trek top fuel alternative

Trek Fuel EX Vs Top Fuel: Unleashing the Power of Iconic Mountain Bikes (2024)

By: Author Mutasim Sweileh

Posted on Last updated: March 26, 2024

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Table Of Contents

Key Takeaways

Suspension and travel, frame and geometry adjustments, wheel size options, climbing efficiency, suspension system, lightweight design, climbing capabilities, descending performance, mino link adjustment, adjustable headset and suspension, frame storage solutions, internal cable routing, comparing price and value, what is the weight difference between the trek fuel ex and top fuel, how do the suspension systems of the fuel ex and top fuel compare, what are the differences in the handlebar options for the fuel ex and top fuel, how do the price points of the fuel ex and top fuel compare, what is the recommended rider height for each bike model.

• The Fuel EX offers more aggressive geometry and is better suited for descents, while the Top Fuel has optimized climbing efficiency and a lightweight design.
• The Fuel EX has a heavier frame and longer travel, making it better for technical descents, while the Top Fuel is more agile on steep climbs.
• The Fuel EX features a Mino Link adjustment system and coil-shock compatibility, while the Top Fuel has a more limited range of customization options.
• Both bikes offer excellent comfort and handling, with the Fuel EX providing more frame storage solutions and internal cable routing.

Key Features of Trek Fuel EX

The Trek Fuel EX boasts an impressive 140mm of front and rear travel, delivering exceptional suspension performance on the trail. Its plush fork and shock provide superb bump absorption, allowing you to tackle technical terrain with confidence.

Riders can fine-tune the suspension through adjustable air pressure and rebound settings, ensuring a tailored ride experience.

The Fuel EX’s frame offers unparalleled versatility thanks to its Mino Link adjustment. With a simple flip, you can tweak the head tube angle and bottom bracket height to fine-tune the bike’s handling for your terrain and riding style.

This adaptability, combined with its robust aluminum construction, makes the Fuel EX a true trail-conquering companion.

The Fuel EX offers versatile wheel size options to suit your riding style and terrain. Choose between 27.5 or 29 wheels – the smaller hoops provide nimble handling, while the big 29ers roll over obstacles with ease.

This flexibility lets you dial in the perfect ride, whether you’re shredding singletrack or chasing XC glory.

Key Features of Trek Top Fuel

The Trek Top Fuel is a renowned mountain bike, known for its climbing prowess and efficient performance.

It’s designed with a focus on 60/40 uphill/downhill balance, making it suitable for various riding styles.

The suspension system is active and adaptable, providing traction and comfort on loose trail sections.

The relatively slack head tube angle (66 degrees) is offset by a low front end, keeping front-end wander to a minimum.

The Top Fuel excels on undulating terrain, where its climbing efficiency and descending performance are well-balanced.

Delve into the world of Trek’s Top Fuel mountain bike , a marvel of engineering designed to enhance your mountain biking experience .

Its suspension system is a testament to the brand’s commitment to providing a seamless ride.

The fork performance is meticulously tuned to handle various terrains.

The shock tuning is tailored to suit different riding styles.

The travel comparison between the Top Fuel and Fuel EX models reveals a balance between climbing efficiency and descending performance.

The suspension geometry is designed to navigate the ever-evolving complexities of mountain biking, ensuring robust trail handling.

Tire selection and suspension system are key factors that set the Top Fuel apart from its competitors.

The Trek Top Fuel is renowned for its lightweight design, which is a crucial factor in its exceptional performance.

It employs carbon fiber options for the frame, ensuring durability while maintaining a lightweight build.

The bike’s weight distribution is meticulously planned.

Tire compatibility and specs are tailored to optimize performance.

The focus on lightweight design underpins the bike’s enduro capabilities.

It makes the Trek Top Fuel a robust choice for those seeking more than just a casual ride.

Performance on the Trails

On the other hand, the Fuel EX offers more travel and a more aggressive geometry, which can be beneficial for riders who want more capability on the descents and in technical terrain.

In terms of climbing capabilities, the Top Fuel’s lightweight design and efficient suspension system make it a strong performer on steep climbs, especially when compared to the Fuel EX’s slightly heavier frame and longer travel.

However, for riders who prefer a more aggressive riding style and want to tackle more challenging descents, the Fuel EX’s additional travel and steeper geometry can provide more confidence and control.

When it comes to descending performance, the Top Fuel’s well-proportioned geometry and predictable handling make it a capable descender, while the Fuel EX’s longer travel and more aggressive design can offer a more thrilling and confident ride on steep, technical trails.

In summary, the choice between the Top Fuel and Fuel EX depends on your personal riding style and preferences. If you prioritize climbing efficiency and lightweight performance, the Top Fuel is a great choice.

However, if you want more capability on the descents and are willing to sacrifice some climbing performance, the Fuel EX may be the better option for you.

Switching gears from the Top Fuel’s lightweight agility, let’s tackle the climbing prowess of both bikes.

Your choice between the Trek Fuel EX and Top Fuel hinges on trail conditions, terrain type, and your own pedal power.

In Arizona’s rugged landscapes, mastering climbing techniques and smart gear selection becomes crucial.

Both bikes excel, but the Top Fuel’s nimbleness might just edge ahead on steeper ascents.

The progressive geometry of

Adjustability and Customization

By adjusting the Mino Link, riders can tailor the bike’s handling to their preferences, with a higher link position providing a more agile ride and a lower link position offering increased stability. This system offers a significant advantage for riders who want to fine-tune their bike’s performance for different riding styles and terrains.

Additionally, both the Fuel EX and Top Fuel feature adjustable headsets, which allow riders to fine-tune the bike’s handling and responsiveness. This adjustment can be made by changing the headset spacers, which can alter the fork’s rake and steering geometry.

In conclusion, the Trek Fuel EX and Top Fuel offer a high degree of adjustability and customization, allowing riders to tailor their bikes to their specific needs and preferences. The Mino Link adjustment system, combined with adjustable headsets, provides riders with the flexibility to fine-tune their bikes for various riding styles and terrains, ensuring a personalized and optimized riding experience.

The Mino Link adjustment on Trek Fuel EX and Top Fuel mountain bikes allows riders to fine-tune their geometry and suspension settings to suit their riding style and preferences.

This feature is designed to enhance the performance of these iconic bikes, making them more versatile and adaptable to a wide range of terrains and rider skill levels.

By adjusting the Mino Link, riders can create a more customized ride experience, tailored to their needs and preferences.

This level of adjustability and customization is a key factor in the success of these bikes, setting them apart in the ever-evolving world of mountain biking.

The adjustability of the headset and suspension on Trek’s Fuel EX and Top Fuel mountain bikes is a key feature that sets these models apart. Both bikes offer a range of adjustments to cater to different rider preferences and trail conditions.

Headset Adjustability : The new Fuel EX features headset cups that allow riders to run the bike as slack as 63.5-degrees or as steep as 66-degrees, providing more options for riders to fine-tune the bike’s handling.

Suspension Tuning : The Fuel EX’s suspension system has been updated with coil-shock compatibility and flip-chip pivot hardware, enabling riders to adjust the bike’s performance according to their needs.

Customization : Trek’s Fuel EX and Top Fuel models offer a range of adjustments, including adjustable headsets and suspension, allowing riders to fine-tune their bikes for optimal performance on various trails.

Mino Link Adjustment : The Mino Link adjustment system on the Fuel EX allows riders to change the geometry of the bike, providing a more tailored ride experience.

These adjustability features are designed to enhance the rider’s experience, ensuring that the bike is well-suited to a wide range of trail conditions and rider preferences. By offering these customization options, Trek is able to cater to a diverse range of riders, from those seeking a more aggressive ride to those who prefer a smoother, more controlled experience.

Rider Experience and Comfort

Unlock the secrets of Trek’s frame storage solutions with the Revelate Tanglebag, Viscacha, Gas Tank, Mountain Feed Bags, and Jerrycan.

These frame compartments offer internal storage and tool storage, designed to enhance your riding experience.

Navigating the complexities of frame capacity and storage options has never been easier.

These bespoke solutions are tailored towards your needs.

It’s not merely storage; it’s a suite of features that underpins your journey in the ever-evolving world of mountain biking.

Internal cable routing is a topic that sparks heated debates among cyclists. Some argue that it enhances the look of a bike, while others claim it compromises serviceability and maintenance. Trek’s Control Freak cable routing system, which is used in the Fuel EX and Top Fuel models, has been a subject of discussion among riders.

Internal cable routing can be a challenge when it comes to maintenance. For instance, on the Fuel EX, riders often have to remove the cranks and bottom bracket to access the cable entry points. This can be time-consuming and may require specialized tools. Additionally, internal routing can lead to noise due to cables rattling around inside frame tubes.

However, Trek’s Control Freak system aims to address these issues by providing a versatile solution for cable management. The system allows for quiet and efficient cable routing, ensuring that cables are securely tucked away and not exposed to the elements.

This can help reduce the risk of cable damage and improve the overall durability of the bike.

When it comes to cable replacement, internal routing may require more effort. Riders may need to remove parts of the frame or use specialized tools to access the cables.

In conclusion, internal cable routing can be a double-edged sword. While it may enhance the aesthetic appeal of a bike, it can also pose challenges when it comes to maintenance and serviceability. Trek’s Control Freak system aims to mitigate these issues, providing a more efficient and durable solution for cable management on their mountain bikes.

