Trek Slash Review: The Most Important Enduro Bike Of 2024 | 2023 Enduro Bike Field Test
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- čas přidán 31. 05. 2024
- The new Trek Slash has been dominating headlines across the mountain bike world. How does it climb? How does is descend? Did the chain come off? You've got questions, we've got some answers. Join Matt and Dario as they let us in on their experiences while riding the 2023 Trek Slash. Spoiler alert, it's good.
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I'm convinced this is a good bike for all those people who are good at racing enduro without a chain.
If Aaron Gwin switched to enduro this would be the bike for him 🤣🤣
This bike is for riders who want to walk out of the woods because the chain doesn't stay on. But don't worry! There's ample frame storage for snacks on your hike back out!
Haha😂
If anyone missed it Lewis Buchanan scrapped his slash after just a week or two, because of the chain issue..
Seems like they have not figured out how to make it work properly, so strange coming from a big brand like Trek.
Trek isn't exactly known for well thought out proprietary hardware.
I’ve met a few people with the bike that mentioned that guy didn’t have his bike set up correct. They had not had any issues on their bikes
@@Ivypoison23 This isn't necessarily correct . Even when set up properly , the chain can still come off if you slide .
Yup and maybe if the chain ok mean that you doesnt ride as hard as Lewis :p ..
@@Ivypoison23 If it happened to Lewis, on PB, and also as part of Vital MTB's review I'd say it's an actual issue and not a 1 off...
I’m surprised by how casually they mentioned they dropped the chain a couple of times as if it’s no biggie when in fact it’s really all people wanted to know about the bike.
Can't be surprised when the review title is "The Most Important Bike of 2024"
I can't remember the last time I dropped a chain on a bike with clutched derailleur.
It's been weeks for me...
No coincide, immediately after my upper chain guide broke.
This read like a sponsored video =(
That sounds like a huge flaw you just glazed over fast (dropping chain on hard pushes), and the need for modifications also was glazed over.
Feel same here... Its a paid review.
To be fair, they discuss the chain drop, the reason and the easy fix in the text article on the website. It's not as big a deal as it is being made out to be.
@@robinclaidlawNot a big deal? We have pro riders dropping this bike left and right and other poor reviews coming out. Journalistic integrity aside, review fits like a one size for all 👎
Feels more like an Ad than a review. Shame
@@colbygoodrich7505 did you read the article? it sounds like you didn't.
Saw a pro rider review this bike recently. It was his. He got rid of it because chain was dropping every 2 minutes and couldnt be fixed.
Do you think a large bike manufacturer is not able to prevent the chain coming off/would sell a bike with such a massive issue?
Pretty sure same guy busted his steer tube on his next bike (Canyon) from what looked like bad HS installation so maybe it was him. Just FYI.
@@harrie205 R&D money probably getting tight with industry issues. Lot of moving parts in that Drive Chain. A little too complicated for my tastes.
Hey I follow that guy too!
He's the best reviewer we never asked for.
Thx man 😂
@@harrie205it's more complex than it looks.
Great engineers worked on that same problem.
So yeah Trek can't do it 😂
I’ve heard multiple people complain that the chain is coming off the idler and you gents have experienced that too now.
Not just the lower idler too
They said it came off in the review
But they also say in the article that it was a an assembly issue that can be easily fixed
good bike but has one huge flaw, chain is dropping and it needs to be fixed ASAP
Saw this as well as part of Vital MTB's enduro review...though they actually discussed it rather than here where they glossed over it as if it's no big deal
So the chain drop is real!
This bike isn't going to last long before a revision to drive chain performance and chain retention. I would wait for a year or two and Trek will sort out this issue as it has become the face of this bike now.
Exactly. Listen to this man...
2 years from now the bike probs wont even be a high pivot anymore
Vital had the chain come off too.
2 reviews dropped today, both experiencing dropped chains... No bueno, Trek
read the article
Add Lewis Buchanan ! If you want to race don't buy it 😖
You guys look like you are being held against your will. Blink twice if you need help.
Glad I scrolled down to find this comment
Can’t climb , super loud , and lots of chain drops. Trek copied the wrong trends this time.
coming back after this won bike of the year..... makes sense cause trek is obv
the main sponsor of the channel
Yes the dropping chain is a big flaw in this bike!!!!!
Regarding chain drop, they had issues with it but they found out the issue was in the lower roller of the chain guide "Chain drop issues due to improperly spaced lower idler (fixed)". Sounds like a assembly line/issue with MRP.
