2016 trek session 9.9

Downhill Bikes

Trek session 9.9, stunningly crafted. effortless ride dynamic. one of the finest dh bikes in the world.

With eight or more years development behind it the Trek Session 9.9 has evolved into a highly regarded, almost intimidating race bike that delivers pace, well constructed damping characteristics and an impeccable build quality. When it comes to delivering performance and finish the Trek has few rivals. It has been a favourite for many years as we’ve found in past tests .

Trek themselves might well disapprove if we didn’t mention some of the key features of the Session 9.9 including the OCLV carbon, ABP (active braking pivot) which allows the suspension to work freely whether on the brakes or off, Full Floater suspension or Mino Link adjustable geometry but many of these were features that formed the first production Session bikes back in 2008. What Trek have done marvellously well is improve the bike year on year leading to this bike which was one of the first full carbon production 27.5” wheel bikes on the market.

What makes it so special? Very simply is its speed across the ground, but not like some bikes that are great on steep, tight technical but lack pace when the grounds become more level. The Session is fast – everywhere. Offering an engaging ride with precise steering geometry the Session similar to the Specialized Demo seems to build in momentum but in quite a different way. The Session is livelier than the Demo, easier to move around and slightly easier to crank on flatter grounds, the kind frequently found in between rougher sections of track.

“What Trek have done marvelously well is improve the bike year on year. Its also the most incredibly well finished and presented bike”

That doesn’t mean the Trek is lousy in the tougher stuff, oh no, from average damping beginnings in 2008 Jose Gonzalez and his team have stepped up the rear damping on the Session to a place that many can only dream of. Fox suspension played their part too in this process and for 2016 the Session comes with the finest Fox 40 yet to come from the Californian brand.

There are still a couple of minor negative points, for starters the adjustable geometry is still a shade on the high side and we’d like to see the current ‘high’ setting become the standard setting with the addition of a ‘low’ position. The XL is a good size for 6’ riders but there’s still a place for an XXL in the future. And in terms of components whilst the Shimano Saint’s are reliable brakes the Guide Ultimate’s and Code’s offer smoother and more consistent braking through the range. The bar and stem combination takes getting used to – bar too narrow, stem to low.

Overall however if we were to choose a bike for racing on the varied terrain that racing often throws up, then the Session is one of the bikes we would always reach out to. Its pedigree is impressive. A bike that Aaron Gwin steered to nine world cup wins in two seasons and that culminated in two World Cup series wins making it one of the most successful race bikes of all time.

YOU DIDN’T KNOW THIS BUT…

Dylan howes, trek r&d.

When we were developing the 27.5 bike, we actually made a full-on carbon prototype with prototype molds that we knew we wouldn’t go to production with. The geometry, suspension kinematics and tube shapes matched the 26” Session exactly with the only changes being wheel size, BB drop (same BB height) and fork offset to maintain the same trail number. We wanted to be able to feel what the wheel size difference felt like before we made any other changes to geometry and suspension kinematics.

Those changes were things like overall bike geometry (top tube length) and suspension improvements that we were planning on regardless of wheel size. On those protos, we also built a full carbon chainstay, which we hadn’t done on a downhill bike before. Even in prototype form, it cut a huge amount of weight from the aluminum (fine, aluminium!) stay and was really robust.

“The chainstay became one of the hardest parts to mold and took months of iterations on layups to get it to pass”

But, we felt we could do it even better and make assembly easier by changing exactly how we molded the parts for production. And then the problems really started! The chainstay became one of the hardest parts to mold and took months of iterations on layups to get it to pass. It became the longest development time of any carbon chainstay we had done, and led to the team, and your test bike, having aluminum chainstays to start the season.

We did solve the molding problem, created a lighter and stronger chainstay than we had in aluminum, and learned some good molding lessons. Future versions would be made like the proto’s. Sometimes you get it right the first time….

