Mountain Biking - Why no treks?

Ive been reading alot of threads on the board regarding "which bike" and i very rarely see anyone recomend a trek bike starter bike... or just a trek period. But in turn i read that alot of people started with them. Is there a reason why, or is it just coincidence? What are most peoples feelings on treks? Just curious.

I think it would be a fine bike to start out with. In fact I was looking at a trek as my first non-department store bike.

But my uncle told me I could get more for my money if I bought used and I ended up with a cannondale.

As a starter RETAIL bike, Treks are fine, especially when you just don't know that much about the sport. Usually, the bike stores that sell them will also offer some sort of "free minor tune-ups for a year" deal as well, but this is reserved solely for big corporate chains. In the 6000+ and 8000+ series, treks are generally regarded as intermediate level bikes, but nothing fancy, no matter what groupo Trek will thow at it.

Honestly, they're just a step down from Specialized in my book but both are priced just about the same for a beginner bike. The only Trek I know full well to avoid is the 820. It is so heavy, it wouldn't bend if thrown at an oncoming car.
Bottom line: if you want the best bargain either wait for an annual sale or just get a used bike with few miles and good parts.

Treks are too common. Every posuer has one. Good bikes, just getting a bad rep by association.

Why not two or more? I love Trek.

Trek makes a good bike, I just don't really like their graphics. I just like other brands BETTER, so I recommend the one's I like more.

I prefer, Specialized, Kona's, and one or two others depending on the application. i.e., Jamis makes a nice Steel Hardtail, and Iron Horse make some really nice FR and DH rigs for the money.

L8R

is it just me or do they have a more scrunched geometry? They just never seem as comfy as specialized or giant.

The one thing that turns me off of Trek bikes is that thier tube diameters are HUGE, to me they look kinda comical.

Treks are good bikes. Giant Trek and Specialized are all the same in my book.

Ive been reading alot of threads on the board regarding "which bike" and i very rarely see anyone recomend a trek bike starter bike... or just a trek period. But in turn i read that alot of people started with them. Is there a reason why, or is it just coincidence? What are most peoples feelings on treks? Just curious.

Nothing is wrong with any of the well known MTB names. Once you get above the "Crap" bikes, then you are into some pretty good manufactures, and all of them make good bikes. The only problem is that most "experienced" bikers will have a certain type of bike that they like, and if they are like me, they may have decided against certain Manufacturers. My own personal dislike of Treks is that in general, they are 2 to 3 lbs too heavy, are set up for comfortable riding, rather than handling, and they have too many own brand bits attached to them that I do not like. I would not only class Trek in this category, as I feel the same about Marin, Giant,Rocky Mountain, Specialised and several others. I would prefer to go to certain Quality manufacturers, (And if you want me to name just one it would be Kona) that in my mind offer a better handling bike, with better specification, lighter weight and offers better value for money.

Having said all that, ALL the named brands will make and sell a top quality bike that I would gladly own and ride, but my wallet is not big enough.

I think you will also find here a few of us are dh and freeride guys. Trek has no quality bikes for extreme use. For xc I am sure they are fine. Giant has the same problem. Lots of good xc, a fantastic dh bike but imo they have no good fr bikes. That and I think Trek's are ugly :D.

Specialized offers high end options in everything. Right now there isn't a major manufacturer offering as much diversity in product. Kona does come close though.

Why is it when someone asks about ANY brand of bike but Specialized, all the Specialized fanatics come outta the woodwork to defend their brand???

JAO

I have never actually noticed that. Most people I know fully support a couple of other brands. Myself it is either Kona or Specialized (this is based on a lot of testing and the strenght of the freeride lineups). But then again I don't do anything with xc so I fit a very specific market and my bikes and purchases are better represented by Kona or Speclialized than any other 'big' company.

Now I would go into boutique bikes and could name another 10 or 15 bikes I could own...but I live on a budget ;)

Treks are too common. Every posuer has one. Good bikes, just getting a bad rep by association.

Ironically I haven't seen a trek in 3 years. Except the odd tourist riding xc. Excluding the one shop selling them :D

Holy crap

http://www.trekbikes.com/bikes/2004/mountain/dieseldownhillframe.jsp

2900$ for a single pivot dh frame. Holy crap thats more expensive than almost all boutique bikes. Thats just ridiculous, no wonder I never see any. Jeeez...

Treks are too common. Every posuer has one. Good bikes, just getting a bad rep by association.


That is ridiculous!

