trek superfly 26 review

trek superfly 26 review

  • ALL MOUNTAIN
  • ACCESSORIES
  • ALL (130 Forums)
  • WHEELS & TIRES

Trek Superfly 29er Hardtail

trek superfly 26 review

Superfly is THE choice for the aficionado seeking the fastest, most advanced, best 29er out there.

  • USER REVIEWS

Great geometry. Fast, fun and flickable. Good component spec's on the 2014 version. Bontrager components are surprisingly good. Very sensible overall component specs. Love the blue and white.

White seat on a mountain bike? Who's idea was that? Grips are a little firm.

Really great bike. I test rode Cannondales, Spec's, Jamis and a number of others. I loved the ride and handling of this bike. The slacker front geometry takes out the twitchyness I noticed with several bikes. Decent bottom bracket height and good overall proportions. I just could not believe how fast I was on this bike.

Light and fast

Wheels shipped with the bike we're defective needed to be replace after 2nd ride, Trek has yet to reply, frame / seat post also have an issue remaining secure dangerous. Again Trek has yet to reply, seems they have numerous defects with Superfly... I in the market for a new bike not a Trek.

To many great bike on the market to deal with this nonsense.

Similar Products Used:

Stumpjumper Comp, TallBoy

Light, Fast, Cushioned ride for a 29er hardtail, looks good

Head tube design. The non integrated head tube design is weak and the lower cups separated on my frame.

Set some really fast lap times on the local dirt tracks on this bike. The bike is fast, nimble, and comfortable to ride for those 30-40 miles trail rides. I rode the bike from around 500 trail miles, in 6 months and started noticing a noise in the head tube, we kept tightening the stem/ headset thinking there was and issue there, however during a ride the steerer tube failed...NOT SAFE. The lower cup of the head tube cracked and lost its integrity and caused the whole tube to move forward and backward several millimeters. Took it to the bike shop I bought it from and Trek sent a warranty frame two days later. Not the same color but it will do. They replaced with a 2013 superfly comp frame...which I am concerned may have the same issue down the line... The new 2014 frame remedy's this issue with a integrated design. Hopefully I do not have to warranty this again, as it takes 2-3 weeks to get everything taken care of, and this bike is addicting if I have the need for speed on the trail! Overall I am happy with the purchase and do feel good with Trek and their warranties.

Fast, light, X9 parts have been bomb proof and always work well. Rims have held up very well despite limited online info for "29er mustang rims". 2x10 works well with the bike Color scheme is sexy

Fork - CTD (I'm missing the complete lockout from my other bike) and no remote = sketchy DH if you forget to change from C to D. Don't bother reaching to flip the switch on the fly. You will FAIL and fall! Maybe.... Seat - a 2-3 hour max ride time for me; have switched over to my old fizik nisene and has made a huge difference. Brakes get HOT!

All around, a great bike, and a lot of fun to get back on a hardtail. The 29 wheels make it a lot less abusive for your back and legs (ie -your suspension system). It feels fast, and I have no trouble keeping up with my xc racer friends on FS bikes , until the DH gets really technical...but I bet I have more fun. The frame has been through some seriously hard terrain (5 hour fast XC rides through the heart of kananaskis country) with no issues at all. I'll be converting everything to tubeless soon, for a little more plushness. If you want to be on a carbon hardtail, and can't afford the really nice rigs (ie Santa Cruz Highball), this is a great bike with components that are decent enough to work well almost all of the time.

2004 Rockymountain Hammer 2009 Rockymountain Altitude 70

Light, Fast, carves, compliant (for a carbon HT), climbing, made me forget all about my Fuel 9.9

not cheap; made me forget about my Fuel 9.9

First off, don't believe the bad reviews about Trek's products or warranty, every company has one-off/limited customer service nightmares. Trek stands behind their products, and their products are good. I weigh almost 200 lbs, and all of my Trek carbon bikes (Madone 5.2, Fuel Ex9.9, Superfly Comp) have held up to thousands of miles of (ab)use without unexpected failure. The ONLY issue I had with any of them was the 2011 SF frame cracking at the front der mount (well documented flaw).I knew it when I bought the bike and bought it regardless of the risk BECAUSE OF THEIR WARRANTY.Trek replaced the frame WITHOUT QUESTION with a 2013 Superfly Carbon Comp frame ACTUAL BIKE REVIEW: I loved the 2011 Superfly (the one that broke) so much that I never rode my Fuel after the second ride on the SF. Then I rode my Fuel a lot while waiting to get my replacement frame, and after a trip to Sedona in NOV, I almost regretted buying the Superfly. Once I got the replacement frame built back up, I forgot all about my Fuel for a second time. The new frame rides so nice that I NEVER take the Fuel out of the garage, not even for a return trip to Sedona this JAN. That alone is a reflection of how great this bike is...I CHOSE to take a carbon hardtail to Sedona instead of taking a top of the line carbon FS bike, and this wasn't a trip for easy trails/hill climbing, this was for the technical trails down to Buddha Beach and other fun, rocky, technical sections. I cannot praise the ride of the Superfly enough. It is totally responsive to steering and body english, puts the power down incredibly well, and really does climb and descend faster than my Fuel (so says Strava). RECOMMENDED for avid riders/xc racers looking for a high performance bike. Must be willing to sacrifice a little comfort to get that extra zip. Perfect match for someone who wants a great cross country bike that can handle a bit of the technical stuff courtesy of the larger wheel diameter. NOT RECOMMENDED for a recreational rider who wants something comfortable to goof around on. Fuel EX8 is a far better choice for an all purpose bike for the recreational rider. Sort of about the bike (29 vs 26 debate): Being a hard tail, the Superfly is clearly not as plush as the Fuel, but it is still a comfortable ride once your ditch the stock seat post/saddle (I went with an EC90/Sella Italia SLR and LOVE IT). The larger diameter wheels help take some of the edge off, and regardless of terrain, I am absolutely comfortable on demanding 25+ mile rides. I debated for a long time before making the jump to a 29er, but after talking a friend into getting one, I had to get one for myself. I immediately noticed that it rolls smoother and is a bit more stable at speed vs my 26er. While it may give up some handling to a 26er hardtail (geometry), I can rail it through tight single track segments FASTER than my Fuel. On all but the toughest technical areas, it really does flow better. While a 26er HT may be more flickable and agile, from past experience, they are no where near as comfortable. If you are a serious rider (see my recommendation above) and can only have one mtn bike (oh the humanity), 29er HT is your best bang for the buck. Not really about the bike (Trek Red Shield): One perk to riding Treks is the Red Shield program. Adds a bit up front, but I have yet to pay for repairs on any of my Treks. Fork leaking, take it in for free...brakes acting up, yup, take it in for free. I wrench my own bikes for simple things, but I like the peace of mind that comes from having what amounts to an extended warranty that covers MOST of what can go wrong.

-Mt. Shasta Pechanga Comp (cro-mo), my first real mtn bike, rigid, then upgraded to an Antigravity susp fork with Power Grip pedals (long ago) -Giant HT (aluminum), first built up as a light weight geared bike (Mavic 217s, XT cranks, Sid Race fork, XTR v-brakes, etc...), then morphed into a go anywhere/do anything single speed (one of my favorite bikes...Crossmax wheels, Bomber 5" front end, avid bb7 discs) -2002 Specialized S-works FSR XC- stock -2008 Trek Fuel EX8- stock -2009 Trek Fuel EX 9.9- stock, though some parts swapped to new Superfly

Weight, handling, geometry, stiffness

Cracked two Superfly frames so far that were claimed to be manufacturing defects. Sure it's great that they warrantied them but I won't have much confidence in the new frame either.

