trek slash 8 29er

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Carve Up the Trails with Trek’s Long Travel and Lively Slash 8

This 150/160mm aluminum 29er features trail handling and enduro travel.

The Takeaway: With less-aggressive geometry than many of its competitors, the Slash is a big-travel bike for trail riders

• Trek's proprietary shock offers superb rear-suspension performance.
• Shorter reach and wheelbase than many enduro 29ers
• Great parts featuring SRAM Eagle with 10-50 cassette

Price : $3,679

Trek built the Slash to be the mountain bike for the rider who wants a bigger bike but isn’t afraid of a long climb, or an epic day of trail riding.

An efficient climber, especially with SRAM’s GX Eagle drivetrain, allows you to lay the power down all day. It’s for big mountain days, crushing rock filled descents and popping off the lips of jumps all while climbing back to the top with a smile on your face. Even when the trail is flatter, the Slash is still efficient on the pedals. In the flowy sections of trail, the Slash begs to carve corners and play on trailside features.

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Frame Saver

Trek's Knock Block system prevents the bar and fork from spinning around and damaging the frame.

Smooth Shock

Trek's regressive Reaktiv thru-shaft damper is extremely supple.

Up and Down

The reversible Mino Link lets the rider fine tune the Slash's geometry.

Razzle Dazzle

The harlequin stickers appear to change color.

Handy Guides

Sag markings on the fork and shock make setting up the suspension easier.

The Slash 8 is the base model, so it didn’t have the corner exit snap of a lighter bike, but that was more from the wheels than the frame. You can feel that it begs to be sprinted out of each corner. The RE:aktiv with Thru Shaft works faster than a normal so a little bit of setup time is required to get the balance right. One that suspension gets settled, turning the Slash loose in the rough becomes easy. It strikes a natural balance between precision and forgivness in the rough, falling naturally towards the precision side, with its efficiency, but will pull you through if you go full reckless.

The Slash Aluminum Family

The Slash 8 is the only aluminum model in the lineup, and the cheapest at $3,680. The 9.7, 9.8, and 9.9 are all made of carbon, and are priced from $4,730 to $7,500. The Slash 9.7 moves to the carbon frame, but goes to NX Eagle for the shifting. The Slash 9.8 runs the SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain, but moves to a Fox Performance 36 Float fork and Bontrager Line Carbon 30 to the wheelset. The top of the line Slash 9.9 features the same carbon hoops, Fox Factory 36 Float with GRIP2, X01 Eagle drivetrain, and Shimano Deore XT 4-piston brakes.

The Slash's Tech

Like many full suspension bikes, the Slash 8 has adjustable geometry to help riders fine-tune a bike's geometry to their preferences. The Mino Link allows for head angle adjustments of ½ degree and 10mm of bottom bracket height. I tried both settings before settling on the low: the Slash behaved and climbed well enough that I couldn’t justify keeping the bike in the high setting.

One thing the aluminum Slash has that its more expensive carbon siblings don't is an 18.5" size between the 17.5" and 19.5". This gives medium-height riders the option to size up for a bit more reach and a longer wheelbase, or size down for a more compact, quicker-handling bike.

Modern bikes are always pushing longer, lower and slacker. The Slash is a bit long in the tooth these days, and so the geometry looks conservative today, even though it wasn't when it launched. The Mino Link allows for head angle adjustment from 65.1 to 65.6 degrees. With a 51mm offset and 160mm fork, the front end is a little quicker than many of its competitors. The reach for the 17.5 and the 18.5 are 431mm and 446mm respectively, which, for a 29er enduro bike, is on the short side of current trends.

The Trek's product manager didn't cut any corners on the rear suspension, equipping the Slash 8 with a RockShox Deluxe RT3, RE:aktiv with Thru Shaft. The RockShox Yari RC on the front brings value-minded performance with just compression and rebound adjustment.

The SRAM GX Eagle is proven to be a reliable performer. Trek brings everything else in house with their Bontranger brand with including the dropper post. One piece to keep in mind, is the “Knock Block” headset, with restricts the fork from turning too far, or spinning backward and hitting the frame, similar to how a downhill fork with bump stops functions.

The Competition

Ride Impressions

Trek’s Slash 8 is built to be a mountain bike. This sounds obvious, but it’s well rounded enough to handle everything well, but leans towards the aggressive trail and enduro end of the spectrum, but is comfortable on normal trail riding.

The Slash's handling was intuitive, and I was able to jump right into riding my favorite trails with no adjustment period.

The Slash is efficient, although I did find myself reaching for the little blue cheater lever for climbing on occasion. Climbing steep sections, the front end did occasionally wander. That's not surprising for a 150/160mm 29er, and the Slash is easier to manage on slow and steep climbs than many of its competitors, partially because of its more-conservative geometry.

