Trek 7500 FX

Pros: Solid, Reliable, Light and Quick - for a reasonable price
Cons: None to speak of - small adjustments to suit my riding.

After 4 years on a Mongoose hard tail mountain bike, doing more commuting and packed trail riding than dirt, it was time to change platforms. I looked at road bikes, but ultimately decided my riding here in Norway was better suited to a hybrid. I...

Pros: Relatively light, comfortable, a good value for the money.
Cons: Just keep in mind it's not a mountain bike, it's not a road bike.

My bike is the 7500, with front suspension. My first new bike a few years ago was a Schwinn Moab- back when the Schwinns were still manufactured in the USA. I thought I was going to be really cool and do all the mountain bike stuff- about the most I ...

Pros: Light, fast, quality components.
Cons: More than most people would expect to spend on a bicycle.

My first real bike purchase as an adult was about 10 years ago, a Raleigh M30 entry-level mountain bike. After 10 years, I can admit that I don't ride mountains, and a hybrid is more suitable for the 30-50 mile bike rides I typically go on now. The ...

Pros: Comfortable position
Cons: Gearing isn't completely logical

First of all, the difference between the FX and the standard version is a different gearing ratio: the FX will ride faster than the standard. Second of all, I have the 2002 but epinions doesn’t have it listed. I wanted the fastest bike I could get with a...

Pros: Solid, reliable, maneuverable, luggable (light) and comfortable.
Cons: Size - if you are between their sizes, get something that fits better.

I'm trading up to the Trek 7700 after my 2002 Trek 7500 spokes, cables, etc rusted away (we live on a Fort Lauderdale area beach - my bad), but I am sad to say goodbye to it.

This is a durable, stable, very luggable (relatively light) and comfortable bike. It's closer to a road bike than a mountain bike, but it's no road bike. Still, I can easily do 30+ miles even after a season "off" when I've gained 10#.

I did not find it good in sand - narrow tires sink into loose sand and like a road bike they're tall enough so that they slide easily on sand-over-pavement. It's no mountain bike.

However, it handles very well on rails-to-trails (packed rail road gravel) and even through some grassy dike trails.

It shines in the city - very stable across bumps and along gutters when necessary.

Size may be a concern... I fall between the 20 and 22.5 inch sizes, and could never really stretch on the 20 I purchased. With the hybrid gearing (lower than road) I sometimes really wished for a road bike.

Pros: The bike has a solid, stable feel, and an impressive appearance.
Cons: Quick-release wheels are anything but, extremely hard to take on and off.

Perhaps my expectations were too high, I was replacing my 1995 Bianchi Advantage with a Trek that cost almost double but does not seem to represent much if any improvement overall. I've had a stubborn problem with some sort of scraping noise in the back wheel. After my one month tune-up the noise stopped for a couple of days then resumed. No amount of attempted brake adjustments can solve it. So at least after two months I'd have to say this bike has been a constant hassle and overall disappointment. I find myself often preferring to ride my wife's Del Sol LXI 7.2, which was a little over half the price of my Trek, but seems to perform better and has most all the same features, including a more user friendly gear shifting system. At a minimum I would say the Trek 7500 does not merit the $600 plus price tag.

Pros: Good components and light frame. Great shifting and overall well-assembled.
Cons: A little too road: would have liked slightly wider wheels.

This is for the 2004 model, 17.5" frame.

So far it's been a good bike, had it a few weeks now. Tires are small, definitely more road in it than mountain: it handled wet grass, slipped in sand, though. Otherwise rides very much like my old Trek hybrid. Upright posture: I can usually see over most cars and even SUVs, which is a big plus.

Components are fancy; time will tell if they are reliable. I like the shifting glad this model doesn't have Grip Shifters. Very light frame, most anyone will be able to carry it with one hand. Wheels are quick-release, seat is not. I had to remove the toe clips from pedals.

Overall I think I'll be happy with this bike for the 25 or so miles I'll be using it a week.