trek session gewicht

• Spezifikationsebene
• Bewertungen
• Spezifikationen
• Fahrernotizen

2021 Trek Session 9.9 29

Herstellerpreis

Für dieses Fahrrad

Weitere ähnliche Fahrräder anzeigen →

Based on frame geometry and build specs.

A bike with lower gearing will be easier to ride up steep hills, while a higher top end means it will pedal faster down hills.

Session 9.9 29

Similar Bikes

(descending)

Add custom gearing

Basierend auf dem Material und dem Qualitätsniveau von Rahmen, Gabel, Laufradsatz, Gruppe, Federungssystem und mehr.

Juni 2022 · Dimitri Lehner

Das Trek Session war bisher immer eine sichere Bank. Es war schnell, doch wendig genug, um auch Freeridern Spaß zu machen. Kurz: eine schnelle Spaßmaschine.

Bewertung lesen

The new Trek doesn't look like a Session...ok maybe it does, but it's still all new!

März 2019 · McCoy

Faster than a speeding bullet

Nov. 2018 · Drew Rohde

A review worth reading if you are considering a 29er DH bike. The Trek Session 9.9 downhill bike has a couple interesting quirks but is without a doubt one of the best DH bikes we've ridden in. If you're a racer looking for pick up speed and drop seconds, check this bike out!

Okt. 2018 · Paul Aston

One of the most successful, recognizable silhouettes on the DH circuit now comes with wagon wheels. So how does it compare to the newest crop of DH bikes?

Ultra light and stiff

Exceptional, simple finish

Balanced, aggressive geometry

Quick acceleration and efficient pedaling

Possibly too light and stiff

Top of the line price tag

Lacking traction in rough stuff

Reach may limit taller riders

Sept. 2018 · Seb Stott

A pricey bike let down by a basic fork, disappointing brakes and dated geometry

‘ABP’ rear suspension provides a solid, supple action

Relatively short front end feels cramped, high bottom bracket and short frame deliver a sometimes precarious-feeling ride, harsh fork and weak brakes are disappointing for the price

Mai 2017 · Matt Phillips

All new carbon framesets for both 27.5 and 29 inch wheels for Trek's downhill race bike

Trek releases the 2018 Session with updated geometry, refined linkage, and a revamped Float X2 shock. There's also a 29 inch version, which the internet will probably have nothing to say about.

Last updated 25. Juli Not listed for 1,000 days

2022 TREK SESSION 9 X01 REVIEW

The purpose-built speed machine.

Review by Drew Rohde | Photos by Dusten Ryen

When it comes to downhill bikes, few have an identity as established as Trek’s Session. For over 15 years, the Session lineage has been gracing the top steps of podiums the world over. Trek refuses to rest on their laurels however and continue to push the Session’s development to create what they hope will be the fastest bike in the world. After a spectacular World Cup Downhill season, it seems they’re not far off! The new Trek Session has gone both forwards and backwards as cutting-edge tech seems to have revisited older suspension designs and materials but with many advancements. Back in 2006, the Trek Session 10 featured a high pivot design and aluminum construction. Fast forward to the 2022 Trek Session 9 high-pivot race machine and it’s awesome to see history working so smoothly with the present to offer downhill riders one of the fastest bikes we’ve ever ridden. Our team has been pushing the new Session 9 as hard as we dare for the last few months and can now share our verdict on how it stacks up against the fastest downhill race bikes in the world.

•High-Pivot • Full 27.5 / Mullet / Full 29 Compatible • HTA 63 ° / 63.6° • STA 42.5° • REACH 472 / 465mm (Large)

Price: $6999/£6300 Website: Trekbikes.com

THE LAB The biggest talking point, and perhaps the most significant design change to the Trek Session since the 2008 Session 88 model was introduced, is the shifting of the main suspension pivot upwards to produce a high pivot variant of their ABP-equipped, linkage driven single pivot suspension platform. We covered this in detail in our Dissected feature of the bike , so we’ll keep it brief here. The high pivot design produces a wheel axle path that is more rearward than the previous generation without being too extreme to cause some hang up that we’ve felt on other high-pivot enduro bikes lately. This mild wheel path and pivot location leads to improved square-edge bump performance as well as greater stability when deep in the travel. Both good things when you’re looking to go as fast as possible down rough terrain. While it is high enough to necessitate an idler, it’s close enough that we’d be comfortable saying it’s almost a mid-pivot bike, which isn’t a bad thing since the drawbacks of a super high rear pivot aren’t felt but you still get many of the advantages.

The 2022 Session sees a departure from the last iterations by only offering an Alpha Platinum aluminum frame – there’s no carbon fiber option here. This decision was made following the feedback from their World Cup Downhill riders, who had tested an aluminum prototype and suggested the feel of the frame was superior to the carbon frames they had used previously.

The frame retains the Mino link geometry adjustment in the seatstay from previous frames, but it serves a dual-purpose to also allow for adjustment from dual 29” wheels, through to a mixed 29/27.5 setup and even dual 27.5” wheels with an external headset cup fitted. This allows the Session to be set up as a wagon wheeled race machine, or with the smaller wheels for those looking for some extra agility and maneuverability in the bike park. Further adjustment is offered with the Mino Link on the lower shock mount, which lets the progression of the suspension to be switched between 20% and 25% and provide a plusher or more efficient suspension feel, with both offering adequate progression to use a coil or high-volume air shock.

Trek has all the details well covered by this point, with options provided for internal or cleanly executed external cable routing; a generous bolt-on downtube guard for protection from ride and shuttle damage; two ISCG05 mounts to attach a lower guide and bash guard, and some generous chainstay protection to keep noise to a minimum. The rear axle is the downhill 157x12mm standard, with a ZS49/56 headset and 83mm BSA threaded BB. A 13t idler pulley is fitted with a serviceable sealed cartridge bearing, to keep it spinning smoothly for longer.

Another new feature on this year’s Trek Session is the adoption of a reach-based sizing system, with conventional Small, Medium and Large being replaced with R1, R2 and R3. This is a result of the low and consistent 425mm seat tube length allowing riders to focus solely on the length of the fit when choosing their bike size. This will offer most riders the choice between two sizes, so they can tailor their preference of out-and-out stability with the longer size or increased agility on the smaller size. Trek has opted to go the route of size-specific chainstays, which helps to keep weight balance more consistent throughout the size range. Shared across the size range in the Low Mino link setting with dual 29” wheels are the 63-degree head angle, 21mm bb drop, 639mm stack and aforementioned 425mm seat tube. At 5’11 – 6’1” we opted to go with the R2 size since we prefer a more maneuverable bike for tighter, technical terrain. The R2 tested had a 465mm reach paired with a 445mm chainstay, producing a lengthy overall wheelbase of 1,277mm. Flipping the Mino link into the High setting steepens the head angle by 0.6 degrees, with a 9mm bb height increase and 7mm increase in reach.

Trek offers the Session in a choice of two complete builds or as a $2,999/£2750 frame only. The Session 8 retails for $4,999/£4500 and is spec’d with a solid SRAM GX level kit featuring their 7spd GX DH drivetrain, Code R brakes with 200/180mm Centerline rotors, RockShox Boxxer Select fork, Fox Van Performance coil shock, Bontrager Line DH 30 wheelset with Rapid drive 108 hub and Bontrager alloy finishing kit.

Opting for the higher spec Session 9 (tested) will run you $6,999/£6300. For that money, you get an upgrade to the Charger 2.1 RC2 equipped RockShox Boxxer Ultimate paired to an air sprung Super Deluxe Ultimate DH with RC damper. The gearing is provided by SRAM’s X01 DH 7spd setup with an X01 DH carbon crank, and braking is controlled by their Code RSC’s. You get the same Bontrager Line 30 DH wheelset with Rapid drive 108 hub, but get upgraded to a Line Pro carbon bar to input your control to their Line Pro stem. This adds up to a total weight of 36.6lbs  for our size R2.

THE DIRT We were quite impressed with the new Session after our first run but had to reserve any detailed feedback until after we completed our Dissected feature. Since then, we’ve grown to like this bike more and more. Although it took us ditching the 820mm wide bars that almost seem to have a drop to them, to eliminate the diving passenger feeling on steep, double black diamond downhill trails. Once we got some 780mm bars and slid the forks down a bit to raise the front end, it rode as if we unlocked a cheat code in MTB DH video game land.

