Pinkbike Awards 2015: Mountain Bike of the Year Winner
Trek Remedy 29 9.9
What sort of attributes should the Mountain Bike of the Year winner possess? The champ obviously has to offer best-in-class performance, that much is a no-brainer, and it's something that all three candidates can lay claim to in one way or another. The pricey but spectacular Trek Remedy 29 9.9 makes other do-it-all bikes look like they'd be better described as do-it-all-so-so bikes; Cannondale's fun-loving Habit Carbon SE is among the best handling rigs out there; YT's impressively priced, carbon fiber Tues CF Comp downhill bike performs better than competition that costs much, much more.
Of those three, it's Trek's Remedy 29 9.9 that takes the win due to its otherworldly performance that, so long as you can get past its price tag, will make you wonder why you'd ever need separate cross-country, trail, and all-mountain bikes.
Trek Remedy 29 9.9
Given that it has a $8,799.99 USD price tag on it, the Remedy 29 9.9 better perform well. But it doesn't... it performs incredibly well, almost to the point where it's not fair to other bikes in the same travel bracket, not to mention shaming some shorter and longer travel machines when talking about areas where they should be able to easily beat the Remedy. The 140mm travel 9.9 weighs just 25.8lb, a number helped in no small part by its obviously lightweight frame and XX1 drivetrain, but don't forget about the dropper post and 140mm travel Pike RCT3 fork, components that say, "I may be light, but I'm ready to get rowdy if you are."
The Remedy 29 9.9 wins because it legitimately blurs the lines between categories - I'm trying really hard not to refer to it as a "quiver killer" but that is exactly what Trek has created. The bike ascends like a Saturn V rocket, but it's also the very same chassis that's won hairy stages at Enduro World Series events, making it an all-rounder that's worthy of putting on your list of dream bikes.
Of course, the 9.9's price is also a good reason that many of us will only be able to dream of it, but anyone lucky or hard working enough to throw a leg over the Remedy 29 9.9 will know exactly what why it's a worthy winner.
Of course, the 9.9's price is also a good reason that many of us will only be able to dream of it, but anyone lucky or hard working enough to throw a leg over the Remedy 29 9.9 will know exactly what why it's a worthy winner.
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sheesh what is wrong with all these mountain bikers disagreeing with a MOUNTAIN BIKE?
Trek makes fantastic bikes, and if you've ever ridden a Remedy, you wouldn't be surprised that it won.
For 2016 Trek, for some reason, decided to sell the 9.9 in frame only, I'm wondering why?
Now, if they'd said something like, "The Remedy 29 is an awesome frame design that anyone could build a bike around. Do it as a 30lbs SLX midrange and it shreds just as well as the rich boys XX1 overpriced weight weenie billboard!", then I'd be inclined to care.
Way too many good bikes out there to care about what components Trek has arbitrarily decided to sell to the highest bidder.
Whatever bike you've got and have had all those good times on through the year!
People spend way WAYYY more than that on cars that they couldn't go around a track with any faster than a lesser car.
And I was just about to bring my carbon-fibre, slope-style, eco-friendly mtb quiver to market! Thanks for nothing Trek!
I own an evil following and it was built up at half of this 9k price and weighs only 1.5lb more, and the thing just flat shreds. I'm sure the trek is good but for 9k i'm sure most bikes are pretty dang compotent. I'm happy the following and carbon patrol are getting a little more press on VitalMTB, I really think those smaller agressive trail bikes are the way of the future when people start to realize they don't need a full 160mm enduro bike for many of their home trails
I don't know who in their right mind would spend that kind of money on a showroom bike just so they can say they have the best of the best
If you want to dig into what you and I are selling, looks like you sold a size SMALL bike. Short insecure a*shole are you?
@bishopsmike - So you think that the guy who spent $50-100k on their Corvette/GTR/911/etc to commute to work is perfectly reasonable but spending 1/10th as much on a bike is ludicrous?
Seriously though, there are about 10 bikes, including this one, that I could see being picked as "bike of the year".
Why do haters seem to be the ones that know everything, yet never demo or actually know what their talking about? Its really not that hard to go demo bikes and if the haters took 2 minutes to realize that if it weren't for Trek, Specialized, Giant and other big brands, there would not be a bike industry. The big guys sell to all levels of riders, not just the ones that shred. Not to mention, they back up their products with warrantees. I won't mention what small company I had issues with, but I just needed some warrantee work done and they basically blew me off. I learned the hard way I guess. I work at a bike shop so that I can purchase bikes like this one and learn about all the amazing technologies the bike industry churns out. To be fair, I have access to Scott as well, but hands down the Trek full floater suspension is the cushiest and most forgiving platform that I have ever been on.
