Trek - why so few?

Based in the city in Clarence St, they stock a lot of Trek.

Maybe they should work on that but what do I know about marketing!! The couple I looked at this morning seemed ok at a glance full fox suspension but I didn't look at the rest.....its just too dangerous! I noticed that they run the cables for rear brakes and gears down the top of the frame unlike my Specialized where the cables run bare under the frame and just get clogged with crap....such a poor design, mind you the Gary Fisher bike was the same!

To be honest, I never thought about getting a Trek. My mind was totally focused on the Giant Trance X1, but with a 2 month wait on new stock and money burning a hole in my pocket, I was talked in to getting a Trek Fuel ex7. My mate that worked at the local shop (BIKEWORX Erina) organised an awesome deal for me, but I reckon I probably wouldn't have even looked at it if I had to pay full price (lower spec, more expensive than Trance). I was even worried about the purchase afterwards because I didn't know anyone who had a Trek, nor did I know much about them.

However 2 months later, I'm totally chuffed with it. Also, because no one has them they seem to have a little bit of wow factor - I even have riding buddies with Carbon/Gold Plated super bikes who want to have a ride, and they seem quite impressed.

Value for money, at full price, I probably would steer clear of a Trek. But if you can snag a deal like I did, and add to that, a 5 year guarantee on the Bontrager parts, they're not a bad bike. I'm happy with mine.

BWOAR!

meant to encourage me to ride a trek why? On a more serious note the trek fuel ex 9 scored really well in the Mountain Biking Australia review, the gur who reviewed even bought the bike so it must be pretty good right?

I ride a Trek Fuel EX8, and believe me, this is no low end bike. It is awesome. Before I bought this bike, I road tested quite a few bikes, including the Trance, and found the Fuel EX8 really performed well. It felt really comfortable, and I seemed to be able to ride a bit faster. The 2008 model is supposedly a massive improvement on the previous model.
I have been riding it for about 5 months now, and the only issue I have had with it were the forks, but as they were Fox SLs, it wasn’t really a Trek issue. When I took it back to Clarence St they put a new set on my bike while I waited - no problem and out the door in 20 minutes. I have found most of the guys in Clarence St to be really helpful when I have been there, so I’m not sure why I have read a few EMO comments from people on this site about them.

I also have a Trek 6500 hard tail that has lower spec components than the EX8, but is also a great bike.

To be honest, I shopped around heaps before buying the Fuel EX8, and I didn’t find that the price of the Trek was much more than other brands when comparing similar components/models, (although the Giant is cheaper than most). This is definitely no “entry level” bike Co Rob.

If I was to buy again, I would definitely buy this bike, or maybe even the Trek Fuel EX 9, which has the same frame (in black & white) but higher specs.

I have to say, that the Fuel EX8 is one of the coolest looking bikes I have seen too (but that shouldn’t be the reason for buying). I get stopped to have a look a lot, I think its the colour!

Anyway, I like that there are so few. I feel less like a herd animal.

Is the one I was looking at in the shop, certainly has the looks, just over 3.5k!

Ahh Alex you just cant help yourself you old Cannon basher ,
did I happen to mention you how easy hangers for C-dales are to get
Tell you what those Trek 88's are look'n sweet , time you upgraded before the next bub mate
p.s. when are we riding again ? I've been practicing !

nah similar but just based on the same linkage system as a standard faux 4 bar jobbie i believe, is different to the whole maestro thing isnt it? is more based on a kona layout really, and what they have done is added the a.b.p system (active brake pivot) to the 2008's, which effectually chucks a pivot around the rear axle to eliminate further jack and some of the kona like braking issues..i hear its good but havent had a bash myself..oh and they dont snap like trances ahh bike loyalty, so foolish yet so fun..so who else thinks macs suck? lol

dez- still getting used to a 3rd family member! been in hospital all week with a scare, but all's well luckily, so be on the trails soon! just got a bike rack too so i cant contain myself much longer from the trails! ill keep ya posted, better get that cannon all lubed up ready to break again
heres the lil one if you havent seen (yeh im a proud dad showing her off to all)
http://nobmob.com/node/5637

so its got the same linkage as my enduro, chainstays exactly the same as my epic and a horst link the same as both of them! Dont get me wrong. I love the look of the trek and would have one any day.

Some simple mechanics involved here, which would be easy to understand if I could find the KONA DOPE video somewhere, but I'll try and explain in words anyway...

