Y 26...again!!!
#1
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Y 26...again!!!
Hi, all...I'm a newb!! I found this forum, which looks like a great one, by doing a search on the infamous Trek Y 26. The thread I found was sort of heated, and I understand why.
I am not totally new to the sport of mtn biking...I've had a KHS Montana Descent for about 11 years now...ridden some of the best trails in SE Florida, Oleta, Markham, and even done some riding up in some mountains around Chattanooga on that bike. It is tired, old, and non-upgradable, due to a one inch steerer tube, which has had RST forks in place for some time....better than nothing, believe me!!! It also has Deore LX components, but it was time to make a change.
I was given a Trek Y 26 by the good folks at Scion, in appreciation for my having purchased a new vehicle from them...pretty damn nice gesture on their part. So, it got me stoked to think about what this bike is like, and what I might get with a hardtail in about the same price range. So, local Sports Authority supplied me with a GT Avalanche 3.0 Disc. It only took one ride of both steeds to decide to not look a gift horse in the mouth...I promptly returned the GT and hung on to my freebie Trek.
I realize I'm not in the majority here....most would choose the hard tail over the cheap full suspension. My thoughts on that...and in a side by side, the componentry was virtually identical, with the only real exceptions being that the GT has an eight gear cassette as opposed to the Trek's seven. Big deal...I've dealt with seven x three for years and did just fine. The Trek is two pounds heavier....again, who cares...I ain't racin' and I live in Florida....where's the mountains?!?! Also, the Trek has v-brakes as opposed to GT's disc...ANYTHING'S better than my KHS's cantilevers!!! Note...the Trek is disc-ready, if I ever decided to go that route, but I doubt I will. That'll be a future bike altogether.
Now, here comes the fun part ....I'm dismanteling my KHS and robbing some parts from it to accessorize the Trek. I now have two wheel sets ...had to change out the cogset on the old KHS, since it's lowest gear was a 28 tooth....and the smallest was 10...that bike was meant to go DOWNHILL only!!! So, I now have two wheel sets....and I'm going to clean up the LX rear derailleur and try it out....not to mention the use of some much better "goin' dirty" tires than the Bontragers that came with the Trek.
I totally see the benefits of hard tail vs full suspension at $350. However....when a bike is free, it's free. I've seen people on this board bash low cost FS bikes, but I've also seen just as many, if not more, praise them. As I've witnessed from years of motorcycle riding, the real riders are those who appreciate those that RIDE, regardless of their pony. Same seems to hold true in the bicycle world.
All that being said, I think it's only fair to say that I'm a 45 year old fart who just loves the outdoors...and biking is a great way to get deep into the woods or the prarie. I will never be one to bound off a 12 meter drop, or race slalom, or try to keep up with Tinker Juarez...although he isn't far from my age, so there's hope!!! However....I primarily ride dirt roads, dirt track, maybe some minor technical riding, but nothing too freaky...I'm too old for that!!!
One day I hope to have a bike that is 20 lbs, cost as much as my new car, and makes me about 25 years younger...until that time, I'll enjoy the ride with whatever I can afford....and hope to meet some of y'all along the way.
I am not totally new to the sport of mtn biking...I've had a KHS Montana Descent for about 11 years now...ridden some of the best trails in SE Florida, Oleta, Markham, and even done some riding up in some mountains around Chattanooga on that bike. It is tired, old, and non-upgradable, due to a one inch steerer tube, which has had RST forks in place for some time....better than nothing, believe me!!! It also has Deore LX components, but it was time to make a change.
I was given a Trek Y 26 by the good folks at Scion, in appreciation for my having purchased a new vehicle from them...pretty damn nice gesture on their part. So, it got me stoked to think about what this bike is like, and what I might get with a hardtail in about the same price range. So, local Sports Authority supplied me with a GT Avalanche 3.0 Disc. It only took one ride of both steeds to decide to not look a gift horse in the mouth...I promptly returned the GT and hung on to my freebie Trek.
I realize I'm not in the majority here....most would choose the hard tail over the cheap full suspension. My thoughts on that...and in a side by side, the componentry was virtually identical, with the only real exceptions being that the GT has an eight gear cassette as opposed to the Trek's seven. Big deal...I've dealt with seven x three for years and did just fine. The Trek is two pounds heavier....again, who cares...I ain't racin' and I live in Florida....where's the mountains?!?! Also, the Trek has v-brakes as opposed to GT's disc...ANYTHING'S better than my KHS's cantilevers!!! Note...the Trek is disc-ready, if I ever decided to go that route, but I doubt I will. That'll be a future bike altogether.
Now, here comes the fun part ....I'm dismanteling my KHS and robbing some parts from it to accessorize the Trek. I now have two wheel sets ...had to change out the cogset on the old KHS, since it's lowest gear was a 28 tooth....and the smallest was 10...that bike was meant to go DOWNHILL only!!! So, I now have two wheel sets....and I'm going to clean up the LX rear derailleur and try it out....not to mention the use of some much better "goin' dirty" tires than the Bontragers that came with the Trek.
I totally see the benefits of hard tail vs full suspension at $350. However....when a bike is free, it's free. I've seen people on this board bash low cost FS bikes, but I've also seen just as many, if not more, praise them. As I've witnessed from years of motorcycle riding, the real riders are those who appreciate those that RIDE, regardless of their pony. Same seems to hold true in the bicycle world.
