[bullcrew]

So listening to everyone I went up bike sized to a xl slash HP.

(And got wife into night riding now, sorry just popped into brain and made me smile)


I see the same guy throws chains and of course a few pink bikers say they are...but I have yet to throw a chain and I have deliberately smashed a few nasty rock sections and pushed back end down and Into rocks trying to either break a rim or get the chain to fly off ..


(I think it's a drivetrain or transmission issue)

I haven't had that issue I'm on a GX der 12 speed and oval wide thin ring 32th...I am considering acing the lower guide cog and see...

Anyhow here is a brief breakdown:
Climbs better or more comfortable than my xl Santa Cruz HTLT , weighs 39lbs built with heavier tires, coil shock, alloy frame...thing mashes rocks extremely well and stays active, doesn't manual or wheelie extremely well (need to adjust myself to size) but throws around actually pretty good and this is really the only time the weight can be felt..

Not much chain drag, not going to say none that's bullshit but it's very minimal and doesn't effect climbing or become a drag. Damn near dead silent I assume it'll get louder as time goes on and bearings break in..

I'll update as I ride it and get a few riding pics here and there, I will be trying to throw a chain every ride...
I did manage to bend a rim but no chains went flying off and hikers injured from a rogue chain..

 

[Gary]

Cool bike. Chain retention is shit. (as in physical chain guides) and a T type chain is fucking stupid. Even MOAR so when it's running upside down (idlers n jockeys). You did the right thing avoiding that shit

How tall are you?

 

[Gary]

Why the fuck oval?

 

[Happymtb.fr]

it looks very clean, almost stealth by your standards

Does it feel any different than the Session?

 

[sethimus]

needs moar stars and stripes

 

[bullcrew]

Cool bike. Chain retention is shit. (as in physical chain guides) and a T type chain is fucking stupid. Even MOAR so when it's running upside down (idlers n jockeys). You did the right thing avoiding that shit

How tall are you?

6'3 , ran oval on a couple bikes and for me it seemed to help with the power to ground when I pedalled ...didn't seem like the cranks were in a constant state of mud all the time tension....

@Happymtb.fr I typed this answer out 4 or 5 times with ride experience and terrain type..but it can be simplified by

Session is lower , faster, likes speed and ability to corner at speed in nasty stuff...slower steering and more composed for holding line in total chaos
Damped feel compared to slash but lively for a dh bike.

Slash is long, has a good pocket but your on bike not in bike (LIke DH) corners lighter and quicker, easier to pedal , holds line very well, you can get over back end and control it ok get over the front end and dig it in for corners and control.

Both bikes hammer square edge hits like a rearward arch bike, both pick up speed and both teeter on the gravity side of their intended use...

Session 100% DH
Slash 60% DH 40% enduro

You can see how the slash is on and over bike position and session is behind and down...this is the main thing I feel between the 2

Both great bikes and between the 2 If I had to choose it would come down to the slash.
But I plan to race DH again and still have trails i will shuttle ...so a DH bike is still warranted ..

 

[Electric_City]

Let me know when you break a chainstay. I'm curious how long they last.

 

[6thElement]

Why the fuck oval?

New Whip? New toys for the dependable steed?

Well I'll be damned, a Trek without 12 headset spacers, nice. I keep them in the storage compartment in case I need to blend in.

ridemonkey.bikemag.com

hrug:

 

[bullcrew]

needs moar stars and stripes

Wheelset is patriotic...lol but overall blue and white . (2 gold spokes to match up with ohlins)

 

[canadmos]

You have any Rock Shox fork air caps laying around in that garage?

Asking for a friend.

 

[bullcrew]

Let me know when you break a chainstay. I'm curious how long they last.

Haven't gotten it to flex over bad yet, I know the layout and increase lateral load when turning is more than conventional...
Did ride a forbidden and I had that back wheel eating the chainstay bad...that was in a parking lot slapping it back and forth corners...opted to not buy it due to that and rear flex..but that bike rode well...

