Flow reviews the Silverback Slade

When it comes to buying your first proper mountain bike, most new riders will be eyeing off a hardtail. Price is perhaps the biggest reason, with a hardtail typically selling for a thousand dollars less than an equivalent full suspension bike. On top of that, hardtails are also lighter, simpler and easier to maintain.

These days modern hardtails also ride very well. Thanks to improved geometry, dropper posts, 29in wheels and quality tubeless tyres, hardtails these days are significantly more capable and comfortable to ride compared to those from a few years ago.

German brand Silverback is well versed in the hardtail game, and here we’ll be looking at its most versatile option; the Slade.

An overview of the Silverback Slade

Equipped with a 130mm travel suspension fork up front, the Silverback Slade is designed for all-round trail riding.

It’s built around a 6061 hydroformed alloy frame that features shapely hydroformed tubes and custom forged dropouts. It’s bristling with fine details like internal cable routing, Boost hub spacing, a neat chainstay yoke and an armour plate underneath the downtube. We love the straight line that flows from the top tube through to the rear axle, and the metallic paint job gives it some understated sparkle.

There are also mounts to fit two water bottles, a rear pannier rack and even a kickstand. Add in a dropper post, hydraulic disc brakes and a wide-range 1x drivetrain, and you’ve got a recipe for a contemporary do-it-all mountain bike that’s ready for just about anything you can throw at it.

Geometry & sizing

As with the Stratos AL we tested previously, the Silverback Slade features some great-looking geometry. This is important because without a rear shock soaking up the trail beneath you, the geometry on a hardtail can really make or break the riding experience.

Good thing then that the 66.5° head angle and 75° seat angle are on-point, and so too is the 440mm reach on our Medium sized test bike.

Silverback has designed the Slade with 435mm chainstays, which is decently compact for a 29er that can swallow up to a 2.6in wide tyre. The sloping top tube is complemented by short seat tube lengths, which provide plenty of room for a dropper post.

Silverback Slade price & specs

There are two Silverback Slade models coming to Australia for this year, with prices starting at $1,999 AUD for the Slade Comp.

Our test bike is the Slade Expert, which sells for $2,599 AUD. Highlights include an air-sprung RockShox fork, Shimano Deore shifting and Maxxis Rekon Race tyres. Being a pre-production model, there are some slight differences in the spec, with the main one being the wheels. Production bikes will come with a Surface alloy wheelset, rather than the Sun Ringle hoops shown here.

Having had a positive experience with the full suspension Stratos AL Pro, we were intrigued to see how this hardtail equivalent would perform, especially since it comes in at a significantly lower price point.

Silverback Slade Expert

• Frame | 6061 Alloy
• Fork | RockShox Judy, Solo Air Spring, 130mm Travel
• Wheels | Alloy Hubs & Surface Alloy Rims
• Tyres | Maxxis Rekon Race EXO 2.35in
• Drivetrain | Shimano Deore 1×12 w/34T Crankset & SunRace 11-51T Cassette
• Brakes | Tektro M275 2-Piston w/180mm Rotors
• Bar | Surface Alloy, 760mm Width
• Stem | Surface Alloy, 60mm Length
• Grips | Surface Double Density Lock-On
• Seatpost | Surface Dropper, 30.9mm Diameter, 125mm Travel
• Saddle | Surface Ergo, Cromo Rails
• RRP | $2,599 AUD

Silverback Slade weight

Confirmed weight for our Silverback Slade test bike is 13.76kg, which is pretty reasonable for a hardtail at this price point.

It’s worth mentioning that the Slade comes from the factory with inner tubes installed, though both the Maxxis tyres and alloy rims are tubeless compatible. This means it’s relatively easy to upgrade to a tubeless setup, as you’ll only need valves and sealant in order to get rid of the tubes.

Going tubeless would help to shed some rotational weight, but more importantly it’ll allow you to run lower pressures for a smoother ride while also reducing the likelihood of punctures.

What do we dig about the Silverback Slade?

Out on the trail, it’s the overall composure that’s impressed us most about the Silverback Slade. The riding position is upright and commanding, much like a modern full suspension trail bike. Combined with the long wheelbase and slack head angle, the Slade inspires a load more confidence on the descents compared to a traditional XC hardtail.

Up front the 130mm travel RockShox Judy does a great job of absorbing hits big and small. It’s smooth and active, helping to add comfort and traction to the front end. The air spring makes it easy to adjust the pressure to suit different rider weights, and the rebound dial gives you a decent range to speed up or slow down the fork’s damping.

