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Trek Lush 27.5 is my long-awaited bike. When this model with 26-inch wheels made its debut four years ago, I was attracted by its aggressive and flexible handling and perfect front-to-back balance for up and down the mountain. But of course, the 26-inch wheels are about to be phased out. Soon thereafter, Trek developed the large Lush 29er. This is a good bike, but the larger hoops cause some awkward geometric problems, which makes the ride rough. Therefore, it is very meaningful to launch this platform with medium-sized wheels. But Trek does more than that. They went all out, brought back the carbon fiber frame option, and decorated it with a 1 x 11 drive system, a lift seatpost and a Lush specific version of Trek RE: Aktiv Fox suspension, which promised to make a Goldilocks-sized Lush just right .
It is so close. In general, this avatar of Lush is a very capable all-day cross-country partner, sometimes even acting as if she can participate in cross-country competitions. In fact, Trek lists the 120mm travel Lush under the XC and Lindau categories, which illustrates its wide range of functions…but also illustrates its small shortcomings. After all, it is never possible to do both tasks 100% well.
Taking into account the characteristics of off-road cycling, I started the rock and log streams of my local trail. This is one of the places where you go up, up, up, out of the gate, and then down, down, down, with only a little rolling in the middle.
The first climb quickly went from smooth to foundation to rock. Are you kidding me? ! As its suspension is set to off-road mode, Lush achieves surprisingly fast cruising with its 42.9-inch short wheelbase and 13.2-inch high bottom bracket, all the way up, popping out and over obstacles, and in narrow terrain Maneuver. Lush is not light, but it has some characteristics of Qingqi XC. It is very efficient and can drive as much as you want. Thanks to the balanced geometry and carefully adjusted rear shocks, the rear wheels can be firmly grasped even on the rough terrain inside and outside the seat.
Speaking of the rear shock: Bounce it off and Lush becomes the party girl she promised. RE: Aktiv suspension has a relatively high leverage ratio, so lighter riders can properly apply high impact pressure for best performance; a reverse valve, which can remain firm until you hit something to open it; And Trek’s dual-rate control valve technology keeps it stiff on small things and surprisingly soft on big ones. This is a cool feature that can work together to achieve an almost magical ride during the descent.
Our brutal winter eroded our already rugged downhill. Lush was not affected in any way, because it galloped down from drop to drop effortlessly, without any pressure drop, bouncing or shaking. It is equipped with a sweet RockShox Reverb dropper that can easily put my weight back on the rear wheel.
The dropper really came in handy. It can lower my center of gravity on some thick, rolling trails, where uneven and strangely spaced rock outcrops may knock you down and hinder motivation. In some cases, I sometimes feel that the front and rear of the bicycle are not always exactly the same. The back part is stable and predictable, while the front part is looser and difficult to stay online. I think this is due to the combination of the upright geometry and the 660mm narrow handlebar, which feels too tight for a trail bike, and it is challenging to lower my torso for extra stability. It is also difficult for me to keep my route on thin seesaws (I fell off), carve into flat corners, and pick on slower trails.
The other parts on Lush are just right. The 11-speed SRAM X1 transmission system is excellent. The 32-tooth front sprocket is perfectly matched with the 10-42 rear flywheel, allowing easy climbing without limiting the maximum speed. I have never been looking for equipment I don’t have. The Fox Evolution 32 Float fork performed perfectly, as did the Shimano Deore XT hydraulic brakes.
Aesthetically, this bike is beautiful, shiny black with green and subtle but feminine details. The Lush designer always hides the visual effect somewhere in the frame, starting with the little pink elephant on the original. So I turned this upside down and went hunting. I was not disappointed. The bottom of the upper tube says “Please drink and ride responsibly”, which is an intoxicating intoxication that you will enjoy when you take Lush out to date on the dirt. I will do my best.
Post time: Dec-20-2021
