T
Trek1120
trekking
01
Origin
The Trek 1120 was launched in late 2017 as Trek's answer to the growing bikepacking movement. While the 520 served road touring and the 920 served off-road touring, the 1120 was designed for the most extreme expedition bikepacking — deep backcountry, unmapped routes, where roads don't exist. It was based on the Stache 29+ trail hardtail, giving it genuine mountain bike capability that traditional touring bikes lacked. high BIKEPACKING.com, Ride MTB, Trek product history
02
Specifications
- Frame
- Alpha Platinum Aluminum frame with 1120 HCM Carbon fork
- Weight
- kg
- Drivetrain
- Shimano SLX 1x12 — 30T front chainring, 10-51T cassette 1x drivetrain chosen for simplicity and reliability on expedition — no front derailleur to break in remote areas. 510% gear range from SLX 12-speed.
- Brakes
- Shimano SLX M7120, 4-piston hydraulic disc (2023)
Signature technologies
- 29+ plus-size tires (29x3.0")
- Based on Trek Stache 29+ trail hardtail
- Proprietary quick-release rack system
- Horizontal sliding dropouts
- Carbon fork (HCM Carbon)
03
The verdict
+Strengths
- Unmatched off-road touring capability — 29x3.0" tires go everywhere
- Innovative quick-release rack system converts between touring and trail modes
- Genuine mountain bike trail capability — based on Stache platform
- Carbon fork absorbs vibration and saves weight
- 1x12 drivetrain is simple and reliable for expedition use
- Massive carrying capacity with front and rear rack system
- Dropper post compatible — rare for a touring bike
−Weaknesses
- Heavy for a hardtail (14.08 kg) — plus-size tires and expedition frame add weight
- 29+ tires have higher rolling resistance on pavement than standard width
- No longer sold as complete bike — frameset only from 2024
- Expensive when new (€3,499 for 2023 complete) for an aluminum bike
- Proprietary rack system — not compatible with standard Ortlieb/Tubus racks
- Flat bars limit hand positions on very long rides vs drop bars (920 advantage)
04
Who it’s for
Purpose-built for deep backcountry where roads don't exist. Plus-size tires, massive cargo capacity, expedition durability.Mixed terrain adventurer (trails + touring) Quick-release racks allow switching between loaded touring and unloaded trail riding in 5 minutes.Desert / sand / snow bikepacker 29x3.0" tires provide flotation over soft surfaces that would stop standard-width tires.Custom build enthusiast (frameset) €1,249 frameset with carbon fork, dropper routing, and extensive mounts enables dream custom expedition builds.
05
Buyer’s notes
№ 01
The Trek 1120 is NO LONGER sold as a complete bike. Only the frameset (€1,249 with carbon fork) is available. Full custom build required.
№ 02
The carbon fork alone would cost €500+ aftermarket — the frameset at €1,249 with carbon fork represents good value for custom builders.
№ 03
For a custom 1120 build, Shimano SLX or XT 1x12 is the natural choice. Budget €2,000-2,500 for a full component build on top of the frameset.
№ 04
Used 2022-2023 complete 1120s offer the best value — Shimano SLX 12-speed spec, 4-piston brakes, and carbon fork. Check for frame damage from expedition use.
№ 05
The proprietary 1120 rack system is designed for dry bags, not traditional panniers. If you want Ortlieb panniers, you'll need to use the frame's standard rack mounting points with a third-party rack.
№ 06
Consider tire choice carefully: stock 29x3.0" are best for off-road expedition. For mixed touring, swap to 29x2.4" for significantly less rolling resistance on pavement.
№ 07
Weight limit is 136 kg total (same as 920). At ~14 kg bike weight, this leaves 122 kg for rider + gear. More than sufficient for most bikepackers.
06
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