Still, I had no problem getting rowdy on the Slash 8. It was ready to carve and pop off lips on the flow trails and was one of the easiest bikes I’ve been on to pull out a big whip over a hip. That efficiency combined with the lively feel of the RE:aktiv shock take away from the planted feeling out of many bikes with this amount of travel, but the Slash 8 never feels unsettled. When the rider drops their heels and sinks into attack mode, it will just eat up anything you put in its way. It does a great job balancing the fine line between precision and forgiveness when pinning it though the most technical sections.

With smooth suspension, great parts, and balanced handling, the Slash is more trail bike than enduro race bike. So if you prefer a trail bike with more travel, the Slash 8 is a great bike.

equipment Slash 8

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Trek Slash 8 review

Trek's Slash 8 wins our coveted 2021 Enduro Bike of the Year award

Andy Lloyd / Immediate Media

Robin Weaver

Easy to ride, very natural feeling geometry; great kit for the cash; easy to throw about yet still calm and stable when it needs to be; seriously impressive suspension

Tyres aren’t the best in damp mud

The Trek Slash 8 is our Enduro Bike of the Year for 2021 . After pitting it against seven of the best out there, all at a similar price, it was the Slash 8 that impressed us most in the end.

Meeting the criteria to win this category is no easy feat and the bikes at the pointy end of this test ticked just about every box going.

For a start, while an enduro bike might be designed to go downhill fast, it still needs to get to the top of the hill as efficiently as possible. It’s then got to handle all manner of trails thrown at it with composure and control, but still remain fun and playful throughout.

It took some serious time and effort back-to-back testing all eight of these bikes, which ranged in price from £3,450 to £4,198, riding them on a wide variety of trails and pummelling them relentlessly over rock and root until we found a winner.

Once the dust had settled, it was the Trek Slash 8 that had managed to edge its way into the lead. Its ability to tackle the wildest terrain without flinching yet all the while retaining that reactive, lively feel really won us over.

The Trek Slash has seen more than its fair share of glory over the years and was one of the first long travel 29ers to be properly proven on the world stage. Much of that success was thanks to the highly decorated Tracy Moseley, who always championed the big wheels and rode them to victory year after year.

More recently, the Slash has been making headlines with the likes of Katy Winton, Pedro Burns and Florian Nicolai piloting it.

Last year, the Slash received its first update in some time, all in a bid to properly freshen things up and bring some of that winning magic back into the mix.

The changes the US brand made to the 2021 Slash are substantial and are detailed here , but just how do they translate to the trail?

Trek Slash 8 frame and suspension details

Travel has been upped to 160mm at the rear and is now paired with a longer travel 170mm travel fork up front. It continues to be delivered via Trek’s Active Braking Pivot (ABP) suspension system which places the chainstay pivot concentric to the rear axle.

This design, in Trek’s words, enables it to “tune how the suspension reacts to acceleration and braking forces independently”. And while this might look unchanged, Trek has moved the main pivot up slightly in a bid to increase anti-squat and make the Slash pedal more efficiently.

Controlling that 160mm of travel is the proprietary RockShox Super Deluxe Thru Shaft shock. This design features a shock shaft that goes through the damper body and exits out of the bottom of the shock when compressed.

This means that the shaft doesn’t displace any extra oil as it enters the damper and therefore does away with the need for a dynamic IFP (internal floating piston – which is what compensates for oil displaced by the shock shaft) – something that Trek attributes additional complexity and lag as the shock transitions between the compression and rebound phase, thanks to the reduction in friction.

The theory, at least, should make the back end of the Slash feel seamlessly smooth and incredibly active. It’s also worth noting that the Slash will work with a standard shock as well.

Where the Slash differs from almost all other aluminium frames (and the majority of carbon ones, too), is its internal frame storage. Slide the lever below the bottle cage downward, lift the cage and hatch door up and off the down tube and you’ll find a handy opening, much like the S.W.A.T storage found on some Specialized carbon frames.

You’ll be able to squirrel away a tube and tools in here, rather than carry them on your person. Trek includes a tool roll to help prevent things rattling once stashed inside, too.

While the down tube shape has changed slightly with the latest iteration of the Slash and now offers enough room for the fork crown to clear it, thanks to the subtle curve just behind the head tube junction, Trek has stuck with its steering limiting Knock Block system.

Knock Block stops the bar from turning past a certain angle, preventing the controls on the bar from potentially impacting the top tube and breaking, or, as with the old Slash, the fork crown hitting the down tube.

The latest Knock Block 2.0 used here offers a much greater steering angle before it stops the bar from turning (72 degrees rather than 58 degrees), but if that’s still not enough for you, it can be removed.

Finally, Trek has moved to a wider diameter seatpost, opting to go with the less-common 34.9mm rather than the more popular 30.9mm or 31.6mm alternatives.

