Trek fuel ex9 or Lapierre zesty 514

newborn

I've narrowed my search to these two bikes. I like trail centres and natural trail riding. Anyone got one of these bikes or know enough about them to give me advice on which one to get.

Cheers
Paul

dan45a

I have a zesty 714, and my wife has a Fuel ex 8. My mate has a ex9.

Having ridden all the bikes, the zesty is the best downhill, but if you just want a trail centre bike the ex 9 is hard to fault. The ex9 will also be lighter than the zesty 514 as it is about the same wieght as my carbon 714.

Both climb really well. If it comes down to looks and finish the zesty is abit more special with the branded parts over the bontraeger kit.

Hope this helps, but you wont go wrong with either.

bgroovers

Gary fisher roscoe 2 sits right between these bikes and kicks ass. DRCV 140mm shock withbolt thru talas. Amazing handling, light enough for xc but i just been road gap jumping in chatel on mine and even better not many people have them.

http://www.coventrycyclecentre.co.uk/pr ... 1139&rs=gb

Great deal and large is just longer not taller than medium. Im 5 10 and think i should have got an L maybe...

newborn

Went to local bike shop he says go for the remedy 8, it will give me more freedom with the extra mm of shock & better built frame. Bit more cash too. It says on treks site that the fuel ex will do most stuff.
Now its got more confusing.

Cheers for the replies so far.

newborn

dan45a wrote:

I have a zesty 714, and my wife has a Fuel ex 8. My mate has a ex9.

Having ridden all the bikes, the zesty is the best downhill, but if you just want a trail centre bike the ex 9 is hard to fault. The ex9 will also be lighter than the zesty 514 as it is about the same wieght as my carbon 714.

Both climb really well. If it comes down to looks and finish the zesty is abit more special with the branded parts over the bontraeger kit.

Hope this helps, but you wont go wrong with either.

I've heard it's not easy to get parts for lapierre is this just sales men trying to sell me there brands. Have you of anyone needed to to get a replacement part from lapierre.

popstar

Way too many Lapp's around, go with something else. For trail center that would be Ghost AMR7500 at it's best !

Nalla

Had no trouble getting spares for my Zesty from 'We Love Mountains' they seem to have most spares on the website and when i needed the iscg tab inserts for the carbon frame id misplaced they sent me some out next day!

dan45a

Newborn, I have had no issues with parts for my Zesty's and I have owned 2 (514 & 714) in last 3 years and used them a lot.

I did have to wait about 10 days for a spoke on the XT wheelset but that's nothing to do with lapierre.

My wifes ex8 and my mates ex9 have been back to the shop more than my zesty's. ex8 has rear brake issues, ex9 has had the fox rear shock sent back to mojo to be reworked (i was told this is a common fault on 2010 ex9's)?

I have found my zestys to be the most reliable bikes I have owned.

newborn

That's good to know about the lapp's, as I think they are some of the best looking bikes around. Luckily one of the locals stocks them. After what you've said I'm gonna go sit on a couple.
I have been looking at the ghosts AMS7500, It's a nice looking bike (10/10 in MBR). I'm guessing being a German brand, it shouldn't be too hard to get replacements. How does it handle the bigger stuff like trail centre table to jumps & big drop off's.

Cheers

newborn

AMR...I mean

dan45a

Newborn, This months Dirt magazine has a great article for the "fastest trail bikes", it includes the Ghost, Cube stereo, lapierre zesty , orange 5, Cannondale rise, Herb....

It's not your usual trail bike test but may answer your questions regarding the bigger stuff.

The Ghost didn't do so well on the bigger stuff if I recall. It's worth a look...

allthegearnoidea

i did hear from the lbs guys that the hotlines staff have suggested that anyone with any zesty's left instock hsould start to discount them a bit to clear them out intime for the '11 bikes!
might be a good time to pose a few questions!!!!

newborn

dan45a wrote:

Newborn, I have had no issues with parts for my Zesty's and I have owned 2 (514 & 714) in last 3 years and used them a lot.

