trek superfly c

• Crosscountry
• Rider Notes

2016 Trek Superfly 9.6

A 27.5″ / 29″ carbon frame crosscountry bike with high-end components. Compare the full range

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A bike with lower gearing will be easier to ride up steep hills, while a higher top end means it will pedal faster down hills.

Superfly 9.6

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The Angry Singlespeeder puts Trek's budget-friendly one-gear bike through its paces. See if he was still angry at the end of his ride. - Mtbr.com

Read Review

Feb 2015 · Guy Kesteven

Powerful, light handling race or trail storming bike, but hindered by undersized tyres and heavy wheels

Jul 2014 · Emily Schaldach

The Superfly 9.7’s biggest selling point is its frame, and though the parts are modest, it has potential

May 2014 · MBA Action

Primed For Adventure Or The Podium Being at the forefront of the 29er movement, Trek’s Superfly FS was one of the first full-suspension, cross-country,

Trek's line of Superfly cross-country 29ers includes nine hardtail models and seven full-suspension versions, giving riders ample options at many price points.

Oct 2013 · Dirt HQ

The Trek Superfly range has been overhauled for 2014 with carbon and alloy bikes, trickling technology from the top-end models lower down the price points.

On a long ride or during the wee small hours out on track at a 24hr race, it’s not unusual to get a song stuck in your head. Traditionally it’s something dire, like Peter Allen’s ‘Rio’. But on board this bike, the groove is strong; feel the soul, channel the year 1972. It’s Superfly. We …

A light, fun, fast cross country machine

Superbly relialbe

Clean looks

Not the plushest or stiffest of rides.

Last updated June 29 Not listed for 2,569 days

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Trek Superfly 29er Hardtail

Superfly is THE choice for the aficionado seeking the fastest, most advanced, best 29er out there.

• USER REVIEWS

It's a truly great bike. Fast, light, superb handling. I live it.

There are no weaknesses

The first carbon bike I've owned. The bike is light, fast and fun.

The bottom bracket bearing wore out earlier than I would have expected.

Awesome Bike , Great improvement with the new 142 thru axle ,wow ,awesome stiff. I am 6' 230lbs , Bench 350,squat 650,this bike is a great at climbing and it goes down almost as well. Love the G2 ,always have.

I have owned many mtn bikes (20+) ,if ur lookin for a fast climbing machine that descends very well ,this is a great choice. Just got mine ,it's wonderful. I will let u knw in August how it held up. I rode 1700 on a rd bike last yr and 400 in the woods,look to do 1,000 in the woods on this. Trek Superfly 29er rules.

Similar Products Used:

2014 trek ex 9, salsa Horsethief 2014, Nukeproof Scalp,Cannondale super six evo , E5 SL Smartweld, Trek mamba,Cannondale scalpel & rush and many many others owned by me.

for the Superfly 5 2014 18,5 frame which I am rating: frame design - geometry, great handling

regarding the frame, none. Components, there is Supefly 5 - 9, you get what you pay for, choose the class which suits you and your budget and upgrade what ever you like, mainly the wheels I would recommend.

I am rating the Superfly 2014-2016 alluminium frame. Superfly 5 – 9 have the same frame and are priced according to components selection. My frame is Superfly 5 2014 size 18,5 virtual. I wanted this frame. Components, I upgraded practically everything. Great frame, fantastic geometry, handling could not be better. I had TREK Paragon 29“ 2011 which is the same design as Superfly 2012 and 2013. This frame is a next generation from these. I will repeat what I wrote for the Paragon 2011 review; It is fast, nimble, at high speeds as well while maintaining great stability. G2 geometry really works. The frame is stiff, well built. This new frame design only confirms these facts and only adds to the overall riding confidence. One big advantage of TREK 29” HT is the frame length. Probably the longest 29” HT frame out there. Size M is as long as size L of most other brands which means you can get a one size smaller frame to fit you perfectly and you get more standing clearance. It only would not fit the long legged (models). If you are of this stature and want a 29” HT, TREK Superfly is maybe the best option. It does not come with 12x142 rear wheel hub through axle set up. You have to get the TREK 12x142 conversion set. I got it, but still have to get the wheels for it. For now I am using WTB Stryker TCS Cross Country Race 29? 2012 wheel set (9x135 QR) which I used on my Paragon for about 3 years. They are a fantastic wheel set, but can not be converted to 12x142 ;( Since it was introduced in autumn 2013 I really wanted it. At the time I was still happy with the previous superfly frame design (riding the Paragon 2011) and did not quite realize what can be improved. Compared with the previous frame, this one has: more size options (added the 18,5 which I have), closed convert dropouts - 12x142 rear axle option, internal cable routing, shorter chain/seat stays – stiffer frame, curved seat tube – better pedaling angle and BB are app. 0,5 cm lower which results in better stability. After riding the Paragon 2011 for app 3 years I switched to this Superfly 2014, riding feel is noticeably better. I can not say that the difference is dramatic, but it is noticeable, I have just a little bit more riding confidence feel. Highly recommended.

