Trek Navigator 400

Price Paid:  $450.00 at Trek Dealer

Favorite Ride:
Trek Navigator 400

Summary:
I've found this bike to be very enjoyable to ride. The suspension seat post and front suspension allow me to go over curbs without the bike pounding me, or me pounding the bike (6'2" 220#) the upright riding position gives excellent visibility in traffic or touring. The Nexus 7 speed hub allows shifting several gears at once, even when stopped. The gear spread is about equal to a 10 speed. The rear brake will still work when wet. Good for mild off road exploring, or bridging gaps in bike paths. also a very clean looking bike, simple to use.

Strengths:
Comfortable,good looking bike.The shifter is a plus in traffic, so is the visibility.A hand brake that works when wet! A nice on or off road tourer.

Weaknesses:
Not geared for high speed riding.7th is slightly low, and gear splits are about 15% in all gears. Hard to go fast sitting upright anyway. Also not really a Mountain bike.No really low climbing gears and the handle bars are a little wide for tight trails. Don't know about durability of 7 speed hub yet.

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
A decent bike, but not living up to my expectations.

Strengths:
Comfortable

Weaknesses:
I bought this bike with the 7speed Nexus hub, because my prior bikes all had rear derailers which would freeze up in the winter. I ride year round and it gets wet, cold and icy in these parts. To my GREAT dissapointment, the Nexus hub freezes up worse than the derailer did! The grease they put in the hub thickens up to near cement at 32 degrees and the bike becomes a one-speed, stuck in the gear it froze up in. I would never buy it again.

Also, with the internal rear brake and the shifting gears in te hub, it makes it very difficult to chane a flat.