Um, is that even a Trek! Without the discreet lettering on the down tube, you would never guess that this new high-pivot enduro bike is from the Trek portfolio. With a new rear triangle design, a mix of wheel sizes and the revised design language, the Americans are throwing the recipe for success of the old Slash overboard - in favour of a completely new generation of Trek enduro bikes.
The facts about the new Trek Slash
- Suspension travel: 170 millimetres / 170 millimetres
- Wheel size: MX wheel size mix (29-inch / 27.5-inch), optionally also available with 29er rear wheel
- Frame material: aluminium or carbon
- Prices: Two aluminium models for 4499 and 5499 euros / five carbon models between 7899 and 12499 euros / aluminium frameset: 3199 euros / carbon frameset: 4999 euros
- Frame weight without shock in size L (carbon): 3268 grams (BIKE measured value)
- Frame sizes: S, M, M/L, L, XL
- Special features: High-pivot rear triangle, storage compartment in the down tube, flip chip for damper progression, optional angled headset, optional damper mount for 29er rear wheel, standardised 27.5-inch setup for frame size S
>>All technical data and notes on the Trek Slash Generation 6 can be found here.<<
Great attention to detail: The Trek Slash in the sixth generation
The centrepiece and at the same time the The biggest change in the new edition is the high-pivot rear triangle. More and more enduro bikes are currently focussing on a high pivot point. This includes major brands such as GT and Cannondale. But what is it all about? As the name suggests, the main pivot point of the rear triangle is not located near the bottom bracket as usual, but much higher up. This increases the distance between the bottom bracket and the rear wheel axle during compression, which means that the rear wheel moves backwards to avoid the obstacle instead of getting "stuck" on it. The disadvantage: The longer the chainstay length, the more the chain pulls the chainring back during compression. Depending on the chain tension, this leads to negative effects on the chassis and pedal kickback. In order to decouple the chassis from these drive influences, the chain on high-pivot bikes usually runs over a pulley near the pivot point. However, the advanced rear triangle design is also noticeable on the scales - in a negative sense. The new carbon frame weighs 3268 grams in size L without the shock (BIKE measured value). In contrast, our laboratory scales stabilised at 2777 grams for the predecessor.
Trek relies on Mullet
The next major update involves the wheel size. While the predecessor was only available with 29-inch wheels, the sixth generation of the Trek Slash relies on a wheel size mix with a 29er front wheel and a 27.5-inch rear wheel. If you remove the mini mudguard between the seat stays and swap the lower shock mount (available separately), fans of extremely smooth riding can also mount a large rear wheel. But that's not all. To customise the new Slash to the rider's personal preferences, the steering angle can also be adjusted half a degree slacker or steeper with different headset shells (available separately). Also good: To guarantee perfectly balanced riding characteristics for bikers of all sizes, the chainstays grow with the frame size. For the same reason, bikes in frame size S also have a small 27.5-inch wheel in the fork. Last but not least, the progression of the rear triangle can also be adjusted in two stages via a flip chip on the shock mount.
The geometry of the Trek Slash
A look at the geometry table reveals further innovations. Compared to its predecessor, the head angle has been slackened from 64.1 degrees to 63.5 degrees - with a neutral headset shell, mind you. In line with the trend, the seat angle on the new Slash is also 1.4 degrees steeper at 77 degrees. The reach in size L (488 millimetres) remains almost identical to its predecessor (486 millimetres). In line with the more radical geometry, the rear suspension travel has also increased by one centimetre, bringing it into line with the 170 mm fork.
The new Ami-Enduro in the first practical test
"The new Trek Slash is like an aircraft carrier: long, high-tech and expensive as hell." - Jan Timmermann, BIKE editor
Countless detailed solutions, the top workmanship and a whole host of adjustment options will make individualists and enthusiasts want to buy the bike right from the start. The riding impression downhill is dominated by the extremely flat steering angle and the generous reach. The estate extends the wheelbase considerably. This allows the Trek to shine with enormous confidence, especially on rough high-speed sections. Thanks to the high front end and the elevated riding position, you hardly ever feel like you're going to roll over. The speed limit is set solely by the driver's driving skills. From 30 per cent SAG upwards, the suspension also supports rapid descents with a full ride feel, but does not completely decouple the rider from the ground. However, the bike requires an extra portion of physical exertion in order to realise snappy changes of direction on winding trails. In addition to the length of the bike, this is also due to the comparatively high overall weight. Even the small rear wheel can do little to change this. At 434 millimetres in size L, the chainstays are not conspicuously short. The propulsion-orientated riding position is pleasing on the climbs. The noticeably steep seat angle distributes a lot of weight over the front wheel. This makes it easier to control. The Bontrager tyres roll pleasantly lightly, but lack grip, especially for a super enduro bike. There is also criticism for the slack steering angle. It has a strong tendency to tip over at slow speeds. Although Trek is considered a pioneer of steering stop limiters, the Americans have dispensed with this protection on the new Slash.
Trek Slash: Models and prices
All equipment variants and prices of the new Trek Slash 2024 in the photo gallery:
Technical data and notes Trek Slash Gen. 6
Manufacturer information
- Price: 9999 Euro
- Available from specialised dealers
- Frame material: Carbon
- Frame size: S, M,L, XL(tested in size L, 44 cm)
Measured values
- Weight without pedals: 15.97 kg
- Frame weight: 3461 g
- Weight of wheels: 5000 g
- Acceleration of running wheels: 3903 kg x cm²
- Handlebar width: 820 mm
- Frame rigidity (absolute): 36 N/mm
Equipment
- Wheels: Bontrager Line Pro 30
- Tyres: Bontrager SE 5 Team Issue; TR 29 x 2.50; 27.5 x 2.50
- Fork: Rockshox ZEB Ultimate
- Shock: Rockshox Vivid Ultimate
- Front/rear suspension travel: 170/167 mm
- Brakes: Sram Code RSC / 200/200 mm
- Gear system: Sram XO Eagle Transmission 1 x 12
- Gear ratio / bandwidth: 30; 10-52 / 520 %
- Telescopic post / stroke / Ø: Rockshox Reverb AXS / 170 mm / 34.9 mm
Valuation
- Driving behaviour uphill: 18 from 20
- Chassis efficiency: 15 out of 20
- Rolling resistance: 9 out of 10
- Weight: 1.5 from 15
- Inertia impellers: 5 out of 10
- Bottle cage: 3.5 out of 5
- Driving behaviour downhill: 36 from 40
- Front suspension: 22.5 out of 25
- Rear suspension: 22.5 out of 25
- Saddle retractability: 10 out of 10
- Brakes: 13.5 out of 15
- Tyre grip: 9.75 out of 15
- Driving stability: 2 out of 10
TOTAL BERGAUF: 46 out of 80 points
TOTAL BERGAB: 125 out of 140 points
- Other: 28 out of 30
- Ease of maintenance: good
BIKE test rating*: very good - 196.3 out of 250 points
Max Fuchs
Editor
