Australian Cycling Forums - Bicycles Network Australia

Hi everyone... I got a minor dilemma here.

I did up an old Trek 4300 Alpha possibly from around 2001-2003 and I recently got a Avanti Black Thunder frame which is missing the headset and handlebars/shifters/levers etc. I thought maybe it is better because it is supposedly a 24 speed whereas the Trek is a 21 speed. I just don't have any 8 speed shifters lying about.

I'm unsure of the year of the Black Thunder. I'm trying to look through pictures on the net but haven't quite found a match yet. Do you know of any archives around please to search through?

I'm just wondering if I did up the Avanti Black Thunder frame, would that be a better bike? Is Avanti better than Trek or vice versa please?

Thanks in advance.

Trek is a premium brand with world wide recognition that does premium things like supply bikes to and part sponsor pro cycle teams. Avanti not so much - they are an NZ brand that does most of their business here, and sponsors local talent.

a trek 4300 though was always very entry level bike of no particular meaning (i had the next model up which is the same frame - 4400 and broke it many times and eventually through the drive chainstay for good), an Avanti black thunder is also an entry level bike and still available as such new.

Hi again.. I still haven't decided on the Black Thunder or 2003-2005? Trek 4300. My next problem is .. how would those compare to a 2008+ Trek 3500 please? Which would you keep and get rid of please?

Component wise.. the 3500 has Acera whilst the older 4200 has Altus. I was told that 4200 is supposed to be better than 3500...

I wish I could work out the exact years to make it easier.

Thanks in advance.. love to know your opinions!

how could you possibly go pass up an opportunity to ride around on a bike with the name "Black Thunder"???

what an awesome name.

much better than some of the other less-inspired Avanti bike name choices "blade" or "giro" or "vivace".

or "4300 Alpha" for that matter.

Armstrong rode a Trek!

There is your answer right there!

cyc715t wrote:Hi again.. I still haven't decided on the Black Thunder or 2003-2005? Trek 4300. My next problem is .. how would those compare to a 2008+ Trek 3500 please? Which would you keep and get rid of please?

Component wise.. the 3500 has Acera whilst the older 4200 has Altus. I was told that 4200 is supposed to be better than 3500...

I wish I could work out the exact years to make it easier.

Thanks in advance.. love to know your opinions!

Which frame fits you best. Does one have buckled wheels or other dead bits.

Acera is the better group, and its on the later bike so possibly less worn (inspection required). It is likely the 3500 has really cheap non group bits like saddle/post/stem, and they came with a steel fork, not a suspension fork. I presume the 4200 has a boinger of some description.

norbs wrote:Armstrong rode a Trek!

There is your answer right there!

I think Lance took us all for a ride.