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Stunningly crafted. Effortless ride dynamic. The Trek Session 9.9 is one of the finest DH bikes ever made

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Review: Trek Session 9.9 29

Cool Features

Trek Session 9.9 29

Words by Drew Rohde | Action Photos by Trevor Lyden

You’d never guess it by looking at the Trek Session 29’s meticulously clean lines or attention to detail, but Trek created this bike knowing full well that sales numbers would pale in comparison. Downhill bikes cater to an increasingly small percentage of riders, and 29-inch wheeled DH bikes are going to segment that group into an even smaller section. If you compare Session sales to Fuel, Remedy and Slash models, the world-renowned Session looks more like an experiment in marketing than good business. Despite the unlikely return on R&D, design time and production mold dollars, Trek forged ahead creating one of the most beautiful, downhill bikes I’ve ever seen. After ogling over a pre-production Session 9.9 29 at Crankworx Whistler, I was anxious to get a long-term tester to see if the love affair would last once things got down and dirty.

In an effort to remain open minded, I try to not study the numbers on our test bikes before I write reviews. I’ll be totally honest, I either didn’t know or totally forgot that the Session 9.9 29er had 190mm of travel. Regardless of my newfound knowledge, the bike handled everything I threw at it thanks to the Fox Factory Fit 40 RC2 fork and Fox Factory Float X2 shock. Oh yeah, and the 29” wheels.

Trek equips the Session 29 with all of their standard features you’ve come to know over the years. The Session 9.9 is their top of the line model, and the frame is built using Trek’s OCLV (Optimum Compaction Low Void) carbon process that has been evolving since 1991. A magnesium Evo Link houses the adjustable Mino Link chip – an easily adjustable piece of hardware that changes the head tube angle and BB height.

Frame features also include an integrated frame protector, Control Freak cable routing, Carbon Armor, ABP (Active Braking Pivot) 4-link suspension design and adjustable fixed-angle headset cups.

The Session 9.9 29er is race-ready and boasts a 7-speed Shimano Saint drivetrain and Shimano Saint brakes. A particular highlight I enjoy is the very sexy MRP G4 carbon chainguide. Rolling stock on the Trek Session 9.9 29 comes in the form of Bontrager Line DH 30 wheels, with Boost 110×20/157x12mm spacing. Bontrager G5 Team Issue 2.5” tires offer excellent grip, however I did flat the rear tube twice. I haven’t flatted a DH bike in years so I’m not sure if the tubes are especially thin or if it’s the tire. Either way, I went tubeless and haven’t had any issues since.

More Bontrager goodies fill the cockpit: Line Pro 820mm bars, a Line Pro Direct Mount 50mm stem and XR Trail Elite grips, which we removed pretty quickly. After a near death experience clipping a tree just before a drop, I cut down the bars to about 777mm, and while they have a strange look and feel at first, they weren’t something I focused on once I started riding.

I was both surprised and reaffirmed when I learned the Session 9.9 29er has 190mm of travel. As mentioned above, I don’t look at the details of a bike before riding it. Clearly I can’t be totally unaware of what some bikes offer, but I try to avoid the spec sheet until after my testing, or sometimes mid-test if something doesn’t feel right. I want to be open minded and let the bike speak to me during the test period without my brain telling me what I should be feeling based on a chart.

The shortened travel wasn’t something I completely noticed during my test rides, but in hindsight it made sense. What I mean by that is, the bike rode differently than the 27.5 and 26-inch Sessions when it came to landing drops or larger jumps. It did not feel harsh by any means, it just had a firmer feel that I attributed to more progression in the tune. I reached full travel every run during my testing, but never felt harsh hits or that I was out of travel. That doesn’t mean I wouldn’t like more though. If possible, I’d love to see this bike with 195mm or even 200mm of travel.

So how does it ride with those big wheels and shorter travel? Like a daggum rocket ship! I rode a demo bike briefly in Whistler Bike Park. It was slack, low and certainly better than some of the other bikes I rode that week, but I wanted more. It was a well-worn demo bike and I knew the understeer and suspension issues I experienced were tunable. Before hopping on the chairlift for my first ride, I got sacrilegious. I put the Mino Link in the High mode! Since I wasn’t dropping into Val Di Sole, I figured I had the ability to navigate the terrain I was about to ride with a head angle more nimble than 62.1 degrees.