We’re also glad to see decently wide handlebars and a short stem fitted as standard. This gives you a solid stance over the front of the bike, and with the saddle dropped it’s easy to move around the cockpit to get your weight back on the descents, or for tipping it in through a tight berm.

On that note, the Slade is a great cornering bike. Traction is excellent from the Maxxis Rekon Race tyres, while the stiff alloy frame and short chainstays give it a responsive and agile feel when flip-flopping between turns. It loves to whip its way through flowy green and blue-graded trails, where it offers a playful ride quality that encourages you to pump through rollers and link up jumps.

Thanks to the low gearing and steep 75° seat angle, the Slade tracks pretty well on the climbs too. The seated position is comfortable, and it doesn’t require you to drastically lean your weight forward just to keep the front wheel sticking.

What has it struggled with?

Of course being a hardtail, the rougher the trail the more you’ll get knocked around on the Silverback Slade.

The alloy frame is quite stiff, and that sees a fair bit of feedback transmitted from the ground up to your feet and hands. This is a good thing on smoother and flowier trails, and it’s a big reason why the Slade is so sturdy and responsive to ride. The flip-side is that it can get pretty uncomfortable on rocky terrain, especially at slower riding speeds, where you’ll tend to feel more of the bumps and square edges.

And while the geometry is great for all-round riding, we did find the Slade can get out of its depth on steeper and more technical descents. It does well all things considered, but if your preference is for flat-out descending, there are slacker and more DH-focussed hardtails out there.

What would you upgrade?

As mentioned earlier, going tubeless would be a great upgrade for any Silverback Slade owner. And since there’s clearance for 2.6in rubber, we’d also consider fitting larger volume tyres to provide more cushioning and grip. Something like the 2.6in Maxxis Forekasters we’ve been using lately would be a fantastic option, as that would allow you to run lower pressures for improved comfort on rocky trails.

For shreddier riders who are finding themselves riding steeper and rougher tracks, a fork upgrade could also be worth looking into. The RockShox Judy is a good performer for the price, and it’ll likely suit the needs of most Slade owners. However, it’s worth noting that the frame is rated for a 150mm travel fork, so you’ve got options if you wanted to fit a bigger Revelation or Yari to slacken out the head angle and increase its big-hit capability.

We say all of this because the Slade’s high quality frame is more than worthy of upgrades. We’ve found it to be a tough and durable bike throughout testing, and for younger riders we see it being a fun project bike that can evolve as your skills and riding style develops over time.

Component highs & lows

Factoring in its retail price of $2,599 AUD, the Silverback Slade Comp offers decent value alongside competitors such as the Marin San Quentin 29 2 ($2,299 AUD), the Merida Big.Nine TR Limited ($2,300 AUD), and the Trek Roscoe 7 ($2,599 AUD).

Thankfully encountered no issues with any of the parts fitted to our test bike. We’ve been particularly impressed by the drivetrain, with the SunRace cassette offering a usably wide range thanks to its 11-51T spread. The shifting has been smooth, and the Deore 12-speed derailleur and shifter are no doubt quality items.

Likewise the Tektro hydraulic disc brakes have proven to be dependable performers. We’ve used these on a number of test bikes now, and we’re yet to encounter any glaring issues. The levers do need positioning inboard for one-finger braking, but they otherwise provide a solid bite point and we like that they’re easy to work on thanks to the Shimano-compatible brake pads and mineral oil.

None of our testers fell in love with the grips and saddle that come on the Slade, so these may be something you’ll want to change out in order to dial in the ergonomics and comfort levels. Otherwise the Surface-branded dropper post has worked well, sliding smoothly with no noticeable play having developed throughout the test period.

Flow’s Verdict

Thanks to its sturdy alloy frame, on-point geometry and contemporary build spec, the Silverback Slade is a fantastically competent hardtail.

It’s not super-light, so those after a bike for XC racing will want to look elsewhere. It’s also not the most slacked-out rig, and unless you’re going to be upgrading to a longer travel fork, we’d say there are more suitable options available for riders who are going to be smashing downhill runs and huge jumps.

Really the Slade is a great option for someone who’s getting into mountain biking and is after a well-priced bike that’ll do a bit of everything. It’s responsive and involving to ride on flowy singletrack, and it’s tough enough to stand up to plenty of riding as your skills develop over time. Factor in the appealing price tag, and we have no troubles in recommending the Slade as a versatile and capable bike as your gateway into the world of mountain biking.