Review of Trek Roscoe 8 2021 model Matte Black/Red/Merigold Fade
I have ridden 3000km with the Roscoe 8 and have owned it for almost a year now. Kilometers were both tarmac for commuting and single track trails.
Pro's:
Geometry fits between crosscountry and downhill
Strong bike for heavy riders
Versatile bike, both fun on the trail and tarmac
Agile bike with 27,5+
Comfortable and reliable
Good commuter
Good trail bike
Looks awesome
Downside:
Matte paint isn't the strongest coating out there
12 speeds wear out faster as with commuting, i'm usually in the smallest 3 cogs
30t front ring is too small, i put a 32t on it, which is the max tooth size
It's a real comfortable bike to peddle and definitely a good bike to have fun on, both going up and down the trail. The geometry is really good, fitting the gap between crosscountry and downhill. The bike is nimble, you can flick it around corners with ease. From the first moment you will go down some rough stuff you will feel this bike wont push you over the bar like a traditional cross country bike. Before I was always uncomfortable with some descents in my local trail. The Roscoe made me overcome my fears!
There's a good dropper and the front suspension; Rockshox Gold 35, does a good job in dampening all the blows caused by the rocky terrain and a combination of gravity and my 100kg/220lbs. You can adjust the fork to your bodyweight. This bike is really tough and strong, it can have a total burden of 136kg/300lbs! The rims are tough, never had a dent in them.
The shifting goes well, altho i had to make some adjustments around my 3000km so the shifting was still quick and effortless. Both on tarmac with high psi in the tires or on the trail with lower psi its rolling quick.
Things i did to the roscoe:
I wore out the back tyre and swapped it for a 2.6.
Wore out the chain and cassette at 2500km
Replaced the 30t for a 32t; which is more optimal for both commuting and faster trails
Made a lot of pictures and staring moments of how cool the bike looks
Review of Trek Roscoe 8 2020. In the efforts of full disclosure, I had given this bike positive reviews when I first got it back in September of 2019. However, after getting my MTB skills back, I can say that this bike is not designed for serious trail riding. It's basically a hyped up weekend rider you can take on dirt roads. Having been an avid MTBer back in the late 80s, and 90s on, I had taken a 10 year hiatus. Not sure if I would still have my skills and not wanting to drop a ton on a full suspension, I opted for the Roscoe 8. This was against my better judgment, as I had owned a Trek 930 (Rigid) and had promised myself that I'd never buy another Trek. Unfortunately, with the lack of any objective reviews for the Roscoe 8 (most reviews online parrot the Trek's advertising) and my failure to really study the dimensions on this bike, I made the same mistake again.
What I like about the bike--it's not bad to look at, and it comes tubeless "ready"; you need to tape the rims. It has a decent dropper post and front suspension lock-out. What I dislike:
(1) the frame geometry, in my opinion, was designed so they could minimize shipping costs--I'm 5'11" and I opted for a large. The steep head tube angle and short wheel base give the rider the impression of riding a tall barstool on wheels. In addition, the plus tires unfortunately deform around any obstructions on the trial (as they're designed), which further amplifies this bike's tendency to "chock" its wheels on the smallest obstruction. Any benefit from the 27.5 wheels is completely lost. This thing loves to throw its rider over the bars. Even on serious uphills, the front tire is more inclined to "chock" rather than track like you would expect for a 27.5 wheel.
(2) The plus size tires on this frame increase the instability of the ride. I love plus size tires, but on this hard tail, when the shocks compress even minimally and the tire compresses--the rider experiences a super-steep head tube angle. This requires hyper-vigilant scrutiny of the trail directly in-front for even the smallest obstructions. I recently rode a friend's Pivot on one of my practice trails that I ride almost daily. I was confused that I didn't recognize the surroundings, until I realized I didn't have to stare at the trial 5' in front of me.
(3) Unfortunately, to combat the limitations of the frame geometry, the tires have to be inflated to higher pressure, and the front shock has to be stiffened. One of the minor drawbacks of plus size tires there is the capacity to laterally rebound--and with this short wheelbase, the bike gets squirrelly and yaws. On this bike, you don't choose a line through a rock garden, you just hang on and ping-pong through.
(4) Trek advertised the 2020 Roscoe 8 being equipped with Maxxis Minions, although in very tiny lawyer-ease script they reserved the right to change any of the specifications. The classic bait and switch and violá, mine came with Bontrager XR3. THEY SUCK. When encountering any moisture, the only gripping that occurs is the tire's phenomenal ability to pack itself with mud and never let go. Basically you wind up with muddy slicks. In addition, the significant amount of knobby surface in relation to the contour of the tire results in its inability grab on to any uneven surface. When climbing over rocks or roots, you'll inevitably hear the Bontrager "fart," as the tire rapidly looses traction and spins uncontrolled over the obstruction, making a "strawberry" sound. These tires are great for dirt roads and smooth trails, but they can't cut any serious off-road, and have to be replaced--right out of the box.
