226Steve

I stuck between the Trek DS 8.2 or Raleigh Route 4.0. We have LBS for both within 20 miles. I sold my 5 year old Trek MTB to buy a more comfortable ride. No trails, just pavement with bumps. I love the white paint scheme on the Trek 8.2. Raleigh has 24 speeds, but lackluster appearance. Any suggestions.

DrDyno

Two suggestions (only because you asked):

1. There are so many overlapping ratios that number of speeds can be disregarded. There's usually less than a dozen specific ratios you can actually identify, and you'll probably "use" eight or less.
2. Ride 'em before you buy 'em. I bought the prettiest metallic bronze Fuji Absolute without riding it. Got it home and discovered I much preferred my 13-year old GT Slipstream.

226Steve

What I was fishing for was current or former owner feedback. I have previous experience with Trek; but, I have never owned any Raleigh gear. The Trek DS is the highest price at $479 + tax and the Raleigh Route 4.0 is $415 + tax. Both bike have extended service included by LBS. I plan to test drive both later this week.

Shawn Parr

I have no experience with the Raleigh, but have a DS 8.3. I originally wanted the 8.2, but decided to upgrade for the disc brakes. Knowing now what I didn't know then, I would likely have been just as happy with the 8.2. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the 8.3 and its upgrades, but I was totally new to bikes as an adult when I got it, and without the experience of having 24 gears I probably would have no idea what I was missing. I do agree though that currently I don't use nearly 24 of them, mostly about 4, with a few more thrown in when going off-road.

I have a used 7100, which is alright, I effectively got it for free (came with a bike for my wife, guy would only sell the pair), and the DS feels way more solid and 'real' than the 7100 does. Most of that is the adjustable stem having slight play, and the seat suspension, on the 7100, but the DS also really wants to go fast which the 7100 doesn't. It was something I noticed about the DS and the Trek FX line when test riding, I felt like I was disappointing the bike cause it always wanted to go faster and I couldn't keep up...

You'll also see a lot of posts here from Zero Gravity who has a DS 8.4 and uses the living snot out of it. My understanding of the differences in the DS line, most bike lines actually, is that the frame is the same, and the components are all different. So I see my 8.3 as a platform. In the future I want a second wheel set for the real off-road stuff. Upgrade to Deore when/if my components have issues/wear out/are destroyed by my shenanigans, etc.

The Raleigh may be similar/the same, I have no idea, but since you requested owner feedback, there you go!

Shawn Parr

Sorry for the double post, but when I wrote that I knew I upgraded to the 8.3 for two things, but couldn't remember the second one.

It was the locking suspension fork. After the third week of ownership I haven't used it. We have some nasty roads here, so I appreciate keeping it off even while on the road. Just thought I'd add that data point.

226Steve

After I decided to buy the the last 2012 19" Trek DS 8.2 in the store, the LBS salesman tried to sell me up on the 2013 DS 8.3. So I rode them both and just didn't see the extra $125 + tax for the locking fork and disc brakes. However, I did like the light blue paint scheme on the '13 DS 8.3.

Shawn Parr

It is an awesome bike. I'm sure you'll love it.

Now go put a million miles on it.