The new Trek Session 9.9 2018 had to prove itself in the most brutal demands of the Downhill World Cup and was perfected in collaboration with the greatest downhill champions. It should come as no surprise that many manufacturers are currently working on 29" downhillers. After Santa Cruz made the first move, Trek is following suit and presenting the new legendary Session, a downhiller that is supposed to be the ultimate weapon with large wheels. This is also available as a 27.5" version, which also has a few new features to offer.
Check out the new Trek Session 9.9 2018 in the shop now!
Trek Session 9.9 – At a glance
- 29″ version: Available as frame kit (with shock & fork)
- 27.5″ version: Available as frame kit (with shock absorber) or complete bike
- comes standard withFox Float X2 air shock
- still compatible with steel spring dampers
- stiffer frame, longer top tube, lower bottom bracket
- adjustable geometry thanks to Mino Link: two positions, 0.5° steering angle, 8 mm bottom bracket height
- adjustable steering angle thanks to interchangeable headset cups: three positions, ± 1°
- Price Trek Session 29 frame kit: €4,999 (including shock and suspension fork)
- available from autumn 2017
Details at a glance
Downhill bikes in 29er sizes have been seen before, but never in series by well-known manufacturers. Trek is taking on the absolute pioneering role by offering the new Trek Session 9.9 2018 as either a 27.5" or 29". The 29er version is expected to appear in autumn 2017 and will be available as a limited frame kit including a FOX suspension fork and shock absorber. The revised 27.5" model will also be available as a frame kit or complete bike.
Trek clearly separates the areas of use of the two Session models. According to the manufacturer, the 27.5" version is still the right choice for 90% of all riders. The 29" Session is a pure racing machine for chasing the last tenth of a second. Downhill superstar Gee Atherton, who is competing in his second season with Trek , was not at all enthusiastic about the 29" downhiller at first - until he was able to test it in the USA last winter.
The result should be of interest to everyone: On a test track lasting around two minutes, Gee was a full 2 seconds faster with the large wheels and not slower in any area than with the normal 27.5" model.
The Session 9.9 2018 has adjustable geometry in both wheel sizes. The Mino Link system in the rear triangle allows you to choose between two different geometry options. This changes the steering angle by 0.5° and the bottom bracket moves up or down by 8 mm. The new Session comes with interchangeable headset cups so that the steering angle can be adjusted by ± 1°.
Compared to last year, the new Trek Session frames are said to be significantly stiffer thanks to an optimized carbon layup - at the same weight. The new shock mount also contributes to the increased stiffness. As expected, the Trek Session 9.9 2018 model no longer has a full floater rear triangle, the shock is no longer floating. This is already known from the Slash enduro machine. However, the rear triangle performance should remain unchanged thanks to the improved shock absorbers. With better control in the middle travel range, the Trek Session will come with FOX Float X2 air shocks as standard next season. In cooperation with FOX, the shock absorber is perfectly tailored to the bike. According to Trek , the response to smaller impacts has been significantly improved. Both variants are still compatible with steel spring shock absorbers. The numbers speak for themselves: Trek speaks of 11% more frame stiffness overall, with 10% gained in the head tube area and 19% in the bottom bracket area.
The new Trek Session also still features the patented “Active Braking Pivot” technology, which ensures that the rear triangle remains active even during braking maneuvers and does not harden. Critical areas such as the down tube, chain stays and seat stays are protected with an extra portion of carbon. The fork stops are also integrated into the frame at the entrances for the internal cable routing.
Trek Session 2018 – 27.5″
The geometry of the 650b version of the Trek Session has been renewed. The reach has grown by 20 mm in every size. The chainstays are 445 mm long to harmonize with the long front. This should ensure stability at high speeds. In addition, the bottom bracket has moved down by 10 mm compared to its predecessor and the steering angle has been flattened to 63°. Thanks to the Mino Link system and interchangeable headset cups, the geometry can be adapted to any trail. In addition to the carbon version, there will also be an aluminum version of the 27.5″ version.