It's all to do with what the suspension does when you're braking. On a standard faux bar or single pivot the rear brake caliper is attached to the rear swingarm or chainstay. Now because of that when you brake the rotational momentum of your wheel is transferred via the brake, which is now grabbing the disc, to the chainstay and so the suspension will pivot up simply from braking alone. So put another way if you brake you use some travel and get less use out of your shock.

The video I was looking for shows this really well - if you have a single pivot or a faux bar you can demonstrate this to yourself really easily. Just put your bike in a workstand, undo the bolt holding your shock to the rear section of your suspension and then get the rear wheel moving and brake, your rear wheel will jump up.

The ABP is a solution that allows the rear caliper to be attached to the seatstay, by placing the pivot exactly at the rear axle the caliper can be on the seatstay without varying it's position in relation to the disc when the suspension moves. And the rotational forces that act when you brake then go through the seatstay (rather than the chainstay) which handily is almost at right angles to the linkage and so can't move under those forces.

It must put more strain on the linkage bearings and the rear axle must be a bit complicated but only the ride will tell if it's worth it...

Recently got a Trek EX 9.
Love it!

i bought a second hand 2004 model Topfuel 98 trek a few years back and its been awesome. Found that i could get up technical hills a lot better than on the previous bike (92 model GT Zaskar). Its copped about 20 big over the bar stacks (I had the front brake changed over from my previous bike which was back the front - and took about 6 months for the subconcsious to change over) and has not missed a beat (those dual control levers are more robust than they look). ANyways, I am thinking of buying another one new. I would even pay the premium IF I know I will get the support and warranty protection that is stated. Lifetime on frame and 5 years on parts - beauty. If this comes with support and service I'm there. But i'm nervous that its not. Has anyone else out there had any experience with Clarence St service and warranty support? Or Trek warranty and support through another bike shop??

As stated, I have had no problems at all with Clarence st. When I have had an issue under warranty, they have been more than happy to help.

On the issue of warranty, there was an interesting article in AMB in June/ July 08 issue I think. It stated that as most of the components are supported by their manufacturer such as Fox, Shimano, Sram etc, then the bike shop has to go into bat on your behalf when you try to make a claim and often is left holding the baby. It went on to say that we should be thankful that given the beating we give our bikes that there is a warrantee at all. Most other action sports have a “you break it, you fix it policy.” Having broken a few skis in my life, the manufacturers response has always been, much less friendly!

Also in AMB this month the Fuel EX7 does very well in the group test, beating among others the Trance X2 for sub $3k duelies .

However if the Top Fuel is more your thing, check out the new 2009 model they are going to release with the R1i (Full Floater and ABP). Here http://www.dirtragmag.com/blogarific/first-look-...
Very cool.

On place of manufacture, I am pretty sure my Fuel EX has a sticker that would lead me to believe it isn’t made in China by Giant, I know some bike makes do get Giant to make their frames, but I don’t think Trek is one of them.

theres a big review on the trek ex7 in amb this month actually which beats the norco fluid, khs xct and giant trance in the sub 3k catergory..actually ive been eyeballing the new kona design theres a walkthrough vid at http://bikemag.com/av/flash/kona_magic_link_bert...
and it actually seems quite good, the whole floating, moving free space between pivot things makes a whole lot of sense that these bike companies are gravitating towards..at the end of the day, its a great time for mountain bikes, people are obsessed with them, you only have to look at site like this to know that, and everyone has put there 2c in about what works and what people want! look at late 90's designs compared to now, faux linkages and single pivots were looked at by riders whom alot of wanted less bob, less brake issues and more of the good stuff, so the manufacturers have really come through with new inovative designs, probably twice fold due to specialized's monopoly on a linkage design that appears to work quite well if albeit noone else is allowed to use it..but it means i think designs are only going to go up and up..as for trek, being one of the biggest bike manufacturers in the world, they are surely going to seize the day with new designs and improvements..as i said, ive got a trek session, and i love it, and its based on the older kona style faux bar linkage, and they have already made improvements to the way the suspension system works, with this abp stuff even though the old system worked and the only excuse you would have for "needing" better, would be if you need more time learning how your bike works to translate that down pat on trails, or your up against the best of the best, where every design bonus may make a split second difference to winning or losing in competition..but its all fine tuning, which translates to maximum lovelyness on the trail and unless your buying a cannondale i think most of these guys are jumping on some good stuff cannondale however are jumping on the huffy super spring linkage for 2009, which bottoms out when noone is even riding it..

