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It’s Official: Trek Introduces 650b Remedy and Slash

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Trek Remedy Slash 650b

Just over a month ago, the big new from Trek was the introduction of a new Remedy and Fuel, both with 29″ wheels. All with no mention of 650b. In the classic case of “we’ll see,” Trek has unexpectedly released another new Remedy along with a redesigned Slash, both in 650b.

What effect will the introduction of 650b bikes have on Trek’s 26″ models? Speculation, and the full line of 650b bikes next!

Wheel Size Comparo

Trek is keen on pointing out that wheel size is more of a personal choice, than “what’s best.” Like other companies, Trek points out that the 27.5″ moniker isn’t really correct, and states “depending on your style, 650b may be a better 26″ wheel.” The numbers don’t lie, and Trek is still big on big wheels calling them the “gold standard for stable, confident riding.”

How you Ride

Trek boils down the numbers to this simple chart – how do you ride?

As far as the future of 26″ bikes, we asked if the 26″ Remedy was going away and didn’t receive an answer, but when you look at the spec sheet for the Remedy it’s pretty clear:  You Pick: 650b or 29er. The Slash also sounds like the 26″ model could be discontinued with the bike being redesigned from the ground up to be optimized for 650b wheels.

Remedy 9 9 650b

Just like the 29″ Remedy, the 650b model has 140mm of Full Floater, ABP, Fox DRCV suspension with Mino Link adjustable geometry. Trek uses a BB95 bottom bracket with ISCG05 mounts, and internal dropper and derailleur cable routings on the frame. Interestingly, while the Remedy 29 was introduced in aluminum only models, the 650b Remedy blasts through the start house in both aluminum and OCLV carbon fiber. That means there will be 6 different Remedy 650bs – the 9.9, 9.8, 9.7, 9, 8, and 7 (not all bikes will be available in all markets).

The top of the line full carbon Remedy 9.9 650b receives a full Fox Kashima treatment with a 34 Float CTD FIT fork and DRCV CTD rear shock. The drivetrain is a mix of XX1 and X01, X0 Trail brakes slow down Bontrager Rhythm Elite TLR wheels and XR3 Team Issue Tubeless tires. The bike comes standard with a Rock Shox Reverb Stealth dropper post.

According to Bontrager, Rhythm Pro, Elite, and Comp wheels will be available aftermarket in 27.5, and on the tire side, the XR3 (2.2 and 2.35) and the XR4 (2.35) will be available for now.

Remedy 9

The Remedy 9.8 throws an alloy chainstay into the mix, with the same suspension minus the Kashima coating. A Shimano XT 2×10 drivetrain is equipped with XT brakes, and Bontrager Rhythm Comp TLR wheels and XR3 Team Issue TLR tires. The Reverb Stealth is also found on the 9.8.

Remedy 9 7 650b

The Remedy 9.7 still has an OCLV main frame, but uses a full alloy rear end with a Float DRCV CTD rear shock and Rock Shox Revelation RL Solo air fork. Drivetrain is a mix of XT and SLX, with SLX brakes, and Bontrager wheels with Duster TLR rims and XR3 Expert tires. No dropper post on the 9.7.

Remedy 9 650b

The Remedy 9 uses a full Alpha Platinum aluminum frame with a Fox Float CTD Kashima fork and DRCV CTD rear shock. Gearing is fully XT 2×10, with XT brakes, and Bontrager Rhythm Comp TLR wheels and XR3 Team Issue TLR tires. The Bontrager Evoke 2 saddle is moved up and down with a Reverb Stealth dropper.

Remedy 8 650b

Again for the 8, the suspension loses the Kashima coating, but sticks with a Fox Float CTD 34 fork and DRCV CTD shock. Another XT/SLX drivetrain mix with SLX brakes is used, and the bike rolls on Bontrager wheels with Duster TLR rims and XR3 Expert Tires. No Dropper.

Remedy 7 650b

Definitely the easiest of the new bikes to get on, the Remedy 7 650b is equipped with a Rock Shox Revelation RL Solo Air, and Fox Float DRCV CTD shock. The drivetrain is a mix of Deore and SLX with Shimano M615 hydraulic brakes and Bontrager wheels with Duster TLR rims and XR3 Expert Tires.