Marin Nail Trail 29" 2011, TREK Paragon 29" 2011

Fast, climbes faster than my colleagues at the office, and is much easier to control.

Haven't found any yet

I simply love this bike, almost as much as my wife and Stabak football team. It beats me older bike (Specialized Sumpjumper) in every respect. Everyday use showes it is faster, and it is much easier to controll. For me it also feels more responsive when climbing.

Gary Fischer X-Cal, LaPierre 529, Specialized Stumpjumper.

Fast, responsive, great technical capabilities for an XC bike, wonderful handling at all speeds, strong brakes, great fork, great price, cranks are easily upgraded due to being compatible with many different hollow tech type cranks.

No TLR wheels on 2014 SF 5 (fixed for 2015 models), a little heavy for an XC race bike (it doesn't feel heavy though)

If you can only have one bike this is definitely one to look at. The few gripes I had with the 2014 Superfly 5 (the lowest model available) have been fixed for 2015. The upside of not having those upgrades was that it pushed me to swap to parts that are superior to what you will find on the current stock models. I like going fast but I wanted a bike that could handle the technical sections like a trail bike. The SF definitely fits that bill even on stock components. I swapped in 2010 Bontrager Rythm Elites and paired them with Team Edition 2.3" XR3 tires. The bike is now faster due to the better wheels/hubs but also handles better due to the more aggressive tires and stronger all mountain wheels. I also changed to a single ring and dropped some weight and maintenance that way. Not everyone will want it set up like this but for me it's the best way to go. The bottom line is that the Superfly is light, maneuverable, fast and fun. I've gone back and forth on the same trails with this 29er and smaller 26" wheeled bikes and I can honestly say that even on the tightest of trails this 29er doesn't give up any maneurerability due to it's bigger wheel size and it's much faster on everything else. I know a lot of people go with the carbon frame on this board, and some of them have had durability issues. I just can't justify that extra money, the alluminum frame is already super comfortable for a hardtail, fairly light and I don't have to worry about cracking issues. I've had zero reliability concerns over the last 1200 miles and the only wear item I had to replace was the chain. Even the XR3 tires which have over 700 miles on them at this point look like they will be able to go a lot further.

I'm reviewing a Superfly 5, 2014, 19.5 inch frame: Handles well at all speeds Climbs well. Great on flowing trails Great geometry Handles technical sections well for an XC oriented bike. Cockpit dialed in. Accelerates well if you're in shape

Not tubeless ready. A bit heavy for a bike in this category. Rather have a 2 X 10 drivetrain. Crank set should be upgraded. Needs race tires (Bontrager XR1s are good all around tires, but not so "racy" like the Schwalbe 29er tires.

This bike is fast if you are, and handles flowing trails like a dream.For an XC oriented trail bike it handles technical, mid west style hill riding really well. I've taken some crazy jumps on it just fine, bombed ski slopes, hopped a lot of logs, ridden really fast. I thought to change out handle bar for a straight, but I feel they dialed in the cockpit really well with the slightly bent handlebar it has. It has Deore/ XT, but not the shadow version. It didn't feel as crisp as the Specialized Crave at the price point, but felt more forgiving, definitely better downhill. The Crave felt maybe a bit jumpy in comparison. Pretty paint job, great geometry, and well thought out frame. However, what I have since discovered is that you're not getting an entry level race bike for this price point ($1,300-$1,500) (although it's billed as such), but really just a more XC oriented hardtail trail bike. My naivete. Now I have to upgrade the wheelset to get ready for some races. (I'm new to XC racing.) I put a remote lockout on it too. The 2015 model has a remote lockout standard, but I believe there was price creep on the 2015 model. More people I know ride Specialized, but some seem to love Trek, too. Piece of advice: don't buy to save money-wait til you can spend the money for the bike you want, or you will spend more upgrading over the long run.

2011 Trek Superfly ELITE Relatively light, handles well, rides

Trek Corporation

I purchased a $4,700.00 Trek Superfly Elite (carbon frame), when after a few rides the frame cracked (as did many others). Trek (the company) replaced my ELITE with an entry level DELUXE. After the LBS received the frame, I knew right away this was an inferior cheaper frame. The obvious feature was NO replaceable dérailleur hanger and the fact that it weight a quarter pound more than my original frame. Prior to purchasing my Superfly, my inquiry to the bike shop retailer with regard to warranty was explained as- "Trek will replace with the exact frame, if the exact frame is not available they replace with the next model up" THAT WAS A COMPLETE LIE. Trek was insistent that the replacement frame was identical to my original. When I asked them about the weight difference and replaceable dérailleur hanger, they had no answer and just hung up. Trek's Lifetime (limited) is very limited. Caveat venditor- buyer beware of Trek policy's

Great frame for aluminum category ! Fantastic brakes ! Decent shifting. Rides quick !

