Looking hard at a 2018 stache 7. Ive never owned trek before and am curious how the ride quality is on this aluminum framed bike. Ive owned spec m5 29hardtails before and their aluminum never seemed to feel overly harsh. Does the stache 7 have a good ride feel to it? Any other input is appreciated. Ill be riding on xc\trail type trails with lts f roots, sand and short puchy drops/climbs.
Looking for input on 2018 stache 7
DTL
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Looking hard at a 2018 stache 7. Ive never owned trek before and am curious how the ride quality is on this aluminum framed bike. Ive owned spec m5 29hardtails before and their aluminum never seemed to feel overly harsh. Does the stache 7 have a good ride feel to it? Any other input is appreciated. Ill be riding on xc\trail type trails with lts f roots, sand and short puchy drops/climbs.
I just picked one up a week ago. I demoed one first when I went to visit my brother in Georgia for about a 17 mile ride. I know then instantly that I was going to get one. I have about 30 miles on mine and I couldn't be happier.
My first ride with it I took it to a trail that has rock garden after rock garden. Those big tires just rolled right over them with abandonment. It was very confidence inspiring. The next trail that I went to I would say if it has one root it has 20,000 roots. Some run perpendicular some run parallel some run slightly of at an angle. It just laughs at them.
As far as ride quality goes it feels very supple. My other bike is a Breezer Lightning 29 steel framed bike that has one of those nice "steel" rides to it. I can't say that the Stache rides any harsher. The big tires take any edge of most hits and the frame has been designed very well with some compliance built into it. I have been riding mtbs since 1991 and this bike rides very well.
The geometry is amazing! It has a nice solid feel to it, as I said earlier, very confidence inspiring. The 68* head angle makes it very stable but the short seat stays makes it able to turn razor sharp. It turns just as sharp through the tight trails we have here as my 71* Breezer does. Only it is not twitchy feeling at all. I didn't think that my Breezer was until I hopped on it after riding the Stache. There is definitely some difference there.
You will need to get a tire gauge that reads and is able to adjust in very small increments like this one.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004XISIK4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I'm about 235 in gear and hydration pack and so far I have been running 17# rear and 16.5# front but I am still experimenting with pressures.
All in all I'm very happy with my purchase. No buyers remorse what so ever. Right now is a good time to pick one up as they are on sale this week. I hope that helps. If you have any other questions feel free to ask.
Just to add if you test ride one at a bike shop and they air the tires up to 35# it will feel horrible. That is too hard for those tires.
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My first ride with it I took it to a trail that has rock garden after rock garden. Those big tires just rolled right over them with abandonment. It was very confidence inspiring. The next trail that I went to I would say if it has one root it has 20,000 roots. Some run perpendicular some run parallel some run slightly of at an angle. It just laughs at them.
As far as ride quality goes it feels very supple. My other bike is a Breezer Lightning 29 steel framed bike that has one of those nice "steel" rides to it. I can't say that the Stache rides any harsher. The big tires take any edge of most hits and the frame has been designed very well with some compliance built into it. I have been riding mtbs since 1991 and this bike rides very well.
The geometry is amazing! It has a nice solid feel to it, as I said earlier, very confidence inspiring. The 68* head angle makes it very stable but the short seat stays makes it able to turn razor sharp. It turns just as sharp through the tight trails we have here as my 71* Breezer does. Only it is not twitchy feeling at all. I didn't think that my Breezer was until I hopped on it after riding the Stache. There is definitely some difference there.
You will need to get a tire gauge that reads and is able to adjust in very small increments like this one.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004XISIK4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I'm about 235 in gear and hydration pack and so far I have been running 17# rear and 16.5# front but I am still experimenting with pressures.
All in all I'm very happy with my purchase. No buyers remorse what so ever. Right now is a good time to pick one up as they are on sale this week. I hope that helps. If you have any other questions feel free to ask.
Just to add if you test ride one at a bike shop and they air the tires up to 35# it will feel horrible. That is too hard for those tires.