Now, before we get into all the places the Session 9 excels, lets address a couple of nitpicks. We’d like to see one more size added to the lineup. At 5’11 we found ourselves split on thinking a 465 may be a touch short but knowing we’d not be happy with how long a 495mm reach would feel. A 480mm reach option with a 505mm XL or are R4 would be our suggestion. Next up is the choice to go with a 180mm rear rotor. We’re not sure if Reece Wilson, Loris Vergier or the rest of the Trek Race team are using 180mm rear rotors, but we’d absolutely like to see a 200mm out back. We reached out to Trek and while they said they choose a 180 for a more balanced braking feel, they hinted that next year we may be seeing larger rotors getting spec’d, which is definitely a smart move.

Third on our short list of criticisms is the bike’s behavior on slower speed technical corners, specifically switchbacks. During our testing we exclusively ran the Session 9 in full 29er mode and noticed that trying to get the back tire to snap late into corners or squaring up switchbacks, was a bit of an awkward effort. It seems that the 445mm long chainstays, that get even longer once into the travel, combined with the G5 tire’s Velcro-like traction meant we had a bit of a learning curve. It wasn’t the easiest rear end to correct with a simple slide or twist of the hips. Picking the race line through corners worked much better than coming inside and trying to get the back end to come around. Something we find ourselves doing a lot in the loose, rocky trails of Mt. Bachelor.

If you’ve got open trails and corners that don’t close off awkwardly, then it likely won’t be an issue you’ll have to deal with. We don’t see too many World Cup DH courses that have corners like that, but sadly, we don’t always get to ride World Cup DH courses, instead we ride trails built 20 years ago before modern geometry was a thing.

Once out of the tight stuff and charging at speed, the Trek Session 9 let’s you know how happy it is. The high pivot Session rewards riders who keep their fingers off the brakes and want to ride faster than their brain wants them to. It is fast and does an incredible job of smoothing out choppy terrain, obstacles and even slower riders who won’t get out of your way. Just kidding, don’t run over other trail users! In all seriousness though, this bike continually had us playing a game of chicken as we’d see a corner approaching yet it felt so good eating the braking bumps that we DID NOT want to touch the brakes and slow down. I hate braking bumps. My fingers hate braking bumps. My feet hate braking bumps. Yet, this bike somehow made me feel like Eli Tomac grazing the top of a supercross whoop section.

Similarly, small to medium-sized trail obstacles like rocks and roots were no match for the Trek Session 9’s suspension. The mid-high pivot and wheel path worked so well at moving out of the way that foot feedback was almost non-existent and we were able to maintain our attack position on the bike without feeling like we were getting bucked or bounced around and fighting to keep in a stable position. The Boxxer fork definitely needed some volume reducers added but the rear shock tune and OE-spec’d spacers in the Super Deluxe Ultimate DH are spot on for our 170-175lb rider weight and advanced riders. We couldn’t have wanted anything more out of the rear suspension when it came to plowing terrain and going fast.

When it came time to hit jump trails, the new Trek Session 9 is plenty capable. It’s not going to be the bike Trek’s C3 athletes choose to ride at Rampage, Crankworx events like A-Line Race or other jumpy days, but if you don’t want to buy a Session Park and a Session race bike, it will do. Where some DH bikes favor jumpy, bike park riders, the Session 9 is designed to go fast! There are some great bikes that offer impressive performance in both areas, the Canyon Sender comes to mind, but we think riders who are looking at the Session 9 will likely be focusing their time and energy on racing raw, high speed chunk rather than sessioning flow trails.

The Wolf’s Last Word

Last year we made a pretty bold claim when we reviewed the Canyon Sender and said it was the best downhill bike out. The Trek Session had us questioning that claim so much that we spent the last month riding both bikes in a head to head format with timed runs and we’re working on finalizing now, so be sure you stay tuned. Even without the final verdict in, the fact we questioned how the Session stacks up against the Sender means it’s a helluva downhill bike!