The seat. The seat. The seat. Bike supplied with non tubeless compatible tires.

A decent reliable Shimano drivetrain with excellent brakes and an awesome (for aluminum) frame. TREK 2014 Superfly 6. At about $1650 this would make a great casual race bike or a better bike touring load hauler with its nice frame. These should be out there at a discount now that the 2015 models are coming out. A better wheelset, tires, and seat are all this bike needs.

grippy shimano brakes, wide gear range with triple crankset, stiff frame

a bit heavy, front derailleur a tad slow

bought a 2013 Superfly in July 2014. Got great price from City Cycle in Corte Madera. Love the way the 29" tires roll over terrain that was slow going on my Klein Attitude w/26" wheels. Actually bought it to replace a Specialized carbon road bike that was stolen. I put 700c x 38 mm Michelin road tires on the rims and it handles great on pavement. Love flying over the trails with the stock 2.2" MTB tires. Shimano brakes are quiet and confident. Had to get 2013 model to get triple crankset. 2014s are all compacts. I use that 3rd front chainring all the time, on the road and on trails. Very happy with the bike.

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Reviewed: Trek Superfly 9.7 mountain bike

The superfly 9.7’s biggest selling point is its frame, and though the parts are modest, it has potential.

Don't miss a moment of the 2024 Tour de France! Get recaps, insights, and exclusive takes with Velo's daily newsletter. >","name":"in-content-cta","type":"link"}}'>Sign up today! .

It’s easy to look at this bike and imagine an old Gary Fisher logo in place of Trek’s mark. I mean that as the highest compliment.

Quibble all you like about who invented the mountain bike. One thing’s certain: Gary Fisher played a huge role in popularizing 29” wheels, now the must-have size in nearly any off-road discipline.

His experience with his own brand, which is now rolled into Trek’s lineup, is apparent, giving this simple, middle-of-the-road hardtail an excellent personality.

Most mountain bikers need at least a couple hands to count the number of parts they break or replace any given season, but the frame is usually a constant. That is the Superfly 9.7’s biggest selling point, and though the parts are modest, it has real potential.

A fine frame

Trek doesn’t specify the particulars of their carbon construction, aside from claims that it’s thoroughly designed and tested to be used in an off-road frame.

Talk all you like about carbon, but the geometry is really what makes the Superfly sing. As soon as I hopped aboard the bike, its West coast heritage slapped me in the face like a wave off the Marin headlands.

In a few words, the 9.7 is long, low, slack, and fun. Having ridden some 29ers with 70-degree-plus head tube angles, our medium tester’s 69.3 degrees was comfortable and confident. For comparison, the Specialized Stumpjumper HT line has a 71.5-degree head angle. Trek also insists on a custom-offset fork to complete its G2 geometry.

The Superfly’s top tube length and reach are slightly longer than the Stumpjumper’s, and both lines have the same chainstay length — 435mm. It seems that the Trek gets most of its 1,160mm wheel base from the slacker head tube, making it 88mm longer than the Stumpjumper.

Interestingly, the Superfly’s bottom bracket drop is 5.5mm less than the Stumpjumper, meaning that the pedals sit slightly higher in the frame.

Aside from that detail, Trek’s bike is a longer, slacker machine than most ordinary cross-country race bikes.

Passable parts

To be charitable, the 9.7’s components are adequate. I’ve often found SRAM’s lower-end mountain bike shifting to be a bit clunky and slow to respond, and this pairing of X7 shifters and an X9 rear derailleur is no different. Trek does deserve credit for speccing a Type 2 rear derailleur with a clutch to eliminate nearly all chain noise.

The wheels are also humble — Bontrager rims and blue anodized hubs, which may not stand the test of time from a fashion standpoint. The cartridge bearing internals, however, are reassuring. The wheels are tubeless-ready, which is an essential upgrade, so it’s nice that the Trek is ready for it.

I’ll come right out and say that all 29er hardtails should have 100mm travel forks. Yes, the Fox Float 32 on the 9.7 was equipped with the Evolution damper, which is noticeably inferior to the higher-end FIT damping. But the extra cushion goes a long way to taming rough trail. The CTD lever was helpful to provide a firm ride on paved climbs, but I’d trade that for a damper that supports the middle of the travel any day. I’d lower the pressure to get top-end suppleness, only to be punished by excess brake dive and overly linear stroke.

