Is this a good deal?

[MRS HORSEPOWER]

OK, So I have been thinking about cutting back on BMX racing due to a back Injury (I go in to my Back doc tomorrow for possable epidural steriod shot in my back :( ) And Was thinking about trying to Race Mountain bikes, I was looking to purchase one that I wouldn't need to worry about upgrading stuff in the future and our Local Bike store Has a 2008 Trek 8000 "Mens" In my size that they would sell for $1,100 as its a small and last years model (Retailed $1,800) they said they are having a hard time selling it.
I also sat on a WSD trek and I really liked the fit they said they would change the stem and whatnot to get it to fit more WSD.
Is this bike any good? any downfalls of it? Is this a good price?
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i143/mrshorseplay/trek.jpg

Thanks for any input, Tina :D

[Running Mommy]

what are the specs on this bike? 1800.00 last year for a hard tail is a lot of clams. The fork looks to be marzocchi or rock shox no?? I would want fox, esp. on a bike that spendy. Sure it's only 1100.00 now, but it was 1800, so I'm curious. I'm not a fan of rock shox. We have had more than a few warrantys with them.
Trek makes a solid bike. I don't like some of the proprietory things they do- like require their own valve stem when you want to go tubeless. But they are good bikes.
I'm assuming this is an xt bike?

[kermit]

You have a back injury now. Have you considered full-suspension? Speaking from experience (back injuries that is), there is a HUGE difference in ride between the two. I started with a trek 4300, hardtail. Great starter bike, rode mostly rocky roads. Took it to the trail and it beat me up. My husband was mountain biking and after one ride on his full-suspension, that was it. You attack rocks and roots instead of get beat up. Thats alot for a hardtail, XT are great components but...I'd keep looking.

[Irulan]

what are the specs on this bike? 1800.00 last year for a hard tail is a lot of clams. The fork looks to be marzocchi or rock shox no?? I would want fox, esp. on a bike that spendy. Sure it's only 1100.00 now, but it was 1800, so I'm curious. I'm not a fan of rock shox. We have had more than a few warrantys with them.
Trek makes a solid bike. I don't like some of the proprietory things they do- like require their own valve stem when you want to go tubeless. But they are good bikes.
I'm assuming this is an xt bike?


bikipedia:



2008 Trek 8000
Bicycle Type Mountain bike, front suspension
Sugg Retail $1,759.99
Weight Unspecified
Sizes 15.5", 17.5", 19.5", 21.5"
Colors Satin Silver/ Satin Blue

Frame & Fork
Frame Construction TIG-welded
Frame Tubing Material Alpha Red Aluminum
Fork Brand & Model RockShox Reba SL, 100mm travel
Fork Material Aluminum/magnesium, single crown
Rear Shock Not applicable

Components
Component Group Mountain Mix
Brakeset Avid Juicy 5 Hydraulic w/185mm Rotor front/Avid Juicy 5 Hydraulic w/160mm Rotor rear brakes, Avid Juicy 5 levers
Shift Levers Shimano LX Rapid Fire
Front Derailleur Shimano LX
Rear Derailleur Shimano XT Shadow
Crankset Shimano Deore XT, 22/32/44 teeth
Pedals Not applicable
Bottom Bracket Unspecified
BB Shell Width Unspecified
Rear Cogs 9-speed, 11 - 32 teeth
Chain Unspecified
Seatpost Bontrager Race Lite
Saddle Bontrager Race
Handlebar Bontrager Race
Handlebar Extensions Not included
Handlebar Stem Bontrager Race
Headset Aheadset Slimstak

Wheels
Hubs Bontrager Race
Rims Bontrager Race
Tires Front: 26 x 2.20" Bontrager Jones XR, Rear: 26 x 2.25" Bontrager Jones XR
Spoke Brand Unspecified
Spoke Nipples Unspecified

[Irulan]

That is an awesome price BUT I would be careful about the whole, "we'll tweak it to make it fit you" thing. It is true, that sometimes a minor switch out is all ya need, but some shops will do anything to shoe horn some gals into bike they shouldn't be on.

How does the bike currently feel? I'm not familiar with how the Treks vary in their WSD to unisex comparison. Usually, WSD has a shorter top tube but not always. Stem changes can sometimes affect how your steering feels.

All that, and that is a freaking awesome deal. (40% off) If it feels good, I'd snatch it up in a heart beat.

[MRS HORSEPOWER]

WOW, Thanks for all the input!!! Irulan, Thanks for postng up the specs!
So Rock shox are no good? good to know.
Not opposed to a full suspension bike, I'm taking whatever advice I can get. I race BMX now and thats ZERO suspension so My body will be in shock with just a front suspension...lol!!!And my back does find just riding anything it was the falling hard to the ground after crashing that beat me up: heres a video of said crash that did me in I'm in the lead in the blue and white: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0S_53AuGTw

The guys at the bike shop are really good I have known the one that was going over everything with me for awhile and there was no pressure to buy..He said That this Bike had really good "parts" on it meaning Shimano over SRAM I think thats what he said???... :confused: When I hopped on the Trek WSD bike It felt like the top tube was shorter and he said that the tweaks they could make to this bike would be to put a shorter stem on it and less wider bars to bring it to a more womens specific feel.

