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WHO IS IT MADE FOR?
WHO IS IT MADE FOR?The Slash is designed to fit between the cross-country and downhill segments as either a burly all-mountain shredder or enduro racer. It’s made for the rider who craves the exhilaration
of a long-travel bike but doesn’t want to throw efficient pedaling out the window. Replacing the Scratch, which was designed for the abuses of bigger hits and bike-park riding, the Slash is a more pedal-friendly platform that can still handle aggressive trail riding.
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Cornering prowess: The low bottom bracket and slack head angle deliver a confident yet nimble feel that our test riders simply loved, whether the bike was laid over in a high-speed corner or tiptoeing through a tight switchback.
Cornering prowess: The low bottom bracket and slack head angle deliver a confident yet nimble feel that our test riders simply loved, whether the bike was laid over in a high-speed corner or tiptoeing through a tight switchback.WHAT IS IT MADE FROM?
The new Slash’s features and geometry are nearly identical to those of the previous-generation aluminum Slash 9 but take it a step further, building the front triangle and seatstay from carbon (the chainstay is still aluminum). The Slash features the ABP (Active Braking Pivot) suspension design with a full-floater shock (the shock’s bottom mount attaches to the swingarm), which Trek offers on all its suspension bikes and, in our opinion, singlehandedly cemented Trek’s reputation as a true mountain bike brand. The bike also features a tapered E2 head tube, internal shifter cable routing, Reverb Stealth adjustable-seatpost hose routing (internal), a one-piece alloy EVO Link rocker, Mino Link adjustable geometry, and 6.3 inches of travel front and rear.
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The heart of the beast: Trek moved away from DRCV this year with the Slash, simply because the Monarch Plus shock with Debonair technology delivered the performance Trek was looking for.
The heart of the beast: Trek moved away from DRCV this year with the Slash, simply because the Monarch Plus shock with Debonair technology delivered the performance Trek was looking for.WHICH COMPONENTS STAND OUT?
The Bontrager components on the Slash are markedly better than the fresh-off-the-boat house-brand parts from some com- panies. In fact, the Bontrager XR4s are among our favorites for a fast-rolling yet grippy and aggressive tire, and the Rhythm Pro carbon handlebar looks much more like a bolt-on aftermarket upgrade than a stock part.
HOW DID IT PERFORM?
Moving out:
Trek’s sizing is a bit strange. Trek claims this is a 19.5-inch frame when the seat tube measurement is actually 18.5 inches on the nose. In fact, Trek’s website has one column for the size and then another for the “actual size” that lines up with the true measurement. The rest of the measurements, including effective top tube length, bottom bracket height, and chainstay length check out; however, testers noted that the bike felt slightly smaller on the trail than they expected. With this type of bike, the extra nimbleness the smaller size provides is a welcome attribute, but riders between sizes should be cautious when going for the smaller size.
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Not afraid: With a weight well under 30 pounds the Slash is surprisingly capable as a climber, although the pedaling platform switch on the shock proved fairly difficult to use for most riders. We still found the technique that put this bike up the mountain with relative ease.
Not afraid: With a weight well under 30 pounds the Slash is surprisingly capable as a climber, although the pedaling platform switch on the shock proved fairly difficult to use for most riders. We still found the technique that put this bike up the mountain with relative ease.Pedaling:
The ABP suspension does a solid job isolating pedaling feedback, and the lightweight carbon makes it even better. Whereas other 6-inch-travel bikes might feel sluggish, this bike feels svelte. The SRAM X1 single ring did an excellent job retaining the chain, even without a guide, and did not drop it throughout our test period.
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ABP suspension: Trek’s proprietary Active Braking Pivot suspension design features a pivot right at the rear axle that keeps the suspension moving whether the rider is on or off the brakes. This makes for supreme confidence when the trail gets rough and nasty.