Trek is responsible for what they source, how they qualify those suppliers and ultimately what they ship to their paying customers. That the bike is unrideable falls to Trek. That it is glossed over like a paid promotion falls to Pinkbike
@@tywitt3351 uhh lol. Pretty sure they addressed the issue since it was discovered
So now the proverbial question now that all the reviews are out. Aside from picking a winner. Are any of these bikes actually better than a Specialized Enduro or RM Altitude haha.
No
bikes havent actually improved in raw performance, its juat a lot of brands intentionally making progress take a while to sell more bikes. my 2019 nukeproof mega with 27.5 inch wheels is faster than my 2021 nukeproof mega with 29 inch front and rear. The bike industry trys to make "improvements" to take our money essentially
not enough here to get rid of my Gen 5.
Amen
I found this bike to be not as good as you boys found it. I think its a step back from the gen 5 and its also a lot heavier. I did not experience chain drop, it does seem like thats the main comment under this video. What i did experience is the bike getting hung up on tech thay was not steep, maybe due to the mullet rear. I also did experience massive pedal kickback that I DO NOT feel on the other high pivot bikes ive ridden (deviate claymore and forbidden druid v2)
Trek is a major PB sponsor, and this review REALLY feels like Trek has a figurative gun to their heads. This review feels like "we want to say so much about this bike, but Trek will shut us down if we do". Compare it to the HD6 review where it feels like they were genuinely impressed with the bike (and being probably the simplest and least gimmicky bike on test it tracks).
I'm 180 cm tall, should I go for ML size or L? I currently ride Scott Ransom in size L but Trek in size L is 2,1 cm longer in reach... Wheel base also 2,8cm longer compared by my Ransom...
My brother just tried changing the suspension linkage bearings recently in his 2021 slash but gave up and took it to the local bike shop to do, trek put most of the bearings in the frame with a spacer between them, which makes them very hard to remove, you can't just tap them out from the other side because of the spacer, they put a small nick in the spacer about 1mm in size like they think that is going to give you enough of an edge to tap the bearing out? a couple of bearings are also double row bearings and another couple were odd sizes so you can't just go to a bearing supplier and replace them for cheap, you have to get them from a bike shop which costs about $40 per bearing here in NZ, compare that to my norco fluid which has the bearings in the chainstay and are very easy to remove and install yourself, plus they are standard size bearings which you can get for cheap from a bearing supplier.
Just like modern cars, forcing you back to the dealership. If these bearings are a once yearly service then invest in an expanding bearing puller or make friends with a lathe owner
@@janeblogs324 He just got his bike back, they replaced most of the linkage bearings, the wheel bearings, and the bottom bracket, this is in NZ dollars, it cost just under $800, the linkage bearings alone cost $472, and labor was $180, so yea it would be much cheaper to buy a bearing puller and do it yourself, and maybe instead of buying expensive double row bearings just double up on normal size bearings, I can't see any difference between using a double row bearing that's 10mm wide compared to installing two single row bearings that are 5mm wide, apart from the small bearings in the horst link my norco uses standard 6901 bearings that cost a little over $3.
@@benjy288 2 single row would need micro washers in between to preload the bearings. But in tests where people swapped to all axial bearings they couldn't tell the difference in stiffness and it's hard to measure wear. One of my GTs has a single pivot swingarm that uses 2 headset bearings. You can replace them and set your own preloaded with just Allen keys just like a headset
@@janeblogs324 Are you sure? the horst link pivot on my norco uses two single row bearings, and there's no washers between them, also deity pedals use two single row bearings, and there's no washers between them.
@@benjy288 if you grab even a brand new bearing you'll notice it has some wobble, if they are spaced out the bearings on the entire outer diameter of the race will be in contact instead of just 1 lone bearing touching the race. Its just like having loose cup and cones except there are 2 in a row, I wouldn't worry as no one can even notice sloppy worn bearings unless they hand wiggle the wheel
I like the idea of a used Gen5 for me, but might get a size small gen-^ 8 for my wife and ride it like a BMX bike myself .
One tiny passing comment about loosing the chain a few times is terrible. Why wasn't that stated in the Cons, section? Clearly trying to keep someone happy
High pivot requires ANOTHER sprung tensioner between the chainring and high pivot as the chain slackens there when compressing suspension. A weak o chain device is the only other bandaid, or a freewheel equipped chainring like ebikes use solves the issue
Love a M/L size! Slightly worried about chain falling off! And price
My wife loves the idlers just whimsical, like Rube Goldburge machine. Way more bike than she needs, but her favorite.
Pinkbike needs to bring back Mike Levy so he can snark about the idler wheels on all these new high pivot bikes
sram invented the narrow wide chain ring teeth profile to eliminate chain drop issue. but somehow trek has manage to bring it back to life😅
Excellent tire choice
and the chain has left the building !!