Bought the 2009 Superfly back when it was still Gary Fisher to replace my full suspension Trek Top Fuel. Loved everything about the bike! The G2 geometry really is great. Then it cracked between the headset and down tube. They said this was a common issue on that frame and warrantied it. They sent me the 2011 Trek Superfly frame. Many of the components, most notably the fork, were not compatible so more cash out of pocket. Once it was built up it was actually better then the 2009! Felt stiffer and the steering was just a tad more relaxed. The bad news, now the 2011 frame has just cracked at the front derailleur mount as mentioned in these other reviews. The Trek rep again said that this was a known issue with this frame and that they would warranty it. LBS told me that the replacement frame will be here in a week and that it would be the 2013 carbon Superfly Comp frame. I pointed at the 2013 Superfly Pro SL on the website and inquired why I wouldn't be getting the latest and greatest like they sent last time. He chuckled and said those frames will never see the light of day. Too many issues with the frames breaking.

The frame and general handling

Reliability: The bike is one year old: Rear brakes had to be replaced, front brakes replaced. Three times broken spokes. The shock start to leak. Sand and mud in the bottom bracket.

Trek Superfly 2012 Well as you can see, the bike has been braking a lot down. But I had it for 8 months before it started to brake down. So it was running fine, and im using it a lot. The dealer is fantastic, thank god. The handling is fantastic, and I love the bike.

Overall a very solid ride. Easily manages advanced terrain and transitions well to road with the lockout.

Alot of broken parts. I bought the 2013 version when it came out in early August and have rode it through October, so alittle less than three months. During this time I had four rear wheel flats and one front wheel, broken lockout switch, back tire wouldn't stay true and warrantied, and a bunch of minor glitches that have been worked out. So, probably around ten visits to the bike shop (once a week.) This was a huge frustration, but since the back tire warrantied and I got an upgrade instead I have had zero problems. Also for context, I biked around 40 miles of moderate trail riding a week. I'd say a two flats could be on me, but most were pinch flats. The rest of the problems were definitely on the bike mostly the Bontraeger rim and wheels.

Though I had a lot of problems in the beginning I am still in love with this bike. It is too fun to get rid of despite the money and time sink it has become. Hopefully next season I will have better luck because I'm a better rider and parts were replaced. Buy this bike for cross-country around urban environments such as river trails.

None, apparently wood sticks in the forest are stronger than the frame according to the engineer at TREK! LMFAO

Bike broke 1 week before leaving for the Tour Divide Race. Bike had only ~500 miles on it no scratches or wrecks. TREK could not get me a new bike in time so I was forced to buy a new bike. I bought the Salsa Mariachi Ti and it is the best bike I have ever owned which I rode in the Tour Divide this year. After TREK denied my warranty claim I was pretty ticked off. I made a few phones calls to TREK and talked to one of their engineers that actually looked at the bike. He said that it was an impact probably from a stick. I asked him how a stick was stronger than their frame and he couldn't give me a real answer, instead he compared it to the force of straw flying through the air in a tornado. Pretty retarded answer dude, I have taken enough physics to understand a real answer. Also I got screwed over because I was told that TREK has great warranties and policies only to be screwed over by them one out more than 2000 dollars and almost without a bike for a race that costs thousands of dollars. Anyways I will never buy a TREK bike again. They constantly break. And I will never recommend their bikes to anyone in fact I will work at destroying their reputation one customer at a time.

None, weakest bike I have ever owned. Wood sticks in the forest are stronger than this bike according to the Engineer @ TREK BIKES! LMFAO

Weak frame, horrible warranty.

Get the latest mountain bike reviews, news, race results, and much more by signing up for the MTBR Newsletter

Hot Deals See All Hot Deals >>

  • CLASSIFIEDS
  • TERMS OF USE
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • ADVERTISING

VISIT US AT

© Copyright 2024 VerticalScope Inc. All rights reserved.

Trek Superfly 100 Elite SL review

29er full-suspension race bike.

You can trust Cyclingnews Our experts spend countless hours testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

This article originally published on BikeRadar

Trek set out on an aggressive weight-saving campaign for the latest Superfly 100, and by all accounts its engineering team was largely successful.

Even with a not-incredibly-light Shimano Deore XT group and mid-range wheels, our medium-size Superfly 100 Elite SL test bike weighs just 10.90kg (24.03lb) without pedals. The lack of mass is noticeable on the trail but, unfortunately, so is the lack of stiffness and so-so pedaling performance.

Ride & handling: Lightweight with good suspension but lacking in efficiency

The revamped Superfly 100 platform feels right at home on fast and flowy trails with lots of wide open, high speed sections.

The long wheelbase and relatively low bottom bracket provide a very stable feel through sweeping corners. And even though it's lost 10mm of movement compared to its predecessor, the remaining 100mm of rear suspension is active and pleasantly progressive, impressively sucking up smaller trail chatter without bottoming out harshly on bigger impacts while maintaining a lively feel throughout.

The rear end offers a good amount of pop for leaping out of berms and dips. And, as we've noted in the past, Trek's G2 geometry, with its increased-offset fork crown, goes a long way towards neutralizing both the big feel of 29in wheels and its unusually long wheelbase.

Steering feels light and natural without requiring much in the way of excessive rider input, and it's usually only in very tight switchbacks that you notice the Superfly 100 Elite SL's considerable overall length.

Like the Giant Anthem X Advanced 29er we tested last year, though, the Superfly 100's chain stays are still a little long at 452mm. Therefore, it's not the most natural bike to manual or wheelie.

Such handling traits would generally be no big deal in the Superfly 100's intended context of cross-country racing, where speeds are usually higher and there often aren't as many technical features as in general trail riding or enduro. However, the Superfly also doesn't pedal that efficiently, either.

Switching the Fox Float CTD rear shock to its middle Trail setting is a must nearly any time pedaling is required, and we frequently resorted to the firmest Climb position even on short sections of fireroad. We saved the fully open Descend setting for extended downhills only. Otherwise, there's far too much movement and a somewhat dull feel under power, particularly when you're hammering along in the big ring.

Nor did we find the Superfly 100 Elite SL's new carbon fiber frame particularly rigid. Front triangle stiffness is admittedly quite good, with the large diameter, nominally round main frame cross-sections and tapered head tube.

That's largely squandered out back, though, with an appreciable amount of out-of-plane flex, particularly in high-load situations such as bermed corners or excessively rough sections of trail. Here, instead of the rear wheel tracking precisely behind the front one, we repeatedly noticed the rear loading up – only to spring back when unloaded, which occasionally sent us off-line.

One simple test verified our suspicions, too: stand beside the Superfly 100 Elite SL with one hand atop the rear tire and the other on the saddle, push forward on one side while pulling back on the other, and you can see the top of the seat stays moving side to side relative to the seat tube more easily than one would expect from a bike of this caliber.

We should note that two BikeRadar testers independently came to identical conclusions on two separate test samples. Naturally, Trek has expressed concern over our findings.

