Trek Slash Review: Longer, Slacker, Better | 2021 Field Test

Longer, slacker, lower, blah blah... you've heard it all before, but in the case of the new Trek Slash, it's really paid off when it comes to performance out on the trail.
Watch more from the 2021 Field Test: pinkbike.link/2021pbfieldtest
The 2021 Field Test is supported by:
Dainese - bit.ly/3fRVmAE
Sierra Nevada - bit.ly/3l5jmC1
Smith Optics - smithoptics.com/
Special thanks to Boundary Bay Brewing - bbaybrewery.com/
00:00 - Intro
00:29 - Bike Overview
05:45 - Set Up
06:21 - Climbing
07:39 - Descending
09:28 - Timed Laps
0:48 - Components
11:25 - Pros
11:55 - Cons
12:15 - Verdict
Pinkbike Merch - pinkbike.link/merch
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[@CaBdosdos]

Trek makes awesome bikes...I know a lot of people think Trek is a boring company but their stuff is super well engineered.

[@joaquinguzman779]

i used to think this all the time i told my self i would never get a trek. today i just bought my first full suspension slash 7 and i love it

[@BoxCarBoy12]

Same thing could be said about other big bike brands like Giant and Specialized. They're the biggest for a reason, even though owning one feels like owning a Toyota Camry and not something special they have been some of the most solid rigs I've ever ridden.

[@camwells9726]

I used to find the geometry wrong , were too short in the reach for my liking, looks like they have got it right now

[@hannes6114]

I thought so too. Now I'm very interested in them. Their frames seem very good.

[@youtubeaccount9058]

1:00 the huck to flat didn't even bottom out the suspension. Vive la Enduro!

[@jakejoevenazzo1478]

The rear did, and almost all forks don’t go all the way to the top as they don’t want any of the excess dirt and crap being shoved through the seals

[@adeneven-ezra1711]

It did, but the shock body is longer than the stroke bc of trek's thrushaft bs

[@jakejoevenazzo1478]

@@adeneven-ezra1711 wait a minute, are we talking about the rear shock or the fork??

[@Jacksonlloyd76]

@@AGaltitude88 he would of said he did that. And they have to make it stock settings

[@ethanbenton6676]

Sure the fork didn't But he clapped the rear

[@brendanriel888]

Shoulda been called the trek stash with the addition of that storage compartment

[@dansteadman2528]

not to be confused with the trek stache, a fat bike with no storage lol

[@mrvwbug4423]

It's the Slash stash, or stash Slash, or ...

[@doug148877]

Fun fact, Slash from Guns N Roses used to love riding bikes. I wonder if he would go FULL SEND on this bike? Slash on a slash!

[@hallofiltet3705]

You Made my day

[@timotheyszczepanski6644]

that was my first thought when i got this bike

[@jamesWilliams-pg4ye]

He was a kick ass BMXer if memory serves me correct

[@erod6468]

Ha. My nickname has been slash since I was a kid(well one of my two nicknames) but not for the same reasons..... Might just pick one of these up. Not GNR slash, but still, slash riding a slash lol.

[@tmwall25]

he rides…. but only with a lit cig

[@davidparnell5743]

Just grabbed my 9.9 Slash last week and I can't get off of it! Hands down the best bike for the value. It does everything that I need it to do and it rips! Strongly recommend this bike!

[@YBMTB]

"He likes his Slash so much that he got it tattooed on his face"

[@josiahgolding7826]

Good quote que there. I salute you

[@NoahHill-yn8rc]

“And he stole your girlfriend “

[@YBMTB]

@@NoahHill-yn8rc jEnIFfEr hOW CoULd yOoUUu

[@cyclingstunts9887]

Wannabe

[@trailonfire8581]

And he is in the book how love the slash more then there own mother!

[@hangingfrogboards]

Been waiting for this one.

[@ricusmate]

I'm 6'3" and I like shorter stays.

