laserboy27

I just bought a Trek DS 8.4. I got the 2014 over the 2015. Was that a good move? As far as I could see, the components seemed better and it was $100 less.

swoodjr1

If you want a 2015 8.6 or 8.5 DS in any size larger than a 19 you are as of now SOL in the US. I'm hoping the dock strike (that is now over) on the west coast is the cause. Otherwise, I guess I'll wait until 2016 model year!

GlennR

I went to the LBS yesterday and couldn't decide on a 8.5 or 8.6 but since the 8.6 is not available in 19" I got the 8.5.

That was easy.

swoodjr1

Congrats! Enjoy the bike! I wish I could ride a 19!

intransit1217

Almost have mine set up for dual work. Still need to buy a front wheel for my knobby tire. I like the extra grip on crushed limestone.

Currently running 32 hardcase tires now. I'll go to a 35 touring tire for the long miles. I still think of my ds as my main squeeze.

GlennR

The full story is i'm a road cyclist and in January I bought a Trek Emonda SLR. I also started riding my son's mountain bike over the winter. I decided when i sell my old road bike, Trek Madone 4.6, i would buy a "trail bike". I didn't need anything as rugged as a MTB but wanted to ride it to the trails and then do some single track and fire roads, the DS seemed perfect.

So yesterday I sold the Madone and on the way home I stopped by the LBS and ordered the DS.

The cash never made it home.

As a side benefit, I bought MTB shoes with SPD cleats and wore them last night to spin class.

So it's a win win for me.

GlennR

What size and brand tubes are recommended? And what size presta valve? I want to have a spare.

Tires are 700x38.

GlennR

700C Presta Tube 700C X 35-43mm, 48mm Valve

ROB DS

Hey Ian,

I tried to send you back a personal message response but I'm not allowed to until I've had 50 postings?

Not much help from MMR, I received again pretty much the same standard reply, perhaps too much going on with the change in ownership. I know these tech issues don't get fixed with the wave of a magic wand but total elevation isn't a high priority. I've been checking out Strava and reading some of the reviews and I guess it's difficult to please everyone but maybe I need to bite the bullet and make the switch. I probably would change to Strava if I could just record my mileage as one sum for 2013, 2014 and my mileage for this year but this doesn't appear to be possible.

Do you really live in Tasmania? It sounds like an amazing state/place to live. Wow, 45% of Tasmania lies in reserves or national parks, what a cyclers paradise.

Take care & ride safe everyone.

fishnmaine

I got my 2015 19" 8.6 picking it up this weekend along with my wifes 2015 Neko SLX...cant wait..

limbot

Bummer Rob. Think you might have to just bite the bullet It's worth it.

Yep born and bred Tasmanian

Surely do Rob.

Yeah there's some fantastic biking here though there are also lots of hills as well/ I live at 250m above sea level so even a commute includes climbing

Have a squiz at my latest entry in the "Where did you hybrid take you today" thread for an idea of what you can expect if you get down here and ride

Photokid1970

Several folks on here are asking about specific components - I thought I'd upload a few close ups of the 2015 DS 8.4. A few have already posted some nice beauty shots of the bike, so I didn't take one of those. (Plus, it's pouring cats and dogs here keeping me from testing this out, so I'm confined to my tiny porch for this photo session..)

I bought the 2014 from the LBS to save some money, but they put me on a 21" and said "That's too high.. try the 19." We ordered it, and they put it together for me and had it waiting. In our excitement I didn't get them to size me.. it's still a little high! Went back, and they had me sit on this 17.5. It is a much better fit! It's also a 2015, so I just paid the difference. 3 main reasons:
1) LBS said that Trek had upgraded a lot of things and the 2015 was probably going to be a better bike. (Good reason)
2) They would have to re-order the 2014 model from Trek and it would take a couple of weeks to get it in. (Not as good of a reason, but the one that probably sold me)
3) The new models come in Matte Black with no red anywhere on it. (The absolute worst reason. But any good Auburn fan will tell you, anything worth having is worth the trouble of avoiding red and white on it if possible!)