"We're going to be testing that bike to evaluate stiffness testing," said Trek mountain bike brand manager Travis Ott. "I trust you felt what you experienced. Numerous sessions with pros and test riders haven’t exposed any weakness with the rear end stiffness.

"At this point, we’re concerned about repeating what you experienced so we can better figure it out. We’re also retesting stock frames currently. Point being, we take this seriously and when we get conflicting reports, we try and get to the bottom of it.

"As for the suspension spec and pedal bob, four out of five Trek Factory Racing riders also use the same rear shock tune. They wanted a very stiff lockout and we were able to achieve that with this tune. Thus far, the feedback and results from our pro riders have been exceptional. To date, we’ve been happy with the feedback on the bikes from our testers and pros."

Frame: Elegant lines and light weight but could use more brawn

The Superfly 100 Elite SL's performance is particularly disappointing given that the new frame is a gorgeous piece of hardware. The low-slung, molded carbon fiber front triangle features nominally round tubes devoid of superfluous kinks, bulges, or edges, while the one-piece molded carbon fiber seat stay assembly is similarly sleek and clean looking.

As opposed to the original Superfly 100 – or the current Superfly 100 Pro SL flagship model – this version uses TIG-welded aluminum chain stays, which adds some weight but should prove beneficial in terms of long-term durability.

Linking everything together up front is a minuscule swing link – molded from short-strand carbon fiber, of course – driving Fox's superb Float CTD rear shock.

The back end of the bike features Trek's ABP (Active Braking Pivot) concept, with suspension pivots situated concentrically about the rear axle to produce a pseudo-floating brake effect. Those ABP pivots are so cleanly integrated that you could be forgiven for thinking the rear end was one solid unit, although the axle path is strictly single pivot in nature.

The rear end is effectively a single pivot in terms of axle movement

The rear end is effectively a single pivot in terms of axle movement

The main pivot is situated inline with the curved seat tube, about halfway between the inner and outer chainrings in terms of height – about where we'd expect it to be. Moving it a touch higher, however, would make for more neutral pedaling performance in the big ring, and add more anti-squat when clawing up grades in the inner ring. Moreover, the Superfly 100 Elite SL's pedaling performance could further benefit from more aggressive compression tuning.

Other features include thru-axles front and rear, Trek's extra-wide BB95 bottom bracket with bearing seats molded directly into the shell, a tapered 1 1/8in to 1 1/2in head tube (again, with bearing seats directly molded in), a direct-mount front derailleur, post-mount rear brake caliper tabs (sized for 140mm rotors and up), and internal cable routing – including for the hydraulic rear brake.

The latter will be cumbersome if you ever decide to swap brake models (although we're not sure why you would – more on that below). Otherwise, though, Trek's internal routing solution is reasonably easy to service despite not being guided from end to end.

Exit ports are fairly large, the paths are clean and kink free, and the whole operation runs impressively quietly, thanks in part to clamps at either end of the brake hose to keep it from rattling around on the trail.

Further dulling sounds is the thick plastic guard on the underside of the down tube. Unfortunately (and rather inelegantly) it's held in place with a couple of giant o-rings.

Actual frame weight for our 17.5in sample is 2.13kg (4.7lb) including rear shock, seatpost collar, rear derailleur hanger, and water bottle bolts – slightly lighter than the previous edition, which is impressive considering the switch to aluminum chain stays. Riders who place a priority on weight will appreciate the lack of heft, but otherwise we'd rather Trek invested the mass currency on bolstering the chassis.

Equipment: Brilliant Deore XT components and Fox suspension plus solid Bontrager gear

There's little to fault when it comes to the Superfly 100 Elite SL's build kit, with Shimano's faultless Deore XT 2x10 transmission and brakes, a perfectly matched Fox 32 Float 100 CTD fork and Float CTD rear shock, and the remainder filled out with bits from Trek house brand Bontrager.

Shift performance is fantastic, with quick and precise chain movement, impressively hushed running, and excellent shifter ergonomics despite the I-Spec integrated clamps' lack of independent shifter angle or shift paddle adjustment. Gear ratios are smartly chosen, too, with versatile 26/38T chainrings up front and a wide-range 11-36T cassette that works well for both racing or general trail riding provided you've got a reasonable amount of fitness.

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past few years, it goes without saying that the matching hydraulic disc brakes are among the best on the market. Power is ample even with just 160mm rotors fitted front and rear, it's very easily controllable even in slippery conditions, and lever feel is arguably second to none.

Riders in extremely mountainous regions might wish for Shimano's finned brake pads and their greater heat capacity, but we never noticed any fade even on longer descents in Colorado.

We were mostly pleased with the Bontrager cockpit components, too. The Race X Lite Carbon handlebar is suitably light and rigid, with just 5mm of rise to help keep the front end low. However, we would prefer something wider than 690mm for more leverage – it's easy to cut things down if need be but you generally can't make a narrow bar wider.

Ditto for the forged aluminum Race X Lite stem, which is always a solid performer, albeit one whose profile hasn't changed in ages and could stand a larger cross-section in this application.

Saddles are, of course, a personal issue. The Evoke 3 should suit most rear ends with its fairly flat profile and densely padded top with rounded rear corners that help boost maneuverability. We've no complaints on the Rhythm Elite aluminum seatpost, either, with its secure two-bolt head and what should be reliable forged construction.

Rolling stock is a little more of a mixed bag, though. The Bontrager Race Lite TLR Disc CL 29 wheels are fairly light (1,640g per pair, claimed), easy to set up tubeless (although Trek doesn't include the requisite rim strips and valves), reasonably stiff, and held up well during testing with no truing required. We feel the 19mm internal width is a touch narrow for general trail use, although most cross-country types probably won't mind much.

Bontrager wraps the otherwise-capable wheels with their rather narrowly focused 29-1 tires, though, which don't even measure 2in across and aren't designed to be run tubeless (although we managed the conversion anyway).

Rolling resistance is noticeably very low, but it comes at the price of traction in anything other than tacky dirt, what with its hard rubber compound and tightly spaced array of small knobs. We'd advise at least swapping out the front for something a little more secure and saving the extra one for a spare, fast-rolling rear.

Price: US$5,569.99/£4,250 Weight: 10.90kg (24.03lb, complete bike, 17.5" size, without pedals); 2,133g (4.70lb, frame only, including rear shock, seatpost collar, rear derailleur hanger, and water bottle bolts) Pros: Good high-speed geometry, lively rear suspension performance, lightweight Cons: Not very efficient, not very stiff, very long wheelbase BikeRadar verdict: 3 stars More information: www.trekbikes.com