[@BikeBrosBikeShop]

I'm with you: don't assume my chainstay preferences based on my height. Rocky has the right approach offering adjustable chainstays... or just get the new Marin Alpine Trail if you want better angles than the Trek & a super short chainstay!

[@RCKING1]

It’s all preference I have a 453mm chainstay and love it

[@kangsterizer]

rly depends in the bike and terrain. adjustable is cool though i dont like to go adjust stuff for each trail

[@BikeBrosBikeShop]

@@kangsterizer I'm just saying I'd rather a bike company leave me with the option of rear end length (Rocky shows it is possible) rather than the bike company just deciding, "this size large should get a longer chainstay than the medium". I think it allows the rider to pick the personality of their bike to suit their riding style and terrain. I'm personally not excited by long chain-stays while I know riders who love them. I think brands like Norco make awesome bikes so I think it is more practical for them to just offer a chainstay flip chip.

[@BikeBrosBikeShop]

@@RCKING1 agreed that it is preferences/riding style/terrain and I think it is a shame when a company makes an awesome bike but they have pushed their preferences about chainstay length when they could just leave the option up to the end user.

[@Kaspurr84]

I have a baby slash the 2021 fuel ex 9.9 x01. Such a sick bike. If I needed the extra travel the slash would be it but all the trails around me are more xc/trail focused

[@will21]

Would the remedy be a good in-between? Or the fuel good on the way down as well

[@BikeBrosBikeShop]

Please: NO to the longer chainstays on bigger bikes. Do like Rocky and offer adjustability but at 6'1, the first thing I'd do when shopping for bikes is remove all the bikes that force me onto long chainstays. The "balance" argument sounds logical but I think it's more applicable that small bikes shouldn't have long chainstays, not that big bike shouldn't have short chainstays. I completely understand the argument for race bikes have long rear ends but I'd still prefer my bike to be fun and nimble for the 90% of the time the bike is nowhere near max speed.

[@micahrushin]

So based on all these reviews so far I have learned that PinkBike absolutely loves the Propain the review for it isn’t even out yet

[@canalelquim]

have trek 9.7 2021 and i love it and it's brutal

[@singletrackftw]

Interesting that the seat tube angle didn’t get steeper! Sick bike, but my transition sentinel leaves me 0 reasons to ever make a change

[@vieuxacadian9455]

I have a 9.8 and It's been a great bike so far . Great video Sir , thanks . See Y'all at Bogue chitto .

[@taeminpark7850]

I recently bought a Slash in-store and its honestly amazing. Def getting a new slash in 2-3 years

[@likeris2]

me too. so cool looking bike.

[@will-tav]

Please can you do a review on the new nukeproof mega

[@flippy66]

I'm 5'11" too and also went for the L. Tried the ML and it felt really short, and I'm used to an older bike with a 430mm reach! Also 2:50 look at that gap between the head tube and the headset top cap! They seem to have fixed it with the newer ones, my 2022 doesn't have that.

[@turbod15]

So L to small

[@flippy66]

@@turbod15 What?

[@JamesRobertMTB]

You had me at slacker 😍

[@venivelovici]

I get the interest in adjustable chainstay length but that seems pretty much impossible with ABP. I’d like to see size specific stays a la Norco.

[@igorgetsin3646]

I got a base ‘21 Slash and had to trim the handlebar as well. 820 was hitting rear window during transport and I had serious issues making it between gate posts on trails.

[@oskifv]

Yeah I think everyone’s going to cut those down, I think they kept it wide so you can trim it to your liking rather than having to get wider bars you like them wider

[@bumblebeeyaj9375]

Damn that yellow is clean

[@Shyd07]

This bike just made me stiffer

[@lennyknott2734]

Lol

[@timvelisek8764]

Im 6'2 and absolutly love my 7 amazing bike

[@nategadow4482]

What size frame are you riding?

