Sparky135

I'm in the market for a new hybrid bike and have been looking at the Trek 8.4 DS. Does anyone have any opinions about this bike or can you recommend an alternative. I'll be doing my riding mostly on paved roads and paths as well as light trails. I'm 6' tall and around 210 lbs.

Any advise is greatly appreciated.

mcmoose

The 8.4 DS is a great bike. You are, however, paying (in $$$ or weight or both) for the front suspension and disc brakes. You might also look at Trek's FX line (if you don't really need suspension for your light trails).

I suspect other forum members can give you suggestions about models of other brands to consider.

Good hunting!

practical

Here is my advice for what it's worth.
1. Get the lightest hybrid for your budget. Probably around 25 pounds.
2. Get the greatest amount of gear ranges and gears. Look for a triple crank front with 9 speeds.
3. Save money and weight and avoid front suspension fork or disk brakes. Keep your bike simple.
4. Get a bike that fits both your trunk and arm lengths as well as stand-over (inseam) heights. I'm guessing you should go for a "Large".
5. Swap out tires at time of purchase if the original comes with 35 or wider. Go with 28's but 32's may be fine as well.
6. As you test ride it, choose the one with the best response - when you push the pedal it snaps forward as if it's eager to go. It's surprising how some good bikes feel sluggish in this regard.
7. Pick a bike that you're visually attracted to - it's weird, but if you don't like how a bike looks, you'll never fall in love with it.

DaveTMpls

I agree with most of this, but my new hybrid has a 2 x 10 speed transmission, and I love it! I'll never go back to triple crank front. Been there, done that. Newer bikes will have 2 x 11 or even 2 x 12, which means a narrower chain. If that would be reliable enough, I think that's even better.

Grey.

Hybrid bikes typically have triple cranks until you start spending more money to get into the road-oriented hybrid class. I've never used the 3rd chainring on my bike but it's not doing me any harm by just existing there, either. The weight difference is negligible.

practical

My last "compact crank" came with the Lotus Excelle I bought in the 1980's. Like most bikes at that time, it was a 12-speed with friction shifters located on the downtube. I used the all the lower gears and then shifted to the higher gears when I hit 6 in the lower gear. Then I might downshift to 11 or 10, but normally my shifting was 1-6 then 12 which didn't always fit what I needed. I always felt that gears 7-10 were basically phantom gears since they weren't used. There was just too much of jump from one crank to the other. On the other hand, I shift more frequently and precisely with the triple crank. I've got it down to a formula so that I take advantage of the best gearing and never get my chain in a cross position. I know that when I shift the front derailleur, I'm shifting up or down "two gears" - not a big change. For example, if I'm in High-7 and I shift the front to Mid, then the difference feels like two rear gear shifts. (A High-7 feels the same as a Mid-9. This same difference feels the same between Mid and Low.) This means I'm never searching for the right gear.

Arizona Nights

I have DS 8.3 which has been wonderful. The reason I didn't go with the 8.4 is because I would have paid another $200 for the hydraulic brakes. It wasn't worth it for the kind of riding I do.

When I can, I ride fast on dirt paths and let gravity do the work down paved hills. My mechanical discs do fine with just about everything I need. Unless you're racing on dirt, or doing things with your bike you shouldn't, save the hydraulic brakes for gonzo mountain biking. With the extra $200 get a softer saddle than the one that comes with the bike and whatever accessories you want. If you do slow and steady path riding you may even look into the 8.2 with v-brakes and save yourself even more money.

I'm 6 foot and 190. Any of the DS bikes are extremely well built and it's held up far beyond my expectations. No buyer's remorse. And yes I have done things with my 8.3 that I shouldn't have.

Good luck. Tell us what you bought.

alexdi

Suspension is one question. The 8.4 DS in your size is about 33 lbs. A typical thin-tire rigid-frame hybrid at that price will be 8-10 pounds less and noticeably more athletic. If 'light trail' means a pinestraw-covered fire road or taking tree roots at a walking pace, you don't need a suspension fork or large tires. If you plan to plow into obstacles over an inch or two at speed, though, you'll shake to pieces without front suspension.