Complete bicycle specifications

Frame: Trek Superfly 100 Elite SL, 100mm travel, OCLV Mountain Carbon main triangle and seat stays, aluminum chain stays Available sizes: 15.5, 17.5 (tested), 19, 21, 23" Rear shock: Fox Float CTD Performance Series Fork: Fox 32 Float 100 CTD Performance Series Headset: Cane Creek IS-3, 1 1/8-to-1 1/2" Stem: Bontrager Race X Lite Handlebars: Bontrager Race X Lite Carbon, 5mm rise, 690mm width Tape/grips: Bontrager Race Lite lock-on Front brake: Shimano Deore XT BR-M785, 160mm SM-RT81 rotor, standard (non-Ice Tech) pads Rear brake: Shimano Deore XT BR-M785, 160mm SM-RT81 rotor, standard (non-Ice Tech) pads Brake levers: Shimano Deore XT BL-M785 Front derailleur: Shimano Deore XT FD-M785-E2 Direct Mount Rear derailleur: Shimano Deore XT Shadow Plus RD-M786-SGS Shift levers: Shimano Deore XT SL-M780-I Cassette: Shimano Deore XT CS-M771-10, 11-36T Chain: KMC X10.93 Crankset: Shimano Deore XT FC-M785, 38/26T Bottom bracket: Trek BB95 by Enduro Pedals: n/a Wheelset: Bontrager Race Lite TLR Disc CL 29 Front tire: Bontrager 29-1 Team Issue, 29x2.2" Rear tire: Bontrager 29-1 Team Issue, 29x2.2" Saddle: Bontrager Evoke 3 Seat post: Bontrager Rhythm Elite

trek superfly 26 review

Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*

Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read any 5 articles for free in each 30-day period, this automatically resets

After your trial you will be billed £4.99 $7.99 €5.99 per month, cancel anytime. Or sign up for one year for just £49 $79 €59

trek superfly 26 review

Try your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

A decent wheelset away from greatness: Basso Venta R review

'Front derailleur killer' Classified launches most premium partnership to date

‘It's all about staying calm’ - No panic from DSM-Firmenich PostNL amid crashes and injuries

Most Popular

trek superfly 26 review

2-FOR-1 GA TICKETS WITH OUTSIDE+

Don’t miss Thundercat, Fleet Foxes, and more at the Outside Festival.

GET TICKETS

BEST WEEK EVER

Try out unlimited access with 7 days of Outside+ for free.

Start Your Free Trial

Powered by Outside

Reviewed: Trek Superfly 9.7 mountain bike

The superfly 9.7’s biggest selling point is its frame, and though the parts are modest, it has potential.

Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! >","name":"in-content-cta","type":"link"}}'>Download the app .

It’s easy to look at this bike and imagine an old Gary Fisher logo in place of Trek’s mark. I mean that as the highest compliment.

Quibble all you like about who invented the mountain bike. One thing’s certain: Gary Fisher played a huge role in popularizing 29” wheels, now the must-have size in nearly any off-road discipline.

His experience with his own brand, which is now rolled into Trek’s lineup, is apparent, giving this simple, middle-of-the-road hardtail an excellent personality.

Most mountain bikers need at least a couple hands to count the number of parts they break or replace any given season, but the frame is usually a constant. That is the Superfly 9.7’s biggest selling point, and though the parts are modest, it has real potential.

A fine frame

Trek doesn’t specify the particulars of their carbon construction, aside from claims that it’s thoroughly designed and tested to be used in an off-road frame.

Talk all you like about carbon, but the geometry is really what makes the Superfly sing. As soon as I hopped aboard the bike, its West coast heritage slapped me in the face like a wave off the Marin headlands.

In a few words, the 9.7 is long, low, slack, and fun. Having ridden some 29ers with 70-degree-plus head tube angles, our medium tester’s 69.3 degrees was comfortable and confident. For comparison, the Specialized Stumpjumper HT line has a 71.5-degree head angle. Trek also insists on a custom-offset fork to complete its G2 geometry.

The Superfly’s top tube length and reach are slightly longer than the Stumpjumper’s, and both lines have the same chainstay length — 435mm. It seems that the Trek gets most of its 1,160mm wheel base from the slacker head tube, making it 88mm longer than the Stumpjumper.

Interestingly, the Superfly’s bottom bracket drop is 5.5mm less than the Stumpjumper, meaning that the pedals sit slightly higher in the frame.

Aside from that detail, Trek’s bike is a longer, slacker machine than most ordinary cross-country race bikes.

Passable parts

To be charitable, the 9.7’s components are adequate. I’ve often found SRAM’s lower-end mountain bike shifting to be a bit clunky and slow to respond, and this pairing of X7 shifters and an X9 rear derailleur is no different. Trek does deserve credit for speccing a Type 2 rear derailleur with a clutch to eliminate nearly all chain noise.

The wheels are also humble — Bontrager rims and blue anodized hubs, which may not stand the test of time from a fashion standpoint. The cartridge bearing internals, however, are reassuring. The wheels are tubeless-ready, which is an essential upgrade, so it’s nice that the Trek is ready for it.

I’ll come right out and say that all 29er hardtails should have 100mm travel forks. Yes, the Fox Float 32 on the 9.7 was equipped with the Evolution damper, which is noticeably inferior to the higher-end FIT damping. But the extra cushion goes a long way to taming rough trail. The CTD lever was helpful to provide a firm ride on paved climbs, but I’d trade that for a damper that supports the middle of the travel any day. I’d lower the pressure to get top-end suppleness, only to be punished by excess brake dive and overly linear stroke.

Shimano SLX disc brakes are one of the finest aspects of this bike’s build. It’s remarkable how Shimano can deliver basic, affordable brakes like these, which are within striking distance of its XTR models.

Unfortunately, our Shimano HG62 cassette did not do as well. I destroyed it by somehow shifting the chain between the third and fourth largest cogs. It may have been a freak occurrence. It was certainly the first time for this unlucky tester.

Am I being too critical of the components? At $3,150, the Superfly 9.7 is certainly not targeted as an entry-level model. This is the type of bike a junior or collegiate racer would buy to enjoy for many years of pinning on plates. Surely they deserve a more reliable drivetrain and a capable fork.

The wheels are an easy upgrade that almost any racer expects to make. I did so myself with this test bike, improving the ride with some ENVE M50s. The faster acceleration and surefooted steering was an improvement. Those wheels also shaved a pound off the Superfly’s 25-pound stock weight. However, the most noticeable way to improve the bike’s feel is to convert the tires to tubeless, a much less expensive alternative to carbon wheels.

Another upgrade I made was a Stages power meter, which is becoming an essential training tool, even for mountain bike racers.

Taking it to the trail

Performance on paper doesn’t always equate to performance on dirt, and in some ways, the 9.7 makes that point.

I forgot about its hefty (for a hardtail) weight once it started snapping through corners and pumping fast rollers. As I’ve alluded to, the geometry gives this bike a great personality on the trail, letting you open things up on fast descents, keeping your body weight back just far enough on the steeps, and somehow avoiding any 29er sluggishness.

It’s rare to find a cross-country bike as playful as this, but the Superfly was happy to pop off jumps and whip around berms. Once terrain got rougher, things became a little less cheerful, especially with the fork’s shortcomings, but the bike loyally stayed on line. Perhaps that’s a testament to the carbon construction, as well as the 142x12mm rear thru-axle.

Once the fun ended and the work began, the Superfly was capable. It responded well as I hammered out of corners on steep climbs, rarely betraying its weight. I also enjoyed the fairly rangy top tube in the races I did. It encouraged me to stretch out a bit more, also helping to keep weight over the front wheel on steep pitches.

Is it super enough for you?

When it comes to high-speed riding and racing, the Superfly 9.7 is pretty hard to beat. You can overcome its components’ shortcomings with a few key upgrades, but you might be better off spending an extra $730 to get the 9.8 model.

However, if your riding and racing happens primarily in a place like New England where the corners, rock gardens, trees, and competition are all very tight, make sure to get a test ride on the Superfly. Its laid-back west coast personality is great in many settings, but it might not be sharp enough for every course.

