Trek Slash 9.8 XT

At the end of last year, Trek launched the latest iteration of their enduro classic. The 6th generation of the Slash features a mullet wheel setup, 170 mm of travel front and rear, and a high pivot suspension layout with an eye-catching idler pulley. How did Trek’s evergreen fare against the 13 hottest bikes of the season?

**Trek** Slash 9.8 XT | 170/170 mm (f/r)
16.1 kg in size L | € 7,899 | Manufacturer’s website

Last year, Trek redesigned the Slash from the ground up, preserving its iconic design language, but combining it with countless new features. The most striking one is the high pivot rear suspension, which generates 10 mm more travel than the previous Slash generation. As a result, the Trek Slash 9.8 XT we tested – which isn’t the flagship model – generates 170 mm of travel front and rear, rolling out of Trek’s factory on a mullet wheel setup. However, an optional shock mount allows you to convert the Slash to a full 29er. Our test bike in size L weighs 16.1 kg, which is only slightly above the average in this test, retailing at € 7,899, thus positioning right in the middle of this test field in terms of price.

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best enduro bike 2024 – 14 of the most exciting enduro bikes in our 2024 comparison test

The 2024 Trek Slash 9.8 XT in detail

The Slash rocks a fancy silver paint finish called “Argent Drizzle”, which embellishes both the frame and the cover of the storage compartment. This offers plenty of room for all your trail essentials and features a high-quality locking mechanism. There’s also a tool mount on the underside of the top tube, which can be used to secure a spare inner tube and a couple of tire levers directly to the frame. The compartment’s cover doubles as a bottle cage mount. Unfortunately, the Trek Slash 9.8 XT doesn’t have a multi-tool hidden in the headset, unlike its top-tier counterpart, so you’ll have to make do with the 6 mm Allen key in the rear thru axle, which is very easy to remove.

The storage compartment features a high-quality locking mechanism and offers plenty of room to stow away all your trail essentials in its pouches.

A generously sized chainstay protector prevents chain slap, and together with a dual-density TPU plate and shuttle guard, shields the carbon frame against impacts. Moreover, the inner section of the plate can be replaced if it gets damaged – clever! Additionally, a generously-sized mudguard protects the seat stays from stray rocks. All cables are routed internally, vanishing into the frame through conventional carbon ports on the head tube. These are neither clamped nor sealed, resulting in an annoying rattling noise on the trail. The cables only reemerge briefly at the transition between the main frame and swingarm, and back again at the components where they’re needed.

**Noise hazard!**
The cables disappear into the frame through cable ports on the head tube. However, the ports aren’t clamped, which results in a loud rattling noise.

**Trustpilot 5/5**
The Slash’s extensive chainstay protector prevents chain slap and paint chips.

The spec of the 2024 Trek Slash 9.8 XT

The Trek Slash 9.8 XT comes equipped with RockShox suspension, consisting of a ZEB Select+ fork with a Charger 3 damper, and a matching Vivid Select+ shock. While Rockshox’s Select+ series is slightly cheaper than its top-tier Ultimate counterpart, it offers almost the same adjustment options and trail performance. The only differences are the lack of Buttercups in the fork, and the slightly more limited shock adjustment options. As you might’ve already guessed from the name of the Slash 9.8 XT, Trek rely on a Shimano XT groupset, which consists of a smooth-shifting 12-speed drivetrain and matching four-piston brakes, with 200 mm rotors front and rear. Trek also throw in a practical chain guide/bash guard combo, which prevents the chain from falling off and helps to protect the chainring from nasty impacts. Trek had a well-known issue with the chain guide and idler pulley early on in production, which was causing the chain to drop, but this has now been resolved, and our bike had no issues.

**Freedom**
The 200 mm Bontrager Line Elite dropper post can be inserted all the way into the frame, ensuring excellent freedom of movement.

**Just right**
The Trek Slash 9.8 XT relies on a Rockshox ZEB Select+ fork, which is hardly inferior to its top-tier Ultimate counterpart, the main difference being the lack of chatter-absorbing ButterCups.

**Lifesaver**
The mudguard on the swingarm not only protects your back from mud splashes, but also your carbon frame from stray rocks.

For the rest of the spec, Trek rely exclusively on their in-house component brand Bontrager. The 200 mm Line Elite dropper post can be fully inserted into the frame, and it’s paired with an ergonomic remote that offers excellent haptic feel. The Bontrager Line Pro carbon handlebars come in a massive 820 mm, which was far too wide even for our tall test riders. We definitely recommend shortening the bars a little, especially if you’re on a small frame size. If you do so, you should bear in mind that cutting down carbon handlebars will make them feel significantly stiffer. The Slash rolls on a mullet Bontrager Line Elite 30 carbon wheelset and Bontrager tires, with a grippy SE6 Team Issue at the front and faster-rolling SE5 Team Issue at the rear, both in the Dual Compound TM-Grip rubber compound and 120 TPI Core Strength casing. However, during the test sessions on San Romolo’s rocky trails, the rear tire suffered several punctures, passing on a few hard knocks to the carbon rim. We recommend upgrading to more robust tires with a tougher casing, like the Bontrager G5 Team Issue, to protect both your rims and your wallet.

