Trek Slash+ 9.7 vs. YT Decoy SN Core 3: Enduro reloaded! Hot light e-bikes in a duel
Florentin Vesenbeckh
· 27.12.2024
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Enduro bikes are becoming heavier and more downhill-orientated. The bikes in our last comparison test weighed well over 16 kilos on average - without motor and battery, of course. Add sticky tyres and robust accessories to the mix and long rides can be tough. The all-round qualities of the popular fun category suffer. And this is exactly where light e-MTBs come into play. They promise relaxed climbs so that you can concentrate fully on the downhill fun. And they do so without the extreme extra weight and bulky look of classic e-bikes. Two hot and brand-new candidates in this category are the Trek Slash+ and the Decoy SN from direct mail order company YT Industries.
Trek vs YT Industries: These are the opponents in the "Light Enduro" test duel
Light bike: added value or window dressing?
At over 20 kilos, the bikes are far from weight records. However, with thick suspension elements and just as much travel, they have enough reserves for tough enduro tracks and bike park use. And this is exactly where they excel. The handling is noticeably better than on classic E-Enduros. Less pushing when braking, lighter-footed riding, fun to pull into the air. Even if both candidates cannot keep up with the manoeuvrability of even lighter, short-stroke light e-MTBs weighing around 18 kilos.
Fact check: A comparison of the light enduro bikes
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 >> available here
- Weight: 20.4 kg (test bike in size L, EMTB measurement)
- Permissible total weight: 136 kg (manufacturer's specification)
- Guarantee: for life
YT Decoy SN Core 3
- Motor: Fazua Ride 60, 60 Nm max. torque
- Battery: 430 Wh (permanently installed)
- Frame material: Carbon
- Suspension travel: 170/160 mm
- Wheel size: 29/27.5 inch
- Frame sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL
- Price: 7499 euros (reduced to 6399 in December 2024, current prices on the YT homepage!)
- Weight: 20.9 kg (test bike in size L, EMTB measurement)
- Permissible total weight: 140 kg (manufacturer's specification)
- Warranty: 5 years
The e-drives: TQ HPR 50 versus Fazua Ride 60
Visually, the Slash+ and Decoy SN remain surprisingly close to their non-motorised siblings, the Slash and the Capra. They owe this in particular to their slim motors. In the Trek, the circular and super-quiet TQ HPR 50, which we have already tested extensively in the lab and in practice HERE. No other electric motor on the market currently offers a more unobtrusive and natural ride. But the power is also rather discreet. The Ride 60 from Fazua (HERE in the test) in the YT. The second Bavarian engine is also hardly noticeable. However, it is significantly more powerful, but also somewhat louder than the TQ.
The Trek is the first and so far only bike ever to come with the new, extra-large TQ battery with 580 watt hours. It impressed us in our range test with its strong endurance. The battery can also be removed from the bike. YT, on the other hand, has the battery permanently installed in the down tube and is also slimmer with 430 watt hours.
The range in direct comparison
If you only need a moderate amount of motor power to save a few grains on the climbs, you can also complete day-long enduro laps on the light bikes. The situation is different if you are constantly demanding full thrust, for example to chase after a power e-bike. Both candidates are above average in this respect. But how do both systems fare in a direct comparison?
Especially for this duel, we pitted the two bikes against each other with a levelled motor power of approx. 200 watts. In this field test, both bikes travelled uphill at identical speeds. We equalised the weight of the riders with additional weights to 90 kilos including equipment and kept the pedalling power at a constant 150 watts using Garmin watt measurement technology. This guarantees ideal comparability of the systems.
The new, extra-large TQ battery with 580 watt hours in the Trek was able to impress with its strong endurance in this scenario. The Slash+ climbed 1933 metres in altitude. It clearly outperformed the Ride 60 with 430 watt-hour battery in the YT Decoy SN. The latter managed 1537 metres in altitude. This is not surprising given the pure battery capacity, as the Trek is well equipped for a light bike. However, in previous tests, the TQ system with the smaller 360 battery cut a rather weak figure, while the Ride 60 from Fazua always shone. This also shows This comprehensive range comparison of various light drives.
Reach height in the field test
- Trek Slash+ 9.7TQ HPR 50 with 580 watt hours // 1933 metres altitude + 157 hm Emergency run
- YT Decoy SN Core 3Fazua Ride 60 with 430 watt hours // 1537 vertical metres + 94 hm Emergency run
If you compare the vertical metres achieved with the nominal battery capacity, the Fazua system is slightly better, which allows conclusions to be drawn about better efficiency. In practice, however, the Slash+ with a larger battery has a significantly greater range with a lower overall weight. That's a pound!
Light enduro bike test duel: How Trek and YT fare off-road
Uphill is not the greatest strength of a light eMTB. Nevertheless, both bikes deliver a great performance. The enduro bikes score particularly well on technical sections, provided the rider is active and puts a lot of effort into the pedalling. Both bikes have extremely strong traction at the rear in common. The suspensions soak up bumps, so you virtually never lose grip. On the Trek, you sit much further forward on the bike, partly because the front end is lower. This gives you more control and pressure on the front wheel. A noticeable advantage. Because the YT pushes the rider a little too far back on extremely steep sections due to the high front end, so you have to actively work against it.
The difference in position is also evident on the downhill. Standing calmly behind the cockpit, low on the bike, that's what the Decoy SN stands for. In direct comparison, the Slash+ has a much sportier position on the bike and therefore has more pressure on the front wheel. In addition to the geometry, this is also partly due to the handlebars, which are high on the YT and low on the Trek.
The sensitivity and absorption capacity of the rear triangle are at a very high level. A great strength of both bikes. The Slash+ offers more of a sedan chair feeling, while the Decoy SN feels more defined. The high-pivot design of the Trek has an aha effect, especially on big hits. The suspension travel is almost infinite. And that despite the favourable performance shock.
The situation is different at the front. Here, the inexpensive Fox 38 Rythm puts the Slash at a clear disadvantage. It can't keep up with either the rear or the ZEB Ultimate in the Decoy. This means that the YT stays composed for much longer on rough downhills.
Both rivals remain pleasantly manoeuvrable for their enormous handling qualities. Even on tighter trails, they are easy to manoeuvre and fun to throw from bend to bend. Overall, however, the YT is a whole lot livelier, encourages a more active riding style and is much easier to pull onto the rear wheel.
The rating: Trek Slash+ 9.7 vs YT Decoy SN Core 3
Conclusion of the duel: Trek Slash+ vs YT Decoy SN
Both bikes really impressed us on the trail. Despite their relatively heavy weights, their handling differs drastically from that of the 'fat' E-Enduros. Thanks to its top equipment, the YT gets even more out of it. Trek only offers this on the significantly more expensive top model. - Florentin Vesenbeckh, Deputy Editor-in-Chief BIKE
Florentin Vesenbeckh
Editor CvD
