The Slash 9.7 SLX/XT is a light-assist enduro e-MTB that quietly blends in on the trail. It pairs a high-pivot rear end with a long-travel 170 mm/170 mm Fox suspension package and the quiet assist of TQ's HPR50 motor to give you just enough support to make climbs a breeze, so you can hammer out more laps. It comes equipped with everything you need to rip, like tubeless ready wheels, a dropper post and a blend of Shimano SLX and XT components.

It's right for you if...

You want all the benefits of a high-pivot enduro bike, plus an electric boost. You want a bike with natural handling and a quiet ride that's built to hammer through the rough, and a little push for getting in a few extra laps.

The tech you get

An OCLV Mountain Carbon frame with high pivot suspension and a quiet but mighty TQ HPR50 (50 Nm, 250 W) motor with a 580 Wh battery. 170 mm of front and rear travel from a Fox Rhythm 38 fork with Float EVOL air spring and GRIP damper and a Fox Performance Float X shock. Stiff Bontrager Line Comp 30 Tubeless Ready wheels (29" front, 27.5" rear) for handling the rough, a Bontrager Line dropper post and a Shimano SLX/XT drivetrain.

Why you'll love it

• You don't have to compromise climbing for descending – the Slash delivers it all with the chunder-crushing benefits of a high-pivot suspension design and a quiet motor that all but disappears on the trail
• The TQ HPR50 motor is compact, light and nearly silent, so you blend right in with traditional bikes and get just the support you need for long, gruelling climbs
• Its high-pivot suspension gives you insane control for hairy descents, while carefully tuned anti-squat and oversized pulleys make pedalling astonishingly efficient
• You can pair the Slash with the Trek Central app to customise your motor's support, map out rides, log miles and more
• The internal battery stays shielded from roots, rocks and knocks, but can easily be pulled out with just your multi tool – plus you can add a range extender for days when you really want to push it

The final word

When you want a carbon enduro ride plus a little extra, reach for the Slash 9.7 SLX/XT. This long-travel high-pivot enduro rig gives you the handling of a next-level trail beast with the added benefit of a quiet motor that doesn't look, feel or sound like an e-bike. You get nothing but a hard-hitting ride on the downs and an easy boost on the ups.