€ 7,899

Specifications

Fork RockShox ZEB Select+ 170 mm
Rear Shock RockShox Vivid Select+ 170 mm
Seatpost Bontrager Line Elite 200 mm
Brakes Shimano XT 200/200 mm
Drivetrain Shimano XT 1x12
Stem Bontrager 40 mm
Handlebar Bontrager Line Pro 820 mm
Wheelset Bontrager Line Elite 30 Carbon 29"/27.5"
Tires Bontrager SE6 Team Issue/Bontrager SE5 Team Issue 2.5/2.5

Technical Data

Size S M M/L L XL
Weight 16.1 kg

Specific Features

Storage compartment
Tool Mount
Flip-Chip

Tuning tip: Tires with tougher casing for better puncture protection

**Helmet** ABUS HiDrop | **Goggle** Oakley Airbrake | **Shirt** 7MESH Men´s Northwoods Windshell | **Pants** Velocio Trail Access | **Shoes** Adidas Five Ten Kestrel Lace

The geometry of the 2024 Trek Slash 9.8 XT

The Trek Slash is available in five sizes, S to XL, offering a suitable option for riders between 1.55 m and 1.95 m tall. The smallest S frame rolls on two 27.5″ wheels, while all other sizes come standard with a mixed wheel setup with a smaller 27.5” wheel at the rear and bigger 29” wheel at the front – though they can be easily converted to a full 29er. To do this, you’ll have to use a different lower shock mount, which can be purchased separately for € 34.99. Flip chips in both shock mounts allow you to change the rear suspension’s progression to adapt the bike to your riding style and terrain – or to use a different shock. Trek also offer optional headset cups, which let you alter the head angle by +/- 1°. At 488 mm in size L, the reach isn’t particularly extreme, but it is amongst the longest in this test. The 200 mm dropper post can be slammed all the way down into the short 435 mm seat tube, ensuring plenty of freedom of movement on the bike – awesome!

Size	S	M	M/L	L	XL
Reach	430 mm	448 mm	468.1 mm	488.1 mm	513.2 mm
Stack	587.7 mm	623.1 mm	632.1 mm	641.1 mm	659 mm
Chainstay Length	429 mm	429.2 mm	434.2 mm	434.2 mm	439.2 mm
BB Drop	10 mm	27 mm	27 mm	27 mm	27 mm
Seat Tube	390 mm	400 mm	420 mm	435 mm	470 mm
Head Angle	63.5°	63.3°	63.3°	63.3°	63.3°
Seat Angle	78.1°	77.8°	77.3°	77.1°	76.7°
Horizontal Top Tube	547.5 mm	577.8 mm	605.4 mm	627.9 mm	658.1 mm
Head Tube	100 mm	100 mm	110 mm	120 mm	140 mm
Wheelbase	1195.1 mm	1223.8 mm	1253.2 mm	1277.7 mm	1311.6 mm

The 2024 Trek Slash 9.8 XT on the trail

As you’d expect, the high-pivot suspension isn’t the most efficient uphill, meaning that the Slash 9.8 XT doesn’t perform particularly well on fire road climbs. That said, the rear suspension only bobs marginally when pedalling and generates good traction on technical climbs. On longer gravel trailhead commutes, it’s worth reaching for the climb switch to improve the Trek’s climbing efficiency.

The Slash is a little less agile than its competitors and requires a little more physical effort in slow, narrow trail sections.

In rough trail sections, the Slash’s suspension convinces with good traction and ample support, while the intuitive handling makes it easy to control.

When you drop into the trail, the Trek welcomes you on board with intuitive, predictable handling, and responds to steering input with great eagerness. When plunging into a big compression at the bottom of a big rock slab – like the one at the beginning of our test track in San Romolo – there’s a short moment where the front wheel seems to lack traction, forcing you to actively shift your weight. This is a side-effect of the high-pivot layout, which causes the wheelbase to extend as the suspension compresses – although this is only marginal with the Trek. When the trail gets faster, the Trek Slash rewards you with an integrated riding position and excellent composure, inspiring huge amounts of confidence as you plough through nasty rock gardens, and preventing dreaded OTB moments in the process. The suspension’s characteristic rearward axle path helps make the suspension feel smoother over square-edged hits, and only the Rocky Mountain Altitude, Orbea Wild and Ibis HD6 feel even more composed than the Slash. Unfortunately, on our test bike a nasty clacking noise during steps and compressions significantly reduced the riding pleasure on the descent, which we attribute to the pawls hitting the freewheel due to the chain pull. In rough trail sections, the suspension generates excellent traction and a good amount of mid-stroke support, making it easy to glide over root carpets in fast, straight sections. On slow, narrow trails, however, the Slash is less agile than its competitors, and also requires significantly more physical effort to manoeuvre.

Who should take a closer look at the 2024 Trek Slash 9.8 XT?

The Trek Slash 9.8 XT is aimed at riders who love to get rowdy and want the smoothest bike possible. If you like to drop into the valley in a straight line, the Slash is an excellent companion, provided you upgrade the tires with a tougher model.

CHARACTERISTICS

UPHILL

sluggish
efficient

AGILITY

cumbersome
playful

STABILITY

nervous
confident

HANDLING

demanding
balanced

SUSPENSION

harsh
plush

FUN FACTOR

planted
poppy

VALUE FOR MONEY

terrible
very good

INTENDED USE

Cross Country

Trail

Enduro

Downhill

Our conclusions about the Trek Slash 9.8 XT

With its unmistakable frame silhouette, the Trek Slash 9.8 XT has all the hallmarks of a high-pivot bruiser. As you’d expect, it’s extremely composed on the trail, with its suspension generating tons of traction. However, when the trail gets tighter and slow, the Slash will require greater physical effort to handle, meaning that you might not improve your PRs. The loud background noise and puncture prone tires leave some room for improvement too!

Tops

Excellent composure on the trail
Clever detail solutions
Intuitive handling

Flops

Not very agile
Loud downhill

For more info, visit Trek’s website.

The test field