While you’ll find fewer aftermarket alternatives should you wish to upgrade your dropper post, it’s worth noting the benefits that this broader diameter brings. The main one is more space internally for the dropper post mechanism, which should make the post more reliable and stiffer.

Trek Slash 8 geometry

The Slash has been, like most other enduro-style bikes in need of a makeover, stretched out, slackened and steepened in all the relevant areas. My medium frame offers a very reasonable 450mm reach, which is a massive jump of 25mm in the low setting over the 2020 model.

Trek has relaxed the head angle for improved high-speed stability and paired it with a 42mm offset fork in a bid to create the ultimate composure through rough turns. I measured the head angle at 64.1 degrees, which is now pretty much standard for bikes like this.

The seat angle has been steepened by a staggering 2 degrees in a bid to improve climbing efficiency, putting the rider’s hips more directly over the bottom bracket.

With my saddle set at just under 700mm (measured from the centre of the bottom bracket to the top of the saddle), the effective seat tube angle of the Slash 8 measured just over 76 degrees in the low setting.

The two geometry settings (low and high) are accessed via the Mino Link ovalised chips that sit inside the EVO rocker link on the seatstay pivot. Switching between the two settings alters the head and seat angles by 0.5 degrees and the bottom bracket height by a substantial 8mm.

In the low setting, I measured the bottom bracket at 344mm off the floor with a drop of 29mm, which certainly isn’t bad for a bike with this much travel.

Effective chainstay length has increased by just 2mm (now up to 437mm) compared with the 2020 model, and this remains constant across all frame sizes.

Trek Slash 8 geometry (low setting)

Trek slash 8 specifications.

The Slash 8 is a serious looker with some great kit bolted to it. Ask anyone at the trail head how much they think it’s worth and chances are they’ll give you a price far higher than its true value.

Let’s start with the suspension. The proprietary RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate Thru Shaft rear shock – which, by the way, is impressive to see on a bike at this price – is paired with a Lyrik Select fork that pumps out 170mm of travel.

While this might not be the top-tier, all singing, all dancing Lyrik, it still gets the Charger 2.1 RC damper, which allows you to finely tune both the low-speed compression and rebound damping.

A SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain offers a decently wide spread of gears, thanks to that 10-52t cassette.

Again, it’s impressive to see a drivetrain like this on a bike at this price. That said, Trek has saved a little cash by opting to use the cheaper X1 cranks with a stamped steel chainring, rather than the sleeker finished GX equivalents.

Stopping duties are taken care of by a powerful set of SRAM Code R brakes that clamp around 200mm (front)/180mm (rear) rotors. At the lever, there’s tool-free reach adjust which is handy for dialling in lever set up.

The rest of the kit on the Slash 8 comes courtesy of Trek’s in-house components brand Bontrager: bar, stem, grips, dropper post and the rather firm Arvada saddle.

Bontrager also takes care of the wheels, Line Comp 30s, as well as the tyres, speccing XR5 Team Issues upfront and the lower profile and narrower XR4 Team issue at the rear.

All in, my medium Slash 8 weighed 15.25kg.

Trek Slash 8 ride impressions

Set up on the Slash was relatively straight forward; I set the sag at the rear to 30 per cent and didn’t add any more pressure to the shock during testing.

I did find I needed to toggle the low-speed compression dial into the ‘ ’ setting on the shock to get the support I was after through high-load turns and up take-offs.

Setting the rebound took a bit of playing around with, too, but in the end, I settled on four clicks from fully closed, which left it feeling fast and active but still controlled when returning from deep in the travel.

I stuck with the single volume spacer in the Lyrik fork and added 14 clicks of low-speed compression from fully closed with 70psi in the spring. This coupled with 12 clicks of rebound damping left the fork feeling active and supple yet still composed enough when the hits came thick and fast.

I tested the Slash 8 on a mix of steep, natural trails littered with roots and rocks, but all of them were generally quite slow due to their technical nature. So I spent a decent chunk of time getting some high-speed bikepark laps under my belt, subjecting the Slash 8 to fast, flowy trails, high-load turns, jumps and long stretches of jagged rocks, just to see how well it held up when the pace really picked up.

Big thanks to Bikepark Wales for letting us come and use the facilities to test despite being closed.

Trek Slash 8 climbing performance

The Slash felt incredibly easy-going when pointed uphill, especially considering the travel on tap and its outright intentions. This is mainly due to the easy-rolling tyres and just how stable the back end of the bike is when seated and spinning a gear.

At no point did I reach down for the shock's lever to firm things up because I never felt the need to. Instead, the Slash managed to sit relatively high in its travel and remain stable, with little in the way of suspension bob while the power was being applied.

Because the shock wasn’t sinking too deeply into its travel, the Slash managed to maintain its reasonably steep seat angle, which puts you in a nicely efficient, but most importantly, comfortable position for climbing. Even on steeper pitches where I was really mashing the pedals, I never once felt the need to firm the shock up.