Shimano SLX disc brakes are one of the finest aspects of this bike’s build. It’s remarkable how Shimano can deliver basic, affordable brakes like these, which are within striking distance of its XTR models.

Unfortunately, our Shimano HG62 cassette did not do as well. I destroyed it by somehow shifting the chain between the third and fourth largest cogs. It may have been a freak occurrence. It was certainly the first time for this unlucky tester.

Am I being too critical of the components? At $3,150, the Superfly 9.7 is certainly not targeted as an entry-level model. This is the type of bike a junior or collegiate racer would buy to enjoy for many years of pinning on plates. Surely they deserve a more reliable drivetrain and a capable fork.

The wheels are an easy upgrade that almost any racer expects to make. I did so myself with this test bike, improving the ride with some ENVE M50s. The faster acceleration and surefooted steering was an improvement. Those wheels also shaved a pound off the Superfly’s 25-pound stock weight. However, the most noticeable way to improve the bike’s feel is to convert the tires to tubeless, a much less expensive alternative to carbon wheels.

Another upgrade I made was a Stages power meter, which is becoming an essential training tool, even for mountain bike racers.

Taking it to the trail

Performance on paper doesn’t always equate to performance on dirt, and in some ways, the 9.7 makes that point.

I forgot about its hefty (for a hardtail) weight once it started snapping through corners and pumping fast rollers. As I’ve alluded to, the geometry gives this bike a great personality on the trail, letting you open things up on fast descents, keeping your body weight back just far enough on the steeps, and somehow avoiding any 29er sluggishness.

It’s rare to find a cross-country bike as playful as this, but the Superfly was happy to pop off jumps and whip around berms. Once terrain got rougher, things became a little less cheerful, especially with the fork’s shortcomings, but the bike loyally stayed on line. Perhaps that’s a testament to the carbon construction, as well as the 142x12mm rear thru-axle.

Once the fun ended and the work began, the Superfly was capable. It responded well as I hammered out of corners on steep climbs, rarely betraying its weight. I also enjoyed the fairly rangy top tube in the races I did. It encouraged me to stretch out a bit more, also helping to keep weight over the front wheel on steep pitches.

Is it super enough for you?

When it comes to high-speed riding and racing, the Superfly 9.7 is pretty hard to beat. You can overcome its components’ shortcomings with a few key upgrades, but you might be better off spending an extra $730 to get the 9.8 model.

However, if your riding and racing happens primarily in a place like New England where the corners, rock gardens, trees, and competition are all very tight, make sure to get a test ride on the Superfly. Its laid-back west coast personality is great in many settings, but it might not be sharp enough for every course.

Price: $3,150 Weight: 25 pounds Pros: Fun, comfortable geometry and personality. Great frame construction, reliable brakes. Cons: Underwhelming shifting and fork. Might not handle quickly enough for certain tastes. trekbikes.com

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Trek Superfly 7

• AUS $ NZD $ USD $ CAD $ GBP £ EUR €

Size / 15.5", 17.5", 18.5", 19.5", 21.5"

Weight / 11.45

At a glance

Where to buy.

Specifications

• Frame Alpha Platinum Aluminum, E2 tapered head tube, internal derailleur routing, PF89.5, balanced post mount brake, Closed Convert dropouts, G2 Geometry on 29ers
• Fork Fox Performance Float 32, Fox Performance 32 Float, Step Cast, Grip adjustable damper, E2 tapered steerer, Boost110, G2 Geometry w/51mm offset on 29ers, 100mm travel
• Wheels Bontrager Mustang Elite, Tubeless Ready, Boost110 front, 142x12 rear (tubeless strips and valves sold separately)
• Wheel Size 29" 27.5"
• Tires Bontrager XR1 Expert, Tubeless Ready, Inner Strength sidewalls, aramid bead, 29x2.20" (15.5: 27.5x2.20")
• Chain Shimano , Shimano HG60
• Crank Shimano XT, Shimano Deore XT, 36/26
• Bottom Bracket PF89.5
• Front Derailleur Shimano SLX, Shimano SLX
• Rear Derailleur Shimano XT, Shimano Deore XT, Shadow Plus
• Shifters Shimano SLX, Shimano SLX M7000, 11 speed
• Brakeset Shimano , Shimano M447 hydraulic disc
• Handlebar Bontrager Race Lite, 31.8mm, 5mm rise
• Saddle Bontrager Montrose Comp, chromoly rails
• Seatpost Bontrager Rhythm Elite, 2-bolt head, 27.2mm, zero offset
• Stem Bontrager Elite, 31.8mm, 7 degree, Blendr compatible
• Grips Bontrager Race
• Headset Integrated, cartridge bearing, sealed, 1-1/8" top, 1.5" bottom

Q: How much is a 2017 Trek Superfly 7?

