#2010 TREK SESSION 88 FULL#

#2010 TREK SESSION 88 FULL#

There are plenty of tests out there on this bikes big brother, the Session 9, the full carbon version has had its praises sung many times, but if you don’t have a pile of cash under the bed it is a little rich. However, if you prefer a longer bike you might want to be very careful when it comes to sizing, the best bet is to get a test ride on one, although that will probaly result in you buying it… It was great through the tight twisty stuff too. In terms of feel the cockpit the Session 88 can be a little short to some, we had the medium on test and being a fan of smaller bikes felt right at home. It’s worth noting we ran the standard tubes inside and didn’t get a single puncture in 4 months, running pressues of 26 in the front and 28psi in the rear… They also had a solid wear pattern, there was no drastic degradation and there is still plenty of life left in them, even after such a long test. The big surprise were the G4 Team Issue tyres, similar in shape to the very popular Maxxis Minion Fronts they offer excellent grip in a wide range of conditions. The saddle and seat post do a good job and the 780mm wide handlebars are excellent as are the grips. The Bontrager components often get a bad rap we’re not sure why as Bontrager have been developing them for years and they are as solid as they come. The 180mm rotor on the back end is woefully under equipped for very steep tracks, the Avid rotor is also rather thin and flimsy, a beefier set of floating rotors would be a solid upgrade. The 40 is a nice fork, and it’s a relatively easy fix, but these small niggles really shouldn’t be happening on a fork like this. It’s worth mentioning the bad stuff, the cover slipped on the Fox 40’s spring, as it always seems too. Don’t get us wrong, you won’t buy this bike and be transformed into Brook MacDonald, but you might ride it and find yourself improve and get noticeably quicker on sections that may have previously held you back. In the steeps of Pila it got up to speed so quickly and stayed there that you almost felt like you were riding way above your natural level for longer than you would dream possible. It’s forgiving too, once we had tuned the suspension and increased the pressure in the Boost Valve in the Fox Rear Shock slightly it felt so planted it was hard to get out of your comfort zone. For sure, there are bikes out there that outperform it in certain conditions, but if you want a DH rig that can handle anything you throw at it with aplomb then the Session 88 comes pretty close. The Session 88 is a very solid sled, make no mistake, it’s so versatile and comfortable in such a wide range of conditions it is hard to think of a better all round downhill bike. As is the need to let it all hang out when the going gets rough and the harsh hits are more common.

Having the ability to tune the suspension for more pop and sit the head angle up a little to enable a snappier feel is important. Not all racetracks are the same the difference between Pietermaritzburg and Val Di Sole for instance is stark! Indeed on our trip we took in the crazy steeps of Pila to the more pedally trails of Livigno. The Mino link plays an important role in the adjustability of this rig, which is something Trek are very keen on. The finish that Trek has put on the frame in terms of paintwork is really impressive, and the entire bike stood up to the abuse very well. When it came to cleaning the bike up and handing it back I couldn’t believe how “new” it looked. During our two-week road trip it was subjected to over 120,000 feet of harsh rocky tracks. From local DH trails to the Italian Alps we put plenty of vertical descent on the bike. We had the Session for most of the summer, and spent a lot of time on the bike ensuring we put it through its paces in every conceivable situation. Weight w/o pedals 37.5lbs 37.5lbs On The Trail

2010 trek session 88