The low weight and high quality of the frameset was also obvious as soon as I lifted it out of the box it arrived in, with neat welding and clever hydroforming all over the place. I’d sort of been hoping to get a Stache 8 in the understated grey and green colourscheme, but as soon as I set eyes on the metallic candy red/orange frame I was delighted – it looked much classier in the flesh and appears to be more of a coloured lacquer than a paint. It just so happened that at the same time there was a little-used 2013 Stache 7 for sale on Pinkbike so I made a bit of an impulse buy, if only to satisfy my curiosity about 29ers. The bike initially came to my attention via a review on a US website raving about it being a 29er hardtail that you could “rally”, which I gather means the same as “shred” or “ride fast on downhill bits”.

This is a 2013 model with only the BB, headset, saddle and seatclamp left from the original spec. That’s probably because aluminium is just not as cool a frame material as steel, titanium or carbon fibre – and maybe also ‘cos the big T (as nobody is calling it) just isn’t as cool as some of its rival bike companies. SUNringle Duroc 50 SL, tubeless tape included, 28-hole, 50mm width, presta valveīontrager sealed bearing, alloy axle, 6-boltīontrager XR4 Team Issue, Tubeless Ready, Inner Strength sidewalls, aramid bead, 120 tpi, 29x3.00''īontrager alloy, 31.8mm, 15mm rise, 750mm widthīontrager Rhythm Comp, 31.The 2016 Trek Stache has been getting a lot of attention with its 29+ wheels and 3in “semi-fat” tyres, but the previous version of the bike seemed to fly under the radar in the UK. RockShox Yari RL, Solo Air spring, Charger damper, tapered steerer, 51mm offset, 120mm travel It's super easy to go tubeless with the included Tubeless Ready tires, rim strips, and valvesĪlpha Platinum Aluminum, tapered head tube, internal derailleur & dropper post routing, elevated midstay, Stranglehold dropouts We're not the only ones who love it: DirtRag says, ' is the most fun bike I rode this year, and fun is where it's at.' Stache is super versatile and equally at home on multi-day bikepacking trips as it is on rough singletrack Super short chainstays make this bike surprisingly agile, even with its 29+ wheels Stache 7 delivers awesome 29+ performance at a no-nonsense price It's trimmed with high-quality parts where it really counts, like in the suspension and drivetrain, so it won't destroy your wallet but it won't leave you wanting more either. Stache 7 blends value and performance with big fun.

Plus, it has 29x3' Bontrager XR4 Team Issue tires that keep you connected to the trail and Shimano hydraulic disc brakes for reliable all-weather stopping power even when the trail gets wild. You're willing to spend a little more for nicer parts because you know they're more precise and offer extra adjustability.Ī lightweight Alpha Platinum Aluminum frame and stout RockShox Yari RL fork with 120mm of travel, Stranglehold dropouts, a dropper post to make the steep stuff a little less sketchy, and a mixed SRAM SX and NX Eagle 1x12 drivetrain with a larger 50-tooth cog for easier climbing. You embrace the weirdness of 29+ tires and appreciate the simplicity of a hardtail. It's a big-wheeled fun wagon ready to go anywhere and take on any trail. This mountain bike marries fun and confidence.

Stache 7 is a playful 29+ trail hardtail with 3-inch mid-fat tires, a ridiculously capable build, and a robust fork with 120mm of travel.

Stache 7 review