trek farley models

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Trek’s Farley 7 Is an All-Season Fat Bike

A dropper post, suspension fork, and exceptional handling help this fat bike perform long after the snow melts.

The Takeaway: The Farley 7 is a fat bike built for all-season riding.

• Dropper post provides more control on downhills
• Suspension fork offers enhanced traction and control on hard surfaces
• Adjustable dropouts let the rider fine-tune the Farley's handling

Price: $2,600 Weight: 34.8 lb. (M)

When you hear the words “fat bike,” you likely picture a bundled-up rider atop massive tires traversing snow. But those fat tires, primarily designed to improve flotation over soft surfaces, can offer sure-footed traction on other types of surfaces, as well, and plow over and through obstacles that bog down many mountain bikes. Fat bikes are the ultimate no-road touring bikes. And though they may not be the first choice for shredding summer singletrack, with the right build and handling, they can be more than just a snow bike. Trek’s Farley 7 is the fat bike you don’t put away for the summer.

2020 Farley 7

The Farley Lineup

Trek’s Farley line currently consists of four complete bikes priced from $1,800 to $5,150. The line is split evenly between aluminum framed models (Farley 5 and Farley 7) and carbon (Farley 9.6 and Farley 9.8). You can also purchase the Farley as a frame only in either material—$1,000 for aluminum, $2,200 for carbon—both of which include a carbon rigid fork. For anyone who wants suspension at both ends, Trek also offers the 120mm-travel, carbon Farley EX frame, with a Fox Performance Float EVOL shock (front suspension is up to you). Geometry is almost the same in both materials (there are tiny differences), and all come in sizes small through extra large.

All Farley models roll on 27.5 wheels wrapped in 4.5-inch wide tires. Just like its dirt-focused cousins, a fat bike with larger wheels is faster because the wheels roll over things more smoothly, but bigger wheels are also heavier. Fat bikes on 26-inch wheels will be lighter and livelier, but the bigger-wheeled fat bikes will roll more efficiently.

The Farley 7 reviewed here is one of two models with a dropper post (the other is the $5,150 Farley 9.8) and the only model with a suspension fork—a Manitou Mastodon Comp with 80mm of travel, 34mm stanchions, and hydraulic lockout. Other specifications of note include tubeless-ready rims and tires, SRAM Eagle drivetrain with 11-50 cassette, and SRAM Level disc brakes.

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Fast 'n Floaty

The 27.5 x 4.5-inch tires roll fast and offer great flotation.

Suspension Fork

An 80mm-travel suspension fork provides more control on hard surfaces.

Adjustable Dropouts

Sliding dropouts let you tune the handling, or run the Farley as a singlespeed.

Double Ready

If the 1x12 drivetrain isn’t for you, you can add a front derailleur.

Add studs to the Farley’s tires for better grip on slippery, icy surfaces.

Built for More Than Snow

The Farley comes built to ride all year long. On the front is a Manitou Mastodon suspension fork with 80mm of travel. This may seem like an unnecessary feature when the bike has 4.5-inch wide tires. But as cushy as the tires are, they don’t behave the same way as a good suspension fork. A suspension fork’s action is more damped than the basketball-like bounce of big tires. This damped and controlled action provides better traction and stability, particularly on harder surfaces and at higher speeds. If you’re using a fat bike only for riding slow(ish) on soft snow or sand, a suspension fork probably isn’t necessary. But if you like riding a fat bike on harder surfaces like dirt-covered and rocky trails, a suspension fork can be a huge benefit.

The dropper post is another feature that gives the Farley 7 increased versatility. Like the suspension fork, if your fat bike adventures are limited to cruising groomed and packed snow-covered roads and trails, a dropper post won't make a major difference. It’s when riding becomes faster and more technical that getting the seat out of the way so you can lower your center of gravity makes the biggest difference.

As a final nod to multi-season use, the Farley has adjustable dropouts which provide 15mm of chainstay length adjustment. They can be used to fine-tune the bike’s handling—longer, more stability; shorter, snappier feel—or to tension the chain if you want to run the Farley as a singlespeed.

How it Rides

True to the Farley 7’s multi-season build, testers rode it on dirt, sand, mud, and snow. Early on, one tester got rowdy on a rocky trail and dented the rim. We were able to pound out much of the dent, and the tubeless seal held for the remainder of the test period.

One of the first things that jumped out at testers was the riding position. With a few exceptions, the fat-bike category has yet to embrace the longer/slacker trend, and that's certainly the case with the Farley. A size medium’s reach is just 410mm—that’s several centimeters shorter than a modern trail bike in the same size. I’m on record as saying that longer and slacker isn’t always better, and I still believe that.

However, if you’re used to a modern mountain bike, the Farley will feel short when you first get on it. But that feeling fades the longer you spend time on the Farley, and some riders did comment that the shorter position helped offset some of a fat bike’s inherent sluggishness.

Still, at almost 35 pounds (set up tubeless), the Farley 7 is heavy, even for a fat bike—something all testers noticed. “Switching directions quickly, through switchbacks for example, is seriously tough. After long descents, I found my upper body and arms were on fire from having to muscle the bike around,” read one tester’s notes.

But if you’re able to get over the weight, the Farley 7 is a nice-riding, all-season fat bike. Though heavy, it’s geared low enough that it climbs reasonably well. And it corners very well on many surfaces as well. In higher-traction situations, the Farley’s bar wants to keep turning once a turn is initiated. All fat bikes do this to some degree, but on the Farley it was less pronounced than most and it required less-aggressive counter steering. This made the Farley’s handling more stable and predictable, which in turn made it easier to ride. Contributing to the good-handling vibes were the Farley’s Bontrager Gnarwhal tires, which got praise from testers for their superb cornering and braking traction in all conditions. Testers also called them out for excellent flotation in soft snow.

Though testers were pretty “meh” on the benefit of a suspension fork for soft snow, they all agreed that it became a huge bonus when riding on firmer ground. The Manitou Mastodon performed well too, and proved reliable and consistent across a wide range of temperatures.

The TranzX dropper post worked well throughout testing also. Most testers found it more beneficial when riding on firmer ground and faster trails. However, some testers did note its benefits for riding in deep snow: “If you come off in those conditions, it’s very difficult to get back on, as your feet sink into the unpacked powder off the sides of the trail. This positions your feet lower than the tires and the packed singletrack, so it’s really hard to get your butt back on the saddle. [If] you have a dropper, problem solved.”

Overall, testers found the Farley 7 was a good fat bike for snow riding. But in these conditions, the bike didn’t stand apart from many other good fat bikes. It is the Farley’s performance away from the snow, as well as its overall versatility, that testers really appreciated. The Farley 7 is better in more conditions, handles better at more speeds, and is more capable than the typical fat bike. It’s a fat bike you’ll continue to ride long after the snow melts.