The Trek Fuel EX is known for its ability to handle a wide range of terrain, from XC races to more demanding downhill trails. It features a more aggressive geometry, with a longer reach and steeper head tube angle, which provides better stability and control on descents.

Additionally, the Fuel EX offers a wider range of component options, including high-end suspension systems and drivetrains, which can increase its overall value for riders seeking more capability and customization.

On the other hand, the Trek Top Fuel is designed with a more balanced geometry, catering to riders who prioritize efficiency and agility on XC trails. Its lighter frame and efficient suspension system make it an excellent choice for riders who want a bike that can climb well and maintain speed on long, flat sections.

The Top Fuel also offers a more streamlined component spec, which can make it a more affordable option for riders who don’t require the same level of customization as the Fuel EX.

When considering the price and value of these bikes, it’s essential to weigh the benefits of each model against your personal riding style and preferences. If you’re looking for a bike that can handle a variety of terrain and offer more customization options, the Fuel EX may be the better choice.

However, if you prioritize efficiency and agility on XC trails, the Top Fuel could be a more cost-effective option.

Additionally, factors like resale value, financing options, long-term maintenance, and customer support should also be considered when comparing the price and value of these bikes. Researching these aspects can help you make an informed decision and ensure that you’re getting the best value for your investment.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The Top Fuel shaves roughly 1-2 lbs off the Fuel EX’s weight. You’re trading travel and capability for a leaner, racier rig meant to fly up climbs.

You’ll fly over rocks as smoothly as a hovercraft with the Top Fuel’s straight-line RockShox suspension, while the Fuel EX’s four-bar system excels at absorbing big hits.

You’ll find a wider range of handlebar widths and rises on the Fuel EX for greater control and comfort on rugged trails. The Top Fuel typically has narrower, lower bars tuned for cross-country performance.

You’ll be pleasantly surprised – the Fuel EX offers top-tier performance at a more wallet-friendly price than the premium Top Fuel.

You’ll fit the Top Fuel if you’re 5’3-6’5, and the Fuel EX for 5’4-6’ Trek tailors each bike’s geometry to rider height, prioritizing an optimal fit and riding experience.

Whether you’re an adrenaline junkie conquering gnarly descents or a climber hungry for steep ascents, the Trek Fuel EX vs Top Fuel showdown unveils impressive capabilities. These iconic MTBs deliver unparalleled performance, combining cutting-edge suspension wizardry with adaptable geometry.

Ultimately, your riding style and terrain preferences will determine which machine best complements your thirst for singletrack domination.

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Best down-country mountain bike: short travel shredders

• Danny Milner
• January 10, 2024

Short on travel but big on geometry, we review the best down-country mountain bike rigs – fleet-footed steeds that blend the speed of an XC bike with the capability of trail bike.

Trek Top Fuel 8 Credit: Roo Fowler

Short on travel, light on weight, but big on geometry, the best down-country mountain bike rippers give you everything you want and nothing you don’t. Fast and fun, in a lightweight, efficient package, these bikes can cover ground with minimal fuss and still be thrashed to within an inch of their lives on proper trails.

• Best mountain bikes: hardtail, XC, trail and enduro to suit all budgets
• Best cross-country XC mountain bikes

The Yeti SB120 is a down-country bike you can buy with your head as well as your heart

1. Yeti SB120

The best down-country bike if money is no object.

Wheel size: 29in | Frame: Turq carbon, 120mm | Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL | Weight: 13.3kg (29.3lb) | Rating: 9/10

Reasons to buy:

• All round overachiever with superlative suspension
• Wide size range

Reasons to avoid:

• Agile rather than ultra aggressive
• Not actually that light
• No internal storage

From one of the most aspirational brands in the business comes the impeccable SB120. Yeti shrinks and shoehorns its unique Switch Infinity suspension design into the SB120 chassis. Where the swingarm moves up and down on dual Fox shafts just above the bottom bracket. And the new design has improved seals, bearings, hardware, and pivots, so it should stay in tip-top condition for longer.

And this clever suspension design really works. As we explained in our review, “the supple suspension is stable under power gives a really positive pedalling feel”. Then, when you really hit a something hard and the rear wheel sticks to the ground, giving superb traction and control. It needs a lighter set of wheels to do the flickable geometry and sublime suspension justice, but even out of the box the Yeti SB120 had us smitten.

Read our full review of the Yeti SB120

Santa Cruz’s Tallboy is a terrier that thinks it’s a rottweiler

2. Santa Cruz Tallboy

Best down-country bike for sending it.

Wheel size: 29in | Frame: Carbon CC, 120mm | Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL | Weight: 13.08kg (28.84lb) | Rating: 9/10

• Outstandingly fast and focused full-send aggression
• Does things normally reserved for burlier bikes
• Superb size range
• Internal storage compartment
• Needs a pretty skilled rider to avoid pratfalls
• Uncomfortably uncooperative on technical off-piste trails
• Can be tiring to ride

Although often overlooked in the comprehensive, verging on confusing, Santa Cruz range, we think the Tallboy is an undiscovered gem. You’ve heard of small man syndrome, or small dog syndrome, well the Tallboy has small bike syndrome, where it steadfastly believes it’s actually an enduro bike, and deserves to be ridden as such. The stiff frame and aggressive angles beg to be wrung out on every descent, yet the efficient suspension and lightweight mean it’s always the first bike back up to the top of the hill.

For some riders, all that straining at the leash might be too much. But if you love wringing the neck of a short travel whip, and seeing your buddies slack-jawed in amazement as you undermine and overtake their big-travel enduro bikes, the Tallboy is the ultimate sleeper bike.

Read our full review of the Santa Cruz Tallboy

Transition’s Spur is still one of the finest down-country bikes we’ve ever tested

3. Transition Spur

Best lightweight down-country bike.

Wheel size: 29in | Frame: Carbon, 120mm travel | Sizes: S, M, L, XL | Weight: 11.25kg (24.8lb) | Rating: 10/10

• Perfect blend of speed and control
• Lightweight
• Not the most robust build if you’re carrying some timber
• Narrow size range

The Transition Spur is arguably the bike that spawned the down-country category, and also the bike that perhaps best defines it. At under 11.5kg, the Spur flies out of the gate, haring up climbs and tearing along high-speed singletrack. That lack of inertia encouraged us to sprint every rise, pop every jump, and schralp every turn, helped by the stable geometry and supple suspension.

With lightweight RockShox Sid forks up front, the temptation is to add travel and girth, but to do so is to dilute the Spur’s potency and add unnecessary grams. So while there’s a bit of flex when pushed hard, we’d treat that as part of the charm, and lap up the whirlwind of action that accompanies every descent. As we said in our review, the Transition Spur is “the best-realised ‘down-country’ bike we’ve ever tested and the one we all covet if we were spending our own cash”.

Read our full test review of the Transition Spur

Trek’s Top Fuel 8 offers a high-octane ride

6. Trek Top Fuel

Explosive trail weapon.

Wheel size: 29in | Frame: Carbon or alloy, 120mm travel | Frame sizes: S, M, M/L, L, XL, XXL | Weight: 14.89kg | Suspension travel: 130mm f/120mm r | Rating: 9/10

• Poppy, playful and efficient
• Available in six frame sizes
• Internal down tube storage
• Mino Link flip chip allows geometry tweaks
• Needs a 180mm rear rotor
• Accurate rear shock set up is crucial
• A solid build, so not the lightest in its class

While the Trek Top Fuel used to be a lean, mean, cross-country fighting machine, the middle-aged spread has left it sagging a little on the scales. But don’t let that fact put you off, because the ride quality is worth its weight in gold, even if it won’t be competing for gold medals on the race track.

In our test we praised the Top Fuel as offering a “fast, fun and engaging ride”. Where “Its poppy playful nature, combined with generous sizing, means you never feel limited by the travel for regular trail riding”. Combined, this means the Trek Top Fuel provides a high-octane ride that keeps the pace high without compromising on fun. If you can stretch to one of the carbon options, that will help shed some weight, and really light the blue touch paper.

Read our full test review of the Trek Top Fuel 8

The Canyon Neuron 6 is fast and frugal

7. Canyon Neuron 5

Speed freak that also enjoys a party.

Wheel size: 27.5in or 29in | Travel: 130mm | Frame sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL | Frame: Aluminium or carbon | Weight: 14.63kg (32.25lb) | Rating: N/A

• Friendly yet rewarding geometry
• Excellent value
• Seat tube could be a bit shorter
• Saddle is a bit too racy
• Not that light for a down-country bike

The Neuron is Canyon’s back-to-basics trail bike, newly updated for 2023, There are four carbon and four alloy models to choose from, with prices starting from £1,849 for the Neuron 5 and going up to £5,749 for the Neuron CF LTD. There’s also a kids’ Young Hero model with an XS frame and 27.5in wheels for £1,499, and women’s versions of the Neuron 6, Neuron 7 and Neuron CF8 available at no extra cost.

As with the previous bike, all XS and S frames come with 27.5in wheels, while the Medium upwards come with 29in wheels. As with most Canyons, you’ll need to factor in a bike box at £18.99 and delivery at £37.99 to all of the headline prices. Whichever you choose, the latest Neuron is versatile, affordable and a total blast to ride, as happy hitting enduro tracks and sending jumps as racking up the miles on a multi-day ride. The alloy frame has a comfortable, compliant ride that’s never jarring, and the choice of fast-rolling Schwalbe tyres means it rolls along almost effortlessly.