[@janetrobersonsmith]

I love this bike it’s a great race bike just keep the pivots lubed I accidentally had a gel explode in the frame storage which sucked don’t know how but it was a pain to clean out😂

[@antaltieri7154]

It took a drive to the opposite end of New England, but I absolutely love my Slash 8. Dat M/L fit me perfect but yeah, cut the bars down to 785mm after the first ride, and threw in a few volume spacers fork+shock to support my 225lb steel worker body.

[@osvaldinho617]

how tall are you?

[@rafaelgodoy3703]

not even 140mm cranks would save you from 11:17

[@austinl7163]

If you were friends with Kazimer, your buddy mike would have actually gotten a slash

[@Nicool333]

I test rode the fuel, slash and remedy. All in size M/L. Chose the remedy. 5’10, 175lb. Intermediate rider. Riding style is more air/jump/flow oriented. I ride the east coast.

[@mateuszbielak668]

Guys, can you do a review about Santa Cruz Nomad 2020?

[@teamgreen9r]

What brewery are you filming in? Love watching these videos! Thanks!

[@danielanthony1054]

Those are some nice fermenters too

[@dansteadman2528]

Been riding my aluminum gx build for 5 months now. Its worth noting the Al build comes with a different dropper post model than the 9.8 and 9.9 models (line comp vs line elite) and personally I like the line comp more than the line elite droppers ive tried even though its heavier. My size large is 37lb. Holds lines like mad. Needed better tires, the ones that come stock on the aluminum modes are about as thin as the Maxxis EXO casing. Personally I love the long chainstays, it is considerably harder to throw around (and I ride groomed park more than tech) than the shorter chainstays but once you get used to it it's super nice to have the stability. I'm going to take my knock block off pretty soon because I want to start learning barspins but it was a nice feature before I was ready to learn them. Shock tune is pretty good, need it in stiff mode for jumps or else it blows through the travel. I like it in stiff mode pretty much all the time, I feel like I get more out of my pumps. 4783/10 would recommend. Slash 8 gives you crazy value for your money.

[@hannes6114]

Weird that you blow through the travel. The thing should be pretzy progressive... Maybe some volume spacers?

[@jonasg8537]

Did some e know if you can remove the mater bottle cage to put a fidlock on it?

[@MrBrandonPetersen]

will the one up dropper 180mm, fit in the trek slash M/L frame?

[@mikeynaziri]

2:55 one step forward 2 steps back... think I’ll hold on to my slash 7 a little longer

[@martsmarts]

The Slash was top 3 on the times, which 2 were faster?

[@spx730]

beautiful frame

[@IvanSkaro86]

What capacity is of that green bottle?

[@karamellkamel8643]

The video we all waited for

[@Black_Onyx]

Amazing bike

[@OneCleans13]

Maybe my stoke-radar is off but based on your review, it doesn't seem to live up to the hype that trek created with their promo vids. Good luck getting one, if your shop didn't order any slashes, they wont be around till Jan of 2022. And even that is an estimate that could likely be pushed back. (I work at a Trek Dealer. And no, I cant even get one)

[@stevenagy7152]

That all new bikes don’t have in frame storage is surprising.

[@Montblanc1986]

Santa has this sled in his sleigh for me!

[@sorinvladu7021]

I feel bad for you. I'm gonna be getting the Big Flyer from Walmart. Jason Lucas says it's better

[@shanetansley3322]

Love the way they review the top spec, then goes on about how good the tune on the shock is! But do you get that shock on the lower spec (I doubt it, even though its the one more of us might be able to afford) how about a review of the lower spec!

[@kylechin]

The same Super Deluxe Ultimate Thru Shaft shock comes on Slash 8 (the higher of the two alloy builds) and all carbon builds 9.8 and above.

[@turbod15]

Slash 7 anygood

[@northerners2828]

This is my only dream mt.bike, trek was best and canyon for me.

[@skyworks1621]

Looks good.

[@bitumen83]

Trek make some of the best looking bikes out there. This Slash, Fuel ex... they all looks great.