(5) Miscellaneous stuff: The steep seat-tube angle and short chain stay do not make this bike a great climber. You really have to do some world class gymnastics on this thing to try to keep the front-end down, enough weight on the back tire to keep from loosing tractions, and still maintain balance and pedaling geometry. I was surprised to learn that this thing doesn't have sealed on the head tube--it has an old fashion bearing race like my first Huffy banana seat. I found out because dirt got into it and I had to disassemble it and repack it with grease--super fun! Lastly, the seat sucks--the front is pointy enough to do double duty as a weapon. This gives it the uncanny ability to skewer and grip your riding-shorts when you stand up on the pedals (luckily, I wear padded underwear, so I haven't mooned anyone. . . well, not fully.)
I'm not trying to be a buzz kill--if you have a Roscoe and you like it, more power to you. However, I wish there were more objective reviews online before I bought mine; in my opinion, it's a good solid entry level bike, but it's not going to provide a stable and adequate MTB platform for a decent rider looking to ride moderately challenging terrain. I wish I had waited and saved up for a better bike (not a Trek).Prosdropper post; front suspension lockoutConsgeometry, equipment
Great bike. Upgraded from a Specialized Hardrock so the comparison isn't really fair. The fork has taken some abuse with no complaints, brakes work good once seated, dropper post is the bomb, tubeless conversion took five minutes and is awesome, climbs good but I have had to practice on hard switchbacks because I am used to the narrower handles bars on the Hardrock. I'm still getting used to the single front sprocket and can run out of gear in a flat road but the lows gears in a hard climb work well.
I am riding mostly flowing single track and just starting to work in some more technical areas. Overall, if looking for a solid economical hardtail, I would recommend this bike.
Pros Dropper post, tubeless ready, fork, components are good for an entry level hardtail, affordable, worth upgrading if you want to. And it's a cool orange!!
Cons Can run out of gear on a flat road, wider than expected handlebars, saddle is, um, a bummer, grips.
Review of Trek Roscoe 8 2021 model Matte Black/Red/Merigold Fade
I have ridden 3000km with the Roscoe 8 and have owned it for almost a year now. Kilometers were both tarmac for commuting and single track trails.
Pro's:
Geometry fits between crosscountry and downhill
Strong bike for heavy riders
Versatile bike, both fun on the trail and tarmac
Agile bike with 27,5+
Comfortable and reliable
Good commuter
Good trail bike
Looks awesome
Downside:
Matte paint isn't the strongest coating out there
12 speeds wear out faster as with commuting, i'm usually in the smallest 3 cogs
30t front ring is too small, i put a 32t on it, which is the max tooth size
It's a real comfortable bike to peddle and definitely a good bike to have fun on, both going up and down the trail. The geometry is really good, fitting the gap between crosscountry and downhill. The bike is nimble, you can flick it around corners with ease. From the first moment you will go down some rough stuff you will feel this bike wont push you over the bar like a traditional cross country bike. Before I was always uncomfortable with some descents in my local trail. The Roscoe made me overcome my fears!
There's a good dropper and the front suspension; Rockshox Gold 35, does a good job in dampening all the blows caused by the rocky terrain and a combination of gravity and my 100kg/220lbs. You can adjust the fork to your bodyweight. This bike is really tough and strong, it can have a total burden of 136kg/300lbs! The rims are tough, never had a dent in them.
The shifting goes well, altho i had to make some adjustments around my 3000km so the shifting was still quick and effortless. Both on tarmac with high psi in the tires or on the trail with lower psi its rolling quick.
Things i did to the roscoe:
| ThankI wore out the back tyre and swapped it for a 2.6.
Wore out the chain and cassette at 2500km
Replaced the 30t for a 32t; which is more optimal for both commuting and faster trails
Made a lot of pictures and staring moments of how cool the bike looks
Review of Trek Roscoe 8 2020. In the efforts of full disclosure, I had given this bike positive reviews when I first got it back in September of 2019. However, after getting my MTB skills back, I can say that this bike is not designed for serious trail riding. It's basically a hyped up weekend rider you can take on dirt roads. Having been an avid MTBer back in the late 80s, and 90s on, I had taken a 10 year hiatus. Not sure if I would still have my skills and not wanting to drop a ton on a full suspension, I opted for the Roscoe 8. This was against my better judgment, as I had owned a Trek 930 (Rigid) and had promised myself that I'd never buy another Trek. Unfortunately, with the lack of any objective reviews for the Roscoe 8 (most reviews online parrot the Trek's advertising) and my failure to really study the dimensions on this bike, I made the same mistake again.
What I like about the bike--it's not bad to look at, and it comes tubeless "ready"; you need to tape the rims. It has a decent dropper post and front suspension lock-out. What I dislike:
(1) the frame geometry, in my opinion, was designed so they could minimize shipping costs--I'm 5'11" and I opted for a large. The steep head tube angle and short wheel base give the rider the impression of riding a tall barstool on wheels. In addition, the plus tires unfortunately deform around any obstructions on the trial (as they're designed), which further amplifies this bike's tendency to "chock" its wheels on the smallest obstruction. Any benefit from the 27.5 wheels is completely lost. This thing loves to throw its rider over the bars. Even on serious uphills, the front tire is more inclined to "chock" rather than track like you would expect for a 27.5 wheel.