I did have to wait about 10 days for a spoke on the XT wheelset but that's nothing to do with lapierre.

My wifes ex8 and my mates ex9 have been back to the shop more than my zesty's. ex8 has rear brake issues, ex9 has had the fox rear shock sent back to mojo to be reworked (i was told this is a common fault on 2010 ex9's)?

I have found my zestys to be the most reliable bikes I have owned.

Got the Zesty 514, Had to drive 150 miles to get it but I got it. Went on it Sunday. It has already given me more confidence because of how it rides. Cheers for the advice.... one more thing, did you change the headset. I need to know if a hope semi intergrated would fit.

popstar

Newborn, first of all Congratulations on joining the Lapp exclusive club! You made a great choice. From now on, your next upgrade must be -the skills course, and only then any other bling bling. To be honest all bikes suggested you wouldn't go wrong with any of them, unless you were uber-skilled and felt those 1% differences of the bike held you back on trails preventing executing the finest apex of the corner.

IMO if you look at your own bike and it looks so sexy to you, that it screams -go on, give it another ride, then most probably you have made the right choice.

Now gear up and head for the hills !

p.s. pix, or it didn't happen.

This bike is far too good

Just got the Fuel EX 9.8, and have absolutely no hesitation in recommending it. It made me a better rider instantly. Now, I just bought it because it fulfilled all my requirements, but bear in mind that the EX 8 was What Mountain Bike's bike of the year. Never tried a Lapierre, but you just won't go wrong with a quality Trek. Mind you, popstar above is also right, mere mortals like me probably won't feel any difference once we're at this level

newborn

popstar wrote:

Newborn, first of all Congratulations on joining the Lapp exclusive club! You made a great choice. From now on, your next upgrade must be -the skills course, and only then any other bling bling. To be honest all bikes suggested you wouldn't go wrong with any of them, unless you were uber-skilled and felt those 1% differences of the bike held you back on trails preventing executing the finest apex of the corner.

IMO if you look at your own bike and it looks so sexy to you, that it screams -go on, give it another ride, then most probably you have made the right choice.

Now gear up and head for the hills !

p.s. pix, or it didn't happen.

Pudseyp

newborn wrote:

dan45a wrote:

My wifes ex8 and my mates ex9 have been back to the shop more than my zesty's. ex8 has rear brake issues, ex9 has had the fox rear shock sent back to mojo to be reworked (i was told this is a common fault on 2010 ex9's)?

I have found my zestys to be the most reliable bikes I have owned.

Got the Zesty 514, Had to drive 150 miles to get it but I got it. Went on it Sunday. It has already given me more confidence because of how it rides. Cheers for the advice.... one more thing, did you change the headset. I need to know if a hope semi intergrated would fit.

Umm rear shock issues eh...as opposed to many Spicy and Zesty frames being returned to Lappierre due to stress fractures and frames cracking ! so if you bought a 2010 keep your eye on it...

pilsburypie

I had the same dilemma. Also went for a zesty 514. Gotta wait till 17th December though !

dan shard

Im looking forward to having that same dilemma this year.

Im torn between sticking to Cube and going for a stereo or would consider a fritzz (My AMS has been brilliant, just fancy something with a little more bounce) or a zesty 314

EnglishChris

dan shard wrote:

Im looking forward to having that same dilemma this year.

Im torn between sticking to Cube and going for a stereo or would consider a fritzz (My AMS has been brilliant, just fancy something with a little more bounce) or a zesty 314

I'm really tempted by some of the deals CRC have at the moment - but can't decided between a Stereo of the AMS 125. Both have similar travel but different geometry I guess? I'm worried the Stereo might be a bit too like my Meta (too short a top tube, and as you extend the seatpost you end up well over the back wheel because of the seat tube angle).

Which AMS do you have?

Of course there is also the Zesty (but not the same kind of deals available I suspect) or an EX8/9.....

Arrghhhhhh..... :-/