Haven't been to this forum for awhile but I saw the Trek post and it caught my eye. I have a Trek. I am a small chic and that is the only brand that fit me since they make smaller frames. I couldn't afford a women's bike since they jack the prices up. I've had mine 2 years and off road bike 2x per week on average. I am not doing extreme stuff but I can hold my own on the trails I know. Anyway, saying it is a poser bike seems juvenile. I am very happy with my bike. I spent $400 on my Trek 4500 and I'm sure I bike more than a lot of people who spend $2000 on their bikes. I like my beefy frame. I will agree that Kona's are sweet looking bikes but the store in town actually stopped selling them and switched to Giant (and that is what I got my husband). When I asked why they switched, they said they could sell the same bike/components for $100 less per bike by changing brands. Trek and Giant may not look as good as Kona's but some of you may just be prejudiced and being loyal to the name. That goes for Cannondale too. I would totally consider getting another Trek even if I went up to a more expensive bike in the future. I just think if none of you have had a Trek than you are talking smack. If you've had a couple Treks and they have fallen apart on you and ridden like junk, then I'd see where you were coming from. I certainly wouldn't insult any of the other brands that I have not owned.

Ironically I haven't seen a trek in 3 years. Except the odd tourist riding xc. Excluding the one shop selling them :D

Come to Wisconsin. Everyone and their grandmother has one here.

Im still kinda new to mtn biking but on our local trails i see about 20% of people using them. Mine and my friends have been great for us. Although i dont have a basis of comparison but i think they were good bikes. Thats why i was confused as to why no one ever recommends any, or i shouldnt say never. I just thought everyone knew something i didnt :D

Im still kinda new to mtn biking but on our local trails i see about 20% of people using them. Mine and my friends have been great for us. Although i dont have a basis of comparison but i think they were good bikes. Thats why i was confused as to why no one ever recommends any, or i shouldnt say never. I just thought everyone knew something i didnt :D

Ya know it is probably just because they are so well known, and people want to march to their own drum to be different...

Why is it when someone asks about ANY brand of bike but Specialized, all the Specialized fanatics come outta the woodwork to defend their brand???


You want to see people fanatic about defending a brand? Start a "Cannondale Sucks" thread and let the flame wars begin!

I think Specialized has a lot of loyal customers due in part to shear number of bikes sold. Same thing with the other major manufacturers. Remember, Trek owns, Klein, Gary Fisher and LeMond, so they have a very large market share. You'll find many Trek devotees as well. I guess I am one. I own a LeMond Road bike and I love it!



I just think if none of you have had a Trek than you are talking smack.

You don't have to own one to know if you like it or not. I've test ridden my share and have repaired Treks a plenty. (Bike mechanic for +/- 19 years)

I have owned so many different brands and models I can't even begin to list them all. Through all my years, I think Specialized bikes are more suited to my preferences and style of riding. I try NOT to bash any "real" brand. Heck, I try to understand and empathize with Huffy owners.

L8R

personal aesthetics: they look like sh*t...everybody has one

personal, but justified: they put me in a way upright position... as does Specialized (which, *felt* cheap to boot). i know it can be remedied by new stem and bar... but why when other bikes fit me better out-of-the-box?

to add, i didnt find gary fishers that nice either. fuji and giants suited me the best

i love my Trek. it's also over a decade old. i wouldn't recommend a new Trek anymore though; i don't feel the quality is as good, especially when compared to other bikes with similar price points. i think the company got too popular and started to cash in a little on name recognition...

I rode a fuel 100, and it was superb...a truely awesome bike. I then rode the liquid...was so freakin dissapointed, you don't even know. The reach was like 5" shorter then the fuel, and to get an decent reach, I had to have an enormous frame...with not enough standover.

Maelstrom, I think you are right though. they have very little in the freeride market...however the freeride market is so small right now...I see very few people around here doing any freeriding...theres not a whole lot of places around here that couldn't be handled with a FS XC bike...

Why not two or more? I love Trek.

Nice!! Love the Brooks Saddles!

That is ridiculous!