Read our full test review of the Canyon Neuron 6

Looks so sharp you could cut yourself just looking at it: The YT Izzo Uncaged 7

Rapier-sharp speed and agility

Wheel size: 29in | Frame: Carbon, 120mm travel | Frame sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL | Weight: 11.4kg | Rating: N/A

• Acutely responsive and ruthlessly efficient
• Agile and accurate
• Good spec for the price
• Nowhere to hide in the rough
• Traction/grip is not the best
• Doesn’t really need the remote lockout
• Front tyre could be more aggressive

YT’s razor-sharp Izzo feels a million miles away from the brand’s signature Capra and popular Jeffsy trail bike. It’s blisteringly fast but ruthlessly unforgiving, so you need to be on top of your game and fighting fit to keep it under control and take the punches. It’s much stiffer than the Transition Spur, and not as capable as the Santa Cruz Tallboy or Yeti SB120, so in some ways it’s a bit of an anomaly. But it’s also a great-looking bike, feels amazing in certain situations, and the fact that it’s a challenge to get the most out of will definitely appeal to a certain type of rider.

Read our full test review of the YT Izzo Uncaged 7

Orange knows how to build a great handling bike, and the Stage Evo is no exception

9. Orange Stage Evo

Packs big bike geometry into a nimble 120mm package.

Wheel size:  29in | Frame: 6061-T6 Aluminium, 120mm travel | Frame sizes: S, M, L, XL  | Weight: 13.83kg (30.49lb) | Rating: N/A

• Incredibly well-poised handling belies its modest weight
• It’s arguably a trail bike

Orange may have ploughed its own furrow over the years, towed by a horse rather than a GPS-guided John Deere, but despite the UK-brand’s traditional frame materials and construction methods, it continues to bang out bikes that ride every bit as well as more cutting-edge rivals. Often even better. The Stage Evo is one such bike, and effectively a shrunken Stage trail bike. And from the very first corner we were reminded why Orange still commands a loyal customer base – the Stage Evo simply shreds. When we tested it, we noted “yes, it’s easy to ride beyond the physical limits of the travel, but that’s what makes the Stage Evo such an engaging bike on regular terrain”.

Read our first ride review of Orange Stage Evo

As soon as you release the reins, the Spur starts to gallop

What is a down-country mountain bike?

A few rules to help categorise a down-country bike. The first rule is that these rules are made to be broken!

Nothing over 120mm

No more than 120mm of suspension travel at either end. The archetypal down-country bike should have closer to 100mm of rear travel. And if there’s a 130mm travel fork up front, it’s ruled out. Usually. There are some outliers than we allow into the down-country fold. Otherwise the whole thing just gets far too close to a regular trail bike. So, no Norco Optic or Nukeproof Reactor 290c ST. Too trail-bikey.

Having said that, neither rear travel nor fork travel should have less than 100mm. Save that for XC race bikes.

With less mass to manhandle, down-country bikes like the YT Izzo goad you into throwing shapes at every opportunity. 

Nothing steeper than 67°

We’re talking head angles here. Non-XC geometry is the key thing that must be included if a bike is to be classed as down-country. And though we say ‘geometry’ we really mean head angle. There’s currently not much consensus about the other angles and measurements on down-country mountain bikes; they don’t all have longer reach numbers, nor steeper seat angles, nor super low BBs.

But the head angle on all down-country bikes cannot be steeper than 67°. 66° is arguably the most commonly seen number.

Big wheels only

You’ll not find any 27.5in wheels here. Nope, not even just on the rear as a modern mullet setup. 29in wheels rule the down-country roost.

Although it doesn’t have the poppiest suspension feel, the Tallboy is great fun on jump trails

What’s the difference between an XC bike and a down-country bike?

That’s a contentious one, and mostly a matter of opinion. But in our view, a down-country bike is a trail bike with the weight and travel of an XC bike, whereas an XC bike generally has steeper geometry, a lower front end and a stronger bias towards efficiency. Using, for instance, remote lockouts to maximise power transfer on smooth surfaces. The lines are blurred, however, and some XC bikes are closer to down-country bikes than others. And the components used also make defining bikes more difficult. Some down-country forks have all-out XC race forks. Some have middling 34-35mm stanchions. Some have four-pot brakes and huge rotors. Others just have 180/160 twin-pot combos. Some have dinky stems. Some still sport stems over 50mm long.

True XC bikes, like the Specialized S-Works Epic WC, are lighter, pricier, and more focussed machines. 

It’s the finishing kit that is perhaps key to the down-country experience. And expectation. Some down-country bikes appear to be aimed at ex-XC lycra-heads looking for more fun and less sketch in their rides. Other down-country bikes are aimed at the all-out aggro brigade who have tired of their super-capable enduro bikes and wish to inject a level of limit to their Sunday shredding.

In our opinion, it’s the latter type of down-country bike that is most interesting and exciting. But more capable XC bikes also provide unique thrills, and that injection of effortless pace never gets boring.

Slacker, longer, lower… shorter. Bring it on.

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Alternatives to a 2022 Trek Top Fuel for stage racing

Gspchilliwack.

Have you checked out the Santa Cruz site? The GX AXS TR build on the Blur is marked down nearly two grand CDN depending on colour. I’ve got a Hei Hei which I think will suit this event well, but if I were shopping right now I’d be looking to the Blur TR.  

calgarydave

I live in the West Kootenay region, where next year's ST6 will be held, raced BCBR in 2017, and helped with course layout for ST6 2022. If I were shopping for a new bike for that style of racing, and wanted it as my One Bike, I'd choose from the Top Fuel, Element, or Blur TR. This past winter I picked up a 2022 Element C70 which then got several part swaps to put it close to a C90. Strava tells me the thing rips, uphill and down. If you see a black Element with silver Pike at ST6 that'll likely be me.  

GSPChilliwack said: I’ve got a Hei Hei which I think will suit this event well, but if I were shopping right now I’d be looking to the Blur TR. Click to expand...

carlostruco said: I don't remember the brand, but there is a bottle cage thing that can help you fit two small sized ones into the front triangle. If I remember correctly, it is a South African brand that starts with the letter ''L''. If the down tube is long enough, Wolftooth also makes an adapter that can help you fit two bottles in there... Click to expand...

geofharries said: Moderately related: I miss the ability to run 2 water bottles for longer rides. I really (really) like my Trek Fuel EX but even in its gigantic XXL size, I can only store a single bottle. I would happily raise the top tube of my Fuel by an inch or more to make room for another bottle. The super low slung top tube design choice baffles me, especially in this, the biggest frame size they make. View attachment 2050983 Click to expand...

B-RAD Mounting Bases

carlostruco

westin said: I have the Lyne. After a somewhat tedious install/setup it was perfect on my last xc bike. I also have that wolftooth b-rad side bottle adapter. Haven’t used it in a year or more but it was good for the job on the other frame. Looks weird but price was right; Lyne was expensive factoring in shipping from South Africa to USA. Overall I preferred the Lyne: Holy Rail Dual Cage Kit Click to expand...

WR304 said: That frame is the perfect candidate for a Wolftooth B-Rad 4 system! B-RAD Mounting Bases The B-RAD system begins with a series of slotted Mounting Bases. Available in a variety of sizes, B-RAD bases can shift a bottle cage away from inconvenient rear shocks on your mountain bike, add room for tools or tubes below a bottle cage, or even provide space for a second bottle on... www.wolftoothcomponents.com It would let you carry two bottles in line within the main frame triangle on the down tube by sliding the lower bottle cage down lower, opening up the top part of the frame for another bottle. The benefit of the XXL frame, compared to smaller frame sizes, is there is enough height clearance. Click to expand...

GSPChilliwack said: Just don’t forget to support the B-Rad with zip ties at the far end from the bottle bosses. I snipped the zip tie off to put some plastic film on the frame. Forgot to replace said zip tie. It generated enough load on the bottle mounts that now I’m going to be replacing the rivnuts in the frame. Click to expand...

geofharries said: Moderately related: I miss the ability to run 2 water bottles for longer rides. I really (really) like my Trek Fuel EX but even in its gigantic XXL size, I can only store a single bottle. I would happily raise the top tube of my Fuel by an inch or more to make room for another bottle. The super low slung top tube design choice baffles me, especially in this, the biggest frame size they make. Click to expand...

Stainless Steel Bottle Lowering

Higbee said: There is also a pretty good deal on a yeti sb115 but I’m wondering if it’s too trail like. Click to expand...

Higbee said: There is also a pretty good deal on a yeti sb115 but I’m wondering if it’s too trail like. I want some separation from the Ripmo In terms of bikes. Click to expand...

WR304 said: This is the Wolftooth B-Rad 4 instruction manual showing the zip ties for reference. There’s also a 1700g weight limit per base according to the website https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0230/9291/files/INSTRUCTIONS_BASE_4.pdf?219 Click to expand...