A 2017 Trek Superfly 7 is typically priced around $2,099 USD when new. Be sure to shop around for the best price, and also look to the used market for a great deal.

Q: Where to buy a 2017 Trek Superfly 7?

The 2017 Trek Superfly 7 may be purchased directly from Trek .

Q: How much does a 2017 Trek Superfly 7 weigh?

A 2017 Trek Superfly 7 weights 11.45.

Q: What size wheels does the 2017 Trek Superfly 7 have?

The 2017 Trek Superfly 7 has 29" and 27.5" wheels.

Q: What size 2017 Trek Superfly 7 should I get?

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Trek Superfly 100 Elite SL review

29er full-suspension race bike

James Huang/Future Publishing

James Huang

Trek set out on an aggressive weight-saving campaign for the latest Superfly 100, and by all accounts its engineering team was largely successful.

Even with a not-incredibly-light Shimano Deore XT group and mid-range wheels, our medium-size Superfly 100 Elite SL test bike weighs just 10.90kg (24.03lb) without pedals. The lack of mass is noticeable on the trail but, unfortunately, so is the lack of stiffness and so-so pedaling performance.

• Pros: Good high-speed geometry; lively rear suspension performance; light weight
• Cons: Not very efficient; not very stiff; very long wheelbase

Ride & handling: Lightweight with good suspension but lacking in efficiency

The revamped Superfly 100 platform feels right at home on fast and flowy trails with lots of wide open, high speed sections.

The long wheelbase and relatively low bottom bracket provide a very stable feel through sweeping corners. And even though it's lost 10mm of movement compared to its predecessor, the remaining 100mm of rear suspension is active and pleasantly progressive, impressively sucking up smaller trail chatter without bottoming out harshly on bigger impacts while maintaining a lively feel throughout.

The rear end offers a good amount of pop for leaping out of berms and dips. And, as we've noted in the past, Trek's G2 geometry, with its increased-offset fork crown, goes a long way towards neutralizing both the big feel of 29in wheels and its unusually long wheelbase.

Steering feels light and natural without requiring much in the way of excessive rider input, and it's usually only in very tight switchbacks that you notice the Superfly 100 Elite SL's considerable overall length.

Like the Giant Anthem X Advanced 29er we tested last year, though, the Superfly 100's chain stays are still a little long at 452mm. Therefore, it's not the most natural bike to manual or wheelie.

Carbon fiber seat stays but aluminum chain stays

Such handling traits would generally be no big deal in the Superfly 100's intended context of cross-country racing, where speeds are usually higher and there often aren't as many technical features as in general trail riding or enduro. However, the Superfly also doesn't pedal that efficiently, either.

Switching the Fox Float CTD rear shock to its middle Trail setting is a must nearly any time pedaling is required, and we frequently resorted to the firmest Climb position even on short sections of fireroad. We saved the fully open Descend setting for extended downhills only. Otherwise, there's far too much movement and a somewhat dull feel under power, particularly when you're hammering along in the big ring.

Nor did we find the Superfly 100 Elite SL's new carbon fiber frame particularly rigid. Front triangle stiffness is admittedly quite good, with the large diameter, nominally round main frame cross-sections and tapered head tube.

That's largely squandered out back, though, with an appreciable amount of out-of-plane flex, particularly in high-load situations such as bermed corners or excessively rough sections of trail. Here, instead of the rear wheel tracking precisely behind the front one, we repeatedly noticed the rear loading up – only to spring back when unloaded, which occasionally sent us off-line.

One simple test verified our suspicions, too: stand beside the Superfly 100 Elite SL with one hand atop the rear tire and the other on the saddle, push forward on one side while pulling back on the other, and you can see the top of the seat stays moving side to side relative to the seat tube more easily than one would expect from a bike of this caliber.

We should note that two BikeRadar testers independently came to identical conclusions on two separate test samples. Naturally, Trek has expressed concern over our findings.

"We're going to be testing that bike to evaluate stiffness testing," said Trek mountain bike brand manager Travis Ott. "I trust you felt what you experienced. Numerous sessions with pros and test riders haven’t exposed any weakness with the rear end stiffness.

"At this point, we’re concerned about repeating what you experienced so we can better figure it out. We’re also retesting stock frames currently. Point being, we take this seriously and when we get conflicting reports, we try and get to the bottom of it.

"As for the suspension spec and pedal bob, four out of five Trek Factory Racing riders also use the same rear shock tune. They wanted a very stiff lockout and we were able to achieve that with this tune. Thus far, the feedback and results from our pro riders have been exceptional. To date, we’ve been happy with the feedback on the bikes from our testers and pros."

