Australian Mountain Bike

TESTED: TREK, SPECIALIZE­D, CANYON, FELT, MO MS EN, FOX AND MORE!

Trek say the Full Stache is for riders that want to go on adventures, explore, get off the beaten track and simply get away from it all. We’re here to tell you that the Full Stache is SO much more than that!

- TESTER: BEN MORRISON PHOTOGRAPH­ER: NICK WAYGOOD

The Full Stache is perhaps the most nimble 29er we have ridden – even with the 29” plus sized tyres! Until you see a 29x3.00” tyre in the flesh (or rubber) it’s hard to grasp how big they are. So the agility of the Trek Full Stache really wasn’t expected. Its ability to change direction on a whim is literally amazing and totally out of character for bikes in this category. With 130mm travel there is very little the Full Stache isn’t up for out on the trail, and we’re not only talking about descending. Trek spend a significan­t amount of time on suspension design and engineerin­g which certainly shows on the Full Stache; with the way you can absolutely destroy a descent, then turn around and climb for 20 minutes to the next descent, all without changing any of the settings on the rear shock and fork. The Fox Float EVOL rear shock is super-easy to leave in the open setting and ride, but you can firm it up if needed. We found it was just as important to get the tyre pressure right, and suggest starting at 20psi and going down by 0.5psi to find your sweet spot. A digital pressure gauge will be a wise investment. Thanks to the elevated chainstay, Trek have kept the beck end short and the overall wheelbase at 1175mm on our 17.5” test bike. With a 67 degree head angle and 454mm reach, the bike has the geometry we wanted for aggressive trail riding, but the 29x3.00” tyres let the bike roam so much further on trails that are anything but groomed. Plus bikes can get categorise­d into being adventure bikes, and sure the Full Stache can tick that box – but it also suits a rider looking to find new lines on their local trails with the increased grip on offer. We’re telling you, the Full Stache truly has your back. More than just a plain fun bike, the Full Stache has an expertly planned spec that is durable and unsurprisi­ngly, it performs flawlessly. Want to know more? Find our full review on AMBmag.com.au.

 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Australia