While the 610mm effective top tube isn’t massive, it is longer (not by much) than a number of its contemporaries. While I wasn’t overly bothered by this on shorter climbs, I really started to appreciate the space this created when seated on much longer climbs up the hill.

I also appreciated the big 52t cog on the SRAM GX Eagle cassette which, after spending a long day riding lap after lap, I spent more than my fair share of time using to help preserve energy when I was really feeling fatigued but couldn’t face getting off and walking.

Trek Slash 8 descending performance

Thanks to the frame's well-considered proportions, the Slash offers up a well-centred, confident ride position, and it doesn’t take long to adapt to.

When pointed down steeper, more natural trails, I was instantly impressed by how well balanced the bike felt front to rear and how active the back end of the bike remained while it worked tirelessly trying to eke out every ounce of traction available.

And this was despite the lack of bite from the XR4 rear tyre, which doesn’t offer quite the same in terms of corner traction or braking grip compared to the likes of a Maxxis DHR II, for example.

The front tyre was a little better, but when properly leaned over in a soft, muddy turn, the shoulder tread doesn’t dig in quite as well as others, which can make for some dicey moments when the tyres do break traction.

Thankfully things remain quite predictable, so you know when you’ve reached their limit. Still, there’s no knocking their rapid rolling speed on smoother, harder packed terrain.

It was when riding a dedicated jump trail that I started playing around with the low-speed compression settings on the shock. In the default ‘zero’ setting, I was finding that I wasn’t getting as much support in the mid-stroke as I’d have liked when loading the bike from turn to turn or pumping up take-offs.

Switching the low-speed dial to the ‘ ’ position helped to cure this and while Trek says this setting is designed for this exact type of riding, I never found any drawbacks when riding other types of terrain while in it.

Throw the Slash 8 back into the technical stuff and its confident manner really starts to come to the fore as speeds pick up. Stove it head-on into a boulder field and the way this bike deals with the chaos is seriously impressive.

The Slash’s super-supple suspension recovers so rapidly hit after hit, it manages to track the trail with pin-point accuracy and without sinking too low into its travel or sacrificing any of that much-loved liveliness or pop.

The support through the suspension coupled with the taut feel through the frame ensures that you can really feel a difference in speed as you pump every bump or undulation.

That reactiveness also means that getting back up to speed after tackling a slower section or awkward obstacle doesn’t feel anywhere near as laboured as it can on some super-plush big travel rigs.

Slam on the impressively punchy Code R brakes, spot your line and commit, and the Slash will soak up whatever mess lies beneath the tyres and fire you out the other side faster than you thought possible.

It’s easy to hold onto that speed too, even when things get really ugly. Here, the calm exuded by the Slash is simply incredible. While the wheels frantically bash through bump after bump beneath you, it feels as if the chassis barely flinches, isolating the rider from the worst of the feedback and remaining steadfast with no awkward pitching back or forth.

It’s this illusion of tranquillity that the Slash manages to conjure up to give you what feels like extra time to make these split-second decisions.

The Slash’s ability to hoover up the chunder with relative ease makes riding faster a whole lot easier. And that’s the whole point of these bikes, right?

Trek Slash 8 bottom line

It took some back-to-back testing to really highlight just how impressive the Slash can be when tackling the rowdiest of terrain, but thanks to its impressive climbing manners, tidy frame details, good geometry and superb suspension, the new Trek Slash 8 has truly won me over.

While others like the Whyte G-180 might feel closer to a downhill bike in many ways, the Trek’s composure in the rough coupled with the fact that it still feels that bit more agile, poppy and playful is what helps to make this bike truly shine.

Yes, some better tyres would really help improve its performance when it comes to tackling steep, natural, muddy trails (and after switching tyres I can confirm this is the case) but factoring in the extra rubber cost at the point of purchase certainly isn’t a dealbreaker.

Overall, the Slash 8 impressed time and time again on a multitude of terrain and I was constantly in awe of the speed this thing carries through the nastiest of terrain.

A massive thank-you to BikePark Wales for granting us access to its trails despite the bike park being closed to the public.

Cheers also to Fox clothing for sorting the kit for the photo and video shoots and Garmin for sorting us out with bike computers to log the many miles of testing.

And not forgetting Muc-Off , for its help keeping the bikes washed and lubed throughout testing.

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Trek Slash 8 29 in review

When Trek unveiled the new Slash 8 29, the American brand kept quiet about the fact that the geometry of the aluminium version had been updated and tweaked slightly compared to the carbon model, making the bike even more interesting for a lot of riders.