I really enjoy all of the bike reviews PB puts out and feel like the PB staff have ridden and reviewed a lot of bikes this last year. I don't think the award was called the "Cheapest Best Mountain Bike Award".
www.pinkbike.com/u/climbeze/album/2015-Trek-Remedy-99-29/?directtofirstphoto
Its a bike, that's expensive. The sky is falling........
It works really well, so much so a website named its the best they've ridden over the past year.
Get over it.
There are better bang for the buck bikes. There are better cost is not option bikes.
Why not something like one of the YT offerings. A company that took the industry by storm last year and provided bikes to many event podium standing athletes. A company that's offering something different to the industry.
Me personally... I can't figure out why the hell people think it totally makes sense to drop $10k on an MTB when you can get a nice dirt bike for less. That uses similar technology, more materials... and has a motor. Industries like MTB and ski/snowboard are just reaming people right now. Reminding me of oil companies. Hit them while they don't know they're being hit. Once the ruffies wear off we'll have to reduce the price until they forget what happened and we can ruffie them again.
Either way... tangent over. Weird selection for bike of the year.
That's one of the reasons a hand built super car costs so much more than a honda civic. One of many... but you get the point.
I understand what it takes to build a bike and I know how many are made. That doesn't completely devalue the principle behind the idea. Beyond that... I'm allowed to have an opinion.
MTB/Dirt bike is a natural comparison because they are the most similar from industry to industry. You're not going to compare a Trek to an air plane. And dollar to dollar they cost per unit to the end user is similar. You can get a $5500 product in both or spend a hell of a lot more.
But if you want to go there lets compare production numbers....
Trek makes around 1.5-1.6 million bikes a year. KTM makes 150k. If we're going to simplify this to the ideals of the economies of scale alone then Trek's production costs per unit are spread much much further.
But those numbers are skewed because a huge portion of Trek's bikes are of the sub $1200 variety.
So if you compared the 9's to a similarly priced KTM the numbers would flush out much less bias.
There is a lot that goes in to it.
And you can buy a top line mtb like this trek for $10k, yet you have lots of entry level bikes that will shred if your looking for the lower price.
Try to find a worthy moto bike that is $2k (I'm no expert but just looking on CL everything is $3k+ used) You guys are comparing the top tier "Bike of the year" mtb to an entry level or average moto. How much would a pro supercross moto sell for?
@Rubberelli I can agree with the direction you're going.
www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-news/statistics/motorcycle-sales-statistics.htm
I would bet WalMart sells more "mountain bikes" than that each day in the US.
My point being if they made very high quality bikes (maybe the equivalent of a $4k one) for $500 - $1,000, everyone would have one. Obviously, economy of scale could make this so, but it would have to be OEM spec (not separate component manufacturers) and models would have to stay unchanged for a few years to allow high production numbers.
@Rubberelli Im not sure what your talking about, maybe just your writing. But this was moto vs mtb and your talking about wal mart and how Wal mart should make a $4k bike for $500?
That's why I was saying a lot more goes in to final cost.
I was basically breaking everything down to the simplest form. Much much more goes in to it. Do I think that the mtb industry is out of it's mind with cost per unit. Yes. Is that going to change. Nope. Just gonna get worse. Just like the ski/snowbaord industry.
My main thing was that there are plenty of examples of companies selling $10k mtb's that are rad. What about companies that are selling just as nice of a bike for $2-3k less... companies like YT that are trying to do something different and get better bikes into the public as affordably as possible. Companies like that should be recognized in categories like this.
But, honestly... it was just a rant because I need a new bike and I can't afford one right now. LOL!
My norco still works just fine and I don't see the need to replace it for now, but I can see why the remedy get such good reviews. I think it was also bike of the year on Dirt, it's not just a marketing thing.
Its 'mountain bike of the year'. Not 'best value of the year' or 'best dh rig of the year' or even 'best bargin German rig of the year'.
By definition therefore, its the bike you can go mountain biking on and for most, thats slogging up a hill, ripping down it and at best doing small doubles slash drops.
If it was the cheaper version, it would not have won as it would be a heavier beast.
So in the end, will I buy one. Er no. Its costly as f&£k but as with all these things like dry trails, sunny days, clean off shore surf etc etc, more often than not, we are litterly confined to dreaming about it by going some where discreet and firing off the yoghurt cannon on the matter.
dirtmountainbike.com/reviews/trail-bike-year-trek-remedy-9-8-29#IWYYlHAxkwsY1mm5.97
Bike Magazine (bible of Bikes) also said it's one of the best ever...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjWMuSgRfaw
I'm just naming 12% of all bikes better than this thing.
