Trek's 2017 Farley Fatbike Lineup Unveiled

Trek introduced some of the new additions to its fatbike lineup last week at the Sea Otter Classic.  New bikes including full-suspension and a new super light carbon hardtail model in addition to new color choices on previous models will be showing up at your local Trek dealer late this Summer.  Trek is now taking pre-orders on the Farley EX full-suspension and hardtail models for early August delivery.

The Farley EX models have 120mm of "smooth front and rear suspension".  How is this new Trek offering different from the Salsa Bucksaw?  With the proven suspension technology of ABP, Full Floater and RE:aktiv, Farley EX "rolls faster with less bounce thanks to its bigger 27.5 fat wheels."

Farley EX 9.8

$5499.99

Image Credit: Trek

Trek's carbon full-suspension offering, the Farley EX 9.8 starts with an OCLV Mountain Carbon mainframe & seatstay, alloy chainstay, ABP, Full Floater, EVO Link and Mino Link.  The 120mm of travel comes from a Rock Shox Bluto RL fork and Fox Performance Float EVOL, RE:aktiv 3-position damper tuned by Trek Suspension Lab.  Carbon Wampa TLR 80mm wheels fitted with Bontrager Hodag (TLR 120 tpi) 27.5x3.8" tires make up the wheelset.  The drivetrain consists of SRAM X1 11-speed shifter, SRAM XO1 carbon rear derailleur, SRAM XG-1150 10-42 11-speed cassette and Race Face Next 30T Direct Mount narrow/wide cranks.  For the cockpit, Bontrager Line Pro OCLV carbon bars, Bontrager Line Pro stem, SRAM GD hydraulic disc brakes and Bontrager's new Drop Line 100 dropper post finish out this model.  Comes in color Matte Trek Black.  Available for pre-order now from Penn Cycle or your local Trek dealer with delivery early August 2016.

Farley EX 8

$3499.99

Image Credit: Trek

Trek's aluminum full-suspension offering, the Farley EX 8 starts with an Alpha Platinum Aluminum frame with ABP, Full Floater, EVO Link and Mino Link.  The 120mm of travel comes from a Rock Shox Bluto RL fork and Fox Performance Float EVOL, RE:aktiv 3-position damper tuned by Trek Suspension Lab.  SUNringlé MuleFüt 80mm 32-hole cutout rims laced with Bontrager Jackalope hubs and fitted with Bontrager Hodag (TLR 120 tpi) 27.5x3.8" tires make up the wheelset.  The drivetrain consists of SRAM GX 11-speed shifter, Race Face Aeffect 28T Direct Mount narrow/wide cranks, SRAM GX rear derailleur and SRAM XG-1150 10-42 11-speed cassette.  SRAM Level T hydraulic disc brakes and a KS eThirty remote lever dropper post finish out this model.  Comes in color California Skye Blue.  Available for pre-order now from Penn Cycle or your local Trek dealer with delivery early August 2016.

Farley 9.9

$7499.99

Image Credit: Trek

New for 2017 is Trek's lightest all-carbon race version fatbike to date, the Farley 9.9.  This North America-only build weighs in at a mere 22 pounds.  The build starts with Trek's OCLV Mountain Carbon frame and a Bontrager Haru Pro OCLV fork with carbon lowers and carbon E2 tapered steerer.  HED Big Half Deal 85mm (27.5") carbon wheels with HED Brickhouse carbon hubs are combined with the new Bontrager Barbegazi (TLR, 120 tpi) 27.5x4.5" tires.  A SRAM Eagle XX1 12-speed drivetrain (10-50 cassette) and a full carbon cockpit including SRAM Guide Ultimate carbon hydraulic disc brakes round off this lightweight race machine.  Comes in color Matte Carbon Smoke.  Available for pre-order now from Penn Cycle or your local Trek dealer with delivery early August 2016.

Farley 9.8

$4599.99

Image Credit: Trek

The 2017 Trek Farley 9.8 has some minor changes over the 2016 model including a color change to Matte Silver, Bontrager Barbegazi (TLR, 120 tpi) 27.5x4.5" tires, Bontrager Montrose Elite (hollow Titanium rails) saddle, Bontrager Pro OCLV Carbon seatpost and Bontrager Pro stem.  Features that carry over from last year's model are the carbon Wampa TLR 80mm wheels, 100mm suspension corrected carbon frame and fork, SRAM/Race Face drivetrain and SRAM Guide RS hydraulic disc brakes.  Available for pre-order now from Penn Cycle or your local Trek dealer with delivery early August 2016.

Farley 9.6

$2799.99

Image Credit: Trek

The 2017 Trek Farley 9.6 has a few changes over the 2016 model which include a color change to Roarange, SUNringlé MuleFüt 80mm 32-hole cutout rims with Bontrager Barbegazi (TLR, 120 tpi) 26x4.50" tires, ESI Chunky grips and SRAM Level T hydraulic disc brakes.  The drivetrain remains the same with SRAM GX 11-speed shifter, Race Face Aeffect 28T Direct Mount narrow/wide cranks, SRAM GX rear derailleur and SRAM XG-1150 10-42 11-speed cassette.  Available for pre-order now from Penn Cycle or your local Trek dealer with delivery early August 2016.

Farley 7

$2399.99

Image Credit: Trek

The Farley 7 has an Alpha Platinum Aluminum frame, is 100mm suspension corrected with 197mm rear spacing Stranglehold rear axle dropout.  An upgrade from the Farley 5 is a Bontrager Haru OCLV carbon lowers fork.  Like the Farley 5, it has SUNringlé MuleFüt 80mm 32-hole cutout rims with Bontrager Barbegazi (TLR, 120 tpi) 26x4.70" tires but has SRAM Level T hydraulic disc brakes.  The drivetrain consists of  SRAM GX 11-Speed shifters, Race Face Aeffect 28T Direct Mount narrow/wide cranks, SRAM GX rear derailleur and SRAM XG-1150 10-42 11-speed cassette.  Comes in color Matte Dnister Black.  Available for pre-order now from Penn Cycle or your local Trek dealer with delivery early August 2016.

