Strengths: Incredibly smooth ride, firm acceleration, and decent braking. Silky smooth shifting which needs little maintenance. Good looking frame.
Weaknesses: Still a little on the heavy side compared to the Madone series, but still a great value for the price. Ultegra brakes are average.
Bottom Line:
Great upgrade from my previous aluminum frame bike with down tube shifters. The bike rides very smoothly, pedaling is very efficient and there's no noticeable frame flex during hard sprints. It's a good step up from the Trek 1000/1500 level. Good for riders with a few years of experience.
Bike Setup: Ultegra Flight Deck shifters, Ultegra front and rear derailleurs, crank, rear cassette, and brakes. Cane Creek S2 headset. Look Keo Carbon pedals. Bontrager Race Lite wheelset, Race XXX lite tires
Strengths: Fast, fast, fast.
Comfortable, fits me like a glove.
Weaknesses: Old :) (not exactly a weakness)
A little on the heavy side compared to newer bikes, it's fine with me though.
Bottom Line:
My Trek5200/DuraAce is extremely fast and comfortable.
On downhill I often relax while passing by other bikers with fancier/newer bikes that push hard to keep up.
DuraAce is incredibly reliable.
Great bike!
I am now approaching 13,000 miles on this bike and all I can say is what a great ride it is. I built it up from the components below I'm retired and comfort is important to me. This bike delivers comfort and performance! Seriously consider the compact crankset for your retirement gift. You'll never regret it.
Strengths: Stiffness, absorbs road bums nicely, and colors, a few people have mentioned that the bike looks very nice.
Weaknesses: Like most, the flex at the bottom bracket is very minimal compared to aluminum frames, and almost not noticible. I would assume that it has been fix in the new Madone models as the down tube at the bracket is much larger.
Bottom Line:
This review is for the 2004 blue team version frame only. I got this frame as an upgrade from my current Trek 1000. It is my first carbon fiber frame and it was a huge improvement from the aluminum. The bike is stiff and absorbs road bumps very nicely. Although the frame was already used with some miles on it, after one year of riding it, the ride still feels very smooth. Some people have mentioned some flex at the bottom bracket area, which there is, but not as bad as the aluminum. One thing I did notice after riding both bikes was how stiff it was at the head tube.
Weaknesses: Some minor derailer noise on a couple of gears. Probably just needs a tune up.
Bottom Line:
I recently decided to take up road biking instead of mountain biking. I checked craigslist several times a day until I found the one I wanted. I am glad I was persistent because this Trek USPS bike is amazing. I never had ultegra components until now, and that are a dream. It shifts are quick and precise. It not only climbs like a dream, it descends like a race car. I have hit nearly 50 mph on one big hill. It handles as well as it rides. I am working on a century ride later this fall and I am glad I have the perfect bike for it. And I got a sweet deal. Price also incoludes gloves, shoes and camelback
So we just bought my wife a new to her 2000 Trek 5200. The bike is in decent shape and the price was right. One of her complaints is that she is to hunched over. In looking at the Read More »
Has about 10k miles, but never wrecked and pristine. My current bike is a 2010 Trek 1.2 and I really want to get into something with some more durable components (This has full Ul Read More »
Has about 10k miles, but never wrecked and pristine. My current bike is a 2010 Trek 1.2 and I really want to get into something with some more durable components (This has full Ult Read More »
Has about 10k miles, but never wrecked and pristine. My current bike is a 2010 Trek 1.2 and I really want to get into something with some more durable components (This has full Ult Read More »
I just got myself a used 2006 Trek 5200 frame and am looking to make it my winter project to build up into a complete bike. I would like recommendations for components, wheels, e Read More »
