from Aliso Viejo, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: March 23, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Wood Canyon | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Best looking mountain bike ever built, simple to maintain/use/clean, just plain works, I've never had a problem with this bike "bobbing" on me. Nice bottom bracket ground clearence. | | Weaknesses: | Trek's warranty department is terrible and it goes all the way to the president's office! The center of gravity is a bit tall so general sense of control and agility suffer accordingly. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized FSR's, Trek VRX300 (what a PIG!), Trek 6000 | | Bike Setup: | Complete upgrade: Manitou x-vert R fork, Control Tech riser bars, XT brakes/levers/shifters/bottom bracket/hubs, Sun 0 degree lite rims, American Classic mtb seatpost, LX cranks, Specialized revo saddle. | | Bottom Line: | I've wacked this bike over 3200 miles of some of the meanest trails in Southern California and my Y-bike has never let me down. My only problem was when the mainframe cracked (I think it was my fault though--involved a car, a roof rack and a house--'nuff said). I was off the bike for six week while the warranty department repeatedly screwed up. When I went to the President of Trek to complain, all I got was some patronizing BS about their customer service rankings... but I digress.
This bike climbs better than my hardtail, decends pretty well (much better with the fork upgrade) and eats up bumpy single tracks with total (butt-saving) grace. The "Fully active suspension" isn't quite as fully active as Trek would lead you belive but I can't really complain.
The single pivot point is pure genius. While my friends on '98 FSR's squeak and creak along, my Y never needs maintanence. The Fox Vanilla just keeps working, just wipe it down occasionally.
Alot of people may pass the Y design off as old and low tech (including Trek now) but this darned thing just continues to to the job like an old workhorse. And I still get comments on how cool the bike looks when ever I take it somewhere new. I love this bike and will never sell it. It will probably be mothballed in a glass case in my living room. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
DAN FISHBACK
a Cross Country Rider
from colorado
Date Reviewed: March 21, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | ANY TRAILS I FIND | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | The y5 is an extordinary bike, it is comfortable and durible. I weigh 195lbs. and it holds me like a dream. This trek looks like a Cannondale but cost much less and holds up longer.
| | Weaknesses: | Trek tends to use nasty color variations but when it counts on the trail who looks at color. | | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale, Gary Fischer, Trek,Mongoose | | Bike Setup: | Can upgrade some of the suspension parts but for the most part why change anything when the cost is cheaper than what you would pay for if the name was Cannondale | | Bottom Line: | I would recomend a Trek to anyone looking for a good long lasting bike at a good price unlike many other big names. Take it from someone who always buys the best and learns the hard way that the higher dollar amount doesn't mean the product is better. TREK OWNER FOREVER!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeremy
a Weekend Warrior
from Vancouver, BC. CANADA
Date Reviewed: January 28, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Buttafuco (Sumas Mtn.) | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Design and Price. The overall package is great. | | Weaknesses: | The components could be a little better, but they're not bad. | | Similar Products Used: | Gary Fisher Joshua Y | | Bike Setup: | Full suspension, Manitou Pro on front / Fox Vanilla coil-over on back. Shimano LX Compnents throughout. 24 speed. | | Bottom Line: | I love this bike. For the price you can't get a better deal. I've taken this bike up and down the mountain a few times and overall I am very impressed with this set of wheels. The components don't sound so great, however, my friends prefer my LX V-brakes to their XT V-brakes. They seem to grab with less flex in the levers. I highly recommend if you can find a used Y5, GET IT!! You'll never regret it! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Aaron
a weekend warrior
from USA
Date Reviewed: October 2, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I have noticed that there isn't a review post for a Trek Y5, I am going to get a Y5 and I would like to see if anyone has one that they can psot about there Y5. Thanks if anyone post something about it. I have one in law a way right now. Sorry for not posting a review.Aaron | | Overall Rating: |
| |
|
Photo Caption Contest
(sponsored by Maxxis)
|
Enter here
|
|
|
$