Slash 9 650b

The redesigned Slash also carries Trek’s suspension technology through with the Mino Link adjustable geometry and DRCV, ABP, Full Floater suspension optimized for 650b. Slash starts off its days of 650b with 3 aluminum models, all with 160mm of travel front and rear.

The Slash 9 gets a Fox 34 Talas CTD up front (160/130) with a Fox Float DRCV CTD rear shock – no Kashima shocks available for the Slash. Like the Remedy 9.9, the 1×11 drivetrain is a mix of XX1 and X01 with X0 Trail brakes. Bontrager Rhythm comp TLR wheels are wrapped in XR4 Team Issue TLR 2.35″ Tires. Another Reverb Stealth gets the seat out of the way when things get scary.

Slash 8 650b

Slash 8 drops from the Factory Series 34 Talas to the non Kashima Evolution series 34 Talas CTD with the same DRCV CTD shock. The 8 has an SLX/XT drivetrain with a Race Face Ride crank and the only bike in the line with a chain guide. XT brakes slow down Bontrager wheels with Duster TLR rims and XR4 Expert Tires. Reverb Stealth dropper is found here as well.

Slash 7 650b

Entry level duties are covered by the Slash 7, which keeps prices low(er) with a Rock Shox Pike RC Solo Air fork, DRCV CTD rear shock, and SRAM X7/X9 2×10 drivetrain.

It should go without saying, but every one of these bikes are equipped with either a Shadow + or Type 2 rear derailleur to keep the chain in check.

Trek Remedy Slash 650b geometry

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42 Comments
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Nick
Nick
10 years ago

Saw Bontrager 650B tubes in the shop weeks ago, knew it was coming. Stoked!

Matt
Matt
10 years ago

Very cool. Too bad they don’t spec XTR on the Remedy 9.9.

Yep
Yep
10 years ago

Hunch confirmed!

Javan
Javan
10 years ago

Why would they give the 650B remedy the same amount of travel as the 29er?

the dude
the dude
10 years ago

Leave it to Trek to come up with a chart regarding how fast each wheel size makes you. “average size of male genitalia” search is on every browser there.

Purellist
Purellist
10 years ago

Playful or confident? Yes. Why can’t I have both? Trek marketing needs to come up with better comparisons, now I am just confused.

Topmounter
Topmounter
10 years ago

Just imagine how fast their 36″er will be…

Eric G
Eric G
10 years ago

Riding a 650B bronsonC with 26″ rim + 26″ Fox 36 fork.
Tyres + spokes weight savings more than made up for the supposedly 20sec faster 650B rims.
I realized lower rotational weight is more important than minute diff bet 26″ & 650B in terms of performance gains.

It won’t be long before weight weenies on 650B bikes realize this.

And I bet the chart is based on carbon rims which mere mortals cant afford.

Jdog
Jdog
10 years ago

I just spent the last 3 days riding 2014 650b bikes from another “big” bike company. Trust me that 29er is faster and smoother.

27.5 is better on switchback turns and it is lighter.

IMO, if you like 26″ you will most likely like 27.5 as it feels very close.

If you prefer 29 over 26, you most likely will prefer 29 over 27.5.

You will loose the rollover and momentum that 29er are known for on 27.5.

26″ is so close to 27.5 that I can’t see any reason to make 26″ bikes going forward.

Todd
Todd
10 years ago

It’s good to see the new Remedy’s are specced with 34mm stanchions. They should have had them all along. Otherwise, who cares about the wheel size.

alexx
alexx
10 years ago

Remedy 9 with shimano XT and no shitty avid brakes… hell yes!

Rain
Rain
10 years ago

If 26″ is so close to 27.5″ than what is any reason to replace 26″ wheels?

