Submitted by
The Kid 5
a Cross Country Rider
from PA Date Reviewed: November 16, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Fair Hill
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1600.00
Purchased At:
Bike Line
Strengths:
2008 Model. Very Light, fast, excellent climber. Great component spec for the $$$. The Reba fork is awesome. The XT deraileur and cranks are great. Looks great too! (2008 model)
Weaknesses:
I haven't found any yet. I have seen on some reviews where people don't like the Avid brakes. Mine are tuned perfectly and stop on a dime. Some people don't like some of the Bontrager stuff. I honestly have no complaints. The color of the 2008 model was an issue for some. I am one who loves the silver and blue. I've had a lot of compliments on it. I am strictly an xc rider so I don't do a lot of drop offs and such. I ride hilly singletrack and fire roads mostly.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Stumpjumper Comp HT. Scott Scale 40. Both are excellent bikes. I just liked the feel of the Trek better and felt that it had a tad bit better component spec for the same $$$.
Bike Setup:
Stock except for XT pedals
Bottom Line:
This is an excellent XC HT. I bought this bike for racing. So far, I love it! I went with the 8000 over the above mentioned bikes because I liked the XT crankset, and had heard great things about the Reba fork. I love the Reba's adjustability and ride quality. The other models had the Fox fork (Excellent!) and a lesser Shimano crankset. Most of the other components were the same. I went with this bike and haven't been dissappointed at all. My shop was excellent about giving me tips on how to get the full potential out of this bike. It's nice and light and fast, right out of the box. This is a great bike for an entry level racer (Like myself) or a higher level racer.
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Submitted by
duleonar
a Cross Country Rider
from Alb., NM, USA Date Reviewed: October 24, 2008
Favorite Trail:
CJ's Trail - Las Cruces, NM
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$1200.00
Purchased At:
Outdoor Adventures
Strengths:
Very responsive, light, easy to control
Weaknesses:
having problems with rear shifter
Bike Setup:
Reba Race w/remote, everything else is stock
Bottom Line:
I use to have a trek 6000, but when I got this 8000 for christmas, my skill and ability grew so much...even on the first ride. I've used this bike as a commuter, cross-country, and even took it to Keystone DH park. The bike is very dependable, looks great (blue one), is very stout. I accidentally pulled into my garage with it on top of the car, and rather than the frame breaking, the roof rack ripped of the car. That is why I had the excuse of getting a Reba Race. (fork bent slightly)
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Submitted by
stevemtbr
a Cross Country Rider
from Nine Mile Falls, WA Date Reviewed: September 28, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Trail #7 on Lookout Pass
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$2009.00
Purchased At:
North Division Bike
Strengths:
Great paint job. Well spec'd drive train. Light.
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Cannondale CAD3, Kona AA, Bridgestone MB2.
Bike Setup:
XT crank and rear der. SLX shifters and front der. Aivid code 5 brakes and a lot of Bontrager parts/tires. Rox Shox Reba SL fork
Bottom Line:
First of all to the moderator you need to up date the pic on the web site. The 2009 model has a sweet paint job on it. Price was $1850 and the $2009 is after tax. First impresion is this is a great bike. With pedals it came to 23.5lbs for the 18.5 inch size. The drive train shifts flawlessly. I like the top paddle on the SLX shifters because you can down shift by pushing it in either direction. This is my first Trek and time will tell how long the Bontrager parts hold up. The Jones XR tires have never had good reviews but for me they have been holding up so far. When they wear out I will through some Panaracers on. The Reba fork performs well and adjustment/lockout is a breeze. The wheels spin smoothly and so far have stayed true. I have only been on the bike for a short time and I will up date the review as time goes on
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Submitted by
Jason
a Cross Country Rider
from Wisconsin Date Reviewed: October 19, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Kettle
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1400.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Light frame at 3.3 lbs Reba SL
Weaknesses:
Select Disc wheelset. Definately upgrade if your gonna be on the bike everyday. The 2008 model comes with Race Disc which is a bummer for me.
Similar Products Used:
First real XC bike, looking into a Cannondale Taurine 1.