A gear editor for his entire career, Matt’s journey to becoming a leading cycling tech journalist started in 1995, and he’s been at it ever since; likely riding more cycling equipment than anyone on the planet along the way. Previous to his time with Bicycling , Matt worked in bike shops as a service manager, mechanic, and sales person. Based in Durango, Colorado, he enjoys riding and testing any and all kinds of bikes, so you’re just as likely to see him on a road bike dressed in Lycra at a Tuesday night worlds ride as you are to find him dressed in a full face helmet and pads riding a bike park on an enduro bike. He doesn’t race often, but he’s game for anything; having entered road races, criteriums, trials competitions, dual slalom, downhill races, enduros, stage races, short track, time trials, and gran fondos. Next up on his to-do list: a multi day bikepacking trip, and an e-bike race. 

.css-1t6om3g:before{width:1.75rem;height:1.75rem;margin:0 0.625rem -0.125rem 0;content:'';display:inline-block;-webkit-background-size:1.25rem;background-size:1.25rem;background-color:#F8D811;color:#000;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-position:center;background-position:center;}.loaded .css-1t6om3g:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/bicycling/static/images/chevron-design-element.c42d609.svg);} Bike Reviews

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Trek Farley 5

• AUS $ NZD $ USD $ CAD $ GBP £ EUR €

Size / SM, MD, LG, XL

Weight / 14.66

At a glance

Where to buy.

Specifications

• Frame Alpha Platinum Aluminum, tapered head tube, internal derailleur & dropper post routing, rack mounts, 197x12mm adjustable horizontal sliding dropouts
• Fork Bontrager Haru, tapered alloy steerer, OCLV Carbon lowers, 490mm axle-to-crown, 15x150mm thru axle
• Hubs Bontrager alloy, sealed bearing, 6-bolt, Rapid Drive 108, Shimano 10 freehub, 197x12mm thru axle
• Wheels SUNRingle Mulefut 80 SL, 32-hole cutout
• Wheel Size 27.5"
• Spokes 15g stainless steel
• Tires Size: S, M, L, XL, Bontrager Gnarwhal Team Issue, Tubeless Ready, Inner Strength sidewalls, studdable, aramid bead, 120 tpi, 27.5x4.50''; Size: S, M, Bontrager Gnarwhal Team Issue, Tubeless Ready, Inner Strength sidewalls, studdable, aramid bead, 120 tpi, 27.5x3.80''
• Chain KMC , KMC X10, 10 speed
• Crank Race Face , Size: S, Race Face Ride, 28T steel ring, 170mm length; Size: M, L, XL, Race Face Ride, 28T steel ring, 175mm length
• Bottom Bracket Race Face , 121mm, PressFit
• Rear Derailleur Shimano Deore, Shimano Deore M5120, long cage
• Shifters Shimano Deore, Shimano Deore M4100, 10 speed
• Brakeset SRAM Level, SRAM Level hydraulic disc
• Handlebar Bontrager alloy, 31.8mm, 15mm rise, 750mm width
• Saddle Bontrager Arvada, steel rails, 138mm width
• Seatpost Size: S, TranzX JD-YSP18, 100mm travel, internal routing, 31.6mm, 361mm length; Size: M, TranzX JD-YSP18, 120mm travel, internal routing, 31.6mm, 403mm length; Size: L, XL, TranzX JD-YSP18, 130mm travel, internal routing, 31.6mm, 425mm length
• Stem Size: S, Bontrager Elite, 31.8mm, Blendr compatible, 7 degree, 60mm length; Size: M, Bontrager Elite, 31.8mm, Blendr compatible, 7 degree, 70mm length; Size: L, Bontrager Elite, 31.8mm, Blendr compatible, 7 degree, 80mm length; Size: XL, Bontrager Elite, 31.8mm, Blendr compatible, 7 degree, 90mm length
• Grips Bontrager XR Trail Comp, nylon lock-on
• Headset FSA IS-2, 1-1/8'' top, 1.5'' bottom

Q: How much is a 2022 Trek Farley 5?

A 2022 Trek Farley 5 is typically priced around $1,949 USD when new. Be sure to shop around for the best price, and also look to the used market for a great deal.

Q: Where to buy a 2022 Trek Farley 5?

The 2022 Trek Farley 5 may be purchased directly from Trek .

Q: How much does a 2022 Trek Farley 5 weigh?

A 2022 Trek Farley 5 weights 14.66.

Q: What size wheels does the 2022 Trek Farley 5 have?

The 2022 Trek Farley 5 has 27.5" wheels.

Q: What size 2022 Trek Farley 5 should I get?

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Trek's Farley fat tire mountain bike gets major updates and is more capable than ever

Trek has given the Farley a new alloy frame, an updated carbon fork and has made all your luggage mounting dreams come true

Trek has launched the latest version of the Farley, that they say is its best fat tire mountain bike to date, featuring an all-new aluminum frame and carbon fork. Farley comes ready for mountain bike adventure, with 27.5 x 4.5-inch tires, tons of mounts, and new custom front and back racks that Trek say makes Farley an all-in-one adventure mountain bike capable of handling any terrain you throw at it from winter snow to sand and the deepest of mud.

The Farley has an expedition-oriented frame that comes in four different configurations, three with the new aluminum frame and one in carbon. That ranges from the entry model Farley 5 to the Farley 9.6, an OCLV Mountain Carbon race ready bike. OCLV is Trek's own patented carbon fiber process, which they say is its strongest and lightest carbon to date.

The range starts with the Farley 5 and features the new aluminum frame and carbon fork and is specced with a MicroShift Advent X 10-speed groupset and SRAM Level brakes. The Farley 7 also comes with the same frame but with an 80mm Manitou Mastodon suspension fork to smooth out the bumps on rougher terrain with SRAM GX Eagle and SRAM Level T brakes.

The Farley 9 has the rigid fork with the alloy frame and gets the upgraded SRAM Level TL brakes and uses the same GX Eagle groupset found on the 7.

The Carbon 9.6 again has SRAM GX Eagle groupset and the SRAM Level TL brakes with all frame options available as a frameset only option, that allows riders to spec and dream build their own adventure ride.

What else is new in the Trek Farley?

Trek say the new Farley is all about all-terrain, any-season exploration and it has received updated tube shaping to give a more modern look to the new alloy frames. The brand-new carbon fork has a shorter offset for improved handling and it also gives extra space for mounting a custom rack or cargo gear cages. There are mounts for the 1120 front rack as well as lower leg mounts for additional carrying capacity. 

