Hybrid Bicycles - Is a Trek 900 a decent bike?

I'm thinking of buying a Trek 900 Hybrid/Trail bike off of craigslist. I could not find a single thing online about it. (I guess it must be really old?) Does anyone have any experience with these? Is $160 a fair price if it's in good shape? I am looking for a good commuter bike and I hope this is it!

Thanks for the feedback :)

Specs:
Red chromoly 16" frame with chrome fork, Suntour 18 speed, 2 new shift cables/housing, gel saddle, like new 26 x 1.95 tires with Q/R aluminum wheels.

You sure they have the model# right? I tried Bikepedia and all it turned up was a Tandem. Surprising how many people post adds on Craigs that don't know what they have. 26X1.95 is mountain bike size. Most all the true hybrids in recent years come with 700c which roll much easier. For reference, I bought an 05 Cypress LX off Craigs recently for $160. This is a hybrid with 700c wheels, suspension fork, alluminum frame and the LX model with disc brakes. I did have to replace the frt deraileur and chain but it was only 30bucks in parts and I changed them myself. This was a 500 dollar bike new.

Yesterday I bought an 09 Raleigh Route4.0 for my GF off Craigs. About the same bike as my Cypress but without the discs. Paid 300 for it but the lady only rode it 4 times. Looks like it just came off the rack at the bike shop!

Sorry I can't help much about the Trek. But in my limited experiance, bikes seem to lose about half thier new value right after purchase. I paid more for the Raleigh since it is bassically brand new. As years go by and road rash accumulates, they go down even more. For a commuter bike I think I would hold out for a true hybrid.

They do exist!!! The Trek 900 was only built in 1988. I found it at http://www.vintage-trek.com/model_numbers1.htm. I was looking for it as w158019ell, as I found one in very nice shape that I will probably put on eBay. Sorry can't help you on how good they really are158018

There is one of them down in the basement here at my place. Someone abandoned it and today the landlord offered it to me just so he can get it out of there. It needs a LOT of work, but it's free and it gives me the chance to turn a cool old bike that would probably end up in the junkyard into the perfect commuter. I hope to get new rubber on it tomorrow and then I can get an idea of what else it needs right away and what I can put off for awhile.161042161043161044

It is kind of an oddball in that the other 9xx series bikes from that era used investment cast lugs and very high quality frame tubes and this 900 is more like a re-badged 8xx series as these were TIG welded frames with similar equipment.

With that being said, if it is built like an 800 it will be a very decent bike and if it is in really good shape $160.00 is a pretty nice deal.

You sure they have the model# right? I tried Bikepedia and all it turned up was a Tandem. Surprising how many people post adds on Craigs that don't know what they have. 26X1.95 is mountain bike size. Most all the true hybrids in recent years come with 700c which roll much easier. For reference, I bought an 05 Cypress LX off Craigs recently for $160. This is a hybrid with 700c wheels, suspension fork, alluminum frame and the LX model with disc brakes. I did have to replace the frt deraileur and chain but it was only 30bucks in parts and I changed them myself. This was a 500 dollar bike new.

Yesterday I bought an 09 Raleigh Route4.0 for my GF off Craigs. About the same bike as my Cypress but without the discs. Paid 300 for it but the lady only rode it 4 times. Looks like it just came off the rack at the bike shop!

Sorry I can't help much about the Trek. But in my limited experiance, bikes seem to lose about half thier new value right after purchase. I paid more for the Raleigh since it is bassically brand new. As years go by and road rash accumulates, they go down even more. For a commuter bike I think I would hold out for a true hybrid.

The rolling resistance between 26 inch and 700c tyres is not much if similar tyres are used... with some 1.25 or 1.5 slicks the Trek 900 would blow the doors of a Cypress and probably ride just as well despite it's lack of suspension.

For commuting this bike would be excellent as the 26 inch wheels are a little tougher and the frame has plenty of room for fenders and mounts for racks.

I am not a fan of suspensions on commuter bikes... they add extra weight and on a comfort oriented bike like a Cypress they really aren't needed.

One thing suspension is allways good for is for when you enexpectedly hit a large pothole.
My suspension fork allways has a bit of hard suspension, even when locked out, that will take the hard hits and thus relieves the front rim a bit.
I think the difference in weight is a minor setback compared to the many benefits, but it all depends on the harshness of the trails one rides, ofcourse :)

It's been a long time, but I thought I'd post a picture of my 900 after we got it cleaned up. It cost about $160.00 to get it all fixed up and I added a computer. Everything had to be taken apart and soaked to get all the built up gunk off and it needed rubber, cables, and a few other things. We saved the chain, derailleurs, and shifters. We even managed to save the original grips. It's really a good riding bike and is well on it's way to a second life as a commuter. And it's great fun to take on the gravel trails where I don't dare take my road bike. I still need to get racks for it and I may get a trailer for it for grocery/beer runs.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/54529720@N07/5303980461/sizes/l/in/set-72157625701393220/