Trek 6300 Review
The Trek 6300 is a hardtail mountain bike with an affordable edge and plenty of appealing features that will help it to stand out from its competitors in a particularly tough segment of the market. It aims to appeal to those riders who are attempting to increase their off-road fun whilst also looking for a platform that will be just as well suited to a racing environment.
Keeping the Trek 6300 together is an Alpha Gold Aluminium frame with carefully formed tubing, designed to be lighter and tighter than ever before. You still get the stiffness and sturdiness that you would want to see from a hardtail mountain bike of this kind, but whilst some cycles can end up being a bit of a burden due to weight, the various integrations and savings that have been made on this model’s frame help to avoid any unnecessary hindrances.
At the front end you get a responsive, supple RockShox Recon Silver TK Solo Air fork, which comes with remote lockout activation for quick access to either the full 100mm of travel or a stiffening up of the shock that lends itself to situations that require better power transfer and handling.
Shimano Deore components make up the drivetrain of the Trek 6300 and these are a welcome choice in a bike of this kind, combining reliability and speed in shifting. This means you can keep going for longer without worrying about the integrity of the transmission that is powering the experience.
If you want a good all rounder that is going to face up to tough conditions off the road whilst still being proficient enough to operate calmly and competently when on the tarmac
This is the first model in the 6 Series to get Avid Elixir 1 hydraulic disc brakes, which is a feature that should definitely catch your attention. Smoother operation of the brakes allows for a more adaptive riding experience, with on demand stopping power that feels intelligent rather than brutal and blunt. These disc brakes are also better suited during inclement periods when other models might be compromised by the conditions. The result is that the rider can be more confident in the bike and therefore keep pushing themselves further and harder to achieve more.
On the wheelset side of things you get Shimano M525 alloy hubs, Bontrager AT-850 rims and XR1 wire bead tyres for endurance, solidity and shock absorption. This is a good setup for long distance, all day trail blazing and works well with the driving idea behind the bike. This is that novice riders can step up their game and start to experience the more serious side of mountain biking on a cycle that will be with them every inch of the way.
The Bontrager SSR seatpost and Evoke 1 saddle combine to give you a comfortable and adjustable seated position, letting your legs do the work effectively and power you forward as efficiently as possible without the trail taking its toll on your body. The front end is controlled by the Bontrager Low Riser OS handlebar, which is right in line with the rest of the Trek 6300 components.
There are a number of reasons to choose a bike like the Trek 6300 from this series of hardtail racers, with affordability being just one of them. If you want a good all rounder that is going to face up to tough conditions off the road whilst still being proficient enough to operate calmly and competently when on the tarmac, this could be a suitable choice. It may not have the performance or pedigree of fully fledged mountain machines, but it is the kind of bike that lets you aspire to bigger and better things further down the road. The Trek 6300 ticks all the boxes for this price range, making it hard to beat.
Trek 6300 Bikes For Sale
Trek 6300 Alternatives
Compare Bikes to Trek 6300 : Trek Roscoe
Trek have now discontinued the 6300 model but there are some very good alternatives to replace it, starting with the Trek Roscoe.
Just like the Trek 6300, the Roscoe range are hardtail mountain bikes built using the Alpha Gold aluminium frame and predominantly using Shimano components with RockShox forks. However, the latest version of the 6300 sees upgrades in a number of areas.
The subtle replacements see the front forks travel upgraded from 100mm to 120mm and the hydraulic disc brakes changed for Shimano MT200 or MT500 systems. The Roscoe also has 27.5-inch wheels, up from 26-inch on the 6300. The not-so subtle changes reflect the fundamental shift in mountain bikes from front derailleurs to a single chainring. The Trek Roscoe has a 32T front chainring and a whopping 50T on the Roscoe 7 and Roscoe 8, with 46T on the entry-level Roscoe 6. This has also led to two of the bikes moving from Shimano to SRAM rear derailleurs.