I’ve been on a top fuel for 5 years. Including the 20-21 model 9.9 that was pretty much a dream build. After my second 20-21 style had a warranty issue I k ew the 23 model was not for me with its outrageous frame weight.I bought a specialized Epic Evo Sworks frame and moved all of my parts over. I love it. I would pay a huge premium for it due to the two bottle cages alone! That and the fact that it is so light and capable. 21.4 pounds with pedals/cages/mounts ready to race marathons. I’ve gone 1st and 2nd on it in recent enduros. I’d race this rig at downieville and for single-track 6 if given the opportunity. I’ve done a 12 hour race, some marathons and Rule of 3 gravel race. Love the two cages! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk  

After selling my previous, and not really that well-loved, 2020 Top Fuel, I somewhat hesitatingly bought the new "outrageously heavy" version. Somewhat to my surprise, I love it, and it's faster on every timed training loop I've got. And I can reach the 3-position rear shock lever (hated the twistloc on the previous version). I do, however, wish it could hold two water bottles. Getting by with a one-liter Zefal Magnum bottle pretty well, though.  

GSPChilliwack said: Have you checked out the Santa Cruz site? The GX AXS TR build on the Blur is marked down nearly two grand CDN depending on colour. I’ve got a Hei Hei which I think will suit this event well, but if I were shopping right now I’d be looking to the Blur TR. Click to expand...

ShortTravelMag

LMN said: Sounds like you argueing for aluminum wheels. I wonder how many of us in a blind test could actually tell the ride difference between aluminum and carbon wheels. Click to expand...

Higbee said: I’m looking to sign up for single track 6 next year and I am in the market for a new bike. Some background. I’ve been mountain biking for 40 years and have done some racing in the past but mostly on the road as a junior a long time ago. Currently I ride an Ibis ripmo V2 for the past few years, love the bike as one bike solution from riding in Alberta, Revy, valemount, Whistler(trials like comfortably numb and dark crystal) but I don’t want to xc race it. I have owned a RM Thunderbolt BC, Giant Trance, RM BLIZZARD and elements and had my single speed phase…My local trails are not very technical so this new bike would be better suited for local rides and I would not be replacing the ripmo, this would be a two bike set up. I was looking at a 2022 Trek top fuel 9.8 xt but am also considering a Santa Cruz blur TR GX AXS, specialized epic evo expert. Both those options are around $1200 more than the Trek. Am I overlooking something else or should I save the money put it into some coaching and or wheel upgrades? Thanks! Click to expand...

bfdnelson said: All of this said, starting in 2022, the Spark's rear shock is inside the seat tube, so maybe now you can fit 2 bottles?? Click to expand...

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Trek Top Fuel 8 review: a progressive rather than podiuming XC machine

Trek’s top fuel delivers superlative short-travel suspension performance but it’s definitely a trail bike not an xc bike.

BikePerfect Verdict

Awesome suspension, agile swagger, grippy kit and practical frame updates build a brilliant rally bike, but high weight buries any XC aspirations

Infectiously agile and playful vibe

Superlative suspension feel

Seriously tight tracking frame

Trail tough kit

Internal storage

Too heavy for XC racing

Simple fork damper

Tight internal storage access

Yawning gap between this and the Supercaliber

Why trust BikePerfect Our cycling experts have decades of testing experience. We'll always share our unbiased opinions on bikes and gear. Find out more about how we test.

Top Fuel used to be Trek’s out-and-out best full-suspension mountain bike for racing, but with the soft-tail Supercaliber under its sponsored riders now, the Top Fuel has developed a burly rather than race character. 

The latest frame, suspension and spec changes to the 8 make the most of its short-travel agility and gripped tenacity to create a proper rally racer. Excess weight shows on climbs and acceleration though.

Design and geometry

The alloy Top Fuel frame not only has the same geometry, shock and suspension layout as its carbon counterpart but Trek’s engineers have also worked super-hard to give it the same extensive, updated feature lineup. That includes the lever-locked trapdoor into the down tube for internal storage, threaded bottom bracket shell with chain guide tabs. The Knock Block 2.0 inset now allows 72-degrees of steering lock (not 58-degrees as before) or you can fit a blank insert for full rotation if the bars aren’t slammed. 

In fact, it’s one of those bikes where we continually found ourselves riding how we always want to ride, not how we actually ride. That inevitably builds into an addictive upward spiral of confidence and insolent speed that often ended with us snapping at the heels of more expensive longer travel bikes even on really rowdy trails. Picking a larger, longer frame will settle it even more at speed, but for flow trails, it was refreshing to really rip those big Bontrager side tire lugs round on a compact, close combat chassis. Just be careful you don’t get too carried away, as however good it feels, less travel inevitably means the tires are having to cope with more impact force and we soon put a couple of splits in the rear tire despite the ‘inner strength’ casing.

When that happens the narrow neck of the storage hatch can make getting your spare tube out awkward and the high cage position means you won’t get a large bottle in either. There’s space for a 2.5in tire in the rear swingarm which pivots co-axially around the rear axle according to Trek’s ‘Active Braking Pivot’ wisdom. While it limits choice, the switch to a 34.9mm seatpost size should mean stiffer, smoother dropper action, especially on larger frame sizes which get up to a 200mm shaft stock. The new trunnion style shock pivots more smoothly and is the right way up now compared to last year’s inverted shocks. That means the MinoLink geometry flip chip to change angles by 0.5-degrees is now at the base of the shock but it’s still easy to get too. Significantly all RockShox spec Trek bikes from the 8 upwards get the same ‘Ultimate RCT’ spec Deluxe rear shock.

The alloy frame is a kilo heavier (3.74kg vs 2.7kg) than the carbon option according to Trek’s weights. This saves you $1,400/£1,500 if you buy the frame separately, although it still retails for $2,319.99/£2,350. Those numbers prove it’s neither affordable or light for a bike that you’ll find listed in the XC section of Trek's website, not the trail pages. In fact, the 130mm Fuel EX Al frame is the same weight although that doesn't have internal storage.

A 66/66.4-degree head tube definitely suggests progressive riding rather than traditional podium hunting vibes too. The 465/469mm reach on our M/L size is more trad than rad though so riders after a stretch should make use of the short 450mm seat tube and opt for the L with a 480/484 reach. All bikes get the same 76/76.4-degree seat tube angle and 434/435mm chainstay length though so while having six (S-XXL) sizes is great, the balance is definitely centered around the M - M/L - L models.

Components and build 

The Top Fuel 8 is the most expensive alloy bike, above the 7 at $3,529.99/£3,200 and the 5 at $2,629.99/£2,700 (we don’t know what 6 did to offend them but its missing from the line-up), but below the carbon-framed 9.7 at $4,229.99/£4,700.

The highlights of the package are the lightweight SID fork (albeit with the simplest Rush Damper) and Shimano XT rear mech and shifters. The Bontrager XR4 tires are some of our favorite welterweight all-rounders too. The SLX crank is a great piece with a 30T ring for easy climbing, but muscle Mary’s will find a 36T fits the frame too. You get a 150mm Trans-X dropper with a Bontrager Arvada saddle on top and 35mm diameter Bontrager Elite 45mm stem and 780mm wide bar.

Deore four-pot brakes just about do the job adequately via 180/160mm rotors but together with the wide rim tubeless Bontrager Line Comp 30 wheels they’re an obvious area where extra weight creeps in and adds up to nearly 14.5kg without pedals. 

Performance

Add that weight to chunky treaded, relatively grippy tires and however Trek categorizes the Top Fuel, the 8 clearly isn’t the best choice for charging climbs and ripping round simple XC laps. Now we’ve got rid of the people who’ll likely love the 12.2kg Trek Supercaliber for the same money, we can start talking about what the Top Fuel does do really well – and that’s riding properly rowdy.

While bikes like the Evil Following , Santa Cruz Tallboy , and Norco Optic have already established that short-travel bikes can feel awesome, the Top Fuel definitely goes into the small travel, BIG capability hall of fame. Like most of its peers, it doesn’t squander initial shock movement and can feel slightly sharp in the car park unless you drop tire pressures low. 

Once moving though it’s both amazingly fluid and connected over ruts and roots whether climbing janky tech or sucking onto stutter bump/root ripple turns or off-camber high lines. The wheel path and rear pivot position mean there’s minimal pull back through the pedals as it hoovers up chunder so you can stay on the gas without getting jacked or stalled out. While we’re always suspicious of acronyms and a 160mm rotor doesn’t generate much torque anyway, the braking performance of the ABP rear end is impressively grippy compared to the same hardware on other bikes. 

The RCT damper also has plus and minus low-speed compression settings to fine-tune support sensitivity depending on personal/terrain preferences. Even in the plus setting the mid-stroke mobility does mean you’ll want to flick into the much firmer ‘pedal’ mode if you’re stood up slow cadence churning on a climb or don’t want distracting bounce on long smooth climbs. The SID fork gets a similar firming option via the fork top lever though we rarely touched it unless we were really hanging on a road climb.

While the superlative suspension performance is definitely the heart of the Top Fuel’s ‘have a go hero’ character, the rest of the bike definitely exploits it rather than squandering it. The alloy frame might be heavy but it’s seriously stout when it comes to squaring up to the trail when things get punchy.

While the simpler Rush damper starts to get seasick and inconsistent well before the back end, the 35mm stanchions do a great job of staying on track. Shorter travel means less dive too and together with well-balanced cockpit dimensions and steering angle gives a really predictable and tenacious target lock.

Despite the hefty weight and relatively slow rear hub engagement the fact you can keep the power down or brake really late meant the Top Fuel always felt hyped to be hitting trails and tweaking lines as fast as possible. The shorter M/L size made it a proper joyride on tighter, twistier trails but you can still drive it really hard, heels down, feet level through turns and it loves to pump downslopes.

Trek’s Top Fuel 8 is a brilliant example of just how good short-travel suspension can feel, and less stroke always means a more responsive, visceral ride than a leggier bike. The geometry and proper trail tires really let you exploit the hooligan that’s hiding in the frame along with your pump, tool and spare tube too. 

As much as we’ve loved ripping around the trails on it, there’s no doubt it’s heavier and harder to accelerate/elevate than we’d like for its supposed XC/downcountry range placement though. If you’re about the overall vibe, not outright velocity, that doesn’t matter though.

Test conditions

• Temperature: -2 to 8 degrees
• Surface: Mixed blue-black trail center, moorland tracks, off-piste wooded tech and DH

Tech Specs: Trek Top Fuel 8

• Price: $3,829.99 / £3,850
• Model: Trek Top Fuel 8
• Discipline: XC/downcountry/trail
• Head angle:  66/66.4-degrees
• Frame material: Alpha Platinum Aluminium
• Weight: 14.46kg
• Wheel size: 29 x 2.4in 
• Suspension: RockShox SID 120mm travel, 44mm offset/RockShox Deluxe Ultimate RCT 120mm travel
• Drivetrain:  Shimano XT M8100 mech and shifter. Shimano SLX M7100, 10-51 cassette, chain
• Cranks:  Shimano XT 30T chainset
• Brakes:  Shimano Deore M6000 brakes with 180/160mm rotors
• Cockpit:  Bontrager Line 780mm bar and 45mm stem
• Wheelset:  Bontrager Line Comp 30 wheels
• Tires:  Bontrager XR4 Team Issue 29 x 2.4in tires
• Seatpost:  TranzX 150mm dropper post
• Saddle: Bontrager Arvada, steel rail saddle

Guy has been working on Bike Perfect since we launched in 2019. Hatched in Yorkshire he's been hardened by riding round it in all weathers since he was a kid. He spent a few years working in bike shops and warehouses before starting writing and testing for bike mags in 1996. Since then he’s written several million words about several thousand test bikes and a ridiculous amount of riding gear. To make sure he rarely sleeps and to fund his custom tandem habit, he’s also penned a handful of bike-related books and talks to a GoPro for YouTube, too.

Current rides: Cervelo ZFS-5, Forbidden Druid V2, Specialized Chisel, custom Nicolai enduro tandem, Landescape/Swallow custom gravel tandem

Height: 180cm

Weight: 69kg

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2022 Trek Top Fuel Review | All-new frame & geometry, with a whole new attitude

The not-so-minor details, 2022 trek top fuel 9.8 xt.

https://www.trekbikes.com/

- Brilliant trail-ripping geometry - Active and supportive suspension - Masses of cornering grip & stability - Refined and practical frame design - Downtube storage is a welcome addition

- Dropper post is sluggish - Wheels are solid but quite heavy - Carbon bars are harsh - Heavier than many of its competitors

Flow reviews the 2022 Trek Top Fuel

The Trek Top Fuel has long been known as the American brand’s flagship full suspension XC race bike, purpose-built to to compete at the very highest level of the sport. In more recent years however, the Top Fuel has steered in a different direction. With the short-travel Supercaliber taking over duties for World Cup XCO racing, Trek has softened the Top Fuel’s serious, race-focused persona, adding travel and bulking it up in the process.

For 2022, the Trek Top Fuel makes its biggest move away from its XC racing roots. Equipped with a brand new frame, an updated suspension design and some thoroughly modern geometry, the Top Fuel aims to retain the pert pedalling performance of its predecessor while significantly boosting its all-round capability. So, has Trek succeeded?

Watch our video review of the new Trek Top Fuel here:

Along with the active ABP suspension design and chunky tyres, there’s an exceptional amount of grip and support on offer for a 120mm travel bike.

Trek Top Fuel overview

Despite being all-new, the Trek Top Fuel retains its position in between the Supercaliber (the 60mm travel XC race bike) and the Fuel EX (the 130mm travel trail bike).

It’s equipped with a 120mm travel fork just like its predecessor, but rear travel has actually lifted by 5mm up to 120mm. This increase has been achieved with a longer stroke shock (50mm vs 45mm), and Trek has also flipped the orientation of the trunnion-mount. The rocker link now drives the shock via two sealed cartridge bearings to improve sensitivity.

You’ll no longer find a dual remote lockout on the Top Fuel, which leads to a vastly cleaner bike with fewer cables occupying your view from the cockpit. Along with the bigger shock, slacker geometry and 2.4in wide tyres, it is without doubt the most trail-oriented Top Fuel we’ve seen yet.

To put it into context, that sees it move away from the likes of the Orbea Oiz TR and the Canyon Lux Trail , and more towards the direction of the Santa Cruz Tallboy and Pivot Trail 429 .

A new, burlier chassis

Though it looks pretty similar, the Trek Top Fuel frame is all-new for 2022. It’s not so much a radical overhaul, but rather a collection of many small refinements that add up to a more practical package.

The chassis is notably beefier than its predecessor, with the seat tube diameter swelling to the new-school 34.9mm size. As well as increasing frame stiffness, the fatter seat tube is also shorter, allowing it to swallow a modern long-stroke dropper post.

The downtube is also larger, and it now features the integrated storage design we’ve seen employed on the latest Fuel EX and Slash. A latch underneath the bottle cage removes the trap door, providing you access within. A neat tool roll is included with the bike so you can carry a spare tube, levers and CO2. You could also fit a lightweight jacket in there along with some snacks.

Trek has updated the Knock Block headset, increasing the available turning radius from 58° to 72°. This provides you with greater freedom of movement on the trail, but still prevents the handlebar controls from smashing into the top tube. If you’re not into it though, the Knock Block is removable.

Also nice to see is a threaded bottom bracket shell for ease of maintenance, and the rear ABP pivot can now be tightened with a cassette tool. Also new for the Top Fuel is guided internal cable routing – poke the cable in at one end, and it’ll pop out the other, no fishing required.

Trail-leaning geometry

The 2022 Trek Top Fuel has received a series of geometry updates over the outgoing model, bringing it up to speed with other boundary-pushers in this travel bracket. Here are the key numbers;

• Head tube angle: 66°
• Seat tube angle: 76°
• Reach: 420mm (S), 450mm (M), 465mm (M/L), 480mm (L), 500mm (XL)
• Rear centre length: 435mm
• BB drop: 36mm

Compared to the old Top Fuel, the head angle has kicked back by 1.5-degrees and the reach measurements have gone up by 10mm. The seat tube angle has also steepened by 1-degree to improve the climbing position, while the chainstay length and BB drop remain the same.

The Top Fuel still features a Mino Link, but it’s now located at the lower shock eyelet. Bikes will come setup from the factory in the Low position. Flipping that into High will lift the BB height by 7mm and steepen the angles by 0.4°.

You can get even rowdier by fitting a 130mm travel fork, which will kick the head angle back to a very-slack 65.6° in the Low position. And for those wanting to push the needle further, there’s clearance to run 2.5in tyres.

Trek Top Fuel price & specs

We’ll see four Trek Top Fuel models coming into Australia this year – two with alloy frames and two with carbon. All Top Fuel models feature the same geometry, suspension design and travel. They’re all equipped with 29in wheels, and there are five frame sizes available from Small through to X-Large (the XS size with 27.5in wheels won’t be available in Australia).

Pricing kicks off at $3,499 AUD for the Top Fuel 5 and goes up to $8,299 AUD for the Top Fuel 9.8 XT that we have on test here. Additionally, Trek will offer a 9.9 spec via the Project One bike builder program.

You can check out the specs and prices for all those models down at the bottom of the page. Right now we’ll be diving straight into our experience of testing this bike here; the Top Fuel 9.8 XT.

• Frame | OCLV Mountain Carbon Fibre, ABP Suspension Design, 120mm Travel
• Fork | RockShox SID Select+, Charger 2 RL Damper, 44mm Offset, 120mm Travel
• Shock | RockShox Deluxe Ultimate RCT, 185x50mm
• Wheels | Bontrager Line Elite 30, OCLV Carbon Rims, 29mm Inner Width
• Tyres | Bontrager XR4 Team Issue 2.4in Front & Rear
• Drivetrain | Shimano XT 1×12 w/XT 30T Crankset & 10-51T Cassette
• Brakes | Shimano XT 4-Piston w/Ice Tech Rotors
• Bar | Bontrager Line Pro, OCLV Carbon, 27.5mm Rise, Width: 750mm (S), 780mm (M-XL)
• Stem | Bontrager Line Pro, 45mm Length
• Seatpost | Bontrager Line Elite Dropper, 34.9mm Diameter, Travel: 100mm (S), 150mm (M-M/L), 170mm (L), 200mm (XL)
• Saddle | Bontrager Arvada, Austentite Rails
• Confirmed Weight | 12.88kg (Large, Tubeless)
• RRP | $8,299 AUD

This differs from some other brands that utilise a single frame, and simply up-fork and up-shock it to create a slightly longer travel bike (like the Specialized Epic EVO and Orbea Oiz TR). The Top Fuel is not one of those bikes.

Trek Top Fuel sizing & fit

We put the new Trek Top Fuel into the hands of our tester Ben, who owns the current Top Fuel and has also spent considerable time on the Fuel EX. At 181cm tall, Ben’s been riding a size Large across all three bikes.

