Slash 9.7 SLX/XT
A 29″ carbon frame full suspension enduro bike with upper mid-range components.
Manufacturer Price
$4,829Weight | 32.2 lbs |
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Frame | Carbon |
Suspension | Full, 160 / 170mm |
Fork | Fox Rhythm Float 36 |
Shock | Fox Float X Performance |
Wheels | 29″ Aluminum |
Drivetrain | 1 × 12 |
Groupset | XT, SLX |
Brakes | Hydraulic Disc |
Seatpost | Dropper |
For This Bike
Oct 2023 · Dario DiGiulio
Trek did a very good job making the Slash a quiet bike, then seemingly lost the plot when they specced a hard rubber chainslap protector that does little to mitigate the drivetrain noise in bumpy terrain.
Excellent geometry and balanced ride
Composed, capable, and predictable suspension
Climbs well for such a downhill-focused bike
Excels in challenging terrain
Chassis may be too stiff for some
Chain drop issues due to improperly spaced lower idler (fixed)
Stock chainstay protector did very little to manage noise
Aug 2022
The Trek Slash 9 9 shines on the steeps and excels in the rough, making it an almost perfect rig for enduro racing. Read the full Trek Slash 9.9 XO1 Review here.
Steep terrain crusher
Rough terrain performance
Fun jumper
Not the best climber
Ineffective drain tube
Apr 2022 · Alan Muldoon
The Trek Slash 9.8 XT is an enduro bike with progressive geometry and 29er wheels and 170/160mm of travel, and offers a performance that seriously impressive. Good enough to make it on our list of the best enduro mountain bikes? Absolutely. It’s good enough to score a 10 out of 10; a rare feat. Trek Slash 9.8 XT need to know: Mino Link geometry adjustment allows for a 27.5in Mullet setup KnockBlock 2.0 offers an increases the steering angle from 58º to 72º and can be removed if needed A bash guard on the MRP chain guide helps protects the 30t XT chainring RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate shock sports ThruShaft technology to control the 160mm travel We took the Trek Slash 9.9 XO1 for a first ride when it launched last year, and while the 2022 bike looks remarkably similar, right down to the frame colour of the bike we featured last time, there are several differences. The main one being that the XT equipped bike is £1,500 cheaper and there are changes to the specification that reflect its lower price. You get a full Shimano XT drivetrain and 4-piston XT brakes, rather than SRAM XO1. You also get a RockShox Zeb Select+ fork rather than the Ultimate, while the Bontrager Line Carbon 30 wheels switch to the alloy version. Downgrades? Yes, but none that should detract from the underlying ride quality of the Slash. The most important thing is that the OCLV carbon frame remains unchanged, so you still benefit from all of the advances in the frame geometry and suspension that Trek introduced last year. Updates that saw the addition of downtube storage, the head tube angle getting slacker, the seat tube steeper and the reach longer. Trek also made the suspension more progressive, and increased rear travel by 10mm to 160mm. All positive changes then. Trek Slash 9.8 suspension Trek has always been a big proponent of proprietary suspension components. As such, the RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate shock on the Slash 9.8 XT features Trek’s ThruShaft technology and it’s the exact same shock that comes on the flagship model. This design eliminates the need for a high pressure IFP (internal floating piston) and in simple terms, this allows for lower breakaway resistance and improved sensitivity. And because the damper shaft passes straight through the shock body, it needs an extender mount and a small hole in the frame to accept the ThruShaft at bottom out. Sounds complex? Well it is, but thankfully setting up the suspension on the Slash is as easy as 1, 2, 3. Sag gradients make it simple to dial in the correct air pressure, and in the open setting the shock has three low-compression settings for fine tuning the response to pedal inputs or the style of terrain you’re riding. Also if you ever want to fit an aftermarket shock, that’s still possible as the Slash uses a 230×62.5mm metric shock size, you’ll just need different lower mounting hardware. Setting up the suspension …Continue reading »
Fast, fun and efficient. Tight, reactive ride. Progressive geometry. Versatile, composed. A do-it-all bike
XL would benefit from a steeper seat angle
Apr 2021 · Robin Weaver
The Slash 8 strikes the perfect balance between a fun and lively feel, and ultimate chaos-calming composure
Easy to ride, very natural feeling geometry
Great kit for the cash
Easy to throw about yet still calm and stable when it needs to be
Seriously impressive suspension
Tyres aren’t the best in damp mud
Mar 2021 · Lydia Tanner
The Trek Slash has been 29-inch-only since 2016, and the 2021 version is evidence of its head start in the big-wheel enduro category.
