d25

Looking to purchase a new bike. the few within my range that I've liked are the Crosstrail, Trek 7.1 & 7100. I liked that the Trek 7.1 was light and had a quick pick up but the frame and seat felt pretty stiff. Most of my riding will be primarily around NYC, and some light off roading. Does anyone have either of these bikes and could provide some advice?

thanks

Panthers007

I'm assuming you mean this:

https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/bike_path/fx/71fx/

And this:

https://bicyclehabitat.com/itemdetails.cfm?LibId=47730

How did a Specialized, current-production bicycle wind up with a Suntour crankset? Bizarre. Based on components, and Trek's warranty, I'd go for the Trek. First thing I'd do is pitch the seatpost. On the Specialized - it would be more drastic - I'd get rid of the fork with the suspension.

d25

thanks, well there is a Trek 7100, separate from the 7.1, that is also a hybrid. But I think that is more cruising based with the seat in an upright position. Do you think that a suspension fork is completely unnecessary? I was thinking that it would give a better bounce on some of the light off road riding...

Panthers007

Cheap suspension-forks tend to be awful and break. On higher-end bikes they tend to actually work well - needing a bit of work now and then. When I see a complicated component on a lower cost bicycle, a little red light goes off in my head.

Cyclist01012

What do you consider light off roading? Are you talking single track? Or you local rails to trails type path. Both bikes are fine for rail trails but not for single track.

Cutaway

I can't speak for trek coz I haven't owned one, seems like a solid bike though. But I own a crosstrail sport and I must tell you it has nothing I can complain about.. Yeah yeah I may have said that cox it's what I already have and ofcourse I'm emotionally attached to my bike, but who isn't? Right?

Anyway, crosstrail hybrid is "super" for light offroad and mostly paved roads. It's light, quick and fast. It also has front suspension with adjustable stiffness, you can also lock the suspension totally. In short, you really have the best of both worlds. The saddle is also perfectly shaped and sized that it doesn't hurt your "buttbone"

ecrider

I bought the 7.1 at Christmas and think it is a good entry level bike. I hated the saddle and had to get rid of that almost immediately. But the bike itself is good for commuting, short rides, etc. It's definitely more of an upright ride and not as aerodynamic as a road bike. The wider tires make for a smooth ride. It's not a speed merchant or serious off-road bike, but it's a decent all around bike.

Panthers007

Telling people which saddle is comfortable should be banned. People's butts are all different -just ask a Peeping-Tom. So what is comfortable to one might make another (I'm sure of this) person howl in pain after a mile. I found the saddle that came stock on my Trek 7.5 FX to be truly unbearable. But when I write this, another person - with a different butt - will claim they love the very same saddle (Race Lux)!

Thank you, cutaway, for the clarification on the suspension-fork on the Crosstrail. So you can disable this outright, eh? That's a good feature. I'd like to examine, in person, one of those critters. But my vote is still for the Trek. Trek built a very good reputation with the FX-series. Both with their owners/riders, as well as with the bicycle-mechanics who tend to them. Their components work together quite nicely. Their major problem is the mechanic at the LBS who put it together in the first place. For instance let's look at my 7.5 FX. Problem 1. A cricking noise as the cranks revolved. Under warranty, so I took it back to the shop I bought it at. There was no grease in the bottom-bracket. None - not even on the threads! Remedied. Crik was still there. Turns out the chain was stretched beyond it's life-span. It was NOT the chain that was in the box with the bike. The mechanic (I call him the 'Pet-Monkey') had slipped an old, worn-out Shimano chain on the bike. Maybe he collects chains? Unknown. Problem 2. The right-hand post that holds the rear brake was cross-threaded. It took off the entire post when removed. I was removing it to install better brakes than came with the bike. Took it back. The pet-monkey managed to get them separated with a 9mm cone-wrench - a very unusual size tool. Maybe the pet-monkey cross-threads often? Unknown. Problem 3. The headset came loose. Seems the pet-monkey didn't clamp the stem properly. Fixed.

None of these problems, aside from the swapped-out chain, were the fault of the 7.5 FX. All were caused by the Pet-Monkey. Why the owner let's that chimp keep working there is beyond me. I wouldn't let him wrench together a tricycle.

Other than Pet-Monkey's found in the bowels of bike-shops world-wide, who give us real bike-mechanics a black-eye, the Trek FX-series is judged very favorably by their owners and mechanics alike. Now what I'd do in your situation is talk to a few bike-mechanics who have occasion to work on these bicycles. See what kind of repairs/adjustments have been necessary on both. In any event, get the bicycle that YOU like best. This will be the bike you ride the most. Sleep on it. When it's time to decide and reach for your wallet, if you feel anxiety, buy the other one.

Wanderer

I have an '08 Crosstrail Sport, and love it. It is a great "do it all" bike.

ecrider

Banning saddle comments would deny my First Amendment Freedoms:>) Actually, I was giving my honest, overall evaluation of the bike to someone who asked for comments. But it seems to me that both you and I hated our saddles. I have had read other postings where other FX owners had saddle issues as well. Hmmmm... Shouldn't people be aware of that? (Besides it wasn't my butt that was hurting, anyway.)

Panthers007

Not to worry - it was tongue-in-cheek. I still have the almost-new Bontrager Race Lux saddle that came with it. That and the wheels were the first to go. I replaced the saddle with a real ($140) Terry Fly from Terry herself. It's right across and down from me over Lake Champlain. I love it - but it would undoubtedly kill someone here - and they'd take the Race Lux!

The wheels were dreadful. 20 spoke radial front, etc. Spokes on at over 200Kgf. Lordy! But I digress. I think you get my point though regards saddles. But I'm not seriously contemplating launching any campaigns to ban such being expressed. I have the saddle here in my parts cabinet. Just in case I meet someone who says they loved them as his friend has one, or something.

No accounting for taste when it comes to butts...

ecrider

10-4. I think we're of the same mind...

d25

does one brand tend to be more durable than the other?

KungPaoSchwinn

My 09' FX 7.3 has a Bontrager Nebula saddle and i don't have any complain cus my seat bones set just right on it, it was feeling good from day one,my luck i guess.

Vince868

I just shopped same bikes as you are looking at in the Trek line and bought the 7.2 fx. Have about 400 miles on it and have had positive comments (including working into the saddle). I would recommend that your choice would depend on where or the type of riding that you plan to do. I'm strictly on the road and have changed to clipless pedals and plan to move from a 32mm to a 28mm tire. I rode the bikes with the shocks but didn't like the weight or the feel. The fx line is light and nimble.....worked well for me.

Retro Grouch 

Shop for a bike shop first. When you find the right one you'll know it because it will just "feel" right. Once you find the right shop, buy a brand that they carry and you'll never go wrong.