Bike Setup:
Hope Pro 2 hubs laced to DT XR 4.2d rims Hayes 9 Carbon Sram x-9
Bottom Line:
Great bike if your planning on upgrading over time. I weighed it and stock with pedals for the 2007 model is 26.0lbs. The frame is light at just under 3.3lbs(Medium). If you want a nice XC bike but can't afford a carbon look into the 8500. The 8500 is set up exactly the same as the Elite 9.8 so you know your getting an awesome bike.
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Submitted by
Alan Rodriguez
a Racer
from Monterrey, N.L. Mexico Date Reviewed: October 16, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Cola de Caballo
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$1300.00
Purchased At:
from a friend (nearly new)
Strengths:
The frame is a dream come true, before i had a M600 Raleigh 2000 hardtail and it was for me the best, but until i got this beauty everything changed, the weight, the quality material of the frame, the geometry is outstanding. The duke xc fork is more than average, excelent bontrager wheels.
Weaknesses:
The bontrager jones tires for where i live are a headache, because since there are many thorns in the trials (just like arizona or texas) these tires do not work well, also they do not get a good grip on the curves, i switched to irc mibro and all ok. The worst of this bike is the frame decals and paint. It is frustating how decals fall off easily, and the paint is very poor finished. Even Raleigh have better painting job. I would fired the painting area responsable in Trek.
Similar Products Used:
Raleigh M600 comp hardtail 2000
Bike Setup:
xt v brakes, irc mibro 2.3 tires, xt front derrailleur, shimano 540 pedals, shimano wh-m535 (16 spokes), selle italia gel saddle.
Bottom Line:
This honestly a very good made bike, specially the model i got (2004) because it had a more racing attitude tha the new ones which have disc brakes that make them more trendy, but more difficult to bring them to a rece where pounds count. The products that come with the whole bike are very good. I am a regular racer and i have improved a lot with this bike, i am now after the king of the hard tails: a 9.8 carbon hartail frame (but 2004 or 2005 for V BRAKES) beacuse i loved Trek geometry and i feel very confortable with it. Maybe some peoplo are not happy with Trek for many reason like some Bontrager components and is true (jones tires), but if we just look at the frame itself it is probably the one with more technology and work put on it than any other brand known.
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Submitted by
Kohler B
a Cross Country Rider
from Potomac, MD 20854 Date Reviewed: July 3, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Shaffer Farms
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1499.00
Purchased At:
Revolution Cycles
Strengths:
components, weight, stregnth, warranty
Weaknesses:
stock tires
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Stump Jumper
Bike Setup:
Stock except for clipless pedals
Bottom Line:
This bike is a great deal. The lifetime warranty on the frame is great. The components used are great for the money. I have had this bike for a little more than 1 year now and i have absolutly NO complaints except that the treadwear on the tires is a little faster than i'd like. The bike is lightwight, strong, and very reliable. It takes a beating pretty well from my riding. I would recommend this bike to anyone.
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Submitted by
S.P.
a Cross Country Rider
from San Francisco Date Reviewed: May 27, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Mt. Tam Loop
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1300.00
Purchased At:
lombardis
Strengths:
components, seat, integrated shifters/brakes
Weaknesses:
weight / hydraulic disc brakes / bontraget wheel set
I had an old Trek 8000 (2001) and loved it - b/c it simply responded... it was light and responsive. it moved when you peddalled and it was light enough to toss around on single track
the new model (2006) is 4-5 lbs heavier, the hydraulic disc brakes have been nothing but trouble, constantly getting out of alignment, and the new alloy is not as responsive as the old aluminum frame. the 8000 used to be a hardtrail dream - now trek went overboard with new components (alloy, hyrdo disc brakes, etc...) and it's lots it's luster -plus price tag has gone up - for the price go get a full suspension bike. if you want a true lightweight hard tail you unforunately have to move over to specialized stumpjumper, giant xtc, or just go all out for titus or ellsworth.
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Submitted by
Will Price
a Weekend Warrior
from hereford Date Reviewed: May 2, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Will_rocks_ok@hotmail.com
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1150.00
Purchased At:
climb on bikes,hereford
Strengths:
dual control levers are great(but will be replaced by xt rapidfire + and xt hydrolic levers) reba's are great, the wheel scan take sum hard beating and still no spokes come lose. 'love the seat' (buy another one as soon as possible unless you won't your boll**ks pounded to death)
Weaknesses:
seat of course i have non stop trouble with the cassette so whe i get enough money i am getting a shimano xt cassette.