If mounts are your thing, the Farley won't leave you short. It has plenty of mounting options with all-new top tube bag/box mounts, inside of the front triangle for custom strapless frame bag or bottle cages, downtube mounts for accessory cages or fenders with multiple positioning options and an updated rear rack mount with more secure attachment. 

Trek Farley geometry updates 

Geometry on Farley 9.6 stays the same as the previous model, except the fork offset and wheelbase are slightly shorter. Trek has said the 9.6 is its benchmark for the fastest and lightest fat mountain bike performance and that the other models had more room for improvement, with focus and resources directed to the new aluminum frame. 

Stand-out changes in the geometry for the new frames are a steeper seat tube angle (1-degree more at 74 degrees), a slacker head tube angle (-0.5-degree at 68.5 degrees, a shorter fork offset (from 51mm to 42mm) and a longer reach, now 461mm on the Large – which is around 20mm longer.

Farley frame details 

The horizontal sliding dropouts from the previous models are gone on the new alloy frames and replaced by a fixed rear-center length of 450mm (5mm shorter than previously) and uses the SRAM UDH (Universal Derailleur Hanger). Trek believes that fat bike tire standards have leveled out and that most riders prefer to run 27.5 x 4.5-inch tires, so the need for a sliding dropout to accommodate new tire sizes is therefore no longer required. 

Other additions see internal routing for the dropper seatpost, a 100mm threaded BB, a maximum chainring size of 32t and there are no ISCG chain guide mounts.

Trek Farley pricing and availability

Trek says the new Farley models will be available by mid-March, with pricing starting from $2,199 / £2,130 / €2,299  on the Farley 5, Farley 7 $2,999 / £2,493 / €2,807, with Farley 9 $3,999 / £3,233 / €3,742, and the Carbon framed 9.6 at $3,699 / £3,525 / €3,799 in sizes S, M, L and XL.

Frames are also available separately in the same sizing, with the aluminum frameset priced at £1,390 / $1,499 / £1,390 / €1,499 and the carbon frame at $2,599 / £2,590 / €2,799.

More information on the new Farley fat mountain bikes can be found at trekbikes.com

Based in Edinburgh, Paul Brett is a staff writer for  BikePerfect.com . He has been an avid cyclist for as long as he can remember, initially catching the mountain biking bug in the 1990s, and raced mountain bikes for over a decade before injury cut short a glittering career. He’s since developed an obsession for gravel riding and recently has dabbled in the dark art of cyclocross. A fan of the idea of bikepacking he has occasionally got involved and has ridden routes like the North Coast 500, Scotland and the Via Francigena (Pilgrim Route), Italy.

Current rides: Marin Alpine Trail 2, Ribble 725, Cube Stereo 160

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Trek Farley 5 Review – Is This Bike Worth Buying?

Fat bikes are here to stay. From a niche market among riders who wanted to explore the limits of biking snow, ice, and sand, they’ve expanded into the mainstream, taking over a significant share of the mountain bike market. Fat bikes don’t just offer the ability to ride with security on loose or slick surfaces. They can ride anywhere a conventional mountain bike can. Those huge tires soak up bumps without the need for expensive suspension. Beginners love the stability and traction, and a lot of people just love the look.

Image: Trek Farley 5

The Farley is Trek’s entry in the fat bike market, and the bikes in the Farley series show all of the experience and sophistication of the Trek brand. The Farley 5 is an affordable fat bike that brings real value to the table.

Let’s see how Trek’s entry in the sub-$2000 fat bike market stacks up.

Quick Overview: What I Think of the Trek Farley 5

Simple answer: it’s a great bike. It’s all you’d expect from Trek. The frame is well designed and beautifully built. The components deliver high performance at an accessible price. The whole package is a first class blend of performance and affordability and it will certainly satisfy anyone who buys it and rides it.

The Farley 5 is a great bike for the price, but it sits in a market niche that is absolutely saturated with great bikes. The $1500-2100 range is a sweet spot for fat bikes, with numerous contenders from reputable manufacturers. The Farley 5 is a fine bike for the price, but whether it’s the best bike for the price is less certain.

Let’s take a closer look.

What You Get

Like every bike, the Farley 5 is a package of components. Let’s see what this $1799 fat bike brings to the table.

Trek’s aluminum frames are of the highest quality, and the Farley frame is no exception. The design is sleek and understated: no swirly hydroformed tubes, just a well, built, businesslike frame.

The Farley’s geometry is designed for versatility and all-around use. The welds are flawless and the paint job superb. Shifting cables and the dropper post hydraulics are internally routed. The horizontal dropout is ready for geared or single speed use and allows some tweaking of the wheelbase. You can lengthen the distance between the wheels for greater stability or shorten it if you’re after quick handling. The small size will fit riders down to 5 feet tall and the XXL will accommodate riders up to 6’8”.

Like most fat bikes at this price range, the Farley 5 mounts its front wheel on a rigid fork, relying on the monster tires to soak up trail bumps. The Farley 5 carries a Bontrager carbon fork, which is solid and durable and peels a bit of weight off the full package relative to aluminum-forked competitors.

The drivetrain is built on mid-range products from premier manufacturers. The crankset is the Race Face Ride, the chain is from KMC. For the critical shifter, derailleur, and cassette, Trek turns to Shimano’s Deore series components.

Premium drivetrain manufacturers Shimano and SRAM have long used a trickle-down approach to technology: the latest developments go into the most expensive products, and the technology they replace is passed on down the chain. That process has left the mid-range products performing so well that many riders are questioning the need to pay the very substantial price premium on the high-end component lines. These components may not have high-end bling but they are reliable, effective, and easy to use.

Some riders might question the use of a 1×10-speed drivetrain when 1×11 or 1×12 are preferred by many competitors. In practice, the range of gears makes more difference than the number of choices within that range. The 1×10 drivetrain on the Farley 5 has a range from 11 teeth on the smallest rear ring to 46 teeth on the largest ring. That is only marginally different from the 11-50 range on the 12-speed drivetrain featured on the $2600 Farley 7. If climbing very steep hills is on your agenda you might want those 4 extra teeth but most riders will barely notice the difference.

The SRAM Level hydraulic disc brakes and 160mm Avid CleanSweep rotors on the Farley 5 are not top-of-the-line models, but it would take a very demanding rider to spot the differences. You will have no problem controlling your speed.

Choosy riders who ride at high speeds or on steep terrain might want to swap the 160mm rotors out for larger models, particularly in the front. It’s an easy upgrade, but for most riders it won’t be necessary. Remember that braking technique gives you a lot more control than pure stopping power.