The slash is quite a bit stiffer, but everything will break eventually..

 

[bullcrew]

You have any Rock Shox fork air caps laying around in that garage?

Asking for a friend.

Pm me I think I have 2...if I do you can have it

 

[Happymtb.fr]

thanks @bullcrew !
Would you say that they reward more a rider that is picking his lines precisely or more someone who is charging and rolling over everything? any difference between the slash and the session in that regard?
I get the feeling, from what I read about the session, that it suits better the charging and rolling over everything kind of rider

 

[Electric_City]

Haven't gotten it to flex over bad yet, I know the layout and increase lateral load when turning is more than conventional...
Did ride a forbidden and I had that back wheel eating the chainstay bad...that was in a parking lot slapping it back and forth corners...opted to not buy it due to that and rear flex..but that bike rode well...

The slash is quite a bit stiffer, but everything will break eventually..

A bunch of riders in our club, including myself, had broken a bunch of chainstays. Though other parts cracks, the CS was the main culprit. It was always right behind the weld on them too. Mainly the disc side, but not always. 20+ years of seeing frames break in the same area has me wary of purchasing a DH frame from them. I love the geo/feel of Treks bikes. They've always stood by their frames when they cracked and they were quick. But they remind me of Shimano's brakes- it's a known issue and constant, but it's never actually fixed. My Remedy was 7 years old and had 6 or 8 warranties. Pretty much 1 chainstay per year with 2 front triangles in there somewhere. I'd not be in the right mental state to ride a Session aggressively cause I'd fear a catastrophic failure even though I know others don't have issues with them.

 

[bullcrew]

A bunch of riders in our club, including myself, had broken a bunch of chainstays. Though other parts cracks, the CS was the main culprit. It was always right behind the weld on them too. Mainly the disc side, but not always. 20+ years of seeing frames break in the same area has me wary of purchasing a DH frame from them. I love the geo/feel of Treks bikes. They've always stood by their frames when they cracked and they were quick. But they remind me of Shimano's brakes- it's a known issue and constant, but it's never actually fixed. My Remedy was 7 years old and had 6 or 8 warranties. Pretty much 1 chainstay per year with 2 front triangles in there somewhere. I'd not be in the right mental state to ride a Session aggressively cause I'd fear a catastrophic failure even though I know others don't have issues with them.

That's good to know and I'll keep an eye out on it for sure...Ill see if the HP have that issue or if it was the main session...either way my wife will tell you anything under my seat and back is sacrificial...it's all on borrowed time..so this is good info

 

[bullcrew]

thanks @bullcrew !
Would you say that they reward more a rider that is picking his lines precisely or more someone who is charging and rolling over everything? any difference between the slash and the session in that regard?
I get the feeling, from what I read about the session, that it suits better the charging and rolling over everything kind of rider

It's a split for sure, my canfields were a different type of ride...I hit everything let off brakes and let it grab speed in rocks and nasty..didn't corner like these and wasn't able to be thrown to different line choices as easily ...could ride the hell out of that bike though...

On the Treks...I would say either (can be mashed or precise lines) not to the caliber of the Jedi as far as mashing . But not far off..
Playfully compared to that and you can hop it into different lines relatively easy...it will reward your good line choices for sure and not punish you for the bad ones...
The session is precise for sure and it's like a scalpel that came with a "bring on the shit" attitude cause it has plenty of room for nasty hits..

The slash is the same but geared towards Enduro...I have been riding a lot of Enduro bikes (lately) and being predominantly a DH guy and likes riding on reaction...I love the slash...
It isn't as much a scalpel but a bike that a rider can get in and out of crap fast and controlled that allows you to weight a corner front or rear and dig bike into it...
It is fast in corners even being a xl, I was worried about a 52" wheelbase ...not anymore I have come into a couple spots hot and made a reaction turn to avoid stuff..it will take care of you...