Bike Setup:
stock and new jones acx tyre
Bottom Line:
a great bike for xc starters and better fab bike i would recomend to any1 who has eough money not many of my friends seeing as i am only 13 (it was my bday present, im still paying it of, sigh)
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Submitted by
Chan Wijewardene
a Weekend Warrior
from Melbourne,VIC,Australia Date Reviewed: April 25, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Lysterfield
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1900.00
Purchased At:
Cecil Walker, Melbourne
Strengths:
lightweight, rapidfire gears, falk
Weaknesses:
tires, tires, tires
Similar Products Used:
Giant XTC2, Giant Talon
Bike Setup:
As original
Bottom Line:
Excellent bike except for Bontrager Jones ACX tires. For the last 3 years I had only 1 tyrepunch with my Giant Talon, But with TREK 8000, I already had 2 tirepunches within the first month. Tires also throughs too much sand into the frame which causes scrach marks. Bike recomend to anyone, but get the tires changed. (This advice was given to me by another rider but I ignored!)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jake
a Cross Country Rider
from Pittsburgh Date Reviewed: January 24, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Bavington
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1450.00
Purchased At:
Trek of Pittsburgh
Strengths:
All of the bike you could ask for for the money and service. Light and stiff - I never feel like the thing is holding me back in any way.
Weaknesses:
It is pretty expensive, so I would expect higher grade hubs in the wheelset (stock is Bontrager Select Disc) - The cup/cone rear wheel bearings came a little loose on the first ride, which is sort of normal (break-in) but still...
Similar Products Used:
Schwinn Homegrown several bikes ago. My last MTB wasn't even in the same class as this.
Bike Setup:
Mostly stock 19.5", Mythos front tire on the front for better lateral traction over the Jones AXC(60 tpi stock tires also a slight weakness) 140psi in pos. and neg. springs (REBA SL and I weight 200 lbs) floodgate on as tight as it goes. I made a chainstay protector out of double-sided foam tape and electical tape - looks good and is tuff!
Bottom Line:
It looks good. I actually got compliments on it from experienced riders hardcoreing it on frozen singletrack with cyclocross bikes and SS's. Like I said, it's light, rigid and spec'd with 100% reliable componentry that rarely lets you down.
Keep your eye on the wheel bearings (rear especially) and take care of the fork, it's excellent but not magical like Fox apparently are.
Did I mention Shimano Dual Control is excellent? It is.
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Submitted by
Phil Shaughnessy
a Weekend Warrior
from Knoxville, TN Date Reviewed: January 2, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Lone Mountain
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1520.00
Purchased At:
Cedar Bluff Cycles (CBC)
Strengths:
*Hill Climbs *Tech Areas *Short Wheelbase *Light Wieght *The Lock Out Feature On The Susp Is Nice For The Nasty Uphill Climbs
Weaknesses:
No Weakness Really But I Do Want To Convert All The Deore Lx Parts To XT, Just To Have An All XT Setup
Submitted by
Andrew Beatty
a Racer
from Richland Washington Date Reviewed: December 8, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Chamna
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1600.00
Purchased At:
Richland Cycle and Fitness
Strengths:
The Frame is a strong and durable and lightieght frame, the wheel set is a little heavy but are strong.
Weaknesses:
The Tires were first to go then the disk brakes were to go next i replaced them with rim brakes because they are lighter! I Replaced the rear deraler, the cranks to race face duce because they were weak, and i replaced the handle bars to dean titanium flatbars!
Similar Products Used:
Motiv Ground Pounder, Specilized Stump Jumper
Bike Setup:
Replaced every thing
Bottom Line:
This bike is a great bike stock but i am a racer and i made it as light as i can and so i replaced nearly every thing the only 2 things i still have is the seat post and wheels!
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Submitted by
Bob Ingledow
a Cross Country Rider
from Gloucestershire, UK Date Reviewed: November 1, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Forest of Dean
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1525.00
Purchased At:
Pauls Cycles
Strengths:
This is for the 2006 model Trek 8000. Excellent frame and fork, lightweight, great paint and finish. Good quality drivetrain and accessories. Lifetime warranty on frame.