The Farley 5 carries 27.5” wheels. Add the extra diameter of the oversized tires and the total functioning diameter will be close to that of a conventional 29” wheel. That lets you hold momentum and roll over obstacles, but may compromise nimble handling. That won’t bother most riders: fat bikes are designed to plow over obstacles, not to dodge around them.

The wheels are built around Bontrager hubs, which carry Bontrager’s Switch through axle system for extra rigidity, and SunRingle Mulefut rims. The Bontrager Gnarwhal 4.5 tires are serious pieces of rubber even by fat bike standards, and get high marks for traction and stability. These are fairly aggressive tires aimed at trail or soft-surface riding, and if you plan to use them on cement you may experience noticeable tire drag.

Other Components

Trek sticks with Bontrager to fill out the parts catalog, sourcing the saddle, handlebar, grips and stem from the same manufacturer.

There are two notable components in the cockpit. The TranzX dropper post lets you raise and lower your saddle on the fly, a great feature on rolling terrain with frequent transitions between climbing and descending. The Bontrager Blendr stem allows easy mounting of accessories like lights, GPS, bike computers, or a GoPro or similar camera.

Some user reviews have mentioned that the saddle is uncomfortable, but saddles are very personal and no saddle will please everyone. If you have a favored model of saddle it’s always worth fitting it on a new bike, especially if the stock saddle doesn’t agree with your backside!

Component Roundup

The components on the Farley 5 are what you’d expect from a mid-range bike from a premium manufacturer. They are of high quality and they will do their jobs very well. If you get a chance to try out the top of the line models you may wonder if the difference in performance justifies the difference in price.

Let’s rate the Farley 5 component mix relative to other fat bikes in the $1500-2000 range.

Performance

The trail is where it all comes together, and specifications don’t matter if performance doesn’t match up. The Farley 5 lives to its specifications. It feels comfortable from the start and invites you to push it. It won’t accelerate like a greyhound – no fat bike will – but the 27.5” wheels hold momentum and if the big wheels carry an agility penalty it’s barely noticeable.

One of the highest praises you can give a bike is to say you hardly notice that it’s there. When you’re riding, you don’t want to think about your components. When everything is right, you forget the bike and focus on the trail because you trust the bike to do what it’s meant to do. The Farley 5 fits into this category. Take it for a trail spin and you’ll probably come back without much to say about the bike, because the bike lets you focus on the trail. That’s what you want it to do.

The drivetrain and brakes on the Farley 5 will come as a pleasant surprise, and you might find it hard to believe that you’re riding a bike with mid-range components. The shifting is smooth and precise, the gear range is entirely adequate, and having 10 gears instead of 11 or 12 is not a noticeable liability.

There are a few potential limitations to recognize. The Gnarwhal 4.5 tires are truly beefy. You’ll appreciate them on rough, loose, or slick surfaces, but they may feel like tank treads on cement. If you’re looking for a trail/town combo bike you might want to use some less aggressive rubber. The gear range might be a limitation if your riding includes a lot of steep climbs.

The Competition

The Farley 5 is a fine fat bike, but it sits at a price point that embraces quite a few fine fat bikes. Let’s look at some of the other players and how they stack up compared to the Farley 5.

The 2021 Norco Bigfoot 2 is hitting retailers at $1600 and carries specifications very similar to those of the Farley 5: 27.5” wheels, aggressive tires, SRAM Level brakes (with a 180mm front rotor), a Shimano Deore 1×12 drivetrain, and the same TranzX dropper post. You won’t get a carbon fork, though.

The Kona Wo gets a price hike for 2021 and comes in at exactly the same price point as the Farley 5. It carries an 11-speed Shimano Deore drivetrain, an aluminum fork, and Shimano hydraulic disc brakes. It carries 26” wheels, which could be an advantage to some riders and a disadvantage to others.

The KHS 4 Season 1000 includes a carbon-fork model for $1599 and a model wearing a Manitou Mastodon suspension fork for $1899. The drivetrain is an 11-speed Shimano SLX, a step up from the Deore, and the Shimano hydraulic disc brakes have a 180mm front rotor. There’s a KS dropper post, but some other components, notably the crank, are a step down. Wheel size is 26”.

The Salsa Mukluk has dropped to $1699 for its entry level model. The bike comes with an aluminum fork, 11-speed Shimano Deore drivetrain, Tektro hydraulic brakes, and 26” wheels with the highly regarded 45NRTH Dillinger 4.6” tires.

The Giant Yukon 1 pushes the price envelope slightly at $2100, but carries an upscale component package that includes a SRAM NX Eagle 12-speed drivetrain, SRAM Level T brakes, carbon fork, dropper post, and 27.5” wheels with Maxxis Colossus 4.5” wheels.

All of these are good bikes. Trek’s Farley 5 is a strong contender in this niche, but you’ll have to decide whether it’s the best choice for you. It’s a fun choice because you really can’t go wrong: any of these bikes will serve you well!

The Bottom Line

If you’re shopping for a fat bike and you have $1799 in your pocket you can buy a Farley 5 and ride away happy. If you’re shopping, though, you’ll still have to decide whether you could get a better deal elsewhere.

The Farley 5 has plus points: a carbon fork, 27.5” wheels, a dropper post, solid components, and an outstanding level of design and build quality. There are also features that could push you toward the competition. If you’re looking for 26” wheels, a wider range of gearing options, a bigger brake rotor in front, or even a suspension fork, you can find all of them on a bike in the same price range.

The choice comes down to which features are most important to you. The best option is narrow your list down to a few choices and test ride the contenders, if you can. Your final decision is likely to come down to personal feelings about each bike’s handling and looks.

If you’re not a selective shopper and you want a good fat bike fast, you could just grab a Farley 5 in your size. You’re not likely to regret the choice!

Let’s evaluate the Farley 5’s overall quality relative to other fat bikes in its price range.

2023 Trek Farley 9.6 Review

Are you looking for a high-performing fat bike that can provide you with a great riding experience?

Trek’s Farley 9.6 is one of the most popular fat bikes on the market. It offers an all-around great ride, thanks to its reliable frame, top-notch components, and versatile geometry.

This year’s model was updated with several new features, making it one of the best fat bikes available.

If you are looking for a comfortable and durable fat bike, the Trek Farley 9.6 is worth your consideration – but how well does it really compare to other models on the market?

In this review we will take an in-depth look at all aspects of this bike to help you decide if it is right for you.

Trek’s Farley 9.6 fat bike is designed for comfort, stability and durability on any terrain.

It features a lightweight carbon frame with internal derailleur & dropper post routing, 197x12mm adjustable horizontal sliding dropouts, double-wall rims and upgraded components.

We’ll be diving deep into the details of this bike in this review to provide you with an accurate picture of what it has to offer.

