Trek mountainbikes - and how to check if seller is genuine?

[Nomad]

Hi folks.
We recently decided that the 90's moped we bought as cheap transport will not be getting used, so decided to advertise it.
Got a reply within a few hours of it going on the Interenet for somebody interested - all sounds promising
Then got a message along the lines of "will you swap it for an unused Trek mountainbike - Feb 2011 model"
No more details about the mountainbike yet so lots of unknowns. ladies or gents? frame size? model/colour/spec? Etc...

Had a chat to my partner (the moped was to be for her) and we both had the same first thought ... any way to tell if the bike came out of the riots a couple of weeks ago
The worlds in a sad state when thats the kind of though that pops up without any prompting.
We're North East UK so nowhere near any of the problems around London area but it still makes you wonder.

So the questions would be
Any bright ideas, the moped has full MOT and is advertised for £150 - sound like a fair swap?
Any words of wisdom about Trek moutainbikes (I can see they're not cheap, but any known weak points or general comments?


Any info appreciated as m'bikes are new to me but it could get more use than the moped

 

[Luke]

What's the mountain bike valued at?

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

 

[Wozzaaah]

Removed your cheeky ad.
I doubt it's a looted bike as he knows the month of manufacture, though it being 'brand new' seems a bit odd.
It could be one bought via the cycle to work scheme, you see a lot of that now. Basically people get the voucher then sell the new bike on to free up a lump sum then have the payments taken from their wages.
Ask the seller for the model and frame number, if he baulks at that then suspect he's up to no good.
Regarding quality, Trek build some very good and expensive bikes but they also do some VERY cheap ones, as in £250 new so a £150 swap seems a fair deal.
If it's legit you could do very well out of it.

 

[Nomad]

Hadn't thought about the cycle to work scheme, good point.
Best we could do was a 16 year old with an unwanted gift (Trek) who was looking for their first bike/moped.
Had a quick look and can find new Trek starting from £250, will have a chat tomorrow to see what he has and take it from there.
No more cheeky issues, thought it was worth including the info for completeness

Fair point about "too good to be true" but I've given away (literally!) nice gear and sometimes found absolute bargains (especially if you have cash) so I'm not a believer.
I prefer to work on "if it looks too good to be true - and I can afford the loss if it goes wrong - it's got to be good news"

Will let you know if we find out more.

Happy times

 

[chunkolini]

Sounds a bit iffy to me.
Trek make some great bikes at all budget points, go see the bike but be careful.
As said check the model against internet prices.
But definitely see it before agreeing to anything.

Chunko'.

 

[Justme]

Ask for the serial number & check with the makers / importers / retailers.

 

[FranV8]

I used to have a Trek 8500LT - one of the best bikes I ever owned, could get away with murder on it (even downhill against full suspension stuff).

Don't think you'd find a duff Trek model, but yes, worth finding out what you can from the frame number.

Ironically mine was actually sourced from Police stolen-recovered auctions, and had it's frame number filed off!

Got nicked from me, sad day.

(sorry - partially off topic there)

 

[Nomad]

Ironically mine was actually sourced from Police stolen-recovered auctions, and had it's frame number filed off!

Yep, one of the best bikes I had came from Police auctions. Was very cheap as both wheels were loose and hanging off, did up the quick release hubs once I got it home and it was good to go. Result

Thanks for the info everyone, interesting to see the mixed comments about Trek, some seem to be very in favour, some more middle of the road (sorry about the pun)

Will see what tomorrow brings

 

[stuvy]

take the seat off including the seat post shine a bright torch in the down tube and youl see past the drinks bottle mounts to the crank, if there is anything obstructing that it has a tracker fitted. its star shaped like the headset you hammer in the headstock, chunko will understand that. on the bike radar site they were £15
Also go on fleabay and buy a UV key light, looks like a pentorch shine it over the frame to see if its security tagged.

Lastly depends on the trek model as my dad got his for £150 from rutland cycles, it was one of there ex demo ones that had been around the track for the year or two

 

[FranV8]

Good shop Rutland cycles. They do a few demo days up there too, not a bad place to try out a bike.

 

[Nomad]

Thanks for all the input folks

We had 2 seperate folk turn up yesterday to look at the moped and one took it for cash
End result is I now know a lot more about Trek bikes (and mountainbikes in gerneral) but now no need to take one in part-exchange, so unlikely to be getting one anytime soon, if at all.

The help has been appreciated, as always