The Top Fuel is well-proportioned out of the box. The 480mm reach is very long, but it’s balanced nicely with a 50mm stem and the 76° seat tube angle. The Bontrager saddle is totally inoffensive, and we haven’t needed to shunt it into an extreme position just to get it comfortable.

The 760mm wide riser bars are a great match for this bike, and while it may not be totally necessary for all riders, the 170mm stroke dropper post is fashionably long for such a short travel bike.

Suspension & tyre setup

With the anodised sag gradients on the fork and shock, suspension setup is made easy. Weighing 80kg loaded up, Ben’s been running 180psi in the rear shock (26% sag) 80psi in the fork (20% sag).

The factory rebound tune for both the RockShox SID fork and Deluxe shock is quite light, so each rebound dial was set a couple of clicks slower than halfway.

Tubeless rim strips and valves come pre-fitted to the Bontrager wheels, and Trek kindly includes two bottles of sealant with the bike, making tubeless setup the breeze it should be. Pressures were set at 20psi on the front and 22psi on the rear.

Trek Top Fuel weight

Given its swollen proportions, the new Trek Top Fuel has gotten heavier. With the tyres setup tubeless, our test bike came in at 12.88kg without pedals. To put that number into perspective, here’s how it compares to some similarly-priced XC and Trail bikes we’ve recently tested;

• Canyon Lux Trail CF 9 – 11.22kg
• Merida Ninety-Six 8000 – 11.63kg
• Scott Spark 910 – 12.43kg
• Specialized Stumpjumper Pro – 12.84kg
• Trek Top Fuel 9.8 XT – 12.88kg
• Giant Trance Advamced Pro 29 1 – 13.38kg

Trek claims a carbon Top Fuel frame weighs 2.7kg including the rear shock, which puts it on the heavier side of things for a 120mm travel bike. The alloy frame is purportedly a whole kilo heavier again, with a claimed weight of 3.74kg.

The Top Fuel’s rolling stock is also a significant contributor to its overall mass. The Bontrager Line Elite wheels are heavy at 2,071g for the pair (with tubeless strips and valves). Incidentally, these are exactly the same wheels that came on the Slash 9.9 X01 , which is a full-bore enduro race bike.

Trek has also plumped up the rubber. The previous Top Fuel featured semi-slick XR3 tyres, but the new bike is now spec’d with 2.4in wide XR4 Team Issue tyres. They’re not overly heavy at around 800g each, though they do offer significantly better grip across a broader range of conditions.

What does the Trek Top Fuel do well?

From the very first ride the new Trek Top Fuel proved to be easy to get used to, with no quirks to the fit, handling or suspension.

The proportions are significantly broader compared to the outgoing Top Fuel, with the front wheel sticking out much further ahead of the rider. Despite the long reach however, the effective top tube length is basically identical to its predecessor, so the overall cockpit length remains the same.

The steeper seat angle is noticeable though, providing an improved climbing position with your hips placed further over the bottom bracket. As a result, less bum-shuffling is required on stem-chewing ascents.

Pedalling performance is also superb. Despite its burlier exterior, Trek is still prioritising pedal efficiency with the Top Fuel, with the main pivot positioned high and quite far forward of the bottom bracket. Anti-squat is claimed to hover around the 100% mark, and indeed the rear suspension clenches tightly under chain torque, propelling the whole bike forward with minimal energy loss.

Active suspension performance

Despite the trunnion bearing mount and the longer shock stroke, the rear suspension doesn’t feel radically plusher than its predecessor, which already offered great performance. It is noticeably more supportive though, particularly when absorbing square-edge hits at speed, and when returning to earth after boosting off a lip on the trail.

It’s worth noting here that many bikes in the 100-130mm travel bracket make use of a carbon flex-stay design, including the Canyon Lux Trail, Merida Ninety-Six, and Specialized Stumpjumper. As well as being simpler, flex-stay designs are typically lighter too.

In comparison, the Top Fuel sticks with a genuine four-bar platform based around the ABP suspension design. Trek claims the ABP pivot helps to isolate braking forces from the suspension, and indeed it does result in less skipping and skidding when you’re on the brakes on loose, rocky descents.

With all the pivot points rolling on steel ball bearings, the suspension is more active and possesses a more consistent feel to both compression and rebound damping when compared to a flex-stay design. Yes it’s heavier, but the Top Fuel offers notably more active suspension performance, with excellent traction on loose climbs and better reactivity across chattery rock gardens. It’s very impressive for a 120mm travel bike.

Look out Fuel EX!

The geometry is also brilliant, and the handling really sets it apart from the outgoing Top Fuel.

Cornering performance has improved, with more grip courtesy of the longer front end and those XR4 tyres. These are great all-rounders, with a supple casing and surprisingly decent rolling speed given their size and tread pattern.

The new Top Fuel is also much more composed on rough and fast descents. Thanks to the longer reach and slacker head angle, the overall wheelbase length has grown by almost 40mm. That’s huge, and it offers a vastly more planted feel at speed. Along with the big tyres and active suspension, this really is a solid little trail bike.

In fact, the geometry updates kind of make the Fuel EX look a little outdated. The two bikes now share the same head angle, and the Top Fuel has a 10mm longer reach and a steeper seat angle. The front end is quite a bit higher on the Fuel EX though, and that does inspire more confidence on really steep descents.

As mentioned earlier though, it’s possible to fit a 130mm fork to the Top Fuel, which would lift the front end and actually make it slacker than the Fuel EX. Indeed there’s now quite a bit of overlap between the two platforms, leaving us to ponder what could be in store for the next generation Fuel EX.

What does it struggle with?

You’ve likely gathered that the new Trek Top Fuel is more of a muscly trail ripper than a spindly XC featherweight. While it may carry over the name, it’s evolved into quite a different bike compared to its racier ancestors.

The lack of a remote lockout results in a much cleaner cockpit, and we like how it signals the Top Fuel’s commitment to its trail riding intentions. However, it may disappoint those riders and racers who prefer having an instantaneous sprint button at their fingertips.

Indeed with all the updates, and the fact that the new Top Fuel has double the travel of the Supercaliber, there is now an even bigger gap between these two bikes. Riders who are still interested in some part-time XC racing, but aren’t sold on the Supercaliber’s sharp geometry and proprietary IsoStrut suspension design, may be turned off by the Top Fuel’s new attitude.

Of course you could easily inject some speed with some lighter and faster-rolling tyres, like Bontrager’s XR2. There’s also around half a kilo to be saved in the wheelset, which would make a significant difference to the Top Fuel’s acceleration and climbing enthusiasm.

You could also flip the Mino Link into the High position to steepen the angles. In that guise, with lighter wheels and faster tyres, the Top Fuel would make for a comfortable and confidence-inspiring option for those wanting to sign up for the odd endurance race or multi-day event. If you’re serious about your XC racing though, this is not the bike for you – you’ll be wanting to look at the stupendously efficient Supercaliber for such endeavours.

Component highs & lows

The 2022 Trek Fuel 9.8 XT is a solid package out of the box, especially when you consider it comes in $1,600 cheaper than the 2021 model. And that’s with a pretty much identical build kit. How has a new bike gotten cheaper in the midst of a global pandemic and industry-wide component shortages? Heck knows!

There’s not a lot to be said about the Shimano XT groupset – it works, it’s solid, and it’s easy to tune. The I-Spec mounts offer plenty of adjustability for getting the brake and shift levers into the right spot, and the integrated dropper lever is a nice touch too.

The RockShox suspension isn’t quite as sensitive as the Fox equivalent, particularly the SID Select+ fork, which felt a little stickier than we expected. Otherwise the fork and shock perform well, and the ease of setup is great.

The Bontrager dropper post works fine, but the action is sluggish compared to some of its competitors. And while the carbon handlebars offer a nice profile, having spent a lot of time on OneUp handlebars lately, the Bontrager Line Pro feels considerably harsher in comparison.

We’ve had excellent long-term experience with Bontrager’s latest Line Pro & Line Elite carbon wheels , which feature thick carbon beads that are designed to increase impact strength while also reducing the chance of pinch-flats. They’re totally solid and come with an excellent crash-replacement guarantee, while the buzzy 108pt engagement freehub delivers rapid pickup at the pedals. As mentioned earlier though, they are heavy, providing an opportunity to drop significant weight with a wheel upgrade.

Otherwise we’ve been impressed with the frame finish so far. The Mino Link is simple and effective, the Knock Block is totally unnoticeable on the trail, and we’re big fans of the built-in storage from the Burrito Box. Or is it the Kebab Cave? Maybe a Sausage Roll Hole? Sushi Shaft? Cannoli Cavity? Hot Dog Hollow? Spring Roll Room?

Alright, alright! We’ll show ourselves the door…the door that leads into the Spring Roll Room – ha!

Flow’s Verdict

Tying together a whole suite of updates to the frame and suspension design, there are no doubts that the new Trek Top Fuel is a more capable bike than its predecessor. It’s still very efficient, but having adopted a more progressive approach to its geometry, it delivers a significant improvement in stability. Along with the active ABP suspension design and chunky tyres, there’s an exceptional amount of grip and support on offer for a 120mm travel bike.

With all those changes, the Top Fuel moves even further away from the Supercaliber. And for some riders, that gap will be a little too wide.

