Trek Stache 8 - Tested

TESTED

Trek
Stache 8

WORDS: Mike Kazimer
PHOTOS: Ian Hylands

While Trek has been making headlines more for their long-travel DH bikes piloted by a certain redhead, the Waterloo, Wisconsin, based company has continued to refine their short travel and hardtail offerings. Hardtails seem to be experiencing a resurgence lately, as riders seeking a low-maintenance departure from creaky pivots and loose bearings return to their roots. Not intended to be a featherweight race bike (although it's certainly race worthy), the big wheeled Stache is aimed squarely at riders seeking the simplicity of a hardtail with modern amenities like a 2x10 drivetrain, 142x12 thru-axle rear, and the option to run a dropper post. Our 17.5” test bike weighed in at a very reasonable 25.8 pounds without pedals. MSRP for the Stache 8 is $2419 USD.

Frame Construction and Design

The Stache 8 is constructed of hydroformed Alpha Platinum aluminum, which is Trek's highest level aluminum alloy. The seat tube shape is unique, flattening dramatically as it nears the bottom bracket, which increases rear wheel clearance. This tapering does decrease the amount of seat tube available for raising and lowering the seat, but with a dropper post (the frame includes routing for a stealth post) this would not be an issue. The tapering does necessitate a direct mount front derailleur, since it's not possible to run a traditional style clamp around a squared off tube. ISCG 05 tabs are included for those who want to run a chain guide. The Stache has a 142x12 rear axle, but adaptors are available that would make it possible to run a conventional 135x10 axle. The majority of full suspension bikes are coming with 142x12 rear ends, so the inclusion of this standard on a hardtail like the Stache means riders with more than one bike in their quiver will be able to swap wheels without encountering compatibility issues.

The Stache features what Trek calls G2 Geometry, which was originally introduced by Gary Fisher (whose brand Trek absorbed in 2010) to improve the handling of 29 inch wheeled bikes. To achieve the goals of this geometry, on the Stache 8 the fork is offset 51mm in order to reduce the trail of the bike. Trail is the horizontal distance between a bike's steering axis and where the front wheel touches the ground (the contact patch). Reducing the trail of a bike should allow for quicker handling despite the longer wheelbase that comes with bigger wheels. The Stache has a relatively slack head angle of 68.3° or 68.6° depending on the frame size. The chainstays are 445mm, and have plenty of clearance to run even fatter tires than the Bontrager 29-3's which are spec'd.

Trek Stache 8 Geometry
Component Check

The Stache 8 comes with a well thought out parts package. Acid green Race Face Turbine cranks (with 38 and 24 tooth chainrings) spin on a press fit bottom bracket, while shifting duties are handled by a Shimano XT Shadow Plus rear derailleur and SLX front derailleur. We were glad to see a set of Shimano SLX brakes on this bike, as we continue to be impressed by their consistent, low maintenance stopping power. A 120mm Fox Evolution Series 32 Float fork with CTD provides the Stache's front suspension. The 720mm wide Bontrager handlebars have very little (5mm) rise, with 9 degrees of backsweep. Our test bike came with a 90mm stem, which we found to be a bit long for our liking and switched out for a shorter, 50mm stem. Tire duties are handled by Bontrager's 29-3 tires, a reasonably wide tire designed to work well in a variety of trail conditions.

Specifications Release Date 2013 Price $2419 Fork Fox Evolution Series 32 Float w/CTD (climb-trail-descend) damper, rebound, E2 tapered steerer, 15QR thru axle, custom G2 Geometry w/51mm offset, 120mm travel Headset FSA NO.57E, E2, sealed bearings Cassette Shimano HG62 11-36, 10 speed Crankarms Race Face Turbine, 38/24 Rear Derailleur Shimano Deore XT Shadow Plus Front Derailleur Shimano SLX, direct mount Shifter Pods Shimano SLX, 10 speed Handlebar Bontrager Race Lite Low Riser, 31.8mm, 5mm rise, 9 degree sweep Stem Bontrager Rhythm Pro, 31.8mm, 7 degree Grips Bontrager Race Lite, lock-on Brakes Shimano SLX hydraulic disc Wheelset Bontrager Duster Tubeless Ready 28-hole disc rims Hubs Bontrager sealed cartridge bearing 15mm alloy front hub, Bontrager sealed cartidge bearing, alloy axle, alloy freehub, 142x12 rear hub Tires Bontrager 29-3, Expert, 29x2.3" Seat Bontrager Evoke 3, hollow Ti rails Seatpost Bontrager Rhythm Elite, 31.6mm, zero offset Compare to other XC/All-Mountain Bikes

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How Does the Stache Ride?

