2015 Trek 7.4 FX vs 7.4 FX DuoTrap S
 

Can anyone explain the difference? It is my understanding that all the FX are coming DuoTrap compatible. Is that correct?

I think the one listed as the regular 7.4 on the website is the 2014 model. The new one has internal cable routing, different stem, tubeless ready rims in addition to being duo trap compatible.

Yeah, the 7.4 FX listed are the 2014 models. But, what is the difference between:

2015 7.4 FX
and
2015 7.4 FX DuoTrap S

Where are you even seeing there's a 2015 7.4FX without DuoTrap?

Well, that's kind of my question…why is there a specific DuoTrap model when they are all supposedly compatible? ;)

Or, said another way, is the 2015 7.4 DuoTrap S model the exact same as a regular 7.4? Why not just call it a 7.4? I'm very confused...

Maybe they did that to distinguish the 2014 which is not duo trap to the new 2015 which is? The web pages don't state which models are 2014 and which are 2015. I bought my 7.3 several months ago, so I was familiar with what was offered before the new models started popping up.

Because they want people to think that the new model is something special over the old model, plus they are no doubt hoping that with the 2015 frames having part of the chainstay sculptured out so that the Speed & Cadence ANT+ sensor will fit into it neatly, that people will see this as an edge Trek offers that other manufacturers do not.

So people who were wavering over whether to get a Trek bike or not, may now not only buy a Trek, but also buy the Speed & Cadence ANT+ sensor from them.

You can get a Speed & Cadence ANT+ sensor from many manufacturers, but only Trek's Speed & Cadence ANT+ sensor will neatly slot into their chainstay and look tidy and aerodynamic.

It does look quite nice. I'm not sure I would need one but it's nice having the option for apparently no extra cost, since the prices are the same as last year.

It is something that I want/need, so on that basis alone, it draws me closer to getting a Trek, but it may still not be enough to get me over the line.

But yeah, great feature with no apparent downside at all.

What I do like is the "Blendr" stem mount that comes with the 7.3 and up. Lets you put a light or a bike computer, phones, etc. on there. It's just nice not to have to buy a seperate accessory to have your phone mounted on your handlebars, and it's integrated unobtrusively into the stem.

I'm starting to get a bit Trek-preachy here but I really like what they're doing with these 2015 bikes.

http://i.imgur.com/m4J15A8.jpg

Truth to be told, I am probably a bit of a Trek fanboy, but my time on these forums has given me an ever increasing appreciation of other brands, especially Specialized & Giant.

It is likely that over the next 5+ years, I will be acquiring at least 2 more bikes and whilst it may pan out that they are all from the same manufacturer, I think I would prefer to have some variety in who makes the bikes I end up buying.

When I first came on these forums, I was pretty certain that my next bike would be a Dual Sport bike and perhaps it still will be, but my medium term riding needs are overwhelmingly as a commuter, so that has now switched my attention to something like the FX line, but I really do want hydraulic disk brakes on any commuter bike I buy.

That is why I am so bitterly disappointed with Trek's limited colour options in their FX disc model, as I really don't think I can live with it.

It is not just the colour, but the texture that I find off-putting.

It looks like some cheap vinyl acrylic house paint.

Yes, I get all that, and it's good info. But why have the monkier of "DuoTrap" if it's the same as every other 7.4 FX?

My understanding is that all the 2015 7.x FX's have the moniker of "DuoTrap", not just the 2015 7.4 FX and of course it is only the 2015 models that have DuoTrap slot in the chainstays, as prior years models lack that.

Maybe I've been looking at it wrong on treks website...the model that says 7.4 FX DuoTrap...aren't those 2015 colors?

On Trek's American site, the link for the 2015 7.4 FX Men's model is here and they only have two colours, the dreadful Grey and a White.

With the Women's 2015 7.4 FX being a "Platinum" colour.

The white actually looks pretty good, but I personally wouldn't want a white bike.

Their 2013 matte crystal white DS 8.4 looks good (or am I bias cause I've got one). Like it much more than any of their glossy colours. Not sure if any of their current range uses this paint.

Bit of a pain to keep clean if you're a bit obsessive about having a clean bike.

The worst thing isn't the dirt or mud which easily cleans off with soap and water but grease or oil marks but a quick wipe with something like WD40 gets rid of that.

My X-Bow is also mostly white (as well as black and red) and suffers the same oil/grease cleanliness issue but the glossy colour just isn't anywhere as nice as the matte crystal white.

Yep, and I still don't understand why they call it "DuoTrap". Aren't they ALL DuoTraps? I've got the question in to Trek, but they won't answer me…shocking.

My Pilot is a platinum color, so don't want two. Of the 7.4 color choices, I would take the white and accent it with another color.

I have a 2014 7.7 FX. It came with the SpeedTrap adapter built into the front forks. The '15 model comes with the DuoTrap adapter. Thus they changed the name for the 2015 model to 7.7 FX DuoTrap. My guess is that it's the same for the 2015 7.4

Yes, the 2015 FX line is all DuoTrap S compatible, except the 7.7, which is DuoTrap compatible. Bontrager: Bikes With DuoTrap Compatible Frames

My question still remains, and I'm still waiting on a reply from Trek. Hoping it happens today so I can get clear on this. :crash:

It's just marketing to distinguish them in the catalog.

To distinguish what, though? My question is, just to try to make it more clear: what is the difference between the 7.4 FX and 7.4 FX - DTS in the 2015 lineup?

There is no 2015 7.4 FX that dosen't say "DuoTrap S". It's to distinguish them from the 2014 models, which are still in the catalog and not listed by year. The DuoTrap feature is something that only Trek is doing right now and they want to draw attention to it.

So as their website is updated, every model will say 7.? FX DuoTrap S?