Weaknesses:
Handlebar grips are very hard and thin, definitely change them for some ODI Yetis or similar. The dual control levers get in the way BADLY when mounting lights, computer etc to the handlebar. I mostly ride at night with CatEye twin halogen spotlights and mounting them was a PAIN - I had to order special clamps. This is an oversize hanlebar, tapering up to 1.25 inches diameter at the centre.
Bike Setup:
Stock : ZR9000 frame, Rock Shox Reba SL fork, Shimano Deore LX drivetrain with XT rear mech, Shimano hydraulic brakes with dual control levers, Bontrager wheels and accessories.
Bottom Line:
This is a very light bike but very rigid - my 19.5 inch version is 26.5 lbs complete. The gear shifting is good and I had no trouble getting used to the dual control levers - flip down to change up and vice versa. I removed the lower thumb levers as they are unnecessary. The Reba SL dual-air fork is a dream, very light and adjustable but pretty good straight out of the box. Paint and finish are excellent - actually it looks gorgeous "in the flesh", definitely love at first sight. The saddle looks hard and unforgiving but actually is OK. To begin with the seat post wouldn't stay put, but I cleaned it and lighly regreased it with standard bike grease, then tightened the clamp a bit more and now it's OK. The tyres seem to be OK but haven't really done much work yet. The bottom line - this is a great cross country thouroughbred racer, and is good enough to overcome the slight annoyances and still leave you with huge smiles all round. Highly recommended, especially at the price I paid ( UK £800, which is £300 off list). This is a first review after only a few days, I will post another after 6 months or so.
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Submitted by
sam edwards
a Cross Country Rider
from uk Date Reviewed: October 6, 2006
great bike awsome to ride so fun pumps the adrenaline and gives you the erge to go faster feels comfy and relaxing thers no hard work when your riding it
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Submitted by
Pascal
a Cross Country Rider
from Beauport, Québec, Canada Date Reviewed: August 26, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1540.00
Purchased At:
La Vie Sportive
Strengths:
good componants on it for the price payed / light solid frame / good front suspension /
Great cross-country bike and very nice componants. It climbs very well and is well balanced in all areas. Awesome bike for the ascending rider.
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Submitted by
Dustin Leonard
a Weekend Warrior
from Las Cruces, NM Date Reviewed: May 23, 2006
Favorite Trail:
dona ana
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Outdoor Adventures
Strengths:
Light weight, strong, great components, excellent front shock and tires.
Weaknesses:
something on mine creeks a lot. It may be the handlebars, I am not sure.
Bike Setup:
Stock
Bottom Line:
I got this bike for Christmas. Before, I had a Trek 6000, which was like riding with a lead frame compared to the 8000. I could immediatley do obstacles that I was not able to do with my old 6000. Turning off the adjustable shock is useful when riding to school or other long road rides. I even like the stock tires. They are not perfect, but they have impressed me many times.
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Submitted by
Yan
a
from Repentigny,Québec, Canada Date Reviewed: March 11, 2006
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1595.00
Purchased At:
St paul Bicycle
Strengths:
Light frame, lifetime warranty, Nice red color, Good component for the price!!!!
Weaknesses:
None for the moment but maybe the rear brake line is a little loose on the frame...
Bottom Line:
I bought this wonderful machine recently, and I know this is the one for me it work pretty well on all kind of terrain. I'm sur now that at this price No FS bike could be as good then the TREK 8000
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Submitted by
Simon Jones
a Cross Country Rider
from Ireland Date Reviewed: February 24, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1100.00
Purchased At:
UK
Strengths:
Fast light frameset with a good spec on shimano products
Weaknesses:
Rear brake line looks a little lose on the frame already
Bike Setup:
Stock appart from spd's
Bottom Line:
Been away from the MTB scene for a while. Spent a little more than I maybee should have to get back into the sport. But am seriously impressed with the bike as a whole. Climbes like a goat and very quick on the single track and technical stuff. Reba Shocks are great and work well at the top of the weight range. The Brake/Shifter combo from Shimano take a little getting used to but work a treat. More for my money at the time than the stock stumpjumper on offer.
$ 1540.00
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