Hardtailhooligan

@Maxwood38: Source; my left pinky

@Noeserd: I hate myself for saying this, but as a shop nerd I have to. What brake pads are you running that cost you so much? Even the prince pads for carbon rim brakes $55(ish), sorry for the road reference in mtb land. The most expensive shimano, sram etc pad is roughly $35? Or I could be 1000% ignorant to life/costs in Turkey. If that’s the case I apologize whole heartedly. I’m hoping that’s the case or you’re getting ripped off for brake pads

As an Akron guy, me too lol

@FuzzyL: You’re missing the American answer here. It’s guns, just use more guns. Duh

@virtumedia: LMAO CAM MCWHO

This is a tough one with a lot of nuance. Honestly with solid ( maybe not great) sus, brakes and geo this bike really is a solid bike. Carbon at that price point, that’s truly not bad. Is it “entry level”? That’s a tough one, we typically consider entry level to be 500-1000 with tourney derailleurs, shit 700 wheels for a gravel bike with 29” slapped on it and those 45 dollar shimano hydraulic brakes (at least I do). I’d say these bikes, for many of us out here, meets what I think entry level should be. A bike that isn’t all out, but will preform well day in day out, let’s face reality 99.5% of us are so far from racing that getting a Strava top 10 feels like winning world cups. These bikes seem like they’d hit the niche of this level of riding well. Do I think this is anyone is buying this as their first mtb? I guess disposable incomes are a real thing for a few, or maybe your parents’ credit card. Truthfully my first mtb was a Raleigh I found on good old Craigslist for 50 bucks and a sick high five. I wouldn’t have it any other way, especially after spending thousands on bikes at this point.

It’s the trifecta of things Pinkbike commenters hate! How perfect! 1) Treks that aren’t sessions 2) E bikes 3) XC bikes You couldn’t do any better to get hated on if you tried!

@Vudu74: I have a few buddies that work at a local GT dealer and their bikes all hold up for them. That being said I can’t complain working for a Trek/Spesh/Pivot/Niner dealer either. I haven’t ridden everything under the sun so maybe I’m wrong, but at this point in time more money then ever is being put into these bikes. It’s literally the best time to be cyclist of any sort ever. It’s only gonna get better!

@mattj16: then what’s a bandaid