dome

There was a granny gear problem for a while but it's down to a couple of things

1. Some had the wrong axle length on the BB's, this should be sorted now.

2. The chainsets on the basic ones are ****


Other than that no, the specs are pretty good for the money, frames are very well made, have a lifetime guarantee and good paint.

If you get the chance try a Sugar though as I preferred them, slightly "racier" riding position. My personal favourite was the Klein Adept's, a bit more cash but the same suspension system and absolutely gorgeous super stiff frames.

[Edited by dome - 9/2/2003 4:40:00 PM]

Plums!

looking at either a trek fuel 98 2003
or a scott strike team 2003

Anybody had any experience with these bikes?

Cheers,

Plums.

davegtt

cant go wrong with a scott, have a look at the GT bikes. very good IMO.

Luke

What type of riding will you be doing?????

For the same money you could get a much better bike.

Plums!

Cross country racing/ endurance racing.

usualy around 50-70 kms 2500m+ positive climbing over the race.

Both bikes retail around £2200

I can get either for £1400!

Cheers
Plums.

unclebuck

Best time of year to buy, loads of end of season bargins. Sounds like your in the right location for it too

BTW - have you considered a Specialized S-Works FSR with the BRAIN shock technology?

UB

[Edited by unclebuck - 9/2/2003 10:56:56 AM]

Plums!

I have condsidered it but I wasn't too impressed....

A sure sign of a good xc race bike is how many of that model there is in a race.... I haven't seen too many on the podium?

Cheers,

Plums.

unclebuck

Well, quote -

"Riding for Specialized in 2003 is current World Cup Champion, Filip Meirhaeghe (BEL). After finding his form alongside Mario Cipollini in select spring classics, Filip's focus will be to retain the #1 World Cup MTB ranking and to win the MTB World Championships in Lugano, Switzerland (Aug 31 - Sep 9, 2003)"

I think you might see one soon enough, especially if you go

UB

Plums!

Thanks Uncle Buck!
You might be right....

Only time will tell!

He is the World Champ so if he doesn't do well we all know why!

Cheers

Plums...

dome

I used to be a mechanic in a Trek Dealership. Fuels(and the sister bikes the Gary Fisher Sugars) are lovely bikes to ride but there can be issues with the longevity of the bushings. Basically they are fine until things come the tiniest bit loose and then they can destroy the bushings in minutes before you know it. I've seen a couple(Endurance bikes too) where the actual pivots on the frame itself has been ovalised and a new frame was required(under warranty). The I dare say the Scott's aren't perfect either.

Don't let that put you off, as long as you check the bolts are tight and DON'T OIL THE PIVOTS(they are teflon coated and desined to run dry, oil makes them expand and die horribly) you'll be fine.

They did win the world cup a few times...

Plums!

Cheers Dome,

That's good sound advice!
So no real faults with the treks apart from that?

I did hear that they like to drop into the granny gear out of the blue was this sorted out?

Cheers

Plums.

Plums!

Cheers Dome!

What do you think of the carbon fiber frames from trek...

This years 98 fuel has the same carbon frame as the 100...
any comments?

Thanks again for all the insider info!

Plums.

P.S. Yeah the sugar is also a great bike I wasn't to sure about the cane creek rear shock though? Kleins are a piece of art!

dome

Carbon Frames are lovely(and have the same lifetime guarantee), not really had a chance to ride one properly off road though so can't comment on that.

I _think_ the old 98 and 100 used the same frame too and the only difference was components.

If I was looking at endurance I'd strongly reccomend a bike with disks, it's a bit more weight but you'd be surprised how quickly a set of V's will eat pads, especially if it's muddy.

Cane Creek shocks aren't a patch on Fox, think of it as the first upgrade if you went the sugar route. Fisher stuck with them only cos they sponsored their race team.

I remember trying the Klein Adept Pro(3k to you sir...) on a demo weekend and was absolutely smitten with it, the best climbing bike I've ever ridden.





[Edited by dome - 9/2/2003 7:25:35 PM]

ADP

I used to ride for Scott, rode pretty much every bike they made, the carbon mtbs are fantastic, oh and they are based in Switzerland too (I seem to remember)

Vicky

I have owned a GT myself and thought they were great when i used to go mountain biking, although i have used a scott and also found them very good.

Luke

Carbon........... great if you can get a new bike when you need it.

But if you get a beep scratch in the frame...I wouldnt want t to ride it!!

Titanium or top spec alu gets my vote (Merlin + Intense)

Plums!

Thanks for all the replies....

big thanks to Dome....!

Cheers Vicky GT's also nice but it's still between the scott and the trek
Still no closer to a decision any scott riders out there?

Cheers,
Plums.