Take your fat biking and bikepacking adventures up a notch and immerse yourself in the experience aboard the 2023 Trek Farley 9.6.

With its lightweight carbon frame, wide-tire clearance, and adjustable dropouts, you can count on an unbeatable ride quality as you blaze through even the toughest terrains.

Load up your gear with ease – the frame has lots of mounts that give you loads of options for customizing how you carry your stuff.

– Lightweight OCLV Mountain Carbon frame

– 197x12mm adjustable horizontal sliding dropouts

– Farley carbon fork with crown rack mounts, lower leg cage mounts, and 150x15mm thru axle

– Sram GX Eagle 12 speed drivetrain

– Sram Level TL hydraulic disc brakes provide superior stopping power

– SUNRingle Mulefut 80 SL wheelset for lightweight performance

– Tubeless ready with Bontrager Barbegazi Team Issue tires

– Multiple mounting points on frame for accessories such as racks, fenders and bottles

The Trek Farley 9.6 frame is made from lightweight, durable OCLV Mountain Carbon. With generous standover height, even taller riders can fit comfortably on the bike without worry of toe overlap issues while pedaling or cornering fast.

This also provides riders with a sense of security when descending steep sections of trail or navigating difficult obstacles like tree roots or rock gardens.

Fork and Drivetrain

The Farley 9.6 includes a Farley carbon fork for optimal control over rough terrain. It combines well with the 1×12 Sram Eagle drivetrain to give you plenty of gearing options whether climbing hills or flying down descents.

The 10-52t cassette paired with a 30t chainring provide a good range for both technical climbing and flat trail cruising without sacrificing chain retention reliability via Sram GX Eagle derailleur.

Wheelset & Tires

The Farley 9.6 comes standard with SUNRingle Mulefut 80 SL rims mated to 27.5×4.50″ Bontrager Barbegazi Team Issue, Tubeless Ready tires providing an excellent balance between riding comfort, grip, traction and cushioning across any type of surface.

The tires feature large lugs throughout the tread pattern providing great all-round performance in both dry conditions as well as wet mud and snow conditions where most other heavier biking setups can often get bogged down easily. 

Bottom Line

Trek’s Farley 9.6 is an excellent choice for those looking for a reliable fat bike setup that can handle anything from weekend singletrack trips up to tackling long days out in the mountains packed full off steep ascents and carrying heavy loads down rocky trails thanks to its proven performance.

Order online and have it shipped to your local dealer for final assembly!!

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2024 Trek Farley 9.6

A 27.5″ carbon frame rigid fat bike with high-end components. Compare the full range

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Feb 2024 · Joshua Hutchens

The Trek Farley 7 is a burly, all-terrain trail bike with capabilities favoring winter. While primarily designed for snow and ice, the Gnarwhal tires...

Read Review

Last updated April 20

Trek Farley Fat Bike Review: Bigger and Faster

As the fat bike market matures it is inevitably diversifying into specific product categories. Just as mountain bikes now have categories for downhill, cross country, or trail riding, fat bike riders are realizing one size does not fit all.

Trek Farley Bike: Bigger and Faster

The Farley model has been hugely popular for Trek, but it was being pulled in two different directions: super fat tires for floatation on soft surfaces and more performance when paired with a suspension fork and lighter components. For 2016 the Farley model gets a full redesign based on all the new ways people are using fat bikes.

The new Farley is available in both aluminum and carbon fiber versions with sliding dropouts and rigid or suspension forks. The biggest news (not a pun) is the introduction of yet another wheelsize: 27.5×4. Trek says all the reasons that 27.5 wheels have an advantage over 26-inch for regular mountain bikes applies to fat bikes as well: larger contact patch, better angle of attack and shorter sidewalls for less bounce. Combined with the redesigned Stache model with 29×3 wheels and tires , Trek now has one of the widest “fat” product lineups in the business.

The new bikes are actually designed to fit multiple wheel sizes, as some models are equipped with the fattest of the fat tires and others are spec’d for better performance on trails or groomed snow. The new bike has moved to a 197 mm rear thru-axle while maintaining the same Q-factor as the previous model that could only fit a 26×4 tire.

One of the keys to its versatility is the new Stranglehold sliding dropout design, also found on the Stache , with a full 15 mm of adjustment. By incorporating the axle and the caliper mount it makes wheel swaps a breeze while allowing the user to adjust the chainstay length for different uses and wheel sizes. It can be found on both the new carbon fiber frame (a claimed 1,325 grams) and the new Alpha aluminum frame (a claimed 1,935 grams). Trek says that its lightest model, the Farley 9.8 with a rigid carbon fork, weighs just 23 pounds.

A carbon frame isn’t worth much if your wheels are super heavy, so Bontrager has stepped up with the new carbon Wampa wheels that measure 27.5 with an 83 mm width and weigh just 2,500 grams for the set. Their hookless, tubeless-ready bead should make setting them up with the corresponding Hodag tires a breeze.

Now, while riding a fat bike can make you feel like a kid , actual kids love riding them too. The new Farley 24 has 24-inch wheels with 3.5 tires on an aluminum frame for some pint-sized shredding. Trek says it should fit riders from 50 to 63 inches tall.

Trek Farley Bike Models

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26×4.7 tires, aluminum frame and fork, 2×10 Shimano drivetrain, $1,820.

27.5×4 tires, carbon fiber frame and fork, SRAM GX 1×11 drivetrain, $3,150.

27.5×4 tires, aluminum frame, RockShox Bluto fork, SRAM X1 1×11 drivetrain, $3,360.

27.5×4 tires, carbon fiber frame and fork, carbon rims, SRAM X01 drivetrail with RaceFace Next carbon crankset, $5,040.

24×3.5 tires, aluminum frame and fork, single chainring drivetrain, $1,210.

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The Trek Farley Winter Edition has a new Rack and Harness System

Previous Dispatch From Thu Mar 2, 2023

Wizard Works Launches AllBlack Collection for NZ Cyclone Relief

The new Trek Farley Winter Edition is kitted out with a complete rack system, custom frame bag, downtube fender, and slick rear rack harness system. Check it out here…

Trek turned heads in 2017 with the 1120, a 29+ adventure bike that came with a set of vibrant, unique racks for loaded adventures. It was (and still) is a promising option for bikepacking, but we’ve been waiting to see an update to the rear rack’s harness system. While the 1120 appears to be unchanged for 2023, the new Trek Farley Winter Edition (Farley 9) uses a similar rack system and an entirely new rear harness setup that looks more functional at first glance.

