Hybrid Bicycles - Should I buy this used frame? 2008 Trek 7.7 FX

My 2009 7.7FX frame is 17.5" and that's too small for me.

I've been looking for a 7.9 20" frame and finally found one for sale ....but the guy didn't want to ship it or had already sold it. I never found out which. In any evernt, a buddy of his called me last night to see if I wanted to buy this frame. A 2008 7.7 FX frame with no fork.
http://img862.imageshack.us/img862/491/kshepchuck1.jpg (http://img862.imageshack.us/i/kshepchuck1.jpg/)

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I just got the pics. We haven't discussed price. The second pic shows the bike fully built but with a fork that is different from the one in Trek achive photos for this model.
http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/6935/kshepchuck.jpg (http://img35.imageshack.us/i/kshepchuck.jpg/)

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If the frame is sound I wouldn't mind using it. I am concerned about finding a fork that will work.

Looks like a nice frame with the carbon stays. As long as it is sound and the price is right it would be a good buy. Too bad there are no forks though. That is an added expense. You can get carbon forks at several of the online stores. Your forks from the 17.5" frame won't have a long enough steerer to work. For what it's worth, here is a link to a 7.9FX listed for sale. Its been there for a while so maybe the owner is negotiable. The downside is that it is in Toronto. I have a 7.9FX and can vouch for the smooth ride.

http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-sports-bikes-Rare-and-Hard-to-find-Trek-FX7-Carbon-Fiber-Hybrid-Bike-W0QQAdIdZ223305005

For a good price it looks good. Personally I would go nuts with high end road gear and build something special. Keep it a flat bar though. :D

For what it's worth, here is a link to a 7.9FX listed for sale.

Thanks for the link & info.

Personally I would go nuts with high end road gear and build something special. Keep it a flat bar though. :D
yeah, that would be a silly thing to do.
http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/2199/kshepda7900crank.jpg (http://img822.imageshack.us/i/kshepda7900crank.jpg/)

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Thats the go I want to see more stuff like this. Is this yours or what you plan to do or swap it over to the bigger frame.
Not sure about the seat and bars there not race bike like enough for me but still love it "I want more of this"

Thats the go I want to see more stuff like this. Is this yours or what you plan to do or swap it over to the bigger frame.
Not sure about the seat and bars there not race bike like enough for me but still love it "I want more of this"
Thanks for the kind words.

That's the "too small for me frame" I alluded to in the original post. Trek won't sell me a 7.9 frame and fork. LBS is no help at all.

http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/5523/kshepda7900rd.jpg (http://img850.imageshack.us/i/kshepda7900rd.jpg/)

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Most folks consider the SMP Avant saddle pretty race-like. The bars no so much ....but that's what the Carl Strong Ti is for anyway.
http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/9145/kshepsmp.jpg (http://img59.imageshack.us/i/kshepsmp.jpg/)

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Hopefully i can work a deal with the seller in Toronto for his 7.9 frame.

There's no way I would buy a bike from a someone I don't know in a foreign country who claims to be a friend of someone else I don't know. Replacement fork are typically found on bikes that have been involved in front end collisions. Such impacts typically affect the frame as well. When the fork replacement doesn't fix the problem, the owner typically tries to sell the frame...

yeah, that would be a silly thing to do.
http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/2199/kshepda7900crank.jpg (http://img822.imageshack.us/i/kshepda7900crank.jpg/)

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Whoah !!

There's no way I would buy a bike from a someone I don't know in a foreign country who claims to be a friend of someone else I don't know. Replacement fork are typically found on bikes that have been involved in front end collisions. Such impacts typically affect the frame as well. When the fork replacement doesn't fix the problem, the owner typically tries to sell the frame...

There are some valid points there. I provided the link to the 7.9FX for sale but personally, I would at least think twice, and real hard, about buying a used bike, let alone a carbon fibre one, if I couldn't see it and thoroughly check it out in person. Chances are it's OK but you are stuck big time if something (like the frame) is damaged. Also, I would find out why the 7.7 frame has non OEM forks on it. As dc15 suggested maybe it was in a crash. Asking the question could save you lots of grief.

That bike fits you! You know you can't run all that race spec with handlebars higher than your saddle, right? Do your sit-ups. What exactly is the problem? You built a bike for speed, now you have to go out and ride as fast as you can! It sucks but you will enjoy the benefits.

