Trek Slash 9.8 XT Gen 5

The 2023 "Slash 9.8 XT Gen 5" model from Trek is a high-quality mountain bike designed for challenging trails and technical terrain. The price for this model is 6,899 EUR. The frame is made from OCLV Mountain Carbon and features an internal storage compartment as well as internal Control Freak cable routing. Other frame features include a tapered head tube, Knock Block 2.0, Carbon Armor, Shuttle-Guard, a threaded bottom bracket, ISCG 05, a 34.9 mm seat tube, a magnesium shift lever, Mino Link and ABP.

The bike’s maximum load capacity is 136 kg, whilst the bike itself weighs 14 kg. The front and rear brakes are Shimano XT M8120 hydraulic 4-piston disc brakes with Shimano RT76 rotors, measuring 180 mm and 203 mm in diameter respectively. The gear lever is a Shimano XT M8100 with a 12-speed drivetrain.

The fork is a RockShox ZEB Select+ with DebonAir air spring and Charger 3 RC2 damping. It features a tapered steerer tube, a 44 mm offset, Boost110 and a Maxle Stealth axle with 170 mm of travel. The crankset consists of Shimano XT M8120 components with a 30-tooth chainring, a chainline of 55 mm and a crank arm length of 170 mm. The threaded bottom bracket is a Shimano BB-MT501 with a BSA thread.

The cassette is a Shimano XT M8100 with a 10–51-tooth range and a 12-speed drivetrain. The handlebars are Bontrager Line Pro made from OCLV carbon, with a width of 820 mm and a rise of 27.5 mm. The grips are Bontrager XR Trail Pro with aluminium clamps. The stem is also a Bontrager Line Pro with Knock Block and Blendr compatibility; it has a length of 35 mm and an angle of 0 degrees.

The headset is an integrated headset with Knock Block 2.0, sealed cartridge bearings and a radius of 72 degrees (including a tongue with infinite radius). The wheels are Bontrager Line Elite 30 made from OCLV Mountain Carbon, tubeless-ready with Rapid Drive 108 and a Shimano Micro Spline freehub.

The saddle is a Bontrager Arvada with austenitic struts and a width of 138 mm. The seatpost is a Bontrager Line Elite Dropper with a 100 mm travel, MaxFlow and internal cable routing, as well as a diameter of 34.9 mm and a length of 345 mm.

The bike’s packaging dimensions are 23 mm wide, 119 mm high and 201 mm long. Further geometric data include a reach of 43 mm, a stack of 62 mm, a seat tube length of 40 mm, a top tube length of 58 mm, a head tube angle of 65 degrees, a seat tube angle of 67 degrees, a head tube length of 10 mm, a chainstay length of 44 mm, a standover height of 71 mm and a wheelbase of 120 mm.

The Trek Slash 9.8 XT Gen 5 thus offers a first-class combination of high-quality materials, precision craftsmanship and well-thought-out technical details, making it the ideal companion for demanding mountain bike adventures.