Frame: Elegant lines and light weight but could use more brawn

The Superfly 100 Elite SL's performance is particularly disappointing given that the new frame is a gorgeous piece of hardware. The low-slung, molded carbon fiber front triangle features nominally round tubes devoid of superfluous kinks, bulges, or edges, while the one-piece molded carbon fiber seat stay assembly is similarly sleek and clean looking.

As opposed to the original Superfly 100 – or the current Superfly 100 Pro SL flagship model – this version uses TIG-welded aluminum chain stays, which adds some weight but should prove beneficial in terms of long-term durability.

Linking everything together up front is a miniscule swing link – molded from short-strand carbon fiber, of course – driving Fox's superb Float CTD rear shock.

The back end of the bike features Trek's ABP (Active Braking Pivot) concept, with suspension pivots situated concentrically about the rear axle to produce a pseudo-floating brake effect. Those ABP pivots are so cleanly integrated that you could be forgiven for thinking the rear end was one solid unit, although the axle path is strictly single pivot in nature.

The rear end is effectively a single pivot in terms of axle movement

The main pivot is situated inline with the curved seat tube, about halfway between the inner and outer chainrings in terms of height – about where we'd expect it to be. Moving it a touch higher, however, would make for more neutral pedaling performance in the big ring, and add more anti-squat when clawing up grades in the inner ring. Moreover, the Superfly 100 Elite SL's pedaling performance could further benefit from more aggressive compression tuning.

Other features include thru-axles front and rear, Trek's extra-wide BB95 bottom bracket with bearing seats molded directly into the shell, a tapered 1 1/8in to 1 1/2in head tube (again, with bearing seats directly molded in), a direct-mount front derailleur, post-mount rear brake caliper tabs (sized for 140mm rotors and up), and internal cable routing – including for the hydraulic rear brake.

The latter will be cumbersome if you ever decide to swap brake models (although we're not sure why you would – more on that below). Otherwise, though, Trek's internal routing solution is reasonably easy to service despite not being guided from end to end.

Exit ports are fairly large, the paths are clean and kink free, and the whole operation runs impressively quietly, thanks in part to clamps at either end of the brake hose to keep it from rattling around on the trail.

Tiny set screws secure the incoming lines to help reduce rattle

Further dulling sounds is the thick plastic guard on the underside of the down tube. Unfortunately (and rather inelegantly) it's held in place with a couple of giant o-rings.

Actual frame weight for our 17.5in sample is 2.13kg (4.7lb) including rear shock, seatpost collar, rear derailleur hanger, and water bottle bolts – slightly lighter than the previous edition, which is impressive considering the switch to aluminum chain stays. Riders who place a priority on weight will appreciate the lack of heft, but otherwise we'd rather Trek invested the mass currency on bolstering the chassis.

Equipment: Brilliant Deore XT components and Fox suspension plus solid Bontrager gear

There's little to fault when it comes to the Superfly 100 Elite SL's build kit, with Shimano's faultless Deore XT 2x10 transmission and brakes, a perfectly matched Fox 32 Float 100 CTD fork and Float CTD rear shock, and the remainder filled out with bits from Trek house brand Bontrager.

Shift performance is fantastic, with quick and precise chain movement, impressively hushed running, and excellent shifter ergonomics despite the I-Spec integrated clamps' lack of independent shifter angle or shift paddle adjustment. Gear ratios are smartly chosen, too, with versatile 26/38T chainrings up front and a wide-range 11-36T cassette that works well for both racing or general trail riding provided you've got a reasonable amount of fitness.

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past few years, it goes without saying that the matching hydraulic disc brakes are among the best on the market. Power is ample even with just 160mm rotors fitted front and rear, it's very easily controllable even in slippery conditions, and lever feel is arguably second to none.

Deore XT brakes provide heaps of stopping power

Riders in extremely mountainous regions might wish for Shimano's finned brake pads and their greater heat capacity, but we never noticed any fade even on longer descents in Colorado.

We were mostly pleased with the Bontrager cockpit components, too. The Race X Lite Carbon handlebar is suitably light and rigid, with just 5mm of rise to help keep the front end low. However, we would prefer something wider than 690mm for more leverage – it's easy to cut things down if need be but you generally can't make a narrow bar wider.

Ditto for the forged aluminum Race X Lite stem, which is always a solid performer, albeit one whose profile hasn't changed in ages and could stand a larger cross-section in this application.

Saddles are, of course, a personal issue. The Evoke 3 should suit most rear ends with its fairly flat profile and densely padded top with rounded rear corners that help boost maneuverability. We've no complaints on the Rhythm Elite aluminum seatpost, either, with its secure two-bolt head and what should be reliable forged construction.

