As soon as Trek’s Fuel EXe mid-power trail eMTB was released last year, people started asking if they would add a motor to the longer travel Slash. Hearing their cries, Trek is now introducing the Slash+, which is basically the Gen 6 Slash with a mid-power motor.
The Slash+’s TQ HPR50 motor puts out 50Nm of torque, offers peak power of 300W, and importantly, gets its juice from TQ’s brand new, bigger 580Wh battery. Trek wanted the Slash+ to be an eMTB for people who like to bag as many rowdy descents as possible. I reviewed the 6th generation Slash last fall and was very impressed with its two-faced qualities of bump-gobbling capabilities yet great pedaling efficiency. With pedal assist, this ebike should be an excellent self-shuttler for riders who love rough terrain.
2025 Trek Slash+:
The Slash+ will be offered with full OCLV Mountain Carbon frames only, offering 170mms of rear travel matched to 170mm forks. The Slash+’s high pivot suspension linkage was tuned to mimic the ride you’d get from the non-motorized Slash. Its rearward axle path maintains momentum through rough sections of trail, while the idler pulley controls chain growth and minimizes pedal kickback. The size of the pulley and its positioning ensure good pedaling efficiency and ideal anti-squat values.
Favoring agility and rear tire clearance for this rowdy ebike, Trek gave the Slash+ MX wheels on medium-XL frames. To give smaller riders a better fit, the small frames run 27.5” wheels front and rear. If you’re wondering about going full niner on the larger frames, please note Trek does not intend for people to run 29” rear wheels in the Slash+.
The Slash+ features an angle-adjust headset. The ebike comes stock with neutral cups, but optional +/- 1° cups are available for aftermarket purchase. Trek has also included their leverage rate adjusting LESS/MORE flip-chip in the Slash+’s lower shock mount. eBikes will ship in the LESS position, but the MORE setting is an ideal option for heavier-hitting riders or those running coil shocks.
While the Slash+ cannot offer in-frame storage due to the battery, Trek added an accessory mount under the top tube for on-bike tools, etc. The 9.9 X0 AXS model also includes Bontrager’s BITS steerer tube multi tool.
The Slash+ gets a new lower chain guide featuring a lower pulley guard that fully captures the chain, and an integrated bash guard to protect your chainring. The guard mounts directly to the frame and is height-adjustable. There is a top guide on the Slash+’s upper idler pulley as well.
Trek provides complete ebike weights for the Slash+. They list the 9.7 model at 44.94 lbs and the 9.9 X0 AXS at 46.04 lbs. Both ebikes have the same 580Wh battery, it just seems that the build kit on the 9.9 including X0 Eagle Transmission may be that much heavier than the Shimano XT/SLX build on the 9.7.
Fitments and Protection:
The Slash+ offers ample room for 150mm dropper posts on small frames, 170mm on mediums, and 200mm on L/XLs. Stock dropper post sizes are 100mm on small frames and 170mm on all larger sizes. The frame accepts 34.9mm posts.
There is one water bottle mount on the down tube, and all models come with a bottle cage. The small frame can accommodate a 20oz water bottle, but the others all fit a full-sized bottle. The Slash+ frames feature internal cable routing and are SRAM UDH compatible. The rear axle spacing is Boost 148mm.
The Slash+ gets the included rear fender introduced on the Gen 6 Slash, a chainstay guard, and a lower down tube guard. It also comes with Carbon Armour frame protection, which is a protective layer that’s applied before the frame is painted.
TQ Drive System:
Trek says they did consider making the Slash+ a full-powered eMTB. However, ride testing both options proved the reduced weight of the mid-power motor actually makes the ebike more agile, and thus faster on descents. Since this ebike is all about charging downhills, Trek decided to optimize its ride for exactly that. The mid-class motor’s weight keeps the Slash+’s handling and ride feel closer to an unassisted bike on descents.
The Slash+’s TQ HPR50 motor puts out 50Nm of torque with a natural assist feel. The motor offers 250W continuous power output, with 300W peak power. The TQ motor was specifically tuned for optimal performance with Trek’s high-pivot suspension linkage. The TQ HPR50 motor claims to run very quietly, qualifying as ‘barely perceivable’ by Trek’s studies!
Power is supplied by a new TQ 580Wh battery. As far as we know, the Slash+ is the first ebike to use the larger battery which was just unveiled at Eurobike. The battery is removable via two hex bolts, and Trek ensures it’s easy to do with no cables in the way. When in the frame, the battery stays secure and rattle-free. While the new battery is not backward compatible with existing ebikes, the smaller 360Wh battery Trek used for the Fuel EXe is compatible with the Slash+ by adding an adapter cap. That battery can be run in the Slash+ to reduce weight.
The Slash+ is also compatible with TQ’s Range Extender. This bottle-style battery adds an extra 160Wh of juice. To leave room for the down tube battery, the battery charge port is located on the underside of the top tube.
A top tube display screen shows your key ride metrics and includes the ebike’s power button. TQ’s very compact handlebar remote controls your assist level enables Walk mode, and can turn connected lights on and off too.
The Trek Central App allows for customization and control of the drive system.
Geometry:
*Please note, there are a few errors in the geometry charts above. I’ve reached out to Trek, and will update this post ASAP.
To put it simply, geometry for the Slash+ was kept ‘nearly the same as the Slash’. One thing that differs is the Slash+ does not come in a M/L frame size. Without that size, the medium frame’s reach has been altered to sit evenly between the other sizes. Reach numbers by size are as follows: Small = 430mm, medium = 448mm, large = 479mm, XL = 519mm (in neutral position).
Shorter riders will be happy to hear the Slash+’s top tube has been straightened out behind the head tube, and the size small frame has a lowered top tube for improved standover clearance.
Trek offers size-specific chainstay lengths on the Slash+, with three different lengths across the four frame sizes. Small frames measure 434mm, medium and large frames grow to 440mm, and XL frames are 445mm (Trek confirmed these are the correct numbers, not what is shown in the above charts).
Please note there are minor variations created by adjusting the headset angles, so check out the above charts for all the exact angles and measurements.
Head tube angles are a pretty slack 63.5° in the neutral position, and that’s adjustable by +/- 1 with the optional headset cups. How slack will mountain bikes get? Well, this is the third bike I’ve recently covered offering head tube angles slacker than 63°! The Slash+’s effective seat tube angles vary by frame size but hover around 77°.
Model Lineup:
Just two models of the Slash+ will be offered. Some quick build notes: Trek specs 160mm cranks, 35mm stems, and 780mm handlebars on both models. The 9.9 X0 AXS model gets a Bontrager carbon handlebar and carbon wheels. For complete build specs visit Treks’ website.
Slash+ 9.9 X0 AXS – $11,999.99
Key components: RockShox Zeb Ultimate fork and Vivid Ultimate rear shock. SRAM X0 AXS wireless drivetrain, including a Reverb AXS dropper post. SRAM Maven silver brakes. Bontrager Line Pro 30 carbon wheels with 2.5” Bontrager Team Issue SE6 front and SE5 rear tires.
Frame color options are Black/Grey or Dark Grey/Copper.
Slash+ 9.7 SLX/XT – $7,999.99
Key components: Fox Rhythm 38 fork and Performance Float X rear shock. Shimano SLX/XT drivetrain, E*Thirteen E-spec Plus cranks, Shimano M6120 4-piston brakes. Bontrager Line Comp 30 wheels with 2.5” XR5 Team Issue tires.
Frame color options are Dark Grey/Dull Green or Black/Red.
