Trek Elite 9.7 Review

The Trek Elite 9.7 is a very capable hardtail mountain bike designed for those who are looking to get that little bit more out of their off-road experience, whether as part of a competitive pack or when going solo for a bike of weekend adventuring.

You get the hard as nails OCLV Mountain Carbon frame to give the Trek Elite 9.7 a solid foundation that is also light and stiff where other bikes can end up feeling a bit on the heavy side. Trek has tested the material for this frame extensively to make sure that it stands up to the pressure of all day riding without becoming compromised, so you can ride this model with confidence in its capabilities.

The Trek Elite 9.7 is the first in its range to get the Fox Evolution Series 32 Float RL air spring fork with 100mm of travel and that all-important ability to offer full lockout and adjustable rebound. This piece of kit is known for the smoothness and progression with which it dishes out travel, so you can keep your head when the big impacts and constant rumble might otherwise leave you shaken and exhausted on less adaptive cycles.

You get a range of components from the Shimano Deore XT range in the transmission of the Trek Elite 9.7, affording superior lightness when compared to the cheaper ranges and also providing you with gear changes that occur at a quick pace to keep up with the changing conditions that you face. Efficient pedalling is provided thanks to the bike’s overall rigidity, with the hardtail setup allowing for good momentum sustainment during climbs.

The brakeset consists of Shimano SLX M666 hydraulic discs at both the front and rear, with reliable rotors and precision operation giving you the grip over your bike’s speed that you need to remain confident when in the saddle.

Trek has chosen Bontrager Mustang Disc rims and Bontrager XR1 Expert tyres for the Elite 9.7, letting the bike ride smoothly over surfaces that might otherwise prove problematic for the rider to endure. The wheelset is also rugged and tough, letting you tackle diverse terrain with ease and encouraging you to accept punishing conditions as all part of the fun, rather than something to be avoided.

The Bontrager Rhythm Elite seatpost is affixed with the Evoke 2 saddle on chromoly rails, letting you find a seated position that suits. Good levels of control are offered via the Bontrager Race Lite Low Riser handlebar. This is a model that certainly feels like it can be taken through the twists and turns with a better level of responsiveness and immediacy to the handling than you might find elsewhere.

The Trek Elite 9.7 is the kind of mountain bike that is intended to help you find the type of speed and climbing ability that you simply cannot expect to see on full sus models or alloy-oriented hardtails. The carbon frame is definitely one of the features that will help this model stand out, allowing for the kind of weight savings that translate into excellent cross country and trail potential whilst avoiding the kind of vagueness that could otherwise counteract things like handling.

The price of the bike means that it is really starting to get into enthusiast territory, so if you are serious about cycling, you should really be able to look at the Trek Elite 9.7 as a model that offers plenty of scope for future upgrades and replacements. The fact that it is built around such a capable carbon core means that any additions you choose to make down the line will not detract from this.

Trek Elite 9.7 Specifications

  • Front Fork: Fox Evolution Series 32 Float, rebound, 100mm travel
  • Rear Shock: N/A
  • Front Derailleur: Shimano Deore
  • Rear Derailleur: Shimano Deore XT Shadow
  • Gears: 30
  • Chainring: Shimano Deore XT 42/32/24T
  • Cassette: Shimano SLX 11-36, 10 speed
  • Shifters: Shimano SLX
  • Brakes: Shimano SLX hydraulic disc
  • Wheels: Bontrager Mustang Disc
  • Tyres: Bontrager XR1 Expert, 26×2.2″