![]() ![]() Was it worth all the hassle? Well, it certainly looks amazing and the 442mm chainstays, while not being super-short, are shorter than on most 29ers. The final piece of the puzzle was to flatten the back of the seat tube to make everything fit together. This, in turn, has allowed the rear wheel to be tucked in nice and tight to the BB without scrimping on tyre clearance. Keeping the chainstay length in check was a priority for Trek when developing the Stache and, by switching to the stiffer bolt-through dropout design, the engineers have been able to retain the desired frame stiffness for tracking and power delivery while ditching the seat and chainstay bridges. The frame shares most design features you find on Trek’s full-suspension trail bikes, including a tapered head tube, ISCG tabs on the BB for fitting a chain device and 142x12mm rear dropouts the last of those isn’t commonly found on a hardtail - all of the other bikes on test this month have regular QR rear dropouts. Trek have managed the most difficult task in mountain biking with ease, and in doing so have created a truly fantastic bike.First introduced last season, the Stache is billed as a trail-ready 29er hardtail designed to meet all the exacting demands of the modern mountain biker. Everything serves an important purpose and does it very well. 65 degrees is a bit slack for every day use, but for riders taking this on uplift days, it adds even more versatility. This bike is knocking on the doors of matching downhill rig capabilities, you can truly point and shoot it wherever takes your fancy - it's a truly well-balanced machine! The clever ‘Mino’ link system allows an even slacker option of bang on 65 degrees. The phenomenal grip generated by the big high-volume tyres, wide rims, beautifully plush suspension, and solid frame allows you to push the Slash 9.8 further than you’d think. On the downhills is where it really shines though. That being said, it’s no slouch on the uphills, and even after a long day in the saddle, ascending is never a chore on the Slash. The 65.5 head angle is very slack for a do-it-all bike. Straight out of the box, Trek’s intentions are clear with this model. If it were mine, I would add a small top guide for belt-and-braces security, but that’s probably over the top - the narrow/wide chainring and mech work perfectly together. It handles steep uphill gear changes with ease, and there wasn’t even a hint of dropping a chain, even on the roughest downhills. ![]() It worked faultlessly throughout testing with no adjustment whatsoever. The SRAM 11 Speed X1 Drivetrain needs no introduction. Small bumps are soaked up effortlessly and the bike keeps its poise ready for the bigger hits. Coupled with Trek’s Full Floater Linkage, the suspension feels bottomless, while still being supportive. Three compression settings ensure the bike is supple and grippy in all conditions. The Monarch Plus manages this with its piggyback cartridge and a much bigger volume. Although the DRCV is good, it doesn’t quite have the progressive nature to cater for the Slash’s downhill aspirations. Normally Trek use a custom Fox DRCV RE:aktiv shock. Pikes take care of damping duties upfront while the exceptional Monarch Plus RC3 handles the rear. The frame is nothing without the tried-and-tested suspension combo from Rock Shox.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |