REVIEW: 2009 Trek Session 88

A Two month Session

Words by Derek Timmerman. Photos by Sterling Lorence & Jerry Willows.
Date: 2008-10-20

These days, the average big travel bike built for the Shore and Whistler weighs around 42-46 lbs. pounds. The heavier weight generally translates into increased durability and a cushy ride, but the extra pounds mean that it takes more effort to get the bike down the hill.

So how does a lighter build perform and endure in such conditions? I put in two months on the 38lb., seriously hyped Trek Session 88 DH this past summer to find out whether less is more. Here's some extended real world experience to help cut through the hype. [Derek looked at a lot of the technology used in the Session 88 in his Gear Shots write-up. Check it out if you want more info. - Ed.]


Is this the bike of your dreams? Maybe or maybe not... Regardless, it's a pretty sweet looking ride.
|| Photo: Sterling Lorence

Features/details
Here's the low-down on the Session 88 I was testing:

  • 38 lb build (large frame, with stock 2.5” Big Earl, double wall Aramid 60tpi tires and light tubes, or 40 pounds with my preferred 2.5” Maxxis Minion, double wall, wire bead, 3C tires and FR tubes)
  • 203mm rear wheel travel via custom valved Fox DHX 5.0 w/ 400lb 8.75" x 2.75" steel spring
  • 203mm front travel via Fox 40 RC2, w/ standard medium weight titanium spring
  • Frame features: Active Braking Pivot, Full Floater, E2, EVO
  • Cane Creek XX ZS internal headset for standard Fox 40 steerer
  • SRAM X.O 9 speed trigger shifter and small cage rear derailleur
  • ’09 Saint 170mm cranks, 38t ring
  • MRP G2 Chain guide
  • Avid Elixir CR brakes with standard carbon blades; 203mm front rotor, 185mm rear rotor
  • E2 tapered head tube
  • Bontrager Big Earl platform pedals, seat post, saddle, 50mm stem, wheels (20mm front axle, standard 150mm rear hub with 12mm solid axle), riser bar and lock-on grips
  • 65° head angle, 14.3" BB height, 17.3" chainstay length, 47" wheelbase, 32.7" stand over height
  • SRAM PG970 12-26, 9 speed rear cassette
  • three year frame warranty, five years all Bontrager parts


Trek's new Active Braking Pivot (ABP) is designed to mitigate the tendencies of the previous suspension design, which had a pivot on the seatstay. || Photo: Sterling Lorence

Set up
I made a few modifications from the standard set up, including the following: the front end was lowered for better stability, ease of turning and body positioning; spacers between the stem and upper headset cup were removed and the stem was flipped upside down; fatter grips were added for more comfortable full days in the bike park; and more realistic, heavy-duty tires and tubes were added for the bike park and the Shore.

Due to spiking issues, I spent several days dialling in the final suspension settings. I've included them, to save other people the hassle. All settings are from zero for my 185lb ride weight. The fork has two clicks preload, two clicks rebound, seven clicks on the high speed compression, nine clicks on the low speed, and a standard medium titanium spring for 30% sag. The rear shock had one revolution preload, one click rebound, 135psi air, Pro Pedal off, maximum air volume due to the highly progressive frame design, switched to 450lb 8.75"x2.75" steel spring rate for 30% sag. 

The ride experience
The bike arrived from the previous tester with a serious spiking problem in the rear Fox DHX 5 coil shock and slight spiking in the Fox 40 fork. SuspensionWerx overhauled both and indicated the rear shock had been ridden without the minimum air pressure. After tweaking all settings for a few days, the front and rear spiking were eliminated once the front and rear rebound were practically turned off. Spiking issues in serious conditions can be mighty frustrating, so I was glad to finally be rid of them. 


Once all the suspension kinks were worked out, Derek was loving life wherever he logged miles on the Session.
|| Photo: Jerry Willows

This large frame nearly had the ideal ingredients for extended big bike pedaling up to trailheads: (relatively) low overall weight, minimal pedal bob and a non-telescoping seat post. The interrupted seat tube design allowed safe saddle positioning within 3cm of my ideal seated pedaling saddle height (34" inseam), yet the seat could be lowered to stem height without the seat post hitting the rear shock. Unfortunately, the 58° seat tube angle placed the seat too far back at my seated saddle height while pedaling. The small and medium frames likely have more limited seat height ranges due to their shorter seat tubes.

Stability at high speed over choppy turns was quite comfortable and predictable, yet the bike could still hop fairly easily when required. Low speed, extremely technical, steep trails were predictable as well. High lateral stability was also evident in such situations. 


The new EVO linkage and full floater design make for an interesting rear suspension configuration. || Photo: Sterling Lorence

The 2.9 leverage ratio frame was highly progressive, evident by my preferred maximum air volume setting in the rear shock (more air volume in the rear shock means more linear shock response throughout its range of travel, which was dominated by the frame's inherently progressive design). Square-edge hits and larger drops in the 10' range to less friendly landings were absorbed comfortably. Mid-stroke rear travel at high and low speed was responsive, predictable and lively. 


