trek slash 8 calgary

• MAGAZINE OFFERS
• BIKE INSURANCE
• Best Products
• Maintenance
• Accessories
• Long-Term Reviews
• BikeRadar Podcast
• First Look Friday
• Bike of the Week
• Tech Features
• Routes and Rides
• Bike Galleries
• BikeRadar Bargains
• Buyer's Guides
• Fitness & Training
• Sizing & Fit
• Mountain Biking UK
• Cycling Plus
• Bike of the Year 2024

Trek Slash 8 Gen 6 review | Enduro Bike of the Year contender

Trek’s high-pivot, big-travel Slash 8 boasts good value and promises a lot on the trail

Laurence Crossman-Emms / Our Media

Robin Weaver

Composed feel at speed; climbs really well; great geometry; shock tunes helps it feel lively and playful; solid spec for the money

Tyres struggle in mud and aren’t tough enough; fork requires careful tuning to compensate for performance limitations

Trek has historically done well in our Enduro Bike of the Year category, with the Slash taking top honours back in 2021.

The latest Slash Gen 6 frames feature a high-pivot suspension design to deliver the 170mm of rear-wheel travel, come with a mixed-wheel setup as standard and offer up plenty of suspension and geometry adjustment.

On top of that, the new Slash also gets the standard lower, longer and slacker treatment in a bid to make this a genuine World enduro race winner.

The Slash 8 is the cheapest of the seven-bike Gen 6 line-up, uses an aluminium frame and comes with some solid parts from the likes of Shimano and Fox.

Although it's the cheapest of the eight bikes in my Enduro Bike of the Year test, it really packs a punch on the trail, with a ride that stands out for all the right reasons.

It’s sprightlier than expected and more playful too, but get stuck into the really rough stuff and it’s impressive just how well the rear end smooths out the trail.

Push too hard, though, and some of the spec choices start to hold this otherwise impressive rig back.

Trek Slash 8 Gen 6 frame and suspension details

The Slash 8 Gen 6 is made from Trek’s Alpha Platinum Aluminium, sports a plethora of rubberised driveside frame protection to help quieten chain slap and has under-belly guards to fend off rock strikes.

High-pivot designs are nothing new to Trek (the Diesel downhill bike was released more than 20 years ago), though they tend not to feature on bikes that need to be pedalled a lot.

That’s all changed with the latest Slash Gen 6 frame, which – you guessed it – now sports a high main pivot.

The bike continues to use Trek’s ABP (Active Braking Pivot) suspension layout, which sees the chain and seatstay pivot concentric to the rear wheel axle. That equates to a single pivot with a linkage-actuated rear shock.

The high main pivot creates a rearward axle path, designed to deal better with momentum killing square-edge hits.

In total, Trek says this moves a maximum of 18mm back from its starting point (growing the effective chainstay measurement) at around 135mm into the 170mm of rear-wheel travel before continuing to arc upwards and forwards for the remainder.

With 30 per cent sag, it’s estimated that the effective chainstay length will have increased by 11mm, sitting at around 440mm.

A massive upper idler helps to mitigate pedal kickback – a result of the rearward axle movement.

The lower idler cog is designed to take tension off the rear derailleur. This is not only to help it continue to shift properly and more efficiently, but to increase suspension sensitivity (because the lower section of the chain isn’t trying to extend the derailleur against its clutch mechanism).

Sizes small through to large need a standard 126-link chain, while the XL requires an extra-long 128-link chain.

To ensure the Slash Gen 6 can work with a coil-sprung shock , there’s a flip chip in the lower shock mount that enables you to increase the level of progression across the 170mm of travel from 20 to 25 per cent.

There’s also some integrated down tube storage for stashing essentials out of the way.

Trek Slash 8 Gen 6 geometry details

Trek offers the Slash Gen 6 in small, medium, medium/large, large and extra-large sizes.

The size small comes with 27.5in wheel front and back, while all other sizes use a 29in front and 27.5in rear wheel as standard.

There’s the option to switch to a larger rear wheel, although you’ll need to purchase a different lower shock mount to do so (£29.99).

Likewise, if you’re keen on altering the head angle, Trek sells aftermarket angled headset cups (plus or minus 1 degree) for £27.49.

I measured the Slash 8 to sport a slack head angle of 63.4 degrees, with a front centre of 790mm.

The seat tube angle is steep at 77.7 degrees, and the effective top tube quite compact for a size medium at 578mm.

Reach isn’t the longest at 448mm, but thanks to the compact seat tube lengths (400mm on the medium) across the size range, many riders will be able to size up if they’re looking for a roomier ride.

On paper, the Slash’s chainstay length looks really short at 429mm, but remember, as the bike drops through its travel, the rear axle moves backwards, effectively increasing this figure.

