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Today’s Deals2020 Trek
Fuel EX 8
A 27.5″ / 29″ aluminum frame full suspension trail bike with high-end components.
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Manufacturer Price
$3,449| Weight | 30.4 lbs |
|---|---|
| Frame | Aluminum |
| Suspension | Full, 130 / 140mm |
| Fork | Fox Rhythm Float 34 |
| Shock | Fox |
| Wheels | 27.5″ / 29″ Aluminum |
| Drivetrain | 1 × 12 |
| Groupset | GX Eagle, Truvativ Descendant |
| Brakes | Shimano Deore Hydraulic Disc |
| Seatpost | Dropper |
Summary
The Trek Fuel EX is a versatile and capable trail bike, praised for its balanced handling, effective suspension, and modern geometry. It excels in a variety of terrains, offering a fun and confident ride. While it has some minor drawbacks like sluggish dropper posts and underpowered brakes on lower models, its overall performance and range of options make it a standout in the trail bike category.
Versatile trail bike
Improved frame stiffness and tire clearance
Effective rear suspension
Modern geometry
Fun and confident handling
Sluggish dropper posts
Underpowered brakes on lower models
Frame storage hole too small for some pumps
The Fuel EX is still the Fuel EX. It just got a little bit EX-er.
BIKE MagazinePush it into a high-speed berm, and it simply doesn’t flinch. At all.
Flow Mountain BikeThe Trek Fuel EX is the most versatile bike in this group test.
Enduro Mountainbike MagazineFeedback?
View all reviews
Oct 2020 · Benjamin Topf
The Trek Fuel EX 9.9 is an absolute classic in the trail bike segment. Could it also be the perfect bike for the next bikepacking adventure with its modern geometry and spare parts compartment in the down tube? We put the Fuel EX to the test.
Maximum fun on the descents
Intuitive and good-natured handling
Storage compartment in the down tube for tools or snacks
Too sluggish on easy terrain
Too much bike for long straights
Chain slap
Oct 2020
My history of mountain biking started with a little wooden trike, with no pedals and wheels bigger than my head. I moved forward as any child does onto a bigger bike with bigger wheels and pedals. My parents always encouraged me to get outside and ride a bike, although I didn’t like the idea of mountain biking. I knew how to ride a bike; why go any further?
Aug 2020 · Christoph Bayer
The Trek Fuel EX is the most expensive bike in this group test, yet is still awarded our Best Buy – how is that possible? Read our review to find out what makes this bike so good.
Performs on every kind of trail
Fantastic spec
A great balance of composure and agility
Expensive
Seat tube angle could be steeper
Nov 2019 · Jeremy Benson
The Fuel EX 8 is an impressively capable, versatile, and well-rounded trail bike that is ready for anything you are. Trek redesigned the Fuel EX models for...
Relatively affordable
Good component spec for the price
Great small bump compliance
Versatile/well-rounded
Frame sizing feels a little small
Can be overwhelmed in super aggressive terrain
Nov 2019 · Alan Muldoon
The updated Trek Fuel EX now features storage in the downtube, 29er wheels, more travel and a gorgeous frame… oh and it’s rollicking fast too.
Punchy trail bike with great handling.
Low profile tyre tread lacks bite.
Nov 2019
Having spent a load of saddle time with the 2020 Trek Fuel EX 9.8 on home soil, we've been getting very familiar with this 130mm travel trail brawler. It hasn't all been smooth sailing though. Read on to see what the Fuel EX does well, what it's struggled with, and what changes we've made to our long term review rig.
Stupendously plush rear suspension
The Fox 36 has really stepped up the EX's appetite for gnar
New geometry brings masses of high-speed stability
Rattling from the downtube trapdoor
Knock Block system works but creates practical annoyances
The 35mm carbon bars are overly stiff
Sep 2019 · Pinkbike Originals
The Fuel EX and Tallboy are both brand new and impressively capable trail bikes, but which one do we prefer? Levy and Kazimer ride both and pick the winner.
| Frame | Alpha Platinum Aluminum, tapered head tube, Knock Block, Control Freak internal routing, downtube guard, ISCG 05, magnesium rocker link, Mino Link, ABP, Boost148, 130mm travel BB Standard: BB86/BB92, Press Fit Tire Clearance: 2.6" |
|---|---|
| Fork | Fox Rhythm 34, Float EVOL air spring, GRIP damper, tapered steerer, 44mm offset, Boost110, 15mm Kabolt axle, 140mm travel Travel: 140mm Spring Type: Air |
| Shock | Size: XS, S, Fox Performance Float EVOL, RE:aktiv 3-position damper, tuned by Trek Suspension Lab, 210x52.5mm; Size: S, M, ML, L, XL, XXL, Fox Performance Float EVOL, RE:aktiv 3-position damper, tuned by Trek Suspension Lab, 210x55mm Travel: 130mm |
| Bottom Bracket | SRAM DUB, 92mm, PressFit |
| Headset | Knock Block Integrated, 58-degree radius, cartridge bearing, 1-1/8'' top, 1.5'' bottom |
| Stem | Size: XS, S, Bontrager Line, 35mm, Knock Block, 0 degree, 40mm length; Size: M, ML, L, XL, XXL, Bontrager Line, 35mm, Knock Block, 0 degree, 50mm length |
| Handlebar | Bontrager Line, alloy, 35mm, 27.5mm rise, 780mm width |
| Saddle | Bontrager Arvada, hollow chromoly rails, 138mm width |
| Seatpost | Size: XS, S, Bontrager Line Dropper, 100mm travel, internal routing, 31.6mm, 345mm length; Size: M, ML, L, XL, XXL, Bontrager Line Dropper, 150mm travel, internal routing, 31.6mm, 440mm length Type: Dropper |
| Grips | Bontrager XR Trail Elite, alloy lock-on |
| Rear Derailleur | SRAM GX Eagle |
|---|---|
| Crank | Size: XS, S, Truvativ Descendant 6k Eagle, DUB, 30T steel ring, Boost (52mm chainline), 170mm length; Size: M, ML, L, XL, XXL, Truvativ Descendant 6k Eagle, DUB, 30T steel ring, Boost (52mm chainline), 175mm length |
| Shifters | SRAM GX Eagle, 12 speed |
| Cassette | SRAM XG-1275 Eagle, 10-50, 12 speed |
| Chain | SRAM GX Eagle, 12 speed |
| Brakes | Shimano Deore M6000 hydraulic disc Type: Shimano Deore Hydraulic Disc |
| Rims | Front: Bontrager Line Comp 30, Tubeless Ready, 6-bolt, Boost110, 15mm thru axle, Rear: Bontrager Line Comp 30, Tubeless Ready, 6-bolt, 54T Rapid Drive, SRAM XD driver, Boost148, 12mm thru axle |
|---|---|
| Tires | Size: XS, S, Bontrager XR4 Team Issue, Tubeless Ready, Inner Strength sidewalls, aramid bead, 120 tpi, 27.5x2.60''; Size: S, M, ML, L, XL, XXL, Bontrager XR4 Team Issue, Tubeless Ready, Inner Strength sidewalls, aramid bead, 120 tpi, 29x2.60'' |
| Disc Rotors | Size: XS, S, M, ML, L, XL, XXL, Shimano RT66, 6-bolt, 180mm; Size: M, ML, L, XL, XXL, Shimano RT66, 203mm, 6-bolt |
First added October 10
Last updated August 21
Not listed for 2,121 days