The second-cheapest bike in Trek’s six-strong Remedy line-up still packs one hell of a punch when it comes to value and character on the trail.
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Trek Remedy 8 27.5 specifications
- Frame: Alpha Platinum aluminium, 150mm (5.9in) travel
- Fork: RockShox Lyrik RC Solo Air, 160mm (6.3in) travel
- Shock: RockShox Deluxe RT3 RE:aktiv
- Cranks: Truvativ Descendant
- Rear derailleur: SRAM GX Eagle
- Shifters: SRAM GX Eagle, 12spd
- Wheelset: Bontrager Line Comp 30 wheels
- Tyres: Schwalbe Nobby Nic ADDIX SpeedGrip Snakeskin TL Easy 27.5x2.35in tyres
- Brakes: SRAM Guide R
- Bar: Bontrager Line 35, 780mm
- Stem: Bontrager Line 35, 50mm
- Seatpost: Bontrager Drop Line 125mm dropper
- Saddle: Bontrager Evoke 2
- Sizes: 15.5in, 17.5in, 18.5in, 19.5in, 21.5in
- Weight: 13.84kg (30.5lb), 18.5in size without pedals
Trek Remedy 8 27.5 frame
I opted for the alloy Remedy 8 over the identically priced 9.7, which has a carbon frame but a lesser spec.
Both share the same frame features, including the Mino Link chips that make it a doddle to switch between the bike’s high and low geometry settings. In the high mode, the bike had a head angle of 66.4 degrees, its bottom bracket sat 345mm off the floor and it had a reasonable 445mm reach.
The low setting slackens the head (and seat) angle by 0.5 degrees and lowers the bottom bracket by nearly 10mm. Another neat touch is the Knock Block steering limiter. This ensures the fork crown won’t spin around and smash into the Remedy’s straight down tube (made so to increase stiffness and reduce weight).
The 150mm (5.9in) of rear wheel travel is controlled by a RockShox Deluxe RT3 shock, complete with Trek’s proprietary RE:aktiv tune. This is clamped between the EVO rocker link and extended chainstay tips.
Internal cable routing keeps the bike looking clean and uncluttered, but means maintenance won’t be quite as faff free. Not everyone will be a fan of the press-fit bottom bracket.
Trek Remedy 8 27.5 kit
My bike was delivered with Schwalbe Nobby Nic tyres in place of the Bontrager XR4 Team Issues that should come as standard. After flatting the Schwalbes all too easily, it was a relief when Trek sent over some XR5s, which proved far more resilient to puncturing and offered more consistent grip in the wet conditions I tested the Remedy in.
Trek has ditched its habit of sticking travel-adjust forks on the Remedy this year, which is no bad thing. The Remedy 8 comes with RockShox’s formidable Lyrik RC, which pumps out a well-controlled 160mm (6.3in) of travel.
Trek Remedy 8 27.5 ride
The Remedy really is a class all-rounder. Point it uphill and it’ll claw its way up just about any pitch without fuss and feels reasonably stable under power, even with the shock left in its open mode.
That eagerness is helped by the bike’s relatively low weight and, with the Schwalbe tyres (in the ADDIX SpeedGrip compound) fitted, what felt like little in the way of rolling resistance.
Even after I made the change to the more robust Bontrager rubber, the Remedy was still keen to get going, and the grip on offer was more predictable, even on wet rocks and roots. They’re tougher too and won’t have you wincing every time you clatter into a rock section, waiting for the sound of air escaping.
Its suspension balance is impressive too, with plenty of control up front and a sensitive yet supportive feel at the rear, which adds to its playful yet confident feel on the trail.
The frame is taut, responsive and accurate when you load it hard into a turn or hop from line to line, and the low-slung bottom bracket (in the low setting) means its surefooted through the corners.
While it may not feel like a super-stable, point-and-shoot downhill bomber on really roughed up, high-speed trails, its composure and well-measured delivery of its travel meant I never felt out of our depth.
The Remedy 8 is a great all-rounder that’s a blast to ride, no matter what trail lies ahead.
