Trek Remedy – what else?

I think I’m just about to ‘push-the-button’ on a shiny, new, Trek Remedy.

I WANT full suspension
I WANT 27.5″ wheels (I think!)
I WANT agillity and fun over ‘fast’

I will use this bike for all day riding on natural trails, bike park riding, 15 mile off road rides on a Saturday morning, blasting around my local woods after/before work etc…

I’ve chosen the Remedy for the smaller wheels, 65-66 degree head angle and 1180’ish wheelbase which I hope will enable all the stuff I want :o)

What other bikes should I consider buying before I buy a Trek Remedy?

I’ve had a Trek Remedy (a 2020 model) and had a fun two years on it. I’ve now moved to a 2021 Slash and a 2021 Top Fuel (with a slackset).

I would caution against a Trek Remedy purchase just yet – I would want to see what Trek bring out in their model refresh – it is expected that they will give the Remedy some attention as it’s in its third year without change now.

I really enjoyed my Remedy but found that it was a little confusing at times. It did everything well, went down well, went up well, but didn’t excel at any one thing. Don’t get me wrong – it’s not a bad bike by any measure, but it definitely is a little long in the tooth currently.

The Slash and Top Fuel came out of a need for me to have a more focused bike for what I wanted to ride – the Top Fuel is like a rocket ship – a lightweight Remedy in a way – it still descends well, but it goes like shit off a shovel everywhere and easily hits 24/25lbs.

The Slash is much of the same, but the opposite – like a monster truck, able to take massive hits yet still climb on those long days.

Sure, I’ve now got two bikes instead of just the one, but I share this as I ended up choosing to leave the Remedy behind and have the right tool for more XCy or DHy stuff.

I can’t comment on what the alternatives are other than a Transition Scout which would be the only other thing I’d consider, but I thought I’d share the point of the Remedy being ready for a refresh. Also – 29 can still be agile and fun – don’t get sucked into the ’29 is just for speed’ camp…

I would caution against a Trek Remedy purchase just yet – I would want to see what Trek bring out in their model refresh – it is expected that they will give the Remedy some attention as it’s in its third year without change now.

I have heard rumours that the current iteration of the Remedy will be the last as it hasn’t been selling as well as expected compared to the slash/fuel etc.

I may be wrong, the Remedy might survive but as a different bike, perhaps as a mullet.

Remedy sounds ideal for your criteria.

Airdrop Edit?

I agree, I can see the Remedy turning into (I apologise for this) a Slopeduro style bike in a mullet setup.

The Rememdy is really the bike in the range that today sits in a strange place – its meant for the more aggressive trail rider who wants to do a bit of bike park and more techy/bigger riding. It’s very capable, I was never feeling like it was out of depth, but I always felt as if a Fuel EX would have been a bit of a better choice running a decent set of tyres.

For sure, you can ride it about anywhere on big all dayers, but I think if I were to buy again, I’d probably go look at something else (based on my riding). As I’ve explained, I’ve gone for the more focused approach.

Either way, you’ll not get a bad bike, but I’d probably wait a few months, or buy that Fuel EX in the classifieds and then lob a Slack-R set on it and bigger tyres if you you need the gnarr of a Remedy.

The Trek platform works well across the range – so even the Top Fuel can cut it on the big stuff (albiet with less travel).

Also, don’t completely discount 29ers. I hated them years ago when they were gangly XC bikes with huge wheels jammed in.

Now I’ve been forced onto one by bike theft and I’m enjoying it. My new Norco Sight is a damn sight more agile than my 27.5 Geometron was. Wheelies, hops and jumps have been reintroduced to trail riding and I’m loving it.

Geometry trumps wheel size when it comes to playfulness. I’d have to have some very specific requirements to go back to smaller wheels I think.

100% agree with sharekattack – I was the same, dismissive of the 29er as clown bike size, but then I dipped my toe in with the Top Fuel and realised that it didn’t make a difference – as he says, geo trumps wheelsize – I found I could ride as well and with as much fun.

The one thing that will also make a difference to ‘fun’ is the platform and how the shock is set up. The Slash is like a bloody monster truck because, at times, it doesn’t want to leave the ground and just wants to plough through stuff. That could be seen as not playful – but it >can< be playful, but you need to ride it in a different way.