The Trek Slash 8 29 is the bike many Trek fans have been waiting for. While the carbon model has become a true classic among 29er Enduro bikes, there wasn’t an affordable aluminium version available. All that changed with the € 2,999 Slash 8 29. The best part: Trek adjusted the reach and the seat tube angle on the aluminium Slash, addressing two issues we had with the carbon version. The reach is 8 mm longer, the seat tube angle is 0.8° steeper and another frame size has been added. The Slash’s geometry is still on the more compact side of the spectrum, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Trek are known for their specially designed shock, and the Slash 8 also features a RockShox Deluxe RT3 with Thru Shaft technology. The piston rod extends through the whole shock body. That means that the damping oil doesn’t get pressurised, removing the need for an internal floating piston and resulting in a shock that can respond more sensitively, according to Trek. The remaining spec consists of proven components: the drivetrain, wheels, dropper post and cockpit suit the bike well and give no reason for complaint. The same can’t be said for the Bontrager XR4 tires and the SRAM Guide brakes. Neither do the bike justice and should ideally be replaced before you leave the shop.

The one to rule them all – the Slash is at home on every terrain!

The Trek Slash 8 29 in detail

Fork RockShox Yari R 160 mm Shock RockShox Deluxe RT3 RE:aktiv Thru Shaft 150 mm Brakes SRAM Guide R 200/180 Drivetrain SRAM GX Eagle Seatpost Bontrager Line 150 mm Stem Bontrager Line Knock Block 50 mm Handlebar Bontrager XR Elite 780 mm Wheels Bontrager Line Comp Tires Bontrager XR4 Team Issue 2.4″

The Trek Slash 8 29 in review

You’ll quickly feel at home aboard the Trek Slash 8 29 and thanks to its moderate geometry, it doesn’t take long to get used to the bike. Weighing 14.18 kg, it climbs very willingly. If you push the saddle forward, your weight will be nicely centred. The rear suspension performs sensitively without any bob and generates a lot of traction on technical climbs. However, it is worth reaching for the climb switch on fire road climbs. Going downhill, the handling is impressively versatile. It’s agile, but not nervous, composed, but not cumbersome. No matter which trail you’re on, with the Trek you’re on the right bike. The rear suspension is sensitive, yet very defined. However, if you want super plush suspension, this isn’t the bike for you. We also recommend leaving the rebound setting almost completely open.

The Slash 8 29 is happy to catch air off anything that resembles a lip and will generate a lot of speed if you pump it through compressions. However, on fast, successive hits, the RockShox Yari can’t quite keep up with the performance of the rear end. Where the Trek really shines, is with quick direction changes: the handling is very precise and requires only a little input from the rider. Change your mind at the last minute and feel like taking the high line? Easy! The weight distribution is excellent and the handling is extremely balanced.

The suspension is firm but not uncomfortable and it rewards an active riding style!

The Trek Slash 8 29 is a super versatile bike. It climbs well and will make beginners, advanced racers and bike park shredders happy on the descents. Yes, the build does have a few small flaws, but your friendly Trek dealer will surely help you out. If you’re looking for the perfect do-it-all Enduro bike, this is it, our Best Value Tip!

• super versatile handling
• suitable for every skill level
• excellent rear suspension

• tires and brakes at the limit
• Knock Block is more of a bug than a feature
• chainstay protector is too short

Riding Characteristics

Value for money, technical data.

Trek Slash 8

Size: S M ML L XL Weight: 14,18 kg Travel (f/r): 160/150 mm Wheel Size: 29" Price: € 2,999

Intended Use

For more info head to: trekbikes.com

The test field

For an overview of the test fleet head to: Pedal up, Hammer down – 8 affordable Enduro bikes go head to head

All the bikes in test: Canyon Strive CF 5.0 | FOCUS SAM 8.9 | Propain Spindrift Performance | RADON Swoop 9.0 | SCOTT Ransom 920 |  Specialized Stumpjumper EVO Comp Alloy 29 | YT Capra 29 AL Comp

This article is from ENDURO issue #039

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This scale indicates how efficiently the bike climbs. It refers to both simple and technical climbs. Along with the suspension, the riding position and the weight of the bike all play a crucial role. ↩

How does the bike ride and descend? How spritely is the bike, how agile is it through corners, how much fun is it in tight sections and how quickly can it change direction? ↩

Is the bike stable at high speeds? Is it easy to stay in control in demanding terrain? How composed is it on rough trails? Stability is a combination of balanced geometry, good suspension and the right spec. ↩

This is all about how balanced the bike is and particularly about how well it corners. Balanced bikes require little physical effort from the rider and are very predictable. If a bike is unbalanced, the rider has to work hard to weight the front wheel to generate enough grip. However, experienced riders can have a lot of fun even with unbalanced bikes. ↩

How sensitive is the suspension over small bumps? Can it absorb hard impacts and does it soak up repeated hits? Plush suspension not only provides comfort and makes a bike more capable, but it also generates traction. The rating includes the fork and the rear suspension. ↩