Trek Slash 8 Gen 6 specification

Trek has been smart with where it has spent the budget on the Slash 8.

Shimano XT gearing is great to see on this level of bike, and it’s no issue that this has been made possible in part thanks to the use of the lower-spec Deore crankset.

The brakes are also from Shimano, in the shape of Deore M6100 levers and four-piston M6120 calipers.

Taking care of the 170mm of travel at the front is a Fox 36 Rhythm fork, which uses the brand’s cheapest and most simplistic GRIP damper with limited adjustment compared to the pricier GRIP2 equivalent found on more expensive mountain bike forks .

This is matched to a Float X Performance rear shock.

In-house parts brand, Bontrager takes care of just about everything else, including the bar and stem. Unlike the pricier Slash 9.9 X0 AXS T-Type , it doesn’t use Trek's one-piece bar and stem, which is a plus in my eyes.

Bontrager also provides the wheels and XR5 Team Issue tyres.

All in, the medium Slash 8 Gen 6 on test weighed 17.01kg without pedals.

Trek Slash 8 Gen 6 ride impressions

I tested the Slash 8 on a wide variety of trails dotted around the Forest of Dean, South Wales and BikePark Wales.

These spanned from flowy jump lines through to hand-cut, steep, technical, natural descents, along with plenty of high-speed, rough-and-ready bike park tracks thrown in for good measure.

This enabled me to develop a thorough understanding of what the Slash 8 is good at and where it struggles.

Trek Slash 8 Gen 6 setup

Setup was quite straightforward, settling on 30 per cent sag for my 68kg weight with 147psi in the spring and the rebound damping left fully open. However, the fork became more of a puzzle as time progressed.

Initially, I settled on 71psi in the fork’s air spring, with only a couple of clicks of rebound damping wound on (from fully open). This offered masses of comfort and a decent level of traction.

As time went by and I felt more comfortable on the Trek, I had to increase the spring pressure and rebound damping to try to raise the level of support on offer.

I finished with 75.5psi in the air spring and no volume spacers.

Trek Slash 8 Gen 6 climbing performance

The Trek’s seated position is upright and comfortable, thanks to the steep seat tube angle.

It’s not particularly stretched out, though, due to the relatively short effective top tube and stumpy 35mm stem.

I wasn’t ever uncomfortable and didn’t feel cramped, but I noticed that compact position occasionally when scaling steeper, technical inclines. At 172cm, I think I could comfortably go up a frame size and negate these issues, though.

However, that’s not the headline here. What takes all the attention is how well this long-travel big hitter pedals.

Get cranking and the rear shock stays spookily still while you tick off the vertical metres. It helps that the tyres roll pretty quickly, too, limiting drag and injecting a bit of get up and go into proceedings.

With so little movement from the back end, you can leave the shock’s low-speed compression lever well alone because you don’t need it.

On every climb I tried, the Slash 8 felt the sprightliest and most energetic when pointed uphill, which is quite surprising considering its weight. It’s only when faced with soft mud that progress is stifled, due to the rear tyre lacking enough bite to generate grip and spinning up easier than others.

Trek Slash 8 Gen 6 descending performance

That energetic feel translates instantly to the trail when descending, too.

Trek has nailed the rear shock tune with this bike, producing a seriously capable bump gulper that helps generate traction when needed, but never sucks the fun out of even the tamest of tracks.

The fast-rolling tyres play a part in all of this, but the comfortable, well-balanced suspension helps the Slash remain playful, agile and, most importantly, fun when skimming through undulations and gapping rollers.

Speed seems to come easily, even when boosting in and out of slow-paced turns. Pick-up from the rear hub is quick and dumping gears quickly thanks to the precise XT shifter and derailleur is rapid when you find yourself wanting to inject even more speed to proceedings.

Square-edge what?

Pummel into faster, rougher sections of trail and the back end of the Slash really starts to shine.

The high-pivot design does a great job of scalping the peaks of the ugliest square-edge hits, helping you to stay online and composed at speed.

It’s this sensation that builds confidence and encourages you to ride faster. However, this is when you’ll start to reach the limits of the fork and tyres.

The Fox 36 Rhythm fork, with its GRIP damper, is one of the comfiest suspension forks on the market. But push it hard and you’ll be left puzzling over how to best balance that comfort with support.

My initial starting point delivered a beautifully supple ride, but lacked support when riding faster tracks, causing the front end to drop away with higher-load compressions and landings, and upsetting overall balance.

Upping the spring pressure and adding volume spacers helps here, but reduces overall comfort. The basic compression dial doesn’t exactly enable fine-tuning.

