Sram’s Level Trail brakes have excellent ergonomics and are a good fit for the Stache. Trek have specced the Stache with SUNringle DUROC rims- we’re interested to see how they perform throughout the review. The Bontrager Chupacabra tyres have a tread pattern that sits somewhere between a Bontrager XR2 and XR3, and are a good fit out of the box for the Stache. The aluminium Stache 7 retails for $3299, and includes a Manitou Magnum fork with 34mm stanchions and 120mm of travel, a Sram groupset consisting of 1×11 GX gearing and Level Trail brakes and most of the finishing kit is handled by Bontrager. 29+ wheels means the 3″ tyres are meatier than the barbeque on Australia Day. Tyre pressure setup on the Stache is more critical than for most other bikes, so we’ve been experimenting with different setups to get the best combination of traction, tyre stability and rolling efficiency. The huge contact patch of the tyres, which can be run at very low pressures when setup tubeless (the Stache ships with rim tape installed as well as tubeless valves) gives insane cornering grip as well as small bump sensitivity to compensate somewhat for the rigid rear end. What advantages do the 29+ wheels provide? The Stranglehold Dropout’s elevated chainstay features a protective layer to protect the chainstay from the chain slap. Tensioners for singlespeed setup as well as chainstay length adjustment allows for multiple wheel sizes and gearing options. Yes! The Stache’s ‘Stranglehold’ dropouts allow for the bike to be configured in 29+, 27.5+, regular 29”, and even as a singlespeed!ĭespite the Stache being more open to change that Donald Trump’s policies, we would definitely recommend giving the Stache a good crack in its original 29+ guise, as the benefits of the 29+ tyres are really what make this bike shine. Is there an option to swap wheel sizes if I don’t like the 29+ wheels? The Bontrager Chupacabra tyres are named after the legendary Latin American goat-slayer, and hold the key to slaying trails aboard the Stache. Is this even possible? Could Trek be onto something here? Stay tuned for the review where we’ll discuss this further. These attributes mean that the riding style required to get the most out of the Stache is different to how you would ride a standard dual-suspension trail bike. The Stache’s strengths include insane levels of traction and a geometry aimed at being able to throw those big hoops around at will. I highly recommend you talk to your local Trek dealer about a demo because the total package creates an experience, and value, beyond the sum of its parts.This is a question we’ll answer more in-depth in the review, however, what we’ve learned in our time on the Stache so far is that asking if the bike replicates the abilities of a dual suspension trail bike is not the right question to be asking. If the Trek Stache looks like a bike that would be fun where you ride then it's probably one of the most fun bikes for where you ride. We're well over a decade removed from the idea that everyone needs a burly bike with lots of travel and as much as I'm passionate about hardtails with bleeding edge slack head tube angles, hugely aggressive (slow rolling) tires and DH brakes, I recognize that that's not an ideal setup for most places. Maximizing the Stache experience is all about being honest about where and how the bike will be ridden. Or maybe call it $3000 (USD) with an X-Fusion Manic dropper post and the air system in the fork upgraded to Manitou's awesome Dorado air system. It is dialed out of the box and I think it offers a lot of value for $2700 (USD). Location dependent I could definitely see it being my only bike - with a 3" DHF 3c on tap for road trips and I know a lot of riders for whom it would be a great second bike. It sacrifices some level of intuitiveness for a very clean appearance and excellent performance and after I'd used it once it was fast to adjust the wheelbase at home in the shop. I did play around with the Trek's wheelbase via their Strangehold system. This is unfortunate because the conditions where it shines parallel perfect trails for one gear riding. Unfortunately, the stock XD driver wheel and a lack of a Boost replacement of sufficient rim width prevented me from testing the Stache as a single speed. The ultimate mix of traction, support and comfort comes from airing the tires down until they feel a bit squirrely pushing into corners and then adding a few pumps of air at a time until they don't. At this point, I was bottoming the ultra supple Chupacabra tires onto the rims more often than I would have liked on my personal bike but the ride quality was excellent. With the Huck Norris system installed I kept the air pressure in the same zone and rode on with a feeling of impunity. The Chupacabra tires perform best with pressure in the mid-to-low teens.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |