Trek 4300 Disc > Reviews > IDEAL FOR LIGHT RECREATION, ROAD USE

Author's product rating:   

Value for money	Good
Durability	OK
How does it compare to similar products?	Good

Advantages:	Good price, Good looking frame, Smooth disc brakes
Disadvantages:	Front Suspension Fork is very poor, esp for off road use

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

TREK 4300 DISC

I bought this bike around 4 months ago, in this period it has done 700 miles without so much as breaking down on me, that being said I only use for commuting to work, even though the cycle is classed as a mountain bike, if used off road it would be in need of repair within a couple of hours heavy use<I use a specialized stumpjumper for off road use> the 4300 is a really good bike for someone who is just getting back into cycling/exercising and does,nt want to buy a \"road bike\", I got my 4300 for £400 off the internet with free delivery, there are so many websites out there, so spend a few hours shopping around, you ll def get the deal your looking for, also in the winter months most bike shops online sell last years bike at knockdown prices, prob best time is jan, feb when only the select few are still bombing about/cycling to work when everyone else sees sense!

Right down to the specs of the bike, here they are

Frame: Trek Alpha SL aluminium

Forks: RST Gila T7 80mm travel with adjustable preload

Gears: Shimano FD-C050 front and Shimano Alivio rear derailleurs

Shifters: Shimano EF50

Chainset: SR CW7-XCT-T102 with 42s/34s/24s tooth chainrings

Brakes: Tektro 845AL

Wheels: Bontrager Camino rims built on Joytech front and Shimano RM60-8 rear hubs

Bontrager Connection Trail

Handlebars: Bontrager Crowbar Sport

Stem: Bontrager Sport 25d

Saddle: Bontrager Select ATB

Seatpost: Bontrager Sport mm

The only real downfall of the 4300 is the front suspension forks, these are of poor quality, if used in only moderate off road, its destined to break, I checked out forums before I purchased the bike, there were people who bought the bike after being away from mountaining biking for a long time, thinking they could hammer this offroad, no chance............

Everything else on the Trek is of good standard within this price range, it has a nice looking sliver/black frame, no fancy colours which I think looks silly on most bikes, the mechanical disc brakes are really smooth and easy to ajust, I ve had no problems in the time I ve had the bike, the only thing I changed right away on the bike was the pedals, I use click in pedals which require shoes, It adds to the smoothness of road use.

If you really like the bike and are tending to use offroad quite a look, you ll need to change the front fork on purchase<get the trek dealer to do, its easier> the fork does not have enough travel and will break on even the smallest drops.

Bike sizes come in 13, 16, 18, 19.5, 21" in the mens sizes and 16" & 18" in the womans size.

Although I would say the bike is a bit on the heavy side<im used to lighter frames> I cannot fault it, if after a starter bike and reading this review, you prob have around 5 bikes in your head your mulling over, if its many road use/recreation your after, get round to your local trek dealer or search online, GET OUT THERE!!!!!!!!