The problem I see in PB's pick is that they should have chosen the 9.8 version to keep the price in line with the competition, not to mention Trek doesn't list this bike on their website for sale which makes this choice a bit pointless.
I had the same experience at a demo event: I didn't really think the carbon 29er would be a big deal, but I was really impressed. I went out and got one soon after.
If it is a bike design that only works at the top spec level then we need to know that.
It doesn't have the shortest chain stays, or some exotic new suspension design, or material, or bullshit "standard"....it's just a bike that f'ing works, and works damn well.
This is exactly what a mountain bike award should be. Give it to the best bike available, that also happens to offer the similar (if not identical) performance at a lower price point for the masses.
ALSO, talk about not looking for what your main readers/audience is looking for in a bike of the year...? That's like telling me the Pizza of the year is tofu sprouts on buckwheat crisps... I don't care if that's really the best pizza, I don't care if that really tastes better than any other pizza pie. I WANT thick crust and extra cheese, so that's what I'm gonna buy!!!
In the end, price shouldn't be a disqualifying factor, per se... it just feels too easy. The bike whose parts are all in the light+durable spectrum should probably be pretty mint. In the end it all comes down to what you consider "best". Something I (and what, 95% of this place?) will never ever get to use can't possibly be the best in my mind, but I can see why others don't think that's a factor.
In my opinion, it should have been YT. Awesome and totally affordable > Totally awesome and totally un-affordable.
*notice it says MTB bike of the year, not downhill bike, not enduro bike, not XC bike, but MTB bike and this bike probably crosses more MTB genres than your anchor of a EVIL ever will.......
I'm paraphrasing here but: "Expensive stuff you probably can't afford, really good though, you should try it if you have a friend with money"
Comment section:
-"Meh..."
-"This is an assault on the very spirit of mountain biking..."
-"How could they!?"
-"My bike is better..."
-"Actually this thing is pretty good if you guys would just give it a shot"
-"That was a stupid post"
I'm sure this is a great bike. Better be, but 90% Treks are shit bikes loaded up with with bontrager garbage.
I rode Trek bikes years ago, but would not even consider one today.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzz
I can completely understand why this bike won having riden a Fuel 9. They are insanely priced but they just effortlessly do everything well.
I can see how the slightly bigger remedy with 29" wheels would be a monster
No really, travel adjustable forks are shiny tits and shaved balls. New Geo Enlightenians can talk whatever they want about steeper seat angles and new bikes having good climbing geo, but nothing beats dropping your cockpit by 1,5" or so for a 1000ft + climb, especially when surface is bad, gradient is steep or both at the same time. Especially with latest short chainstay trend. I reckon that if you made the adjuster on the bottom of the lowers you could lower the whole air chamber as it is, using a threaded lower piston screwing into plastic threaded body, kind of upside down U-turn style thing. In this way there's nothing to get broken and there's no additional friction, no additonial servicing to be made, so your fork performs at its full potential when fully extended, which cannot be said about Talas or Dual Position Air. 50g more of unsprung mass maybe. It's worth it.
All the fox reps say the talas 36 is every bit as good as the float. Plus if you just dropped the air chamber then the fork would bottom very hard or the tire would buzz the crown
Also, the U-turn worked differently that just dropping the bottom of the spring; it changed the length of the spring so it still ramped up and had a smooth bottom out. Unless you drop the air chamber AND reduce the air volume it will bottom pretty hard.
I've actually been thinking about this for a while, and I think the best solution will eventually be an Oleo Strut variation for the damper. Think about the charger damper in my pike, but the inside of the pike surrounding the top of the damper is pressurized air. As the rubber expands to allow more oil, it pushes against the pressurized air, which acts as the spring, pushing back. Or think of older rear piggyback shocks where you could put air in the piggyback. When the shaft enters the body (hehe) it displaces the oil, which pushes an internal floating piston against compressed air, and the air acts as the spring.
With that method, the damper also acts as the spring, so only one leg needs internals. By using a twin chambered internally floating piston, or even your threaded idea, it would be trivial to make a travel adjust system (like the rear on Cannondales). The only tricky part is getting a good negative air chamber; either it would have to be filled from the bottom and the air travel up a channel inside the push rod, or do it the stupid way the old e160 Specialized forks did it (essentially a pre-pressurized, non adjustable negative chamber), or like the new fox 40s that have a titanium/steel negative spring.
Is it made of gold???
Iv got no beef with the result. It's mega bike money but rides like it's price tag so good times will be had for the lucky ones who can afford. It's not a value for money comp if it was it wouldn't even have been nominated.