To unlock the full potential of the Slash 8, you’d be best to get the fork professionally tuned (roughly £120 for a service, plus £50 for custom tuning) so it can better handle being ridden hard without compromising that impressive comfort too much.

Similarly, I found myself incrementally adding pressure to the tyres , too, because they’re not as supportive or as tough as the best mountain bike tyres . This was largely because I found myself burping the rear tyre all too easily.

Thanks to the supple suspension, I didn’t find this to impact comfort too much, but you can feel the effects in terms of traction, especially when tackling anything remotely wet.

Swapping to your preferred tyre combo from the get-go should be high on your to-do list. You might want to ditch the chunky, wide-diameter grips while you’re at it.

Mega momentum

Despite those niggles, I never failed to have fun riding the Slash 8 and was always impressed by how well it could maintain speed.

On rough, high-speed tracks littered with rocks ready to sap your speed, the Trek always managed to retain incredible pace.

The back end beavers away tirelessly to isolate you from the worst impacts, enabling you to remain centred on the bike and focused on your line.

When speed started to dwindle, I had sufficient support, enabling me to pump undulations and compression in a bid to boost speed. However, I’d argue the Slash isn’t as direct and punchy in that sense as some of its rivals.

The geometry isn’t as lengthy or as raked out as some, but it still feels a confident bike to ride, even more so if you swap to grippier tyres.

Through the turns, the low 340mm bottom bracket helps to keep things suitably stable, while the suspension tracks the terrain almost effortlessly.

How does the Trek Slash 8 Gen 6 compare?

As the second most expensive bike within the Enduro Bike of the Year test, I’m going to compare the Slash 8 to the Transition Spire Alloy NX.

The Spire costs £50 more and comes with the same rear shock and a Marzocchi Z1 fork with the same GRIP damper.

But while the Slash features pricier Shimano XT gearing, the Spire has SRAM’s NX Eagle transmission. This proved to be clunkier and more problematic to keep running smoothly after months of riding in grim conditions.

The Spire suffers from the same fork issues as the Slash – impressive comfort but lacking in high-speed support when you really start pushing the bike.

Both bikes climb well, but the Slash feels a little punchier when grinding its way uphill.

On the descents, while the Spire offers a smooth ride, it can’t quite compete with the supple high-pivot bump-eating back end of the Slash.

The Slash is, overall, a comfier ride, too, with more feedback coming through the front end of the Spire when battering through repeated hits.

Enduro Bike of the Year 2024 | How we tested

The expectations resting on the shoulders of any enduro bike couldn’t be heavier. Creating a bike capable of tackling just about any trail revolves around smart choices and compromise.

In the simplest terms, enduro riding and racing is all about winching your way up to the top of a hill or mountain, then tackling an often-challenging descent.

These bikes are designed to excel at downhills.

How a bike handles the climb isn’t the be-all and end-all when it comes to overall performance, but pedalling efficiency and seated geometry still need to be factored in.

When it comes to geometry, we’re looking for stability and composure, but without dulling playfulness and agility.

A balanced suspension system creates a stable ride, but engineers also need to factor in the right amount of support for the rider to push against when pumping the terrain, and enough sensitivity to ensure the tyres can maximise traction on just about any surface.

Over a three-month period, all the bikes in this category were ridden back-to-back, as well as in different orders, in a bid to eke out every difference between them.

The trails in question varied from steep, natural downhill tracks and forest singletrack through to the high speeds and hefty impacts of BikePark Wales.

Our Enduro Bike of the Year contenders

• Santa Cruz Megatower C R
• Transition Spire Alloy NX
• Ibis HD6 XT
• Kona Process X CR
• Marin Alpine Trail XR
• YT Capra 29 Core 4
• Cube Stereo One77 C:68X TM 29
• Trek Slash 8 Gen 6

Trek Slash 8 Gen 6 bottom line

The Trek is a seriously smooth operator and really impressive for the cash.

Supple, well-balanced suspension and some really solid gear choices make it a formidable bike on the hills.

The fact that it has so much travel and a high-pivot, but climbs like a much lighter, shorter-travel machine is a massive bonus.

Push hard and the fork can’t keep up with the shock – and lacks the same level of composure at really high speeds. Meanwhile, the tyres are best suited to trail-centre pootling rather than full-on enduro riding and racing.

Swap the tyres and get the fork tuned to optimise performance and the Slash 8 Gen 6 will be an absolute rocket ship on the toughest of trails.

Share this article

Technical editor-in-chief

You may also like

Bikeradar newsfeed, vitus sommet 297 amp review, yt capra 29 core 4 review, merida one-sixty 6000 review, giant reign 1 review.