[@daserik1]

Trek Slash 8 or Orbea Occam H10 2022? I cant decide

[@uros6360]

What's peoples opinion on Kellys Swag 30 2021 model. I like it but I would like to hear others opinion.

[@benjaminostling2446]

Can you ride it with 650b in the back also a mullet bike

[@williamholmberg831]

Thinking about getting one this spring. If there was any to buy :)

[@Coolchris158]

Good luck. Wait times are till December of 2021.

[@eugenux]

@@Coolchris158 exactly..none in sight.

[@YBMTB]

If you want something in the next 12 months, i highly suggest looking into something else

[@TheYetiAdventures]

XT Builds count in as a Project One Build and lead time is 180 Days. Thats the earliest you probably could get one. Everything else forget it. Me as a Trek Dealer - I'm not even offering this brand anymore. Even basic bikes that got ordered in June/July already are getting pushed back every week for 2 month. Simple Bikes like a Marlin coming in around July-October 2021. Definitely look into something different.

[@antaltieri7154]

Just keep calling around to different shops, and be ready for a quick road trip.. places like New York randomly have tons

[@spencermx4230]

sabes si el cuadro es el mismo que la 9.7?

[@Yhigma]

4:35 you can see kaz knows STA is still not steep enough

[@allworkandnoplay76]

But can you turn the rebound dial to eleven?

[@darrenporsch]

Did I miss it did he say what the length of rear and front travel is?

[@mtbsnowboard9107]

160 in the rear and 170 in the front

[@excelautodetailingceramicc1182]

Would've been perfect with a steeper seat tube angle. Ill stick to my 2019 Slash for a while longer.

[@LatinaDevourer]

To anyone who owns a slash, is it playfull or is it like a tank rolling through everything? Shame you can't get it in a mullet, well, if you could get it

[@markcromie1783]

What size was reviewed for the 5ft 11" rider?

[@doichindoichev6274]

Size large

[@fatbikedaddy8644]

On top of the great performance highlighted in this review, one should note the excellent Trek warranty support, making the slash a top choice in this category.

[@HotKooks]

Needing a guarantee proves you’re buying a guaranteed piece of shit

[@aashishkumarrai]

Which bike is this? 0:15

[@hunterwright386]

Amazed the Zeb didn’t even bottom out on the huck to flat. Must have some pretty dialed suspension, maybe too stiff?

[@el.cipito9335]

Maybe, but i think its just a bit more progressive

[@gregorygriffin6358]

Chain growth to the Max too

[@harrydestcroix5516]

Gregory Griffin that was just the weight on the chain 😂

[@Pecan-jt6yj]

2023 fuel or an older remedy or slash? (Travel is similar. ) Looking for a do it all trail bike.

[@vslacorreia]

Fuel is easier to maintain speed and remedy is easier to manual, jump and corner.

[@WorldClassCoachingLab]

Trek Slash 7. Or Nukeproof Reactor 290 ???

[@johncast9565]

Why you have the seat positioned all the way forward?

[@jg8273]

He said the bike is too stretched for him. STA needed steeper.

[@4leggedfurball]

0:05 Beavis, is that you?

[@barbamatteo]

I've howned the model before, fantastic frame but shitty ammo (repair after 1 month of leaking oil) and the seat is too slacked... no sense.. if you are tall like me (21.5 size) you must forward the seat all the way to not seat on the rear wheel.

[@sakib9946]

Price please

[@eleazar6]

that poor root @11:19

[@frankedoodle3798]

For 5'11 with 32 inseam is the M/L the correct size? Reach on the large looks insanely long.. thanks

[@chrisgravel7157]

Sounds right to me Kazimer should have been on a M/L as well, would have made it more playful and better for tech climbs. I'm 6'1" 34 inseam I would go Size Large but just, any shorter M/L

[@frankedoodle3798]

@@chrisgravel7157 great thanks!

[@RickyDownhillRDH]

8K for a bike running RockShox suspension and a bunch of Bontrager parts? Does NOT compute. Actually the website is showing this bike at $8,499.99.