How it is possible for this chain drop issue to go through QA? I would say with the speeds you often ride those kind of bikes, it's dangerous.
Why does the narrator sound like Malcolm Gladwell? Very soothing 😂
Looks like trek foubd the issue of chain drop and its the spacing on bottom pulley!! Now im in the game to potentially order one.
Everyone in the comments waiting for the chain drop issues to be discussed lol
Trek have since found that some bikes were fitted with the wrong spacer for the older. Some were fitted with 5mm spacers instead of 7mm.
Listening to the wrap up podcast I can only conclude that the ad money is influencing the ranking. How else does a bike that is unrideable get so high. I haven’t seen a single review or test where dropped chain wasn’t mentioned. Unless you are a pro downhiller from Brevard a chain is kinda important
I can't recall any other bike that has received such polar opposite reviews from reviewer to reviewer.
Think this is one that anyone considering it should ride themselves (I know, should always do that, but many don't- including myself)
how can these idiots release the bike after all their "testing" very well knowing it's dropping the chain?
I have a 2017 trek slash love this bike but this 2024 just a bit too far along for me and i just want a simpler drive train they need to bring carbon 8.8 with no high idler and full 29er i would be there with bells on!!!
I ride a norco shore, i am extensively experienced in the areas of high pivots and chain dropping, so much so I’ve become very good chainless rider. I love the shore and I’m desperate to make this work. I don’t understand why the industry has not figured this out yet, completely insane.
I have a deviate highlander II and have not dropped the chain a single time ever.
High pivot requires ANOTHER sprung tensioner between the chainring and high pivot as the chain slackens there when compressing suspension. A weak o chain device is the only other bandaid, or a freewheel equipped chainring like ebikes use solves the issue
@janeblogs324 I've never had an issue dropping chain
I have a shore 2 and have not dropped a chain at all
@@janeblogs324 Sprung tensioners aren't difficult to make in a workshop .
I think we need fewer moving parts = less drag, rather than more. I really don't see the significant advantage to the high-pivot setup and the extra Idler pully and parts. Any advantage is neutralized by the extra weight and extra moving parts and complexity.
why no more words in the chain drop and how to fix it on the video. a lot of folks are wondering why it is and how to fix it. is there an official statement from trek for this issue?
A noisy rear end? I’ve seen other CZcamsrs have the same problem with the chain coming off.
The tone makes me feel like they're reviewing it as quickly as possible, under duress, like they want to say soo many things about the bike but can't due to sponsor obligation. I'll be surprised if the Slash doesn't win if for no other reason than Trek threatening to pull sponsorship if it doesn't. Based off the reviews, I think the HD6 would be the real winner.
Should have stuck with a normal suspension layout. It's a shame too because the looks were starting to grow on me a bit.
Buchanan "binned" this bike after a few rides. It looks like an R&D nightmare to maintain. This is why the Industry is reeling. Just say a bike isn't worth it.
The Design + the difficult „after corona market“ were there is almost no demand for bikes anyway =This bike won’t sell
I dont get how a big company such as Trek comes late to the high pivot scene and then totally drops the ball with the chain drop issues. Love my Gen 5 but disappointed to hear of this issue.
I’ve seen several people complain that the chain falls off too easily
3:33 the “downside” on most these reviews is chains drops!!!
Take out the headset tool, and the noises level dropps, Dario!
Does anybody ride around town on their unicorn, whats it like ?
Is the dude on the right a robot? The chain hopping off the idler seems to be pretty common so far on this slash.
Everyone watched a CZcams vlogger have dramas with his bike and is now of the opinion high pivots aren’t ideal. Insane.
If yr on about Lewis Buchanan, put some respect on his name. He isn't and wasn't just some "youtube" vlogger.
@@glynnb6572 He is an attention-seeker though, with continual click-bait videos. He's also an incredible rider, so I don't discount his findings, but I do definitely balance his thoughts with others.
@@thingswelike don't be a dickhead. Everyone on CZcams is an "attention seeker". That's their job you plank. That's why almost every CZcamsr on all genres have the same type of thumbnails these days.
Just checking: who is still racing enduro ? I mean normal people, regular riders, privateers not the factory teams (if any of them, too...)
To paraphrase Lady Bracknell: "To have one idler wheel is unfortunate, to have [to have] two looks like carelessness..."
Small people shouldn’t be on 29ers. That was a good choice
I ride 26'ers as I am 5ft 6in tall and get a frame made if needed to accept new standards for wheel dropouts and headtubes etc . I have seen 1.5 straight steerers / compatible head tubes starting to re emerge on a few small brands and forks assembled to suit . Cannondale did this for a few years . If I need rims , I piggy back an import order where the dies are set for the quantity requiring 26" in the factory .