Keep the info coming ...Thanks again!!:D

[Irulan]

Rx Shx aren't necessarily "no good"; They are "ok".

Shimamo over SRAM is totally a personal preference thing - they both make good stuff and people tend to get all worked up about their favorite.

As for the whole WSD thing...(I don't want to sound condescending here) do you know what it is, isn't? Primarily it is a geometry things, for "typical" female proportions that would be long legs with short torso. Many women ride men's bikes just fine ( I have three mens, one wsd mountain bike) Overall fit is most important - stem should be tweaked for best fit, not just to make it wsd. Unless of course shorted top tube feels better. I just freak out about this stuff, I know too many people on the wrong frames that some well meaning shop has tried to make fit with a stem change, when really the bike is overall the wrong size.

The thinking on handlebars is changing too - wider can be more stable.

Sounds like you have a good shop you are working with.

[MRS HORSEPOWER]

I see, hmmmm lets see the bike is the: 15.5
I am 5' 3" I wear a 30" length pant so I'm guessing My inseam is 29" does that help anything?..lol :confused:
When I race BMX (which is completely different than MTB) I tend to run a shorter top tube with a more up right position....
how do you figure out what size to get? or is just ride one and see how you feel on it?
I went through that before, 3 frames before I found My perfect BMX bike :eek:
Thanks for the help

[DirtDiva]

Well, I'd ride that bike, and I'm the same height with a similar inseam measurement. :) Of course, what I like might not be what you like. :p That bike is definitely a good place to start and the price is definitely good for that spec. It looks good too. :rolleyes:

WRT the Rockshox/Fox thing: it's more that Rockshox provide a range of forks to suit a range of budgets, where as Fox pretty much just makes the top of the line ones to suit larger budgets. The REBA on that bike is the second to top of the range of about 5 that could have been specced on a hardtail like that one, and you'd not be likely to find a SID (the top of the range XC race fork) on anything other than a dedicated race bike costing megabucks.

[MRS HORSEPOWER]

Thanks Dirt Diva, I like how explained you the forks.

[emily_in_nc]

Do you have any idea of the virtual top tube length? I ride a Unisex Titus Racer X in size XS, which I believe is a 15" so probably not much smaller than the Trek you're considering. I am about 5'1-1/2" with a 28.5" inseam, and the bike fits me great. I have always ridden WSD road bikes as mens bikes have too long a top tube for me. The Titus has a short top tube so is WSDish in geometry, despite being "unisex"; I didn't even have to change out the 10 cm stem!j

That Trek is a beautiful bike! If it fits you, I'd say go for it!

[Running Mommy]

again, just my .02, but I think you could do better. My husband and housemate both avid mtn bikers and think it's not worth it- at all. As my hubby said "there is prolly a good reason it's still there.."

I do think the bike is beautiful, but I just hate to see you spend so much money when there are so many other bikes out there.
OTH- it's your cash, so spend as you please. I just warn because I've gotten caught in the bike lust trap before- and had my judgement clouded.

As for the rockshox warranty thing... It was the Tora that we had a lot of trouble with, not the Reba, so should be good there.

[DirtDiva]

Do you have any idea of the virtual top tube length?
According to Trek's website, it has an effective TT length of 55.5cm/21.9inches.

The spec of this bike is the same as the 2009 bike. The only components that have undergone significant development in the interim are the shifters and front mech; Shimano replaced the LX groupset with the SLX groupset in the mtb world (I believe LX has been redeveloped for touring bikes). If I were tossing up between the '08 bike and the '09 bike I would certainly go for the '08 and save some $$.

Are there any other bikes you are considering? Try and ride a few, for real on dirt if possible. :)

[Irulan]

It's not uncommon for the less common sizes, (mens small and xtra large) to be leftover. Frankly, 40 % off is a heck of a deal, and if the bike fits I honestly don't know how someone could do better on a new bike?

[Biciclista]

again, just my .02, but I think you could do better. My husband and housemate both avid mtn bikers and think it's not worth it- at all. As my hubby said "there is prolly a good reason it's still there.."

I do think the bike is beautiful, but I just hate to see you spend so much money when there are so many other bikes out there.
OTH- it's your cash, so spend as you please. I just warn because I've gotten caught in the bike lust trap before- and had my judgement clouded.

As for the rockshox warranty thing... It was the Tora that we had a lot of trouble with, not the Reba, so should be good there.

