TREK bicycles have been on the market for 30 years, so this brand name doesn’t need any introduction at all. We all know that TREK offer a lifetime guarantee on their frame sets, that shows the reliability and confidence that TREK have in its products.

Today’s review is based on just a couple of sessions in the saddle.

Data has been collected from totally different trails and conditions, dry flat roads, gravel paths, rocky trails and through mud pools (which can be dangerous!), keep reading to get my opinion when the conditions become tough.

The Bike

It was a hard decision for the rider to choose the 6500 disc. There were so many good bicycles at this price, but he finally decided to buy TREK due to its well-balanced and complete specs. One of the most important features of that bike is the Alpha SLR aluminum frame.

SLR means lighter than SL aluminum, with detailed laser assembly to get a better performance with less weight.

The frame is finished in Belize Blue, and it presents the classic geometry of the entire Wisconsin manufactured brand, TREK bicycles.

The Fork

Manitou Axel, lockout with 80mm of travel is the fork carried on this bike. It’s not the best ever made, but is enough to make the 6500 even a more adaptable bike, ready for all types of conditions, it should be considered to be in the mid-range amongst forks, not bad.

Brakes

The braking power with the Shimano M525 disc brakes is awesome.

I used to have V-Brakes and I noticed the difference immediately, especially when descending, which is obviously the time to find the differences between brake models. The brakes together with the frame are the best value for money.

Other components

Practically, the whole bike has been setup with Bontrager components; including grips, handlebars, seat post, tires and the stem. Bontrager is a very well known as well as a certified brand name, serving components to the Discovery Channel cycling team together with TREK, and winning a couple (seven) of Tours de France with Lance Armstrong.

What else to say about Bontrager? Its products offer great design, and comfortable shapes as we can see with the handlebar, longer than other brands’, to allow the rider better breathing, at least they say so, thus it should be.

The rear Derailleur is the Shimano XT, and the front Deore, like the levers and shifters, really smooth working.

Bike Performance

One of my first feelings on the TREK 6500 was its comfortable design. It was probably due to the great Bontrager low-rise handlebar.

The maneuverability was amazing, and the comfort excellent at the front end. Riding this bike is really easy from the beginning.

Apart from the bar, the Bontrager tires also offer very good handling, which is excellent when descending on rocks or gravel, but not for riding on flat roads.

That feature is perhaps the worst, because it is too hard to move this machine on long flat roads, but hey! Who is going to roll out the TREK 6500 through roads? we are talking about mountain bikes.

As we’ve said above, the Shimano XT works smoothly, as of course it does, even out of the saddle climbing or sprinting.
The only problem comes up when you need a full crankset/cassette power; then the typical problem of rear gear jumping appears.

You have to keep the shifter pushed in order to help the chain be on the top of the cassette, it might be a problem of rear gear adjustment. Another weakness may be the platform pedals that come with the bike.

They are not at the same level as the whole bicycle, TREK should know it and include clipless pedals from the beginning.

We gave the TREK 6500 Disc mtb a hard test and it worked well in all conditions.

We rolled it out through mud pools and it performed very well, the performance was amazing, the machine didn’t complain about anything, it was a fantastic test, even in rain this bike worked the same as in the best weather conditions.

Considered as an entry level mtb, I would recommend it for those who start on even mid-level trails, the TREK 6500 disc will surprise anyone, our opinion; a good choice.

FRAMESET: FRAME: Alpha SLR Aluminum FORK: Manitou Axel Comp w/TPC LO, 80mm WHEELS: Shimano M475 disc hubs; WTB Speed Disc rims TIRES: Bontrager ACX, 26×2.2″, 52/54

DRIVETRAIN: SHIFTERS: Shimano Alivio FRONT DERAILLEUR: Shimano Alivio REAR DERAILLEUR: Shimano Deore CRANKSET: Bontrager Sport 42/32/22 CASSETTE: SRAM 850 11-32, 8 speed PEDALS: Alloy ATB, clipless adaptable COMPONENTS: SADDLE: Bontrager Select SEATPOST: Bontrager Sport HANDLEBARS: Bontrager Crowbar Sport STEM: Bontrager Sport, 10 degree HEADSET: Aheadset, semi-cartridge, sealed BRAKESET: Hayes Sole XC, hydraulic disc