Climbing
Our rides on the Stache took place on the technical trails of Sedona, many of which contain extended sections of unevenly spaced rock steps. The Stache was a surefooted and stable climber, whether seated or out of the saddle. The big wheels were definitely an advantage in some sections, spanning the distance between rocks where smaller wheels would have hung up. One persistent stereotype about 29ers is that they accelerate slowly and take longer to get up to speed. While this may be true on paper, the Stache responded quickly to our pedaling input, clambering up the climbs like an aluminum mountain goat. Even with a shorter stem, the bike felt well balanced, and it was easy to lift the front end over the square edged sandstone outcroppings we ran into. Slow speed, technical climbs were handled with ease - even with the big wheels, we were able to pick our way through steep sections filled with chunky rocks without needing to put a foot down or losing traction.


Descending
Riding an aluminum hardtail on hardpacked trails full of square edged rock ledges sounds like a teeth-rattling horrorshow, but this prediction proved unfounded. The Stache descended just as well as it climbed, with the big wheels rolling over everything in their path. The advantages of bigger wheels were most noticeable in rocky, uneven terrain; the Stache stayed above the chunder, maintaining forward momentum without getting sucked into holes that would likely have snagged a smaller wheeled bike. Long, steep rock rolls were also no problem for the Stache 8, as the combination of its predictable handling, slack head angle, and the Shimano SLX brakes made it easy to keep our speed under control.

Cornering performance was excellent—the Stache moved quickly through the turns, and was easy to maneuver on twisty sections of trail. Despite the slack, 68.3° head angle, the steering never felt sluggish or too raked out, which can probably be attributed to the dedicated fork offset. On high speed descents where we were riding flat out, we did find ourselves wishing for wider handlebars. The 720mm bars were adequate, but on extended downhills we would have liked a wider hand position for more control. While not as quick to take off as a bike with 26 inch wheels, the Stache wasn't afraid to get airborne, and the bigger wheels provided a large platform to touch back down to earth on.

Overall Ride Impressions
There's not one riding characteristic of the Stache 8 that stands out over the others, but that's not a negative. Rather, it means that this is a well rounded, capable bike that didn't flinch no matter the terrain it was subjected to. From our very first ride on the Stache we felt comfortable - there was no awkward learning phase where we had to adapt to some odd handling trait. Of course, being a hardtail, the Stache does require a slightly different riding style than you might have aboard a full suspension bike. Charge full speed into a rock garden and you'll be quickly reminded of the lack of rear suspension, but that certainly doesn't mean you can't ride aggressively. We were able to charge with confidence aboard this bike, drifting around corners and sprinting the straightaways, a cloud of red desert dust behind us.


Component Report:

•Fox's Evolution Series Float 32 had noticeable stiction out of the box, but this went away after a couple of rides, and the fork worked without complaint for the duration of the test. We rode mainly with the fork in the Trail setting, as the Descend setting felt like it didn't have enough compression damping to keep the fork from diving.

•Shimano's SLX brakes were quiet, fade free and offered excellent modulation and stopping power.

•Despite having a clutch-equipped rear derailleur, we managed to drop the chain on two separate occasions. Granted, this occurred while riding at high speeds through very rough terrain. If this was our personal bike we'd likely utilize the ISCG 05 tabs and install some type of chain guide.

•The Bontrager 29-3 tires worked well in the trail conditions we encountered, which were a mix of hardpack and loose sand. They were fast rolling, yet had enough tread to be predictable during hard cornering.




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