I am a little confused, others have said it's a good price, and you're saying it's not worth it at all. Would you mind explaining why? I know that you probably know a lot more about this stuff than most of us do and it would be very educational for the rest of us to understand. Thanks so much.

[Cataboo]

again, just my .02, but I think you could do better. My husband and housemate both avid mtn bikers and think it's not worth it- at all. As my hubby said "there is prolly a good reason it's still there.."

I do think the bike is beautiful, but I just hate to see you spend so much money when there are so many other bikes out there.
OTH- it's your cash, so spend as you please. I just warn because I've gotten caught in the bike lust trap before- and had my judgement clouded.

As for the rockshox warranty thing... It was the Tora that we had a lot of trouble with, not the Reba, so should be good there.


What alternate bike at what price point would you recommend?

[fidlfreek]

I know nothing about MTB, just road, but I know for SURE that weird sizes are often leftover.

Imagine, they're looking to sell a $1800 bike to a man thats 5'1-5'4? Really? So, a kid basically. How many kids have rents that drop that much on a hardtail? Maybe it was a special order that went bad or something.

So that explains it. Well, except when you look at the Titus XS that was offered in the For Sale section of TE a while back. That was a spendy bike for a kid as explained and examined at length by our awesome community.

[Irulan]

It's not unusual at all for women to purchase small men's mountain bikes. I myself own three men's small mountain bikes. I routinely see small and XL frames at the end of the season. It's just like buying shoes - the mid sizes go first and then the 5's and 11's are the ones that are left over.

[MRS HORSEPOWER]

Again Thanks for all the input!! This is great :D
The guys at the store said that Because it is small and it is MEN's thats why its still there. I will def. ride a few bikes to get a feel for them and see how that goes. If this bike is still there it was meant to be. I had my Epidural injection in my L4-L5 Monday and I fainted in the shower yesterday and was in the ER all day, Everything checked out just said I was Dehydrated (couldn't drink for 4 hours prior to shot) stressed, to hot in the shower bent down and stood up bad combo, I never fainted ever in my life so this was freaky cut my leg , scratched up my back, bruised mt hip (again) and got a good egg on my head..but said Im ok..they are Having me get another MRI on my back again to make sure this fall didnt do more damage than my previous ones..Man I just want to freaking ride a BIKE! UG!
sorry for the rant, again thanks for the replies!

[Pedalhead]

My husband made the transition from BMX to mountain biking 5 years ago (also because of injuries) and has never regretted it. Although he misses some of the people, we have made some great friends through the Wisconsin race series.

I raced my first races last year, and am looking forward to this season. First race is in 2 weeks - Iola here we come!

Wishing you a speedy recovery, and hope to see you at the races!

[Miranda]

Gheez... hope you are OK after your shower mishap!:eek:

OK, first of all... go to WallyWorld GF and get yourself a cheap folding chair and rubber mat for that shower. In case you are every loopy again, don't want to bend your back to lean over to shave legs, etc. I have one in my bathroom I use time to time. I just put a towel over the chair and let it get wet. The terry material actually aids like a gripper and keeps me seated on the chair (read less distance to fall over seated vs standing).

On the the back... and your avatar... I SO heard ya sista. I'm 40yo... my bod decided to fall out about age 30 after I had kids. Bleah. I have multi-level degerative disk disease for one thing. Yea... isn't all that back doc, MRI stuff a real trip? Gheez. With that in mind...

I know you don't *want* to hear this, but take heed to the comment on bikes/activity easy on the back. I have forced myself to adjust my stuff due to this. One crash, use of back-unfriendly gear, etc. results in a long time of PT and not being able to "play" at ALL. Which is even worse than adjusting.

The bike in question TT length... is the mens version going to make you too stretched out and stress your back more? I own a hardtrail Trek WSD 4500 for my mtb. It's a 15/16" and effective TT of 53cm I think. I know 2cm doesn't sound like much... but it can become noticeable after riding a while. I am in the process of getting a new road ride due to my frame being too big. Yes, you can "tweek" stuff on bikes... but cutting length out of the TT is not a tweek. Personally financially painfully aware of this reality.

Just some more thoughts if you have not already bought your bike. Either way, good luck on the riding, back health, and shopping! :)

EDIT ADD: Another thought... is there any cheaper version of hard trail you could borrow from someone, or buy used, to try it out and see how the back likes it? Before spending over $1K. Then you would have a better idea if in general hardtrail would work for you or not... without dropping that much cash.

[MRS HORSEPOWER]

Thanks again for all the input, man I love this site! OK So After my Shower "wipe-out" I got another MRI turns out my l4-l5 actually looks better but my L5-S1 Is bulging so Last Friday I got another epidural steriod shot and so far so good...seems to be working :-) I can have 1 more shot but I'm gonna wait till after my first race back to see if my back acts up.
I still havent purchased a MTB but I like the whole top tube theory as I went through that with my BMX bike, I need shorter ones, for sure.
Thanks again, Tina :)