Price: $6999/£6300 Weight: Size R2 – 36.6lbs Website: Trekbikes.com

SPECIFICATIONS

CHASSIS Frame: Alpha Platinum Aluminum | high main pivot | idler pulley | 200mm Fork: RockShox Boxxer Ultimate | 200mm Shock: RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate DH

COCKPIT Handlebar: Bontrager Line Pro | OCLV Carbon | 820mm – 15mm Rise Stem: Bontrager Line Pro | 50mm Shifters: SRAM X01 DH, 7-Speed Brakes: SRAM Code RSC Saddle: Bontrager Arvada Seatpost: Bontrager Rhythm Elite

WHEELS Wheels: Bontrager Line DH 30 Tires: Bontrager G5 Team Issue | 29×2.5″

DRIVETRAIN Bottom Bracket: SRAM DUB Derailleur: SRAM X01 DH Crankset: SRAM X01 DH | 34t | 165mm Cassette: SRAM PG-720 | 11-25 | 7-Speed Chain: SRAM PC-1110

Holy Moly Fast! Smooth as butter Fair value Inspires confidence like few others Looks good, paint splatter! G5 Tires

We don’t, 180mm rear brake rotor rear end can be awkward, long feeling in tight, slow corners handlebar sweep/lack of rise, leave a comment | win free stuff.

Want to win some free schwag? Leave a comment and vote up the most thoughtful comments and each month we’ll pick a winner. The person with the smartest and most helpful replies will earn some sweet new gear. Join the Pack and get the latest news and read the latest reviews on the top  mountain  and  electric mountain bikes .

• MAGAZINE OFFERS
• BIKE INSURANCE
• Best Products
• Maintenance
• Accessories
• Long-Term Reviews
• BikeRadar Podcast
• First Look Friday
• Bike of the Week
• Tech Features
• Routes and Rides
• Bike Galleries
• BikeRadar Bargains
• Buyer's Guides
• Fitness & Training
• Sizing & Fit
• Mountain Biking UK
• Cycling Plus

Trek Session 10(SG) review

Trek's R&D rider Andrew Shandro played a large part in developing this rig, and it shows. There's 254mm (10in) of rear wheel travel on this puppy - it's designed to make easy work of big drops

Andrew Dodd

Trek's R&D rider Andrew Shandro played a large part in developing this rig, and it shows. There's 254mm (10in) of rear wheel travel on this puppy - it's designed to make easy work of big drops and gaps and make serious descents major fun. It's a big mountain bike, designed to ride big mountains...

Made from Trek's own ZR 9000 aluminium, the Session 10 frame has a hydroformed monocoque front end, combined with a beefy 150mm spaced rear. The 17in chainstays are short enough to keep acceleration zippy and help you pop the front end up, but are long enough, when combined with the lengthy 118cm (46.5in) wheelbase, to keep the bike stable at speed and through rough stuff.

Unusually, Trek have opted for a high-pivot position, which offers a better suspension action than a low pivot but is generally avoided because chain tension affects the suspension massively. Trek have got around this by using their Chain Torque Eliminator (CTE), a device that routes the chain over the pivot point, effectively making the bike pedal like a low-pivot rig. The huge 90mm (3.5in) stroke Manitou Revox shock is designed with this frame in mind and is driven via a linkage to control the progression.

light, long, low and slack, but it's ideal for riders who want to do it all

The Session 10 is ready for thrashing straight out of the bike shop door. A Manitou Travis Intrinsic fork offering 203mm (8in) travel spins in a Cane Creek headset, Hayes brakes do the stopping and the bar, pedals, saddle, seatpost, tyres and cranks are all Bontrager King Earl parts. The cassette and chain are from SRAM, as is the X.0 mech/shifter combo, and an e.13 chainguide keeps everything in line.

We spent a fair bit of time onboard the Session 10 riding around the amazing freeride and downhill trails of Whistler, Canada. The bike is clearly born for day-long thrashing.

The large sized bike we tested had a long 558mm (22in) top tube that, combined with the long wheelbase, meant it loved going fast. You can adjust the bottom bracket height and this also tweaks the head angle. We settled on the lowest setting for a more DH-feeling rig.

The short 165mm cranks ensure minimal ground strikes from the pedals but we'd rather run 170s, or even 175s, to provide greater pedalling efficiency.