Price: $3,150 Weight: 25 pounds Pros: Fun, comfortable geometry and personality. Great frame construction, reliable brakes. Cons: Underwhelming shifting and fork. Might not handle quickly enough for certain tastes. trekbikes.com

Popular on Velo

\n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/emergency-operation-for-eddy-merckx-cyclings-greatest-ever-rider\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"emergency operation for eddy merckx, cycling\u2019s greatest ever rider\"}}\u0027>\n emergency operation for eddy merckx, cycling\u2019s greatest ever rider\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"sean kelly: tadej poga\u010dar\u2019s giro-tour double prospects have leaped forward","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/sean-kelly-tadej-pogacars-giro-tour-double-prospects-have-leaped-forward\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/sean-kelly-tadej-pogacars-giro-tour-double-prospects-have-leaped-forward\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"sean kelly: tadej poga\u010dar\u2019s giro-tour double prospects have leaped forward\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/sean-kelly-tadej-pogacars-giro-tour-double-prospects-have-leaped-forward\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"sean kelly: tadej poga\u010dar\u2019s giro-tour double prospects have leaped forward\"}}\u0027>\n sean kelly: tadej poga\u010dar\u2019s giro-tour double prospects have leaped forward\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"the 6 best bikepacking routes in the us","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/gravel\/6-best-bikepacking-routes-usa\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/gravel\/6-best-bikepacking-routes-usa\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"the 6 best bikepacking routes in the us\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/gravel\/6-best-bikepacking-routes-usa\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"the 6 best bikepacking routes in the us\"}}\u0027>\n the 6 best bikepacking routes in the us\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"tom pidcock grabs dramatic amstel gold race in four-man sprint","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/tom-pidcock-grabs-dramatic-amstel-gold-race-in-four-man-sprint\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/tom-pidcock-grabs-dramatic-amstel-gold-race-in-four-man-sprint\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"tom pidcock grabs dramatic amstel gold race in four-man sprint\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/tom-pidcock-grabs-dramatic-amstel-gold-race-in-four-man-sprint\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"tom pidcock grabs dramatic amstel gold race in four-man sprint\"}}\u0027>\n tom pidcock grabs dramatic amstel gold race in four-man sprint\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"breaking: ncl pulling plug on 2024 season \u2018effective immediately\u2019","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/breaking-ncl-shutting-down-immediately\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/breaking-ncl-shutting-down-immediately\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"breaking: ncl pulling plug on 2024 season \u2018effective immediately\u2019\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/breaking-ncl-shutting-down-immediately\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"breaking: ncl pulling plug on 2024 season \u2018effective immediately\u2019\"}}\u0027>\n breaking: ncl pulling plug on 2024 season \u2018effective immediately\u2019\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"meet andrew august: the american rider is the youngest-ever worldtour pro","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/diamond-in-the-rough-youngest-ever-worldtour-pro-andrew-august-soaking-it-in-during-rookie-rollout\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/diamond-in-the-rough-youngest-ever-worldtour-pro-andrew-august-soaking-it-in-during-rookie-rollout\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"meet andrew august: the american rider is the youngest-ever worldtour pro\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/diamond-in-the-rough-youngest-ever-worldtour-pro-andrew-august-soaking-it-in-during-rookie-rollout\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"meet andrew august: the american rider is the youngest-ever worldtour pro\"}}\u0027>\n meet andrew august: the american rider is the youngest-ever worldtour pro\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"bianchi says mechanics disregarded instructions in paris-roubaix bike issues","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/news\/bianchi-issues-paris-roubaix\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/news\/bianchi-issues-paris-roubaix\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"bianchi says mechanics disregarded instructions in paris-roubaix bike issues\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/news\/bianchi-issues-paris-roubaix\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"bianchi says mechanics disregarded instructions in paris-roubaix bike issues\"}}\u0027>\n bianchi says mechanics disregarded instructions in paris-roubaix bike issues\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"amstel gold notebook: pidcock\u2019s redemption, vos\u2019 old-school lesson, and van der poel\u2019s mia mystery","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/amstel-gold-notebook-pidcocks-redemption-vos-old-school-lesson-and-van-der-poels-mystery\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/amstel-gold-notebook-pidcocks-redemption-vos-old-school-lesson-and-van-der-poels-mystery\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"amstel gold notebook: pidcock\u2019s redemption, vos\u2019 old-school lesson, and van der poel\u2019s mia mystery\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/amstel-gold-notebook-pidcocks-redemption-vos-old-school-lesson-and-van-der-poels-mystery\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"amstel gold notebook: pidcock\u2019s redemption, vos\u2019 old-school lesson, and van der poel\u2019s mia mystery\"}}\u0027>\n amstel gold notebook: pidcock\u2019s redemption, vos\u2019 old-school lesson, and van der poel\u2019s mia mystery\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"chris froome \u2018comes to reality\u2019 that winning a fifth tour de france is \u2018very, very difficult\u2019","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/pogacar-vs-froome-in-his-prime-who-would-have-won-it-would-have-been-interesting\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/pogacar-vs-froome-in-his-prime-who-would-have-won-it-would-have-been-interesting\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"chris froome \u2018comes to reality\u2019 that winning a fifth tour de france is \u2018very, very difficult\u2019\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/pogacar-vs-froome-in-his-prime-who-would-have-won-it-would-have-been-interesting\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"chris froome \u2018comes to reality\u2019 that winning a fifth tour de france is \u2018very, very difficult\u2019\"}}\u0027>\n chris froome \u2018comes to reality\u2019 that winning a fifth tour de france is \u2018very, very difficult\u2019\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"woman who threw cap at mathieu van der poel\u2019s wheel says she had \u2018an afternoon of aperitifs\u2019","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/woman-who-threw-cap-at-mathieu-van-der-poels-wheel-says-she-had-an-afternoon-of-aperitifs\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/woman-who-threw-cap-at-mathieu-van-der-poels-wheel-says-she-had-an-afternoon-of-aperitifs\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"woman who threw cap at mathieu van der poel\u2019s wheel says she had \u2018an afternoon of aperitifs\u2019\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/woman-who-threw-cap-at-mathieu-van-der-poels-wheel-says-she-had-an-afternoon-of-aperitifs\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"woman who threw cap at mathieu van der poel\u2019s wheel says she had \u2018an afternoon of aperitifs\u2019\"}}\u0027>\n woman who threw cap at mathieu van der poel\u2019s wheel says she had \u2018an afternoon of aperitifs\u2019\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"more harrowing details of itzulia crash: \u2018can\u2019t believe i will be able to walk and play with my kids one day\u2019","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/more-harrowing-details-of-itzulia-basque-country-crash-a-brush-with-death\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/more-harrowing-details-of-itzulia-basque-country-crash-a-brush-with-death\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"more harrowing details of itzulia crash: \u2018can\u2019t believe i will be able to walk and play with my kids one day\u2019\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/more-harrowing-details-of-itzulia-basque-country-crash-a-brush-with-death\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"more