Mountain Biking - TREK 4300 vs. 4500

Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.



PDA

View Full Version : TREK 4300 vs. 4500

dragracer
06-06-03, 09:11 AM
LBS has both of these bikes in stock and I'm really thinking about buying one of them. 4300 is like $330 and 4500 is about $420 if I remember right. Anyone out there riding either/both of these bikes? Is the 4500 worth the extra hundred bucks or is the 4300 practically as good? Just looking for some opinons here to help me make up my mind. Will probably just be used for some mild trails and dirt road riding. Not gonna be racing it or anything like that. Thanks! :)

Draft
06-06-03, 09:24 AM
Check this out:

http://www.trekbikes.com/bikes/2003/compare/compare.jsp?bike1=1022600&bike2=1018600&bike3=null

The main difference that I see are the Fork and the Crankset. Based on these 2 things, I'd go for the 4500. Make sure that you go down to the LBS and ride them both and figure out which one feels better to you.

Draft
Chi
06-06-03, 09:36 AM
I like the charcoal paint job on the 4500. They were being sold here in the Bay for about $400, if that'll help you get a lower price ... I almost got a 4500, if I hadn't found the 7000 on eBay. :D

EDIT: The paint job is called "Lava Black"

dragracer
06-06-03, 12:41 PM
Thanks guys. Actually I like the Orange 4300!! HEHEHE It's just a little bit wild!!! :D

http://www.trekbikes.com/images/bikes/2003/mountain/large/43002.jpg
tFUnK
06-06-03, 01:41 PM
looks to me the frames are the same on both(correct me if i'm wrong). if they are indeed the same frame, i wouldn't mind springing for the cheaper model then replace the parts as i go/as they break.
Draft
06-06-03, 01:49 PM
That's what I've been doing on my Trek 4000. I've already replaced:

Brake calipers: XT rear/XTR front
Handlebars: Easton EA50 2" riser
Tires: Fire XC Pros
Grips
Saddle

Overall, I have loved my frame and I don't plan on changing that any time soon.

Either way you do decide to go, you'll be happy with it. Great frame at a great price.

Draft
Grendel
06-06-03, 09:23 PM
I have an '02 Trek 4300 and my only gripe with it is the fork; it's an RST Capa and it really sucks -- there's a lot of slop in the sliders and you can really feel it when you bump the front brakes. I know that they changed the fork for the '03 models to something else, but just in case I would shell out a little extra for the 4500. Other than that I love the 4300 -- nice frame to work with when you're ready to upgrade.