Wheel Upgrade
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2020
Posts: 1
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Wheel Upgrade
I own a 2016 Trek FX 7.2. It is a reliable bike, but very heavy. I would love to upgrade to an FX Sport 6, but good luck in finding one. My second choice is to upgrade my wheel set like I have done on my road bikes in the past. The problem is I can find nothing on line about recommendations for upgrading Bontrager AT-750 wheels. Don’t people upgrade wheels on hybrid bikes? I am looking for some guidance and recommendations. Thanks.
#2
SE Wis
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 7,176
Bikes: '68 Raleigh Sprite, '02 Raleigh C500, '84 Raleigh Gran Prix, '91 Trek 400, 2013 Novara Randonee, 1990 Trek 970
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1433 Post(s)
Liked 903 Times
in
618 Posts
I own a 2016 Trek FX 7.2. It is a reliable bike, but very heavy. I would love to upgrade to an FX Sport 6, but good luck in finding one. My second choice is to upgrade my wheel set like I have done on my road bikes in the past. The problem is I can find nothing on line about recommendations for upgrading Bontrager AT-750 wheels. Don’t people upgrade wheels on hybrid bikes? I am looking for some guidance and recommendations. Thanks.
Likes For dedhed:
Likes For dieselgoat:
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: East L.A.
Posts: 902
Bikes: Fuji Nevada, Diamondback Insight, Motobecane Mirage
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Liked 4 Times
in
3 Posts
I never understood it, on anything other than a road bike I guess for durability? Not for speed, if it is on a road bike then I would hope you are a real racer and have no problem dropping the dough. Diminishing returns and all that.
#6
Clark W. Griswold
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ,location, location
Posts: 7,231
Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), Cilo Road Frame, Proteus frame, Ti 26 MTB
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1866 Post(s)
Liked 735 Times
in
508 Posts
There are some nice hybrids out there that could potentially be worth upgrade but a Trek FX from 2016 not really especially not something at or near the base.
I would save the money towards a better bike. Wheels can be upgraded but the drivetrain and many other parts are sub-par so it just isn't worth spending the money unless you need it to keep it running.
Just because it has a flat bar on non-MTB tires doesn't always make it a bad thing. Of course many are cheap mass market bikes but there are some nice ones out there. The Specialized Diverge EVO is pretty neat and certainly is one I might consider putting upgrades on (or maybe not as it is pretty decently spec'd for the average person)
I would save the money towards a better bike. Wheels can be upgraded but the drivetrain and many other parts are sub-par so it just isn't worth spending the money unless you need it to keep it running.
Just because it has a flat bar on non-MTB tires doesn't always make it a bad thing. Of course many are cheap mass market bikes but there are some nice ones out there. The Specialized Diverge EVO is pretty neat and certainly is one I might consider putting upgrades on (or maybe not as it is pretty decently spec'd for the average person)
#7
SE Wis
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 7,176
Bikes: '68 Raleigh Sprite, '02 Raleigh C500, '84 Raleigh Gran Prix, '91 Trek 400, 2013 Novara Randonee, 1990 Trek 970
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1433 Post(s)
Liked 903 Times
in
618 Posts
While I agree it's not worth upgrading unless something fails, I disagree with "sub-par". The drivetrain is perfectly adequate to provide thousands of miles of trouble free service for the price point of the bicycle, and for most purchasers will provide that service given who and why the bicycle was designed for.
#8
Clark W. Griswold
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ,location, location
Posts: 7,231
Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), Cilo Road Frame, Proteus frame, Ti 26 MTB
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1866 Post(s)
Liked 735 Times
in
508 Posts
While I agree it's not worth upgrading unless something fails, I disagree with "sub-par". The drivetrain is perfectly adequate to provide thousands of miles of trouble free service for the price point of the bicycle, and for most purchasers will provide that service given who and why the bicycle was designed for.
It is a cheaper drivetrain to hit a price point not to be reliable and durable. Some of the parts are a small notch above Tourney which is a slight mark above. However again not at or above par.
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Greer, SC
Posts: 172
Bikes: Canyon Grail, Salsa Cutthroat, Santa Cruz Tallboy
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 97 Post(s)
Liked 115 Times
in
58 Posts
Oh no.... it seems there’s no standard for the word “par” here on BF. What will we do????
Likes For sarhog:
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 225
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 129 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 31 Times
in
29 Posts
if you are riding 700c you have so man options , disc or rim . you could look on merlin cycle they always have a low price for quality wheels like mavic askiums , i bought some vittoria wheels for 171 on their website with a coupon , they are tubeless ready !
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: South Shore of Long Island
Posts: 1,274
Bikes: 2010 Carrera Volans, 2015 C-Dale Trail 2sl, 2017 Raleigh Rush Hour, 2017 Blue Proseccio, 1992 Giant Perigee, 80s Gitane Rallye Tandem
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 478 Post(s)
Liked 327 Times
in
255 Posts
The problem is that usually wheel upgrades cost about the same amount as the bike you're trying to upgrade. Doesn't mean you can't and as suggested someplace like Merlin can get you a better wheel for a decent price that should have no trouble swapping in.
#12
Journeyman Bike Commuter
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 6,196
Bikes: '71 Jeunet 640, '79 Peugeot PXN10LE, '88 Fuji Saratoga, '13 Motobecane Fantom29 HT, '16 Motobecane Turino Pro Disc, '16 Motobecane Gran Premio Elite, '18 Velobuild VB-R-022
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1118 Post(s)
Liked 845 Times
in
471 Posts
Wait. Isn't "sub-par" good?