Trek seems happy to have a clear delineation between the two platforms though. This differs from some other brands that utilise a single frame, and simply up-fork and up-shock it to create a slightly longer travel bike (like the Specialized Epic EVO and Orbea Oiz TR). The Top Fuel is not one of those bikes.

Instead of being a long-legged Supercaliber, it’s really a shrunken-down Fuel EX, albeit one with more contemporary geometry. And having ridden both bikes, unless you really need the extra travel of the Fuel EX, this is arguably the better option.

Sure it may have put off the weight-weenies and lockout-lovers, but there’s no denying that the Top Fuel has broadened its appeal to an even wider range of riders, and we reckon it’s more fun as a result.

2022 Trek Top Fuel 9.9 XTR

• Fork | Fox 34 Step-Cast, Factory Series, FIT4 Damper, 44mm Offset, 120mm Travel
• Shock | Fox Float DPS, Factory Series, 185x50mm
• Wheels | Bontrager Line Pro 30, OCLV Carbon Rims, 29mm Inner Width
• Drivetrain | Shimano XTR 1×12 w/e*thirteen TRS Race Carbon 30T Crankset & 10-51T Cassette
• Brakes | Shimano XTR Race 2-Piston w/Ice Tech Rotors
• Bar | Bontrager RSL Integrated, OCLV Carbon, 27.5mm Rise, 820mm Width
• Stem | Bontrager RSL Integrated, OCLV Carbon, Length: 35mm (S), 45mm (M-XL)
• Saddle | Bontrager Arvada Pro, Carbon Rails
• RRP | $14,199 AUD

2022 Trek Top Fuel 9.7

• Fork | Fox Rhythm 34, GRIP Damper, 44mm Offset, 120mm Travel
• Shock | Fox Float DPS, Performance Series, 185x50mm
• Wheels | Bontrager Line Comp 30, Alloy Rims, 29mm Inner Width
• Drivetrain | Shimano SLX/XT 1×12 w/Deore 30T Crankset & 10-51T Cassette
• Brakes | Shimano SLX 4-Piston
• Bar | Bontrager Line, 27.5mm Rise, Width: 750mm (S), 780mm (M-XL)
• Stem | Bontrager Elite, 45mm Length
• Seatpost | TranzX Dropper, 34.9mm Diameter, Travel: 100mm (S), 150mm (M-M/L), 170mm (L), 200mm (XL)
• Saddle | Bontrager Arvada, Steel Rails
• RRP | $6,299 AUD

2022 Trek Top Fuel 8

• Frame | Alpha Platinum Alloy, ABP Suspension Design, 120mm Travel
• Fork | RockShox SID, Rush RL Damper, 44mm Offset, 120mm Travel
• Brakes | Shimano Deore 4-Piston
• RRP | $5,299 AUD

2022 Trek Top Fuel 5

• Fork | RockShox 35 Silver RL, Motion Control Damper, 44mm Offset, 120mm Travel
• Shock | X-Fusion Pro 2, 185x50mm
• Wheels | Bontrager Alloy Hubs & Alex MD35 Rims
• Drivetrain | Shimano Deore 1×12 w/Deore 30T Crankset & 10-51T Cassette
• Brakes | Shimano MT200 2-Piston
• Bar | Bontrager Comp, 15mm Rise, 750mm Width
• Stem | Bontrager Rhythm Comp, 50mm Length
• Seatpost | TranzX Dropper, 34.9mm Diameter, Travel: 100mm (S), 150mm (M-M/L), 170mm (L-XL)
• RRP | $3,499 AUD
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Tested: Trek Top Fuel

Don't call it a race bike. Trek's new Top Fuel is for railing steep fast decents with no course tape in sight.

Takeaway: Trek’s latest edition of the Top Fuel moves from being a big cross country racer and becomes a short travel trail bike. With new longer and slacker geometry, plus 5mm of extra travel, it aims to give riders the efficiency they want for long days while still enabling them to ride more technical trails with confidence.

• Fully guided internal routing in the front triangle plus a 73mm BSA threaded bottom bracket simplifies maintenance for both professional and home mechanics.
• The new Top Fuel has clearance for 2.5” tires; which makes perfect sense as even XC racers are now running 2.4” tires as standard.
• The downtube storage compartment is now featured on all Top Fuel models, including the alloy versions. It’s a great feature that often gets nixed on lower priced frame models.

Price: $11,500 Weight: 26.8lbs (size XL) Style: Full suspension 120mm trail bike Frame: OCLV Mountain Carbon, internal storage, tapered head tube, Knock Block 2.0, internal guided routing, downtube guard, magnesium rocker link, Mino Link, ABP, Boost148, 120mm travel Wheel Size: 29” Fork: RockShox SID Ultimate, DebonAir spring, Charger Race Day damper, tapered steerer, 44mm offset, Boost110, 15mm Maxle Stealth, 120mm travel Rear Shock: RockShox Deluxe Ultimate RCT, 185mm x 50mm Drivetrain: SRAM Eagle AXS, wireless, 12-speed Cranks: SRAM XX1 Eagle, DUB, 55mm chainline, 175mm length Chainring: 30 tooth Cassette: SRAM Eagle XG-1299, 10-52T, 12-speed Brakes: SRAM G2 Ultimate hydraulic disc, carbon levers Front Wheel: Bontrager Line Pro 30, OCLV Mountain Carbon, Tubeless Ready, 6-bolt, Boost110, 15mm thru axle Rear Wheel: Bontrager Line Pro 30, OCLV Mountain Carbon, Tubeless Ready, Rapid Drive 108, 6-bolt, SRAM XD driver, Boost148, 12mm thru-axle Tires: Bontrager XR4 Team Issue, Tubeless Ready, Inner Strength sidewalls, aramid bead, 120tpi, 29.x2.40'' Saddle: Bontrager Arvada, austenite rails, 138mm width Seatpost: RockShox Reverb AXS, 170mm travel, wireless, 34.9mm, 480mm length Handlebar / Stem: Bontrager RSL Integrated handlebar/stem, OCLV Carbon, 27.5mm handlebar rise, 820mm width, 0 degree stem rise, 45mm stem length

While XC race bikes were becoming longer travel, yet another new category of mountain bikes started to gain traction with riders: down-country. This new breed of bikes combines elements of longer travel all-mountain and trail bikes (such as slack geometry, more powerful brakes, and heavier casing tires) with shorter travel and lighter-weight frames. Essentially, burly XC bikes that you can ride all day, are efficient climbers, and very capable at descending. This is the approach Trek took with the latest Top Fuel.

The new Top Fuel strikes a similar silhouette to the older model, with a vertically mounted shock layout and Trek’s Active Braking Pivot suspension system; which now delivers an extra 5mm of travel in the rear to match the 120mm travel fork. The Top Fuel’s geometry is in line with other bikes in the emerging down-country category, with the headtube angle becoming 1.5 degrees slacker and reach increasing by 10mm as compared to the previous generation of the bike. The Top Fuel now also has clearance for 2.5 inch tires, for those who want to push traction to the limit.

The new Top Fuel edges ever closer into the territory of its longer travel sibling, the Fuel EX. The updated geometry of the Top Fuel actually makes the Fuel EX look a bit dated in comparison. The two bikes have identical headtube angles, with the Top Fuel having a longer reach and a steeper seat angle as well. You can even fit a 130mm fork on the Top Fuel, which would make it slacker than the Fuel Ex. Basically, the Top Fuel is no longer a race oriented bike. It has now morphed into an efficient trail bike for riders that still want solid pedaling performance to get up the climbs, but who want additional speed, confidence, and control on the descents.

Builds & Pricing

There are a total of nine different Top Fuel builds offered by Trek, plus carbon and alloy framesets. The Top Fuel is also available through Trek’s Project One program, allowing riders to customize everything from components to paint.

We got to test the Top Fuel 9.9 XX1 AXS build, which at $11,050 is (depending on your perspective) either a reasonable price for a modern high end bicycle or completely bonkers. With bikes such as Specialized S-Works Epic EVO coming in at a cool $13,000, and the Scott Spark 900 Ultimate EVO AXS at $14,000, the Top Fuel 9.9 almost seems price conscious.

The cheapest Top Fuel model, the alloy framed Top Fuel 5, features a RockShox Recon fork, X-Fusion X-Pro2 shock, and a Shimano Deore drivetrain at $2,630. The Top Fuel 7 has a Recon Gold fork with a mix of Shimano SLX and XT parts, plus Bontrager Line Comp wheels for $3,530. The Top Fuel 8 is the priciest alloy build at $3,830, with a RockShox SID fork and Deluxe Ultimate shock plus more powerful Shimano M6120 four-piston brakes.

The Top Fuel 9.7 is the most affordable of the carbon builds at $4,230. It uses Fox Rhythm 34 fork with a Float DPS shock and is finished with a mix of Shimano SLX and XT, plus Bontrager Line wheels. The Top Fuel 9.8 has three different versions based on your component preferences. You can go mechanical with SRAM GX or Shimano XT for $7,050 or upgrade to GX AXS for $7,550. All three use RockShox SID Select+ forks and Deluxe Ultimate RCT shocks, along with Bontrager Line Elite 30 wheels. Moving to the top of the price range, for $9,550Trek offers the Top Fuel 9.9 XTR build for Shimano and Fox lovers. It uses Fox Factory level suspension, a full mechanical XTR drivetrain, and Bontrager Line Pro 30 wheels. Riders preferring Rockshox Ultimate level suspension and electronic XX1 AXS shifting will need to spend $11,050 to get the most expensive Top Fuel model, the 9.9 XX1 AXS.

