{"id":6320,"date":"2018-12-30T13:12:53","date_gmt":"2018-12-30T11:12:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sparkbikereview.com\/?p=6320"},"modified":"2019-12-23T11:41:23","modified_gmt":"2019-12-23T09:41:23","slug":"2019-trek-slash-9-8-review-the-enduro-natural","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sparkbikereview.com\/2019-trek-slash-9-8-review-the-enduro-natural\/","title":{"rendered":"2019 Trek Slash 9.8 Review \u2013 The Enduro Natural"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

There\u2019s no\ndoubt that it\u2019s the way you ride a trail, that keeps you addicted to the sport\nof mountain biking. The adrenaline rush, the flowy feel; are all aspects that\nkeep you grinning as an Enduro rider.  So\nwhat happens when you ride an Enduro bike that\u2019s born for the curves of\nsingle-track, and full on downhill charges?! The 2019 Trek Slash exhibits a\nnatural bond between dirt and bike, which makes it the ultimate trail sweeper!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We got our\nhands on the 2019 Slash 9.8 model. It\u2019s a leader in its field of riding,\nranking as Trek\u2019s top Enduro bike model, in their range for 2019. In fact,\noutside of Trek, it\u2019s difficult to find another bike that can slay the trail\nand take a hit, like the Slash does. The 160mm fork travel, and 4-piston brakes\nmotivate rider confidence, which we all know leads to speed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Play it Cool<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

May we just\nadd, that the two-tone colour effect that Trek have used on the Slash 9.8\nframeset looks super cool! It\u2019s a special Miami to Volt Fade, that we couldn\u2019t take our eyes off! But make no\nmistake, colouring is not the only awesome thing about this frame. Lightweight\nand ultra-stiff OCLV Mountain carbon fibre cover this bike from head to toe.\nThen there\u2019s Trek\u2019s Knock Block and Carbon Armour features, that keep the frame\nfrom unwanted dings and damages. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    What\u2019s in it for the rider? The Slash comes with a Mino Link on the\nrear suspension, rocker arm. Enduro riders will particularly like this, as they\ncan use the Mino Link to flip between slacker bike geometry or more upright\nhandling. The rear suspension itself has 150mm of travel. And to keep all that\ntravel evenly controlled, is Trek\u2019s RE:aktiv technology. It enables the RockShox\nDeluxe RT3 rear shock to respond faster to the changes of the terrain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Behold, 4-piston brakes!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    There\u2019s always a certain remarkable power behind an immense force. In\nthis case, that power comes from SRAM\u2019s Guide RS hydraulic, 4-piston brakes.\nWith a feathery touch on the brake levers, you get locked-in, firm stopping\nforce. Since the brake callipers have twice as many pistons operating, it only\nmakes sense that you get twice as much brake power. Though the brake set did\nadd slightly more weight to the bike, we found that for an Enduro bike like the\nSlash, it\u2019s definitely a must have. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Specs: <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Frame<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    OCLV Mountain\nCarbon main frame and seatstay, alloy 1x-specific chainstay, ABP, Boost148,\nKnock Block, EVO link, tapered head tube, Mino Link, Control Freak internal\nrouting, Carbon Armor, ISCG 05, G2 Geometry, 150 mm travel<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Front suspension<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Fox Performance 36\nFloat, GRIP adjustable damper, tapered steerer, Boost110, G2 Geometry w\/51 mm\noffset, 160 mm travel<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Rear suspension<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    RockShox Deluxe\nRT3, RE:aktiv with Thru Shaft 3-position damper, tuned by Trek Suspension Lab,\n230×57.5 mmWheels<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Wheels<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Bontrager Line\nCarbon 30, Tubeless Ready, 54T Rapid Drive, Boost110 front, Boost148 rear,\ntubeless strips included, valves sold separately<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Tyres<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Bontrager SE4 Team\nIssue, Tubeless Ready, Core Strength sidewalls, aramid bead, 29×2.40\u02ddDrivetrain<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Shifters<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    SRAM GX Eagle,\n12-speed<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Rear derailleur<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    SRAM GX Eagle,\nRoller Bearing Clutch<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Crank<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Truvativ Descendant\n7k Eagle DUB, 32T Direct Mount<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Bottom bracket<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    