Buying my first real mtb - 2018 Haro Shift Plus or 2017 Trek Fuel EX 8

Related:
Question
Haro
Trek
Bike Buying Advice
nancykind
Profile picture for user nancykind
Posts
4
Joined
6/13/2018
Location
Glens Falls, NY US
nancykind
Hi! I rode a 2018 Haro Shift 5 and liked it a lot but the shop that carries Trek has no trails and do not loan out so I can’t really try it out except to ride around their small parking lot - which doesn’t even have a pothole!

I can get the Trek right away, would have to order the Haro. I object to not being able to ride the Trek on a trail yet I didn’t actually ride the shift plus, either, so.......... that’s kind of silly. My friend says he ordered his first bike from a catalog - a Specialist I think - and loves it still.

I can’t find any reviews on the 2018 Haro but did find a rider’s video praising the 2017 Trek

Both come with 1 year free maintenance and one free tune-up

Your thoughts? Thanks in advance!!

What Say You?

1
|
Masjo
Profile picture for user Masjo
Posts
209
Joined
11/25/2014
Location
Ancaster CA
Masjo 6/13/2018 6:13am
6/13/2018 6:13am
To me, this is no contest - for sure get the Trek Fuel EX 8. I have a 2018 model and enjoy it, and there's nothing I really feel a need to upgrade. I do work at a store that carries Trek, but looking at the websites for both models I really think the Trek is a better buy for almost anyone. For some specific comparisons:
Better fork on the Trek (Fox 34 Rhythm is stiffer and has better internals than Rockshox Recon, which is more of a budget fork)
Better drivetrain on the Trek (Shimano XT vs Shimano Deore. If you really want a 1x setup, you can easily buy and install a single narrow wide ring)
Probably a better dropper post on the Trek (KS Integra is not a great post, but it should be a 125mm model. The Haro comes with a Pivit post which I have never heard of, but it states on the website it is only 100mm.
The geometry on the Trek also looks more 'modern' to me (long, low & slack) and sounds a bit more confident.
After that it is hard to compare the house branded stuff. I'm not a huge fan of Kenda tires, but they may be better for your riding area than Bontrager XR3s. Neither wheelset sounds great, but I have run the Bontrager ones before without many problems. Similar brakes. Bontrager's bar/stem combo is nice enough.
I don't really know what Haro has been up to lately, but for a while they were always more of a budget brand. To me, there is no real situation where I would get the Haro unless it was significantly (and I mean very significantly) cheaper.

nancykind
Profile picture for user nancykind
Posts
4
Joined
6/13/2018
Location
Glens Falls, NY US
nancykind 6/13/2018 8:37am
6/13/2018 8:37am
I’ve been telling myself it’s no contest.... I do like the shop that carries Haro better than the other one in some ways. Just went and picked up the Trek, anyway - didn’t want anyone else getting it! Thanks for your input! :-).
Big Bird
Profile picture for user Big Bird
Posts
2181
Joined
2/1/2011
Location
Oceano, CA US
Big Bird 6/13/2018 6:56pm
6/13/2018 6:56pm
You can always get it serviced at the Haro shop going foreword.
1

Post a reply to: Buying my first real mtb - 2018 Haro Shift Plus or 2017 Trek Fuel EX 8