All that being said, I think it's only fair to say that I'm a 45 year old fart who just loves the outdoors...and biking is a great way to get deep into the woods or the prarie. I will never be one to bound off a 12 meter drop, or race slalom, or try to keep up with Tinker Juarez...although he isn't far from my age, so there's hope!!! However....I primarily ride dirt roads, dirt track, maybe some minor technical riding, but nothing too freaky...I'm too old for that!!!
One day I hope to have a bike that is 20 lbs, cost as much as my new car, and makes me about 25 years younger...until that time, I'll enjoy the ride with whatever I can afford....and hope to meet some of y'all along the way.
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happy riding there inrharmony, it's all good
I'd try the kenda nevegal stick-e tire for the rear, great traction, not sure how it does in the sandy florida stuff though, if that's where your at...
I'd try the kenda nevegal stick-e tire for the rear, great traction, not sure how it does in the sandy florida stuff though, if that's where your at...
#3
Still kicking.
They would have to pay me to ride a trek, but that is me in general. In general the Y 26 isn't worth the money that it's being offered at, but since you got it for free, ride it until you can afford a high level bike.
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Appreciate the old bikes more than the new.
Appreciate the old bikes more than the new.
#4
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Bikes fine, it's what you get out of it.
I ride an old bike, and I ride it really well and often.
Good enough for me. $crew opinions.
I ride an old bike, and I ride it really well and often.
Good enough for me. $crew opinions.
#5
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Originally Posted by inrharmony
Hi, all...I'm a newb!! I found this forum, which looks like a great one, by doing a search on the infamous Trek Y 26. The thread I found was sort of heated, and I understand why.
I am not totally new to the sport of mtn biking...I've had a KHS Montana Descent for about 11 years now...ridden some of the best trails in SE Florida, Oleta, Markham, and even done some riding up in some mountains around Chattanooga on that bike. It is tired, old, and non-upgradable, due to a one inch steerer tube, which has had RST forks in place for some time....better than nothing, believe me!!! It also has Deore LX components, but it was time to make a change.
I am not totally new to the sport of mtn biking...I've had a KHS Montana Descent for about 11 years now...ridden some of the best trails in SE Florida, Oleta, Markham, and even done some riding up in some mountains around Chattanooga on that bike. It is tired, old, and non-upgradable, due to a one inch steerer tube, which has had RST forks in place for some time....better than nothing, believe me!!! It also has Deore LX components, but it was time to make a change.
Originally Posted by inrharmony
I was given a Trek Y 26 by the good folks at Scion, in appreciation for my having purchased a new vehicle from them...pretty damn nice gesture on their part.
Originally Posted by inrharmony
So, it got me stoked to think about what this bike is like, and what I might get with a hardtail in about the same price range.
Originally Posted by inrharmony
So, local Sports Authority supplied me with a GT Avalanche 3.0 Disc.
Originally Posted by inrharmony
It only took one ride of both steeds to decide to not look a gift horse in the mouth...I promptly returned the GT and hung on to my freebie Trek.
Originally Posted by inrharmony
I realize I'm not in the majority here....most would choose the hard tail over the cheap full suspension. My thoughts on that...and in a side by side, the componentry was virtually identical,
Originally Posted by inrharmony
with the only real exceptions being that the GT has an eight gear cassette as opposed to the Trek's seven. Big deal...I've dealt with seven x three for years and did just fine.
Originally Posted by inrharmony
The Trek is two pounds heavier....again, who cares...I ain't racin' and I live in Florida....where's the mountains?!?!
Originally Posted by inrharmony
Also, the Trek has v-brakes as opposed to GT's disc...ANYTHING'S better than my KHS's cantilevers!!!
Originally Posted by inrharmony
Note...the Trek is disc-ready, if I ever decided to go that route, but I doubt I will. That'll be a future bike altogether.
I totally see the benefits of hard tail vs full suspension at $350. However....when a bike is free, it's free.
I totally see the benefits of hard tail vs full suspension at $350. However....when a bike is free, it's free.
Originally Posted by inrharmony
I've seen people on this board bash low cost FS bikes,
Originally Posted by inrharmony
but I've also seen just as many, if not more, praise them.
Originally Posted by inrharmony
As I've witnessed from years of motorcycle riding, the real riders are those who appreciate those that RIDE, regardless of their pony.
Originally Posted by inrharmony
However....I primarily ride dirt roads, dirt track, maybe some minor technical riding, but nothing too freaky...I'm too old for that!!!
Originally Posted by inrharmony
I'll enjoy the ride with whatever I can afford....and hope to meet some of y'all along the way.
#6
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Thanks for the tire tip....I've got a Kenda 'something' on the rear now....so that's gotta be an upgrade!!!
#7
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I sorta agree....I wouldn't have bought this bike if it weren't offered to me out of the blue, but it's a good sight better than what I was riding before....which, on top of being old, was way too big for me (bought it on sale with no knowledge of bike fit at the time). That sucked when I went down....ouch.
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Hehehe...I see I've already stirred up an opinion or two....who cares....I certainly don't make purchases to elevate myself to other people's standards...lordy, if I did that over the past few years, I'd have a couple Road Kings, a 23 room mansion, a 40 ft yacht,...you get the picture...not to mention a $5000 Kona!!!