Now Alex I know you love your Session and I get the impression that you have a fantasy to ride a Kona but at the same time you seem to think that the linkage system on your bike and on most Konas needs improvement, either by means of a D.O.P.E. torque arm and floating caliper mount or by this new Magic Link business. Let me tell you something. I've ridden several Kona models and their present design works perfectly well. I've not ridden a Session however I figure it must feel similar. Sure, there's some brake jack and the system is fully active all the time. That's ok though as it's simply a design that benefits from a platform shock whilst climbing. As for brake jack, the answer is to have some quality brakes, complete all your braking before arriving at a turn, then rail said turn, allowing the active suspension to do it's job.
I really like Kona bikes. The frames are fabricated by one of the best factories in Taiwan -Kenesis- and the finished bike is tough and reliable. Their active suspension design works really well and I believe the patent has expired which is why it pops up on a lot of bikes from other brands.
It's just a little old hat these days.

kona is kinesis ay? i had an avanti manic ht dirtjumper that was kinesis. so damn tough it was ridiculous, it took such a beating over the several years i owned it and the frame was unfazed, anything from light xc stuff to full dh runs at ourimbah and the like..
no its not that i think the design needs the improvement, like i was saying, theres no need to upgrade unless you really need cutting edge technology for split second improvements in say a race environment, or you just cant get an affinity with how the suspension works (like you say, getting all your braking done before cornering and the like)..its just that the jack/d.o.p.e/a.b.p./magic blah new systems make it so that you get even more suspension usage should you brake in conditions where you prob shouldnt etc.. dont get me wrong though, i love the faux system, yeh i think sessions would run very much like a kona, and i do have a desire to hit up something on an earlier model stab or stinky! (not too big a fan of the new design stabs) the design is super stiff and climbs like a beast for a rig of its nature, im still keen to do a 100k enduro on it when my fitness improves!
what brakes would you reccomend for a bike of that nature? my stupid mags are still stupid and i hate them lol ive been eye-balling the new elixers, codes, stoker aces (although they look like they wouldnt be comfy) and of course saints, (but too much $$ at the mo so forget hopes and the like!)

yeh i hear ya, hope hubs are incredible, like butter..how about these bad boys any experience? http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/15794-115_ALI8P...

8 pistons titanium and goldy lookin

so these kind of products will survive beyond the life of the sessions frame etc to the point of superseeding brand new stock components? why do hope brakes never appear stock on bikes? i have seen chris king stuff stock, but never hope is that more a national issue being a uk based company?

im certainly holding off on brake replacement till i can get some damn good, well researched and timeless ones!

Well, I have looked at a Trek rear suspension and a Trance/Reign rear suspension and they both look pretty similar to me.

yeh the hayes have a weakness iun the master cylinder design, that being the whole thing has to be replaced if anything in the whole lever area is damaged, specifically, the resovoir bladdery thing is one long piece inside the lever, so if you have a stuffed lever adjust screw, or anything like like that, you gotta do the whole thing for 150 odd bucks..and the other weakness is its weak lol a slight bump from a stack or something will potentially rupture the seal, as is what i think happened with mine..anyhoo the short is hayes are totally out for me, i hear they have fixed the master cylinder issue with the new stokers and el camino's, but i dont like the ergonomics of the levers at all..shimano i hear have the ability to access and replace individual lever parts, and saints (particularly the 4 piston new ones) look awesome i would love to try some..and hopes yeh but im just not sure with price etc., codes too but i hear the modulation is a bit hows your uncle..ah decisions decisions lol oh crap ive totally hijacked this thread sorry!

reigns have that maestro link which cuts through the downtube and looks so different to the trek linkage that its not funny! each to his own i guess!

for hijacking the thread it was getting to long and boring listening to Alex talk about his Shrek , jeeez you would think they were the only bikes with suspension

would you like a saucer of milk with that ?

aw cmon the only place left to go beyond cannonbashing is mama jokes!

hmm an ourimbah bash you say? yes, yes i believe ourimbah is the last great battleground for mama disputes, shall we say hi noon some monday? i got me a bike rack now, should be installed within the next week or so so shuttles wont be a drama..and i got enough suspension for both our mamas, sadly your cannon will as per be bouncing around the trail like a dog on velcro on a bouncy ball with a shmacko taped to his forehead.. oh piss i hijacked the thread again...