SRAM DUB Press Fit,\n92 mm<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Cassette<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    SRAM XG-1275 Eagle,\n10-50, 12-speed<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Chain<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    SRAM GX Eagle<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Pedals<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Not includedComponents<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Saddle<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Bontrager Arvada,\naustenite rails<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Seatpost<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Bontrager Line,\ninternal routing, 31.6 mm, 15.5: 100 mm, 17.5 & 18.5: 125 mm, 19.5 &\n21.5: 150 mm<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Handlebar<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Bontrager Line Pro,\nOCLV Carbon, 35 mm, 27.5 mm rise, 780 mm width<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Grips<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Bontrager XR Trail\nElite, alloy lock-on<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Stem<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Bontrager Line Pro,\nKnock Block, 35 mm clamp, 0-degree<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Head set<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Knock Block\nIntegrated, sealed cartridge bearing, 1-1\/8\u02dd top, 1.5\u02dd bottom<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Brake set<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    SRAM Guide RS\nhydraulic disc<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Other <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    MRP Chain guide\n& Chain-ring guard<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Bike\nWeight: 14.06 kg<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Geometry: <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The Trek Slash holds its speciality in endure riding with its geometry.\nA super slack head angle of 65-degrees, creates handling that really isn\u2019t that\nsnappy. However, the magic is worked when you hit steep parts of the track, and\ncan lean back with enough confidence on the handlebars. The seat angle works in\nthe same way, making sure you have enough room to adjust easily on the bike\naccording to the terrain.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Ride:<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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    Our rides with the 2019 Trek Slash can only be described as a downpour\nof golden pace! In some instances, you really have to hang on for dear life.\nBut that\u2019s a good thing! The relent or let it be slowed by trail obstacles,\nthanks to that 160mm long travel, Fox Performance 36 Float. The same can be\nsaid about the back shock. While it does have 10mm less travel, RockShox have\nadded an extra air chamber to it. Allowing the shock to absorb pretty much\nanything. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    The Slash 9.8 proved to be a sturdy steed. It\u2019s much less, beefy,\ncarbon frame build gave the bike that point-shoot vibe. The frame has clearly\nbeen stiffened, and that stiffness can be felt when cornering the bike. No limp\nnoodle notion, only a solid ride. Speaking of corners, we were enthralled with Bontrager\nLine Carbon 30 wheelset equipped on this bike. They were solid, nimble to direct,\nand carried 29×2.4-inch rubber on them. The combo provided superb\nresponsiveness, and major grip on loose, single-track, corners. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Sure the Slash 9.8 seems like an absolute dream. However, there some\nthings that made us frown a little. Apart from the bike not being lightning\nfast on climbs, the drivetrain just didn\u2019t quite suit the bike. It seemed a\nlittle clustered down there, as the GX Eagle gear system wasn\u2019t exactly light.\nThen the MRP chain-ring guard was good and all, but seemed to make everything\nlook complicated. The dropper post was also not up to scratch in our books, as\nit got stuck in one seating position on multiple occasions. Though these are\nthings that can easily be fixed, you must remember that you\u2019re paying top\ndollar for this bike. So having to fiddle around with it after you\u2019ve bought it\nshouldn\u2019t be on the itinerary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Verdict:<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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    Despite a few minor changes we\u2019d make, the 2019 Trek Slash 9.8 was an\nabsolute trail natural. You could kick up hectic dust storms and still get away\nwith it aboard the Slash. It\u2019s an Enduro bike that provides mountains of\nbicycle bliss, no matter how you look at it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Price: R\n94,999.00 <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    2019 Trek Slash 9.8 Review \u2013 Enduro Natural<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n