Superb high-speed stability
Great traction in variable terrain
Supple and generous-feeling suspension
Less maneuverable at slow speeds
A lot of bike to get back up the hill
Feb 2021
Riding a bike like the Slash over the winter on the North Shore is a rough test scenario, but Trek's newest long travel trail bike has proven up to the task...
Feb 2021 · McCoy
One Killer Enduro Machine
Feb 2021 · Guy Kesteven
We took the Trek Slash 9.9 X01 to our toughest local trails to see how its new shape and unique shock translate to the real world
Phenomenal rear suspension
Easy setup
Awesome aggro geometry
Precision accuracy
High control cockpit
Internal storage
Efficient pedaling
Threaded BB
Optional steering lock
More confident with switched tires
ZEB fork requires some patience
Deserves better wheels
Short dropper on small sizes
Seriously grounded rather than playful
Frame | Carbon frame BB Standard: BSA, 73mm, Threaded Tire Clearance: 2.5" Color: Carbon Blue Smoke / Trek Black |
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Fork | Fox Rhythm 36, Float EVOL air spring, GRIP damper, tapered steerer, 44mm offset, Boost110, 15mm Kabolt axle, 170mm travel Travel: 170mm Spring Type: Air |
Shock | Fox Performance Float X, 2-position damper, 230mm x 62.5mm Travel: 160mm Spring Type: Air |
Bottom Bracket | Shimano SM-BB52, 73mm, threaded external bearing |
Headset | Knock Block 2.0 Integrated, 72-degree radius (includes infinite-radius chip), sealed cartridge bearing, 1-1/8'' top, 1.5'' bottom |
Stem | Bontrager Elite, 35mm, 0 degree, 35mm length |
Handlebar | Bontrager Line, alloy, 35mm, 27.5mm rise, 820mm width |
Saddle | Bontrager Arvada, hollow chromoly rails, 138mm width |
Seatpost | Size: S, TranzX JD-YSP39, 100mm travel, internal routing, 34.9mm; Size: M, ML, TranzX JD-YSP39, 150mm travel, internal routing, 34.9mm; Size: L, XL, TranzX JD-YSP39, 170mm travel, internal routing, 34.9mm Type: Dropper |
Grips | Bontrager XR Trail Pro, alloy lock-on |
Rear Derailleur | Shimano XT M8100, long cage |
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Crank | Shimano Deore M6120, 30T ring, 55mm chainline, 170mm length |
Shifters | Shimano SLX M7100, 12 speed |
Cassette | Shimano SLX M7100, 10-51, 12 speed |
Chain | Shimano SLX M7100, 12 speed |
Brakes | Shimano 4-piston hydraulic disc, M6100 lever, M6120 caliper Type: Hydraulic Disc |
Rims | Bontrager Line Comp 30, Tubeless Ready, 6-bolt, Boost110, 15mm thru axle |
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Tires | Bontrager XR5 Team Issue, Tubeless Ready, aramid bead, 120 tpi, 29x2.50'' |
Disc Rotors | Size: S, M, ML, L, XL, Shimano RT66, 6-bolt, 180mm; Size: S, M, ML, L, XL, Shimano RT66, 6-bolt, 203mm |
Last updated August 15
Not listed for 648 days