The Bontrager Evoke 3 saddle is suitably firm and comfy for longer trail rides

Rolling stock is a little more of a mixed bag, though. The Bontrager Race Lite TLR Disc CL 29 wheels are fairly light (1,640g per pair, claimed), easy to set up tubeless (although Trek doesn't include the requisite rim strips and valves), reasonably stiff, and held up well during testing with no truing required. We feel the 19mm internal width is a touch narrow for general trail use, although most cross-country types probably won't mind much.

Bontrager wraps the otherwise-capable wheels with their rather narrowly focused 29-1 tires, though, which don't even measure 2in across and aren't designed to be run tubeless (although we managed the conversion anyway).

Rolling resistance is noticeably very low, but it comes at the price of traction in anything other than tacky dirt, what with its hard rubber compound and tightly spaced array of small knobs. We'd advise at least swapping out the front for something a little more secure and saving the extra one for a spare, fast-rolling rear.

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Trek Superfly Pro review

Flagship 29er race hardtail lightens up for 2012.

You can trust Cyclingnews Our experts spend countless hours testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

This article originally published on BikeRadar

The 2012 Trek Superfly Pro builds on the success of last year's Superfly Elite carbon 29er hardtail, adding an upgraded spec that lops a full pound off the build plus a thru-axle and better tires that improve its overall usability. It's speedier and more fun to ride than before but that extra performance carries with it a hefty price premium.

Ride and handling: excellent G2 geometry, stiff all around

The 2012 Superfly Pro essentially wears the same frame as last year's Elite so, not surprisingly, our list of likes and dislikes carries over, too.

Handling is once again especially sweet given Bontrager's trick G2 fork crown offset and its resultant trail, which mimics that of a 26" bike and generates a particularly light feel up front for a big-wheeler. Close confines at low speed in particular are no problem for the Superfly's nimble personality and we never once felt like we were fighting the front end in any way, even on tight uphill switchbacks.

High-speed handling is reassuringly stable for a dedicated cross-country bike, too, thanks to a smart 69.3-degree head tube angle that retains quick steering without feeling unnervingly twitchy and a low bottom bracket that keeps your center of gravity close to the ground. Coupled with the big wheels, there was generally little drama when mindlessly bombing through rock gardens but that same low bottom bracket will also produce more than a few pedal strikes if you're not mindful.

Given the bike's racing intentions, it's also no surprise that it's dutifully quick under power. Stiff carbon fibers and monstrous tube cross-sections – including Trek's ultra-wide 95mm bottom bracket shell and broadly spaced chain stays – yield a stout backbone and firm foundation for big pedaling efforts. Likewise, very good front triangle torsional rigidity keeps the bars from moving excessively when you're sprinting or climbing out of the saddle.

Add in the bike's impressive 9.66kg (21.30lb, complete, w/o pedals) weight and it's no surprise that the Superfly Pro is a perfect companion for long climbs.

Riding position is similarly race-ready with a puny 103mm-long head tube on our 17.5" tester that produced a suitably low hand position when paired with a slightly negative-rise stem and flat bar.

Though stiff, the Superfly Pro nevertheless still isn't quite as unyieldingly efficient as some other machines we've tested recently. Likewise, ride comfort falls a bit shy of the best examples in the market with a rear end that filters out high-frequency buzz but otherwise doesn't offer much vertical flex to speak of. Trek attempts to ameliorate this with the Superfly Pro's slim 27.2mm-diameter seatpost but even that effort is thwarted by the Bontrager Race X Lite ACC's aluminum core.

Despite this, overall comfort has still improved over last year's Superfly Elite. The new Bontrager 29-1 tires are generously sized at 2.2" across and suitably floaty for all-around trail duty yet still roll extremely quickly thanks to the ramped, low center knobs.

Add in the 15mm thru-axle fork dropouts and the noticeable bump in front-end stiffness relative to last year's open dropouts and the Superfly Pro is not only slightly more comfortable and a bit faster than before but also a more suitable all-around trail machine, too.

Frame: huge cross-sections, wide spacing

In typical fashion, Trek infuses the Superfly Pro with lots of smart engineering but doesn't stray too far from convention in terms of tube shaping.

Key features include a tapered 1 1/8-to-1 1/2" head tube and a 95mm-wide bottom bracket shell – both with molded-in carbon fiber bearing seats – a highly asymmetrical seat tube, carbon dropouts with bolt-in aluminum plates and standard 135mm spacing, especially wide-set chain stays that lend lots of tire clearance, and a bonded-on rubberized plate on the down tube underside to ward off impacts from trail debris – something we made liberal use of on Colorado's notoriously rocky terrain.

Frame weight is impressive though not groundbreaking at 1,340g including the rear derailleur hanger, seatpost collar, water bottle bolts, and chain stay and down tube guards (which aren't easily removable).

Cables are externally routed beneath the top tube for easy maintenance and the front derailleur bolts directly to the seat tube to minimize positioning errors.

