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Crack Open the Piggy Bank for a $700 Piece of Aluminum Like the 2023 FX 1 Disc From Trek

I'll be honest, when I look for a bicycle, I'm not looking for the most capable machine out there. After all, I'm no triathlon or downhill MTB athlete. So, where does that leave me? Typically, I look for a bike that's cheap, can stand the test of time, and even help me get out of the city every now and again.
2023 FX 1 Disc 12 photos
Photo: Trek Bicycle Corporation
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Most of us have heard the name Trek. Considering this bicycle manufacturer has been around since 1975 and climbed to the top of the cycle industry shortly after, you can bet that any machine to off their assembly lines is something to consider. That seems to be the case with their newest budget-friendly addition to their family, the 2023 FX 1 Disc.

Diving right in, this is nothing more than a $700 (€720 at current exchange rates) hunk of aluminum that still bears all the knowledge Trek has gained over the decades. For example, one of the attractive points of the new Disc is versatility. Not only can you ride it bare, with no cargo options whatsoever, but if you're the exploring kind, the rear triangle and front fork are suitable for rack and fender options. This means that you can use this bugger to go to work and shopping, and come Saturday morning, it's onto the open road with nothing more than a tent, some food supplies, maybe a repair kit, and water; you'll be back Sunday evening.

2023 FX 1 Disc
Photo: Trek Bicycle Corporation
As for a few other tricks integrated into this bike's performance, you'll be able to record ride data with your smart device using the integrated DuoTrapS, and don't worry about snagging your cables on anything as they're all routed internally through the frame tubes. Nice, clean, and unexpected for this price tag. Then there are the 35c tires that you'll rely on for suspension, comfort, and grip.

Speaking of tire size, this feature also dictates where this bike reigns supreme: nowhere else than on the open road, city streets, and possibly a dirt road or two. This brings us to the next feature that Trek points out and the reason for this bike's name, the brakes. Listen, when I bought my first $700 bike almost two decades ago, which happened to be a Trek, too, never had any disc brakes, but this one does. You'll be relying on a pair of Tektro MD-U310 brakes with 160 mm (6.3 in) rotors for stopping power. More than enough to tame your legs.

2023 FX 1 Disc Drivetrain
Photo: Trek Bicycle Corporation
As for what your legs will be powering, Trek shows up with nothing more than a Shimano drivetrain composed of a mix of components. The front derailleur is a Tourney, while the rear is an Altus, and a KMC chain is spun on an HG31 cassette with 11-32T. All that's then tuned to an 8x2 setup, and off you go. If you're good with a toolkit and understand all the little numbers tagged to cycling components, you can rock a 1x or 3x drivetrain too. With all that and some Bontrager rims, handlebar, seat post, and just about everything else, you're looking at a 28-pound (12.7-kilogram) bike for a size M.

When I started this article, I mentioned that I was not looking for some insane machine that could destroy mountain trails or bring me gold, and frankly, I wouldn't know what to do with one of those machines, nor do I need one. So, for someone like myself that uses a bike to get to work, enjoy a breeze through my hair, and ride to grandma's house on Sunday, the FX 1 Disc seems like an option to consider.
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About the author: Cristian Curmei
Cristian Curmei profile photo

A bit of a nomad at heart (being born in Europe and raised in several places in the USA), Cristian is enamored with travel trailers, campers and bikes. He also tests and writes about urban means of transportation like scooters, mopeds and e-bikes (when he's not busy hosting our video stories and guides).
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