The suspension action is super slick - the Revox shock performs well and is a good fit for the frame. The high pivot makes the bike feel very supple, even with plenty of low-speed compression damping wound in. Pedalling isn't a chore either, thanks to the chain-line running over the pivot. We did have reservations about the CTE coming loose, but after nearly four days of riding at Whistler, with no maintenance, it was still as solid as new.

The Session 10 is fantastic - maybe not so much for dedicated downhill racers who want things light, long, low and slack, but it's ideal for riders who want to do it all - bikeparks, drops, gaps Alpine terrain and DH racing.

Share this article

• Terms & Conditions
• Subscribe to our magazines
• Manage preferences

• Rocky Mountain
• Specialized
• YT Industries
• Allied Cycle Works
• Black Market
• DALLINGRIDGE
• Diamondback
• Early Rider
• EVO Bicycles
• Growler Bikes
• Guerrilla Gravity
• iGO Electric
• Intense 951
• Juiced Bikes
• View all brands
• Production Privee
• Rad Power Bikes
• Rambo Bikes
• Riese & Müller
• Soul Fast E Bikes
• Spark Cycleworks
• State Bicycle Co.
• Structure Cycleworks
• Surface 604
• Van Nicholas
• Vintage Electric
• We Are One Composites

• Cross Country

• All Mountain

Trek Session 9 X01

• AUS $ NZD $ USD $ CAD $ GBP £ EUR €

Size / R1 High, R1 Low, R2 High, R2 Low, R3 High, R3 Low

Weight / 17.08

At a glance

Where to buy.

Specifications

• Frame Alpha Platinum Aluminum, high main pivot, idler pulley, integrated frame protection, internal or external routing, magnesium rocker link, Mino Link, ISCG 05 2-bolt mount, Active Braking Pivot, 157x12mm thru axle, 200mm travel
• Fork RockShox BoXXer Ultimate, RockShox Boxxer Ultimate, DebonAir spring, Charger 2.1 RC2 damper, straight steerer, 46mm offset, Boost, 110x20mm Maxle Stealth, 200mm travel
• Shock RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate DH, RC damper, 250mm x 72.5mm
• Wheels Bontrager Line DH 30, Tubeless Ready, 6-bolt, 110x20mm Boost thru axle
• Wheel Size 29"
• Tires Bontrager G5 Team Issue, wire bead, 2-ply 60tpi, 29x2.50''
• Chain SRAM NX, SRAM PC-1110, 11 speed
• Crank SRAM X01, SRAM X01 DH, DUB 83, 34T alloy ring, 165mm length
• Bottom Bracket SRAM DUB, 83mm, BSA threaded
• Rear Derailleur SRAM X01, SRAM X01 DH, medium cage
• Shifters SRAM X01, SRAM X01 DH, 7 speed
• Brakeset SRAM Code RSC, SRAM Code RSC 4-piston hydraulic disc
• Handlebar Bontrager Line Pro, OCLV Carbon, 35mm, 15mm rise, 820mm width
• Saddle Bontrager Arvada, austenite rails, 138mm width
• Seatpost Bontrager Rhythm Elite, 31.6mm, 0mm offset, 330mm length
• Stem Bontrager Line Pro, 35mm, Direct Mount, 50mm length
• Grips Bontrager XR Trail Elite, nylon lock-on

Q: How much is a 2022 Trek Session 9 X01?

A 2022 Trek Session 9 X01 is typically priced around $6,999 USD when new. Be sure to shop around for the best price, and also look to the used market for a great deal.

Q: Where to buy a 2022 Trek Session 9 X01?

The 2022 Trek Session 9 X01 may be purchased directly from Trek .

Q: How much does a 2022 Trek Session 9 X01 weigh?

A 2022 Trek Session 9 X01 weights 17.08.

Q: What size wheels does the 2022 Trek Session 9 X01 have?

The 2022 Trek Session 9 X01 has 29" wheels.

Q: What size 2022 Trek Session 9 X01 should I get?

No comments on this bike yet. Why not be the first?

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Want more MTB in your mailbox?

The latest on mountain bikes delivered straight to your mailbox.