What I felt on that first ride was pure magic. I had no understeer, the bike stood up a bit taller, was a little bit shorter and put me right where I wanted to be – in a position to command the bike. That first ride was the beginning of what I hope is a long relationship (Wink wink, Trek can I keep it?) I only spent about two runs tweaking suspensin and quickly settled in on my tune. As my speed increased with familiarization to the bike, I added about five more PSI and 2-3 clicks of compression depending on the track.

I’m not always a fan of the Fox 40, as it can ride a bit stiff and beat up my hands, but this fork feels buttery smooth and the rear shock is the same. I actually found that running a little bit more sag was preferred for my riding style and terrain. I don’t live for the jump lines, instead preferring the natural steeps and chunky stuff with natural gaps. The softer spring rate kept me on the ground when I wanted, but added compression prevented me from blowing through travel when I didn’t. I’m sure this softer set up is also why I was reaching bottom out on all my race-paced test runs, but this isn’t a bad thing according to some schools of thought. The trade off for regularly using all the travel is insane traction and confidence, well above what many other bikes have offered me.

While the suspension performance is a highlight of the Session 9.9 29, the thing that blew me away is the out and out speed of the bike. Specifically, how fast it gets up to speed. I took two practice runs down a newer trail at Mt. Bachelor that is a steep fall line and navigates everything from lava rock to flat, loose turns, massive ruts and very aggressive roots. During my sighting laps I’d inspect lines, erosion changes, etc. Every time I hopped back on the Session 29 and let off the brakes I was instantly back up to speed, like I’d never stopped. No pedal strokes needed, the bike just picked up steam and charged down the trail like I was trying to scare myself!

The larger wheels are definitely noticeable and something I was very aware of every time I got on the bike. This is both good and not so good. The bike feels a bit larger and gives me a feeling of being right in the middle of two massive steamrollers. Benefits of the big wheels are plentiful, as the bike is beyond stable and allows for errors in line selection or lazy riding while still maintaining top speed because the added roll-over ability offers a larger margin of error. However, if you screw up the entry to a tight turn like a switchback, the length and big wheels will not treat you well. Swinging wide is the way to go, but if you live to jackknife corners like you’re always being filmed for an Instagram edit, you’ll have your work cut out for you.

Another noteworthy point is the seat height. I’m not quite six foot and rode a size large and had to cut quite a bit off the seat post. If you think of DH bike seat post heights by comparing a World Cup racer to a FEST Series rider, you’ll know that there is a big difference in riding style. This bike is most definitely a racer as the larger wheels don’t allow for a totally slammed post, and this may be an issue for riders with short legs, especially if you’re a big jumper. Which is another place that the Session 9.9 29er didn’t completely blow me away.

Downhill bikes are very purpose specific tools, and this is very clearly a race rig, so I didn’t expect it to be a whip machine. I’m not Brendan Fairclough or some amazing rider, but the added rotational mass was definitely noted when I wanted to make quick changes in the air. Still, the 34.91-pound weight and poppy suspension feel kept me more than happy when I was playing around on the jumpy stuff.

The Wolf’s Last Word

Alright, so let’s pretend we’ve all got A.D.D and you just asked me if you should buy this bike because you don’t have time to read. If I had to reply in one word I’d say, “Hellyes!” BUT, I’m also very chatty when it comes to bikes so instead I’d like to ask what your budget is, what type of riding you prefer most and what you want out of your DH bike.

If you’ve got the budget, are looking for a flat out race machine to make you as competitive as possible, love plowing over shit as fast as you can, or want something to give you that extra little edge when it comes to racing the clock, then I think the Session 9.9 29er is probably one of my top recommendations. If you think spending over eight grand on a bicycle is ridiculous, love to jump, whip and slash, then I’d suggest looking at other options, perhaps a Session 8 27.5 ($4,279).

Ultimately, the Session 9.9 29 has become one of my favorite DH bikes in recent memory. Then again I’m the type of guy who goes to Whistler Bike Park and proudly skips A-Line in favor of the least popular woodsy DH tracks I can find. For me, the trade off in playfulness on the jump lines is well worth the added speed, traction and comfort on proper downhill trails. Just make sure you keep the spokes real tight, or else they’ll be making some weird noises!

