FREEBIRD1

I have a Trek Marlin 7 that makes a scraping type noise under power, doesn't seem loose? bike only has about 50 easy miles on it. any ideas?

Thanks

veganbikes

What have you done to resolve this? How do you know it is the bottom bracket? A scraping noise sounds like it could be a rotor that is out of true or poorly adjusted. Generally in the first 30 days or so you want to bring it back to the shop you got it from and they should provide a check-up on it just to adjust everything and make sure everything is as good as it can be.

Also keep in mind the bike is a very low initial cost bike so you may want to bring your bike in a bit more often as lower cost parts don't hold up as well and need a little more attention.

FREEBIRD1

Brake rotor is fine, works great, cranks/pedals are tight, Almost sounds like something inside the frame, cables rubbing internally? or the bearing going out? I have had a few new Trek bikes, and they always seem noisy from one thing or another. I hear you on the cost, you don't get much for $1100 these days. I'll drop it off at the shop, if the mechanical's are OK ,I may have to live with the noise.

veganbikes

It works but does it make noise the noise you describe sounds like that could be a possibility. Could be some cables rattling on some of these modern internally routed frames they aren't always as well done as they could be but generally that sort of stuff has improved greatly.

Hopefully you didn't pay 1100 for that bike? A coil fork and Altus/Acera at 1100 is way too much. Trek charges a premium for their logo unfortunately so they get brand recognition and just charge more for less bike. The Specialized Rockhopper Elite is $1100 and is Deore and A RS Air Fork so the bar is there. It may not be a great bike but a coil shock and 9 speed just seems more like an $800 or less. I know prices are going up but Trek is ridiculous on their parts vs. price.

FREEBIRD1

My model has the Deore w/clutch and a Rockshock Judy fork, it was in fact $1100 w/tax, first few miles it worked great.

veganbikes

Ok Deore is a bit better but it is coil Judy not an Air Judy (the official basketball shoes of Judy Garland) I feel like at those prices an air shock is pretty standard. Even a SR Sun Tour air fork would be fine. I am just not a fan of the coil stuff maybe one of those super high end coil shocks but people don't spec those on bikes often (aside from some DH and Enduro rear shocks).

A bike should work well past the first few miles.

FREEBIRD1

I'll have to find another bike for mountain biking, I don't think this one is going to cut it. LBS only sells Trek's so I'll probably order something more robust.

veganbikes

This one should be able to be fixed. However if you do get a new bike look at the suspension that is the biggest key if it has good air suspension likely other parts will be good but for the money I wouldn't go Trek unless that is the only game in town and within a reasonable radius. With Trek you pay the billboard prices in addition to the cost of the bike and I shouldn't pay a company to advertise their product.

If I were stuck on Trek and looking at a budget decent hardtail I would probably go Roscoe more travel on the fork. I realize I like that and sadly I have a really great fork I got on a closeout but it is only 100mm and my frame can go to 130 but I just don't want to flash that cash when I have a SID XX fork on it and would want to replace it either with another SID or similar quality or probably Fox though wouldn't need factory but would want factory for the Kashima.

2old

Your luck is exactly the opposite of what I've encountered with the several Treks my friends and I have purchased, including three who purchased Marlin 7's in the past year. However, if there's a problem and your dealer can't help, I've discovered that Trek's CS is excellent too. In one instance they replaced a rear shock absorber well past the warranty period because it was designed inadequately for its intended purpose. Be careful who you take advice from.

FREEBIRD1

Does the bottom brackets on your bikes make a lot of racket?

2old

I have never experienced it in a new Trek or other brand of new bike. The few times it's occurred (I ride a lot) were after years of use and I needed to replace the bottom bracket. I suggest you contact Trek's CS or since Trek has a 30 day 100% return policy, take it back, then buy a new one. IMO, you selected an excellent bike that should provide years of good service.

FREEBIRD1

Thanks,

I've had the bike a year, but it only has about 5 months service (winters here), the bottom bracket bearings are gone, they were probably installed incorrectly or over torqued. Perhaps the dealer will repair it under warranty? I to have only replaced bottom brackets on old bikes with a lot of miles as well. With the cables rattling inside the frame, and this defective bracket, this bike sounds like a coffee can full of bolts going down the trail. Thanks for the info.