RedRider2009 said:
My friend offered to sell me his lightly used 2007 trek 3700, does anybody have complaints about anything on this bike? Any success stories? Basically any thoughts about it would be handy. Do you have any clue what the original price of this bike was? Thanks everybody! The link to the trek archive is
http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/2007/archive/3700#
Well, if your friend is offering to sell you the bike for $100-to-$150, then it is a fair price ...
Much beyond THAT, it really depends ...
The original, retail price was probably ABOUT (but, not necessarily) just below $400 (it seems there was a time -- maybe one season, maybe more -- when you could extrapolate the retail price of a TREK from the model number ... so the 3700 might have retailed for $370). So, if there was an unsold 3700 from 2007 in a bike shop, they would possibly sell it for as little as $200.
The fork is marginal ... it's best thought of as a paved, bike-path fork UNLESS the rider is under 120lbs.
Heck, some people might suggest that all the components are marginal BUT they are fully functional for casual riding as long as you lube what needs to be lubed & and perform OTHER periodic maintainenance (e.g., adjust the cables, as needed). It is NOT a bike I would ride on anything marginally "technical" without changing the front fork ... it's probably fine for the time being for where you are (SE Wisconsin), but probably not for terrain similar to what you would find through a place like the Kettle Morraine.
Otherwise, all hardtails vary primarily in the frame material (which translates to the weight) & finish (quality of the welding) ... AND (of course), the components.
Less expensive components are usually designed to take MORE abuse, but those components will have a serious weight penalty as a consequence.
If you get the bike the frame will probably last as long as you want it to PRESUMING you don't crash it!
WHERE-and-HOW are you planning to ride the bike?