Riding posture is another question. The DS geometry is closer to a mountain bike than a flat-bar road bike. More upright for a better view, less weight on your hands, and better descents. That's coupled with more drag and slower acceleration unless you're out of the saddle. Realistically, the DS won't be much faster than a mountain bike on the same wheels, but that 60mm fork up front will be limiting if you decide you like bumpy trails more than the road. By counter, if you want the bike to feel fast and nimble, neither the DS, nor the mountain bike will satisfy.

It's about priorities, then. Answering those two questions will yield considerable better advice.

Little Darwin

Depending on your definition of "light trails" you may want to look at the line-ups without shocks.

I ride mostly crushed stone and gravel, with occasional dirt and mud sections, and some road rides thrown in, and do fine with a 7.3 FX with 35 mm cyclocross tires. I am 6' and over 300 pounds.

If you plan to ride in the rain, you could consider one of the FX disc models, I don't regularly, so rim brakes work just fine for me.

Corben

That third ring is for popping wheelies I think.

boobymcgoo

I wouldn't recommend the DS unless you are planning to ride off-road. You'll be a hug weight and complexity penalty by having a front shock that you may never use. Personally, I don't like the way front shocks rob power when they're bumping up and down. Most shocks have lock-outs, but it's a pain to lock them out on every little hill.

My recommendation is a fairly light weight bike with a carbon fork. Go with hydraulic disk brakes which are life changing from the first ride. I ride a Raleigh Cadent i11, which is a great hybrid. I found the bike on-sale for $1,250 and couldn't be happier. I also like the Trek FX 7.4 Disc, and the Spot Ajax.

practical

You must not live near hills. I live in Vermont and I can't think of a ride where I don't need to get on the low range ring. I'm glad I have it.

side_FX

I was thinking the exact thing. if the dirt roads you want to tackle aren't too rutty, the cyclocross tires should suit you fine. No need for a heavier suspension fork that would slow you down on the road. The price point for the 7.3 is pretty good as well.

Grey.

Indiana has lots of hills, but I never need to drop to the "granny gear" to climb them, and i'm hardly an athlete. I just keep a steady pace.

GlennR

It all depends on the type of riding you do.

I'm looking for a hybrid that leans more to the mountain bike than a road bike. I have a very nice road bike and looking for something that I can ride on trails including single track, gravel, dirt and paved. I recently spend some time on my son's hardtail MTB and riding it 7 miles to the trail and back was exhausting. But it was more than capable of handling the off road trails. My son suggested the Trek FX which leans more toward the road. My LBS suggested the Trek DS (dual sport) which has a front suspension with lockout and 700cx38 tires.

Yes it is a bit heavy for extended road riding and a bit "light" for real technical trails, but I think it's a good compromise for the trails I plan on riding.

This type of trail could be ridden on a rigid (non suspension) bike like the FX but that's about the limit.

pierce

I find I need the granny range on my 3x8 geared Globe Vienna, if not the lowest gear on that range, after about a half mile of 8% or steeper grade, especially after I've already ridden 10-15 miles at a brisk pace. I live about a mile up a hill that has 6-8% average grade, with one stretch closer to 10%. When I drop to the small ring in front, I tick the rear up 2-3 gears as small+4th puts me in just about the same place as middle+1st

I'd have to be in MUCH better shape to climb the /real/ hills around here, which involve 3000 ft vertical climbs and occasionally as steep as 12% grade (630 feet vertical in one mile)...

Sparky135

Thanks for all your advice. I think, after reading different posts, that I'm going to test as many bikes as I can once the spring rolls around and make my decision then.

fietsbob

you can get a different brand name painted on them but they all shared the same Boat to get here ..

Treks are sold here , I like the Shop, they are customer service oriented .. Specialized Dealer is In different Town..

He just retired and closed the Shop.



It has been said "All things being Equal, they Will Be"

Sparky135

Hi All, Thanks for all the great advice. I think I've decided that I'm going to go with a dual sport type of hybrid because I like to explore new places to ride and don't want to limit myself. I understand that a hybrid bike with a suspension fork and disc brakes will be a bit heavier than one with a carbon fork and rim brakes, but most of my riding will be recreation/fitness type or riding.