ABP suspension: Trek’s proprietary Active Braking Pivot suspension design features a pivot right at the rear axle that keeps the suspension moving whether the rider is on or off the brakes. This makes for supreme confidence when the trail gets rough and nasty.Climbing:
The relatively steep seat tube angles work well to place the rider over the pedals in a powerful climbing position, which makes the Slash float uphill with relative ease. It’s no cross-country rocket, but it’s not afraid to take on a few long grinder transfer stages or an epic adventure ride that involves long climbs. The RockShox Monarch Plus shock features open, mid, and firm pedaling platform settings, but it’s more difficult to reach than the previous Fox versions—only because the EVO link gets in the way. Our testers made the effort to hit the switch for long and flat climbs, but for short and punchy ascents, it’s best to rely on the efficiency of the suspension design to float uphill.
Cornering:
The Slash’s cornering is exactly what you would expect from a bike inspired by the most demanding enduro tracks and racers. It’s stable at speed, and the front end doesn’t shy away from quick direction changes or slow, technical terrain with tight switchbacks. Testers were very impressed with the harmony between the suspension and geometry on the Slash. Lean it over for a snappy turn and the suspension feels like it propels you for- ward; likewise, take it through a slow-speed technical turn and it will deliver confidence. This bike helps you find your A-game when slashing through berms and corners, whether they’re high speed or not.
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Air control: Any aggressive bike worth its salt better feel playful and flickable enough to get it airborne once in a while. The Slash delivered on the promise.
Air control: Any aggressive bike worth its salt better feel playful and flickable enough to get it airborne once in a while. The Slash delivered on the promise.Descending:
This bike is a blast to point downhill. The suspension is extremely active, even on small, chattery bumps, thanks to the ABP suspension. It also delivers a very connected-to-the trail feeling that overly plush bikes don’t. Rather than making you feel glued to the trail, this bike encourages you to flick it off every feature.
The suspension tends to ride near the top of its travel, yet digs in deep on bigger hits, drops and jumps. It’s a great feeling to have 6 inches of travel that are truly usable rather than 3 inches in the middle where the bike tends to sit. The Slash moves quickly through its travel, both up and down, matching the terrain and delivering a lively feel at the same time. It’s very active but lacks the “dead” feeling that most overly plush suspension designs suffer from.
Braking:
Active Braking Pivot (ABP) had better deliver. It’s in the name. ABP is designed to eliminate “brake jack.” It does, and we love the design. The rear suspension remains active under hard braking efforts, so you can brake later and ride faster into corners with more control and traction. Our XT brakes performed well throughout the test and provided a perfect complement to the rest of the bike’s performance.
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TRICKS, UPGRADES OR TIPS?
TRICKS, UPGRADES OR TIPS?Trek sells the 9.8 with TLR wheels and tires, so all the rider has to do is remove the inner tubes and replace them with tubeless valves and a splash of sealant. Doing this immediately removed half a pound of rotational weight from our test bike, and we’d have a hard time not recommending that to anyone with this option, whether it’s on a Slash or any other late-model Trek that comes with this technology.
Trek did a nice job keeping the price of the 9.8 out of the stratosphere, although at the cost of some weight compromises. The Mustang wheels held up well for the duration of our testing but would be the first place we’d look for a hard-part upgrade.
The Bontrager Rhythm Pro Carbon bar looks a little too much like a flat bar for this type of bike. It is surprisingly comfortable, but more aggressive riders on the larger sizes will likely swap it for something wider.
BUYING ADVICE
When we tested the first-generation Slash in 2012, we claimed, “This is the best aggressive trailbike we’ve ridden to date.” We’re sticking by that statement, but the rest of the enduro bikes have begun to nip at the heels of the Slash. Nevertheless, it’s still at the top of our short list of 6-inch-travel bikes. It’s an above-average climber and truly shines when the terrain gets nasty. For the technical singletrack we regularly test on here in SoCal, this is still a go-to bike and a standard by which other 6-inch-travel bikes should be measured. If your riding requires a long-travel trailbike, this should be on your short list of choices. Long story short, this bike rips.
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