Its handling will surprise you, and might even change your mind about big wheeled bikes altogether if you aren’t already a fan. OverallĪchingly good looking, the Stache should be your go-to bike when you want to be fast and have fun. It was always planted and predictable, and blisteringly quick. You could be forgiven for thinking that at 120mm the Stache is a little under-forked, yet during the course of our tests it never baulked, never stuttered and never felt under gunned. I’ve ridden a few hardcore hardtails in my time and on a 26inch wheeled machine 140-150mm travel fork up front generally suits the really rough stuff. Pointing the Stache down a steep hill is where the fun really begins though, this is a very capable bike make no mistake. The Stache’s bigger wheels and pliable rear end help to keep that to a minimum though. Aluminium hardtails can often be a little “stiff” which can make climbing technical terrain difficult. The steering was responsive and the bike did exactly what you asked of it even in the tightest of single track.Ĭlimbing on the Stache is excellent, the long top tube and longish stem keep the front end down on even the steepest of climbs and of course the hard tail rear end offers instant drive. I’m still a fan of the 26inch wheel in most situations, however jumping on the Stache I never felt as if it was cumbersome or hard to handle. Trek have been working on the perfect geometry for 29ers for some time now and you can really feel it in the handling. There is endless grip in the dry, the Bontrager Expert tyres aren’t too capable in wet mud however, they definitely lean towards the race and speed side of the spectrum. Just a couple of pedal strokes from the very responsive drivetrain and you are up to cruising speed and already enjoying the bike.įor a 29er the wheelbase is quite short, the compact rear end, 68.3° head angle and “short” travel fork combine to keep things playful as far as the corners go. The Stache is fast, that’s the first thing you notice about it, and yes 29ers are quick and all that, but here the geometry combines with the lightweight and stiff frame to offer some blistering acceleration.
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