This aspect mainly comes down to the suspension. How much pop does it have, does it suck up the rider’s input or is it supportive, and how agile and direct is the bike? ↩

We don’t calculate value for money in an excel spreadsheet or based on how high-end a bike is specced. We are more concerned with how a bike performs on the trail and how the bike benefits the rider. What good are the best components if the bike doesn’t perform well on the trail? Expensive bikes with a lower-end spec can offer very good value for money – provided they excel where it matters. Just as supposedly cheap bikes with good components can get a bad rating if they don’t deliver on the trail. ↩

No, it’s not about racing, it’s about efficiency. Fast, fleet-footed and efficient – those who want to speed along flowy singletrack and gravel roads need a defined and spritely bike that accelerates with ease and efficiency. Nevertheless, reliable components are important too. We interpret XC more like the Americans do: big back-country rides instead of a marathon or XC World Cup with the ultimate in lightweight construction! Uphill-downhill ratio: 80:30 (not everything has to be 100%!) ↩

...also known as mountain biking. Classic singletrack with roots, rocks and ledges – sometimes flowy, sometimes rough. For this, you need a bike with good all-round qualities, whether climbing or descending. Uphill-downhill ratio: 50:50 ↩

Even more extreme and challenging compared to Trail riding, riddled with every kind of obstacle: jumps, gaps, nasty rock gardens, ruts and roots. For this, you need (race)proven equipment that forgives mistakes and wouldn’t look out of place on a stage of the Enduro World Series. Climbing is just a means to an end. Uphill-downhill ratio: 30:70 ↩

Strictly speaking, a 200 mm travel downhill bike is the best choice for merciless tracks with big jumps, drops and the roughest terrain. Those would be the black or double-black-diamond tracks in a bike park. But as some of the EWS pros (including Sam Hill) have proven, it’s the riding skills and not the bike that define what you can ride with it. Climbing? On foot or with a shuttle, please! Uphill-downhill ratio: 10:90 ↩

You can find more info about our rating system in this article: Click here! ↩

Did you enjoy this article? If so, we would be stoked if you decide to support us with a monthly contribution. By becoming a supporter of ENDURO, you will help secure a sustainable future for high-quality mountain bike journalism. Click here to learn more .

Words & Photos:

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• Rider Notes

2020 Trek Slash 8

A 29″ aluminum frame full suspension enduro bike with high-end components. Compare the full range

Manufacturer Price

For This Bike

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Based on frame geometry and build specs.

A bike with lower gearing will be easier to ride up steep hills, while a higher top end means it will pedal faster down hills.

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Apr 2021 · Robin Weaver

The Slash 8 strikes the perfect balance between a fun and lively feel, and ultimate chaos-calming composure

Easy to ride, very natural feeling geometry

Great kit for the cash

Easy to throw about yet still calm and stable when it needs to be

Seriously impressive suspension

Tyres aren’t the best in damp mud

Read Review

Mar 2021 · Lydia Tanner

The Trek Slash has been 29-inch-only since 2016, and the 2021 version is evidence of its head start in the big-wheel enduro category.

Superb high-speed stability

Great traction in variable terrain

Supple and generous-feeling suspension

Less maneuverable at slow speeds

A lot of bike to get back up the hill

Riding a bike like the Slash over the winter on the North Shore is a rough test scenario, but Trek's newest long travel trail bike has proven up to the task...

Feb 2021 · Guy Kesteven

We took the Trek Slash 9.9 X01 to our toughest local trails to see how its new shape and unique shock translate to the real world

Phenomenal rear suspension

Awesome aggro geometry

Precision accuracy

High control cockpit

Internal storage

Efficient pedaling

Threaded BB

Optional steering lock

More confident with switched tires

ZEB fork requires some patience

Deserves better wheels

Short dropper on small sizes

Seriously grounded rather than playful

Dec 2020 · Mike Wirth

The new Trek Slash 9.9 X01 sees many updates making it an even more capable all-mountain, enduro mountain bike. See how it performed.

Dec 2020 · Mike Kazimer

The Slash received multiple updates for 2021, but it's still an enduro race machine at heart.

Light and stiff frame – encourages you to go fast

Great shock tune

In-frame storage

Wide range of available frame size options

Seat tube angle could still be a bit steeper

Shorter cranks and an even longer dropper post would have been nice to see

Oct 2020 · Spencer Johnson

The venerable Trek Slash is back for 2021, armed with more suspension travel than ever before. The new Trek Slash 9.9 X01 comes equipped with the ever-capable, 170-millimeter RockShox ZEB Ultimate fork and a custom, 160-millimeter RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate shock, placing it squarely in the hard-charging enduro category. For me, one of the most welcome updates for the new Slash is the seat angle, which has been steepened to 75.6 degrees, putting the rider’s weight directly between the wheels—and making for a much more comfortable seated position while climbing. The relatively long reach of 486 millimeters, together with the mid-length chainstay of 437 millimeters, creates a bike that stays firmly planted while you sweat your way to the top of a mountain. But the most impressive feature of the new Slash is its impressively light weight—something I wouldn’t automatically expect from a bike in the longer-travel range, especially one with 29-inch wheels. The lightweight frame construction and ultra-light build of the 9.9 X01 version I tested was noticeable from the moment I started huffing up my first climb.

