Explainer: New Trek Slash | Tech Overview
Souped-up, latest-Gen Slash sports all the adjustability big mountain senders need.
Back in 2011, Trek launched the first edition of the Slash. Remarkably, merely 12 years later we are now looking at the sixth iteration of the Slash. I guess this is a testament to how quickly this ‘no-limits riding’ segment of mountain biking has changed and how the industry has accelerated R&D to meet the demands. Bike engineers tell me because big travel trail bikes must be efficient when pedaling and need to descend almost as fast as full-blown DH rigs, this is the toughest segment of mountain bikes to design. Here’s my somewhat techy explanation of what’s going on inside the slightly peculiar-looking yet highly versatile, big mountain beast from Trek.
Frame and suspension
Trek has completely redesigned the Gen 6 Slash. There’s 170mm of rear travel which is 10mm more than the Gen 5 model, and it now runs on the high-pivot suspension system. The idea, or more like proven science I should say, is that shifting the main pivot higher creates a rearward axle path for the back wheel, which helps it ‘get out of the way’ easier when riding rough trails. Simply put, this makes for a smoother ride over square edge hits. I’ve ridden and owned other high-pivot bikes and their jank-eating capability is something special indeed.
The major downside of many high-pivot bikes is their lack of efficiency when pedaling. The fix, according to Trek, is both in the size of the idler pulleys and their position in relation to the main pivot. Trek says the anti-squat number on the new Slash, in any gear and whilst anywhere in the travel, is maintained close to 100%. This is on par with some of the shorter travel bikes in their lineup including the Top Fuel and Fuel EX. To be clear, Trek is telling us the new Slash actually pedals as well as those bikes. Interesting.
Last but not least, it’s worth mentioning the rotor size compatibility and I’ll just say Trek has definitely adopted the future-proofing strategy here. All the Slash frames can run a 220mm rotor or 200mm as a direct post mount. That’s bigger than many DH bikes!
Adjustability
Once the exclusive domain of Enduro racers, the long-travel trail bike segment has evolved to include the jank explorers. You know them, they’re the crew that simply enjoy pedaling into the mountains to ride the wildest, steepest and most techy lines around, without the pressure of racing the clock. For these riders (and Enduro racers), adjustability is everything. Things like wheel size, geometry, travel and shock preference have a profound impact on whether they can unlock rough lines and new features, safely. This is precisely the rider that Trek has designed the new Slash for.
So, whilst dropping the flip-chip style Mino Link that is featured on almost all of the brand’s full-suspension whips, Trek has managed to increase the overall adjustability on the new Slash. Essentially there are now three methods used to adjust geometry, wheel size and progression. Firstly, the headset is adjustable from a slack, to a neutral or a steep setting. Then there’s the replaceable lower shock mount that corrects the geometry when running a 29er rear wheel – yes you can ‘de-mullet’ the bike. The third piece of the adjustability puzzle is a flip chip on the lower shock mount that offers two progression settings for riders and also makes the bike 100% coil shock compatible.
Geometry
That new Head Angle is 63.5° which is around 0.5° slacker than the Gen 5 model, however, using the bike’s built-in adjustability it is possible to go to 62.6° or 64.3°. One of the bigger geometry revisions is a drastic steepening of the seat tube angle to 78° which moves the pilot’s hips forward and over the bottom bracket to improve power transfer. Also new for the Slash is size-specific chainstay lengths which, depending on the frame size will vary from 430 to 435 to 440 and will improve weight distribution and the dynamic balance of the bike. Dropper-post insertion range is also vastly improved. As an example, the size medium Slash, has a 400mm long seat tube that will now take up to a 200mm dropper post.
The new Slash looks like an incredible machine that I think will suit big-line hunters, Enduro and local DH racing. Learn more.