Likes For Phil_gretz:
Likes For altondavis2:
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: St Peters, Missouri
Posts: 29,991
Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1482 Post(s)
Liked 432 Times
in
254 Posts
Exactly! The only purpose of OP's bike is to make one specific person, in the entire world, happy.
__________________
My greatest fear is all of my kids standing around my coffin and talking about "how sensible" dad was.
My greatest fear is all of my kids standing around my coffin and talking about "how sensible" dad was.
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Kips Bay, NY
Posts: 1,668
Bikes: Ritchey Swiss Cross | Teesdale Kona Hot | Haro Extreme | Specialized Stumpjumper Comp | Cannondale F1000 | Shogun 1000 | Cannondale M500 | Norco Charger | Marin Muirwoods 29er | Hiawatha 3sp | Shogun Kaze | Breezer Lightning
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 347 Post(s)
Liked 403 Times
in
227 Posts
Nice wheels are a good upgrade to any bike IMO. Your wheel is a bit more difficult to find an off the shelf solution due to being 135mm, rim brake, and Al frame. Most premade wheels to fit this will be probably as heavy as what you have now. A bike shop can lace up something up to suit.
#18
Senior Member
With wheels, weight is only part of the story. Better wheels have better bearings, add some
good tires and that old heavy FX may become the bike of your dreams.
good tires and that old heavy FX may become the bike of your dreams.
#19
Sniveling Weasel
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Seattle-ish
Posts: 693
Bikes: Rodriguez Racing Tandem, Fondriest Steelie, Bianchi Trofeo, Bianchi Infinito, Schwinn Varsity, Trek mtn
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 284 Post(s)
Liked 340 Times
in
213 Posts
I own a 2016 Trek FX 7.2. It is a reliable bike, but very heavy. I would love to upgrade to an FX Sport 6, but good luck in finding one. My second choice is to upgrade my wheel set like I have done on my road bikes in the past. The problem is I can find nothing on line about recommendations for upgrading Bontrager AT-750 wheels. Don’t people upgrade wheels on hybrid bikes? I am looking for some guidance and recommendations. Thanks.
__________________
Rick Seattle-ish, Wa.
“He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.”- Fredrick Nietzsche
Rick Seattle-ish, Wa.
“He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.”- Fredrick Nietzsche
#20
Clark W. Griswold
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ,location, location
Posts: 7,231
Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), Cilo Road Frame, Proteus frame, Ti 26 MTB
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1866 Post(s)
Liked 735 Times
in
508 Posts
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 4,683
Bikes: Trek Domane SLR 7, Trek ALR 6, Trek CrossRip, Trek X-Caliber 8
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 77 Post(s)
Liked 148 Times
in
88 Posts
I own a 2016 Trek FX 7.2. It is a reliable bike, but very heavy. I would love to upgrade to an FX Sport 6, but good luck in finding one. My second choice is to upgrade my wheel set like I have done on my road bikes in the past. The problem is I can find nothing on line about recommendations for upgrading Bontrager AT-750 wheels. Don’t people upgrade wheels on hybrid bikes? I am looking for some guidance and recommendations. Thanks.

#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Mission Viejo
Posts: 2,715
Bikes: 1986 Cannondale SR400 (Flat bar commuter), 1988 Cannondale Criterium XTR, 1992 Serotta T-Max, 1995 Trek 970
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 677 Post(s)
Liked 440 Times
in
297 Posts
If you want to upgrade, the first thing is to weigh the wheels you have. That will let you know what you have.
I know wheel weight can make a difference to some people. My wife rode a steel Univega for years. I had installed a set of Fulcrum R7 (eBay) lower level trainers when I converted it to a cassette. She got a newer aluminum frame road bike with Alex wheels and complained the bike felt slow. The wheels (no tires, no cassette, no skewers) weighed 2600 grams. Found a set of Fulcrum T’s (eBay) and all is well.
You don’t need $1000 wheels if you have wheels that weigh 5-6 lbs, you just need ones that are much lighter. But if your wheels are already sub-2000 grams, it won’t be worth the money to make a difference.
John
I know wheel weight can make a difference to some people. My wife rode a steel Univega for years. I had installed a set of Fulcrum R7 (eBay) lower level trainers when I converted it to a cassette. She got a newer aluminum frame road bike with Alex wheels and complained the bike felt slow. The wheels (no tires, no cassette, no skewers) weighed 2600 grams. Found a set of Fulcrum T’s (eBay) and all is well.
You don’t need $1000 wheels if you have wheels that weigh 5-6 lbs, you just need ones that are much lighter. But if your wheels are already sub-2000 grams, it won’t be worth the money to make a difference.
John
Likes For 70sSanO:
#23
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Arizona
Posts: 16
Bikes: Trek 460, Trek 1420, Schwin High Sierra
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
2 Posts
By the same token the OP can weigh the bike as-is (presumably they've done so,) and while the wheels are removed to be weighed also weigh the rest of the bike. (or calculate it from the known total weigh minus the wheel weight.) That will tell them how much they could possibly save by replacing just the wheels. Going from 30 lb to 28 lb (for instance,) may not make much difference.