TREK Farley 7 Fat Bike Review
Trek Farley 7 is the mountain biker’s fat bike. It handles and feels like your typical surfboard, but it can also be used on snow and sand. It’s the perfect bike for young shredders who want to look rad in every season thanks to its lightweight aluminium frame, wide-range gear, dropper post, and Manitou Mastodon fork.
Overview
| Category | Bikes |
| Brand | Trek |
| Model | Farley 7 |
| Type | Fat Bike |
| Year | 2022 |
Specifications
Check specifications here
| Components | Details |
Frame | Alpha Platinum Aluminum, tapered head tube, internal derailleur & dropper post routing, rack mounts, 197x12mm adjustable horizontal sliding dropouts |
| Fork | Manitou Mastodon 34 Comp, air spring, ABS damper, lockout, tapered steerer, 51mm offset, 150x15mm thru axle, 80mm travel |
| Max compatible fork travel | 100mm (513mm axle-to-crown) |
Hub front | Bontrager alloy, sealed bearing, 6-bolt, 15x150mm thru axle |
| Hub rear | Bontrager alloy, sealed bearing, 6-bolt, Rapid Drive 108, Shimano 10 freehub, 197x12mm thru axle |
| Skewer rear | Bontrager Switch thru axle, removable lever |
| Rim | SUNRingle Mulefut 80 SL, 32-hole cutout |
| Tire: Size: S, M, L, XL | Bontrager Gnarwhal Team Issue, Tubeless Ready, Inner Strength sidewalls, studdable, aramid bead, 120 tpi, 27.5×4.50” |
| Tire: Size: S, M | Bontrager Gnarwhal Team Issue, Tubeless Ready, Inner Strength sidewalls, studdable, aramid bead, 120 tpi, 27.5×3.80” |
| Max tire size | Frame: 27.5×4.50″ or 26×4.70″ Fork: See manufacturer |
Shifter | SRAM NX Eagle, 12 speed |
| Rear derailleur | SRAM GX Eagle |
| Crank: Size: S, M | SRAM X1 1000 Eagle, DUB, 30T alloy FAT 5 ring, 170mm length |
| Crank: Size: L, XL | SRAM X1 1000 Eagle, DUB, 30T alloy FAT 5 ring, 175mm length |
| Bottom bracket | SRAM DUB, 121mm, PressFit |
| Cassette | SRAM PG-1230 Eagle, 11-50, 12 speed |
| Chain | SRAM NX Eagle, 12 speed |
| Pedal | VP-536 nylon platform |
| Max chainring size | 1x: 32T, 2x: 22/36 |
Saddle | Bontrager Arvada, steel rails, 138mm width |
| Seatpost: Size: S | TranzX JD-YSP18, 100mm travel, internal routing, 31.6mm, 361mm length |
| Seatpost: Size: M, L, XL | TranzX JD-YSP18, 130mm travel, internal routing, 31.6mm, 425mm length |
| Handlebar | Bontrager alloy, 31.8mm, 15mm rise, 750mm width |
| Grips | Bontrager XR Trail Comp, nylon lock-on |
| Stem: Size: S | Bontrager Elite, 31.8mm, Blendr compatible, 7 degree, 60mm length |
| Stem: Size: M | Bontrager Elite, 31.8mm, Blendr compatible, 7 degree, 70mm length |
| Stem: Size: L | Bontrager Elite, 31.8mm, Blendr compatible, 7 degree, 80mm length |
| Stem: Size: XL | Bontrager Elite, 31.8mm, Blendr compatible, 7 degree, 90mm length |
| Headset | FSA IS-2, 1-1/8” top, 1.5” bottom |
| Brake Rotor: Size: S, M, L, XL | Avid G2 Cleansweep, 180mm, 6-bolt |
| Brake Rotor: Size: S, M, L, XL | Avid G2 CleanSweep, 6-bolt, 160mm |
| Brake Set | SRAM Level T hydraulic disc |
Weight | M – 15.92 kg / 35.1 lbs (with TLR sealant, no tubes) |
| Weight limit | This bike has a maximum total weight limit (combined weight of bicycle, rider, and cargo) of 300 pounds (136 kg). |
Features
If you want your fat bike to feel like a typical mountain bike, this is the bike for you. Or perhaps you want to invest your money in the essential components, such as a durable suspension fork and a workhorse gear, because you ride your fat bike all year long.
