STACHE 7 VS STACHE 9 PATCH
STACHE 7 VS STACHE 9 UPGRADE
STACHE 7 VS STACHE 9 PRO

The Stache is available in complete builds down to $2,100 and as a stand-alone frameset for $1,580.

STACHE 7 VS STACHE 9 PRO

The carbon Line Pro 40 wheels are what transform this bike: the 41-millimeter internal width allows lower pressure and tons of footprint on the tire, but the wheels are still zippy and light, courtesy of the carbon layup. Trek gets a special shout-out for its increasingly broad and sophisticated line of Bontrager components. That said, the stock fork is plenty and more versatile.

STACHE 7 VS STACHE 9 UPGRADE

We also tried out a 140-millimeter fork, which some testers preferred for its handling on rowdy trails-an upgrade worth considering if you live somewhere like Sedona, Arizona. For an ultimate build, we’d probably lean toward 1×12 gearing, with a 50-tooth ring to ease the sting on steeps. And though the Stache is a hardtail, the combination of big wheels, slack head-tube angle (68.4 degrees), and 120-millimeter fork makes for a bike that’s ready for the most raucous trails.Īt $4,700, this bike is not cheap, but all the bits and pieces are high-quality, including SRAM Guide RS brakes, a SRAM X1 drivetrain, and a 120-millimeter RockShox Pike fork. The arrangement means that the Stache can’t accept a front derailleur, but that’s less of an issue here, since the low overall weight means 11 or 12 gears is plenty. The raised drive-side chainstay, which allows for a short (420 millimeter) back end that both fits the big wheels and makes the bike snap forward when you stomp on it, looks classy here compared with some other brands’ gawky renditions. Trek kept the geometry from last year’s alloy Stache and upgraded to carbon. The Stache, with its big wheels, is a dirt-gripping, rock-shredding, fast-rolling hardtail machine with few peers. Historically, the drawbacks have been extra weight, additional rolling resistance, and a lack of maneuverability, though Trek has largely eliminated these issues through smart design and materials.

STACHE 7 VS STACHE 9 PATCH

The tires also have the largest contact patch of anything short of a full fatty. Thanks to all that circumference, the wheels roll over objects with ease. Though there’s variance depending on brands and specs, these tires measure an inch or more taller than even the burliest 29er setup, some two inches taller than most 27.5+ setups, and 2.5 inches taller than normal 27.5 setups. In case you’re still stymied by the nomenclature, 29+ puts three-inch-wide tires on 29-inch rims. And after another half-year on the upgrade, it’s clear that the Stache stacks up to many full-suspension rides as well. I stand by my prediction that this bike will eventually make standard hardtails obsolete. It’s a hardtail for the big-hit, high-speed, no-limits crew. The Verdict: Anyone who complains that 29+ is too big and unwieldy has never ridden the Stache 9.8. And while the drivetrain is fine for what it is, a 1×12 with a 50-tooth granny would make it even better. What We Don’t: The low-profile Chupacabra tires roll fast but don’t have enough bite to keep up with the bike. But now Trek has gone to a carbon frame and wheels and lopped off almost 2.5 pounds. What We Like: The only complaint we had with last year’s alloy Stache 9 was its weight.

Stache 7 vs stache 9