• Terms & Conditions
• Subscribe to our magazines
• Manage preferences

2021 Trek Slash 8 Bike (discontinued)

• Write Review

Specifications

Sizes and geometry.

www.trekbikes.com

More Products

2022 Devinci Spartan Deore Bike

2022 Propain Tyee CF 27.5" Start Bike

2023 Propain Tyee CF Price2Ride Bike

2022 Commencal Clash Essential Ash Grey/Heritage Green Bike

2022 Commencal Clash Essential Dark Slate/Keswick Green Bike

2024 Rocky Mountain Altitude A30 Shimano Bike

2022 Vitus Sommet 297 CR Bike

2022 Commencal Meta SX Essential Bike

• Mountain Bikes
• Trek Mountain Bikes
• 2021 Trek Slash

Most Popular

Hello Vital MTB Visitor,

We’re conducting a survey and would appreciate your input. Your answers will help Vital and the MTB industry better understand what riders like you want. Survey results will be used to recognize top brands. Make your voice heard!

Five lucky people will be selected at random to win a Vital MTB t-shirt.

Thanks in advance,

The Vital MTB Crew

• Rider Notes

2021 Trek Slash 8

A 29″ aluminum frame full suspension enduro bike with high-end components.

Manufacturer Price

For This Bike

View more similar bikes →

Based on frame geometry and build specs.

A bike with lower gearing will be easier to ride up steep hills, while a higher top end means it will pedal faster down hills.

Similar Bikes

(descending)

Add custom gearing

Based on build material and quality level of the frame, fork, wheelset, groupset, suspension system, and more.

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

Read Review

Jul 2021 · Pinkbike Originals

We caught up with Jamie Edmondson to get the details on his new Trek Slash.

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

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 · 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

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

Starting with a new Trek Slash 8 frameset, fellow Flow Frother Ben has chosen a rather eclectic build kit to complete his unique enduro bike. Read on for a closer look at the parts he's chosen, and a detailed explanation of what's worked well, and what hasn't worked so well.

Jan 2021 · Christoph Bayer

The brand new Trek Slash has big shoes to fill, its predecessor being one of the most popular 29er enduro bikes on the market. We were all the more excited to find out if the new bike can hold its own against the increasingly tough competition. Spoiler alert: yes, it can! But there are a few things to consider.

Agile and balanced handling

Cleverly designed frame at a fair price

Versatile bike with a wide range of uses

Slack seat tube angle

Puncture-prone tires with moderate grip

Cockpit ergonomics

Last updated June 4 Not listed for 734 days

Panthers take an extra day before 2,500-mile trek to Canada, moving closer to first Cup Final trophy

As the Edmonton Oilers boarded their flight back to Alberta for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final on Tuesday, the Florida Panthers remained in South Florida

As the Edmonton Oilers boarded their flight back to Alberta for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final on Tuesday, the Florida Panthers remained at home.

They’ll fly out of South Florida on Wednesday, which gives them an extra day’s rest before a six-plus hour flight 2,543 miles to the other side of the continent.

It helps that the NHL scheduled two days between Games 2 and 3, given this is the furthest distance between two teams in a final in NHL history.

The series resumes with Game 3 in Edmonton on Thursday.

“Just the function of the length of the flight and the travel I think it’s very smart that there’s two days off,” said Panthers coach Paul Maurice. “It makes it fair, and at the end of the day that’s surely what this should be. Both teams work so hard to get here, it should be a really even playing field with no real disadvantage in the logistics of how the series is run. So, there shouldn’t be two days for one team, but only one day for the other when they come back. This is right, it’s the way it should be.”

There’s plenty that the Panthers plan to do to keep themselves occupied on the way over: Sleep. Card games. Television. More sleep.

“I play poker,” said Panthers Matthew Tkachuk, who entered the league after being drafted with the sixth pick in 2016 by Canada’s Calgary Flames, who play nearly 200 miles south of Edmonton.

“I don’t know if I can play poker for six hours, to be honest. I’ll probably do poker, little bit of a fake nap, walk around, back to playing poker. It is a long flight. You only do it a couple times a year, so that part is going to be a little different this series, definitely.”

When they arrive in Canada, the Panthers will have momentum on their side thanks to the stellar performance of goalie Sergei Bobrovsky and a lockdown defense.

And the odds are in their favor.

Teams that hold a 2-0 series lead in the Stanley Cup Final are 49-5 all time. The likelihood of winning it all increases to .964% for teams that go up three games to none.

The availability of Florida captain Aleksander Barkov is in jeopardy, though, after he was knocked out of Game 2 midway through the third period following a hit from Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl.

Maurice said Barkov “wasn’t worse” on Tuesday but will be further assessed on Wednesday.