The Trek Roscoe is an excellent alternative to the Trek 6300, and you’ll benefit from upgraded components.
| Trek | Trek | Trek | Trek | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model: | 6300 | Roscoe 6 | Roscoe 7 | Roscoe 8 |
| Type: | Hardtail | Hardtail | Hardtail | Hardtail |
| Frame: | Alpha Gold Aluminium | Alpha Gold Aluminium | Alpha Gold Aluminium | Alpha Gold Aluminium |
| Front Fork: | RockShox Recon Silver, 100mm travel | SR Suntour XCM 32, 120mm travel | RockShox Judy Silver, 120mm travel | RockShox 35 Gold, 120mm travel |
| Front Derailleur: | Shimano Deore | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Rear Derailleur: | Shimano Deore XT | Shimano Deore | SRAM SX Eagle | SRAM NX Eagle |
| Chainring: | Shimano 42/32/24T | 32T | 32T | 32T |
| Cassette: | 11-36T | 11-46T | 11-50T | 11-50T |
| Shifters: | Shimano Deore | Shimano Deore | SRAM SX Eagle | SRAM NX Eagle |
| Brakes: | Avid Elixir 1 hydraulic disc | Shimano MT200 hydraulic disc | Shimano MT200 hydraulic disc | Shimano MT500 hydraulic disc |
| Rims: | Bontrager AT-850 | Alex MD35 | Bontrager Line 40 | Bontrager Line 40 |
| Tyres: | Bontrager XR1 26" x 2.2″ | Kenda Havok 27.5" x 2.8" | Bontrager XR3 27.5" x 2.8" | Maxxis Rekon 27.5" x 2.8" |
| Weight: | - | 15.8 kg | 14.8 kg | 14.6 kg |
| Price: | £1,000 | £875 | £1,050 | £1,400 |
| More Info | More Info | More Info |
Compare Bikes to Trek 6300 : Trek X-Caliber
Trek have now discontinued the 6300 model but there are some very good alternatives to replace it, like the Trek X-Caliber.
Like the Trek 6300, and the Roscoe, the Trek X-Caliber uses the lightweight Alpha Gold aluminium frame, giving good depth of control that’s really important for hardtail bikes. Front forks retain the RockShox standard but are upgraded to the Judy SL forks with 100mm travel, marginally less than the Roscoe bikes. Other components to be retained include Bontrager rims, Shimano groupset and disc brakes front & rear.
The biggest change is like that for the Roscoe, in that the front derailleur goes, replaced by a solo 32T front chainring, and a big change at the rear with a 46T, 50T or 51T cassette, depending on the model.
The Trek X-Caliber is an excellent alternative to the Trek 6300, you’ll benefit from upgraded components and 29-inch wheels.
| Trek | Trek | Trek | Trek | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model: | 6300 | X-Caliber 7 | X-Caliber 8 | X-Caliber 9 |
| Type: | Hardtail | Hardtail | Hardtail | Hardtail |
| Frame: | Alpha Gold Aluminium | Alpha Gold Aluminium | Alpha Gold Aluminium | Alpha Gold Aluminium |
| Front Fork: | RockShox Recon Silver, 100mm travel | RockShox Judy SL, 100mm travel | RockShox Judy SL, 100mm travel | RockShox Judy Silver, 100mm travel |
| Front Derailleur: | Shimano Deore | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Rear Derailleur: | Shimano Deore XT | Shimano Deore | SRAM SX Eagle | Shimano Deore XT |
| Chainring: | Shimano 42/32/24T | 32T | 32T | 32T |
| Cassette: | 11-36T | 11-46T | 11-50T | 10-51T |
| Shifters: | Shimano Deore | Shimano Deore | SRAM SX Eagle | Shimano Deore XT |
| Brakes: | Avid Elixir 1 hydraulic disc | Shimano MT200 hydraulic disc | Shimano MT200 hydraulic disc | Shimano MT400 hydraulic disc |
| Rims: | Bontrager AT-850 | Bontrager Kovee | Bontrager Kovee | Bontrager Kovee |
| Tyres: | Bontrager XR1 26" x 2.2″ | Bontrager XR2 29" x 2.2" | Bontrager XR3 29" x 2.2" | Bontrager XR3 29" x 2.2" |
| Weight: | - | 13.4 kg | 13.8 kg | 13.4 kg |
| Price: | £1,000 | £800 | £975 | £1,150 |
| More Info | More Info | More Info |
Trek 6300 Specifications
- Front Fork: RockShox Recon Silver TK Solo Air, lockout, rebound, 100mm travel
- Rear Shock: N/A
- Front Derailleur: Shimano Deore
- Rear Derailleur: Shimano Deore XT
- Gears: 30
- Chainring: Shimano M552, 42/32/24T
- Cassette: Shimano HG62 11-36T 10 speed
- Shifters: Shimano Deore
- Brakes: Avid Elixir 1 hydraulic disc brakes
- Wheels: Bontrager AT-850
- Tyres: Bontrager XR1, wire bead, 26×2.2″
