Trek Fuel 80 vs. Giant NRS 2

I was wondering if anyone could give me their opinions on the Trek Fuel 80 and Giant NRS 2. I am
looking for a good full suspension bike for $1,300 or less and at the moment these are my two
favorite options. The Giant rode better in tests but due to the Trek being a 2003 model closeout I
can get it for $873 which seems to be a great price for a bike of that caliber. Any feedback on
these two bikes or others that match the criteria I am looking for would be greatly appreciated.

Test the bikes yourself and see how they feel for you. I have ridden many bikes over the past three
years in the NRS series and can say that the rear suspension is all that Giant claims it is.

consider Gary Fisher Sugar 4

"MTBScottie" <mtbscottie@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20031026204228.18238.00000284@mb-m03.aol.com...
> Test the bikes yourself and see how they feel for you. I have ridden
many
> bikes over the past three years in the NRS series and can say that the
rear
> suspension is all that Giant claims it is.

On Mon, 27 Oct 2003 00:44:53 GMT, "William Smith" <wsmith52@tampabay.rr.com> wrote:

>I was wondering if anyone could give me their opinions on the Trek Fuel 80 and Giant NRS 2.

They ride very differently. One acts more like a hardtail, the other is slightly plush, if I can
call 3" travel "plush".

Ride them both _off-road_, and buy what works for your style. Your homework is to figure out
which is which.

Barry

William Smith spray painted on a boxcar:
> I was wondering if anyone could give me their opinions on the Trek Fuel 80 and Giant NRS 2. I am
> looking for a good full suspension bike for $1,300 or less and at the moment these are my two
> favorite options. The Giant rode better in tests but due to the Trek being a 2003 model closeout I
> can get it for $873 which seems to be a great price for a bike of that caliber. Any feedback on
> these two bikes or others that match the criteria I am looking for would be greatly appreciated.

You won't get a "good" FS at that price, you will get an "OK" one that is heavy and has a lot of low
end components. I suggest you look at a really nice HT in that price range.

Penny

"Penny S" <pennysinvalid@cetinvalid.com> wrote in message
news:<vpqftns45frm9c@corp.supernews.com>...
> William Smith spray painted on a boxcar:
> > I was wondering if anyone could give me their opinions on the Trek Fuel 80 and Giant NRS 2. I am
> > looking for a good full suspension bike for $1,300 or less and at the moment these are my two
> > favorite options. The Giant rode better in tests but due to the Trek being a 2003 model closeout
> > I can get it for $873 which seems to be a great price for a bike of that caliber. Any feedback
> > on these two bikes or others that match the criteria I am looking for would be greatly
> > appreciated.
>
> You won't get a "good" FS at that price, you will get an "OK" one that is heavy and has a lot of
> low end components. I suggest you look at a really nice HT in that price range.

Maybe not good, but "acceptable."

I almost bought the Fuel 80, because it felt good to ride. In the end, maintenance issues swayed me.
And because it's REALLY tough to get a bare Fuel 80 frame (since I had all the other parts.) I don't
think it would be possible, without some real finagling, to make the Fango a $1.3k bike. $1.5k is
the minimum, and yer gonna have a Deore spec, and a low-end Bomber from '03.

The entry-level Fuel is OK, but if you can swing for the Fuel 90, you're getting more bike for the
dough. As an entry-level FS, the 80 isn't too bad. I prefer it to the Giant, but only because the
Giant didn't seem to work as well for me. Personal preference, IOW.

IIRC, Adrenaline Bikes is selling Marin TARA bikes for about the money he's talking. A decent range
of bits, a good frame, decent fork (not great.) A step up from the Fuel, sez me.
--
Jonesy

E-mail me: rfjonesy *at* hotmail *dot* com

"Penny S" <pennysinvalid@cetinvalid.com> wrote in message news:vpqftns45frm9c@corp.supernews.com...
> William Smith spray painted on a boxcar:
> > I was wondering if anyone could give me their opinions on the Trek Fuel 80 and Giant NRS 2. I am
> > looking for a good full suspension bike for $1,300 or less and at the moment these are my two
> > favorite options. The Giant rode better in tests but due to the Trek being a 2003 model closeout
> > I can get it for $873 which seems to be a great price for a bike of that caliber. Any feedback
> > on these two bikes or others that match the criteria I am looking for would be greatly
> > appreciated.
>
> You won't get a "good" FS at that price, you will get an "OK" one that is heavy and has a lot of
> low end components. I suggest you look at a really nice HT in that price range.

I'm gonna have to disagree with part of that, Penny. I had an '03 NRS2 and I was more than happy
with the frame, the suspension and the ride. I was never happy with the Shimano mech disc brakes and
the Skareb fork broke twice but with a mix of LX, Avid, Raceface, Skareb, and Titec components I
would have hardly called it 'low end' components on the bike. The NRS2 shared the same frame and
rear shock as the NRS1. Nor was it heavy. I would certainly consider it to be a good FS with fair
and reasonable components. If he can pick up an '03 model for USD$1300 that's a good deal according
to my currency converter! I certainly agree with you when you say that he would get a nice hardtail
(especially if it's in that $873 range).
--
Westie (Replace 'invalid' with 'yahoo' when replying.)