harrowing details of itzulia crash: \u2018can\u2019t believe i will be able to walk and play with my kids one day\u2019\"}}\u0027>\n more harrowing details of itzulia crash: \u2018can\u2019t believe i will be able to walk and play with my kids one day\u2019\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"cane creek launches \u2018invert\u2019 upside down gravel fork","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/news\/cane-creek-invert-gravel-fork-news\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/news\/cane-creek-invert-gravel-fork-news\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"cane creek launches \u2018invert\u2019 upside down gravel fork\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/news\/cane-creek-invert-gravel-fork-news\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"cane creek launches \u2018invert\u2019 upside down gravel fork\"}}\u0027>\n cane creek launches \u2018invert\u2019 upside down gravel fork\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"\u2018the races that are best for me are over\u2019: mathieu van der poel on underwhelming amstel gold performance","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/the-races-that-are-best-for-me-are-over-mathieu-van-der-poel-on-underwhelming-amstel-gold-performance\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/the-races-that-are-best-for-me-are-over-mathieu-van-der-poel-on-underwhelming-amstel-gold-performance\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"\u2018the races that are best for me are over\u2019: mathieu van der poel on underwhelming amstel gold performance\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/the-races-that-are-best-for-me-are-over-mathieu-van-der-poel-on-underwhelming-amstel-gold-performance\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"\u2018the races that are best for me are over\u2019: mathieu van der poel on underwhelming amstel gold performance\"}}\u0027>\n \u2018the races that are best for me are over\u2019: mathieu van der poel on underwhelming amstel gold performance\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"marianne vos lunges by celebrating lorena wiebes to nab amstel gold race women","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/marianne-vos-lunges-past-lorena-wiebes-to-nab-amstel-gold-race-women\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/marianne-vos-lunges-past-lorena-wiebes-to-nab-amstel-gold-race-women\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"marianne vos lunges by celebrating lorena wiebes to nab amstel gold race women\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/marianne-vos-lunges-past-lorena-wiebes-to-nab-amstel-gold-race-women\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"marianne vos lunges by celebrating lorena wiebes to nab amstel gold race women\"}}\u0027>\n marianne vos lunges by celebrating lorena wiebes to nab amstel gold race women\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"why are so many gravel pros doing levi leipheimer\u2019s new road race","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/gravel\/gravel-racing\/gravel-pros-levis-gran-fondo-road-race\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/gravel\/gravel-racing\/gravel-pros-levis-gran-fondo-road-race\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"why are so many gravel pros doing levi leipheimer\u2019s new road race\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/gravel\/gravel-racing\/gravel-pros-levis-gran-fondo-road-race\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"why are so many gravel pros doing levi leipheimer\u2019s new road race\"}}\u0027>\n why are so many gravel pros doing levi leipheimer\u2019s new road race\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"patrick lefevere issues public apology over controversial comments: \u2018it was never my intention to harm anyone\u2019","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/patrick-lefevere-issues-public-apology-over-statements-it-was-never-my-intention-to-harm-anyone\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/patrick-lefevere-issues-public-apology-over-statements-it-was-never-my-intention-to-harm-anyone\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"patrick lefevere issues public apology over controversial comments: \u2018it was never my intention to harm anyone\u2019\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/patrick-lefevere-issues-public-apology-over-statements-it-was-never-my-intention-to-harm-anyone\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"patrick lefevere issues public apology over controversial comments: \u2018it was never my intention to harm anyone\u2019\"}}\u0027>\n patrick lefevere issues public apology over controversial comments: \u2018it was never my intention to harm anyone\u2019\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"results: lauren de crescenzo and keegan swenson win the growler at levi\u2019s gran fondo","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/results-lauren-de-crescenzo-and-keegan-swenson-win-the-growler-at-levis-gran-fondo\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/results-lauren-de-crescenzo-and-keegan-swenson-win-the-growler-at-levis-gran-fondo\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"results: lauren de crescenzo and keegan swenson win the growler at levi\u2019s gran fondo\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/results-lauren-de-crescenzo-and-keegan-swenson-win-the-growler-at-levis-gran-fondo\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"results: lauren de crescenzo and keegan swenson win the growler at levi\u2019s gran fondo\"}}\u0027>\n results: lauren de crescenzo and keegan swenson win the growler at levi\u2019s gran fondo\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"aero bikes, ambushes, and stacks of snacks: how the classics peloton shattered speed records all spring","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/aero-bikes-ambushes-and-stacks-of-snacks-how-the-classics-peloton-shattered-speed-records-all-spring\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/aero-bikes-ambushes-and-stacks-of-snacks-how-the-classics-peloton-shattered-speed-records-all-spring\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"aero bikes, ambushes, and stacks of snacks: how the classics peloton shattered speed records all spring\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/aero-bikes-ambushes-and-stacks-of-snacks-how-the-classics-peloton-shattered-speed-records-all-spring\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"aero bikes, ambushes, and stacks of snacks: how the classics peloton shattered speed records all spring\"}}\u0027>\n aero bikes, ambushes, and stacks of snacks: how the classics peloton shattered speed records all spring\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"cycling and civil rights icon major taylor finally gets the documentary he deserves","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-culture\/cycling-civil-rights-icon-major-taylor-finally-gets-documentary-he-deserves\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-culture\/cycling-civil-rights-icon-major-taylor-finally-gets-documentary-he-deserves\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"cycling and civil rights icon major taylor finally gets the documentary he deserves\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-culture\/cycling-civil-rights-icon-major-taylor-finally-gets-documentary-he-deserves\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"cycling and civil rights icon major taylor finally gets the documentary he deserves\"}}\u0027>\n cycling and civil rights icon major taylor finally gets the documentary he deserves\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"lorena wiebes rues celebration slip-up: \u2018i will lose some sleep on that one\u2019","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/lorena-wiebes-rues-celebration-slip-up-i-will-lose-some-sleep-on-that-one\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/lorena-wiebes-rues-celebration-slip-up-i-will-lose-some-sleep-on-that-one\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"lorena wiebes rues celebration slip-up: \u2018i will lose some sleep on that one\u2019\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/lorena-wiebes-rues-celebration-slip-up-i-will-lose-some-sleep-on-that-one\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"lorena wiebes rues celebration slip-up: \u2018i will lose some sleep on that one\u2019\"}}\u0027>\n lorena wiebes rues celebration slip-up: \u2018i will lose some sleep on that one\u2019\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "}]' > >", "name": "footer-menu", "type": "link"}}'>advertise >", "name": "footer-menu", "type": "link"}}'>privacy policy >", "name": "footer-menu", "type": "link"}}'>contact >", "name": "footer-menu", "type": "link"}}'>careers >", "name": "footer-menu", "type": "link"}}'>terms of use >", "name": "footer-menu", "type": "link"}}'>site map >", "name": "footer-menu", "type": "link"}}'>my newsletters manage cookie preferences privacy request healthy living.

