hayman03

I'm looking for a good mountain bike on the cheap. I came across a trek 4300 but she is unsure of the year. Is there any major differences along the different model years? I test road a 2009 17" a while back and liked it. This one is listed as a 16.5" can someone tell my the color scheme?

Siu Blue Wind

That looks to be a 2006.

born2bahick

Ahhh The homespun moment, Looking in the garage at my new 4300. I beat tha crap out of it cause I din't know how to ride. Traded it in for a Giant Iguana that I beat the crap out of cause i didn't know how to ride' Traded it in for a Giant NRS that I beat the crap out of cause I didn't know how to ride. Traded that in for a Specalized Epic that I finally learned to ride on!

Well Maybe I aint learned to ride yet, But Congo Rats on your new bike man!

Duce97

There is some diference. the 2006 has an front fork with 80mm travel the 2009 has a 100mm travel fork. The frames change a little bit. The bottom tube and the chain stay moslty. The 4300 is a good bike to learn on , if ya can find one that came with disc brakes , they cost a bit more but are well worth it. I own one myself and still ride it alot on single track stuff some mild drops of 3 feet had it off a 4 foot drop once but it didnt feel to good on the landing . The bike came through ok but thats a tuff landing on a hardtail.

hayman03

looking on treks website it doesnt appear to be a 2006. it really looks like a 2005 but per trek that year they didnt have a black and yellow combo. I dont really see a fit for it all the way back to 2003. I just dont want it to be a older heavier version.

hayman03

looking on bikepedia the graphics look like they are from a 2001

https://www.bikepedia.com/QuickBike/B...4300&Type=bike

im just wondering if it will have a sealed bb, and good hubs.

Duce97

Its an 06

https://www.bikepedia.com/QuickBike/B...4300&Type=bike

It has a square taper bottom bracket and shimano hubs

hayman03

06? the color scheme is reversed and the trek logo is just a outline. I think I should just buy and and find out that way if it is a older model (2001 seems to be the first year for susp. fork) is there downsides than a newer model? BTW im getting it for 180 do you think thats too much?

Duce97

if it is a 2001 then its about equivalent to the current 820 other than the 820 having a steel frame. It has bottom end rims, drive train and the fork is only a 60mm travel. I myself wouldnt buy it unlesss its just to beat around town. The 2001 is nothing like the 2009 you test rode , test ride a 820 and you will get an idea what its like , because the component group is the same you will get idea how its going to shift and what not.

hayman03

so these components are bad? my hybrid had a altus rear derailer how does this one compair? i do know the 60mm fork but can you upgrade that down the road?

Components
Component Group Mountain Mix
Brakeset Aluminum linear-pull brakes, aluminum linear-pull levers
Shift Levers Shimano Acera EZ Fire Plus
Front Derailleur Shimano C050
Rear Derailleur Shimano Acera
Crankset Shimano Tourney TY-40, 24/34/42 teeth
Pedals Nylon platform
Bottom Bracket Unspecified
BB Shell Width Unspecified
Rear Cogs 7-speed, 11 - 30 teeth
Chain 1/2 x 3/32"
Seatpost Aluminum micro-adjust
Saddle Trek Supersoft
Handlebar Hi-tensile steel
Handlebar Extensions Not included
Handlebar Stem Bontrager Sport
Headset 1 1/8" threadless Dia-Compe STR

Duce97

They are low end , they will work but not take much abuse. The drive train components will not stay adjusted while riding it off road. Has for upgrading the fork on a bike like that with its age its not really worth it. You will pay more for the fork than you did for the bike.

The bottom line is if you dont plan on doing to much off road , singletack , and jumping the bike will be great. Without some updates to the drive train and fork there isint much in the way of off road that stuff will handle. At best you will have a very nice bike path bike.

You have two options of what you can do if this is what you can afford. You can buy this bike and upgrade it has you go along. Or you can save some money and buy a newer model that is trail worthy out the door but even the newer ones have so so components and you will be wanting to replace them before long. This is like this will all bike companies with bikes in the 4300's price range.

These are what the industry deems has low end bikes you can never expect to go rocking hard trails even with a new one with out some minor upgrades. I have an 09 4300disc and the first upgrades i did was the drive train. With those upgrades it made it into a pretty solid bike. I get my parts at cost so the upgrades were not that bad for me , had i paid full price it would have been around 300 bucks.

ed 

Aaahh...now that's the B2B we all know and love.