ChiliDog

I have a nice road bike, which I enjoy very much. I am looking for an additional bike to use just for recreational riding and meandering the neighborhoods. Places where a roadbike would not be able to go or would not offer an upright position for slow sightseeing. A "go anywhere, do anything" kind of bike.

Want comfort, versatility, yet quality. I am not interested in doing any intense trail riding like going over logs or jumping off of boulders. Maybe some light dirt riding or gravel pathways. Mostly pavement. A bike to take on vacation, ride to the market, putz around on. Maybe do a tow path here and there.

Been looking at the Trek Navigator or Trek 7200 or 7300. Got a line on a 2002 7300 for $399. It has suspension seatpost, upright, adjustable stem. 24 speed. Nice frame. I like the 700cc wheels because I am used to that. I am just looking for feedback on riders of the Navigator or the Trek 7000 series bikes. Thanks for any insights!

Rich Clark

I used to have a 7300. Now I ride touring or cyclocross type bikes. There's certainly no difference in where these bikes are "able to go," and one can set them up so the bar height yields a relatively upright rider position, if that's what you want.

That said, my old 7300 was a nice enough bike. I sold it to my office-mate, who commutes on it every day. In fact, it's sitting right behind me, next to my own bike. It's been as solid and reliable for him as it was for me.

Unfortunately, the newer 7300 has a POS suspension fork, something that's become nearly impossible to avoid on bikes of this class. They used to have a really nice cro-moly touring fork with low-rider braze-ons, fender eyelets, the works. If it were me, I'd ask about a fork exchange at the bike shop.

I'd choose the 7300 over a Navigator for the same reason as you: the 700c wheels. However, keep in mind that if you're vacationing in the middle of nowhere 700c wheels and tubes may be harder to find than 26" ones, which you can buy at any WalMart.

RichC

RobertTank

I have a Navigator 300. I don't have a lot of miles but have not had a problem going anywhere I wanted. I got the 26" wheels because I was only riding for pleasure and exercise. No regrets!

Dahon.Steve

I don't know why people look only at Trek for Hybrid bikes. Seriously. There are plenty of good hybrid bikes from Jamis, Bianchi and Giant to just name of few that make quality bikes.

I test rode the Bianchi Bergamo and found it to be a quality ride and it has no suspension fork. I also rode the Jamis Citizen and found that to be a very good inexpensive bike and it has no suspension fork.

Jersey Girl

Speaking for myself, those of us just getting into riding are more familiar with names like Trek and Cannondale. Were it not for my boyfriend being so into riding, I would never have even heard of the other companies you mentioned. So if I went into a shop by myself I would, and did, head toward the Treks because they were something I had heard of AND knew that they made a decent bike.

ChiliDog

I am widely familiar with many brands of bikes, including some not even mentioned. I have my interest pared down to the 2 mentioned. So that is why I mentioned "2 Treks". Sheer coincidence. So as they say, "never assume".

tiride

I also have a "nice" road bike. I bought a Trek 7200 because a LBS had a great sale on them. It works nicely when riding with a slower group. It is a few years old, no suspension fork. I added aero bars, fenders, a bell, Cateye Astrale ( it is only missing streamers from the handelbars and cards in the spokes). Friends call it a PeeWee Herman bike. It is much fun and gives a good workout.

talkdj

Got a great deal on the Trek 7500 from my LBS and upgraded to a 9 cog cassette so I have 27 speeds. I love the bike. Rides great, comfortable, and does everything I need. But now I have an inkling to move up once again to a road bike. My LBS wants to fit me to a Cannondale R800 or R1000 (after I told him I was interested in the Trek 2300). He says that the CAAD5 frame is better than on the Trek. I will see this week for myself and make a decision. If you see my wife, don't tell her about this...she will kill me!

ChiliDog

Got my 7300 (2002), new, for $399. Picked it up Friday. I put rat trap pedals on it until I can afford another set of Frogs. Left the saddle on for now, but see myself getting another seatpost (this one weighs a ton) and saddle set-up at some point. Got the CatEye Mity 3 on it and the bottle cages and underseat bag. Will likely add a rack and rear bag for carrying stuff on long rides. Shop had put a kickstand on her (shudder) and I promptly removed it. Noticed some damage to the paint because of that. Gggrrrrrrrrrr.

Mine came with the InSync adjustable front shock, which was shown on the Trek website as coming on the 7500 model. Lucked out there with a better shock! Might switch out the handlebar/stem setup to be more along the lines of a flat bar down the road. But for now I am happy to just have a bike to cruise along on and explore the neighborhoods and parks when I am not on my road bike.

Gustav

if you have a nice road bike and are looking for an alternative for trails and general use, I'm guessing you probably wouldn't like the Navigator series. To me they just seem too upright and sluggish. I'd go with a 7200 or 7300. My only bike right now is a 7200 that's just starting its third season. I've been very satisfied with it. I use it on trails (rails to trails types of things, not singletrack), for commuting, and even for long organized rides of up to 75 miles. It goes when you want it to, but it's heavy. The first thing I did when I got it was take off the stock handlebar and put on a straight bar. It works great. I have about 1500 miles on it now, and use it for just about everything -- at least for another week or so when I plan to buy my first road bike! :-)