The new Trek Farley Winter Edition is a special version of their Farley fat bike platform but comes kitted out with their minimal front cradle, a burly looking rear rack, a bolt-on frame bag, downtube fender, and a new rear rack harness setup. It features an Alpha Platinum Aluminum frame with a tapered head tube, internal rear derailleur and dropper post routing, a threaded BB, and a 197x12mm rear dropout. For bikepacking provisions, it has mounts for a top tube bag, strapless full frame bag mounts, a downtube fender mount, lower downtube accessory mounts, and seat stay rear rack mounts. The fork is Trek’s Farley carbon model with a tapered alloy steerer, crown rack mounts, three-pack cage mounts on both legs, and a 150x15mm thru axle.

As far as the parts kit, it’s built up around a SRAM GX Eagle 12-speed drivetrain, SUNRingle Mulefut 80 SL rims, Bontrager Gnarwhal rubber, a TranzX dropper post, and four-piston SRAM Level brakes. The frame bag is size-specific, ranging from 3.8L to 5L, and the rear harness system holes up to 15L of gear. The total weight a complete medium build with tubes comes in at a hefty 40.35 pounds (18.3 kilograms).

Trek Farley Winter Edition Build

Here’s the full build kit from Trek…

• Hub front: Bontrager alloy, sealed bearing, 6-bolt, 15x150mm thru axle
• Skewer front: Bontrager Switch thru axle, removable lever
• Hub rear: Bontrager alloy/sealed bearing, 6-bolt, Rapid Drive 108, Shimano freehub
• Skewer rear: Bontrager Switch thru axle, removable lever
• Rim: SUNRingle Mulefut 80 SL, 32-hole cutout
• Tire: Bontrager Gnarwhal Team Issue, 120 tpi, 27.5×4.50″
• Shifter: SRAM GX Eagle, 12 speed
• Rear derailleur: SRAM GX Eagle
• Crank: SRAM X1 1000 Eagle, DUB, 30T ring, 170mm S/M/L, 175mm XL
• Bottom bracket: SRAM DUB, 100mm, BSA threaded
• Cassette: SRAM PG-1230 Eagle, 11-50, 12 speed
• Chain: SRAM NX Eagle, 12 speed
• Pedal: VP-536 nylon platform

• Saddle: Bontrager Verse Elite, austenite rails, 145mm width
• Seatpost: TranzX JD-YSP18, 100mm (S), 130mm (M), 150mm (L/XL), 31.6mm
• Handlebar: Bontrager Rhythm Comp, alloy, 31.8mm, 15mm rise, 750mm width
• Grips: Bontrager XR Trail Comp, nylon lock-on
• Stem: Bontrager alloy, 31.8mm, 7°, 50mm/60mm/70mm (S/M L-XL)
• Headset: FSA IS-2, 1-1/8″ top, 1.5″ bottom
• Brake: SRAM Level Bronze 4-piston hydraulic disc
• Brake rotor: SRAM CenterLine, 6-bolt, round-edge, 160mm
• Rear Bag: Farley compression harness, up to 915 cu in (15L)
• Frame Bag: Adventure Boss full-frame bag
• Front rack: Farley custom front rack, Lava gloss
• Rear Rack: Farley custom rear rack, Lava gloss
• Weight: M – 18.30 kg / 40.35 lbs (with tubes)
• Weight limit: 300 pounds (136 kg) – combined weight of bike/rider/cargo

The Trek Farley 9 Winter Edition costs $3,999 USD and can be purchased through your local Trek dealer. For folks who aren’t interested in the racks and extras, there are also new builds and frame colors of the standard Farley available. Head over to TrekBikes.com to see the entire lineup.

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7 Best Fat Bikes – 2021 Models!

With 2020 coming to an end, many manufacturers are hyping up their 2021 fat bikes models already. There are going to be some really nice options available from the main competitors, and new innovations are always coming onto the scene as well.

When looking at all the differences offered out there, which ones are the best of the best? Not all the details are available for every single model just yet, but these are fascinating options to look forward to trying out on different trails.

Salsa Mukluk

Salsa has decided to update their all-conditions fat bike considerably in 2021. The Salsa Mukluk is going to feature plenty of changes, with one stand out feature being the new Alternator 2.0.

These dropouts will allow riders to get the chainstay like they want, extending it from 432 mm to 439 mm. This also will allow them to adjust traction and handling no matter what type of surface they are on.

Another change is the fact that there will be internal cable routing to clean everything up well. Even though the bikes do not ship with the front derailleur, a person can use either a 1-by or 2-by drivetrain.

Finally, Salsa has made it a little more flexible with wheels. The build itself comes with 26-inch tires, but there are ways to put on 27.5-inch or even 29-inch wheels if a person wants to. Having this flexibility helps out in customizing and getting exactly what a person wants out of it.

Starting at around $1500, this is a fairly affordable option that people are going to enjoy. They have some carbon versions as well, so no matter what type of skill level a person is at with fat bike riding, they can find what they want.

• Ability to extend the chainstay line.
• Better internal cable routing.
• More flexibility with wheels.
• The carbon option gets a little expensive.
• Some believe that they could do more with the wheels.

2021 Trek Farley 9.6

The Farley line of Trek bikes continues to be one of the most popular options out there (My personal favorite on this list) for anyone getting into fat biking. They are pretty affordable, work on just about any type of service, and look great as well.

The 2021 model seems to be heading in the right direction once again, as they have made some slight upgrades to make it the best one yet.

In particular, the  Farley 9.6 looks to be one of the best. It is a rigid fat bike that has high-end components, along with some amazing hydraulic disc brakes.

It weighs in at just under 30 pounds and feels lighter when tuned to a person’s body and benefiting from perfect tire pressure.

This is one of the best performing fat bikes out there and meant for speeding more than anything else. It can allow people to put up better numbers as far as performance is concerned.

Not everyone is looking to opt for comfort, as there is a bit of a sacrifice going with this geometry. People can still ride for a long time, but it is more for speed and proper handling. It’s still one of the best bikes out there, and worthy of an investment.

• Very fast fat bike.
• Top Farley option.
• Premium components.
• Not extremely comfortable.
• Repairs can be costly.

2021 Trek Farley 5

Not everyone has a ton of money to spend on a fat bike, which is why the Trek Farley 5 is always a popular choice for those who want something nice without having to break the bank.

There is no doubt that this is one of the better budget options out there, even if a person has to make a few sacrifices here and there to get the price down to that price point.

The first sacrifice is that a person is only going to have mid-range components on this bike right away. There is a chance to upgrade it if the person wants to focus on one particular aspect of the bike, but the stock version is not going to be the absolute best.

What exactly does that mean? The Trek Farley 5 weighs a little bit heavier when riding, and it might struggle a little bit more with challenging inclines.

A person will not notice a huge difference, but it is enough if moving down from a more expensive option. Those who do not know any better will not really feel any difference whatsoever.