0 FOR POWER PLAY

Edmonton’s power play, which converted at a postseason-best 37%, is 0 for 7 through two games of the final. Asked Tuesday what more needs to happen, coach Kris Knoblauch said, “Put the puck in the net.”

“We hit three goalposts,” Knoblauch said before flying home. “If those are a quarter of an inch to the inside, we’re probably talking about how our power play saved us and came through crucially. I’m not sure how much more we can do. Just sharpen up our shooting and be a little more accurate, I guess.”

The extra day gives the Oilers a chance to regroup in every facet, and they’ll be on the ice in Edmonton roughly when the Panthers are flying.

“We’ll have practice day tomorrow to work on those things,” Knoblauch said. “There will be a lot of conversations with the coaching staff, management to understand what they see and anything we can improve on.”

AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno contributed.

AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL

College World Series field set: 5 top-8 seeds, including No. 1 Tennessee, head to Omaha

The eight-team field for the 2024 College World Series is complete with NC State beating Georgia on Monday night to earn the final spot.

The Wolfpack will join three other ACC teams (North Carolina, Florida State and Virginia) and four SEC teams (Tennessee, Kentucky, Texas A&M and Florida) at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Neb.

Advertisement

What are the first-round matchups?

Friday: North Carolina vs. Virginia, 2 p.m. ET; Tennessee vs. Florida State, 7 p.m. ET

Saturday: Kentucky vs. NC State, 2 p.m. ET; Texas A&M vs. Florida, 7 p.m. ET

The curse of the No. 1 seed

Can Tennessee become the first No. 1 overall seed since Miami in 1999 to win the national title? The Volunteers head to Omaha with college baseball’s most frightening offense. They lead the nation with 173 home runs — 22 more than any other team — and have five regulars in the lineup with an OPS of at least 1.000.

Looking for a potential flaw? The pitching staff, while very good, lacks the elite No. 1 starter that we have seen on so many national championship-winning teams. Drew Beam is a solid veteran who has pitched in a ton of big games — including at the College World Series last season — but he has allowed more hits than innings on the season and hasn’t been at his best of late (nine earned runs in 8 1/3 innings in the postseason).

It will also be interesting to see if the Vols keep the Chris Stamos-AJ Causey combo for Game 1. It’s worked well for most of the season, but Stamos didn’t make it out of the second inning in the Regional (1/3 inning, one earned run versus Northern Kentucky) or Super Regional (1 1/3 innings, two earned runs versus Evansville). That followed five straight starts of pitching at least two full innings for the senior “opener.”

This team has plenty of options on the mound. It will be interesting to see how head coach Tony Vitello and pitching coach Frank Anderson deploy them on the sport’s biggest stage.

Cags on the big stage

We have been fortunate to watch some special college baseball players in recent years, but I’m not sure we appreciate just how good Jac Caglianone has been for the Florida Gators over the last two seasons. He was on the shortlist for best hitters in the nation last year as a sophomore and has made a significant leap as a junior. His home runs have stayed the same (33 each season) while his slash numbers have improved from .323/.389/.738 to .411/.523/.860. His strikeout-to-walk ratio has flipped from 58 strikeouts and 17 walks in 2023 to 25 and 52 in 2024. Oh, have we mentioned he’s also a starting pitcher who throws in the high 90s and has 10.2 strikeouts per nine innings?

Cags struggled at the plate in the 2023 CWS, going 5 for 26 with two home runs during the Gators’ march to the championship series. The guess is he will be far more productive in his final go-round in Omaha.

(Photo: Saul Young / News Sentinel / USA Today)

Get all-access to exclusive stories.

Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. Try a week on us.

Mitch Light is a college sports editor for The Athletic. He previously served as the managing editor for The Athletic Nashville and The Athletic Memphis and prior to that was the managing editor at Athlon Sports for 18 years. Follow Mitch on Twitter @ MitchLight

Ridley's Cycle

• Stores Stores
• Account Account
• Subtotal : $ 0.00 Checkout Cart

Free Shipping On Orders Over $99 in Canada (Some Exclusions Apply) | Receive An Extra 10% Off When You Buy 4+ Parts

• 29-Inch Wheel (29ers)

