Remedy as aggressive AM bike?

[North]

Yo

Can anybody shed light on the how the pre-2012 remedy (2011) rides? I've been thinking about picking up a 160mm 26er for a while (Mojo HD, Reign X, Firebird, etc.) but a smoking deal on an '11 Remedy 9.8 just came along and I'm considering it. As a 'trail' bike, does the Remedy have more of a long travel XC-type ride, or more like a SuperD/Enduro-type ride?

I've currently have a Giant Anthem 29er that's set up for macho XC w/wide bars, short stem, spesh butcher tires, etc. Moving from the 29er HT I had previously to the Anthem pushed me to ride a lot faster, corner better, and generally ride downhill like less of a Nancy....but it's still an XC bike.

Now that I can corner, and ride fast, I'd like to try things in 26" land again and hopefully develop those skills and learn some new ones. Hesitation on the Remedy is that it will be too similar to the 'XC+' ride I've already got. I want the 26" bike to be on the other end of the spectrum. Thoughts?

[White Chocolate]

I am currently riding a 2010 remedy frame with a fox 36 160 talas on the front. It is a weapon around the PacNW where I live and ride. I have ridden it down some things that would still be challenging on my DH bike and made it out cleanly and smiling. It's still a fairly light bike, so if you are a bigger rider, slam into shit regularly, or drop to flat and call it rad I would consider something a bit stronger. I did snap my rear chainstay last year so they aren't indestructible...but I ride it like my DH bike so I wasn't surprised. Set it up with a short stem, wide bars, a worthy fork, and some minions and you will not be disappointed. Also, mine weights around 28 lbs and flies uphill still which makes it extra rad.

[chatton18]

I ride an 08 remedy and prefer it to 2010s since its angles are a bit slacker... works really well for me as a trail/light AM bike which is what I want since I also have a DH sled. I really like the suspension on the remedies - they'll serve you well, but the top tube is a little long and the headtube is a little steep for my liking on the 2010s. It'll definitely be more fun than your Anthem, but I wouldn't call it the ideal aggressive AM machine - its more on the trail side of AM rather than the FR side.

Some of the other bikes you've listed will be much better on the down in my opinion.

[White Chocolate]

The fox 36 with the low speed dampening fairly stiff on my 2010 frame seems to put the HA right at the ideal spot for me. 2010 was when trek started putting pussy forks on the remedy which messed up what the bike is capable of. Since he's buying a frame only that problem can be solved easily

[bfree]

I'm stoked on my '11 Remedy 9 with the 32 RLC fork. Better tires and wider bars are a necessity, and I put a reverb on too. It's quite capable on the downhill, but it does feel like a <30 lb bike. Put a 36 on and it'll be smoother on the downhill, but at that point maybe you should really be looking at a Slash instead.

I love the bike and would highly recommend one to most people, but it might be too close to what you already have. It feels a bit like a toy compared to an Enduro and a Mojo HD, both with 160mm 36s on them (though I've only spent a few minutes on each).

[North]

Thanks for the feedback!

It's still a fairly light bike, so if you are a bigger rider, slam into shit regularly, or drop to flat and call it rad I would consider something a bit stronger.

I'm pretty light (#165) and don't have the hucker/plower mentality by any means so not too concerned with a lighter duty steed. On the Whole Enchilada by the time we hit Porcupine Rim I was seeking out small drops (4ft? not flat) on the Anthem and it held up fine. Only time I've been worried about that frame was on a high speed G-out at 18 Road in Fruita. Anthem 29ers have had some cracking issues too, so I think I'll be OK on the Remedy from that standpoint.

The fox 36 with the low speed dampening fairly stiff on my 2010 frame seems to put the HA right at the ideal spot for me. 2010 was when trek started putting pussy forks on the remedy which messed up what the bike is capable of.

Did the geometry on the frame change after 2009, or did they just spec the smaller forks? I'm fairly certain I'd want to upgrade the fork (160mm 34?), and getting to a slacker head angle would be nice. Unofficial axle to crown heights are:

150mm 32 Talas = 520.9mm
160mm 34 Float = ~538mm

Seems like that swap could work out decently without bringing the front end up too much?

Put a 36 on and it'll be smoother on the downhill, but at that point maybe you should really be looking at a Slash instead.

It feels a bit like a toy compared to an Enduro and a Mojo HD, both with 160mm 36s on them (though I've only spent a few minutes on each).

I think that is the category of bike (Slash, Enduro) that would be ideal. Such a solid deal on this seriously pimped Remedy though. I'm thinking it may be worth trying, especially if tossing on a 160mm fork makes it pretty 'Slashy.'

[D(C)]

re: geometry, my gf has an 08 Trek Remedy, which came with a 160 mm Lyrik. Using my iPhone, I measured the head angle with the Lyrik (545 mm a to c) to be 67 degrees.

She was kind enough to trade me the Lyrik for a 150 mm Fox 32 (520 mm a to c). With the Fox 32, the 08 Remedy has a 68 degree head angle.

[chatton18]

Sounds like it could bump it so the 67*HA. If its a smoking deal pick it up and resell it if you don't like it. I'll admit price is usually the biggest factor in what I end up buying.

[North]

Thanks for that info D(C). Iphones FTW!

I still wasn't sure if the frame geo had changed on the 08 so I did some digging and found this sweet geo calculator and entered the '11 numbers:
http://bikegeo.muha.cc/

I had to enter the BB height in inches to get it to work, but it basically confirms what D(C) said. 67 deg with a 36 or Lyric, and 67.2 or something with the 34. Pretty cool tool if for nothing else than having all the axle-crown heights in one spot. Also nice for geeking out on geo #s and overthinking this stuff like I'm doing now!

Gotta assess the funds this weekend but think I may go for it. I can probably ride it for the summer and break even flipping it if it doesn't work out.



Edit: ETT is entered wrong in the jpg above. Doesn't affect HT angle calc though.

[JoshP]

You might be able to go one degree slacker with a Works Components headset. I put one on my Chameleon. It is awesome. Nice piece of kit.

I think a Remedy would be a ripping Enduro bike.

[300hp]

I have a 2008 remedy.

I've ridden it everywhere. Enduro races, at least 1000 miles of xc last year, at the chairlifts (in Michigan, though) and everything in between. It is the most versatile, fun bike I've had. I say that with some perspective, too, before the remedy I had a 2009 enduro with that wonky fork, a canfield balance, a prophet mx, a heckler, and something else in there too.

I went through all those bikes because I was either buying them too small, or something just wasn't right. The remedy shreds. That's why I kept it. The only reason I'm getting rid of the frame is because I've developed some back issues that are much better when I can stretch out a bit. If I put something goofy like a 100mm stem on it, I would be ok, but the bike just rides best set up like a mini dh rig with a 50-60mm stem.

I've run it coil, air, 130mm rear travel, 150mm rear travel, 160 front, 140 front, and most combinations in-between. I don't know what size you need, but seriously, it's a great bike.

H.

[North]

Thanks again for the input dudes. Picked up a 2011 9.8 w/full X0 2x10, Reverb, etc. this weekend. Stoked! Just need to throw the 160mm fork on there and I'll be all set!

[chatton18]

Nice - I'm sure you'll be stoked on it. As mentioned, lots of mods you can do on it but would add the angleset to the list as well. Now post up some carbon porn pics.