Does the release of Trek's Slash+ signal the start of a new trend of enduro bikes with lightweight motors?

Trek Slash+ being jumped on a downhill trail.

Trek has launched an e-MTB version of its Slash enduro bike. The new Slash+ is a 170mm high-pivot electric mountain bike. Rather than equip it with a full-power motor and a big battery, Trek has instead specced a lightweight motor from TQ.

Trek was at the forefront of the best lightweight e-MTB market back in 2022 with the release of its Fuel EXe and prophesizing that the bike marked the 'dawn of a new era'. Turns out they weren't wrong.

Most MTB brands now have a lightweight e-MTB in their catalogs, although they are almost exclusively aimed at XC and trail riding. When designing the Slash+, Trek decided to equip its new electric enduro bike with the same lightweight e-MTB motor used in the Fuel EXe. 

Trek Slash+ has the same geometry as the Slash but has the added boost of a TQ motor (Image credit: Trek)

The TQ HPR50 is an extremely compact and quiet harmonic pin-ring drive motor capable of pushing out 50Nm and 300w of assistance. Thats considerably less power than you get from a Bosch Performance Line CX or Shimano EP801 with both motors producing 85Nm of torque, it's also less than Fazua's lightweight Ride 60 with 60Nm and 350w (450w in the 12-second Boost mode). Trek didn't design the Slash+ to be a self-shuttling e-MTB, instead, the TQ motor was chosen to give more of a natural ride feel while offering an extra boost when cruising up climbs. The motor is paired with a new bigger 580Wh battery, so it should be capable of assisting a lot of climbs. There's also an optional 160Wh external battery that increases the range by 40 percent should you need more.

The TQ motor is claimed to give a more of a natural ride (Image credit: Trek)

The Slash+ uses the same high-pivot suspension design and geometry as the standard Trek Slash Gen 6, along with many of the adjustment features. The progressiveness of the leverage ratio can be adjusted using a flip-chip and angle-adjusting headset cups (sold separately) to adjust the geometry by a degree.

Unlike the unpowered Slash, the Slash+ is designed specifically for an MX (mullet, 29 front and 27.5 rear wheel) and isn't compatible with 29in rear wheels. There is also no internal frame storage in the downtube as that's where the TQ battery is stored.

Trek has made the Slash+ MX (or mullet) specific (Image credit: Trek)

There will be two versions of the Slash+ at launch:

The Slash+ 9.9 is the top spec model ($11,999 / £11,000) and comes equipped with a RockShox ZEB Ultimate fork, RockShox Vivid Ultimate shock, SRAM X0 Eagle AXS, T-Type drivetrain, SRAM Maven brakes, and Bontrager carbon wheels and handlebar. Trek claims this build weighs in at 20.88kg.

Alternatively, the Slash+ 9.7 ($7,999 / £7.500) is stated as being a little lighter at 20.38kg and comes with a Fox Rhythm 38 fork, Fox Performance Float X, Shimano XT and brakes, and Bontrager alloy wheels and finishing kit.

The motor is designed to assist climbing rather than powering you to the top with minimal effort (Image credit: Trek)

Our take

There appears to be an emerging trend of enduro e-MTBs being specced with smaller motors. Specialized were pioneers of this with the Turbo Kenevo SL II, but other big brands are now paying attention, notably YT's new Decoy SN, and now Trek's Slash+.

Trek says that the Slash+ was its most requested bike this year and although we are yet to ride it, we remain skeptical if the juice is worth the squeeze. Only time will tell whether riders are willing to sacrifice full-power climbing performance for the improved handling dynamics afforded by the lightweight motor and smaller battery when choosing their next bike.

Tech specs: Trek Slash+

(Image credit: Trek)

Trek Slash+ 9.9 X0 AXS T-Type

• Price: $11,999.99 / £11,000 / $15,999.99 CAN
• Frame: OCLV Mountain Carbon, 170mm travel, Boost, UDH
• Fork: RockShox ZEB Ultimate, 170mm travel
• Shock: RockShox Vivid Ultimate, 230 x 65mm
• Motor: TQ-HPR50, 50 Nm, 250-watt maximum continuous rated power, 300-watt peak power
• Battery: TQ 580Wh
• Groupset: SRAM X0 Eagle, T-Type, 12-speed
• Brakes: SRAM Maven Silver
• Wheels: Bontrager Line Pro 30, MX
• Tires: Bontrager SE6 Team Issue 29 x 2.5 front, Bontrager SE5 Team Issue 27.5x2.5rear
• Seatpost: RockShox Reverb AXS, 170mm travel, wireless, 34.9mm, 480mm length
• Saddle: Verse Short Comp, steel rails, 145mm width
• Stem: Bontrager Line Pro, 35mm, Blendr compatible, 0 degree, 35mm length
• Bars: Bontrager Line Pro, 35mm, Blendr compatible, 0 degree, 35mm length
• Grips: Bontrager XR Trail Elite, nylon lock-on
• Sizes: S to XL
• Weight: 20.88kg (claimed)
  

(Image credit: Trek)

Trek Slash+ 9.7 SLX/XT 

• Price: $7,999.99 / £7,500 / $10,999.99 CAN
• Frame: OCLV Mountain Carbon, 170mm travel, Boost, UDH
• Fork: Fox Rhythm 38, 170mm travel
• Shock: Fox Performance Float X, 230 x 65mm
• Motor: TQ-HPR50, 50 Nm, 250-watt maximum continuous rated power, 300-watt peak power
• Battery: TQ 580Wh
• Groupset: Shimano XT M8100, 12-speed
• Brakes: Shimano 4-piston hydraulic disc, M6100 lever, M6120 caliper
• Wheels: Bontrager Line Comp 30, MX
• Tires: Bontrager XR5 Team Issue 29 x 2.5 front, Bontrager XR5 Team Issue 27.5x2.5rear
• Seatpost: Bontrager Line Dropper, 170mm travel, MaxFlow, internal routing, 34.9mm, 450mm length
• Saddle: Bontrager Verse P3, chromoly rails
• Stem: Bontrager Elite, 35mm, 0 degree, 35mm length
• Bars: Bontrager Line, alloy, 35mm, 27.5mm rise, 780mm width
• Grips: Bontrager XR Trail Elite, nylon lock-on
• Sizes: S to XL
• Weight: 20.38kg (claimed)