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The Trek Slash symbolises the latest generation of enduro mountain bikes. With its massive high-pivot rear triangle, it has been consistently geared towards downhill performance. The non-motorised model weighs in at over 16 kilos. The counterpart with electric motor looks confusingly similar to the classic. The TQ HPR 50 disappears completely behind the chainring and the more voluminous down tube blends harmoniously into the overall picture. At 20.4 kilos, the bike is definitely not one of the lightest candidates in the light category. But it should score highly on the descents. And with the new 580 watt-hour battery from TQ, it also has an extra portion of range at the start. Never before has a light bike shown such endurance in our range test.
The facts about the Trek Slash+ 9.7
- Motor: TQ HPR 50, 50 Nm max. torque
- Battery: 580 Wh (removable)
- Frame material: Carbon
- Suspension travel: 170/170 mm
- Wheel size: 29/27.5 inch
- Frame sizes: S, M, L, XL
- Price: 7999 Euro >> e.g. available here
- Weight: 20.4 kg (test bike in size L, EMTB measurement)
- Permissible total weight: 136 kg (manufacturer's specification)
- Guarantee: for life
The e-bike drive
Trek was the first brand to install the TQ HPR 50 whisper drive. The Americans were even heavily involved in the development of the tiny bike until it was launched in the Fuel EXe saw the light of day. It's only logical that Trek's second light e-MTB, the Slash+, also relies on TQ power. The motor is the most compact and quietest on the market, but only offers a modest output. 300 watts according to the manufacturer. In practice, it is noticeably weaker than a Fazua Ride 60 or a Bosch Performance CX. However, the form factor, weight and background noise are unbeatable.
The down tube of the Slash+ contains a new battery that is currently only available in this bike. The TQ battery with 580 watt hours. The Trek therefore contains significantly more energy than the other TQ bikes with the classic 360 battery. At 2.7 kilos, the large energy storage unit offers a very good ratio of weight to capacity. And our range test shows that the figures don't lie. While bikes with the smaller TQ battery tend to perform below average here, the 58 mm battery really comes up trumps. In direct comparison with the Fazua Ride 60 (430 Wh), the Trek is far more durable.
What's more, the battery is removable. This is anything but a matter of course for light e-MTBs. Although the removal is a little more complicated than with classic folding solutions, the battery can be changed in just a few minutes. This means you can conveniently charge the energy source in your hotel room or flat, or even double the range with a second battery.
The geometry
The Slash+ is available in the classic four sizes S, M, L and XL. The geometry is fully downhill-orientated without drifting into extremes. The head angle is slack, the wheelbase long - but both values remain within limits. The short chainstays of 435 millimetres are striking. This is rarely found on an E-MTB. Trek has thus retained the bike's lively handling behaviour. Thanks to the high-pivot design, the length of the rear end increases as the suspension moves.
EMTB measurements at a glance (frame size L)
- Seat tube length: 427 mm
- Wheelbase: 1270 mm
- Reach: 472 mm
- Stack: 647 mm
- Steering angle: 63.4 degrees
- Seat angle: 77 degrees
- Chainstay length: 435 mm
The equipment of the Trek Slash+ 9.7
The 9.7 model is the entry-level model in the Slash+ series for 7999 euros. That is ambitious. Compared to other e-bikes in the € 8000 class, the equipment is only moderately brilliant. The Fox suspension comes from the affordable Performance line, the fork even has the entry-level label "Rythm" stuck on it. The Deore brakes are not exactly high-end products either - even if they don't stand out negatively on the trail.
However, the standard Bontrager tyres made a negative impression during our first test ride in the Oberammergau bike park. The tyres offer too little damping and only moderate grip for a fat enduro bike. As a result, they limit the potential of the bike! For the next test days, we gave the bike solid Conti tyres to enable a proper comparison with other bikes. The additional weight remains manageable at 130 grams per pair (Kryptotal, Enduro carcass), while the feeling of safety and downhill performance increase massively!
- Fork / shock: Fox 38 Rhythm / Float X Performance
- Gear system: Shimano XT
- Brakes: Shimano Deore, 203/203 mm
- Wheels: Bontrager Line Comp 30
- Tyres: Bontrager Team Issue XR5 TR, 29/27.5 x 2.9"
- Seatpost / Stroke: Bontrager Line Drop / 170 mm
- Special features: Flipchip for adjusting the progression
Practical test: How the Trek Slash+ 9.7
The riding position is pretty much what you might call the modern enduro standard: far forward on the bike and despite the long reach, it's rather comfortable and compact. On the climbs, the Trek doesn't show any weakness. Despite the very short rear end, the front wheel only rises late. The rear suspension generates a lot of traction, so you can tackle really nasty climbs. However, with the subtle thrust of the TQ HPR 50, this requires significantly more energy than with a power motor or the Fazua Ride 60, as found in the YT Decoy SN. Noticeable: The motor is so quiet that the slight rattling of the chain drive almost dominates.
The Slash+ really scores on the downhill. The plush rear suspension sets the tone. It works comfortably without rushing through the travel and parries small and large bumps with confidence. Especially when it comes to off-road terrain, it gives the feeling of almost endless suspension travel. This means you can ride smoothly and confidently over nasty rock gardens and tricky sections.
However, the fork can't hold a candle to the rear end. The inexpensive Rhythm fork does not suit the 8000 euro bike and prevents top marks on the downhill. Depending on the setting, it either lacks support or sensitivity. Even with the Fox Performance shock, the rear suspension offers enough support to keep the Trek's handling lively. The geometry is not too extreme either. This makes the Slash+ agile and fun to throw over the trails. The light enduro bike doesn't feel like 21 kilos of live weight.
But the more it goes downhill, the more comfortable the enduro bike feels. For tame and flat trails, short-stroke and therefore more lively light bikes are suitable, such as the in-house competitor Fuel EXeadmittedly better. Too bad: At the beginning of the test, our test bike whirred quietly over the trail. Over time, however, a distinct rattling noise set in, which we were unable to eliminate despite intensive testing. We experienced similar noises on two different Slash+ test bikes.
BIKE rating of the Trek Slash+ 9.7
Strengths
- Powerful rear suspension
- Successful handling
- Quiet drive
- Top range and exchangeable battery
Weaknesses
- Fork weakens downhill strength
- Weak tyres and brakes
- Rattling downhill
The BIKE conclusion
The Trek Slash+ 9.7 benefits from its plush rear suspension and balanced trail handling. With its TQ motor and large battery, the bike is perfectly equipped for long excursions into rough terrain. Too bad: the fork and tyres of the standard equipment clearly limit the potential of the bike. For full performance, you have to go for the more expensive model - then you'll get even more! - Florentin Vesenbeckh, Test Editor BIKE Magazine
Florentin Vesenbeckh
Editor CvD
