The Remedy has undergone numerous revisions over the years. One thing that’s remained unchanged however, is its intent — it’s always been Trek’s do-everything trail bike.

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In its current format, that means 140mm travel along with the choice of either 27.5in or 29in wheels — the biggest wheels being the preserve of the higher price point bikes. Even on the entry-level 27.5in bike, you still get all of the Trek’s frame technology, including its top-quality aluminium construction with an E2 tapered head tube and ABP (Active Braking Pivot) suspension.

Buy now: Trek Remedy 7 27.5 (2017) at Evans Cycles from £2,200

You even get rubber armour on the underside of the down tube, to protect the frame from rock strikes, just like you do on the expensive carbon models.

The Remedy frame is not the lightest though, and the weight of the bike will creep up even further if you choose to fit a dropper post. The Remedy is, however, very solid — something that heavier riders will no doubt appreciate.

Watch our thoughts on the Cannondale Jekyll that also has adjustable geometry

Suspension

Being the entry-level bike in the range, the Remedy 7 doesn’t come with Trek’s new RE:aktiv damper. You still benefit from Trek’s DRCV shock, with its twin air can design. And Trek has finally delivered on its promise of two shocks in one; the Remedy 7 offers great support at sag, but thanks to the second air chamber — which sits on top of the shock and kicks in mid-way through the travel — you can still blow the O-ring clean off the shock body on bigger hits.

Revised DCRV float offers two shocks in one (Fowler)

Up front, the 140mm RockShox Revelation fork doesn’t get Trek’s signature G2 steering geometry, with its increased offset, and the handling on the Remedy is so much better for it. The steering is much less twitchy at speed, and felt less floppy when climbing too.

Components

OK, so the Remedy doesn’t get a dropper seatpost. But just like a TV without a remote, it doesn’t affect the quality of the picture. Yes, it’s a pain having to stop to raise or lower the saddle — just like getting off your ass to switch channels — but given that the Trek is £200 cheaper than similarly performing bikes, you could actually buy yourself a RockShox Reverb with change to spare.

We never thought we’d say this about a Trek, but the Remedy had a 70mm stem! And while 70mm isn’t short by today’s standards, it offered the best fit and feel straight out of the box. The 750mm bar is plenty wide enough, but it had a little too much backsweep for our liking. This probably worked in Trek’s favour though, as the profile of the bar had the same effect as reducing the stem length.

Trek has finally cottoned on to the idea of short stems (Fowler)

Performance

When the Trek showed up, we thought we’d been sent the women’s version by mistake — the frame looked so low-slung and compact. The numbers don’t lie, however, and sizing and reach on the 19.5in frame felt absolutely bang-on once we hit the trails.

Best of all, it took minimal effort on our part to get a good suspension set-up — the Remedy offering the most neutral and balanced ride from the get-go.

The rear suspension provided a lot of support, and we loved being able to ride it, up or down, with the shock always in the open setting. It just felt so efficient and responsive. It also comes with a Bottomless Token preinstalled in the fork.

It’s one seriously solid bike too. Slam a berm, or land a drop sideways, and the Remedy brushes it off and presses ahead with no loss of pace or composure. Add into the mix that the rear tyre always breaks traction just before the front washes out, and it’s a sure-fire recipe for a fun, confidence-inspiring trail bike.

Buy now: Trek Remedy 7 27.5 (2017) at Evans Cycles from £2,200