{"id":151132,"date":"2017-02-08T06:27:15","date_gmt":"2017-02-08T05:27:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/?p=151132\/"},"modified":"2017-02-08T15:37:45","modified_gmt":"2017-02-08T14:37:45","slug":"tested-specialized-enduro-29-vs-trek-slash-29","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mtb-mag.com\/en\/tested-specialized-enduro-29-vs-trek-slash-29\/","title":{"rendered":"[Tested] Specialized Enduro 29 vs. Trek Slash 29"},"content":{"rendered":"

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After the various videos<\/a> shot during the tests, we finally publish the comparative analysis between two Enduro 29ers that were launched last summer: the Specialized Enduro 29 and the Trek Slash 29.<\/p>\n

Static Analysis<\/h2>\n

Tested models:<\/p>\n

Specialized Enduro 29 Pro Carbon, with 165mm rear travel and 160mm front travel.
\nTrek Slash 9.8 29 with 150mm of rear travel and 160mm front travel.<\/p>\n

We tested the standard build, which you can find directly at the bike shop. Both frames are full carbon, L-sized (the Trek is 19.5\u201d), with tubeless setup. Geometry is explained in our presentation articles (here the Enduro<\/a>, here the\u00a0Slash<\/a>). In the following section we will focus on the various differences and similarities of the two bikes. It is worth noting that both models are Boost, so you can also install 27.5 plus rims and tires.<\/p>\n

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Both models are equipped with a 160mm RockShox Lyrik. The Slash comes with a Dual Position RC, adjustable by lowering the left knob and then compressing\u00a0the fork. The Enduro has a Solo Air RC with compression control on the right knob.<\/p>\n

Trek uses a RockShox metric shock, the 230×57.5mm Super Deluxe, while Specialized mounts a classic 216x57mm \u00d6hlins STX22 with the Autosag valve (the one without cap in the picture).<\/p>\n

The Deluxe is provided with rebound adjustment and 3-position compression: open, pedal and lock. The STX22 has a 6-click rebound adjustment, an 8-click low-speed compression and a 3-position high-speed compression, one of which is meant for climbing and, unlike the Deluxe, it doesn\u2019t completely lock out the hydraulics.<\/p>\n

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Specialized chose its usual\u00a0FSR suspension system, while, on the Slash, Trek dismissed the Full Floater and anchored the shock on the front triangle, keeping the ABP junction on the rear pivot.<\/p>\n

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Another difference is that Specialized introduced the SWAT Door on the Enduro carbon models, though eliminating the useful top cap chain tool on this model.<\/p>\n

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On the other hand, Trek launched “Knock Block”: a protection placed in the top tube and integrated into the headset which prevents the complete rotation of the handlebar in the case of a fall. In the right picture is shown the maximum steering angle allowed. This does not affect the handling on narrow sections or nose\u00a0wheelies\u00a0at all.<\/p>\n

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Both brands chose the single chainring SRAM transmission. A 1×12 Eagle 30 tooth front chainring (and aluminum X1 drivetrain) is installed on the Enduro, while the Trek Slash, showing\u00a0its competition nature, features a X1 1×11 with a 32 tooth chainring, which is really aggressive on this bike, because a 32×42 on steep sections requires you to be in a really good shape.<\/p>\n

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The Slash has an adjustable geometry thanks to the Mino Link, which lifts or lowers the bottom bracket by 7mm and changes the head angle by 0.5\u00b0. Although those are not significant variations, we tested both configurations even in a non-conventional inverted way. In the two descents on video, for example, the bike was in high position on the harsh but straight Varazze Hard Rock trail, and in low position on the curvy Toboga di Canova trail at Finale Ligure. All in all, going downhill, the handling doesn\u2019t change that much. On climbs the slight adjustment of the head angle combined with the 7mm higher bottom bracket, provides more bottom clearance\u00a0(especially when you lower the fork).<\/p>\n

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Both Specialized and Trek mostly installed their own components. The Specialized has a 125mm Command Post IRcc dropper post.<\/p>\n

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Here is the Bontrager Drop Line 125 on the Trek.<\/p>\n

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The same can be said about the 780mm handlebars, the rims and the tires. Both Roval and Bontrager, after some hub-related problems of their early years, considering also the various tests we’ve carried out, have become two great wheel producers. For example, Marco broke one spoke on the Specialized before going to Liguria to ride on the rough trails you see in the videos. We didn\u2019t have time to replace it but the wheel worked perfectly anyway, apart from being slightly out of true, but you have to know the Varazze downhill is really brutal\u00a0for the components.<\/p>\n

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We felt really confident riding with the 2.4 Bontranger SE4 Team Issue tires. The 2.3 Butcher front tire and in particular the 2.3 Slaughter rear tire, which rolls very well\u00a0but provides low traction on wet terrain, were a little less than ideal.<\/p>\n

Measured weights<\/h4>\n

Trek: 13,880 grams
\nSpecialized: 13,930 grams, with bottle cage multitool installed.<\/p>\n

Climbing<\/h4>\n

We intentionally wrote the weights before talking about the on-trail test: these bikes are two downhill rockets. The climb is the \u201cnecessary evil\u201d to reach the start of the track. These are the second-level models of the respective Enduro fleet. The more you go down the scale, that is, the less you spend, the heavier the bike is, thus it consequently becomes harder to climb.<\/p>\n

Straight to the point: the Specialized Enduro is the better climber. The forward seat position, thanks to a steep seat angle, 76\u00b0 compared to the 74.1\u00b0 (73.6\u00b0 in low position) of the Slash, makes the pedaling more efficient. The difference is reduced if you lower the fork, but say on\u00a0a steep punch\u00a0during the descent, with no time to lower the Lyrik, it is hard to control the Slash because the front wheel tends to lift up and you have to be quick in pushing it down working with your\u00a0upper body.<\/p>\n