[@Pensi21YTUBE]

Enjoy yours... mine will not arrive until may...

[@harrydestcroix5516]

Quim Pensí same I expect

[@leonidb3736]

Would like to know how it compares to remedy? Does Remedy climbs better or the current generation of enduro bikes climbs as good as all mountain bikes?

[@michaelbarry7135]

Would love to know this too

[@overweightbadger]

I’ve owned a remedy and ridden this new slash. I really can’t tell the difference on the climbs the remedy is a bit lighter and more agile on the tighter climbs. The slash smashes the remedy on the downs though. Any extra if small effort needed on the ups is worth going down the slash route. It’s so good I’m selling my canyon torque for a lower spec new slash!

[@prettyjohnshill76]

Marks out of 10 would be useful for a quick comparison.

[@caseyarman8037]

Probably not going to get a response here, but I'll give it a try. Hey Kazimer - maybe I missed it, but at 5' 11" what size did you ride - M/L or L? And did it feel right? Thanks.

[@A.D.D.O.C.D.T]

These guys are an ad factory ,doubt anyone even reads the comments there. Good luck man 🤘

[@daxido69]

dream bike

[@moomoo1170]

i’m gonna be going from a giant stance 2020 to a trek slash 9.7 🤣🤣🤣 big jump but i’m sure i’m ready

[@hunterwright386]

Go for it! Giant is basic anyway...

[@matthewlunn8238]

Giant makes good starter bikes

[@cf6174]

@@hunterwright386 and trek isn’t? Maybe depends on where you live... almost every bike i see is a trek

[@bentyler5704]

@@cf6174 I see treks a lot too but I think it’s like you see a giant and a trek slash. You’d probably go for the trek. I would choose trek over giant. I just ordered a Yeti though.

[@MrSupermugen]

@@bentyler5704 "i just orderd a yeti" nothing you be should be proud of, all your doing is paying for the name and paying for their failing suspension designs that dont work

[@natewilberding4918]

Remedy review please

[@shajid236]

its enduro bike?

[@zackaryallan2505]

Anybody realize they are in a brewery

[@YBMTB]

Lmao i didn't

[@dallaspov]

Yeah its because one of the sponsors for the field test is a brewery

[@YBMTB]

Ahhhh

[@zackaryallan2505]

Oh ya. Makes sense

[@livefreeandshred9818]

Only took you like 7 episodes huh?

[@tymarlowe5033]

No bar spins 😢😢😢😣😣

[@jankaskyevitchjellbet7293]

Enduro or slash?

[@doichindoichev6274]

Slash

[@trailblazeratv6306]

It’ll climb like a wild banshee

[@MancWithAMouth]

Yeah but good luck getting one before june/July in the UK.

[@harrydestcroix5516]

Ooh shit, I’ve ordered mine in October and it said on the preorder it would be April, I was hoping it would be earlier but I guess it’s better than June or July

[@richardfarnie3830]

Unlucky son. Already got mine

[@MancWithAMouth]

@@richardfarnie3830 depends on how often you buy bikes / who you know. But most of the UK lead times are anywhere from 12p days to june/July. Been checking pretty much every enduro bike going from 2K to 4K sterling and just next to impossible to get bar a few direct to consumer brands. Going to be an interesting year for biked

[@richardfarnie3830]

@@MancWithAMouth I think I was just very lucky mate. Got the last one in my size. The rest of them said may 2021

[@kayvanmirza5786]

@@richardfarnie3830 Same here. I saw a Slash 8 in a size L and nabbed it. Was the only one I had seen and haven't seen one since September. Love the bike and a stonking deal for the kit if you ask me.

[@smd_kill3ryt765]

O my God that Is insane

[@b00tyEater]

@pinkbike are we not gonna mention that this bike has a 10-52 tooth cassette yet it has a 30t chainring?