I’d be trying to demo some bikes if I were you – and then see what you think.

Thank you all for the thoughts and suggestions.

I kinda see what you mean about the next direction for the Remedy and it’s something I hadn’t considered. So Thanks.

I’ll check out the Airdrop Edit – looks like it falls between the Remedy and Slash so it’s an interesting contender. So Thanks.

Thanks again to all contributors :o)

I’m now on my 4th Remedy, and absolutely love them! They just seem to work brillikantly for me so I stick with it. I’ve ridden 50 mile XC loops, and hammered it down BPW – and not quite hammered it down Inners/Glentress. It jumps well too.
Next years Remedy is more of the same but with a new paint job I think? I keep getting my head turned by the new Slash but I just don’t want full 29er……yet!

What about Trek EX they have 140mm travel or a Slash had a few Remedys in the past three of them all 26″ plus then got a 2017 never gone on with the 27.5″ wheels so have the above love 29ERs.Trek like a lot come a go stopped making the Air and now the Staches.The EX is a better all rounder than the Slash the newer Slashes have more travel now mine is 160mm up front.

I’ve had two remedys which were both excellent but upgraded to a slash which I love. Took a couple of rides to get used to the bigger wheels but wouldn’t swap back. I think my next bike will probably be a rail as I’m getting old and lazy.

I agree with Neil – I avoided 29ers for a while with the thought they might not be as playful. This was based on a couple of rides – one at length on a Scott 29er hardtail + a quick go on a Whyte T129 setup for someone quite a bit lighter than me. They did go fast but didn’t feel fun.

Then more recently I had a quick play on a carbon Tallboy with 29er wheels and it felt poppier / more playful than my 27.5” wheeled trail bike.

So I hit the bullet and bought a Transition Sentinel on pure impulse after a mate mentioned Shut up and Ride had a medium alloy frame in stock. I went down to have a look and loved how burly it was / the near straight line from the top tube to the seat stays.

I love the thing – I made sure I didn’t go mental long on reach so it immediately felt comfortable. It’s like my 27.5” trail bike bit faster basically – the 29er wheels and extra 20mm rear travel is a game changer through jank.

So I wouldn’t rule out all 29ers personally – the Sentinel is similar travel to the Remedy – 150 rear / 160mm front travel.

I’d actually think the Ibis Ripmo AF might be worth a look too – it’s slightly steeper geo than my Sentinel and is meant to pedal better / be quite lively.

In terms of 27.5” wheels I think the Transition Scout always looks good though. My mate has a SC 5010 and that’s a lively poppy frame but maybe shorter travel than you’re after. The next bike up (Bronson) has gone mullet now. I reckon mullet could be worth a look though – I was tempted but couldn’t find one in budget / in my size in stock.

That said, I’m not going back from 29er wheels now on my full suss bike – I love the bike (my hardtail is 27.5” though and that’s not changing). For reference I’m 5’9 and running a 210mm dropper post – I very very occasionally buzz the back wheel but that’s only on steep stuff with sudden drops on really.

I’m currently looking for a Sentinel but I can’t find a carbon frame in L or XL. My Norco is a little on the short side and it’s a heavy lump.

I think if I was married to 27.5 I’d be after a Scout or 5010 although a mate has the new Nomad and that’d pretty handsome. Personally I’d never pay Santa Cruz prices so I’d end up with an Airdrop.

The airdrop edit has always looked good and a few bikes back it was between one of those dvd a Bird Aeris 145. The Bird was more poppy and playful than the airdrop. But I think the airdrop was better at swallowing big rocky stuff. I went for the Bird – but they’ve now discontinued their 27.5” enduro bike as most people want 29ers now. The newest airdrop edit looks ace in raw though

Got a remedy 8 in 2020.  Great bike that I think neets your criteria. I has demoed a furl ex and something similar from moonraker. Both felt a little dead compared with my previous bike (a 2017ish norco sight).

I also demoes a nukeproof reactor 275 which was great, perhaps a bit more playful than the remedy which, in the version I have, has very plush suspension that encourages sticking on the ground and ploughing. There weren’t any available when I came to buy though (and trek do paint better!).

Remedy would be a great choice. My mate has one and I’ve had a few goes on it. Great traction, nimble and strangely has a bottomless feel to it. He bought it without trying one and I always tell him he’s landed on his feet.