Farley 5

$1729.99

Image Credit: Trek

Trek's entry level fatbike has an Alpha Platinum Aluminum frame, is 100mm suspension corrected with 197mm rear spacing Stranglehold rear axle dropout.  The drivetrain consists of Shimano Deore 10-Speed shifters, a Race Face Ride crank (36/22), SRAM X5 low direct mount front derailleur, Shimano Deore Shadow Plus rear derailleur and a Shimano HG50 11-36 10-speed cassette.  Other features include SRAM Level hydraulic disc brakes, SUNringlé MuleFüt 80mm 32-hole cutout rims with Bontrager Barbegazi (TLR, 120 tpi) 26x4.70"tires.  Comes in color California Skye Blue.  Available for pre-order now from Penn Cycle or your local Trek dealer with delivery early August 2016.

Two Trek Factory Demo Days Coming to the Twin Cities This Fall

Trek has announced two more Factory Demo days for the Twin Cities this year.  They will take place at Lebanon Hills Mountain Bike Trails on Saturday, September 26th and Elm Creek Singletrack on Sunday, September 27th.  Both demos will be held from 10am to 3pm.

Some of the bikes (in various sizes) that will be available to test ride include:

Road Bikes
Domane 6.2 
Emonda SLR 6

Silque SLX

Madone 9.2

Mountain Bikes
Procaliber 9.8

Stache 9

Farley 9.8

Top Fuel 9.8

Fuel EX 9.9 29
Fuel EX 9 27.5

Lush Carbon 27.5

Remedy 9.8 29
Remedy 9.8 27.5

Slash 9.8

Don't miss this opportunity to ride some of Trek's best bikes.  The Trek Demo Rig will be loaded with new bikes that most people have yet to see, let alone ride.  These demos are a great way to try out several and get a feel for the one that will be your next new ride.  Bonus, receive a $100 coupon for demoing a Trek bike.

*List of bikes for demos is subject to change.

*Demo is subject to weather and trail conditions at that time! Riders will need their DL and CC in order to demo. Must be at least 16yrs old and have a parent present if under 18.

Two Trek Factory Demo Days Coming to the Twin Cities This Spring

Trek has announced two Factory Demo days for the Twin Cities this Spring.  They will take place at Lebanon Hills Mountain Bike Trails on May 23rd and Murphey-Hanrehan Park Reserve on May 24th.  Both demos will be held from 10am to 3pm.

Some of the bikes (in various sizes) that will be available to test ride include:

Road
Domane 6.2 C
Domane 6.2 Disc
Emonda SLR 6 H2
Silque SLX C

Cyclocross
2016 Boone Disc

Mountain Bikes
Remedy 9.8 29
Remedy 9.8 27.5
Slash 9.8 27.5
Fuel EX 9.8 29
Fuel EX 9.8 27.5
Stache 9
Lush S 27.5
Cali Carbon SL 29
Farley 6

Don't miss this opportunity to ride some of Trek's best bikes.  These demos are a great way to try out several and get a feel for the one that will be your next new ride.  Bonus, receive a $100 coupon for demoing a Trek bike.

*List of bikes for demos is subject to change.

*Demo is subject to weather and trail conditions at that time! Riders will need their DL and CC in order to demo. Must be at least 16yrs old and have a parent present if under 18.

Product Review: All Mountain Style Frame Guard

The All Mountain Style Frame Guard is a product I came across last fall that offers protection for a bike's frame and paint.  It is made from high impact and rub resistance honeycomb 380 microns semi-rigid PVC and stays in place with an automotive-grade adhesive.  Its simple design and ease of installation peaked my curiosity and I wanted to put it to the test on a fatbike during a harsh Minnesota winter and spring.  This would give me an idea of its frame protection performance and how it stands up to the elements year round.  The AMS Frame Guard would be put through some extreme riding conditions including sub-zero temperatures, ice, snow, mud and wet gravel.  Would it stay put without peeling off and would it protect the bike's frame and paint job?  Only time would tell.

Installation of the AMS Frame Guard was very easy and didn't take long.  I cleaned and prepped the application areas with alcohol proceeded to apply the appropriate pieces.  Each piece conformed nicely to the curvature of the bike frame and the adhesive allowed repositioning if needed.  The down tube extension pieces make for a custom fit on many different frame sizes.  Bottle cage bolts were easily trimmed around with a sharp knife.  Firmly pressing and rubbing on the installed pieces worked all of the air bubbles out providing full contact and the clear frame guards almost disappeared except for their honeycomb pattern.  From a distance, you wouldn't even notice them on the bike.

I also installed the pieces designed to go on the drive side chainstay and trimmed pieces to be placed on brake and shifter cable rubbing points.

After a long, cold winter and quite a few messy spring gravel rides, the AMS Frame Guards did the job at protecting the paint and frame.  There were no impact marks, chips, scratches or rub marks on the covered areas.  Throughout all of the wet conditions experienced, the AMS Frame Guards stayed securely adhered to the frame without any peeling or signs of coming loose along their edges.

If you want to protect your mountain bike or fatbike, then the All Mountain Style Frame Guard is what you are looking for to do the job.  They come in regular or XL for larger diameter frame tubes in clear, black or XLFluor/Neon colors with 10 parts for a custom fit.  AMS Frame Guards can be purchased from the All Mountain Style website and include free shipping.

Disclosure:  All Mountain Style provided the review sample for this article, but offered no other form of compensation for this review.