Trek Slash 8

Slash 8 is an enduro mountain bike that rolls on fast 29er wheels and floats on plush RockShox suspension with SRAM's newest GX Eagle handling drivetrain duties. An aluminum frame with fresh new tech and tough alloy wheels push this bike into the sweet spot for all-around rippers. It's right for you if... You want a big bike with big wheels to roll over big things and send big hits. You might enter some enduro races, but you mostly just want to rail sketchy descents faster than anyone else in your crew. The tech you get An aluminum frame built for harsh riding with a threaded bottom bracket, dual downtube guards, Knock Block 2.0, and 160mm of travel with a RockShox Super Deluxe shock for long descents and 170mm Yari RC fork. Plus, a SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain with an extra-low 52-tooth gear, and complete tubeless Line Comp 30 wheels. The final word Slash 8 puts serious enduro performance within reach with smart choices on spec that won't empty your wallet. The aluminum frame, burly suspension, and 1x12 Eagle drivetrain makes for a ride that's equally at home on the race course and on a big, backwoods session. Why you'll love it - A sleek internal storage compartment gives you a versatile spot to stow tools and gear - We added a second down tube guard to better protect your frame from shuttle-related damage - It's equally at home between the tape and in the rugged wild—Yes, Slash is a race bike, but it's ridiculously fun on gnarly trail rides, too - New, removable Knock Block has a bigger steering angle to keep cables and hoses safe without sacrificing turning radius - Wider seat tube, wider dropper—the 34.9mm diameter post is stronger, more durable, and moves up and down faster

Due to supply-chain issues, Specs are subject to change without notice.

* Subject to change without notice.

Why Star Trek: The Animated Series Was Dissatisfying For George Takei

Perhaps the most overlooked series in the "Star Trek" canon ("Short Treks" and "Very Short Treks" notwithstanding), "Star Trek: The Animated Series" may be accepted as the final two years in the U.S.S. Enterprise's five-year mission. "Star Trek: TAS" debuted on September 8, 1973, four years after the cancelation of "Star Trek," to reunite the original cast and writers to explore Starlfeet's adventures in a 30-minute, animated format. The animation was provided by Filmation, the studio that had previously overseen multiple Batman and Superman cartoons, Archie cartoons, "Gilligan's Island" spinoffs, and which would go on to produce the ultra-popular "Fat Albert," "The Groovy Goolies," "BraveStarr," and "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe." Filmation shows were popular among kids, but their animations tended to be stiff and inexpressive. The most prominent feature of "Star Trek: TAS" is how static it looks. 

However, the shortened runtime forced the writers of "TAS" — most of them veterans of the original show — to trim out a lot of the excess, get straight to the story, and to the heady sci-fi concepts embedded therein. This may be a daring declaration, but "TAS" was better written than "Star Trek." Additionally, the animated format allowed for wilder ideas to be tinkered with. Episodes could now take place underwater or on worlds that didn't look like Southern California. Aliens could now be humanoid plants, possess multiple limbs, or be 50 feet tall.

Walter Koenig was unfortunately excluded from "TAS," but Majel Barrett, James Doohan, William Shatner, Nichelle Nichols, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, and George Takei all returned to reprise their original roles. In the cases of Barrett and Doohan, they played dozens of new roles as well. 

For Takei, though, "TAS" wasn't fun. In an interview with Starburst Magazine , Takei recalled the gig being a lonesome affair. 

George Takei disliked recording alone

It's unusual when an animated series of feature film allows all of its voice actors to convene in one place and record together. There are exceptions, of course: Mark Hamill and Kevin Conroy famously recorded together on "Batman: The Animated Series," John Goodman and Billy Crystal recorded together for "Monsters, Inc.," and the principal cast of "The Simpsons" once recorded in unison. Meanwhile, shows like "Futurama," the new "DuckTales," "Animaniacs" (the Yakko/Wakko/Dot segments), "Adventure Time," "Steven Universe," and "The Powerpuff Girls," always record with the entire cast present. 

"Star Trek: TAS," however, was made with efficiency in mind, and group recordings didn't fit into that ethos. Each individual actor would take turns in the recording booth, reading on their own lines before going home. Takei hated that, feeling it to be lonely; we was used to acting with co-stars on a set, not merely reading lines into a can. He said: 

"It was not as satisfying as the live-action, because then we were there on the set together, playing scenes with each other. With the animated version, when I arrived at the recording studio, Leonard might be leaving, and I would step into the booth and do just my lines. The scene might be with Leonard or with Nichelle, but it would only be me alone with my lines highlighted. Then when I'm finished and leaving, Jimmy Doohan would be coming in, so it was not a very fun way of working." 

The live-action shoots weren't always great either, and Takei recalls some very late nights on the original set, but he still enjoyed the process and walked away from "Star Trek" with mostly pleasant memories. His biggest regret was that there was never a Captain Sulu TV series that spun off from "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country."

