Thank you for your introduction. I also ordered a 9.6 in the same color and hopefully can pick it up soon. I am happy and very excited about this bike.
I know what you mean about the bar width, I just took the grips off and cut 15mm off each side of my bars taking them down to 720mm, it felt a lot better after that, of course you have to move the brake levers and shifters in 15mm to match the reduced width and in order to get the grips back on.
I have a 2022 9.7. I felt it needed some upgrades so put XT brakes on, a dropper post and (most importantly) a 36 tooth chainring. The thing is a rocket ship and climbs like a goat on steroids. The faster you ride and the harder you push, the smoother the ride becomes. Beware the tyres. They are super quick and great in the dry but rather fragile. I have swapped mine out for Vittoria Mezcals which are equally speedy, possibly more grippy over a range of conditions and more robust. As an overall assessment...it is a race bike. Fast and uncompromising...just not that playful.
I have also ordered a 9.6. You had change for a 36 chainring (assuming it’s the same at 9.6 2023 as 9.7 2022). Do you know the p/n for that? Would really appreciate if you have it, as I’m totally lost in finding right in the bike parts jungle.😅
I thing about buying 9.6 for me. Its in sale for 2200€ now. I cant decide about size. I am 5.6 (171cm) with 82cm inside leg length but I feel like M is to small for me.
Thank you for an excellent review. Watched it and ordered one myself in same nice color. 😊 Got a Trek Powerfly 9.7 2016 today and calculated on the gearing. Looks like it a little low for my taste which you also pointed on as you had changes for a 34 tooth. Looks like the one I also will need. I think that bike parts is a jungle so I want to ask you which p/n you ordered. Thank you ones more for a great and informative review. 🍻
