Tested: Trek Remedy 9

Trek Remedy 9 // $4,730
920-478-4678, TREKBIKES.COM

Emerging from the Lance Armstrong era, Trek seems to be focused on mountain bikes more now than at any other point in its 32-year history. The company opened its own suspension laboratory in Southern California and is leaning heavily on test riders like Travis Brown and Andrew Shandro. The Remedy line is a gleaming example of that effort.

Trek designed the platform from the ground up, and the new bikes benefit from a slew of innovative features. First, the frame uses the ABP rear pivot, which Trek introduced on its Fuel EX model a year ago.

The design uses a pivot placed concentric to the rear axle to isolate brake and pedal forces from the rear suspension. It’s an elegant route-around to the Horst-link patent. Further, the shock mounts to the frame using a full-floating design— essentially, it bolts between the rocker link and the pivoting end of the chainstay. This creates a more complex compression curve that allows engineers to fine tune small-bump sensitivity while retaining big-hit absorption.

Finally, the bike’s “E2” headtube uses a fork with a steerer tube that tapers from 1.5-inches at its base to 1.125 at the top. This not only increases steering and chassis stiffness, but the fork also is lighter than many with conventional 1.125-inch steerer tubes.

The suspension is easy to set up, responsive to a wide range of bumps, and very good at filtering out rider input. The tapered headtube, as well as the formed downtube, create a stiff front triangle that offers superb steering and responsive handling on even the roughest trails. The suspension feels smoother the faster you go, making it a natural for all-mountain riding.

Although the bike weighs only about 30 pounds—light enough to climb all day—it truly shines while tearing down nasty rock-strewn descents. As for complaints, there aren’t many. The Fox 36 Float fork absorbs impacts as well as any single-crown fork, but it lacks the travel-adjust feature of its TALAS brother—something I would have appreciated on steep and technical climbs. The bike also came with a spindly XC stem, but that was easily replaced. The Bontrager Big Earl tires included on our test Remedy wore quickly, but some '08 Remedy's are also available with 2.35-inch Kenda Nevegals.

Anyone who doubts the Remedy’s versatility should consider the following: Ross Schnell rode one to victory at the Downieville Classic in mid-July and then Brandon Semenuk won the Crankworx Colorado slopestyle contest aboard one two weeks later. While most riders may not hammer like Schnell or send it like Semenuk, the Remedy 9 has proven that it’s capable of tackling any challenge thrown its way.

HIGHS: Light (for its travel class); stiff; great suspension performance; climbs well; descends even better

LOWS: Flimsy stem; tires wore fast; fork lacks travel adjustment

* Addendum - For 2009 Trek has gone on to fix a few of the nitpicks we had on the 2008 Remedy. Namely, the Fox 36 Float fork gets swapped to a TALAS RLC for better climbing. Additionally, the Juicy brakes gets swapped out for more powerful and adjustable Avid Elixir CRs. The '09 model also comes in a minimalist brushed aluminum finish instead of powdercoated white. Look for the new Remedy at a Trek dealer near you.