Equipment: race ready but still trail friendly

As Trek's flagship cross-country race machine, little expense has been spared dressing up the Superfly Pro frame.

Shift performance from the ultralight SRAM XX group was once again fantastic with uncannily positive and fast front shifts – even under climbing or at low cadence – coupled with impeccably precise and consistent rear shifts. In short, gear changes were simply never something we ever gave a second thought about during testing.

Likewise, the RockShox SID XX 29 fork was well suited for the task with an impressively sturdy chassis, smooth and smartly progressive action through the 100mm stroke, and a well-tuned damper that tackles both trail buzz and bigger hits with equal aplomb. More demanding and complicated sections of trail are still better handled by RockShox's more sophisticated Motion Control BlackBox damper but given the application, we're guessing most users are willing to sacrifice a bit of ride control for the convenient XLoc hydraulic remote lockout lever.

We unfortunately can't heap the same level of praise on the Avid XX brakes. Lever feel, power, modulation, and ergonomics were all excellent but both ends squawked loudly under hard braking – wet or dry, and regardless of pad or rotor condition. Both brakes were at least reliable throughout testing but only after we bled the front straight out of the box.

The vast majority of the included Bontrager kit is excellent, in particular the Race X Lite Carbon Big Sweep flat bar with its comfy 12-degree bend, the comfortable and maneuverable Evoke 4 titanium railed saddle, and the fantastic 29-1 tires with their supple, high-volume casings, fast roll, and surprisingly confident grip in all but marbles and mud.

As we noted last year, though, we'd still prefer to see a different seatpost included as the carbon-wrapped aluminum Race X Lite ACC model is too stiff to take advantage of its small 27.2mm diameter. We traded it out for Bontrager's softer – and lighter – Race XXX Lite all-carbon model and instantly got a big boost in ride comfort.

The included Bontrager Race X Lite FCC wheels are conveniently tubeless-ready (as are the tires, though the requisite rim strips and valve cores annoyingly aren't included with the bike) and they feel both stiff and sturdy enough for genuine trail use, not just race duty. Thankfully, we also never experienced any unnerving pinging and popping from the freehub body that we'd experienced with last year's Bontrager hubs.

However, we still find them to be a little too heavy for a bike of this level, particularly given the premium US$6,829.99/£5,000 asking price.

One place we're happy not to see the Bontrager label at all, however, is on the grips. Last year's foam grips were light but too narrow, prone to rotating on the bar, and uncomfortable. Trek has wisely switched to ESI's silicone foam rubber grips, which are still superlight but far more shock absorbent, grippier in your hands, and far less apt to move. Perhaps the best testament is the fact that even Trek's own Subaru-Trek professional team has used these for years.

Overall, the Trek Superfly Pro is a top-shelf ride and undoubtedly a better bike than the Elite model we tested last year – but then again, it should be considering it's roughly US$2,000 more expensive. It won't be a world beater, however, until it gets nicer wheels, a softer seatpost, and a more refined ride quality.

Price: US$6,829.99/£5,000 Weight: 9.66kg (21.30lb, complete, w/o pedals); 1,340g (frame only, 17.5", w/ rear derailleur hanger, seatpost collar, water bottle bolts, and down tube and chain stay guards) Available sizes: 15.5", 17.5" (tested), 19", 21", 23" Pros: Great power transfer, natural-feeling G2 geometry, thru-axle and tapered front end, smart overall spec list, very light, fantastic tires Cons: Not as stiff or comfortable as some competitors, disappointing wheels, ho-hum seatpost Cyclingnews verdict: 4 stars More information: www.trekbikes.com

Complete bicycle specifications

Frame : Trek Superfly Pro Available sizes : 15.5, 17.5 (tested), 19, 21, 23in Fork : RockShox SID XX 29, custom G2 offset Headset : Cane Creek Forty, 1 1/8-to-1 1/2in tapered Stem : Bontrager Race XXX Lite Handlebars : Bontrager Race X Lite Carbon Big Sweep Tape/grips : ESI Racer's Edge Front brake : Avid XX, 160mm rotor Rear brake : Avid XX, 160mm rotor Brake levers : Avid XX Front derailleur : SRAM X.0 Rear derailleur : SRAM XX Shift levers : SRAM XX trigger Cassette : SRAM XX, 11-36T Chain : SRAM PC-1091 Crankset : Truvativ XX, 36/26T, 156mm width Bottom bracket : Truvativ BB92 press-fit Pedals : n/a Wheelset : Bontrager Race X Lite FCC TLR Disc 29 Front tire : Bontrager 29-1 Team, 29x2.2in Rear tire : Bontrager 29-1 Team, 29x2.2in Saddle : Bontrager Evoke 4 Seat post : Bontrager Race X Lite ACC

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