More Bikes in Range View All

Trek Session AL Frameset

Trek Session 88 Downhill

Trek Session 9.9

More downhill bikes view all.

Scott Gambler 900 Tuned

- VLK Virtual 4 Link rear suspension design - Internal cable routing - Compatible with 27.5 wheels (geometry adjustable via flip chip at lower shock mount) - Chainstay length adjustable…

Specialized Demo 8 S-Works

FSR suspension, Full internal cable routing, Lipped and sealed cartridge bearing pivots

Polygon SISKIU N9 Frameset

Deals view all, view all deals, recent posts view all.

Blackburn Honest Digital Pressure Gauge Review

It's 2020 people. The squeeze and bounce test doesn't cut it anymore (and this is…

Comparing Mountain Bikes

Mountain Bikes are complicated machines. They have parts from hundreds of different manufacturers, come in…

Undomestic Mountain Bikes: Here’s what we know

Update March 2020: Undomestic has announced that they are manufacturing frames "at this moment" and…

Send Feedback

Have a suggestion? Looking for a bike that's not on MTB Database? Or perhaps you've spotted an error?

We'd love to hear from you. Let us know with the form below.

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience possible. Learn more.

About MTB Database

Explore, search and compare thousands of the world’s best mountain bikes here on Mountain Bike Database.

Compare prices, components, suspension, reviews, images and more on current and past MTB’s. You can even share reviews, comments and questions on mountain bikes. View and compare a huge selection of bikes from brands such as Trek , Specialized , Giant , Santa Cruz , Norco and more .

We strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information for mountain bikes on MTB Database. If you’ve spotted any issues, please let us know . We also include helpful tools, such as our frame size calculator, to assist you in choosing the right mountain bike. Bear in mind that these tools serve as a guide and simply provide a general indication. Refer to information provided by your bike manufacturer for the most applicable information for your bike.

Bikes By Brand

Bikes by year, bikes by riding style, bikes by wheel size, popular bikes.

• 2022 Specialized Epic EVO Comp
• 2022 Trek Marlin 6
• 2022 Specialized Enduro Comp
• 2022 Specialized S-Works Epic EVO
• 2022 Specialized Epic EVO Expert
• 2022 Giant Fathom 29 1
• 2022 Trek Marlin 7

Latest Bikes

• 2023 Commencal SUPREME DH V5 SIGNATURE 70'S
• 2023 Orange Phase 29 Factory
• 2022 Commencal META SX V4 TEAM Frame
• 2023 Commencal SUPREME DH V5 SIGNATURE LTD
• 2023 Commencal META SX V4 - Frame
• 2023 Riese & Müller Swing4 vario
• 2023 Riese & Müller Swing4 silent

Trek Bikes Session 88 2013

Reviews / DH Bikes

At A Glance

The Trek Session is the bike that won the Downhill World Cup last year with Aaron Gwin aboard. This year it has boosted Brook MacDonald into the top five and is doing the trick for Greg Williamson too. Needless to say when it arrived in the office we were keen to put it through its paces. We opted for the aluminium version; it’s a little bit more in the real world in terms of pricing, but the 88 is still a top spec bike make no mistake.

The frame is made using Trek’s Alpha Platinum Aluminium featuring the Active Breaking Pivot Convert DH Full Floater suspension platform. There is an E2 tapered head tube, integrated frame protection and internal cable routing. The EVO link is made from aluminium for added strength and stiffness and it features a Mino Link to allow you to tune the bike. There is 210mm of travel in the rear end with a 157/12mm axle. The frame is available in S, M L and XL.

Up front there is a Fox Factory Series 40 FIT RC2 steel sprung fork with high and low speed compression, rebound adjust and a 20mm through axle offering 203mm of travel.

The rear end is looked after by a Fox DHX RC-2 with externally adjustable velocity sensitive damping, bottom out force adjust, bottom out progressiveness and external rebound tuned by Trek in California. Each size comes with the relevant spring according to the expected rider weight. The medium bike we tested had the 450lb spring fitted.

The drivetrain on the 88 is a SRAM affair with an x9 10-speed shifter, Sram X0 Type 2 rear derailleur and SRAM PG-1050 11-26 10 speed cassette. The crankset is a SRAM Descendant DH with a 36t aluminium ring.