To make up for the subpar components, these do come equipped with very nice tires. The Bontrager Gnarwhal team issue tires are thick and grippy, allowing people to carve through just about any terrain with these. It is definitely one of the standout features with this model.

• Affordable fat bike option from Trek.
• Excellent tires for the price.
• Easy for all types of riders.
• Subpar components.
• Fairly heavy.

Salsa Beargrease Carbon X01 Eagle

Some people have plenty of money to spend on a fat bike, and they want to get something that will perform at a fantastic level. If that is the case, the Salsa Beargrease Carbon X01 Eagle might be the way to go.

It has everything that a person can imagine, although it comes in at a pretty hefty price. The 27.5-inch carbon frame has every high-end component a person could ask for, as well as hydraulic disc brakes.

A person will know that they see one of these ride by as well, as they have some pretty amazing color choices that make them stand out.

The drawback here is that not everyone is going to benefit from all of these additions, as the price tag is going to scare some people away.

It is around $6000, which is going to be out of the price range for a lot of people. There are some more budget-friendly often from Salsa, including the one other one listed in this article, but some people are really looking for the best of the best.

This is a bike that will last a very long time if it is appropriately maintained throughout his life.

• Excellent all-around bike.
• High-end components.
• Very lightweight.
• Color and design might be too loud for some.

2021 Rocky Mountain Blizzard 50

The Rocky Mountain Blizzard line ( Source ) is one of the more popular fat bike options out there. As one can guess from the name, it does exceptionally well in adverse weather conditions.

This model particularly is a very rigid fat bike that has a carbon fork and other components that help with the ride. A person will feel very comfortable on this bike at all times, and they never feel like they are overwhelmed with handling.

The Shimano groupset and cassette is certainly a nice touch, and the other components make this one of the highest quality fat bikes right off the rack.

However, something that a lot of people will notice is that these come with excellent tires instead of having to go in the secondary market and look for something different.

The cake eater fast-rolling tubeless tires are large, grippy, and ready to roll for miles and miles. They are ready for just about any type of train, and they will last a long time since they are tubeless.

A lot of people will upgrade their tires on existing fat bikes to something similar to this, so it is nice to have it built-in.

Rocky Mountain also offers the 30, which is a few hundred dollars less. There is a little bit of lower quality with the components, but people who want to save a little bit of money can go in that direction if they wish. There are also some unique colors for those people interested in a particular cosmetic.

• High-quality components.
• Built to handle really tough weather conditions.
• Outstanding to his tires.
• Not incredibly different from the cheaper Rocky Mountain Blizzard 30.
• Sizing might be a little off for some individuals.

2021 Kona Woo

If a person is not that familiar with fat bikes, they might not know too much about this brand ( source ). It has really turned out to be one of the more popular options out there right now, with the 2021 option looking like its best yet.

The 26-inch aluminum frame will create a very rigid fat bike that has quality components. The most notable high-end component is the carbon triple mount fork, but it also has an excellent group set, crank, and cassette.

Priced at just around $2000, it is certainly one that is in the mid-range as far as price is concerned. This makes it an option many end up loving.

If there is a negative, it is a bit puzzling that there is no amount available for any type of rear rack or other storage. This can be problematic for ones who want to go on very long rides with the bike, because it is pretty hard to pack everything on the frame.

It does lighten everything a little bit, but some people do not like the trade-off. Kona always does a little something different with their color and style when upgrading to a new bike, so that is something to keep in mind as well.

All in all, it is a fat bike worth investing in if a person wants to try something different. They seem to be upgrading all the time, and this bike stands up against any other option out there right now.

• Lightweight aluminum frame.
• Affordably priced.
• No rear rack.
• Tires are subpar.

2021 Cannondale CAAD 1

Cannondale might not be as well known in the fat bike community as other companies, but anyone who knows anything about bikes has seen them around. ( source )

They offer a pretty affordable and lightweight aluminum frame option that offers a great amount of value for those not wanting to break the bank.

Fat bike riding and get expensive in a hurry, but those who do not take it particularly seriously might just need something a little more casual.

That is not to say that the 2021 version of this bike is going to be a piece of junk by any means. In fact, it is something that outperforms its price tag, providing riders with Shimano parts and durable components that just make a lot of sense.

Give this fat bike option a try in-store if possible, as they seem to be very set on the 2021 model being outstanding overall. Cannondale seems to be more and more of a player in the fat bike industry, especially if this one ends up being a hit.

• Offers plenty of customization options.
• Some components need instantly replacing.
• The company is still finding its footing.

What to expect as a fat bike shopper in 2021?

The current pandemic messed up a lot of different industries, and the fat bike industry suffered just like everyone else. While sales have stayed pretty solid as people look for alternatives to get in shape and stay healthy, factories were forced to shut down, and teams lost valuable time in development.

It is safe to assume that the normal advancements might not happen this upcoming year as far as new models are concerned. This does not mean that there is no reason to invest in a new bike, but major jumps might need to wait for a year or two.

It is tough figuring out exactly what will happen as far as trends are concerned, but this type of bike riding is only going to continue growing.

People might be a little more economical with what buying decisions they make overall, but there will still be an interest in getting the best bikes out there if possible.

What To Look For When Shopping For a Fat Bike in 2021?

Like the last few years, there are a few things to know about that base before making a purchase. It is a pretty big investment when buying brand new, so no one should be jumping in and taking the first one without some comparison shopping.

A lot of fat bike options these days have the opportunity to use different tire sizes depending on what type of style a person is into.

This comes in handy for those who might not be sure right away, but it makes sense to try to buy something that fits a particular type of writing.

There are a lot of people who want the most comfortable ride possible, and that means going with a pretty wide tire overall. What a person sacrifice is speed, but not everyone is trying to set records when they are out on a ride.

It is more about staying safe and enjoying things, and if that is the case, go as fat as possible.

Just about every fat bike these days is a rigid fat bike, But there is a reason for that. A traditional mountain bike might have front shocks, but it weighs down an already pretty heavy fat bike down if they are included.

Most people do not really need it, especially if they inflate the tires correctly.

A fatter tire is going to absorb a lot of the shock, so people are going to feel that same type of pain when they are writing.

It might seem tough for people to buy a bike without any type of suspension. But many people who have been riding for a long time gave it up years ago. It is really not that big of a deal at the end of the day.

HAPPY SHOPPING!! 

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Nbc news now, 'star trek' uss enterprise model found on ebay after nearly 50 years.

