Trek Session and Scratch differences?

Travel, geometry and rear axle are the major differences.

Scratch has 170mm of rear travel with adjustable geometry that is not-quite "DH specific" and a 12x135 or 12x142 rear axle. The Session has 203mm of travel and geometry that is downhill-specific. It uses a 12x150mm rear axle.

Here are the links, so you can compare them
Trek Scratch - http://www.trekbikes.com/uk/en/bikes/mountain_full_suspension/scratch/scratch9/

Trek Session 8 (which is same frame as 09, 2010 sessions) - http://www.trekbikes.com/uk/en/bikes/mountain_full_suspension/session/session8/

Have you thought about a Remedy at all? Seems like it might be a better fit in Florida.

also, if you take a 203mm fork from a Session and put it on a Scratch, it would change the geometry b/c the front end would be higher than recommended. Any of the stock Scratch bikes are pretty freaking solid and capable as is.

sspomer wrote:

also, if you take a 203mm fork from a Session and put it on a Scratch, it would change the geometry b/c the front end would be higher than recommended. Any of the stock Scratch bikes are pretty freaking solid and capable as is.

Actually my question is the other way around.

I am buying a Scratch, but if for whatever reason I don't like it and then I buy a Session frame and put the components from the scratch on it, how close to the same bike would it be (contrasting between the Scratch and built Session)? I understand I would be building the 2009 Session FR but with all around lighter components (I think). What should the weight difference be between the two? etc?

i see what you're saying. i would think that the actual frame weight difference between the session and scratch is pretty negligible. the basic pieces of each frame appear to be nearly the same, so it comes down to parts build. the scratch has a lighter build.

either way, the rear wheels are not going to have the same axle, so it won't be a straight swap in that department.

i'd guess you could get a Session with non-DH components down to the low to mid-30's pretty easily. my 2010 session 8 (which has component upgrades) is down to 37.8lbs right now....remember this is the same frame as the 09 FR version.

i've ridden both bikes and i think you'll be plenty stoked on what the scratch can do. when i was riding it uphill, it didn't seem like a hog. when i was going downhill, i forgot it wasn't a DH bike. See the review here (2010 model).

Thanks for the info man, nice bike too, wish we had terrain that warranted having one.

I just wanna make sure the Scratch isn't too light, I like it to be mid 30's

if you put DH tires on the scratch, mid-30's is probably right where it would sit. have fun. keep us posted with pics!

Got the Scratch

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