Wheels are the beefy 28-hole Sun Ringle ADD Expert with a 20mm hub on the front and a 157x12mm hub on the rear. They are tubeless ready should you decide to run them without tubes. Both wheels are shod with Bontrager G4 Team 26x2.35 tyres.

A Bontrager Evoke 2 saddle on chromoly rails is held up by a Bontrager Rhythm Elite 31.6mm seatpost. On the front end is a Bontrager Rhythm 31.8mm handlebar with 15mm rise and 9 degree sweep and a width of 780mm. There is a Truvativ Holzfeller Direct Mount stem holding it all together.

Stopping power is taken care of by Avid Custom CODE 9 hydraulic disc brakes with a 203mm rotor on the front and 180mm rotor on the rear. There is also an excellent MRP G2 SL chain guide with taco style bash guard to keep things in order on the rough stuff.

Trek Session 88 17.5in 17.5in Mino Link Setting Low High Seat tube 440mm 440mm Effective top tube 588mm 582mm Head tube 103mm 103mm Chain stay 441mm 439mm Wheel base 1184mm 1181mm BB Height 356mm 360mm Head angle 63.6° 64.2° Seat angle 57° 57.6° Reach 394mm 398mm

Weight w/o pedals 37.5lbs 37.5lbs

On The Trail

We had the Session for most of the summer, and spent a lot of time on the bike ensuring we put it through its paces in every conceivable situation. From local DH trails to the Italian Alps we put plenty of vertical descent on the bike. During our two-week road trip it was subjected to over 120,000 feet of harsh rocky tracks. When it came to cleaning the bike up and handing it back I couldn’t believe how “new” it looked. The finish that Trek has put on the frame in terms of paintwork is really impressive, and the entire bike stood up to the abuse very well.

The Mino link plays an important role in the adjustability of this rig, which is something Trek are very keen on. Not all racetracks are the same; the difference between Pietermaritzburg and Val Di Sole for instance is stark! Indeed on our trip we took in the crazy steeps of Pila to the more pedally trails of Livigno. Having the ability to tune the suspension for more pop and sit the head angle up a little to enable a snappier feel is important. As is the need to let it all hang out when the going gets rough and the harsh hits are more common.

The Session 88 is a very solid sled, make no mistake, it’s so versatile and comfortable in such a wide range of conditions it is hard to think of a better all round downhill bike. For sure, there are bikes out there that outperform it in certain conditions, but if you want a DH rig that can handle anything you throw at it with aplomb then the Session 88 comes pretty close.

It’s forgiving too, once we had tuned the suspension and increased the pressure in the Boost Valve in the Fox Rear Shock slightly it felt so planted it was hard to get out of your comfort zone. In the steeps of Pila it got up to speed so quickly and stayed there that you almost felt like you were riding way above your natural level for longer than you would dream possible. Don’t get us wrong, you won’t buy this bike and be transformed into Brook MacDonald, but you might ride it and find yourself improve and get noticeably quicker on sections that may have previously held you back.

It’s worth mentioning the bad stuff, the cover slipped on the Fox 40’s spring, as it always seems too. The 40 is a nice fork, and it’s a relatively easy fix, but these small niggles really shouldn’t be happening on a fork like this. The 180mm rotor on the back end is woefully under equipped for very steep tracks, the Avid rotor is also rather thin and flimsy, a beefier set of floating rotors would be a solid upgrade.

The Bontrager components often get a bad rap; we’re not sure why as Bontrager have been developing them for years and they are as solid as they come. The saddle and seat post do a good job and the 780mm wide handlebars are excellent as are the grips.