Trekk Session 2018 27.5” details
|
Mino Link Position |
Low |
High |
Low |
High |
Low |
High |
Low |
High |
|
seat tube length |
425 mm |
425 mm |
425 mm |
425 mm |
456 mm |
456 mm |
456 mm |
456 mm |
|
seat angle (effective) |
74° |
74.5° |
74° |
74.5° |
74° |
74.5° |
74° |
74.5° |
|
seat angle |
57.5° |
58° |
57.5° |
58° |
57.5° |
58° |
57.5° |
58° |
|
head tube length |
115 mm |
115 mm |
115 mm |
115 mm |
115 mm |
115 mm |
115 mm |
115 mm |
|
steering angle |
63° |
63.5° |
63° |
63.5° |
63° |
63.5° |
63° |
63.5° |
|
top tube length |
581 mm |
579 mm |
600 mm |
584 mm |
621 mm |
606 mm |
646 mm |
631 mm |
|
bottom bracket height |
349 mm |
356 mm |
349 mm |
356 mm |
349 mm |
356 mm |
349 mm |
356 mm |
|
bottom bracket drop |
8.5 mm |
2 mm |
8.5 mm |
2 mm |
8.5 mm |
2 mm |
8.5 mm |
2 mm |
|
chainstay length |
446 mm |
445 mm |
446 mm |
445 mm |
446 mm |
445 mm |
446 mm |
445 mm |
|
offset |
52 mm |
52 mm |
52 mm |
52 mm |
52 mm |
52 mm |
52 mm |
52 mm |
|
trail |
12.4 mm |
12 mm |
12.4 mm |
12 mm |
12.4 mm |
12 mm |
12.4 mm |
12 mm |
|
wheelbase |
1217 mm |
1216 mm |
1236 mm |
1235 mm |
1257 mm |
1256 mm |
1282 mm |
1281 mm |
|
standover height |
732 mm |
738 mm |
733 mm |
739 mm |
740 mm |
746 mm |
742 mm |
748 mm |
|
Reach |
405 mm |
410 mm |
424 mm |
429 mm |
445 mm |
450 mm |
470 mm |
475 mm |
|
stack |
619 mm |
616 mm |
619 mm |
616 mm |
619 mm |
616 mm |
619 mm |
616 mm |
Trek Session 2018 29” details
|
Mino Link Position |
Low |
High |
Low |
High |
Low |
High |
Low |
High |
|
seat tube length |
425 mm |
425 mm |
425 mm |
425 mm |
456 mm |
456 mm |
456 mm |
456 mm |
|
seat angle (effective) |
73.1° |
73.6° |
73.1° |
73.6° |
73.1° |
73.6° |
73.1° |
73.6° |
|
seat angle |
56.6° |
57.1° |
56.6° |
57.1° |
56.6° |
57.1° |
56.6° |
57.1° |
|
head tube length |
115 mm |
115 mm |
115 mm |
115 mm |
115 mm |
115 mm |
115 mm |
115 mm |
|
steering angle |
62.1° |
62.6° |
62.1° |
62.6° |
62.1° |
62.6° |
62.1° |
62.6° |
|
top tube length |
583 mm |
582 mm |
602 mm |
601 mm |
623 mm |
622 mm |
648 mm |
647 mm |
|
bottom bracket height |
350 mm |
356 mm |
350 mm |
356 mm |
350 mm |
356 mm |
350 mm |
356 mm |
|
bottom bracket drop |
22.5 mm |
16 mm |
22.5 mm |
16 mm |
22.5 mm |
16 mm |
22.5 mm |
16 mm |
|
chainstay length |
450 mm |
449 mm |
450 mm |
449 mm |
450 mm |
449 mm |
450 mm |
449 mm |
|
offset |
58 mm |
58 mm |
58 mm |
58 mm |
58 mm |
58 mm |
58 mm |
58 mm |
|
trail |
13.1 mm |
12.8 mm |
13.1 mm |
12.8 mm |
13.1 mm |
12.8 mm |
13.1 mm |
12.8 mm |
|
wheelbase |
1226 mm |
1225 mm |
1245 mm |
1244 mm |
1266 mm |
1265 mm |
1291 mm |
1290 mm |
|
standover height |
735 mm |
741 mm |
736 mm |
742 mm |
743 mm |
749 mm |
745 mm |
751 mm |
|
Reach |
396 mm |
401 mm |
415 mm |
419 mm |
436 mm |
440 mm |
461 mm |
465 mm |
|
stack |
619 mm |
616 mm |
619 mm |
616 mm |
619 mm |
616 mm |
619 mm |
616 mm |
Trek Session 2018 – Complete Equipment
|
|
Radon Skeen Trail 29 9.0 |
Radon Skeen Trail 29 10.0 |
|
|
suspension fork |
RockShox Revelation RL, 130mm |
RockShox Pike RC, 130 mm |
Fox 34 Float Performance Elite, 3 position |
|
mute |
RockShox Monarch RT3 |
RockShox Monarch RT3 |
Fox Float DPS Performance Elite, EVOL |
|
tax rate |
FSA, ZS44/IS52 |
FSA, ZS44/IS52 |
FSA, ZS44/IS52 |
|
handlebars |
LEVEL NINE Race, 720mm width |
Race Face Turbine, 760mm width |
Race Face Turbine, 760mm width |
|
stem |
LEVEL NINE Race, 75 mm length |
Race Face Evolve, 60mm length |
Race Face Evolve, 60mm length |
|
handles |
Ergon GE1 |
Ergon GE1 |
Ergon GE1 |
|
cranks |
Shimano SLX, 36×26 |
Shimano XT, 36×26 |
Shimano XT, 36×26 |
|
Chain |
Shimano CN-HG601 |
Shimano CN-HG601 |
Shimano CN-HG601 |
|
cassette |
Shimano SLX, 11-40T |
Shimano SLX, 11-40T |
Shimano SLX, 11-40T |
|
gearshift |
Shimano XT, 11-speed |
Shimano XT, 11-speed |
Shimano XT, 11-speed |
|
derailleur |
Shimano XT, 11-speed |
Shimano XT, 11-speed |
Shimano XT, 11-speed |
|
derailleur |
Shimano SLX, High Direct Mount |
Shimano XT, High Direct Mount |
Shimano XT, High Direct Mount |
|
brakes |
Magura MT Trail Custom |
Magura MT5 |
Magura MT5 |
|
saddle |
Selle Italia X1 |
Selle Italia X1 |
Selle Italia Flite MG |
|
seat post |
LEVEL NINE Race |
RockShox Reverb Stealth, 125 mm (S and M) / 150 mm (L and XL) |
RockShox Reverb Stealth, 125 mm (S and M) / 150 mm (L and XL) |
|
Tires |
Schwalbe Nobby Nic, Performance, 29″ x 2.25″ |
Schwalbe Nobby Nic, Performance, 29″ x 2.25″ |
Schwalbe Nobby Nic, Evolution, 29″ x 2.25″ |
|
wheels |
DT Swiss M1900 Spline |
DT Swiss M1700 Spline |
Mavic XA Elite |