The original USS Enterprise model used in the introduction of the show "Star Trek" was found after being missing for nearly 50 years. The model went missing in the 1970s and was found being sold on eBay with a starting bid of $1,000.  April 26, 2024

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Original ‘Star Trek’ Enterprise Model Is Found After Being Missing for Decades

The 33-inch model surfaced on eBay after disappearing around 1979. An auction house is giving it to the son of Gene Roddenberry, the creator of “Star Trek.”

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By Emily Schmall

The first model of the U.S.S. Enterprise, the starship that appeared in the opening credits of the original “Star Trek” television series , has been returned to Eugene Roddenberry Jr., the son of the creator of the series, decades after it went missing.

“After a long journey, she’s home,” Mr. Roddenberry wrote on social media on Thursday.

For die-hard Trekkies, the model’s disappearance had become the subject of folklore, so an eBay listing last fall, with a starting bid of $1,000, didn’t go unnoticed.

“Red alert,” someone in an online costume and prop-making forum wrote, linking to the listing.

Mr. Roddenberry’s father, Gene Roddenberry, created the television series, which first aired in 1966 and ran for three seasons. It spawned numerous spinoffs, several films and a franchise that has included conventions and legions of devoted fans with an avid interest in memorabilia.

The seller of the model was bombarded with inquiries and quickly took the listing down.

The seller contacted Heritage Auctions to authenticate it, the auction house’s executive vice president, Joe Maddalena, said on Saturday. As soon as the seller, who said he had found it in a storage unit, brought it to the auction house’s office in Beverly Hills, Calif., Mr. Maddalena said he knew it was real.

“That’s when I reached out to Rod to say, ‘We’ve got this. This is it,’” he said, adding that the model was being transferred to Mr. Roddenberry.

Mr. Roddenberry, who is known as Rod, said on Saturday that he would restore the model and seek to have it displayed in a museum or other institution. He said reclaiming the item had only piqued his interest in the circumstances about its disappearance.

“Whoever borrowed it or misplaced it or lost it, something happened somewhere,” he said. “Where’s it been?”

It was unclear how the model ended up in the storage unit and who had it before its discovery.

The original U.S.S. Enterprise, a 33-inch model, was mostly made of solid wood by Richard C. Datin, a model maker for the Howard Anderson Company, a special-effects company that created the opening credits for some of the 20th century’s biggest TV shows .

An enlarged 11-foot model was used in subsequent “Star Trek” television episodes, and is now part of the permanent collection of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum , where it was donated by Paramount Studios in 1974.

Mr. Roddenberry, who said he gave the seller a “reward” for its recovery but did not disclose the terms, assembled a group of “Star Trek” production veterans, model makers and restoration specialists in Beverly Hills to authenticate the find.

The group included a “Star Trek” art supervisor, Michael Okuda, and his wife, Denise, an artist on “Star Trek” television series and films, and Gary Kerr, a “Trek x-pert” who served as technical consultant for the Smithsonian during a 2016 restoration of the 11-foot model.

“We spent at least an hour photographing it, inspecting the paint, inspecting the dirt, looking under the base, the patina on the stem, the grain in the wood,” Mr. Roddenberry said.

“It was a unanimous ‘This is 100 percent the one,’” he said.

Gene Roddenberry, who died in 1991 , kept the original model, which appeared in the show’s opening credits and pilot episode, on his desk.

Mr. Kerr compared the model to 1960s photos he had of the model on Mr. Roddenberry’s desk.

“The wood grain matched exactly, so that was it,” he said on Saturday.

The model went missing after Mr. Roddenberry lent it to the makers of “Star Trek: The Motion Picture,” which was released in 1979, Mr. Maddalena said.

“This is a major discovery,” he said, likening the model to the ruby slippers from “The Wizard of Oz,” a prop that was stolen in 2005 and recovered by the F.B.I. in 2018, and that Heritage Auctions is selling.

While the slippers represent hope, he said, the starship Enterprise model “represents dreams.”

“It’s a portal to what could be,” he said.

Emily Schmall covers breaking news and feature stories and is based in Chicago. More about Emily Schmall

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The long lost original model of the USS Enterprise has been returned

The model, in the opening credits of Star Trek , had been missing since the 1970s. It popped up on eBay last fall. The seller helped facilitate its return to the family of the creator of Star Trek .

(SOUNDBITE OF ALEXANDER COURAGE'S "THEME FROM STAR TREK")

LEILA FADEL, HOST:

Good morning. I'm Leila Fadel.

The long-lost original model of the USS Enterprise, the one that could be seen in the opening credits of the TV show "Star Trek," has been returned. Missing since the 1970s, the model popped up on eBay last fall. The seller eventually took down the item and helped facilitate its return to Rod Roddenberry, the son of the late "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry. Roddenberry, the son, says he now hopes to get the model into a museum for the public to enjoy.

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To Boldly Return —

Long-lost model of the uss enterprise returned to roddenberry family, it showed up in an ebay listing; now roddenberry's son wants to show it to fans..

Samuel Axon - Apr 19, 2024 9:05 pm UTC

The first-ever model of Star Trek's USS Enterprise NCC-1701 has been returned to the Roddenberry family, according to an ABC News report.

The 3-foot model was used to shoot the pilot and credits scene for Star Trek's original series in the 1960s and was used occasionally for shots throughout the series. (Typically, a larger, 11-foot model was used for shots after the pilot.) The model also sat on series creator Gene Roddenberry's desk for several years.

It went missing in the late 1970s; historians and collectors believe it belonged to Roddenberry himself, that he lent it to a production house working on Star Trek: The Motion Picture, and that it was never returned. Its whereabouts were unknown until last fall, when a listing for a mysterious model of the Enterprise appeared on eBay .

Further Reading

The eBay account that posted the item specialized in selling artifacts found in storage lockers that end up without an owner, either because of failure to pay or death.

The model was turned over by the eBay seller to Texas-based Heritage Auctions. News spread that it had been discovered, and Gene Roddenberry's son, Eugene "Rod" Roddenberry, made public statements that he would like to see it returned to his family.

After that, there were months of silence, and its fate was unknown—until now. Heritage Auctions announced that it had given the model to Rod Roddenberry. Details of the exchange have not been shared, but Roddenberry said he did compensate Heritage in some way.

Heritage reached out directly to Roddenberry upon acquiring the object and reportedly decided to return it because it was "the right thing to do." Roddenberry said that he "felt it important to reward that and show appreciation for that" but didn't disclose a sum.

Roddenberry also revealed what he has planned for the model:

This is not going home to adorn my shelves. This is going to get restored and we’re working on ways to get it out so the public can see it, and my hope is that it will land in a museum somewhere.

He runs a group called the Roddenberry Foundation that has scanned and digitized many relics from Star Trek's ideation and production over the years, so it's likely the Foundation will get a crack at the model, too.

Listing image by eBay

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