A fat bike designed for tackling various terrain at all times of the year is the Trek Farley 7. The bike can also be used off-trail, but its primary function is as a snow bike. The lightweight aluminium frame, adjustable dropouts for excellent control, and an effective shock-absorbing suspension fork all contribute to the versatility. The tyres provide traction and stability.
Lightweight aluminium frame with horizontal sliding dropouts, 80mm Manitou Mastodon air spring and lockout suspension fork, dropper post for getting low, wide-range SRAM NX/GX Eagle 1×12 drivetrain, SUNringlé Mulefüt wheels with a 108T Rapid Drive hub for instant engagement, and extra-grippy, studdable Bontrager Gnarwhal TLR tyres are just a few of the features.
Features
Aluminium Frame
This fat bike’s body frame is made of high-performance Alpha aluminium, allowing for smooth riding across difficult terrain comfortably and at peak speeds. Even when exposed to the extreme environmental conditions of the wild or a snowy setting, it is rust-resistant. When tackling meandering turns, the rider has quick reaction points because to the lightweight frame. The dropper post innovation would make rapid descents enjoyable for dedicated mountain riders.
Rapid Drive 108 Rear Hub
Rapid drive 108 is installed in the Farley 7. A mountain biker’s acceleration can be boosted from behind thanks to this technology. Instead of a progressive increase like with some mountain bikes, the acceleration spike is typically immediate. With the Rapid drive’s 108 engagement points, you may go at high speeds over challenging terrain. Smoother and less energy-intensive pedalling results.
27.5˝ Fat Tyres
Faster motion is maintained by more effective 27.5″ fat tyres, especially on packed or groomed snow. The tyres and rims of Farley 7 are tubeless-compatible. This provides assurance that the tyres will perform admirably on the various surfaces encountered during mountain rides. They have excellent surface traction, are lightweight, and resistant to unanticipated punctures. Excellent bike control, body balance, and velocity are ensured by the lightness and traction. By offering adequate stopping power, the hydraulic disc brakes also compliment the tyres.
Oh! What a feeling
You may ride outside all year round on this four-season freedom vehicle.
It is simple to charge through snowy terrain and rock gardens thanks to the Manitou Mastodon fork and big, robust tyres.
When descending, the dropper post enables you to quickly lower your saddle out of the way.
This bike will make you reconsider your previous opinion of fat bikes as being slow.
You can fine-tune your geometry using horizontal sliding dropouts by running it long for stability or short for more agile handling.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Linear dropouts that are scalable
Good suspension fork
Excellent tyre traction
Fantastic bike handling
High rate of speed
Cons
Slow response to a quick direction change
Slightly heavier from normal bikes
FAQs
How much does a Trek Farley 7 Weigh?
A 2022 Trek Farley 7 weighs M – 16.35 kg / 36.04 lbs (with tubes).
What are fat tire bikes for?
The main advantage of a fat bike is that it can handle rough terrain better than a standard bicycle, including sand and snow. You can pedal over terrain that would cause traditional tyres to sink thanks to the broad tyres’ added traction and grip, which work in conjunction with low tyre pressure.
How can your body shape be adjusted for improved handling?
This is where the adjustable linear dropouts mechanism comes in handy.
Why is the Farley 7 so cosy and manoeuvrable?
All shocks are absorbed and acceleration is increased by the premium Manitou Mastodon fork.
Conclusion
4.8
Total score
Our Rating
Similar to a regular mountain bike, the Farley 7 fat bike has good performance. This bike has wide, adaptable tyres that offer excellent surface traction and rapid acceleration, so you can use it in both the snow and the wildest jungle. A quality suspension fork also improves a rider’s comfort, stability, and speed. Because of the dropouts, the bike geometry can be adjusted, which helps with body balance and minimises muscular fatigue.
The front suspension and dropper post significantly improve its downhill performance, and the geometry is comfortable on both ascents and descents. Even when the snow runs out or the terrain becomes a little more difficult and steep, the Farley is the most capable descender we tested. Even though it outperforms the stiff competition on bumpy terrain, it is not a trail bike. This adaptable vehicle is well-equipped, and we think it offers a good bargain.
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Our articles are developed after considerable research and studies online and also including seeking informational experience based tips from professional rides. Key sources of information are interviews, google search and youtube.