Price: $8,399 Weight: 34.91 lbs Website: Trekbikes.com

CHASSIS Frame: OCLV Carbon; 190mm Fork: Fox Factory 40 Fit RC2; 190mm Shock: Fox Factory Float X2; 225x70mm

COCKPIT Brakes: Shimano Saint Handlebar: Bontrager Line Pro; 820mm Headset: FSA Orbit Saddle: Bontrager Arvada Seatpost: Bontrager Rhythm Elite Shifter: Shimano Saint; 10s Stem: Bontrager Line Pro DM; 50mm

WHEELS Hubs: Bontrager Rims: Bontrager Line DH 30 Tires: Bontrager G5 Team Issue; 29×2.5

DRIVETRAIN Bottom Bracket: Shimano BB80 Cassette: Shimano CS-5700; 11-25t Cranks: Shimano Saint M825; 34t Derailleur: Shimano Saint Shadow Plus; 10s

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Get the lowdown on Gee Atherton’s new Trek Session

Part of this story

Gee Atherton

A multiple world champion, world cup winner and red bull rampage podium finisher, gee atherton is one of the greatest mtb riders of his generation..

Gee Atherton’s 2016 Trek Session:

• Frame: XL Trek Session 9.9
• Bar: PRO Tharsis 9.8 alloy bar 800mm
• Groupset: Shimano Saint brakes and shifters. Rotor size 203mm.
• Tyres: 27.5in Bontrager G Mud tyres run between 24–28psi depending on conditions.
• Fork: Fox 40 air
• Shock: Fox DHX2 coil with a 525 spring
• Cranks: Shimano Saint cranks 165mm* (Tune in at 03:05 to find out about the power cranks the team will be using this year)
• Chainring: 36T matched with an 11–11–21 cassette* (Tune in at 02:40 to find out why he runs his set-up this way)
• Pedals: Crankbrothers Mallet DH
• Weight: 35lbs [15.88kg] 

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2016 trek session 9.9 dh mountain bike - medium, certified to the highest standards.

All frames are thoroughly inspected to verify they are not structurally compromised.

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Description

Specifications.

• Model Session 9.9 DH
• Size Medium
• Frame Material Carbon Fiber
• Drivetrain N/A
• Fork Fox Factory Series 40 Float
• Fork Travel 203mm
• Rear Shock Fox Factory Series DHX2 - Fox Coil 450 x 27.5
• Rear Shock Travel 210mm
• Handlebar Renthal Fatbar, Alloy
• Brakes Shimano Saint M820, Disc Brakes - Hydraulic
• Brake Type Disc Brakes - Hydraulic
• Shifters Shimano Saint
• Front Derailleur N/A
• Rear Derailleur Shimano Saint Shadow Plus
• Cassette N/A
• Crankset Shimano Saint
• Chainring N/A
• Seatpost Bontrager Rhythm Elite
• Saddle West Biking
• Wheel Size N/A
• Wheel Set DT Swiss FR 1950 Disc
• Front Tire N/A
• Rear Tire N/A
• Bottom Bracket N/A
• Charger Included N/A

Mechanic Notes & Comments

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2016 Trek Session 9.9

Some Comparisons

Compared to the Devinci Wilson Carbon

The Session is noticeably lighter, and it also feels a bit taller than the Devinci Wilson Carbon. In terms of smashing through rough terrain and braking bumps, the two bikes are actually pretty similar. They’re also similar (both remain quite active) while on the brakes. The Wilson feels a little more composed at high speeds and, presumably due to the more progressive suspension, seems to handle hard hits better. The Trek feels a touch smaller and more maneuverable, even though it actually has a slightly longer wheelbase than the Wilson. Part of this is due to the shorter reach on the Trek (10 mm shorter on the Large), and part of it comes back to the Trek’s light weight.

Compared to the Canfield Jedi

These two bikes ride quite differently. The Jedi is a point and smash kind of bike. It’s slack and heavy, and it does best pointed down the fall line, and it that situation it does very well. The Trek rewards a more active riding style, and while it’ll carry speed through rough patches just fine, it’s more likely to get kicked off line if you try to ride it like a sled. The Trek is far better on jumps, and I found it easier to carry speed through tight berms and awkward corners – both in corners and on jumps, the heavily rearward axle path of the Jedi and its elongating wheelbase make things trickier. The Trek also feels much smaller, so I’m really comparing the Large Session 9.9 to a Medium Jedi.

