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What's the going opinion on the Trek Y-Foil?

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What's the going opinion on the Trek Y-Foil?

Old 05-21-22, 11:42 PM
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VegasJen
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What's the going opinion on the Trek Y-Foil?

I know these are older bikes, but I looked at a Y-Foil 77 today that was literally like new. Ultegra hardware all around. The guy had upgraded to Rolf wheels and the tires still had casting flash on them. As far as the frame, there was one chip in the paint. That's all I found on this bike that's almost 25 years old. I mean seriously, if it weren't for that one chip, this thing could be sold as new. Guy is asking $1200. I wouldn't give that much for it even if I could afford to, but I might consider $800-900. Don't know if he would go that low though.

Pretty radical design, very aggressive angle. Almost seems like what I imagine a triathlon bike to feel like. This frame is maybe a little tall for me but the hip/leg geometry was fine when we lowered the seat a bit. There was still about 2 inches of down travel on the seat tube but it was pretty good right where we stopped. The thing I noticed was how low the bars were, even after dropping the seat. He did have them set at a pretty aggressive angle, but even rotating them up a bit, they're still pretty low.

I've been shopping for triathlon bikes a lot lately, and I know this isn't one, but it might be a very good compromise with some clamp on aero bars. Neat looking bike.
Pic for those that don't know what I'm talking about.

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Old 05-22-22, 02:12 AM
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Old 05-22-22, 06:09 AM
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If you think that handlebar is low, wait ‘til you try a real time trial bike. I run more drop on my road bike, and I’m an old man.
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Old 05-22-22, 07:31 AM
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Heavy. Lot of carbon used to maintain the shape without breaking. It was a mostly gimmicky look, IMO.
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Old 05-22-22, 08:28 AM
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Originally Posted by Steve B.
Heavy. Lot of carbon used to maintain the shape without breaking. It was a mostly gimmicky look, IMO.
I'll grant you it is a peculiar, "gimmicky" look. But heavy it ain't. I would guess it's 3-4 pounds lighter than my CF Roubiax, so easily under 20 pounds.
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Old 05-22-22, 10:46 AM
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I would buy one.
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Old 05-22-22, 11:26 AM
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Same reason a lot of other 20th century bicycles aren't sold as mainstream bikes.
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Old 05-22-22, 01:45 PM
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It is like a car collector buying an AMC Pacer. They buy them but not for the driving experience.
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Old 05-22-22, 02:25 PM
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Originally Posted by Steve B.
Heavy. Lot of carbon used to maintain the shape without breaking. It was a mostly gimmicky look, IMO.

the reason the bike looks gimmicky is because the UCI outlawed it. There was lots of experimentation with frame design in that era until the UCI mandated that bikes had to be traditional diamond frame. That relegated bikes like this to the triathlon market.

Without UCI rules mandating diamond frames, some of the “gimmicks” might have become mainstream. Heck we might all be riding recumbents had they not been banned years before that
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Old 05-22-22, 03:49 PM
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Originally Posted by VegasJen
I'll grant you it is a peculiar, "gimmicky" look. But heavy it ain't. I would guess it's 3-4 pounds lighter than my CF Roubiax, so easily under 20 pounds.
Doubtful. And bolting tri bars on a road bike doesn't turn it into a tri bike.
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Old 05-22-22, 05:06 PM
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Originally Posted by cxwrench
Doubtful. And bolting tri bars on a road bike doesn't turn it into a tri bike.
You can doubt as much as you like. Have you put hands on one? I can tell you with a high degree of certainty it's lighter than my Roubiax, and I've weighed it to 22lbs.
Originally Posted by VegasJen
...

I've been shopping for triathlon bikes a lot lately, and I know this isn't one, but it might be a very good compromise with some clamp on aero bars. Neat looking bike.
RIFH
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Old 05-22-22, 05:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Atlas Shrugged
It is like a car collector buying an AMC Pacer. They buy them but not for the driving experience.
The Pacer wasn't designed for performance driving, it was for attracting the babes.


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Old 05-22-22, 06:18 PM
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Your Roubaix must be from the previous century too if it weighs 22 lbs. Though I will agree with you that the Trek Y-Foil is probably lighter. CF back then was all about weight and stiffening the places in the frame that steel, aluminum and other stuff couldn't stiffen and still be light. Not so much for how well it could handle abuse.

Partly the reason it got a bad rep that is still today widely believed.

Last edited by Iride01; 05-22-22 at 06:32 PM.
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Old 05-22-22, 06:27 PM
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Originally Posted by tyrion
The Pacer wasn't designed for performance driving, it was for attracting the babes.


I wish I'd known that when I got my Gremlin back circa the mid 70's.
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Old 05-22-22, 06:39 PM
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The last crit I was in, a guy was racing on one. It was solid gold and looked amazing. Instant bike envy. I didn’t get a chance to talk to him about it, and I wouldn’t shell out thousands of dollars for one if the price was im right, it would be a fun build.
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Old 05-22-22, 07:21 PM
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No.
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Old 05-22-22, 07:33 PM
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Originally Posted by indyfabz
No.

No imagination.
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Old 05-23-22, 12:52 AM
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Probably rides like garbage compared to any modern bike, but I would buy one in a heartbeat if I could find a good one!!! 😍
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Old 05-23-22, 12:59 AM
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Originally Posted by tempocyclist
Probably rides like garbage compared to any modern bike, but I would buy one in a heartbeat if I could find a good one!!! 😍
In what way would you expect it to ride like "garbage"? I rode it very briefly the other day and I was surprised at how compliant it was. Granted, it was just around a very smooth parking lot, but I think the way the seat stem is kind of cantilevered, it absorbs a lot of harshness. Of course, this bike is only slightly older than anything I'm currently on anyway, so there's that.
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Old 05-23-22, 05:37 AM
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You rode it around a parking lot? Wait a minute. Have you already purchased it and this is one of those "Did I get a good deal" threads in disguise?"
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Old 05-23-22, 06:34 AM
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$1200 is fairly cheap in the current market. I've never ridden one, but have been lusting after one (blue, please) for over 20 years.
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Old 05-23-22, 07:08 AM
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Wow, Never thought I would have to avert my eyes so not to implant that picture in my head, like seeing a plump goddess in a string bikini, but thats the ugliest bike ever..
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Old 05-23-22, 07:11 AM
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Originally Posted by N2deep
Wow, Never thought I would have to avert my eyes so not to implant that picture in my head, like seeing a plump goddess in a string bikini, but thats the ugliest bike ever..
+1. Those wheels aren't helping.
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Old 05-23-22, 07:41 AM
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Don't forget about these. There could be one in your area. You could pick this one up and sample the local craft brewery. I go through there about once a week.

https://richmond.craigslist.org/bik/...486102580.html

https://www.dragonrunbrewing.com/
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Old 05-23-22, 09:18 AM
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Originally Posted by VegasJen
I'll grant you it is a peculiar, "gimmicky" look. But heavy it ain't. I would guess it's 3-4 pounds lighter than my CF Roubiax, so easily under 20 pounds.
The frame is over 4 pounds. Many modern cf frames are under 2 pounds.
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