The big surprise were the G4 Team Issue tyres, similar in shape to the very popular Maxxis Minion Fronts they offer excellent grip in a wide range of conditions. They also had a solid wear pattern, there was no drastic degradation and there is still plenty of life left in them, even after such a long test. It’s worth noting we ran the standard tubes inside and didn’t get a single puncture in 4 months, running pressues of 26 in the front and 28psi in the rear…

In terms of feel the cockpit the Session 88 can be a little short to some, we had the medium on test and being a fan of smaller bikes felt right at home. It was great through the tight twisty stuff too. However, if you prefer a longer bike you might want to be very careful when it comes to sizing, the best bet is to get a test ride on one, although that will probaly result in you buying it…

There are plenty of tests out there on this bikes big brother, the Session 9, the full carbon version has had its praises sung many times, but if you don’t have a pile of cash under the bed it is a little rich. Having ridden both bikes, we can confirm the carbon version is sexier, lighter, stiffer and every other accolade that it has been given. However, if it were my money, the 88 would be where I would spend it every time. This is an exceptional bike for the price, and with the cash you save you could pick up a nice trail bike to stick in the van too.

To sum up the Session 88 is one of the most balanced downhill rigs on the planet. In a wide variety of conditions it consistently performs way above expectations, and it is fast and direct down the trail. It was a sad, sad day when we got the call to send it back. It will be sorely missed!

This review was in Issue 25 of IMB.

Pivot Cycles Phoenix DH

Scott bicycles gambler 10, vitus dominer dh, cube bikes two15 hpc slt, pivot cycles phoenix carbon, solid bikes mission 9, giant bicycles glory 1.

By Rou Chater Rou Chater is the Publishing Editor of IMB Magazine; he’s a jack-of-all-trades and master of none, but his passion for bikes knows no bounds. His first mountain bike was a Trek 820, which he bought in 1990. It didn’t take him long to earn himself a trip to the hospital on it, and he’s never looked back since. These days he’s keeping it rubber side down, riding locally and overseas as much as possible.

Tried this? What did you think?

• Session AL Frameset

We'll take care of you. Period.

It's our mission to provide you with world-class hospitality every time you visit us online or in-store. We're always here to help you. It's the Trek way.

Free shipping and professional assembly

All bikes ordered online ship for free to your local Trek shop for professional assembly. Participating retailers will even deliver your new ride to your doorstep!

30 Day Unconditional Guarantee

If for any reason you aren't 100% happy with your trekbikes.com purchase, you can return it in like new condition within 30 days - no questions asked.

A damn fast bike

Session allows you to hit sections at ridiculous speeds and commitment levels. It's been nothing but grin-inducing to get to know the Session so far.

"Fastest World Cup DH Bike of 2021"

"With 13 wins across World Cup races and the World Champs, Session is leagues ahead of the other bikes that took home victories this season."

For riders who charge full speed

A fast, versatile, confidence inspiring downhill bike that will let you push harder and ride faster than you thought you could.

More options

original_SLorence_treksessioncarbon_24light.jpg 19

Weighing in at approximately 5 pounds*, Trek's Session 9.9 Carbon DH frame has opened the doors to new possibilities in the light downhill bike realm. To illustrate just how easy it is to achieve an incredibly light downhill bike based around the Session 9.9 frame , Trek pieced together this bike using readily available components. The complete build weighs just 28 pounds 13 ounces (13.07 kg). Vital MTB was given the opportunity to ride the Session 9.9 for a full day at Whistler Bike Park, and we'll have an in-depth feature available for your eager eyes soon. Update: Read about our trip to Whistler on the Trek Session 9.9 . SPECIFICATIONS: FORK / Rock Shox Boxxer Keronite SHOCK / Vivid Air CRANK / SRAM XO carbon REAR DERAILLEUR / XO DH BRAKES / SRAM XX SHIFTERS / SRAM XX CASSETTE / SRAM Red CHAINGUIDE / MRP G2 SL carbon SADDLE / Bontrager Evoke carbon railed saddle SEATPOST / Bontrager XXX Lite HANDLEBAR / Bontrager Carbon 820mm handlebar STEM / Point One direct mount GRIPS / Bontrager Rhythm WHEELS / DT 240 hubs, Bontrager Rhythm scandium 32 hole rims (TWR) TIRES / Maxxis Minions EXO 2.5 tubeless *The published frame weight is 7.2 pounds with a Fox DHX RC4 rear shock, which we know weighs ~2.25 pounds with a standard steel spring.

Most Popular

• Pinkbike.com
• Register New User
• First Looks
• Friday Fails
• Community Blogs
• Fantasy League DH
• Places Directory

First Ride: 2022 Trek Session - Nope, Not Going to Say It

Cool Features