Not saying it's the ultimate but for me I really.like it and it rides a lot better than I anticipated...so I am excited to put some hard lines on it this winter...

 

[Happymtb.fr]

Thanks again for your feedback

 

[WestCoastHucker]

A bunch of riders in our club, including myself, had broken a bunch of chainstays.

a guy in my crew also breaks them about every 3 months and has been doing so for over 15 years. he keeps getting crash replacements, but fuck that shit...

 

[Jm_]

A bunch of riders in our club, including myself, had broken a bunch of chainstays. Though other parts cracks, the CS was the main culprit. It was always right behind the weld on them too. Mainly the disc side, but not always. 20+ years of seeing frames break in the same area has me wary of purchasing a DH frame from them. I love the geo/feel of Treks bikes. They've always stood by their frames when they cracked and they were quick. But they remind me of Shimano's brakes- it's a known issue and constant, but it's never actually fixed. My Remedy was 7 years old and had 6 or 8 warranties. Pretty much 1 chainstay per year with 2 front triangles in there somewhere. I'd not be in the right mental state to ride a Session aggressively cause I'd fear a catastrophic failure even though I know others don't have issues with them.

The Ghost of Gary Fisher.

 

[bullcrew]

So are they breaking the regular session or HP

 

[Redwood Mulch Chucker]

yes

 

[bullcrew]

So I assume that means they are breaking both

 

[Electric_City]

a guy in my crew also breaks them about every 3 months and has been doing so for over 15 years. he keeps getting crash replacements, but fuck that shit...

Word. Jeff and myself were on what we called the lifetime program. Jeff bought a Trek in 1999 and warrantied frames almost annually. Trek kept sending him new frames... Not the part he broke. FRAMES almost every time. Finally about 3 years ago, they told him that they can't send parts, but they'd offer him a new bike, fully assembled, for $2k. So that's what he did. That just renewed his warranty. Lol

 

[Redwood Mulch Chucker]

Like the old Speshy SX trail.
Good bike for it's time, but it went through drive side chain stays like a frat boy and a case of Natty Light.

 

[bullcrew]

Like the old Speshy SX trail.
Good bike for it's time, but it went through drive side chain stays like a frat boy and a case of Natty Light.

View attachment 202603

That was a fun bike..had that and it killed it on jump line and trails with lots of features

 

[Electric_City]

The Ghost of Gary Fisher.

And Klein. Some of us started having this issue with our Kleins. But since Trek owned them, when we broke them again, they were replaced with Fisher or Trek frames.

 

[SkaredShtles]

<cannondale has entered the chat>

 

[bullcrew]

Well I like the session and haven't been able to dig up a HP cracked as of yet...havent put a ton of time searching, but see lots of the regular ones starting back in like 2009..

As for.my slash , dig that bike...actually really love both bikes, both XL (cause of the shit RM has given me with my size)..

So thank you guys, not a joke...I do like the room to move...I was happy on smaller frames for ripping around but..you were more righter than me...lol I was only partly right .

 

[mykel]

Well I like the session and haven't been able to dig up a HP cracked as of yet...havent put a ton of time searching, but see lots of the regular ones starting back in like 2009..

As for.my slash , dig that bike...actually really love both bikes, both XL (cause of the shit RM has given me with my size)..

So thank you guys, not a joke...I do like the room to move...I was happy on smaller frames for ripping around but..you were more righter than me...lol I was only partly right .

Ya, size matters . I still ride my 2013 DH bike (Mullet Knolly Podium) and it takes a couple of runs to dial yourself into lack of reach. It still feels good when you get used to it again, but the size of the operating window with regard to body movement is TINY in comparison the new school geo.
It does not take much to find yourself too far over the bars, or too much hanging out the back door. It takes much more mental focus to keep yourself in the window, especially when things go a bit sideways.

 

[bullcrew]

It does not take much to find yourself too far over the bars, or too much hanging out the back door. It takes much more mental focus to keep yourself in the window, especially when things go a bit sideways.

