First Look: Trek's Race-Ready 2017 Slash 29

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First Look: Trek's Race-Ready 2017 Slash 29
By bturman
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Introducing the all-new Slash 29, a bike built with its sights set squarely on enduro racing.
During the introduction of the Remedy 27.5, we were told the Remedy 29 would no longer be made. What next? Where does that rider go? Casey Brown rolls out on Trek's answer - the Slash 29.
The Slash 29 features 150mm of rear travel, and comes stock with 160mm up front.
With the improved 130mm Fuel EX 29 and Slash 29 as choices, there's an answer for every Remedy 29 fan. We know which direction we'd lean, but only because we like to party on the downhills.
Carbon only. 29 only. Aggressive as can be.
Multiple rounds of prototypes with varying bottom bracket heights were tested. Ultimately Trek went with Tracy Moseley's 352/345mm preference, allowing you to pedal through the rough when every second counts.
With an adjustable head angle that can kick out to 65.6 or 65.1-degrees, this is a seriously aggressive 29er. The bike features Trek's Mino Link flip chip for quick high/low adjustments, and a Knock Block headset as part of the stiffness equation.
The Slash 29 is the "stiffest 29er frame" Trek has ever made, "rivaling or besting the Session DH bike." The Straight Shot downtube helps in this regard.
High volume tubing meets clean lines and tidy cable routing in the Slash 29.
This is the first Trek in a while that doesn't the Full Floater lower shock mount, which contributes to greater strength and stiffness.
It still features Trek's Active Braking Pivot at the intersection of the seatstays and 1X-specific chainstays. It also has a Boost 148 rear end.
Trek doesn't feel they lost anything by dropping the Full Floater suspension layout. "It's how the shock and frame work together," Dylan Howes told us, and they were able to get everything they wanted without it.
Added strength inherent in the new design allowed Trek to slim down frame weights.
Progressive? Linear? It's all about finding the right balance, and this rig falls "right in-between," drawing on several years of experience tuning the Session DH bike.
Watch for Tracy Moseley to unleash the Slash 29 in competition once she heals up.
As the angles show, this one's made for tackling the rough stuff.
With a tagline like "pure speed," we know Casey Brown is ready to rally it.
The Slash 29 drops in October. Visit www.trekbikes.com for more details.
First Look Slideshow

It's big. It's bad. It's ready to tackle the rowdiest of enduro courses. Introducing the all-new Trek Slash 29.

Following the launch of the new Remedy 27.5 and Fuel EX 29, which included news that the often loved Remedy 29 would no longer be made, many were left wondering how to get their long-travel 29er fix from Trek's lineup. Here's your answer:

The 150mm travel Slash 29 builds on the Remedy 29 but "is better in every way." This rig was built with podium-worthy speed in mind, and is available in big-wheel carbon versions only. Continued simplification within Trek's product range means the Slash 27.5 is headed to the archives, though riders that enjoyed it will very much like the new Remedy 27.5 Race Shop Limited models.

Slash 29 Highlights

  • OCLV Mountain Carbon main frame
  • 150mm rear travel // 150/160mm front travel
  • EVO link
  • Active Braking Pivot
  • Fixed lower shock mount
  • Metric 230x57.5mm shock sizing
  • 1X specific
  • Boost 148 rear axle
  • Straight Shot downtube
  • Knock Block steerer stop
  • E2 tapered head tube
  • Mino Link adjustable geometry
  • G2 geometry
  • Control Freak internal routing
  • Carbon armor
  • PF92 bottom bracket
  • ISCG 05 tabs
  • 2.6-inch tire clearance (plus size tires not compatible)

Geometry

The Slash 29 is available in four sizes, including a rarely seen 15.5 (small) version built on Trek's decade of 29er experience. Note that the numbers above reflect the geometry with a 160mm travel fork, though it can also be used with a 150mm fork to suit course demands. Doing so pushes the "bike closer to the 'trail' end of its use spectrum" and "lowers bottom bracket heights by about 3-4mm and steepens the head tube angle by half a degree." Trek's continued use of a Mino Link flip chip at the top of the seat stays makes further high/low geometry adjustments a breeze.

Build Kits, Pricing and Availability

Builds are limited at this time, but remember that this beast was bread for racing - a place where only top-tier components make the cut. Both the $5,499 Slash 9.8 and $8,999 Slash 9.9 Race Shop Limited (RSL) builds share the same race-ready, full-carbon, 1X-specific frame. The RSL model is built with a parts spec that meets the demands of Trek's top-level Enduro racers, including extra suspension adjustments, a Rapid Drive rear hub, and the new SRAM X01 Eagle 1x12 drivetrain. You can view complete build specs here.

The Slash 29 is also available as a frameset for $3,699, which includes a FOX Factory Float X2 shock, Knock Block headset, and Bontrager Line Pro 35mm stem.

Bikes and frames will be available in October, 2016. Visit www.trekbikes.com for more details.

Photos by Sterling Lorence and Margus Riga

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Trek
Enduro
29er
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