Originally Posted by
cudak888
Treks do ride nice, but I beg to differ that they have a "super-high quality ride" - I've only experienced ride quality of that description from my Paramounts and oversized-lugged Columbus EL Guerciotti.
Frankly, I haven't been quite too impressed with the two Trek offerings I own - one, an '81 610, the other, an '82 728. The 728 is a poor rider, and a story in itself which I will not repeat here (dig up my post of 2 weeks ago or so on the matter about the ride quality of the 720/728).
As for my 610, the ride is just slightly more lively then some of the better gaspipe I've ridden, and I've had 4130 frames with response that far surpasses either. The front fork itself is not too stiff (on the X axis - that is, from side to side), and the frame, when sprinting, fights and whips around with the front. It feels akin to sprinting with a semi-loaded rear pannier - the rear triangle bends one way, and the front bends against itself, with a resulting shockwave when the two respective portions of the frame begin to whip back in the other direction.
Take care,
-Kurt
The best Treks, in my opinion, are the early TX900's, as far as getting all of their act together. I had a TX700 for a while as well, and this was nearly indistinguishable from the 900. These were designed and assembled by Appel and Isaacs, and these guys knew (still do) what they were doing. My second favorites are (horrors!) the early bonded aluminum bikes. I have a few different years of the 760/770 offerings, and they are nice bikes; they do everything well, although they don't excel at anything. I also have a 170; it rides almost identically to the 760/770.
I don't have any experience with the touring bikes, but they have an outstanding reputation for ride and reliability.