That bike fits you! You know you can't run all that race spec with handlebars higher than your saddle, right? Do your sit-ups. What exactly is the problem? You built a bike for speed, now you have to go out and ride as fast as you can! It sucks but you will enjoy the benefits.
/the problem
My knees, that had never bothered me before, began to hurt. It was windy/cold season so I switched to the treadmill and the pain gradually went away. Seasons changed and I got back on the bike. The knee pain returned. I switched from the Trek hybrid over to my old 970 MTB. (21in frame) No more knee pain. I asked the LBS if Trek would sell me a 20" 7.7 frame. No. How about a 7.9 frame. No, but they would buy a 7.9 and sell me the frame and fork for $1850....keeping the components/wheels, ect to sell piece meal. Maybe this is as good a deal as I'll get....but /

....Since this LBS sold me the original bike, and all the DA stuff as well as the Zipps I was hoping for something closer to $1400 if I kicked in the 7.7 frame and fork. No go...they offered $50 for the frame and fork.

Enter Carl Strong...

I sent a series of pics of me in a neutral position on the Trek to Carl while he was building the road bike frame. I also sent him a bunch of measurements taken from the Trek. In his opinion the Trek 17.5in frame is too small for me. That 350mm seat post is maxed out. Now I could have sent Carl all the stuff on the Trek and had that put on the road bike but I didn't. I still like the idea of a flat bar bike 'built for speed' / ala qmsdc15 and was hoping to find a way to swap out frames.

Still hoping...sux looking at it sitting idle.

Thanks for all the replies so far. I have to agree with qmsdc15 on the frame minus a fork...something not quite right not to mention I don't know these guys from Adam.

Well...of to do some sit u....oohhh, is that ice cream?

Can you examine the frame or preferably have the it checked out by a good bike shop (with tools to check alignment) before you pay?

I thought it was your back that was hurting from the somewhat low handlebar position. I was assuming you had your saddle height correct. Are your legs fully extended at the bottom of the stroke? If not, can you find a longer post? Yes, you would be better served by a frame one size larger, but in my opinion, if you can get your saddle and handlebars where you want them the bike will fit. I don't claim to know as much about fit as a custom frame builder, but if your body is in the same position on both bikes, esp. saddle height and saddle fore/aft position relative to bottom bracket spindle, they kinda fit the same. The size of the frame might affect the way the bike handles and how he ride feels, but it shouldn't really matter to your knees' health.

My bikes are all a little undersized and the only problem I have is the handlebars tend to be a little low, but I feel I gain some performance in exchange for loss of comfort. I replaced seatposts on the bikes that didn't come with 350mm. I understand why you wouldn't want to run a 400mm seatpost and I see your stem is already fully raised, so handlebar position could become a concern as well.

If the saddles are the same height, the knee pain might have to do with how you ride this bike compared how you ride the MTB. Faster, in other words, bigger gears? Removing the computer might help. You could use a heart rate monitor instead, more useful than a computer if you are riding to improve fitness.

Looks like you have a couple of other bikes to ride anyway while you look for a new hybrid frame. Happy hunting!

Can you examine the frame or preferably have the it checked out by a good bike shop (with tools to check alignment) before you pay?

If the saddles are the same height, the knee pain might have to do with how you ride this bike compared how you ride the MTB. Faster, in other words, bigger gears? Removing the computer might help. You could use a heart rate monitor instead, more useful than a computer if you are riding to improve fitness.

Looks like you have a couple of other bikes to ride anyway while you look for a new hybrid frame. Happy hunting!
I have opted out of the used frame and have not heard anything from the fellow selling the 7.9 complete bike.

I bought the 350mm seatpost to replace to OE shorter one on the hybrid and put on a longer Thompson stem as I was feeling cramped in the copkpit. It helped a little ...at least I percieved that the alterations helped.

The main reason I got the Garmin was for the heart rate monitor. The software isn't great but it makes keeping a record of the data easy.

I just had some work done to the 970, actually had the Ultegra drivetrain from the 7.7 put in it and swapped the tires over to Big Apples. Put some Easton BMX style pedals on there too....lots of fun as an urban assault type bike. There's one little spot of rust trying to bubble through the paint but other than that she looks almost as good as the day I bought her +20 years ago.

Happy hunting!

Unexpected great news...

I contacted a Trek dealer in SAV (~70 miles away) and explained the situation to him. 24 hours later...2011 20" 7.9 frame and fork on the way.

Those are so some wicked awesome tires.

You gonna sell the 7.7 frame and fork? I might be interested in purchasing it.

Those are so some wicked awesome tires.

Conti Bonty mix. :D

You gonna sell the 7.7 frame and fork? I might be interested in purchasing it.
Sure thing. I'll take some pics and e-mail them to you when the swap is complete if you like. Just PM me your e-mail.

Conti Bonty mix. :D

Right on. Rear tire treadwear ain't what it used to be...plus I ride like NASCAR...only it's all right hand turns.