Upgrade advice wanted

peterwright

I could really so with some help..

I am a roadie but am starting to enjoy some MTB riding and certainly intend do do some races as competitively as I can.

I have a 1998 Trek 8500 hard tail that has always been a good bike but is a bit long in the tooth. I am considering upgrading to either a dual sus bike like a GT I drive (in my price bracket) or a newer hard tail. Alternatively I could just try and upgrade my current bike - the fork seems like the only area it is significantly behind the times as the frame is light and stiff and the XT/XTR mix is pretty good and solid.

My feeling is that the lightweight dual sus I really want is beyond my budget for now and that I should either get a newer HT or upgrade the Trek. If I upgrade the Trek then what should I change ? Or should I ditch it and get a GT Zaskar ?

Thanks

dw_moto

I was in the same boat. I have a 1997 Trek 8000 that has v-brakes and a Rock shox Judy T2 fork. I wanted to upgrade to a Giant Anthem 2 but finances got the better of me. So I am putting some Avid juciy 5 brakes, a thompson seatpost and stem, new rims and handlebars (havn't decided which yet) and possibly a new fork, though that may have to wait till later this year. I am almost spending as much as the bike original cost. I wouldnt't be doing that except the frame fits me perfectly.

I don't think I answered your question. Oh well.

peterwright

Thanks Moto

I have pretty much done the same thing - have added better bar and stem and just got hold of a SID team fork with lockout so will add that. My wheels, groupset and brakes are all pretty good - just V and not disc. Like you the frame fits me well and is both light and stiff so have upgraded for 20% of the price of a good S/H dual race bike.

davebee

possibly replace the front wheel and add a disk. possibly put a disk on the rear as well. (if the frame doesnt have disk mounts you can get an adaptor from diskbrakeadaptors.com i think)

triguy98

A new fork will breath life into any decent frame. A 'Zocchi Marathon would be reaaal nice. Forget discs, keep it light with some nice Avid Ultimates or something. Discs are nice, especailly if youre trying to stop 30 lbs+ of bike, but if you race, keep it light and simple.

__________________
'05 GF Cake DLX SRAM X-9, 'Zocchi MX Comp, Avid BB7
Trek Equinox 7: 105, all stock, all fast
'99 GT XCR5000: LX/XT, Avid SDs, Judy XC
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Life is short, ride hard. BONZAI!!!!

davebee

agree that a fork would make a big difference. But if I am racing I want to be able to have good stopping power - it really increases my confidence - and in my opinion that means a decent quality hydro disk

davebee

also forgot to ask. what fork do you have at the moment and what budget would you have for a new HT?

triguy98

Funny, my rim brakes have never failed to stop me. Not once. I can creep down some sick steep stuff or screech to a halt real quick. I have ridden discs and unless I'm riding some very long extended downhill sections, rim brakes work perfectly fine.

This assumes you have good quality brakes and pads (Avid SD7, SL, Ti, or Ultimates rock) and they are properly adjusted.

__________________
'05 GF Cake DLX SRAM X-9, 'Zocchi MX Comp, Avid BB7
Trek Equinox 7: 105, all stock, all fast
'99 GT XCR5000: LX/XT, Avid SDs, Judy XC
------------------------------------------------------
Life is short, ride hard. BONZAI!!!!