“Going forward” seems a bit like going nowhere in this case.

tkeaton
tkeaton
10 years ago

Rain, you missed the point bud

patrik
patrik
10 years ago

650B: An Awesome Solution In Search of a Mediocre Problem

gravity
gravity
10 years ago

There’s basically no reason to go to 650b from 26″ (isn’t 650b like 4% larger?), other than marketing, but whatever, it’s done. With Trek and Giant on board, the 26″ wheels is officially dead, or at least slowly dying.

g
g
10 years ago

Didn’t even bothering opening the post. Trek among Oakley, Nike, etc., was the ultimate backer of Armstrong at all other racer’s expense including the only American to win the Tour. Ruining his families life.
F Trek and the bike they rode in on. They assisted in destroying peoples lives, either turning a bling eye, or with at least some knowledge. I would not buy a Trek if it was my last day on earth. I only hope some low level tool at the company is reading this. F you !

Frank
Frank
10 years ago

Trek STILL hasn’t made a FS bike that I can straddle. I’m 5’7″ with a 30″ inseam. And what about the 50% of people who are shorter than me?

greg
greg
10 years ago

Frank-
it doesnt matter if you can straddle the bike. that’s an old guide. try riding one you cant straddle. i doubt youd notice.

29only
29only
10 years ago

Rain You need to know It’s all about the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Mindless
Mindless
10 years ago

@greb: My balls appreciate an ability to straddle my bikes on unplanned dismounts. But then, they are huge..

love the ride
love the ride
10 years ago

@g: You should relax a little, why don’t you go for a ride.

a
a
10 years ago

Funny how people forget that there is another factor that effects momentum… WEIGHT. Sure for a rigid bike a 29″ will roll more smoothly over a given small obstacle, but a 26″ wheel ought to be 11% lighter than a comparable 29″ wheel and that is a big saving on unsprung weight. Sadly most 26″ wheels haven’t seen the same weight saving efforts as 29″ so these weight savings haven’t been seen, but IF there was a level playing field then the differences would be marginal.

tirider1
tirider1
10 years ago

G, you nailed! Now if everyone could wake and see just how bad S’Ed is as well!

satisFACTORYrider
satisFACTORYrider
10 years ago

650b-for your inner goldilocks? It’s like 15mm axles, yes? Getting rid of 26s is like getting rid of 20s in bmx or engine classes in motorsports like rally or mx. Truth? 99% of us are over-biked anyway. If you can’t bunny hop, pump, wheelie, and jump while you rock flats you can and will be sold anything. The 1% that can don’t care. Physics of marketing meets the marketing of physics.

Smokestack
Smokestack
10 years ago

Getting rid of 20’s in BMX? Already happening with the advance of 22″ for race and freestyle. Some of those guys have choked all the speed they can get out of a 20, so the wheel needed to evolve/grow. Others are tall dudes who had a hard time fitting a 20. I appreciate the rolling advantage of 29er, but really love the playfulness of a 26. My DJ bike will stay 26, but my next trail bike will likely be 650. A little bit from column A, a little bit from column B. I for one think Pacenti was right on about 650b for MTBs.

Pablo
Pablo
10 years ago

29 only – It should be all about the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$, why else be in business?

bin judgin
bin judgin
10 years ago

DRCV is still garbage

DSaul
DSaul
10 years ago

Thanks to all the internet experts for posting your theories on why something you have never tried is not necessary or not better than 26″ wheels. Try riding some 650b wheels and then your opinion may have some relevance. I have ridden both and there is enough of a difference for me to sell all of my 26″ bikes. They have better rollover in roots and rocks, hold speed better on the flats and climb better despite the extra weight. I don’t have any theories on why they climb better, they just do.

satisFACTORYrider
satisFACTORYrider
10 years ago

how does one know someone hasn’t tried wheel sizes by reading a post? with all the styles of riding and riding styles on the mtn why limit choices? The tech exist in geos and squish to accomodate all three as we speak.

@dsaul- not everybody wants the rollover approach. some want to hop, bump jump, or manual sections. being forced into a bigger wheel size for smaller riders is no different than taller riders having to deal with smaller sizes, isn’t it? a single chassis for millions of engines? the engine is organic and is in constant flux and the cpu are all one-offs. i don’t have any theories on why peole are different either, they just are.

