Trek Remedy 9 Race Shop Limited Review
The Remedy has undergone a major overhaul in the past twelve months in a bid to become an even more downhill-hungry beast. We’ve had the Trek Remedy 9 Race Shop Limited model on test with a spec that’s been tuned for potency. But are these guarantees that this bike can send it with the best of them?
For an overview of the test fleet head to the main article: SOOOOO F#%$&NG ENDURO: 11 Enduro Bikes under € 4,000 in Review
‘Race Shop Limited’ refers to the vamped-up spec on this particular Trek Remedy model, which includes 160 mm instead of 150 mm travel on the RockShox Lyrik fork and stronger Bontrager SE5 Team Issue tires than found on the rest of the Remedy line-up. Trek have considered the build spec wisely, and it all seems spot on aside from the limited 125 mm of drop on the Bontrager Drop Line dropper post. The fiery-red aluminium frame sports the same Straight Shot down tube, reputed to lend the frame increased stiffness, as the pricier carbon models. Trek have also included their Knock Block in the headset to eliminate any risk of the fork touching the now straight downtube – nice touch, but the limited rotation can be a hassle if you’re trying to load the bike into a car boot.
The Remedy’s handling is totally on par with the boldness of the paint job. This stems back to the long 453 mm reach and 16 mm drop of the bottom bracket. On steep and gnarly tracks, the Remedy is the ultimate cure for any confidence wobbles, as its slack 65° head angle lends itself to shredding hard. It’s a bike that’ll weave a great line down the toughest tracks with stoic ease, aided by the rear end’s supple and responsive 150 mm of travel.
With an unquestionably elevated performance for this 2017 model, the test crew were unanimous: this Remedy has a suspension setup that puts some of the longer-travel competition to shame. It’s a treat to corner and steers willingly and precisely, surfing effortlessly along tight trails.
Shorts Specialized Enduro
The Trek Remedy 9 Race Shop Limited in detail
Fork RockShox Lyrik RC Dual Position 160 mm
Shock RockShox Deluxe RT3 150 mm
Brakes SRAM GUIDE RS
Drivetrain SRAM X1
Seatpost Bontrager Drop Line 125 mm
Stem Bontrager Line 55 mm
Handlebar Bontrager Line 780 mm
Tires Bontrager SE4 Team Issue
Wheelset Bontrager Line Comp 30
Trek have had a long-running collaboration with Penske Racing when it comes to suspension technology. Together, they have created high-performance bump absorption without compromising pedal efficiency.
The Knock Block is designed to protect the downtube from the fork crown. It’s unnoticeable on the trails, but annoying when you’re trying to load the bike into the car boot.
The Bontrager Drop Line dropper post only comes with 125 mm of adjustment, so leggy riders might want to upgrade to a model with 150 mm.
The RockShox Lyrik is responsive and defined, which puts it at the top of the game alongside the FOX 36 Factory in this group test. We didn’t use the lower position during testing.
The geometry of the Trek Remedy 9 Race Shop Limited
| Size | XS | S | M | L | XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat Tube | 394 mm | 419 mm | 445 mm | 470 mm | 521 mm |
| Top Tube [A] | 551 mm | 581 mm | 600 mm | 616 mm | 645 mm |
| Head Angle [D] | 65 ° | 65 ° | 65 ° | 65 ° | 65 ° |
| Seat Angle [B] | 67.1 ° | 67.2 ° | 67.2 ° | 67.2 ° | 67.2 ° |
| Chainstays [C] | 435 mm | 435 mm | 435 mm | 435 mm | 435 mm |
| BB Drop [J] | 16 mm | 16 mm | 16 mm | 16 mm | 16 mm |
| Wheelbase [E] | 1136 mm | 1166 mm | 1185 mm | 1201 mm | 1231 mm |
| Reach [G] | 392 mm | 422 mm | 439 mm | 453 mm | 477 mm |
| Stack [H] | 591 mm | 591 mm | 596 mm | 601 mm | 614 mm |
| Wheel Size [F] | 27.5″ | 27.5″ | 27.5″ | 27.5″ | 27.5″ |
Conclusion
Tearing the trail up at high speeds or nailing those corners, the Trek Remedy 9 is the panacea for bike woes. A super-versatile bike that knows how to deliver a good time, it’s a bike for stamping on the gas. With a well-considered spec and good value for money, this is the buyer’s tip!
Strengths
– A killer on the corners
– Great at high speeds
– Looks super-cool
Weaknesses
– Only 125 mm drop on the seatpost
– Knock Block (better in theory than reality)
For more info head to: trekbikes.com
The test fleet
For an overview of the test fleet head to the main article: SOOOOO F#%$&NG ENDURO: 11 Enduro Bikes under € 4,000 in Review
All bikes in test: Bergamont ENCORE 9.0 | Canyon Strive CF 7.0 Race | Giant Reign 1.5 LTD | Merida ONE-SIXTY 5000 | Propain Tyee CF Free | Radon SWOOP 170 10.0 | Rose UNCLE JIMBO 3 | Specialized Enduro Comp 29 | VOTEC VE ELITE 2017 | YT CAPRA CF PRO