Definately has a problem when every review and comments are the chain coming off... they need to pull it and do some more R&D and fix it properly... otherwise its good
And there’s Jeffery dahmer strikes again !
Besides the chain the other big issue is the weight. Its a 38 pound bike. Almost as heavy as a light e bike. I prefer my 2020 Slash 9.9 that weights 29 to 32 pounds depending on wheels, tires, cush cores. The 2017 ~2020 Slash rides like an EX bike with the capability to win enduro races. The 2021 2022 slash is heavy and feels like the brakes drag. The bike just does not roll free like the 2020 Bike. The new 2023 is evern heavier and the chain keeps falling off. Sometimes newer is not better
im on a Slash gen5 with coil and its smooth af, gen6 is a clear avoid
"this bike is amazing and sometimes the chain falls off" i can say that about my 2007 brodie dh bike but im not going to go out and spend 7 grand on it, wtf, fix the chain drop on your high pivot bikes or keep selling your regular suspension models as well.
No matter how great the bike is..... if the chain comes off the odd time or alot it's a pain in the ass, not great for a bit company.
boys look not so happy about the bike from beginning 😁, Claymore or Slash?
If I remember they legitiamtely liked the Claymore, Deviate seems to do high pivot better than anyone.
One word. "Disappointing"
I wish brands would stop doing full 27.5 on size smalls on supposed race bikes
Not surprised that a big PinkBike money source gets a soft "review" if we can even call it that. Not only did you guys choose ridiculous bikes to test, the tests are also kinda lame.
I miss Levie
We all miss Levy
Man I just can't see how they're charging so much too, I think they should've highlighted the price is too high as well.
Over $9k 😲makes my 2012 Trek Wahoo seem like a cheap pos at only $600-700 back then
We've waiting to drop this, so y'all could keep buying a bike with a huge problem for 5000 euro and after seeing this video throw it in the bin! 🤗
no more chains. cardan drive shaft is the best solution
its a bike park rig, clearly not a racer... extra drivetrain drag while dropping a chain then the weight.
Where is Levy,whats goin on?
What a lemon 🍋
How can you sleep at night? @pinbike
Nah, it definitely needs more pulleys!
I’d argue this is a DH-Lite bike, not an enduro bike…obviously for some this’ll be great, but for most it’s just too much.
But you still need a chain 😅
Chain drop chain drop chain drop if you get this bike get used to it, quick fix is questionable at best
Lol that fork looks so soft
Sounds like these guys took an ambien before shooting a video.
So basically the new trek slash can drop a chan faster than pinkbike can drop a Mike Levey. Both are bad for their brand image
No mention of chain drop? This must be a paid review.
I miss mike levy
Trek has normally good bikes, but it seems they are bored and wanted to create something innovative stuff. Who the hell had the idea with that chain system? They won´t sell many of them. Not 1 serious MTBer want to take the risk with big chain problems in the middle of the woods. In 10 years we can see videos of building fails of the past with this bike as number 1.
Enduro race bike - Yet drops the chain.......
Is the bike that creaky or is it the vocal fry that makes this video almost impossible to watch?
TREK should have spend the R&D updating the Remedy instead of this high pivot bullshit. I like HP but I prefer it in DH bikes than Enduro like Enduro trails would be fine in low pivot
Remedy is dead forever. The Fuel EX is the equivalent of an updated remedy if you just mullet it. It does everything better
I agree. Remedy should be mullet anda more free Ride focused, like spz status, santa cruz nomad. Slash should have minor updates in geo and Full 29er for enduro racing.
Pretty disappointing reviews overall on the Enduro bikes. Background audio (Kaz) is horrible. Definitely could use a filter. Reviews seem rushed and without detail. For bikes that are close to $10,000 US, 6 minutes doesn't really cover it. How about some real trail footage? Get rid of the repeat slow mo's on the same sections of trail.
And it is overpriced and is loud and has weird paddle kick back issues
Terrible review. I am very disappointed by Pinkbike. The bike is well known of having chain drop issues!
How much are you guys paid to gush over useless tech?
I just cant stand the way dario talks
These presenters are emotionless robots. Concise reviews, but pointless face-to-camera. Henry is the only interesting dude at Pinkbike.
F these overly complicated, gimmicky bikes. Every company in the business knows how to build great mtbs, so here’s an idea: stop wasting money on R & D to develop some gimicky crap no one asked for and that you can’t even get right and just build high quality mtbs that you don’t charge the consumer and arm and leg for. We know mtb tech has plateaued and that the days where upgrading our bikes every few years could be justified is over. You ain’t foolin’ anyone with this garbage.
The best review was on the @LewisBuchanan channel