The Matchup: 2021 Trek Slash or Fuel EX? - All-Mountain Bike vs Trail Bike
Welcome to The Matchup! This is a sponsored series where we take a look at two bikes from the same manufacturer.
Today we're checking out the Trek Slash and Fuel EX. They have similar geometries and frame designs, but decidedly different intentions. Jason and Christina go head to head while explaining some of their personality traits out on the trail.
Let us know in the comments which one you'd want to ride, and tell us which two bikes you want us to match up next!
Christina's custom built Trek Slash with 160mm rear travel and 170mm front.
Jason put the Fuel EX through its' paces with 130mm of rear travel and 140mm in the front.
This episode of The Matchup is presented by Trek Bicycles
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Feel like if they would have dug more into how the numbers make the bike behave differently in different riding conditions, or upgrades they would make, tuning options... anything would have made it more interesting :/
For what it is, I'm not too bothered by this post--it says right in the video, sponsored by Trek. So be it. The down side is, imo, that it shows that Chappetta et al can be bought. If it was Richie Rude doing a comparison video for Yeti, great. We know he rides for Yeti, his job is to race, and we don't expect him to be impartial in his endorsement. He'll say, "Yeti is the best!", give a thumbs up and a smile to the camera, and he's off. The difference being that Richie doesn't work for an establishment where a good portion of their content comes from reviews, reviews that readers expect to be honest and impartial. (See Kaz when it comes to keeping it real. That guy gives an honest opinion despite taking heat from brands. TLD won't be sending him an Xmas card this year, lol).
I think Christina is rad and love what she brings to Pinkbike, but after this I don't trust her opinion on bikes. I know PB did well to put both in the video and in print that this is 'presented by Trek', but it still feels phony and conflicted.
FWIW, if this video appeared on Trek's website or marketing materials, it would likely be viewed as helpful and well received. Christina Chappetta as the lead talent in a PB offshoot channel where she does sponsored model intros and intra-brand comparisons like what was done here? I could see it! Or simply a more pointed branding than 'Pinkbike Originals' would let established riders know they can skip it/no need for critical comments, while still providing a valuable resource for people new to the sport? That could be helpful. Not sure there is a simple or easy answer. Maybe stirring up the cranks in the comments section so you all can have a laugh is cause enough to make such videos
www.pinkbike.com/news/the-match-up-norco-optic-vs-norco-sight-2020.html
It took a beating in the comments too for the same reasons.
It is a bummer that they chose to go this route with these videos since Fuel vs Slash (and Optic vs Sight) is a question that a lot of buyers find them selves stuck on the fence with.
Fuel 2017 and Slash 2019...
Fuel ripped Trans Madeira Trails with 130/130 with ease...
Slash is absolute overdressed for Trailriding...
Just needs to be same person on two different bikes and see how you feel afterwards. Some of these bikes climb so well now, Ripmo and sb150 for example. I’ve got faster times uphill on a 160mm bike than I have a 100mm, cause the bike was more comfortable with steep angles so my knees didn’t ache.
I assume this means 200mm is Enduro now?
Imagine what it must be like to work at PB now, you got advertising, marketing, timelines, expected revenue, I can see a mass exodus (restructuring) as Outside takes the reins.
It was good while it lasted.
RIP Pinkbike.
And we were told that they would be a chili review I thought, where is this?
I think a lot of folks are just as confused about sizing as they are choosing correct travel ‘ geo for the trails they ride the most.
I'm only on a '21 Slash 8 because for the same $ the spec was rubbish on the Fuel EX, and the '22 Top Fuel wasn't out.
That and comparing the alloy models the Slash is only 1kg heavier so pffft my own weight fluctuates more between rides...
Now I can get away with riding like a muppet, making bad line choices, and it's really comfortable on those all day rides even.
Fuel EX is just okay. Not super light or progressive or anything else.
Fuel EX doesn't have any amazing marketing mumbo jumbo like super slack geo or ultralight blah blah, but it's a great bike. It's the bike 90% of people should be on most of the time for what they're actually riding. It was rare I ever took my Fuel EX out and had a bad time.
Litmus is trying them–Once MFG's have stock, offer both bikes to demo for $100/day so we can take it to our local mtn and determine the best fit. Until we ride them, more of these videos aren't necessary.
Would be good to see a comparison of a Spez Enduro vs Stumpy Evo vs Stumpy
Especially one bike like the Evo splitting the difference between the two others.
Would also like to see comparisons between old and new bikes. Like the Enduro 29er has been through three very different iterations (broadly speaking).
Most folk on here will understand the basic difference between a trail and enduro bike. The video could have actually drawn some decent conclusions about “if you could only have one of these two which could you live with?”. There are probably many people in denial about it, but i think if we all examined our riding- many people ride gnarly ‘enduro style’ or even ‘downhill style’ trails sometimes, maybe they do a race here and there, do an occasional all day adventure ride and sometimes ride some more very tame trails- so which bike can do them all?
Can a trail bike still be competitive at a race? How much tougher is a big rig to pedal around blue trail centre runs? Is it more fun to push a trail bike to it’s limits or let the enduro bike push yours?
I know everyone already has an opinion on these questions, but it could have made a great vid with these two presenters and bikes.
What? Really? Trek is a sponsor, what a surprise