Submitted by Rick McClanahan - 4/19/2009 8:57:14 PM
Pros:
xcellent climber, no pedal bob, eats rocks and roots for appetizers
Cons:
stock tires are slick and easily punctured
stock grips are slippery when wet/mudded
Time Used:
Less Than A Month
Comments:
I wanted to reach out and not only tell the world about how great the bike is but tell you how great Trek the company treated me.
I bought a Klein Mantra pro and a Klein Adept race in 2002, each came with a lifetime frame warranty. I loved the adept so much that I resigned the mantra to be "the spare". The adept is fast and nimble, fit me like a glove. After years of faithful service, I bunny hopped a speed bump and when I landed, the rear triangle became unbonded. Apparently the rear triangle is simply bonded together by the bottom bracket and finally just gave way. Trek bought Klein out and thus took responsibility for the warranty. They did not have a klein rear triangle anywhere and offered to give me an ex-9 frame and up to me to transfer my existing adept parts over to it. The bad thing is the shock on the adept is 80mm travel and the new ex-9 frame requires 130mm travel and thus I needed to purchase a new fork, headset, seat post and front derailer to make it work. I complained about why I had to pay so much for a warranty replacement! In fact, I wanted them to just pay to repair the adept frame, I did NOT want an ex-9, I LOVE my adept! Jason Schumacher and Missy from Trek customer service got in touch and really really did me right! They sent me a brand new 2009 ex-8 in it''s entirety for my broken frame and even let me keep the adept (after cutting through the bottom bracket with a saw to be sure it was forever unusable - understandable).
This is customer service from a big box company that I just did not expect and am floored by it. I am so thankful I had Trek to deal with and will undoubtedly keep my business with them for future bikes. Kudos Jason and Missy, Trek understands customer service and customer loyalty!
Now for my experience with the Ex-8 they sent me. The bike felt good, a little squirrely maybe when I first got on it but it felt natural to me. I immediately noticed a difference before I got into the trail, pulled the front and powered over a small ditch, or atleast that was my intention. Suddently I was in a power wheelie at 40 degrees and drifting to the left! Wow, the power transfer was shocking! Ok, saved that and barrelled after some friends into an unfamiliar trail. I am again startled when I grab the brakes and over the bars I go! Sh*t! I have discs on my adept but these (maybe because they are new) grab instantly and seriously powerful, I did not mash them! Ok, picked myself up and curse myself for touching the front brake and I bolt after them. This bike is so fast I couldn''t believe it. Makes the adept feel like a truck. Instant power transfer, front end can be manhandled over anything. A very large long endurance hill with roots and gulleys, rocks and leaves stood in front of us not long after. I let them get ahead and when I saw them walking thier bikes up, I clipped in and threw the beans to it. Mid rings on both gears and I litterally BLEW by them. They yelled wait for us! I get to the top, huffing of course, and waited. A while later they showed up and wanted to know what crack I took at the bottom? Said it looked like someone pulled me up the climb and they had never seen anyone climb it with that speed! Maybe it''s me? or maybe it''s this trek ex-8, I am completely impressed. It handled everything I threw at it with ease and now I am growing accustomed to it''s new set of reponses and feel so thankful that the adept frame broke.
Buy it, you won''t regret it.
Rick
p.s. ok, 3 flats during the first outing, tires are thin. Tires are slick in the mud and leaves. I put in spin skins and will see if that helps or I''m going to panaracers. $20 tire replacements won''t bother me a bit. The grips were slick, I had no gloves on and once I dumped it and got mud on my hands, the grips were slippery. Bought $15 ouri grips and again, no complaints on the replacement cost