Trek redesigns the Slash for 2021, going longer, lower and slacker to make a mean enduro machine with a few tricks up its sleeve.

Last updated August 21 Not listed for 1,352 days

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Field Test Review: 2024 Trek Slash - Rides Like a Session

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Trek Slash 8 GX 29er Bike- Pennyflake

Trek Slash 8 GX 29er Bike- Pennyflake - ML / Pennyflake is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.

Trek Slash 8 GX Large 29er

Slash 8 is an enduro mountain bike that rolls on fast 29er wheels and floats on plush RockShox suspension with SRAM's newest GX Eagle handling drivetrain duties. An aluminum frame with fresh new tech and tough alloy wheels push this bike into the sweet spot for all-around rippers.

It's right for you if...

You want a big bike with big wheels to roll over big things and send big hits. You might enter some enduro races, but you mostly just want to rail sketchy descents faster than anyone else in your crew.

The tech you get

An aluminum frame built for harsh riding with a threaded bottom bracket, dual downtube guards, Knock Block 2.0, and 160mm of travel with a RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate shock for long descents and 170mm RockShox Lyrik Select+ fork. Plus, a SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain with an extra-low 52-tooth gear, Code R 4-piston brakes, and completely tubeless Line Comp 30 wheels.

The final word

Slash 8 puts serious enduro performance within reach with smart choices on spec that won't empty your wallet. The aluminum frame, burly suspension, and 1x12 Eagle drivetrain makes for a ride that's equally at home on the race course and on a big, backwoods session.

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DeForest Kelley Made A Change To Star Trek's Dr. McCoy In The Voyage Home

It's unlikely that any of the actors who appeared on "Star Trek" in 1966 would assume they would be playing the same roles 18 years later, but "Star Trek" has had a curious habit of longevity. Each time the franchise dies out, the landscape shifts and the series is revived. That's certainly what happened in 1979 with the release of "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" (which isn't boring, despite its reputation) . After the original series was canceled in 1969, it was put into eternal syndication, allowing new audiences to find it for years thereafter. Trek conventions began in earnest in the mid-1970s, interest was renewed, and, lo, "Star Trek" returned. Sequel movies were put into production, and by 1986, the franchise released Leonard Nimoy's "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home," the biggest hit in all of "Star Trek" until the release of J.J. Abrams' film in 2009. 

Also by 1986, the characters had aged from their mid-30s to their mid-50s, and the cast had to consider the long careers of Starfleet officers. They were clearly eager to keep serving together but were now sporting higher ranks and were perhaps even aging out of the space adventure game. If you ask me, "The Voyage Home" still should have ended with the heroes all being drummed out of Starfleet for their many transgressions. 

Back in 2014,  StarTrek.com unearthed a 1986 audio interview with DeForest Kelley , who had played Dr. McCoy on and off for essentially two decades at that point. In the interview, the actor commented on the progress Dr. McCoy had made since the early days, and how large character developments had to be made from film to film, as opposed to the incremental character development he worked on during a weekly TV series. Notably, he said, Dr. McCoy had mellowed out a lot.

McCoy and Spock

Kelley talked about the timeline of four feature films vs. the timeline of the 79 episodes of the original series, and how character arcs must be condensed for the latter. On a weekly show, a character isn't necessarily going to change in two weeks, but with a year or more between movies, new changes must be considered. Most notably, McCoy had to develop a new relationship with the Vulcan Spock (Nimoy). On the series, McCoy was openly annoyed by Spock's cold logic. After working with Spock for 20 years, though, that relationship had to evolve. Kelley said: 

"It's very difficult to expand or flesh a character out in a motion picture, so to speak. When we're doing them, it takes a couple of years to get one out. If we were still doing the series, why, it would be a lot of fun to see how these characters change during the aging process. So what I tried to do in ['The Voyage Home'] is kind of ... not soften McCoy, but he's become a little more attuned to Spock and he's looking at him more or less with a bit of amusement, as opposed to becoming so irritated with him."

This made sense, especially after the events of "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock." In that film, McCoy carried Spock's consciousness inside his brain so that it could be salvaged and placed back in an empty body late in the movie. He also committed a brazen act of mutiny, helping Kirk (William Shatner) and his other crewmates hijack the U.S.S. Enterprise for entirely selfish ends. The hijacking would eventually lead to the destruction of the Enterprise. After so much sacrifice, McCoy would necessarily have to be warmer and more peaceful about working with Spock.

