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Today’s DealsFuel EX 9.8 29
A 29″ carbon frame full suspension trail bike with high-end components.
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Manufacturer Price
$4,999| Weight | 28.4 lbs |
|---|---|
| Frame | Carbon |
| Suspension | Full, 130 / 130mm |
| Fork | Fox Performance Float 34 |
| Shock | Fox |
| Wheels | 29″ Aluminum |
| Drivetrain | 2 × 11 |
| Groupset | XT |
| Brakes | Shimano XT Hydraulic Disc |
| Seatpost | Dropper |
5'0" – 5'7"
5'5" – 5'11"
5'9" – 6'3"
5'9" – 6'3"
6'1" – 6'6"
🐐 Estimated
None yet.
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Summary
The Trek Fuel mountain youth bike is praised for its versatile and light trail capabilities, offering a balanced and maneuverable feel suitable for various terrains. Its suspension performance, particularly the RE:aktiv shock with Thru Shaft technology, is highlighted for reducing lag and improving ride quality. However, some reviews note it may be too conservative for aggressive riders and could benefit from a longer dropper post and more aggressive tires.
Versatile and light trail bike
Quick-responding ABP suspension platform
RE:aktiv shock with Thru Shaft technology
Balanced and maneuverable feel
Superb rear-wheel traction
Too conservative for some riders
Would benefit from a longer dropper post
Bontrager XR4 tires' side knobs felt under-gunned
The Fuel isn’t the biggest and baddest bike of the test. Instead it focuses on being the do-everything quiver killer.
Imagine taking the heart of an XC race bike and giving it the soul of a trail bike and you’d have the Fuel EX.
Not the quickest climber, but clever suspension and geometry provide a fun, fast and capable ride
Feedback?
View all reviews

Oct 2018 · Joseph Delves
A great full-sus all-rounder with an innovative frame

Jun 2018 · Nic “U-Turn” Hall
Without a doubt one of our favorite bikes in the budget bike roundup. The Trek Fuel EX 9.7 blends a refined look with affordable performance to offer you a killer mountain bike at a great value.

Mar 2018 · Emily Schaldach
The Trek Fuel EX 9.9 has redefined the do-everything mountain bike.

Nov 2017
While this Trek Fuel EX 5 may look like a roller skate on wheels, complete with disco-tastic 'anthracite' metallic grey finish and chunky platform shoes reminiscent of the Spice Girls’ heyday, it does cover a particular niche between ‘trail’ and ‘cross-country’, and it does it very well on a respectable budget. Review: Banshee Phantom GX - a short travel machine with hardcore intentions Buying your first mountain bike?
Nov 2017 · Will Hilbert
Take a look at the new Fuel EX and you will quickly see Trek has fully redefined the model. The 2016 Fuel Ex 29 was a step in the right direction, but it was a timid half-hearted step that left the rider wondering what if…? What if it came spec’d with a stiffer fork, more travel and a slacker headtube? The team at Trek delivered and the 2017 bike answers these questions. It now allows the use of 29” or 27.5+ wheels and is one of the stiffest frames in the category, featuring a totally new geometry that’s slacker and longer than its predecessor.

Oct 2017 · MBA Action
Designed Specifically for a Trail Near You It’s not often a company revamps its entire lineup in just one year, but if there’s one company that can do it,

May 2017 · Seb Stott
Not the quickest climber, but clever suspension and geometry provide a fun, fast and capable ride. Buy if you're not competing for uphill KOMs, but want a relatively rapid and comfy all-day mile-muncher that can be ridden really hard too
Great geometry and kit encourage aggressive riding
Comfortable and fast on rolling terrain
Seat angle could be steeper for climbing
Not the lightest

Apr 2017 · Danny Milner
Trek’s venerable Fuel gets a high-octane boost in the form of Plus-size wheels with the Trek Fuel EX Plus 9.8 27.5. Beautiful to behold and a joy to ride.
| Frame | OCLV Mountain Carbon main frame & seatstay, alloy chainstay, ABP, Boost148, Knock Block steerer stop, Full Floater, EVO link, E2 tapered head tube, Mino Link, Control Freak internal routing, Carbon Armor, PF92, ISCG 05, G2 Geometry, 130mm travel BB Standard: BB86/BB92, Press Fit |
|---|---|
| Fork | Fox Performance 34 Float, GRIP 3-position damper, E2 tapered steerer, Boost110, G2 Geometry w/51mm offset, 130mm travel Travel: 130mm Spring Type: Air |
| Shock | Fox Performance Float EVOL, RE:aktiv 3-position damper, tuned by Trek Suspension Lab, 210x52.5mm Travel: 130mm |
| Bottom Bracket | PF92 |
| Headset | Knock Block Integrated, cartridge bearing, sealed, 1-1/8" top, 1.5" bottom |
| Stem | Bontrager Line Pro, Knock Block, 35mm, 0 degree |
| Handlebar | Bontrager Line Pro, OCLV Carbon, 35mm, 15mm rise, 750mm width |
| Saddle | Bontrager Evoke 3, titanium rails |
| Seatpost | Bontrager Drop Line 125, universal remote lever, 2-bolt head, 31.6mm, zero offset, internal routing Type: Dropper |
| Grips | Bontrager Race Lite, lock-on |
| Rear Derailleur | Shimano Deore XT, Shadow Plus |
|---|---|
| Front Derailleur | Shimano Deore XT, high direct mount |
| Crank | Shimano Deore XT, 36/26 |
| Shifters | Shimano Deore XT M8000, 11 speed |
| Cassette | Shimano Deore XT, 11-42, 11 speed |
| Chain | Shimano Deore XT |
| Brakes | Shimano Deore XT hydraulic disc Type: Shimano XT Hydraulic Disc |
| Rims | Bontrager Line Comp 30, Tubeless Ready, Boost110 front, Boost148 rear (tubeless strips included, valves sold separately) |
|---|---|
| Tires | Bontrager XR3 Team Issue, Tubeless Ready, Inner Strength sidewalls, 120tpi, aramid bead, 29x2.40" |
First added April 12
Last updated July 21
Not listed for 3,234 days