The backcountry battle axe You’ll need this where you’re going Slash is a no-holds barred enduro sled built to rip, rally, and rail through the gnarliest trails on the planet. With 170mm of front and rear travel, mixed wheel size, and new high-pivot design, Slash not only descends like a beast, but it’s also ready to billy-goat up punchy climbs with square-edge slabs that send your friends on hike-a-bike missions. Crush laps that enduro bikes of yesteryear only dreamed of. Charge through the chunder, hurtle over wheel-roasting roots, and blast through boulder fields with drops so deep you’ll question your sanity – but never your bike’s capability.

• Watch the walkthrough

2023 Pinkbike Bike of the Year 

“Slash put down an impressive performance during the Enduro Field Test, with a blend of speed and stability that put it on every editor's list of favorites. It also happens to be very adaptable, and while steep, chunky terrain is certainly its forte, it's no one-trick pony.” – Mike Kazimer, Pinkbike 

"One of our favorite bikes of the year." 

"slaps a huge smile on your face", "one of the most impressive enduro bikes we've tested".

High pivot, high aspirations 

Slash pedals better than other high-pivot bikes thanks to an idler pulley layout that's optimized for efficiency. Plus, that rearward axle path gives Slash mind-blowing traction for scrambling up tricky climbs without getting caught on roots and rough edges. You get less wasted energy and more gas left in the tank for the descents.

Upper idler

The 19-tooth upper idler pulley is bigger than most so the chain doesn't have to bend as sharply, adding efficiency and strength.

Lower idler

The lower idler pulley prevents chain growth below the chainstay and keeps that tension off the derailleur cage so you get better shifting and suspension performance.

The main ingredient in Slash's pedaling alchemy is its anti-squat curve. Anti-squat is affected by a few variables, but one of the biggest factors is main pivot position. The size and placement of the upper idler gives us another way to tune the anti-squat curve. Between the upper and lower idler layout and size, Slash delivers a super-efficient and super-consistent feeling anti-squat curve that makes this bike pedal more like the short-travel Top Fuel than the previous generation Slash.

Built burly

1. Super slack head tube

Sitting at a relaxed 63.5-degrees, Slash’s head tube keeps your front wheel far ahead for serious stability on the steepest, gnarliest trails. 

2. Steep seat tube angle 

Perched at 77-degrees, Slash keeps you in the perfect position for putting down power on long slogs up fire roads and punchy, slabby climbs. 

3. That just-right reach 

460mm of reach keeps the cockpit long and stable for control and stability through everything.

4. Size-specific chainstays

Get the same trail-taming feel no matter your height thanks to size-specific chainstays that keep handling consistent. 

Adjustable leverage rate

Easily adjust suspension progression with just a flip of a chip. Ride it in the less progressive setting for a plusher feel perfect for rugged trails loaded with square-edge bumps. Flip it to more progressive when you’re riding fast, hitting big features and don’t want to bottom out — or if you want to roll with a coil shock.

Stow it, don’t show it 

Stash your ride essentials with in-tube storage on all models — both carbon and alloy. Included Bontrager BITS bag keeps your odds and ends organized. 

Created for customization

Want to run a longer dropper? Swap air for a coil shock? No problem. Slash has plenty of room for beefy tires, big coil shocks, and running up to a 190mm fork. Plus, it’s even equipped with accessory mounts under the top tube when your storage door is loaded and you need to haul a little more.

We spent hours analyzing high-speed camera footage to figure out just how to shape a guard to minimize chain movement, so you get a quieter, more protected ride. 

Slash Gen 5 

Slash Gen 5 is a long-travel 29er built for wild terrain. It packs in 160mm of rear and 170mm of front suspension, a lighter build, and traditional suspension design. 1. 160mm/170mm travel 2. 29˝ front and rear wheels 3. Traditional suspension design 4. Lighter build

Slash Gen 6 

Slash Gen 6 goes even burlier with mixed wheel sizes for ultra-steep descents, longer 170mm front/rear suspension, extra adjustability features, and a high pivot suspension design. 1. 170mm/170mm travel 2. 29˝ front and 27.5˝ rear wheel 3. High pivot suspension design 4. Extra adjustability features

Chase dirt, catch air

Slash SE is a limited-run ride that’s ready to rip with a proven Slash Gen 5 frame and one-of-a-kind Earth and Air paint that gives a nod to the loam we grip and jumps we boost. Its decked out with SRAM’s GX AXS wireless transmission and RockShox Flight Attendant – the automatic suspension system that listens to your riding and responds in real-time.