Plus, the 2015 model has the slot for the Duotrap S sensor on it so I could upgrade to the Trip 300 sensor. My wife got a Trip 200 on her Neko, and I like it better than the Cateye Wireless that I got. Then when all was said and done, I went with the Garmin anyway. Go figure.

New to the boards, so I hope this can help someone. I've been searching all over for pictures of the 2014 and 2015 models of this bike, and most searches led me here. Now I'll gain some points I hope and that will let me come back and ask the silly questions. Not counting my childhood many years ago, I'm brand new to the biking scene.

ColonelSanders

That Matte Black on the DS & FX range is absolutely gorgeous.

I don't understand the reference here, I'm guessing it is a local thing, but I would still be keen to here why.

So did the Garmin come with a Blendr compatible fitting system? How did that all work?

GlennR

I just picked it up and its a sweet ride.

Trek Dual Sport 8.5


Here's my "other" ride.

ColonelSanders

The best colour scheme I think I've ever seen on the DS bikes.

Well you should be sorted.

intransit1217

I would upgrade mine if I hadn't already invested in the rockshock fork.

Photokid1970

Ahh yes - college football. Alabama is red and white, Auburn is Orange and Blue. I forget that not everyone in the world follows it like we do in the US! Will adjust my humor to the Global Setting now...

The Garmin came with a mount that the LBS did loan on my Blendr stem for me, but not with the universal mount. It's really mounted in a similar way to my Urban 500 light.

The rain stopped for about 30 minutes, so I was able to get a couple of miles in and get a few beauty pictures. Here we go:



I do like the Matte Black, but I would have chosen the Blue from oldnslow2's model if it were an option! The 2014 8.4 had a great royal blue, but it wasn't meant to be. As it is, this black looks great I believe!

GlennR

I couldn't decide on the 8.5 and 8.6. I figured for $200 more i'd get the better components but I disliked the brush silver finish. At the LBS they explained that there's are very limited supply due tot he dock workers strike. When they checked availability, there were no 8.6 in 19" and only a few 8.5 in that size.

So my decision was made and i have no regrets. With the extra cash I purchased a pair of Bontrager RL shoes, Shimano PD-A530 pedals and the Duo Trap S sender, so the bike is complete.

My only issue is with the disc rotors rubbing a bit.Once i get a ride or two on it, i'll bring it in for some tweaking.

GlennR

I really like the matte black on my Emonda, but it's nice to have something with some color. I was originally thinking of the 8.6 but the brush aluminum was a turn off.

No offense to anyone that has a 8.6, it's just personal preference.

Photokid1970

Let's see if I can get a larger picture to upload...



Well, it still shows as a thumbnail here even though I uploaded a full sized picture. I have some learning to do on the upload process.

GlennR

You need to have it hosted on a independent web server like Photo Bucket, SmugMug, Imageshack....

i have my own web server.

ColonelSanders

Nah don't do that. I figured it was going to be one of three out of football, baseball or basketball.

Besides most people on these forums are American and it won't be that often that people won't get the references you are likely to make.

One of the nice things about the bike being in black, it should work out well if you ever decide to upgrade or change your fork to something like the Rockshock Paragon or a number of straight fork options which so often only come in black.



It is a damn shame that one can't get the model they want, in the colour they want, so you always end up making some kind of compromise on what you get.

If I was going to get a DS, even though I prefer the 8.5's colour scheme, I would have chosen the 8.6 because I'm not put off by that colour to the same extent that you are, but I would be doing so simply because I really like the look of the crank on the 8.6.

fishnmaine

My 2015 DS 8.6 came with a Vita RST fork...Are the Suntour NRX still on recall? I don't see any reviews on the Vita's if they are better or worse.

GlennR

3rd bottle cage???



I found these 2 bungs on the bottom of the down tube near the bottom bracket. They are spaced for a water bottle cage but I can't imagine putting a 3rd one there.

Any idea?

intransit1217

More than likely that's what their intended purpose is. But putting a modified bottle for tools there would be cool I think.