Haven't been to this forum for awhile but I saw the Trek post and it caught my eye. I have a Trek. I am a small chic and that is the only brand that fit me since they make smaller frames. I couldn't afford a women's bike since they jack the prices up. I've had mine 2 years and off road bike 2x per week on average. I am not doing extreme stuff but I can hold my own on the trails I know. Anyway, saying it is a poser bike seems juvenile. I am very happy with my bike. I spent $400 on my Trek 4500 and I'm sure I bike more than a lot of people who spend $2000 on their bikes. I like my beefy frame. I will agree that Kona's are sweet looking bikes but the store in town actually stopped selling them and switched to Giant (and that is what I got my husband). When I asked why they switched, they said they could sell the same bike/components for $100 less per bike by changing brands. Trek and Giant may not look as good as Kona's but some of you may just be prejudiced and being loyal to the name. That goes for Cannondale too. I would totally consider getting another Trek even if I went up to a more expensive bike in the future. I just think if none of you have had a Trek than you are talking smack. If you've had a couple Treks and they have fallen apart on you and ridden like junk, then I'd see where you were coming from. I certainly wouldn't insult any of the other brands that I have not owned.

I didn't say Trek was a posuer bike, but that posuers seem to gravatate to them, as if riding a Trek makes them a better rider. Trek is becoming the next Schwinn, the obvious American bicycle company. If you're ever around non-cyclists, they tend to refer to bikes as "treks" as if it were a common noun similar to xerox and kleenex.

Holy crap

http://www.trekbikes.com/bikes/2004/mountain/dieseldownhillframe.jsp

2900$ for a single pivot dh frame. Holy crap thats more expensive than almost all boutique bikes. Thats just ridiculous, no wonder I never see any. Jeeez...
isn't that the rig shandro rides?

You are right I guess you don't really have to own one to know if you would like it. Since the Trek fit me the best in test rides and the other bikes felt way too big, it was the only choice for me. I didn't like the feel of the Fuji (cheaper components too) or the look of the Specialized (comparable model). I liked the Giant but it was too big and Cannondale was more than I wanted to spend. The Gary Fisher didn't feel as nice. I see some Treks around here but not tons and I've never heard anyone talk about bikes as "treks" or anything like that. I will say that my husband and friend have a Giant and they both have a similar problem with not shifting right in certain gears. Mine has never had this problem even when it is full of sand and mud which is almost all the time.

I had my handlebar stem cut so it would go down lower...and removed some parts. It is very hard to be small and test ride bikes because they don't stock them and probably rarely sell them.

isn't that the rig shandro rides?

It would have to be a pro bike because I don't know anyone that would buy a trek for that much when you can get many many other fantastic bikes cheaper (or in that range)

I would DEFINITELY say that Specialized is just as much of a belly button bike as trek... In fact, I'd say I see more Specialized than anything out there on the trails on Long Island... I love my Trek 4500... I just wish I got a better model up front instead of upgrading the piss out of it, But I didn't know how I was going to take to cycling at the time and didn't want to blow a wad on something I wasn't going to use.

Why is it when someone asks about ANY brand of bike but Specialized, all the Specialized fanatics come outta the woodwork to defend their brand???

JAO
I have Haro,Ironhorse,Specialized,G.Fisher all in my bike hanger.I like them all for their purpose. Full squish for thrashing w/ my buddies to full rigid for gravel roads. I 'm with Mael on this, I have'nt seen any fanatics coming out of anything.It's all good, just ride it! :D

The Trek 830 upside down next to me has a 3mm long 2mm high sharp burr left from shoddy finishing of the canti boss welding. It was painted over.
It's sharp enough to cut skin.

It's a nice entry level mtb, no love though..just a bike.

Glad I don't have to ride it much.

For the freeride scene, freeriders view treks as a joke. When trek can fix their issues that they have with the stays, maybee they will get more respect amonst more aggressive riders.

That is ridiculous!

Haven't been to this forum for awhile but I saw the Trek post and it caught my eye. I have a Trek. I am a small chic and that is the only brand that fit me since they make smaller frames. I couldn't afford a women's bike since they jack the prices up. I've had mine 2 years and off road bike 2x per week on average. I am not doing extreme stuff but I can hold my own on the trails I know. Anyway, saying it is a poser bike seems juvenile. I am very happy with my bike. I spent $400 on my Trek 4500 and I'm sure I bike more than a lot of people who spend $2000 on their bikes. I like my beefy frame. I will agree that Kona's are sweet looking bikes but the store in town actually stopped selling them and switched to Giant (and that is what I got my husband). When I asked why they switched, they said they could sell the same bike/components for $100 less per bike by changing brands. Trek and Giant may not look as good as Kona's but some of you may just be prejudiced and being loyal to the name. That goes for Cannondale too. I would totally consider getting another Trek even if I went up to a more expensive bike in the future. I just think if none of you have had a Trek than you are talking smack. If you've had a couple Treks and they have fallen apart on you and ridden like junk, then I'd see where you were coming from. I certainly wouldn't insult any of the other brands that I have not owned.