• Rocky Mountain
• Specialized
• YT Industries
• Allied Cycle Works
• Black Market
• DALLINGRIDGE
• Diamondback
• Early Rider
• EVO Bicycles
• Growler Bikes
• Guerrilla Gravity
• iGO Electric
• Intense 951
• Juiced Bikes
• View all brands
• Production Privee
• Rad Power Bikes
• Rambo Bikes
• Riese & Müller
• Soul Fast E Bikes
• Spark Cycleworks
• State Bicycle Co.
• Structure Cycleworks
• Surface 604
• Van Nicholas
• Vintage Electric
• We Are One Composites

• Cross Country

• All Mountain

Trek Slash 8 27.5

• AUS $ NZD $ USD $ CAD $ GBP £ EUR €

Colour / Dnister Black

Size / 15.5, 17.5, 18.5, 19.5, 21.5"

At a glance

Where to buy.

Specifications

• Frame Alpha Platinum Aluminum, ABP, Full Floater, EVO link, E2 tapered head tube, Mino Link, internal derailleur & dropper post routing, down tube guard, PF89.5, ISCG 05, 160mm travel
• Wheels Bontrager Duster Elite Tubeless Ready, TLR strips, 15mm front, 142x12 rear
• Wheel Size 27.5"
• Tires Bontrager XR4 Expert, Tubeless Ready, aramid bead, 27.5x2.35"
• Crank SRAM GX 1000, 32T X-Sync
• Rear Derailleur SRAM GX1, Type 2
• Shifters SRAM GX1, 11 speed
• Brakeset Shimano SLX hydraulic disc
• Handlebar Bontrager Rhythm Elite, 31.8mm, 15mm rise
• Saddle Bontrager Evoke 2, chromoly rails
• Seatpost KS eThirty Integra, remote lever, 2-bolt head, 31.6mm, zero offset, internal routing
• Stem Bontrager Rhythm Comp, 31.8mm, 0 degree
• Headset FSA IS-2 carbon, E2, sealed alloy cartridge

Q: What size wheels does the 2016 Trek Slash 8 27.5 have?

The 2016 Trek Slash 8 27.5 has 27.5" wheels.

Q: What size 2016 Trek Slash 8 27.5 should I get?

No comments on this bike yet. Why not be the first?

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Want more MTB in your mailbox?

The latest on mountain bikes delivered straight to your mailbox.

More Bikes in Range View All

Trek Slash 8

Trek Slash 7

Trek Slash C Frameset

More trail bikes view all.

Canyon Spectral 125 AL 5

• Triple Phase Suspension system, • Internal cable routing, • Frame weight: 3000g (6.61lbs), • Includes torque wrench set, shock pump, tool case, and assembly paste, • UK price: 2449…

Voodoo CYMBIE P1

Scott Contessa Strike eRide 920

Looking to head off road? With a completely new design, the Contessa Strike eRIDE 920 is the definition of comfort for a full suspension e-MTB. State of the art integration,…

Deals View All

View all deals, recent posts view all.

Blackburn Honest Digital Pressure Gauge Review

It's 2020 people. The squeeze and bounce test doesn't cut it anymore (and this is…

Comparing Mountain Bikes

Mountain Bikes are complicated machines. They have parts from hundreds of different manufacturers, come in…

Undomestic Mountain Bikes: Here’s what we know

Update March 2020: Undomestic has announced that they are manufacturing frames "at this moment" and…

Send Feedback

Have a suggestion? Looking for a bike that's not on MTB Database? Or perhaps you've spotted an error?

We'd love to hear from you. Let us know with the form below.

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience possible. Learn more.

About MTB Database

Explore, search and compare thousands of the world’s best mountain bikes here on Mountain Bike Database.

Compare prices, components, suspension, reviews, images and more on current and past MTB’s. You can even share reviews, comments and questions on mountain bikes. View and compare a huge selection of bikes from brands such as Trek , Specialized , Giant , Santa Cruz , Norco and more .

We strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information for mountain bikes on MTB Database. If you’ve spotted any issues, please let us know . We also include helpful tools, such as our frame size calculator, to assist you in choosing the right mountain bike. Bear in mind that these tools serve as a guide and simply provide a general indication. Refer to information provided by your bike manufacturer for the most applicable information for your bike.

Bikes By Brand

Bikes by year, bikes by riding style, bikes by wheel size, popular bikes.

• 2022 Specialized Epic EVO Comp
• 2022 Trek Marlin 6
• 2022 Specialized Enduro Comp
• 2022 Specialized S-Works Epic EVO
• 2022 Specialized Epic EVO Expert
• 2022 Giant Fathom 29 1
• 2022 Trek Marlin 7

Latest Bikes

• 2023 Commencal SUPREME DH V5 SIGNATURE 70'S
• 2023 Orange Phase 29 Factory
• 2022 Commencal META SX V4 TEAM Frame
• 2023 Commencal SUPREME DH V5 SIGNATURE LTD
• 2023 Commencal META SX V4 - Frame
• 2023 Riese & Müller Swing4 vario
• 2023 Riese & Müller Swing4 silent