Trek 7.3 FX

Price Paid:  $475.00 at N. Divsion Bicycle

Favorite Ride:
everywhere

Bike Setup:
kick stand, bike computer, water bottle holder, seat post bike rack and a trunk bag. Just added clipless pedals. Will need to add lights soon.

Summary:
I was set to buy an entry-level road bike for exercise purpose. Tried Trek 1.2 and Giant Defy 3, but never liked the road bike stance. I came across FX on Trek website and love it on the first ride. My model is a 2008 leftover; therefore, the lower price

The FX works for my commute, a 6-mile each way city roads with a big hill. It flies down hill up to 35mph and handles uneven pavement just fine. On the climb up, it is light and agile.

It works for weekend country road ride splendidly. I rode 26 miles with a roadie friend last weekend. It is not as fast as a road bike, but very close. No problem with long distance riding.

Not tried off road yet, but would likely need wider tires. I was told changing them on this bike would be easy

Strengths:
Versatility with a road bike tilt.

Weaknesses:
The gear change could be smoother, and carbon forks would be nice. These are all available in higher end FX.

I don't have problem with the Frame, seat, tire or handle bar that other reviewers mentioned.

Similar Products Used:
Test rode Giant defy 3 and Trek 1.2

Price Paid:  $500.00 at LBS

Favorite Ride:
The Streets of San Francisco

Bike Setup:
Stock

Summary:
My Trek 7.3fx is bullet proof. The bike is a bit heavy (about 25 lbs +) but I believe there is no unnecessary weight.

The rims are solid, and I never feel as though I need to be overly concerned about potholes or riding in the dirt trails of the park.

I like the Shimano shifters (EF60) and derailleurs (Deore rear, M191 front), but I think the front derailleur is a bit weak. That's my only true complaint. Also, I have Ultegra on my road bike, and the Ultegra are a dream in comparison.

The bike is very responsive.

Strengths:
Solid and responsive

Weaknesses:
The front Shimano M191 derailleur is a bit flimsy and grinds sometimes when shifting

Price Paid:  $500.00 at Higear Bicycle Store

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Wabash Trace

Bike Setup:
Not much, just got it home a few hours ago.

Summary:
The 2009 Trek 7.3FX seems like its going to be a great bike (i just took it on a 11 mile initial ride after brining it home). I love the 700c tires and 110psi tires that come on it. The geometry feels very comfortable and the components are of good quality.
I was looking at a lot of road bikes before looking at the "speed" hybrids and just couldn’t justify the money and was nervous about the riding position with the type of riding I do. This is going to be a great compromise.

Strengths:
Wheels, tires & Frame and price (regulary $639 on sale for $499!)

Weaknesses:
Seat is pretty stiff although im hoping that it breaks in some. Grips have no cushin. Ill be replacing the Grips asap and see how it goes with the seat.

Similar Products Used:
GT Timberline MTB with 80psi smooth tires.

Price Paid:  $650.00 at Local bike shop in J

Model Year:
2006

Favorite Ride:
20 miles down to the coast through country roads

Bike Setup:
Replaced front crank from 3 to 2 geared Shimon RX100 SG 53/39 because I did not need the granny gears and prefer a lower candence when commuting. Recommended.

Higher seat post, sportier saddle, Cateye power opticube light (bright recommended).

Profile Design Century triathlonny areobars. I recommend fitting areo bars if you are planning to do road trips because the handle bars are wide and the riding position upright, which is good for commuiting in traffic but you catch a lot of wind.

Pedals with a flat side for commuting and a clip side so that I can wear bike shoes on my trip. Bike pedal-clipping bike shoes are great once you get used to them but dangerous at first (when you forget to unclip and come to a standstill and fall over).

Summary:
Great commuter/all-round durable hybrid bike which is fast and light enough to go on trips too. I use it for commuting and bike trips. On it I average more than 30Kmh on my 30Kmh trip to the coast.

Good all rounder, but after three years and a few thousand kilometers I have purchased a road bike for my trips and will use this Trek just for commuting, a job it does excellently. I work at a university and on this I can go easily twice as fast as the students on their shopper, step through bicycles.

Strengths:
Durable. Strong wheels with a full compliment of spokes (this was an important point since a lot of bikes seem to be cutting down on spokes).

The slick tires are big enough to take curbs and iron out bumps but can be pumped up to 5 bar so that they are really hard and only a small surface area touches the road when you want to go fast. Nothing much goes wrong with it except occasional gear tuning. I thik that the brakes work well (contra earlier reviewer). Only 12kg.

Weaknesses:
Nothing really for a bike of this type, but I think that I prefered my hybrid-converted "Giant OCR 2" which, despite the thin road-bike wheels, seemed to do the job (communiting and bike trips both) but was a bit lighter, and 200 dollars more expensive. For longer faster road trips, 12kg is quite a lot.

Similar Products Used:
Giant OCR 2 road bike convertered to have straight rather than the original drop handlebars.

Price Paid:  $540.00 at BICI Sport, Petaluma

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
TREK 7.3 FX

Bike Setup:
Commuter conversion of decent quality hybrid.

Summary:
Good value proposition, strong frame and wheels while keeping weight down.

I bought the bike specifically to commute to work with. I weigh 260 lbs, and wantd a bike that could take my weight while pounding over cobbles, curbs, RR tracks and Petaluma's abysmal streets. I've owned, and commuted, on two previous bikes, a 1974 Motobecane Grand Touring I bought in 1976 (a French bike, not that crap they sell now), and a Fisher Big Sur MB acquired new in 1995. I added fenders, rack and light kit to the FX, and have found it quite dependable. I ride 5 miles round trip 3 days a week, and go for a cruise occasionaly. The drive train and brakes have given no trouble and are most satisfactory. They have needed basic adjustment as they've broken in, cables slack taken up, set screws tweedled a little. Frame is strong and stiff, bike accelerates very well. For uphills I get out of the saddle, and if my mass and strength don't bend or break anything, then we're good. I like the guard on the chain wheel, it looks like it might be metal, is dense plastic, keeps my pant legs (I wear dockers to work) from picking up chain marks, or worse, getting caught up. Fenders and rack went on easily as there were tangs on the frame for them. I looked at everything from Schwins to Cannondales, and the 7.3 FX was the right value/quality choice. If it get stolen I wont' be heart broken, but is pleasure to commute on. Spending more money only got incremental gains in quality, weight and strength, and if one of the components DOES turn out to be too cheap to last, I'll replace it with an upgrade, and still be money ahead.

Strengths:
Strong light frame, good wheels/tires, good brakes, easily coverted from hybrid to full commuter garb. BICI is a great shop. The owner is up front most of the time and the mechanic knows what he is doing. I would have given it a 4+ in the rating if I could, but not quite the 5 of perfection. Flaws are very minor.

Weaknesses:
Bars a tad wide, could use more vertical adjustment for headset/bar height. Light skinny tires lack thorn resistance, but what'd I expect?

Similar Products Used:
Lifetime bike or motorcycle commuter, both urban and suburban environments. See bicycles described in summary.