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326 Posts
The Stache is a GREAT bike
If you test ride a new one it will likely have tubes.
I'm only 12-15 rides in on my Stache but at 210-15 loaded I'm running 19psi. Anything less starts to feel sluggish for me...but that's personal preference. As long as I'm not slipping or bouncing a lot I'd rather run higher pressures.
Love the bike.
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831 Posts
I own steel and AL bikes, and while I love steel I'm like 99.9% convinced that tire pressure makes a bigger difference than frame material.
For a plus bike I don't think it's going to matter from a frame compliance standpoint. And also a lot of people seem to love the Stache, so that's a good sign.
For a plus bike I don't think it's going to matter from a frame compliance standpoint. And also a lot of people seem to love the Stache, so that's a good sign.
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1,798 Posts
I wonder how many first time plus bike riders hate the feel when they test ride because of the tubes.
Schwalbe light weight Tubes in a 27.5 plus tire are 210 grams each. I cannot Imagine a 29+ tube weight.
For ref a regular 27.5x2.35 tube is 150 grams each.
Two ounces of sealant (Holds my plus tires for almost six months) is what,,60 grams.
I ended my first plus bike ride after a half mile on the tubes, It really sucked.
Tossed the tubes and the bike came alive, night and day change
Schwalbe light weight Tubes in a 27.5 plus tire are 210 grams each. I cannot Imagine a 29+ tube weight.
For ref a regular 27.5x2.35 tube is 150 grams each.
Two ounces of sealant (Holds my plus tires for almost six months) is what,,60 grams.
I ended my first plus bike ride after a half mile on the tubes, It really sucked.
Tossed the tubes and the bike came alive, night and day change
The Stache has a huge following as you can see. I wanted to like it as my preferred LBS sells Trek and I was in the market for a new HT.
I test rode the Stache three times on my local trails for a total of about 25 miles. In short, I could never get along with the 3.0 tires even after playing with tires pressures consistently during my demos thus doing so three times. I had the same bike for all three demos and it was set-up tubeless.
I'm big on "feel" and the plus tires just "mute" the experience for me. There is no denying how much traction they provide and they flat out roll once you get them moving downhill.
For me, I think the compromise is going to be 29x2.6. I've ridden a number of 2.6 tires and am currently running a XR4 on the front of my Chameleon (with a 2.4 XR3 rear). Once there are some other 2.6 options soon, I play to run one in the rear.
I would highly recommend a Stache test ride before your purchase while knowing that tire pressure has everything to do with your experience. Good luck.
I test rode the Stache three times on my local trails for a total of about 25 miles. In short, I could never get along with the 3.0 tires even after playing with tires pressures consistently during my demos thus doing so three times. I had the same bike for all three demos and it was set-up tubeless.
I'm big on "feel" and the plus tires just "mute" the experience for me. There is no denying how much traction they provide and they flat out roll once you get them moving downhill.
For me, I think the compromise is going to be 29x2.6. I've ridden a number of 2.6 tires and am currently running a XR4 on the front of my Chameleon (with a 2.4 XR3 rear). Once there are some other 2.6 options soon, I play to run one in the rear.
I would highly recommend a Stache test ride before your purchase while knowing that tire pressure has everything to do with your experience. Good luck.
My experience was opposite. Loved the test rides (multiple), LBS setup tubeless upon purchase, then first ride after buying it felt sluggish. Always have to account for possiblity of an off day due to energy or nutrition, but I really think they just had the pressures way to low. I've found I need more air....still experimenting in the 19-20psi range.
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90 Posts
I don't know but you weight, but I'm 175LBS all kitted up and generally run 10psi front and 11 in the rear, 19 sounds awfully high
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10 Posts
I love mine
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I’m 185 pounds and run 13 psi front and rear. The bike rides great. Equipped well for its price. Mine is pretty much stock other then the gold kmc SL chain. Gold titanium bolts here and there and the wolf tooth chain ring up front. I went with a 32T elliptical ring. For me the range is perfect matched with the 11-46 cassette.
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