Compared to the Specialized Demo (old / 2-sided version)

I haven’t been on the new single sided Demo, but compared to the “old” version, the Trek carries speed through chunky terrain a bit better, and the rear wheel is less likely to hang up in holes. I also find the longer rear end makes it a little easier to carry speed through corners. Conversely, it’s easier to be precise with the Demo’s short rear end, and the Demo frame is stiffer. In terms of jumping, I wouldn’t declare a clear winner assuming both bikes are using the same rear shock. I did, however, find that the Ohlins coil shock on the Demo made it tougher to jump compared to a Cane Creek Double Barrel or Fox. Like with the Jedi, since the Trek is pretty small, I’m comparing a Large Session to a Medium Demo.

Compared to the Rocky Mountain Maiden

The Maiden is a heavier, burlier bike, and that extra heft plays out on the trail. The Trek feels more maneuverable, but also not quite as stiff. Through rough terrain, the Maiden hangs up in holes pretty noticeably whereas the Session 9.9 floated through holes without losing speed. The only place where I’d give the nod to the Maiden is on jumps – while the Session isn’t a terrible jumper, the Maiden was more playful and fun. In terms of sizing, by the numbers, a Large Maiden is pretty similar to a Large Session, although I’d say the Session feels a touch bigger.

Bottom Line

Aaron Gwin had his best season yet aboard a Session, and I can see why. It’s an extremely competent bike if you want to go fast on technical trails — it holds speed through holes and chunkiness as well as any bike I’ve ridden, and it’s surprisingly easy to ride it fast through corners.

The biggest downside I can come up with is really that, coming off of some bigger, heavier bikes, the Session 9.9 at times felt skittish at speed. I do think, however, that with more time to fiddle with the suspension and get used to the bike, I could minimize that.

If someone’s looking to just hammer out laps on A-Line and isn’t particularly concerned with speed on technical trails, this probably isn’t the bike I’d recommend — I’d lean toward something a bit more playful, and probably with a burlier frame that’d be more likely to withstand some crashes. But if you are looking to go as fast as possible, maybe win some races, and still have a bike that’s fun to ride at a non-race pace, the Session would be pretty high on my list. Just consider sizing up, since the frames feel pretty small.

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• Mountain bikes

Trek Session Session 9.9

Where to buy it

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Trek Session 9.9 DH 27.5

• AUS $ NZD $ USD $ CAD $ GBP £ EUR €

Colour / Viper Red

Size / S, M, L, XL

At a glance

Where to buy.

Specifications

• Frame OCLV Mountain Carbon w/InTension main frame, OCLV stays, Carbon Armor, ABP Convert DH, Full Floater, E2 tapered head tube, integrated frame protection, internal control routing, HexMC carbon EVO Link, Mino Link, MicroTruss, 210mm travel
• Wheels DT Swiss FR1950 Gravity Classic; 20mm front hub, 157x12 rear hub
• Wheel Size 27.5"
• Tires Bontrager G4 Team Issue, 27.5x2.35"
• Crank Shimano Saint, 36T
• Rear Derailleur Shimano Saint, Shadow Plus
• Shifters Shimano Saint, 10 speed
• Brakeset Shimano Saint hydraulic disc
• Handlebar Bontrager Rhythm Pro Carbon Riser, 31.8mm, 15mm rise
• Saddle Bontrager Evoke 3, hollow titanium rails
• Seatpost Bontrager Rhythm Elite, 2-bolt head, 31.6mm, zero offset
• Stem Bontrager Rhythm Pro Direct Mount, 31.8mm
• Headset Cane Creek IS-3, E2, alloy cartridge

Q: What size wheels does the 2015 Trek Session 9.9 DH 27.5 have?

The 2015 Trek Session 9.9 DH 27.5 has 27.5" wheels.

Q: What size 2015 Trek Session 9.9 DH 27.5 should I get?

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