Trek 5500 OCLV 120 Dura-Ace

sam1176uk
sam1176uk Posts: 524
edited March 2009 in Road buying advice
I have a mate selling this bike but I am just curious as this is probably 5 years old now is the technology outdated?
I currently ride an 08 Cube Peloton with full Shimano 105 so would a 5yr old carbon trek with dura-ace be an improvement?! I.e is 5yr old Dura-ace still better than new 105?
He's hardly used it so it's immaculate.
Any help much appreciated.

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Comments

  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    My DA gruppo just keeps on going - very durable.

    If the bike fits you - then its worth a look at - its going to be a few hundred grammes lighter than your frame I would think ?
  • sam1176uk
    sam1176uk Posts: 524
    Yea it is lighter, just feels a bit daft possibly changing an 08 bike for an 04 one???
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    Brand new Fiesta or 4 year old Porsche ? Entirely up to you.
  • sam1176uk
    sam1176uk Posts: 524
    So i take it by that the Trek will be far better?
  • blorg
    blorg Posts: 1,169
    10 speed Dura-Ace 7800 was introduced in 2004. As far as I know there were not major changes between then and now, when 7900 was introduced this year.

    As the the Fiesta/Porsche comparison, not sure that is terribly valid, it's the engine that really matters and anything from new 105 up through DA should work pretty flawlessly.

    The Trek frame will probably be a bit more comfortable than your current bike and lighter. I had a Trek 5000 and it was the most comfortable carbon bike I've ridden.

    At the end of the day though a 5 year old bike will have substantial depreciation, could be a good deal if he is letting it go at a good price (under £1,000 I reckon) and it fits you.
  • sam1176uk
    sam1176uk Posts: 524
    Thanks for that blorg, he is letting me have it for 750 if i want it, which seemed a good deal.
    My current bike was £800 new in November and i just wasn't sure if this would be an "upgrade" or not.
  • Ive just changed a new planet x sl pro with 105 for a 2007 trek madone with ultegra and it was a good move!
    the trek had done a few miles and i got it from ebay.

    The planet x was lighter but the trek is a better bike, i am faster on it.

    The frame is more race geometry and suits me better, the ultegra seems to shift and run a little smoother then the 105, if im pushing hard through the cranks the change is noticably smoother.

    I dont think you can go wrong with a frame that has won the tour de france.

    Dura ace from 04 is awesome as well, if its good enough for lance armstrong its good enough for me.

    I would say the 04 dura ace looked simpler and more robust then todays dura ace "IMO"
    Im sure technically its not as good or light but i bet if you rode a bike with 04 dura ace and 09 dura one would'nt seem superior.

    I always viewed trek as a porsche, cube and similar bikes i always viewed as a TVR... yeah they are as fast and light but not made to last.
  • carbonfiend
    carbonfiend Posts: 475
    It would be worth checking the teeth on the chain ring/chain tension, headset and how the bike index's before buying. I wouldn't even try to compare the two bikes the technology in the Trek far surpasses what you currently ride. First and foremost though take the bike for a ride and see if you like it and it fits. I have a 2000 OCLV trek that has had a few upgrades but its its still as fast, stiff and comfotable as the day I bought it. OCLV Treks are very very good bikes, Lance won 7 tours on them.
    '..all the bad cats in the bad hats..'
  • blorg
    blorg Posts: 1,169
    £750 sounds reasonable, not an absolute steal given the age of the thing but certainly reasonable. All depends on the condition, it would be a bargain if the thing was indeed "like new."

    I'd wonder to an extent why he didn't use it over the last five years? Like why would you buy a multi-thousand-pound top of the range bike and not use it? 10 speed 2004 Dura-Ace basically unused should be pretty similar to 2008 Dura-Ace on a new bike (I think) but I would not say the same of a five-year old groupset with solid use. Best advice as others say is to try it out and see.

    If you know how to fix indexing issues I wouldn't necessarily write it off on account of bad indexing BTW, might just need a tweak of the barrel adjuster or new cables. Bad indexing would be something you could bargain the price down with though. The shifters are the thing that is most expensive, they should shift easily with a very light touch.

    I know people with Cubes and they are nice bikes, I don't know where anyone would get the idea they are not built to last. There is a lot of frame snobbery in the bike world and to be honest with a lot of the big name frames I feel you are paying a hefty premium to support their marketing and sponsorship budgets. Cube are better known on the MTB side AFAIK.

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