(2) The plus size tires on this frame increase the instability of the ride. I love plus size tires, but on this hard tail, when the shocks compress even minimally and the tire compresses--the rider experiences a super-steep head tube angle. This requires hyper-vigilant scrutiny of the trail directly in-front for even the smallest obstructions. I recently rode a friend's Pivot on one of my practice trails that I ride almost daily. I was confused that I didn't recognize the surroundings, until I realized I didn't have to stare at the trial 5' in front of me.
(3) Unfortunately, to combat the limitations of the frame geometry, the tires have to be inflated to higher pressure, and the front shock has to be stiffened. One of the minor drawbacks of plus size tires there is the capacity to laterally rebound--and with this short wheelbase, the bike gets squirrelly and yaws. On this bike, you don't choose a line through a rock garden, you just hang on and ping-pong through.
(4) Trek advertised the 2020 Roscoe 8 being equipped with Maxxis Minions, although in very tiny lawyer-ease script they reserved the right to change any of the specifications. The classic bait and switch and violá, mine came with Bontrager XR3. THEY SUCK. When encountering any moisture, the only gripping that occurs is the tire's phenomenal ability to pack itself with mud and never let go. Basically you wind up with muddy slicks. In addition, the significant amount of knobby surface in relation to the contour of the tire results in its inability grab on to any uneven surface. When climbing over rocks or roots, you'll inevitably hear the Bontrager "fart," as the tire rapidly looses traction and spins uncontrolled over the obstruction, making a "strawberry" sound. These tires are great for dirt roads and smooth trails, but they can't cut any serious off-road, and have to be replaced--right out of the box.
(5) Miscellaneous stuff: The steep seat-tube angle and short chain stay do not make this bike a great climber. You really have to do some world class gymnastics on this thing to try to keep the front-end down, enough weight on the back tire to keep from loosing tractions, and still maintain balance and pedaling geometry. I was surprised to learn that this thing doesn't have sealed on the head tube--it has an old fashion bearing race like my first Huffy banana seat. I found out because dirt got into it and I had to disassemble it and repack it with grease--super fun! Lastly, the seat sucks--the front is pointy enough to do double duty as a weapon. This gives it the uncanny ability to skewer and grip your riding-shorts when you stand up on the pedals (luckily, I wear padded underwear, so I haven't mooned anyone. . . well, not fully.)
I'm not trying to be a buzz kill--if you have a Roscoe and you like it, more power to you. However, I wish there were more objective reviews online before I bought mine; in my opinion, it's a good solid entry level bike, but it's not going to provide a stable and adequate MTB platform for a decent rider looking to ride moderately challenging terrain. I wish I had waited and saved up for a better bike (not a Trek).Prosdropper post; front suspension lockoutConsgeometry, equipment
| ThankMoved back down to a 27.5 from a 29er.. live being back and the added tire width makes this bike perfect for the singletrack
Pros
Large tires for better handling
Cons
| ThankNa
This bike makes a great entry bike for a newer rider like myself. Plus tires make for a comfy ride for a hardtail.
Pros
Fun to ride. Comes with dropper post. Decent components. 27.5 tires will roll over anything.
Cons
| ThankBrakes. Boost 141 rear spacing.
Great bike. Upgraded from a Specialized Hardrock so the comparison isn't really fair. The fork has taken some abuse with no complaints, brakes work good once seated, dropper post is the bomb, tubeless conversion took five minutes and is awesome, climbs good but I have had to practice on hard switchbacks because I am used to the narrower handles bars on the Hardrock. I'm still getting used to the single front sprocket and can run out of gear in a flat road but the lows gears in a hard climb work well.
I am riding mostly flowing single track and just starting to work in some more technical areas. Overall, if looking for a solid economical hardtail, I would recommend this bike.
Pros
Dropper post, tubeless ready, fork, components are good for an entry level hardtail, affordable, worth upgrading if you want to. And it's a cool orange!!
Cons
| ThankCan run out of gear on a flat road, wider than expected handlebars, saddle is, um, a bummer, grips.
Lucky to own one.
Pros
*Great value.
*Cool looks.
*Feature(s) rich for the $.
*Tunable. Upgradeable.
*Reliable.
*Good support by MFG/Dealer.
Cons
| Thank*Haven't found any yet.
I love this bike. Great on any trail, I highly recommend!
Pros
Mid Fat tires, Dropper Post, Wide bars, Color, Traction. This bike provides loafs of confidence to even beginner riders
Cons
| ThankBrakes and Fork could be better for the price
Great entry level bike. Stable platform with numerous upgrade options as your skills increase.
Pros
Low price. Advanced features.
Cons
| ThankFinicky tuning for 1st and 2nd gear.