The E2 headtube is 1.5" at the bottom and 1 1/8" at the top to increase strength without adding weight.
|| Photo: Sterling Lorence

DH race bikes are more stable at high speed situations partly due to a lower BB, longer wheelbase, slacker head angle and more travel. These traits can, however, occasionally have adverse effects on handling when you're riding the gnarlier lower speed, highly technical Shore trails where sniper moves are sometimes necessary. As you might expect from this kind of bike, I ran into a few issues.


When you talk about sniper moves, this is the kind of think that comes to mind. Spot that landing, Derek!
|| Photo: Jerry Willows

The lower 14.3" BB height resulted in more bash guard hits, but the heavy duty MRP G2 design took them without issue. The 36T-40T bash guard was attached at three points to the heavy duty boomerang, which was less likely to bend with hits.

The 170mm '09 Saint cranks with the lower BB height tagged roots and rocks while pedaling in low clearance situations, but this was remedied with a few occasional ratchet pedal strokes. 165mm cranks for the Shore would be a benefit. These ’09 cranks were stiffer and slightly lighter than previous versions, but a little on the heavy side for my bike park and Shore needs.

The large frame's 47” wheelbase with 17.3" chainstay length expectedly required more rear wheel pivots on some shore skinnies compared to my usual freeride big bike.

A 65° head angle with the big fork expectedly made lower speed, ultra technical moves with tight turns slightly more challenging. With the Fox 40 fork tuned as indicated above, high fork performance overall was obtained in the bike park and Shore-style trails. 


Derek ramps it up with confidence, thanks to the Fox 40s on the front end and solid handling from the Session.
|| Photo: Jerry Willows

The lighter build was a serious blast in many situations. Sustained sprint pedaling was noticeably easier, with quicker acceleration overall. Easier pedaling and acceleration throughout the day, particularly in races, were welcomed.

Even though there were no observable dings, cracks, bearing or pivot issues after two months of hard BC riding with lots of tailgate shuttles, I still wonder how this frame would last in the long term. Tapping the large cross sectional area down tube with a finger nail was disturbing - the wall thickness sounded incredibly thin. The limited three year frame warranty may be something to remember here over time.

Interestingly, the previously-tested bike arrived with a flattened, unrideable front Big Earl rim, (immediately replaced), but the matching rear rim also failed with the biggest flat spot I've had. A stellar wheel builder can make the same wheel parts last much longer and it's likely these wheels were machine-laced in Taiwan.

The 385g Avid Elixir CR brakes (w/ carbon blades) were comfortably and consistently balanced between power and higher modulation without excessive howling. This year's Psychosis race required two fingers on the front lever for its Dead Dog section, but that's a ridiculously steep situation most riders would rarely, if ever, ride. All other situations needed the usual one finger braking. Higher modulation was welcomed in low speed, super technical, wet Shore sections (the system is Matchmaker compatible for the weight weenies).
   
Final thoughts
When I first lifted this pricey bike to feel the weight, I thought, "It’s a good thing this is a test bike, because no way is it going to last on the Shore and Whistler." However, after this two-month test in hairy conditions, the frame emerged with no observable issues. I'm smoother on a bike these days so I'm still interested in how this would last with a heavier rider and/or a person who rides like a sack of hammers.

I was amazed how dropping four or five pounds off my regular ride contributed to acceleration and maneuverability. It's much easier to rip the park all day and still pedal hard. Combined with consistent stability in the air and on the ground at moderate to high speed situations, the bike was confidence inspiring. I’ll ride a lighter big bike next year as a result.


The Session 88 rails on speedy trails, as Derek demonstrates... || Photo: Jerry Willows

All things considered, I found the Session 88’s DH build and DH geometry with properly tuned suspension to be a good balance between the bike park and the Shore. A few concessions were required while negotiating some low speed, extremely technical trails, but this is expected on a DH race design. [If you're looking for another perspective on the way the Session 88 rode, check out Cam's ride report from the East Coast. - Ed.]

The Good:

  • predictable and progressive, with properly tuned suspension
  • quick acceleration, easier sustained sprinting
  • balanced and stable in high-speed, choppy turns
  • no observed wear issues after two months of hard Shore and Whistler riding
  • race geometry was comfortable and familiar in the bike parkt
  • three year frame warranty, five years all Bontrager parts

The Bad:

  • For the high price of this build, I would prefer a higher grade spec with fewer Bontrager parts
  • Lighter pedals, seat, seat tube, rear titanium spring would be welcome
  • Rear rim flattened easily, possibly due lower quality machine wheel lacing
  • 58° seat angle places the seat too far back at seated pedaling height
  • DH geometry requires more attention during low speed, extreme technical Shore riding - but it is a DH bike after all.

Got your eye on a Session 88?  Any questions about Derek's review?  This way please...