After doing some more research on some different hybrids, I've narrowed my choices to these bikes:

1. Trek 8.4 DS
2. Norco XFR 2 or XFR3
3. Giant Roam 0 or Roam 1
4. Specialized Crosstrail Sport Disc or Crosstrail Elite Disc

I'm prepared to spend anywhere between $700 to $950 CDN on my bike. I'll have to test these bikes when the weather up here in Toronto gets warmer, maybe in a few months. Until then, Any advice is still appreciated.

mwl001

I own the Roam 2 and I comparison-shopped the 8.3 DS and Crosstrail Disc, so a little bit lower price range than you and maybe not apples to apples. In my range the Giant was simply a better value (9 speeds and hydraulic brakes vs. 8 speed and mech disc) so I went that way, but couldn't have gone wrong with any of the three. I think the bikes you're looking at are all pretty similar in terms of having hydraulic disc and at least 9 speeds, it's just a matter of whether or not you're nitpicky about components and more likely that you like the colors/frame fit of one over the others. I felt the Giant definitely had a more upright feel than the others and I liked that fit better myself. Have you ridden any yet?

EDIT: Giant wins again -- both the 0 and 1 have 10 speeds and Shimano hydraulics. I'd still defer to the colors you like best or fit/price. Doesn't look like there's a Roam 0 for '15 here in the US.

Wanderer

I have a Crosstrail, and it is a wonderful do it all bike. I lust after a Crosstrail Disc!

Striper4

Well I have to charm in and throw my 2 cents worth here:

I just purchased a Trek Dual Sport 8.5. And I can tell you this, compared to my Cannondale F800 Mountain bike with the 26 knobby tires the Trek feels and rides like a sports car. I was able to cruise at 12-14 mph on pavement with the Cannondale and just tonight on a short first ride, I was riding at 18 mph on flat road without my clipless shoes on. This bike is quick and nimble and it appears it will live up to all my expectations I had for it when I was researching. These were my expectations for the Trek:
1) Wanted to stay with a Mountain Bike however, I wanted one that was quicker faster at cruise
2) I wanted the versatility to be able to go off road when the need arrises and still have a front suspension.
3) I wanted to stay around $1K for the Bike and I ended ordereing a new 2014 that the Dealer knocked off $200 which got me right at around the 1K mark. Plus I got it in the color I wanted Black and Green
,,,More to come as I start logging miles on her,,,

alexdi

The geometry of those two bikes is nearly identical. While it's nice having something new, I suspect $100 in tires would have made all the difference.

JehD

IMHO having ridden road bikes (20 lbs) to a heavier MTB and a recumbent (40ish lbs) I think the concern over a couple of pounds is negligible, more so if you weigh over 200lbs. If your going to do any off paved road riding to me the suspension fork is worth the weight penalty, even if you don't It just takes away all the harshness and any concern about a pothole or curb.

As far as the brakes go, after riding a DS with the hydro disc brakes I will NEVER go back. They alone are worth the cost from the the 8.3 to 8.4. I had XT level brake on my MTB but the Hydro Discs were easier to modulate.

The only draw back I had with my DS was that even though it had "wider" tires (700-38) at my weight (then about 245ish) they would sink into any thing other than very hard packed dirt where as the 26x2.35 would almost float over sand. Yes they are 2 different types of bikes but it shows the difference. Anything narrower would only be worse, faster on the pavement but far worse off it.

From the looks of it all the bikes you chose are pretty identical and IMHO would come down to what shop you bought it from and if you liked the service. Personally I'm a Trek fan and have a local Superstore to shop at like the people there.

lopek77

Trek is a nice bike, but seems overpriced comparing to Specialized.
Giants offers good value, but have unique geometry/sizing.
I'm not familiar with Norco brand...

My choice would be between Specialized and Giant. Specialized warranty and customer service is awesome when needed. Heard mixed reviews about Giant.

Your money, your choice. Good luck!