Ryan Howard leads the pack in the Squamish, BC trails.

Ryan Howard leads the pack in the Squamish, BC trails.​

What is it?

While the Fuel EX has been the best selling Trek bike in the line, the Remedy has always been the class clown for best fun bike with a few EWS wins here and there. It's been the carver and jumper of the line as it hits the sweet spot for many All Mountain riders. It's not the fastest up any hill but it's one of the most fun going down.

Previously available in 27.5 and 29er, the new Remedy is now just a 27.5 bike to simplify the line and focus on travel and aggressive side of the bike. 29er fans bent on all out speed for racing down tracks will have to wait til later for upcoming options from Trek.

The changes

  • More travel from 140mm to 150mm rear / 150mm front
  • Significantly slacker geometry from 68/67.5 headtube to 66.5/66 degree hi/lo headtube
  • Longer reach from 447 to 458 for a 19.5 in bike (low position)
  • Lower bottom bracket from 341mm to 336mm. This is getting pretty darn low for a 150mm travel bike in the unsagged position. It's a bold move by a Midwest based company but the Mino Link allows the user to raise the bike if necessary.

Now only in 27.5, the Remedy is more focused on fun-filled 150mm front and rear travel.

Now only in 27.5, the Remedy is more focused on fun-filled 150mm front and rear travel.​

Straight Shot Downtube

Shared with The Trek Fuel EX, the Remedy also gets the new, huge, straight downtube Trek refers to as the Straight Shot Downtube. It is a downtube design that is massive and meets to steer tube in a straight shot, devoid of curves or the characteristic 'gooseneck' seen in many frames today. This produces a lighter & Stiffer frame because it avoids all the layering and strengthening required of carbon fiber to achieve the desired stiffness lost from all the curving and shaping that diverge from classic front triangle designs. It creates a classic triangle with massive tubes to offer better frame stiffness for the same weight.

A headset Knock Block and frame guards prevent any fork and frame collision.

A headset Knock Block and frame guards prevent any fork and frame collision.​

Like the Fuel EX, the Remedy downside is the fork crown will not clear the downtube at almost 90 degree angles so special apparatus had to be designed in to prevent the fork from damaging the frame. To this end, Trek designed the Knock Block system which has a keyed stem to block the fork crown from hitting the frame. There is also bumper on the downtube as a failsafe from contact.

The test ride

For the test ride, we did more of the tech and jump trails Squamish had to offer. This is indeed the the playground of the Remedy as it was always composed on the steep, rooty lines. It's a big, slack bike so technique and persuasion have to be used on the tightest corners. Lean forward and commit to corners and the bike will attack the turns. And as rider Casey Brown showed us, any rock ramp is an option line to get the bike up in the air. Land in a pile of rocks and the Remedy surfaces fine on the other end.

The bike begs to be jumped.

The bike begs to be jumped.​

It's slacker and longer than the Fuel EX but it has 27.5 wheels as opposed to 29. So it is easier to throw the bike around and play with it.

The Knock Block is there and it is something to get used to as it is the same sensation as the old triple clamp forks where the steering doesn't quite go to 90 degrees. And although we didn't extend that far while riding, it makes its presence known while stopped and moving the bike and such.

It's not afraid of heights.

It's not afraid of heights.​

One of the downsides of the Remedy is starting to surface with the advent of longer dropper posts. Because of the bent seat tube, I could only use a maximum dropper length of 125mm. This wasn't an issue a couple years ago but it's more apparent now as most of my bikes now accept and have installed a 150mm dropper for my 5'8" stature on a medium bike.

Continue to page 2 geometry and pricing details »

The latest Bontrager wheels and other components have really stepped up to take the Remedy to a very high bar.

The latest Bontrager wheels and other components have really stepped up to take the Remedy to a very high bar.​

The components

  • New XR4 tire still rolls well but is much grippier than before with better side knobs and softer rubber.
  • New Dropline dropper Bontrager's low cost alternative to a damped, infinite position dropper post. Multiple lever options are offered to avoid interference with 2x shifter systems
  • 35mm stem and wide bars - Using the new 35mm standard, Bontrager is able to go light and very wide with a bar up to 820mm in length.
  • DT Swiss wheels - The top-shelf bike gets one of the lightest wheelsets in the market.


Here is a fun video describing the new Remedy. A couple instant classic lines here.

Geometry

The Trek Remedy has the Mino Link which changes the geometry of the bike when set to either High or Low mode. In Low mode, head angle is 66 degrees with a seat angle of 74 degrees. BB height is 336 and chainstay length is 435. Reach for an 18.5 inch size is 444.

In high mode, head angle 66.5 degrees with a seat angle of 74.5. BB height is 343 and chainstay length is 433. Reach for an 18.5 inch bike is 449.

Climbing is does not get in the way with the steep seat angle for optimal position and Re:aktiv rear for good power transfer.

Climbing is does not get in the way with the steep seat angle for optimal position and Re:aktiv rear for good power transfer.​

It is rare that we get honest weights for each model so color us excited. Usually, manufacturers just quote us the weight for the top-shelf carbon everything. They got the top spec'd model under 28 lbs and that is a good thing with a burly 150mm travel bike indeed.

Model Weights

Remedy 7 27.5: 32.3 lbs
Remedy 8 27.5: 30.6 lbs
Remedy 8 27.5 WSD: 31 lbs
Remedy 9 27.5 RSL: 31.2 lbs
Remedy 9.8 27.5: 28.9 lbs
Remedy 9.8 27.5 WSD: 29.2 lbs
Remedy 9.9 27.5 RSL: 27.8 lbs

Eagle is ideal for this bike's personality.

Eagle is ideal for this bike's personality.​

Pricing

Pricing is remarkably fair as each spec delivers great value. We will never use 'affordable' these days since that causes convulsions with some when used in the bike industry but $1889 for a Remedy is fine and dandy indeed. And the top spec with carbon wheels is $8k and well under the competition.

Remedy 7 27.5: $2,999.99
Remedy 8 27.5: $3,299.99
Remedy 8 WSD 27.5: $3,299.99
Remedy 9 27.5 RSL: $4,499.99
Remedy 27.5 AL F/S: $1,889.99
Remedy 9.8 27.5: $5,299.99
Remedy 9.8 27.5 WSD: $5,299.99
Remedy 9.9 27.5 RSL: $7,999.99
Remedy 27.5 C F/S: $3,299.99

For more information visit www.trekbikes.com.