Going exploring – The Trek Full Stache 8 in review
The Trek Full Stache 8 screams for adventure. It wants you to go exploring, to discover new places and escape the mundane routines of life. Its wide tires will also broaden your own horizons – in several ways.
To understand the Trek Full Stache, you first have to understand where it’s coming from. The Stache hails from the USA, the land of both endless possibilities and bikepacking. While plus tires never really got rolling in Europe, they have long become an established MTB trend in the United States. The Stache is an attempt to bridge the gap between long-distance bikepacking and fun on the trails.
The Trek Full Stache 8 in detail
The € 3,499 Full Stache 8, is fitted with 3.0″ Bontrager XR4 tires mounted on 40 mm wide 29″ wheels, bringing the bike’s total weight to 15.31 kg. To create the clearance necessary to accommodate the bulky tires, the pivot point of the rear linkage has been moved far forwards on the aluminium frame and the driveside chainstay is raised above the chain. The FOX FLOAT EVOL shock provides 130mm travel at the rear, matching the 130 mm RockShox PIKE at the front. One obvious weakness we spotted before we even rode the bike was the underpowered brakes. Combined with 180 mm rotors front and rear, the SRAM Guide R is neither reliable nor powerful enough for this bike. The rest of the componentry of the beautifully finished Full Stache is spot on though. Shifting is taken care of by a SRAM GX-Eagle drivetrain.
Fork RockShox PIKE RL 130 mm
Shock FOX Performance FLOAT EVOL 130 mm
Brakes SRAM Guide R 180/180 mm
Drivetrain SRAM GX-Eagle
Seatpost Bontrager Line Dropper 150 mm
Stem Bontrager Line 60 mm
Handlebar Bontrager Line 750 mm
Rims/Hubs Bontrager/SUNringlé Düroc 40 29″
Tires Bontrager XR4 Team Issue 3.0″
Weight 15.31 kg
Price € 3,499
The 29″x 3.0″ Bontrager XR4 tires roll on hard-packed surfaces better than you would expect while delivering endless grip on any surface
The Full Stache has enough grip to get up the steepest climbs. However, with the 30T chainring, you’ll need strong legs to live up to the potential of the bike. We would recommend a smaller chainring for all-day adventures.
Although the Full Stache offers space for a water bottle in the front triangle, Trek didn’t add their usual mounts on the top tube to carry additional gear. We don’t know why they would do that on an adventure bike.
Trek combine SRAM Guide R brakes with 180 mm rotors front and rear. With this combination, the braking power of the Full Stache 8 isn’t reliable enough for long descents.
Enjoying nature and the trails to the fullest is what the Full Stache is made for. The raised chainstay keeps the chain nice and quiet.
| Size | M | L | XL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seat tube | 419 mm | 470 mm | 521 mm |
| Top tube | 588 mm | 618 mm | 646 mm |
| Head tube | 90 mm | 90 mm | 110 mm |
| Head angle | 67° | 67° | 67° |
| Seat angle | 65.5° | 65.5° | 65.5° |
| Chainstays | 430 mm | 430 mm | 430 mm |
| BB Drop | 47 mm | 47 mm | 47 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1,175 mm | 1,205 mm | 1,232 mm |
| Reach | 450 mm | 480 mm | 500 mm |
| Stack | 617 mm | 617 mm | 635 mm |
Trek’s in-house Bontrager cockpit comes with a 60 mm stem. Fortunately, the much-criticised Bontrager Line dropper post has been updated and delivers 150mm travel without any issues. However, bikepackers will be disappointed – the Full Stache doesn’t feature Trek’s usual mounts on the top tube to carry additional gear. It only has space for one water bottle in the front triangle.
The Trek Full Stache 8 on the trail
When the next adventure calls, long hours in the saddle are inevitable. The Full Stache offers the right mix of comfort and efficiency for extended expeditions. The riding position is aggressive and slightly stretched. Due to the long stem and the low stack height, the front of the bike stays nicely weighted on steep passages. Even with the Full Stache in the slack setting, you’ll never have to worry about the front wheel lifting. Thanks to the 3.0″ wide Bontrager XR4 tires, you won’t have any issues with the back wheel losing traction either. Together with the active yet efficient suspension, the Full Stache will get you up the steepest and most technical climbs with ease. You’ll likely run out of leg power despite the 30T chainring, long before the bike reaches the limits of its climbing capabilities. Although the SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain has plenty of gear range, the Full Stache lacks an even smaller gear to conquer the steep and high peaks of the terrain it’s made for. On hard-packed ground and level terrain, the Full Stache is more than capable of covering long distances, contrary to the visual impression the tires make. Although the weight of the wheel and tire combination takes a lot of effort to get going, they have surprisingly low rolling resistance. This is primarily due to the tread pattern and the round profile of the tires. The centre tread is almost completely smooth which rolls easily on compact surfaces. With the rear shock in Trail mode, there is no discernible pedal bob on the Full Stache, while the voluminous tires continue to provide lots of comfort.
The Trek Full Stache has awoken the inner child in our test rider, Manne, who is already raring to go on his next trail adventure.
The Full Stache takes the edge of steep slopes, off-camber passages, wet roots and rocks. Where other bikes have long since lost traction, the Trek only really starts to shine, delivering previously undreamt levels of grip in every situation. Despite the relatively low front end, you never feel like you might go over the bars. The low bottom bracket, paired with the super short chainstays and the long reach make the rider feel integrated with the bike. With the exception of the hopelessly underpowered SRAM Guide R-brakes, the Trek Full Stache excels not only on tight, steep trails but also on faster, open terrain. The fork is tuned quite firmly, which, along with the rear end, gives the bike a lot of pop. You constantly find yourself looking for things to launch off. However, the rear suspension rushes through its travel on landings, occasionally bottoming out harshly. Here, volume spacers could help increase the shock’s progression. Nevertheless, the Full Stache doesn’t have to shy away from technical trails and easily rolls over obstacles where bikes with significantly more travel would be out of their depth.
Conclusion
With the Trek Full Stache 8, you’ll reach places you previously couldn’t have reached on a bike, and you’ll flatten them on your way to unexpected new horizons. Going up or down, it rolls over large obstacles with ease. Those who are not on the hunt for the next KOM and prefer to explore new trails will rediscover themselves, their local mountains and remote places on the Full Stache 8.
Tops
- technical climbing
- endless grip
- balanced handling
Flops
- rear tire clearance
- brakes not up to par
For more info head to: trekbikes.com
