The Session 9.9 all-carbon-fiber downhill race bike represented the pinnacle of Trek’s gravity lineup at the time—bringing together advanced materials, race-proven performance, and refined industrial design. The program challenged both engineering and design teams to operate at a higher level, balancing structural demands, manufacturability, and on-course performance to deliver a platform built for the realities of elite downhill competition.
Thirty-two pounds may sound heavy for a bike - but in this class the Session 9.9 is a featherweight. With a little extra cash for parts one can get it down to a mere twenty-eight pounds while retaining a full eight inches of front and rear suspension - it is something that World Cup winning downhill racer Aaron Gwin can appreciate [Video] at the bottom of this page.
Concept development: A few sketches based on the original Session frame. CAD development [below] leverages SolidWorks surfacing (yes surfacing!) to design the carbon-fiber constructed frame.
The first prototype being un-boxed in Whistler, BC. We produced a small prototype run just for testing with pro riders during the epic Crankworx event. After hundred of runs down the hill, we had the results: All signs pointed toward go for production.