  • Clean Eating
  • Vegetarian Times
  • Yoga Journal
  • Fly Fishing Film Tour
  • National Park Trips
  • Warren Miller
  • Fastest Known Time
  • Trail Runner
  • Women's Running
  • Bicycle Retailer & Industry News
  • FinisherPix
  • Outside Events Cycling Series
  • Outside Shop

© 2024 Outside Interactive, Inc

Mountain Bike Reviews Forum banner

  • Forum Listing
  • Marketplace
  • Advanced Search
  • Community Help Section
  • Archived Discussions

Review: Trek Superfly SS singlespeed 29er

Tire Bicycle wheel Bicycle tire Wheel Bicycle frame

Attachments

Tire Bicycle wheel Bicycle tire Wheel Bicycle frame

I'm with Bryce Moore from the FB comments. This might be the lightest bike available for $1600, but at that price you would think they'd throw buyers a bone and spec decent brakes.  

Braking is overrated, however, the rest of the spec is nice, intriguing bike for the dough  

Chicken_Rider

Seems to expensive for the list unless the frame is made of platinum or this is some uber rare fork.  

I think that all of the haters complaining about the price don't understand the economies of scale here. This is their top end aluminum frame. Trek makes a bike with the same frame (Superfly 5) with an inexpensive RS XC32 fork and mixed Shimano/SRAM drivetrain for the same money, true, but they will sell thousands and thousands of those. This bike has unique dropouts, a carbon fork, through axles front and rear, and some low volume SS specific parts. They will sell only a few hundred of this bike, which makes it way more expensive to manufacture. And it weighs 20 lbs. Sounds like a value to me. Nice review Kurt.  

I own this bike and consider it a great value. I am just as fast on this bike as I am on my $5,000 anthem advanced 1. This bike will make you a stronger and better rider. There is no price for that.  

trek superfly 26 review

Cayenne_Pepa

I say $1600 for a new, 20lb bike is simply unheard-of, in today's MTB circles. I'm curious to demo one now!  

you need to get Rich Dillen to test this out... he's one of the oldest SS around... teamdicky.blogspot.ca ...  

I would just buy a Nashbar 29er single speed for $350, and be done with it... hehehehe. Oh Oh.... let me brace myself for the firing squad. Honestly, I have mine down to 23 pounds, along with a Salsa fork at an XL size, and the geometry is amazing for a bike at this price. I could maybe go down a little more in weight, but why? I find any bike less than 23 pounds twitchy, and unbalanced. I sold almost all my expensive bikes after realizing that most bikes are just over priced. This Trek is just ridiculous at $1600. Not even Richie Rich would pay $1600 for this bike with single speed.  

you can't possibly believe a nashbar and a superfly ride anywhere near the same, do you?  

if the tensioning system is a ***** on the trail then fixing tyres must be fun  

stopokingme1

Actually no, fixing tires is a breeze. The QR 12 thru axles just unclamp and unscrew - pull the wheel right off. Its adjusting the chain length that is a hassle due to the 22mm bolt thats the issue - but the really isn't a normal kind of field repair someone has to do. the only reason you'ld normally have to deal with that is if you didn't torque it down hard enought before you went out. I've never had mine slip, either on this bike or on my Trek Stache 29+ that uses the same system.  

  • ?            
  • 15.5M posts
  • 516.1K members

Top Contributors this Month

trek superfly 26 review

  • MAGAZINE OFFERS
  • BIKE INSURANCE
  • Best Products
  • Maintenance
  • Accessories
  • Long-Term Reviews
  • BikeRadar Podcast
  • First Look Friday
  • Bike of the Week
  • Tech Features
  • Routes and Rides
  • Bike Galleries
  • BikeRadar Bargains
  • Buyer's Guides
  • Fitness & Training
  • Sizing & Fit
  • Mountain Biking UK
  • Cycling Plus

Trek Superfly 7 review

Lightweight, blisteringly quick ride

Russell Burton

Guy Kesteven

trek superfly 26 review

While carbon might be seen as the ultimate aspirational frame material, bikes like Trek ’s Superfly show just how advanced the latest alloy frames have come in terms of performance. The complete bike is also a great example of how spending the money in the right places can get you a fantastically rapid yet fiscally astute ride.

  • Highs: Thru-axle fork and G2 geometry make for an accurate steering setup; skinny back end means it’s not as hard as most hardtails.
  • Lows: Tiny inner chainring too small for a naturally talented climber

Frame and equipment: booming for your buck

At this price point a screw-thru axle fork is still a relatively rare accuracy-boosting bonus on a race hardtail . The short, tapered E2 head tube keeps a firm grip on the custom G2 geometry Reba fork at the top end too.

A broad but shallow down tube and top tube with buttress shaping to reinforce the super thin walls lock down stiffness at the front end. The result is a very quick steering feel for a 29er but underlined with an inherent stability as speed rises or traction runs out.

Trek has dropped its old super swept cruiser bars for a more conventional aggressive shape that syncs much better with the eager race rapidity of the super light Superfly. Down on the ground, meanwhile, the small volume (for the claimed 2.2in width), low tread Bontragers spin up to speed very fast for a 29er.

A quick glance of the tiny seat tube piercing the broad top tube shelf that splays out into flat, S-bent seatstays suggests the tail is far from hard.

The Superfly's flexy tail makes it a pleasure to take on long rides

Ride and handling: feel the flex and float

Even with the skinny tyres, that built in flex is obvious as soon as you ride it. It sucks the sting out of sharp edges and floats across rough sections without rattling your teeth out or disrupting pedal rhythm. The result is a surprisingly forgiving, traction boosting long ride friendly character without the extra weight or faff of suspension.

While big cowled dropouts and a 142x12mm screw-thru axle increase stiffness at the rear end there is definitely a fair amount of cornering twist and sideways twang on off camber sections. Stomping on the pedals can get the bottom bracket swaying sideways too. That doesn’t stop it being seriously quick though, and all our testers commented that the 22-tooth inner ring of the FSA chainset was too small for such a talented climber.

Fatter rubber would also complement the shock-absorbing ride of the rear and add predictable traction to underline the keen handling front end. Neither change is expensive on a bike that’s already better than many of its more wallet-damaging peers.

Share this article

trek superfly 26 review

  • Terms & Conditions
  • Subscribe to our magazines
  • Manage preferences

trek superfly 26 review

  • General Youth
  • Rider Notes

2017 Trek Superfly 26

trek superfly 26 review

A 26″ aluminum frame general youth bike with upper mid-range components and hydraulic disc brakes. Compare the full range

For This Bike

View more similar bikes →

A bike with lower gearing will be easier to ride up steep hills, while a higher top end means it will pedal faster down hills.

Superfly 26

Similar Bikes

(descending)

Add custom gearing

The Angry Singlespeeder puts Trek's budget-friendly one-gear bike through its paces. See if he was still angry at the end of his ride. - Mtbr.com

Read Review

BikeRadar

Feb 2015 · Guy Kesteven

Powerful, light handling race or trail storming bike, but hindered by undersized tyres and heavy wheels

VeloNews

Jul 2014 · Emily Schaldach

The Superfly 9.7’s biggest selling point is its frame, and though the parts are modest, it has potential

Mountain Bike Action

May 2014 · MBA Action

Primed For Adventure Or The Podium Being at the forefront of the 29er movement, Trek’s Superfly FS was one of the first full-suspension, cross-country,

BIKE Magazine

Trek's line of Superfly cross-country 29ers includes nine hardtail models and seven full-suspension versions, giving riders ample options at many price points.

Oct 2013 · Dirt HQ

The Trek Superfly range has been overhauled for 2014 with carbon and alloy bikes, trickling technology from the top-end models lower down the price points.

