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TREK SLASH 9.8 2018 for trail riding, Is it overkill?

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ollygolly

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I tried a Trek 9.8 Fuel and loved everything about it apart from the colour it comes in (Grey).

Then I saw a TREK SLASH 9.8 2018 in the shop it looked superb but what's it like for trail riding and going uphill as well as down, Is it overkill? Unfortunately they did not have a demo slash to try.
 
#3 ·
I have an '18, it is an amazing bike!

However... it is made to go fast downhill in rough terrain as it's primary goal. It's meant to win Enduro races. If you ride like this and want to improve as a rider this bike will be very rewarding. I am getting faster and better as a rider because of this bike. It is extremely capable, but also demands a more active riding style and is fairly picky about cornering technique.

All of this is very good if you want to improve, but maybe not so good if your riding style doesn't match and the trails you ride doesn't match. IMO, it is fine riding easy trails because it is very efficient and very agile for it's size, but that's not really what it's meant for and a smaller bike will be more fun on these kinds of trails.

As an overall mt bike with as wide of a "sweet spot" possible, including being capable of the most difficult terrain, this may be the best bike ever made.
 
#4 ·
The 2017 Slashes come with Dual position Forks (160mm/130mm). The Fox Tallas sucks on the 9.9 RSL because you can't tune them with volume spacers. However the Lyrik on the 9.8 can be tuned. I have a RCT3 Lyrik and with 3 volume spacers and it's pretty damn good.

The reason I mention this is on my bike with the Fork at 160mm and flip chip in the Low (slack) position, I have a full blown Enduro Rig with a 64.5 deg HT angle (as measured) and 345mm BB

With the Fork set to 130mm, all in a sudden you have an All Mountain bike with a 66.5 deg HT angle and 333mm BB.

With the Flip chip in High, you have a Trail bike with a 67.3 HT and a 339mm BB.

The key in all this is the Reaktiv shock. It pedals really well and is a really efficient shock.

With the Slash, you can potentially configure you bike for the trail you ride so you're essentially getting 3 kinds of bikes. Oh and I haven't even mentioned 27.5+ which it's does as well.

You can build your Slash pretty light depending on your application. I have gotten my 17.5" Slash to be as light as 27.5lbs (w/o pedals) when it had XT brakes and Bontrager XR3/XR4 tires up to 30.7lbs with super beefy parts and tires so it's not that much heavier than a Fuel EX.
 
#5 ·
If you want more bike just put your Fuel fork at 140mm and get a 55mm rear shock you will be at 140/140 and about 65ha in low position and real tire's. This is how I have my bike setup, and it is as capable as my 170mm Enduro for 90% of trails.

Or just get a Slash if you want one, you just carrying a little more to the top to have a more capable bike going down. What's overkill? If you wanna tame trails and your joint's get a bike with more squish, or if you wanna make them challenging get skinny tires and get rid of your dropper post.
 
#6 ·
Yes i like this idea too. I currently have a coil shock on my Slash (230x60 rather than 230x57.5) so i have 156mm rear travel.

For the Fuel, you can run a 210x55 DPX2 shock rather than a 210x52.5. Should be enough tire to saddle clearance as long as you’re not on a small frame or have a super short inseam.

My buddy is running his 2017 Fuel EX with a 150mm Pike and is loving it. It has a 65.0 HT angle. Reason its so slack is RS axle to crown is a bit taller than Fox and hes got a taller 2.5 DHF front tire and a much shorter 2.3 SE4 on the back (almost 3/4” shorter overall) so its really slacked out. I have a precise angle tool so i’ve confirmed these HT angles.

i must say however, the Slash is by far a sexier bike
 

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#7 ·
ollygolly said:
I tried a Trek 9.8 Fuel and loved everything about it apart from the colour it comes in (Grey).

Then I saw a TREK SLASH 9.8 2018 in the shop it looked superb but what's it like for trail riding and going uphill as well as down, Is it overkill? Unfortunately they did not have a demo slash to try.
Click to expand...
Scouring threads for info on the 2018 Slash as I am picking one up tomorrow. (I'm surprised there isn't more chatter on here about this bike - it's been out for a while now!)

Anyhow, with regards to your question about the bike being overkill, I think it has everything to do with 1) where you ride and 2) what kind of rider you are.

I live in Bellingham where everything I ride is steep as sh*t and full of jumps, drops, etc. I just sold my '16 Remedy 9.8 29 which I had configured for this kind of riding by dropping in some volume tokens on my 36, extending the travel to 160mm, replacing the SE4s with Minions, and swapping in Chromag 800mm bars. I bought the Slash 9.7 without so much as a test ride as I think it's going to be right at home on my local trails. I'm also 6'5" and anticipate the stout frame will be a welcome upgrade from the Remedy. But if you live in Florida, or the Midwest, etc, this bike is as you say "overkill".
 
#9 ·
Overkill as a trail bike? Yes, definitely. By design, the Slash is intended to be an enduro race bike. But that's what some people like in a trail bike. It's a bike for fun, so buy what you prefer.

Personally, I'm more at the other end of things. I like long rides, so prioritize pedaling efficiency. If I'm underbiked for 3 minutes of a 4 hour ride, that's fine by me.

But that doesn't mean one approach is "better" than the other!
 
#10 ·
It's a tough question, but, since I've ended up with a 2017 Slash 9.8 (which I upgraded to a GLX Eagle drivetrain) and a 2017 Fuel EX 9.8 (with 140 travel on the front), I'll answer as best I can. I'm not as advanced a rider as some around here. You could put me solidly in the intermediate zone. I ride easier trails, some Intermediate, and on the North Shore in Vancouver, Intermediate to Advanced trails.

If I had to chose one bike, I'd pick the Slash. Not that I don't like the Fuel. I do, because it's a great bike and I really enjoy riding it. But the Slash is just a bit more versatile, and my bad knees appreciate the extra travel off some 3-4 foot drops. Even the tightest of switchbacks are very manageable on the Slash. So, for what it's worth... Slash if only one bike for me. But your mileage may vary.
 
#12 ·
ollygolly said:
Yeah, Just riding trails, including the odd black run and a few days out cross county. So possibly the Fuel would be a better fit for me but yeah the slash is defo sexier looking. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Whereabouts do you ride? If it's not steep tech like the upper reaches of the PNW or BC, I am confident that a Fuel will cover your bases. Coming off of the last 29" Remedy, it's not appreciably different than the current Fuel EX 29, and the Remedy withstood most everything I threw at it.

I just finished my first ride on the Slash and boy, it is a LOT of bike. Gonna take some getting used to. I definitely like it, but it's quite different than the big-wheeled Remedy. Stiffer'n all get out, and a surprising level of pedaling platform.
 
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