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Place your bets now! Will I keep this one past 12 months? 🙂
Picked up my Trek Slash 8 from Wheelbase in Staveley today. Rather embarrassed to admit that this is the first time I've ever been to a bike shop to pick one up! They were really great too.
Did a basic setup and even fitted my mudguard. Bonus when I got home and the Muc-Off valves I bought weren't needed as they'd already set the wheels up tubeless!
Took a couple of crap photos while I fitted my One Up chain guide, bottle cage, extra pawls and pedals.
Going to have a good ride and proper set up on it tomorrow.
Spec:
Fork - Rockshox Yari Debonair
Groupset - Sram GX Eagle
Brakes - Sram Guide R
Wheels - Bontrager Line 30 comp
Tyres - Bontrager XR5 2.6 front / XR4 2.5 rear
Seat Post - Bontrager 150mm dropper and saddle
It's a pretty solid spec for the money and I'll only be making small upgrades. The first one I already have in my spares (changing the Guide R to Guide RS levers). I also want to change the damper in the Yari eventually. Still keen on trying the Yari Up, so I'll probably end up doing that.
I'll get some better and more muddy pics tomorrow.
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Be interested in better photos and your thoughts in due course.
Enjoy
Rather embarrassed to admit that this is the first time I’ve ever been to a bike shop to pick one up!
This made me think. The last and only time I picked a bike up from a shop was when I was 15, it was a Peugeot and had 15 gears! Every other bike has been a frame only or picked up 2nd hand.
Sometimes the fun is in researching and buying a new bike. I don't think it will last more than 18 months! 😂
Bike looks good.
Yeah same here! Usually frame only and I've bought a couple online and had them delivered.
18 months would be a miracle for me 🙂
Brightened it a little.
Nice bike op.
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Oh cool, ta for that 🙂
Could you photoshop a new floor in my hallway? Real ones are expensive!
Nice bike! I rode out in whistler with some one on one of those. It had survived a year being smashed about Vancouver and whistler and the only thing that had given up was a rear rim!
johnw1984
Could you photoshop a new floor in my hallway? Real ones are expensive!
Tell me about it! Lol
It feels huge compared to my Spider and I think that's what I missed. Can't wait to get out on it tomorrow. I'm impressed with the Bontrager stuff too.
Time will tell on the dropper though. The one that came with my wife's Top Fuel was shite! I think it lasted 3 wet rides before it gave in.
I've never saw a front mudguard like that before!
It's an RRP ProGuard (I think). Best one's I've tried 🙂
So I only took one pic today while out for a play at Healey Nab. In a word the bike feels amazing!
Initially it felt massive, but the more I rode it, the more it felt just right. The tyres were a nice surprise. No problem with grip and they roll incredibly well too.
It's a bit heavier than the Intense even with the coil, but it doesn't feel like that at all when riding. It's a very sturdy climber and I reckon I'd have no trouble on a longer ride.
The one thing I still need to get used to is having more travel available! I was going quite fast into choppy stuff and wincing, only to sail through it with loads of stability.
Takes a bit more effort to jump, but on the other hand it drifts nicely round muddy berms if you just trust it to take you around.
I'll probably put the Guide RS levers on next week and leave the spec alone for now. There's literally nothing I want to change at all. Even the newer Debonair Yari is much better than the first generation!
Oh and I was gently reminded of the knockblock headset when trying to walk through a tight fence!
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Like 👍
That looks great!
Just thought I'd post a little update after a first proper ride on the Slash 8. Yesterday I did my usual 25 mile/3000ft route starting at Rivington, then up to Darwen Tower/White Coppice and back.
Tried to go into it without the "new bike goggles" and be honest with myself. It's the biggest bike I've had and at first I was a bit apprehensive about this. What if it pedals like a slug, and it's a chore to ride on anything flat?
Well, I can honestly say, none of that is true of this bike! Even the road climbs were pretty effortless. Really, It's the best climbing bike I've had, especially on anything more technical.
It also descends really well too. I had to keep telling myself to take it easy while I'm on a new bike! Rooty/rocky fast downhill sections are just properly fun on this and the bike encourages speed over it.
The Bontrager tyres are excellent. XR4 rear, XR5 front and they seem to stick to everything while being able to roll nicely.
The weakest part of the spec is the brakes in my opinion. Change the levers to Guide RS and swapping the pads to see if they improve.
After the ride, I finished feeling a lot fresher than I usually do. I didn't think this would be the case on a big travel 29er. Thought I'd write this out as I see people always asking "Am I over-biked" or "Is this too much bike for my riding".
I always ask the same questions myself and originally I was looking for a shorter travel 29er. I'm extremely glad I chose this bike.
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I'm sure it's great to ride, but WTF is with that seattube?
Ah yeah...
It's an XL and the seat tube is pretty long. I can just fit a 150mm dropper at full extension (actually spot on pedaling height).
If it was any higher, I couldn't have bought one. Most of my bikes have had big seat tubes though, even my Hightower was the same. One day I will get a frame and be able to fit a bigger dropper in it 🙂
I'm used to it with previous bikes. It's the price I pay for having shortish legs for my size.
I've just realised that you might have meant the angle! That's more of an optical illusion, it's not that slack in person I promise 🙂