This is what I was most cognitive about right off the bat and not paid attention to it till bigger bikes..

 

[Electric_City]

... havent put a ton of time searching, but see lots of the regular ones starting back in like 2009...

I'll spare you some time.

Ps. What's the deal with "thanks, XL, more room, bla, bla, bla..."? I'm between 2 sizes and not sure which direction to go. Let me know your thoughts.

 

[bullcrew]

I'll spare you some time.

Ps. What's the deal with "thanks, XL, more room, bla, bla, bla..."? I'm between 2 sizes and not sure which direction to go. Let me know your thoughts.
View attachment 202650

Apologize for long winded post , I'd post naked lady's and bike porn to keep attention but I'm lazy..so read we must..

Also isn't that the regular session rear not HP?
I'm hoping there were some changes to stress and allows the new design to hold a bit better..


I like smaller bikes being bigger even MX has been a little small..I adjusted to that and the industry was not geared towards 240lbs 6'3..it was 6 and 180lbs. When things changed I stayed the course of riding large and undersized frames..was comfortable..

First ride in the x-large session I was trying to find my groove, it was long and very stable..I wasnt over the front or rear too easily by cramped cockpit. It allowed me to stretch my reach out I'm +3 on arms...so it was nice to not sit so damn high above bars .
A couple runs and found myself pushing it even harder and was more stable less deflected on rocks, drops and jumps the bike seemed to javeline and keep its direction better without a drift..

So a xl may be like you going to the size down being im oversized or you will like the little extra the bigger one gives you ..you will have to find your pocket on it and not look back, let yourself say "this is all there is" and ride the shit out of it..d
I did that on smaller bikes for years and LOVED it ..but the bigger bike I am faster and more stable with less fatigue trying to micro manage all the crap at speed after 6-7 runs...

i don't see any real loss in throwing the bike where I want , brake checking rear to get it out or bar to pit to pull it up and flat.. it takes a little getting used to but it's less twitchy...

Sorry for long winded post, the bigger bikes and running them is still new and fresh in my mind so it's easy to see the separation between riding in them still...If I were dj and slope style I'd opt smaller or jumpy short course I could see going back down. Everything else including Enduro , for me the extra large size and reach works better than I would have thought

 

[Andeh]

As one of the guys who gave you shit about riding too small bikes, I'm glad the new ones are working out for you.

 

[bullcrew]

As one of the guys who gave you shit about riding too small bikes, I'm glad the new ones are working out for you.

So am I..lol so I didn't see it as weird to thank you guys...it is appreciated and one of the best choices I've been pushed to do..

 

[ChrisRobin]

Why the fuck oval?

They're actually decent. I've had one for a long time now and then at one point I tried a normal round ring again and I found there was this sort of dead space somewhere in the pedal stroke. It's subtle but it's there.

 

[sethimus]

They're actually decent. I've had one for a long time now and then at one point I tried a normal round ring again and I found there was this sort of dead space somewhere in the pedal stroke. It's subtle but it's there.

do you also believe in homeopathic sugar pills?

 

[Kurt_80]

Word. Jeff and myself were on what we called the lifetime program. Jeff bought a Trek in 1999 and warrantied frames almost annually. Trek kept sending him new frames... Not the part he broke. FRAMES almost every time. Finally about 3 years ago, they told him that they can't send parts, but they'd offer him a new bike, fully assembled, for $2k. So that's what he did. That just renewed his warranty. Lol

Ha.. if only the frame was as good as the warranty...

 

[jstuhlman]

@bullcrew curious how you feel it compares to your nomad as an all-rounder (apologies if you've already posted these impressions somewhere else)....

 

[Gary]

They're actually decent. I've had one for a long time now and then at one point I tried a normal round ring again and I found there was this sort of dead space somewhere in the pedal stroke. It's subtle but it's there.

LOL

 

[ChrisRobin]

LOL

Well I'm not saying it'll make me climb as fast as you on your electric motorbike, but there is something to it.