Matt
Matt
10 years ago

@Alex – I like the way you think. No SRAM brakes for me ever again.

I have tried both wheel sizes. Definitly like the 650 but still want to wait a couple generations before buying. I think geometrys and travel need to be worked out a bit more.

I would have like to have seen 145mm of travel instead of the 140mm. I personally think that woud be the perfect bike along with 67.75 degree head angle.

evil
evil
10 years ago

Bet these will really jump the shark!

Bikeman
Bikeman
10 years ago

Just saw the new FATTIRE bike on the Trek Dealer website. Another sweet bike coming out.

DeafDaddy
DeafDaddy
10 years ago

While I acknowledge it’s only one rider, 650b bikes appear to have obvious advantages otherwise hardly any bicycle manufacturer would pursue another wheel size. Just ask Scott Swisspower’s Nino Schurter; he’s won last year’s World Cup XC championship on a 650b-equipped Scott Scale and has won the last two rounds this year.

Whether the bicycling industry is selling what riders want or what they desire to sell with the intention none other than to make a profit will continue to be a source of (heated) debate for years to come. Marketing gimmick or not 650b bikes may be the perfect solution for more than a few riders (myself included).

Ian Settlemire
Ian Settlemire
10 years ago

650b is awesome. The chart they have is [deleted], but you have to realize who it’s designed for – the average schmuck off the street who wants a mtb but will probably never ride the bike to its potential. The chart will work great to steer those people to the right wheel size. Rolling inertia is much more important than rollover in a race situation. 29ers are fun and stable, but not faster on a steep course or where you need to do a lot of acceleration compared to keeping a steady speed. 20ers are not winning any DH or Enduro races are they?

Trek makes great bikes, but the Armstrong thing does taint the brand. [deleted]

Kyle
Kyle
10 years ago

If you like these bikes, go buy one and ride the hell out of it.

If you feel as if these bikes are not right for you, go ride the hell out of something else.

Enjoy the ride,

filibuster cash
filibuster cash
10 years ago

And you all just contributed some free marketing. . .

Frank
Frank
10 years ago

: I will notice falling down a rocky hillside because my feet can’t reach the ground on a trail across a steep slope. Fit is determined by TT length but in order for a mountain bike to function your feet need to be able to get to the ground on any terrain.

Frank
Frank
10 years ago

: On my old bike I had 1 inch of clearance between my crotch in the top tube, I had a number of crashes where I stalled out on steep technical climbs that were on cross-slopes, and then fell down the hill because my feet couldn’t reach the ground in time. My current bike has over 4 inches of clearance and that’s pretty much solved this problem.

My current bike (custom fit) has a 60cm TT, so that would put me on a 18.5 Remedy with less than 3/4″ of standover clearance. The next size down has even LESS standover clearance (what’s up with that?!?) If Trek is going to make a bike for riding in rough terrain it should be one that you can be comfident that you can get off of safely if you get in over your head on technical terrain.

JimmyC
JimmyC
10 years ago

JUST TAKE MY
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Pavo
Pavo
10 years ago

@Frank. Mate, if you’re 5″ 7″ (as I am actually), then a bike with a 60 cm top tube is waaaay too big. You should be looking at either a small or medium size frame (15.5 or 17.5 inch). The Remedy shows a standover height of between 76.6 and 77.3 cm in S or M which should be fine, unless you have really short legs. Certainly those dimensions give my boys a comfortable amount of wriggle room. Of course it’s a sound idea to caress them with some lycra knicks under your shorts. Frankly, (no pun intended) if you’re letting them sway in the breeze, you probably deserve to suffer some collateral damage on the bumpy sections!

Tony Daytona
Tony Daytona
10 years ago

Any real world experience/input on how the new Fox 34 compares to the Pike?

C Dog
C Dog
10 years ago

Why does everyone keep saying 27.5″ wheels are “really close” to 26″ wheels? They’re just as close to a 29″ wheel as they are to a 26″ wheel.

27.5 IS EXACTLY HALF WAY BETWEEN 26 AND 29. Math majors please try to prove me wrong.

I think I’m going to start blogging about how similar 27.5″ wheels are to 29″ now

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