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If you’re looking for a quality mountain bike that doesn’t break the bank, the Trek 820 is an excellent option for an entryway to a world of mountain biking. It’s perfect for beginners who are just getting into MTB or those who want a hybrid bike that can handle light trails and city streets. With its affordable price tag and high-quality construction, the 820 is an excellent entryway to the world of mountain biking, and the world of off-road.
Plus, as a Trek bike, you know you’re getting the expertise of some of the best bike designers in the industry. The frame, component selection, and overall value reflect this attention to detail and quality. Let’s take a look at the most affordable mountain bike the Trek Brand can offer.
Overview
The 820 comes with a strong steel frame, 21-speed Shimano drivetrain, semi-slick tires that can handle both pavement and trails, durable alloy wheels, and a suspension fork to smooth out any bumps. Plus, it has mounts for racks, fenders, lights, and more accessories. It is one of the cheapest bikes that Trek can offer.
This bike is for people who are interested in the MTB life but also want to ride on the road. It’s not going to perform as well as a high-end mountain bike, but it can handle light trails and off-road adventures.
If money isn’t an issue for you, then you definitely will have to choose a better bike than the Trek 820. But if you are under a $500 budget and you need an affordable mountain bike or just someone who wants to explore off-road riding, then it’s probably the best you can get from your local bike shop without the giant price.
Features of the Bike
Frame
For this bike, you’ll get a steel frame. It’s equipped with a Trek Custom Steel frame with rack mounts, meaning it’s been designed and crafted by Trek’s bike engineers specifically for the 820 models. Steel frames are known for their strength, durability, and ride quality. But with strength, also comes heaviness which means you may have a hard time when climbing steep hills. However, you can ride wherever you choose, depending on your strength and stamina.
The frame also comes with fender mounts, the 820 is meant for long riding and commuting which means it will be riding on city streets to gravel paths. Which makes it the best bike to put your accessories on, and the mounts make it easy.
Drivetrain
The 820 comes with a reliable 21-speed Shimano tourney drivetrain. This means you’ll have three front chainrings and seven at the back. This provides plenty of gearing options, whether you’re climbing hills or pedaling on flat ground.
The Tourney drivetrain on the Trek 820 is a reliable and affordable option that will get the job done for beginner riders. The bike has appropriate gearing for level ground, moderate climbs, and all but steep hills, and the shifting is smooth and precise. However, if you want to upgrade the drivetrain, you may have problems due to compatibility issues. All the parts would need to be replaced simultaneously, which could come with a giant price tag.
Suspension Fork
The 820’s suspension fork is a coil spring model from SR Suntour, a leading Japanese manufacturer of low to mid-end suspension. The travel is 75mm, which is short by today’s standards but enough to absorb the impact of rough roads, potholed city streets, and gravel paths. It won’t hold up to big hits, but that’s not what it’s meant to do. It’s sturdy and durable and should deliver solid service for years.
Tires
This bike comes with semi-slick Bontrager alloy rims and tires that can handle some light trails as well as smooth terrain from city streets. They aren’t meant for harsh compared to higher-end mountain bikes, or technical mountain bike trails but it’s a great bike, durable, and works well on gravel paths and light rough terrain. As always, make sure you properly inflate your tires to the recommended PSI (usually around 35-65) to avoid punctures and ensure a smooth ride.
Bontrager Alloy rims and tires are a good option for an affordable bike like the Trek 820. They are durable and can handle light trails and city streets, but not as efficient as higher-end mountain bike tires.
Brakes
The 820 bicycle has Tektro alloy linear-pull rim brakes, which work by having two rubber pads clamp the wheel’s rim. While this technology is old compared to disc brakes, it functions well and successfully for many years. However, while disc brakes are more effective in adverse weather conditions, regular rim brakes will properly stop you and control your speed without any issues.
If you switch out your mountain bike wheels, be cautious and make sure that the new ones are compatible with your brakes. Most of the time, same-sized mountain bike wheels can be swapped without issue, however, if you have rim brakes they must match up with a corresponding type of rim. Be aware that many rims created to pair up with disc brakes don’t come equipped with a flat surface intended for use by rim brakes.
Sizes
The Trek 820 comes in sizes 13.5”, 15.5”, 17.5”, 18.5”, and 19.5″ inches to accommodate a range of heights and preferences in stand-over height and reach distance. As always with bikes, pay attention to the sizing and make sure you fit on the bike before buying it. And remember, you can always make adjustments to the seat height and handlebar position to fit your specific needs.
Picking the wrong size may cost you good money when it encounters rough pavement. You may be fitted for XS Size but you picked a size bigger. But the Trek 820 is versatile, durable and works as intended.
Final Word
The
The Trek 820 makes a great starter bike for anyone who hasn’t ridden before or is getting back into riding after a long break. It’s affordable and high-quality, so you can rest assured that your equipment won’t be holding you back as you learn.
If you’re mostly concerned with trail riding, it would be advantageous to save up a bit more money for a bike that is designed specifically for that purpose. However, if that’s not realistic given your financial situation, the Trek 820 will suffice. Just keep in mind its limitations while you’re using it and rely on your skills as a rider rather than treating the bike like an end-all solution.
Trek doesn’t cut any corners when it comes to their low-cost bikes–they put the same care into designing them as they do with their high-spec packages. This is evident in the820, which is very cheap but also smartly designed and effective. If you don’t have much money to spend but need a bike that will get the job done, this is a great option.
