Trek Soho DLX

[Cush]

I think, I know what bike I want next. The Trek Soho has most of what I want : the price is what I am willing to pay (in fact I would go slightly higher than the current offers) a belt drive, disk brakes and hub gears and it is the hub gears that are holding me back from buying now. I want the bike for general purpose use and the odd long run (end to end, C2C) and I am trying to find out if I can up grade the hub gears to a Rohloff or other make of hub with 14 gears. I know I can get a Van Nicholas belt drive but at near on £4,000 it is just a little out of my range. Any one have any suggestions.

 

[corshamjim]

The Soho DLX is a lovely bike, but it seems a bit rash to replace the hub gear as soon as you have bought it! I would think it's more than capable of taking you from LE to JOG so long as you don't expect to break any records.

I hear Genesis bikes will soon be announcing a Day 01 Alfine 11. Failing that, I would think a Thorn would be a good option if you're set on a Rohloff.

 

[gregsid]

I have the non deluxe Soho. It's a lovely lovely city bike. 8 nexus gears are fab, good range of ratios and very reliable too. I have some fierce hills around me but lowest gear handles them well. Beautifully built, sturdy tyres and good rigid mudguards too. Drinks bottle can take hot drinks!Drive belt has proved incredibly reliable. Sooooo quiet and grime free. By the look of the cogs and drive belt, they're going to last a VERY long time.Only gripes are1) Mine has hub roller brakes; great for wet weather, but not very responsive! As you've said, soho now has disc brakes up front, an improvement over mine.2) It's heavy. But then again, I only realised that after getting a road bike.So, I'd recommend the DLX version, with it's improved brakes. Have you looked at the Ridgeback Voyage? Superb touring bike by several accounts. Similar price too.

 

[neepheid]

I have a 2006 Soho, my advice would be to buy a second hand one if you are going for this upgrade...i think 8 gears is plenty...but i suppose it depends on what your using it for! Personally I have had no problems with the roller brakes, but i have heard some people say they aren't sharp enough...i tend to disagree just squeeze harder!

Just a shame that i lost the thermal cup thing that comes with them...i hate missing parts, also i couldn't find a perfect match for that strange but lovely bluey grey colour, which is a shame because as a commuter bike some scratches were inevitable.

 

[gregsid]

Yes, that colour is strange. Trek call it "Rainy Grey"... Though I think(??) they've subtly changed the colour to a more bluey hue!

 

[Evil Rabbit]

I have not owned one, only test ridden it (commuted twice on one) - so take my comments as with limited experience.

My view was a nice easy going bike (I did not buy it in the end, but got close). Review criticisms of earlier models, if you are going to buy S/H, were the weak brakes - but I have not experienced the earlier models, so it is just a comment. The 2011 brakes were fine for what I would have wanted.

I would not waste my money upgrading the hub - you can get a Bryant for £1400 (approx) with belt drive and the Alfine 11, would be sufficient for most riding IMO. I also found the Nexus 8 hub perfectly fine for commuting, including my hills.

What put me off was I found it a little dull to ride (just a personal thing) and, the critical thing for me, the difficulty in fixing a puncture (removing the rear wheel is not that easy) when out on the road. I took the view that a puncture was far more likely than a problem with normal gears - hence, decided to not go with it (or any of the other hub gear bikes).

I did think the belt drive was lovely.

 

[neepheid]

Yes, that colour is strange. Trek call it "Rainy Grey"... Though I think(??) they've subtly changed the colour to a more bluey hue!

well that means i won't be able to find the paint anymore then! it's a fitting name
though...

i see you mention that you have the non dlx, but i thought the belt drive / 8 speed hub gear was what seperated the dlx from the normal one which has a chain.

The 2010 onwards dlx now has disc brakes of course...but i'm pretty sure mine was a dlx when i bought it, so yours should be too?

 

[gregsid]

i see you mention that you have the non dlx, but i thought the belt drive / 8 speed hub gear was what seperated the dlx from the normal one which has a chain.

The 2010 onwards dlx now has disc brakes of course...but i'm pretty sure mine was a dlx when i bought it, so yours should be too?

Got mine in 2010. There wasn't the DLX model then (just). If my understanding is correct, when the DLX version came out (with rear rack), they tweaked the spec on the non-DLX bike.

Anyway, mine has hub brakes, 8 speed Nexus hub gears AND belt drive.... but no rear rack, being pre-DLX.

 

[neepheid]

Got mine in 2010. There wasn't the DLX model then (just). If my understanding is correct, when the DLX version came out (with rear rack), they tweaked the spec on the non-DLX bike.

Anyway, mine has hub brakes, 8 speed Nexus hub gears AND belt drive.... but no rear rack, being pre-DLX.

mine i've had since at least 2006 but it has the rear rack? maybe it was the bike shop i bought it from that added it...but i always assumed it was a dlx because of the hub and belt drive.

 

[mattsr]

If Trek would produce a Soho DLX with the Alfine 11 speed hub, I would not hesitate. I have the Nexus 8 on my current commuting bike - a Carrera 8. I do not have a car so cycle in all weathers, and this seems to expose the problem with the Nexus hub- it is not as weatherproof as it should be. I actually needed to have the entire thing replaced about 18 months ago due to water ingress, which had corroded the internals beyond repair, although I believe Shimano have now modified the design slightly to improve the seal and hopefully solve the problem. Therefore the new generation of Nexus Hubs- (would the plural be Nexi?)- may not be so vulnerable.

I wouldn't mind those extra 3 gears anyway. 8 are fine most of the time, but now and again I'd like a few more.

Has anybody heard any rumours about an Alfine equipped Soho? I would have thought it was a logical step for Trek to start using the new hub. I might see if I can get an answer from them myself!

 

[Cush]

I am still interested in the Trek Soho and will be looking more closely around April - June but does any one know if it has it been updated for 2012 and could you get an 11 speed hub fitted to a new bike as part of the deal. I have also looked at the "Ghost" bikes but they seem to be over speced for my needs.

 

[mattsr]

Been Googling "Trek Soho Alfine Hub" and it looks as though the 2012 Model, which seems to be available in the USA now but not yet in the UK, has an Alfine 8 Speed hub rather than the Nexus. That might just make the difference for me. I imagine it will be available here in the UK before long.

I'd still prefer the 11 speed though!!

 

[benb]

Also take a look at the Milk Commuter. Looks very good, and you can have Alfine 8 or 11 speed.

 

[mattsr]

I've had a good look at the Milk Commuter and I have to say it ticks every box! Alfine11-Speed, powerful hub Dynamo lighting, belt drive- the fitted tyres are even my tried and tested Marathon +! Thanks for pointing me in the right direction benb. The only drawback is the cost, but I reckon it will be worth it. Time to start saving up...although it is my 50th Birthday in July.....

 

[Cush]

"I've had a good look at the Milk Commuter and I have to say it ticks every box! Alfine11-Speed, powerful hub Dynamo lighting, belt drive- the fitted tyres are even my tried and tested Marathon +!"
Yes it looks good but they are only made to order and the Dawes is a lot cheaper and now it's discounted it maybe worth changing the brake system.

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