I think you've got the whole "flashiness" thing backwards. Cannondale and Kona are a lot smaller in terms of market share and company size but they have a smaller, more devoted following(which is why the positive words). Also, most people find both the Cannondale and Kona paint jobs awkward and slightly ridiculous (I love mine).

A comparison:

http://www2.trekbikes.com/Bikes/Mountain/Hardtail/Alpha_Aluminum/4300/index.php


vs. http://www.konaworld.com/2k4bikes/2k5images/2K5_Hahanna_Side.jpg

Which bike looks flashier? Also, the Trek has disk brakes. A big draw for mtb new comers who don't realize something is being sacrificed to put disk brakes on their bike.

I think you've got the whole "flashiness" thing backwards. Cannondale and Kona are a lot smaller in terms of market share and company size but they have a smaller, more devoted following(which is why the positive words). Also, most people find both the Cannondale and Kona paint jobs awkward and slightly ridiculous (I love mine).

A comparison:

http://www2.trekbikes.com/Bikes/Mountain/Hardtail/Alpha_Aluminum/4300/index.php


vs. http://www.konaworld.com/2k4bikes/2k5images/2K5_Hahanna_Side.jpg

Which bike looks flashier? Also, the Trek has disk brakes. A big draw for mtb new comers who don't realize something is being sacrificed to put disk brakes on their bike.


I've noticed a lot of the Trek's have either a full suite of Bontrager components or close to it. Is Bontrager owned by Trek?

Yep!

i don't wat everyone has against trek, they're a great bike and perform very well. wat is it with everyone on this forum and kona's? all i ride is treks and i don't anything wrong with them.

Ummm there are 2 major advocates for konas (one of them doesn't even post here anymore)...of many mountain bikers. I adcovate them to a point because they are exceptionally strong vs cost. Konas are cheap, strong and kona is a decent company.

Also this forum right now has a bias towards a bit of freeriding. Trek has no rep at all. They haven't offered anything remotely competitve in this arena (djing,dh fr even all mountain) so being sceptical is not really all that far off. YEs they have the new sessions, they aren't proven, when they prove themselves people will change their minds I am sure.

For the freeride scene, freeriders view treks as a joke. When trek can fix their issues that they have with the stays, maybee they will get more respect amonst more aggressive riders. I think that the 77 line from trek will get some respect. The only flaw i see is its a bit pricey.

You have to say that trek in some way would not be where it is if lance did not use them. and he did not use them to win 6 Tdf. My view is if it fits use it. But you have to say felts are nice as* bikes. But i dont have one sadly. oh well... :(

I think that the 77 line from trek will get some respect. The only flaw i see is its a bit pricey.

It is on par with other fr bikes. It isn't outrageous. Time will tell, I saw them and played on one during the release party in whistler...nice bike...the dropout system is ingenious :)

and at least it isnt a single pivot

I think that the 77 line from trek will get some respect. The only flaw i see is its a bit pricey.

And the fact that it is the same aluminum used in the 77 line as it is with their road bikes.

its because of lance armstong, end of story.

and at least it isnt a single pivot

Its a faux bar. Reacts very closely to the same way a single pivot does :)

It would have to be a pro bike because I don't know anyone that would buy a trek for that much when you can get many many other fantastic bikes cheaper (or in that range)

Yep, Andrew Shandro rides one.

Personally my problem with Trek is the extensive use of sub par house brand components, not as much value for the money, and rather dated geometry through the line up.

Yep, Andrew Shandro rides one.

Not anymore, he complained about the frame and since 2003 has been working on the session series (he actually helped design and engineer it) to repalce the single pivot overpriced piece of aluminum. He now rides the session ;)...

according to mba, dubya rides a trek.that would put me off...

I don't like Trek and I don't like their triangle suspension. I'm not saying their bad bikes, I just don't like them for the same reason I don't like Giant and GT. It's just some bike companies that I simply do not like.

Personally my problem with Trek is the extensive use of sub par house brand components, not as much value for the money, and rather dated geometry through the line up.

seely, I've always wondered about the 'house brand' (Bontrager) components you mentioned. Where does Bontrager fit relative to higher end Shimano, Sun, Easton, WTB, RF, etc? (I have my own opinion just from looking closely at the components on my friend's stock Liquid (which he loves, BTW) but I'll reserve that until there is some more discussion from those who know more than I do about it. ; ) Are there various levels of Bontrager just like there are for Shimano?