[@MrSupermugen]

you're saying its a bad thing? change up a gear or two. most who buy bikes to pedal are unfit anyway and benefit from a smaller chainring, also your joints will thank you when your 60+

[@b00tyEater]

@@MrSupermugen I have a 11-46t slx cassette on my bike paired to a 30t ring. Amazing for going uphill but second you start going downhill you're spun out. Pairing a 30t to a 52t rear cog is totally overkill. Vital mentioned it in their video about the slash too. Should have a 32 or 34, would certainly play towards the high speed descents much better.

[@MrSupermugen]

@@b00tyEater use less brakes... on enduro and dh bikes you shouldnt be pedalling like that to worry about it... learn to carry speed instead, the driveline is there to get you to and up the hill.

[@stefanbiersack551]

Trek Slash 8 21 coming in in March next year :DD

[@l-pbedard568]

The oil coming out of the fork while huck to flat 😂

[@ova578]

it's not oil it's grass

[@samuelb7546]

Please send this bike to my house immediately.

[@davidnicholson6680]

Interesting how everyone is going back to threaded BBs. For at least 15 years, bike brands have been trying to tell us that press fit was the way to go, now they are all quietly reverting to threaded.

[@skilllessbeast7416]

They are the way to go. But quality control at most companys is at least questionable. So the only reason they are going back is, that they couldn't do press fit.

[@gundamnit3594]

@@skilllessbeast7416 Yep, i'll trust hambini over the bike companies anyday.

[@f1hotrod527]

The straight shot downtube was better looking. Made the frames really awesome looking.

[@ethanbenton6676]

8:22 holy shit!! have you checked on that shock? lmao

[@donutbarbell]

Do you always have to test the absolute top spec of each model? They’re cool don’t get me wrong but for 90% if your viewers I suspect they’re a over budget. Then the question is do the reviews carry down the budget lines, probably not. Wouldn’t a test in the middle of the road cover more basis, you know going up will get better and if you go lower, we’ll then you know it isn’t a million miles away from a full carbon, best suspension XTR/X01 etc...

[@christiandruan]

Most of the lower end components perform the same as their more expensive counterparts! They just weight more. These bikes are mainly expensive because of the weight saving, the only parts that you could tell a difference about are the fork, rear shock, and wheel set. Everything else should run pretty much identical, just a little heavier!

[@Will.Tilcke]

That is a good point Donut Barbell. In their Podcast pinkbike mentioned that the manufacturers like to send testers their top-model. I think they wanted to limit the price of their Testbikes in the future but we’ll have to wait and see...

[@donutbarbell]

@@christiandruan I’m dubious of components performing the same. Having used XT and SLX it’s not even comparable, XT shifters alone are superior. I hear what you’re saying about weight, agreed. But if the larger audience would only dream of spending more on a bike than their car then just every now and then it’d be nice to see a middle of the road. Though if these are the bikes they’re sent by brands then we’ll it is what it is 🤷‍♂️

[@CreatureSkateboardC2]

Its looks freeride worthy

[@turbod15]

When 2023 out

[@MarioRCDJ]

As a non-english-speaking person I watch Kazimer's vids with subtitles, and Levy's vids were ok, no offence, but there's something to work on, good stuff anyway

[@HeyBaumeister]

German here but living in Canada. I understand both really well...

[@Andres-se5yk]

Maybe you have to practice your listening hehe

[@gapz5774]

All i can say is bike is bike and having a bike is my dream

[@owenkennedy7854]

What knee pad is he riding

[@owenkennedy7854]

@@petea.3768 fair but like still tho I want em

[@Bikesands]

Who else watches the huck to flat first to watch the fork flex, then for the rear suspension and then to watch the tires and rims?

[@zellexz1145]

I'm on the website looking at 1 ik I can't afford it then I get an email and a call and I won a trek slash

[@razorree]

guys.... just use SI system, helouuuu.... you mix inches, stones, bricks whateva..... with milimeters or meters... . just stick to the only one VALID