99 Spokes on YouTube

Last updated 21 July Not listed for 2,463 days

IMAGES

  1. 2018 Trek Superfly 26

    trek superfly 26 review

  2. 2019 Trek Superfly 26

    trek superfly 26 review

  3. 2019 Trek Superfly 26

    trek superfly 26 review

  4. 2017 Trek Superfly 26

    trek superfly 26 review

  5. 2019 Trek Superfly 26

    trek superfly 26 review

  6. 2018 Trek Superfly 26

    trek superfly 26 review

VIDEO

  1. TREK SUPERFLY 5 (2016) POV

  2. Trek superfly 5 Lovecraft

  3. TREK SUPERFLY FS

  4. 2016 TREK Superfly 6: North Bank and Buttermilk Trails, RVA

  5. TREK SUPERFLY 6 WOMEN´S 2017

  6. POWERFUL TREK Supercaliber 9.8 GX 2021 bike review

COMMENTS

  1. Trek Superfly review

    Proven and well-natured performer

  2. Trek Superfly 29er Hardtail user reviews : 4.4 out of 5

    G2 geometry really works. The frame is stiff, well built. This new frame design only confirms these facts and only adds to the overall riding confidence. One big advantage of TREK 29" HT is the frame length. Probably the longest 29" HT frame out there.

  3. 2019 Trek Superfly 26

    2019 Trek. Superfly 26. A 26″ aluminum frame general youth bike with upper mid-range components and hydraulic disc brakes. ... Superfly 26. 18 mph. Similar Bikes. Highest gear (descending) Add custom gearing. Geometry. Specs. Build. ... Reviews; The Best Bikes. Gravel Bikes Under $2k;

  4. Trek Superfly reviews and prices

    Add a review. 2 Singletracks members own this. MSRP: $3,460. #31 out of 340 Hardtail bikes. Brand: Trek. Frame: Monocoque carbon, G2 29" Geometry. Front suspension: Fox F29 Fit RL w/E2 steerer, custom G2 Geometry, 51mm offset crown, 100mm travel. Wheels: Bontrager Race Lite FCC Disc 29, 28 hole.

  5. 2018 Trek Superfly 26

    2018 Trek. Superfly 26. A 26″ aluminum frame general youth bike with upper mid-range components and hydraulic disc brakes. Compare the full range. MSRP: ... Trek Superfly 9.6 review. Feb 2015 · Guy Kesteven. Powerful, light handling race or trail storming bike, but hindered by undersized tyres and heavy wheels. Read Review. Geometry.

  6. 2017 Trek Superfly 26

    Reviews; Geometry; Specs; Overview 2017 · Trek Superfly 26. A 26″ aluminum frame general youth bike with upper mid-range components and hydraulic disc brakes. Compare the full range. MSRP: $1,049: ... Superfly 26. 21 mph.

  7. Trek Superfly 29er Hardtail user reviews : 4.4 out of 5

    Strength: Light, Fast, Cushioned ride for a 29er hardtail, looks good. Weakness: Head tube design. The non integrated head tube design is weak and the lower cups separated on my frame. Set some really fast lap times on the local dirt tracks on this bike. The bike is fast, nimble, and comfortable to ride for those 30-40 miles trail rides.

  8. Trek Superfly Pro review

    Trek Superfly Pro review ... Image 1 of 26. ... Overall, the Trek Superfly Pro is a top-shelf ride and undoubtedly a better bike than the Elite model we tested last year - but then again, it ...

  9. First Ride: Trek Superfly Elite

    The Superfly's standout feature is its brilliant handling, courtesy of the Trek-exclusive G2 fork crown and its increased offset that produces trail figures similar to those of a standard 26 ...

  10. Trek Superfly SS review

    Trek Superfly SS review - BikeRadar

  11. Final Review: Trek Superfly 100 AL Pro 29er

    Trek's claim that the Superfly 100 is "the ultimate 29er full-suspension race bike" is right on the money. The Superfly is all about sheer speed: weighing in at 26 pounds stock (without pedals), this is one lightweight full-suspension 29er. Bearing in mind this is one of the aluminum versions and there are three more models above this ...

  12. Superfly 26

    Model 534804. Retailer prices may vary. Superfly 26 is our fastest hardtail mountain bike for kids. It's equipped with 26˝ wheels, a performance SRAM drivetrain, and an awesome suspension fork with 90mm of travel. This race-ready hardtail is inspired by super-fast adult hardtails but built from the ground up with a kids' specific geometry.

  13. Trek Superfly Pro 29er review

    One of the fastest and lightest 29ers on the market, the Trek Superfly Pro delivers superb performance and handling on any terrain.

  14. Trek Superfly 100 Elite SL review

    Frame: Trek Superfly 100 Elite SL, 100mm travel, OCLV Mountain Carbon main triangle and seat stays, aluminum chain stays Available sizes: 15.5, 17.5 (tested), 19, 21, 23" Rear shock: Fox Float CTD ...

  15. Reviewed: Trek Superfly 9.7 mountain bike

    Interestingly, the Superfly's bottom bracket drop is 5.5mm less than the Stumpjumper, meaning that the pedals sit slightly higher in the frame. Aside from that detail, Trek's bike is a longer, slacker machine than most ordinary cross-country race bikes. Passable parts. To be charitable, the 9.7's components are adequate.

  16. Trek Superfly 6 reviews and prices

    1 Singletracks members own this. MSRP: $1,809. #439 out of 518 29er bikes. Brand: Trek. Superfly raises the bar for 29er hardtail mountain bike performance. This lineup of aluminum, carbon, and super-light-carbon XC rockets is more than fast. It's the fastest. Upgrades from Superfly 5. RockShox Reba RL w/remote lockout.

  17. Trek Superfly 100 AL Elite 29er review

    Fast and agile 29er with full suspension and smooth shifting

  18. Superfly 26

    Model 534804. Retailer prices may vary. Superfly 26 is our fastest hardtail mountain bike for kids. It's equipped with 26˝ wheels, a performance SRAM drivetrain, and an awesome suspension fork with 90mm of travel. This race-ready hardtail is inspired by super-fast adult hardtails but built from the ground up with a kids' specific geometry.

  19. Review: Trek Superfly SS singlespeed 29er

    The Lowdown: Trek Superfly SS Singlespeed In a world of increasing complexity, the stripped-down simplicity of the new Trek Superfly SS is refreshing. With zero suspension, one gear, the ability to run a three-inch wide front tire and a stock weight of 20.5 pounds, the Superfly SS an ideal bike for those who want a fun, fast, versatile and low-maintenance bike.

  20. 2019 Trek Superfly 26

    A 26″ aluminum frame general youth bike with upper mid-range components and hydraulic disc brakes. ... General Youth; Overview; Gearing; Geometry; Specs; Rider Notes; Overview 2019 · Trek Superfly 26 ... Wheels: 26″ Aluminum: Drivetrain: 1 × 11: Groupset: NX: Brakes: Hydraulic Disc: View on trekbikes.com Learn about Trek Report data ...

  21. Trek Superfly 7 review

    Lightweight, blisteringly quick ride

  22. 2017 Trek Superfly 26

    Reviews; Geometry; Specs; Rider Notes; Overview 2017 Trek. Superfly 26. A 26″ aluminum frame general youth bike with upper mid-range components and hydraulic disc brakes. Compare the full range. RRP: $1,049: Weight:

  23. Trek Superfly 8 reviews and prices

    MSRP: $2,359. #271 out of 518 29er bikes. Brand: Trek. Superfly raises the bar for 29er hardtail mountain bike performance. This lineup of aluminum, carbon, and super-light-carbon XC rockets is more than fast. It's the fastest. Upgrades from Superfly 7. Fox Evolution fork w/CTD.