Trek Bikes Remedy 2014
Reviews / Enduro Bikes
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At A Glance
The Remedy has been in the line-up at Trek for some time now, billed as the ultimate technical trail bike it has undergone a few guises over the years. In 2013 it was a 150mm 26” wheeled machine that could eat up a lot more than one might expect. For 2014 the range has been split in two in order encompass two different wheel sizes. There is now a 29” version and also a 27.5” version, with 27.5” being very much in vogue at the moment we felt this was a good place to start with the Remedy range, we’ll be testing the 29” version later in the year
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Tech Heads
With the bigger wheels comes slightly less travel and this year the Remedy 27.5 features 140mm of travel front and rear. The 9.8 model is the only carbon framed version in the line-up, this is a departure from recent times when there were always a few different models with carbon frames. The top spec 9.9 is missing from the range this year, traditionally being a masterpiece of beauty and components with an outrageous price tag. Anyway back to the 9.8 and the bike we have here…
The frame utilises their OCLV Mountain Carbon with carbon seat stays and alloy chain stays, there is built-in carbon armour on the down tube to give the bike some added protection. An E2 tapered head tube rolls gracefully into the rest of the tubing, the bottom bracket uses the BB95 standard. Internal cable routing for the derailleur and dropper post gives the bike clean lines and there are ISCG 05 mounts for fitting chain devices. The EVO link is the traditional magnesium to save weight and there is a Mino Link to adjust the geometry too.
Front suspension duties are catered for with a Fox Performance Series 34 Float w/CTD (climb, trail descend), FIT damper, rebound, 15GR thru axle and 140mm of travel.
In the rear is a Fox Performance Series Float w/DRCV, CTD (climb, trail descend), damper, rebound, custom tuned to the frame by Trek in California.
Drivetrain duties are taken care of by Shimano with an all XT affair and 10-speed with an 11/36t cassette at the rear and a double 38/24 at the front. The brakes are Shimano XT hydraulic discs as well with 160mm rear and 180mm front spec.
Naturally, being a Trek, there is a healthy dose of Bontrager gear. The wheels are the Bontrager Rhythm Comp Tubeless with stacked lacing, 15mm front hub and 142x12mm rear. These are shod with Bontrager XR3 Team Issue tubeless-ready tyres with an aramid bead.
Bontrager Race X Lite Carbon low-riser handle bars are held in place with a Bontrager Rhythm Pro Stem, a Bontrager Evoke 3 titanium railed seat sits atop a RockShox Reverb Stealth seat post.
Trek Remedy 9.8
Low 18.5
High 18.5
Seat tube 445mm 445mm
Effective top tube 601mm 598mm
Head tube 105mm 105mm
Chain stay 435mm 435mm
Wheel base 1151mm 1149mm
BB height 338mm 346mm
Head angle 67.5° 68.1°
Seat angle 67.5° 68.1°
Reach 417mm 424mm
Stack 699mm 594mm
Weight w/o pedals 28.8lbs
On The Trail
Although the Remedy isn’t a newcomer to the Trek catalogue, the new 27.5 bike has been completely redesigned from the ground up to accommodate the new wheel size. The geometry has been tweaked and adjusted, not just to fit the wheels but also to get the most out of them. In addition modern riding styles and terrain have been considered to deliver a bike that should perform to the highest level available.
After taking some time to set the bike up properly, imperative with the DRCV shock to get the most out of the suspension, we headed of to some of our more familiar trails in the Surrey Hills. We’ve loved the Remedy for a while now and we were pleased to find that while it has undergone some major changes, there was still the familiar feel.
The Full Floater suspension set-up offers a stable platform for pedalling and the light-weight frame combines to give the Remedy an agility that will see you scampering up the climbs with gusto. The larger wheels of course make easy work of technical terrain too, offering plenty of grip when you need it and rolling over roots that we have perhaps struggled with in the past.
There is a very playful nature about the Remedy too, when you get it onto some flat twisty single track you can maximise the energy in the trail with the sorted suspension and the nimbleness of the bike. You’ll be flicking your way in and out of the trees with a stupid grin on your face that is usually only reserved for the village idiot…
Get the bike pointing downhill on some more challenging terrain and the true majesty for the Remedy becomes apparent, it is a very capable bike, especially if you rig the Mino Link to the Low setting you get a head angle that can cope with most things and a stability that inspires confidence. I was a little concerned that the 140mm of travel would soon feel out of its depth at speed over rough terrain, but I needn't have worried. While it isn’t as capable as the Slash, for instance, I never felt under-biked or overwhelmed.
Before I bestow too many superlatives on the Remedy I must take a look at the negatives, I was surprised at the list price for this top end bike, it’s actually really good value, in previous years the top-end Remedy has repeatedly pushed the £5000 GBP barrier and, if I recall correctly, went skyward of the £6000 GBP mark on one occasion. This year’s 9.8 model at £4300 GBP seems like positively good value then, however the XT spec, whilst perfectly capable, is hardly bling. For the money the Remedy is a great bike, but surely there is a 9.9 missing from the range draped in 1x11 and other expensive trinkets.
I’d also like to see a chain guide fitted as standard, bikes of this genre are aimed at aggressive riding, and while the clutch rear mech does a good job, it’s not perfect at keeping the chain in place…
Other than that it’s a great bike, and lets be realistic here, we just complained it wasn’t expensive enough, and in these austere times that seems frankly ridiculous. What you do get is a top-of-the-range Trek for a very good price with an excellent frame and fantastic trail feel. As capable uphill as it is down, it is sure to entertain you at every turn!
Buy Enduro Bikes onThis review was in Issue 28 of IMB.
For more information visit Trek BikesRelated
By Rou Chater
Rou Chater is the Publishing Editor of IMB Magazine; he’s a jack-of-all-trades and master of none, but his passion for bikes knows no bounds. His first mountain bike was a Trek 820, which he bought in 1990. It didn’t take him long to earn himself a trip to the hospital on it, and he’s never looked back since. These days he’s keeping it rubber side down, riding locally and overseas as much as possible.