Being likeable

Kelley also noted that a TV schedule allowed for more creative opportunities, specifically the opportunity to get things wrong every once in a while. When one is making 20-odd episodes a season and shooting on a tight, weekly schedule, there are bound to be stories that are a little rushed, and perhaps half-baked. Audiences would be forgiving, however, as there would be a new episode seven days later to "reset" any ill feelings. Kelley knew that a movie had to get everything right the first time, as they were released as major, infrequent events. He also continued elaborating on McCoy's relationship to Spock, saying: 

"Not that he doesn't become irritated with Spock, but McCoy has mellowed a little bit during this timeframe. As I say, if we were doing even six 90-minute shows a year we could expand on that, but when you shoot one motion picture every two years, it's rather a problem because it's very difficult to satisfy everyone. We only did 79 episodes, but during those episodes, there was bound to be one episode that perhaps everybody would like. You can't do that with a motion picture because there's going to be somebody who's not going to like something about it." 

Kelley went on to admit in the 1986 interview that he was a lazy actor, and that he would have been content with the "Star Trek" gig, even if it didn't lead to a prolonged film franchise. He, like several other Trek actors , didn't think the show would last very long and that a sci-fi series might even eat into some co-stars' professional credibility. "[W]hen I saw Leonard with his makeup with the ears," Kelley said. "I thought 'Well, he's had it.'"

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Trek Slash 8

• AUS $ NZD $ USD $ CAD $ GBP £ EUR €

Colour / Pennyflake, Matte Hex Blue

Size / SM (High, Low), MD (High, Low), ML (High, Low), LG (High, Low), XL (High, Low)

Weight / 34 lb 2.7 oz (15,500 g)

At a glance

- ABP (Active Braking Pivot) rear suspension design

- Geometry adjustable via Mino Link flip chip in rear rocker link pivot

- Knock Block 2.0 steerer stop

- Internal frame storage via quick-access latch under bottle cage mounts

- Control Freak internal cable routing

- Includes Bontrager BITS Internal Frame Storage Bag

- Includes Bontrager TLR tubeless rim strips, valve stems, and sealant

- Weight given for size MD set up tubeless

Where To Buy

Specifications

• Frame Alpha Platinum Aluminum, magnesium rocker link; molded shuttle guard, down tube, and chainstay protection
• Fork RockShox ZEB Select, DebonAir spring, Charger 2.1 RC damper, 38mm stanchions, 44mm offset, Maxle Stealth thru-axle
• Shock RockShox Super Deluxe Select+ RT, 230mm x 62.5mm
• Hubs Bontrager alloy, sealed bearings, 110x15mm Boost front, 148x12mm Boost rear with Rapid Drive 108 freehub and XD driver
• Wheels Bontrager Line Comp 30, tubeless ready
• Wheel Size 29"
• Spokes Bontrager Line Comp wheelset
• Tires Bontrager XR5 Team Issue, aramid bead, 120 TPI, tubeless ready, 29"" x 2.5"
• Chain SRAM GX Eagle, 12-speed
• Crank SRAM X1 Eagle DUB, 170mm length
• Bottom Bracket SRAM DUB, 73mm English/BSA theaded
• Rear Derailleur SRAM GX Eagle, 12-speed
• Shifters SRAM GX Eagle, 12-speed
• Brakeset SRAM Code R, 4-piston, SRAM CenterLine 6-bolt round-edge rotors (200mm front, 180mm rear), SRAM Code R
• Handlebar Bontrager Line, alloy, 820mm width, 27.5mm rise, 35mm clamp diameter
• Saddle Bontrager Arvada, hollow CrMo rails, 138mm width
• Seatpost TranzX JD-YSP39 dropper, 34.9mm, Single bolt Drop: 100mm (SM) 150mm (MD/ML) 170mm (LG/XL)
• Stem Bontrager Elite, 35mm length, 0° rise, 35mm bar clamp
• Grips Bontrager XR Trail Pro, alloy lock-on
• Headset Trek Knock Block 2.0 Integrated, 72° radius rotation limiter (includes infinite radius chip), sealed cartridge bearings

Q: How much is a 2023 Trek Slash 8?

A 2023 Trek Slash 8 is typically priced around $4,300 USD when new. Be sure to shop around for the best price, and also look to the used market for a great deal.

Q: Where to buy a 2023 Trek Slash 8?

The 2023 Trek Slash 8 may be purchased directly from Trek .

Q: How much does a 2023 Trek Slash 8 weigh?

A 2023 Trek Slash 8 weights 34 lb 2.7 oz (15,500 g).

Q: What size wheels does the 2023 Trek Slash 8 have?

The 2023 Trek Slash 8 has 29" wheels.

Q: What size 2023 Trek Slash 8 should I get?

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