2017 Trek Slash 9.9 RSL 29

Trek Bikes Announce the 2017 Slash

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Bigger is always better right? Well if you’re talking about the new Trek Slash enduro-blitzer, then it would appear so. Having been entirely rebuilt from the ground-up, the new Slash features a brand spanking frame that’s purportedly stiffer than their Trek’s own Session downhill bike. It also gets revised geometry, bigger wheels, and a new suspension design that sees front derailleurs banished from the Slash platform. The 2017 Slash is scheduled for UK delivery in October/November this year. We’ve got all the nitty gritty details including local pricing, so take a look below and see why Trek believe this is the fastest enduro race bike going…

2017 Trek Slash 9.9 RSL 29er

“When Trek engineers redesigned Slash to be the ultimate enduro bike, they looked to the equipment choices of the Trek Factory Racing enduro squad. Top riders like reigning Enduro World Series Champion Tracy Moseley favored Remedy 29 for its fast-rolling wheels, but made spec changes to suit the rigors of burly enduro stages, adding a longer 160mm-travel fork, tougher SuperEnduro tires, and reservoir shocks that would hold up under those rough sustained descents. Whereas the recently released Remedy focuses on fun-loving 27.5˝ wheels, the new Slash raises the bar for long-travel 29ers, taking its cues from these TFR race bikes” – Trek Bikes

The 2017 Trek Slash features:

  • 29˝ wheels
  • OCLV Mountain Carbon frame
  • Straight Shot downtube
  • Knock Block headset
  • Mino Link adjustable geometry
  • 150mm of rear travel via the Active Braking Pivot suspension design
  • 130/160mm adjustabel fork travel
  • G2 Handling: 51mm fork offset
  • 65.1-degree head angle
  • 43.4cm chainstay length
  • 148x12mm Boost hub spacing
  • Slash 9.9 RRP: £6000
  • Slash 9.8 RRP: £4400
  • Slash 9.9 RSL Frameset: £2900

2017 Trek Slash 9.9 RSL 29

Coming just a month after the release of the new Fuel EX and Remedy models, the Slash represents Trek’s line in the sand when it comes to enduro racing. For 2017, the Remedy will only be available with 27.5in wheels, and stands as Trek’s do-it-all-fun-loving mountain bike. This move freed up some room to turn the Slash into a fully-fledged enduro sled that is 100% purpose built for racing speed. To achieve said quickness, the new Slash receives 29in wheels, a burlier frame and slacker geometry that kicks back to just over 65-degrees in the lowest setting. In essence, the new Slash is kind of a lovechild of the previous Slash 27.5 and the Remedy 29, but there’s a whole lot more to it than that.

2017 Trek Slash 9.9 RSL 29
The new Slash is designed as a 1x specific bike. That allowed Trek’s engineers to beef up the symmetric chainstays and keep the rear end respectably short and snappy at 435mm.
2017 Trek Slash 9.9 RSL 29
Are you a tweaker? Flip the Mino Link to adjust between a 65.1-degree head angle and 34.5cm BB height (Low), or a 65.6-degree head angle and 35.2cm BB height (High).
2017 Trek Slash 9.9 RSL 29
No more Full Floater on the Slash. With the goal of producing the stiffest frame possible, the lower shock mount now sits on the mainframe. Combined with the E2 tapered head tube, Straight Shot downtube and PF92 bottom bracket, Trek claim the Slash is stiffer than the Session downhill bike.
2017 Trek Slash 9.9 RSL 29
The Active Braking Pivot remains out back, which is designed to minimise braking input on the suspension action. And no surprise to see BOOST18 dropouts, given that Trek was the first company to utilise the standard on the 2015 Remedy.
2017 Trek Slash 9.9 RSL 29
To stop the fork crown from smashing into the Straight Shot downtube, Trek created Knock Block. The stem and upper headset cap are keyed into one another, and a block inside the headtube provides a bump-stop to avoid the bars from over rotating. You can still use a regular stem and headset on the Slash, but don’t expect a pretty outcome in the event of a crash…
2017 Trek Slash 9.9 RSL 29
Internal cable routing wizardry, and a “Just In Case” bumper on the downtube for the fork crown.
2017 Trek Slash 9.9 RSL 29
Mmm…gloss red carbon fibre
2017 Trek Slash 9.9 RSL 29
Peek-a-boo! The downtube’s exit point for the internal cable routing.
2017 Trek Slash RSL 9.9 29
The top-level Slash 9.9 RSL comes dripping with all the mod-cons including a 1×12 drivetrain, a Fox Float X2 rear shock and a Fox 36 fork with the G2 offset.

The 2017 Slash will be available in two different models: the Slash 9.8, and the Slash 9.9 RSL. Both models feature an adjustable travel fork, 1×12 drivetrains and tough Bontrager SE rubber. Trek will also offer the Slash as a standalone frameset should you want to custom build your own machine. It’s also worth mentioning that there will only be a carbon frame available, as this is a purpose-built race machine remember, and pfft, who needs alloy right?

For more info on specifications and geometry, head to the Trek Bikes website.


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