If you’d rather build your bike from the frame up, Trek offers alloy and carbon framesets. The Top Fuel AL frame sells for $2,320 with a Fox Float DPS shock. The carbon frame is priced at $3,720 and includes a Fox Factory Float DPS shock.

Geometry & Fit

The new Top Fuel has received the slacker and longer treatment, and as a result, the head tube angle is now a degree and a half slacker at 66º across the entire size range. Reach grows by 10mm while BB height and chainstay length remain the same from the previous generation.

Trek offers seven different sizes of the Top Fuel, including an M/L option for riders often caught between the medium and the large. With a stock stem length of 45mm on all sizes except an XS, our 6’3 tester felt cramped on the size XL and likely would have benefited from sizing up to an XXL. The issue was resolved with a longer stem, but the most expensive 9.9 builds of the Top Fuel Trek use its integrated Bontrager RSL handlebar and stem combo. It’s easy enough to swap out as it thankfully doesn’t run any lines internally, but it still means riders will need to supply both a bar and a stem to make fit adjustments. As always, it’s highly recommended that you get a test ride in at a shop before buying a new bike if possible.

Ride Impressions

The new Top Fuel is very much a short travel trail bike meant for ripping down burly trails. Thanks to a 40mm increase in wheelbase, a slacker head tube angle, and other geometry changes over its previous version, it feels much more planted and composed on rough and fast descents. It’s a bike that wants to hold a line and stay planted on the ground. This worked well in certain situations, like scrubbing speed on a rough bit of trail heading into a turn. Other times it made me have to fight the bike a bit to make quick line adjustments.

To highlight the new trail bike character of the Top Fuel, Trek has made some component choices to suit the bike's new intended purpose. Opting for four-piston SRAM G2 brakes, as well as grippier XR4 tires, for better control on steep descents. The frame is also beefed up with a larger downtube that now includes a storage compartment for snacks or, more likely, flat-fix tools. The seat tube also grows in diameter to increase stiffness and accommodate a larger diameter 34.9mm dropper post. The remote lockout is also gone from the handlebars – which, perhaps more than any other change, makes the Top Fuel's intent as a trail bike crystal clear.

Trek’s ABP suspension design has had many years of refinement and is a genuine four-bar platform, unlike many 120mm bikes that use a flex pivot. In contrast, all the pivot points on the Top Fuel use sealed bearings, resulting in a suspension setup that feels much more active. The design does a good job of isolating braking from the suspension, resulting in less skipping and bouncing when you’re hard on the brakes in a rough section of trail.

The downside of the Top Fuel’s trail bike transformation is that it’s now a bit heavy. Our premium 9.9 XX1 AXS XL sample came in at nearly 27 lbs. This isn’t wildly heavy for a trail bike, but typically you get a bit more suspension travel with that weight penalty. For reference, the Scott Spark I tested earlier this year has the same amount of suspension travel as the Top Fuel but is a full three pounds lighter. Trek does say that the Top Fuel is compatible with a 130mm fork, and I can’t help but think the new Top Fuel would have made a lot more sense with the increased travel straight from the factory.

After having multiple testers on the Top Fuel over the last few weeks, our consensus has been that the Top Fuel would thrive in a place that has a lot of machine built or well maintained, and steep trails. Trails where you can get the Top Fuel moving fast allow the progressive all-mountain geometry to shine and make the bike feel much more capable than its 120mm of travel would suggest.

The new Top Fuel is undoubtedly more capable than its previous version while maintaining much of its pedaling efficiency. Riders with more than a casual interest in racing should probably look at bikes such as the Scott Spark , Canyon Lux Trail , or Specialized Epic EVO . The Top Fuel is perhaps the ideal bike for riders who want a trail, or even all-mountain, bike geometry experience, but don't want the extra weight or need the extra bit of travel.

Trek Top Fuel 9.9 XX1 AXS

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Trek Fuel EX Vs Top Fuel Mountain Bike ?

Trek mountain bikes are built for the trails, and no bikes illustrate that better than the Trek Fuel EX and Trek Top Fuel. So, it’s understandable to pit Trek Fuel EX vs Top Fuel, which compels us to ask, what’s the difference?

Trek Fuel EX is a full suspension 29er trail bike with a 140mm front suspension and a 130mm rear suspension, while Trek Top Fuel is a 29er or 27.5-inch full-suspension cross-country bike with a 120mm front and rear suspension.

So, you can distinguish the trail bikes according to the type, suspension travel, and wheel size. Other differences are with respect to the geometry, suspension technology, project one customization, speed, weight, and even price.

Below is a table breakdown of all the nine differences between Fuel EX and Top Fuel to be explored in detail later:

This article will not just discuss the differences between the two Trek MTBs but will also highlight their similarities. Without saying much, let’s begin with the bikes’ overview.

Trek Fuel EX Overview

Trek Fuel EX is a full suspension trail mountain bike by Trek designed to take on just about any trail all season long.

This mountain bike comes with a balanced trail geometry that brings out the perfect balance between speed and control. As a result, it’s easier to handle on tricky trails and promises a fast pace.   

Fuel EX is available in 29-inch (29er) and 27.5-inch wheel sizes to accommodate all heights. Women who naturally have a shorter stature can set for 27.5-inch options, while men who are inherently taller can go for 29ers.

Suspension-wise, Fuel EX features a 140mm front suspension and a 130mm rear suspension, which is enough to hit just about any trail and enjoy the same comfort and bump-cushioning.

In terms of suspension technologies, the manufacturer employs Mono Link to self-adjust the bike frame, Re: Aktiv to offer you more control, and Active Braking Pivot for more confident braking.   

The most notable miss is the Project One customization option. But we’ve several models to choose from, such as Fuel EX 5 Deore, Fuel EX 9.1XOR, Fuel EX7, Fuel EX 8, Fuel EX9.7, Fuel EX 9.8 GX/XT/GX AXS, Fuel EX9.9 XTR, and Fuel EX 9.9X01 AXS.

Overall, Trek Fuel EX is perfect for anyone who wants a versatile do-it-all mountain bike.

Trek Top Fuel Overview

Trek Top Fuel is a short travel 29er cross country mountain bike designed for cross country racing and fun trail riding.

This bike is more forgiving and impulsive on aggressive descents than regular XC bikes but has a snappier feel than a traditional trail bike. So, it gives you the best sense of both worlds.

It has a 120mm front suspension and 120mm rear suspension to have a more comfortable and confident ride. And since it’s a 29er, obstacle rolling is much funnier. The full-suspension XC bike enjoys a progressive geometry, which is more relaxed and offers you more control.

Suspension-wise, this XC bike employs Mono Link Technology and ABP, just like Fuel EX to promise self-adjustment geometry and confident braking.

But unlike Fuel EX, Top Fuel lacks Re: Aktiv suspension technology. Instead, it employs Anti-Squad technology, a suspension resistance technology that offers you more acceleration with every pedaling. That’s practically why this bike is a better cross-country racing bike.

The best bit is that Top Fuel is customizable through Project One. But still, the bike family is split into several models – which include Top Fuel 5 Deore, Top Fuel 7 Deore/XT, Top Fuel 9.7 SLX/XT, Top Fuel 8, Top Fuel 9.8 GX/AX SXS/XT, and Top Fuel 9.9X01/XTR/XX1 AXS.

Trek Fuel EX Vs Top Fuel Side-By-Side Comparison!

Now, here is how Fuel EX and Top Fuel compare:

1. Bike Type

Fuel EX is generally a trail mountain bike that can take on just about any trail every day – from dirt trails to rough off-roads and forest trails.

On the other hand, Top Fuel is a cross-country mountain bike that you can use for any cross-country event. Whether you want to compete at a local event or race casually in the countryside, you cannot go wrong with Top Fuel.

2. Suspension Travel

Fuel EX is a do-it-all mountain bike mainly because of its long travel range. The bike features 140mmm of front suspension and 130mm of rear suspension, enough to take on all terrains.

The suspension allows you to ride downslope and go over rocks. That’s how powerful the MTB is. Top Fuel promises 120mm suspension travel on the front and rear side, shorter than what you get from Fuel EX but enough for cross-country biking.

You want your cross-country race bike to feel lightweight and offer you better control, and that’s what you get from the 120mm travel range.

3. Trek Fuel EX Vs Trek Top Fuel Wheel Size

Top Fuel is a 29-er (29-inch mountain bike), while Fuel EX offers 29-inch and 27.5-inch wheel options. The difference is that 29ers mostly favor taller guys while 27.5-inch accommodate both taller and shorter guys.

So, you are more likely to get a matching fit with Fuel EX than Top Fuel. However, the advantage of Top Fuel is that you can have a custom-made bike matching your body size.

4. Geometry

These two Trek mountain bike families differ in their geometry, which affects their overall feel.

Fuel EX, for example, has a balanced trail geometry, which bridges the gap between the fast-handling short-trail geometry and the slow-handling greater-trail geometry.

As a result, the bike is easier to handle at high-speed and, pretty stable, and offers you more control. You cannot ask for anything better than a balanced trail geometry.

On the other hand, Top Fuel has a progressive geometry characterized by a longer wheelbase, thus more relaxed and promising more control.

5. Trek Top Fuel Vs Fuel EX Suspension Technology

Both Trek MTBs employ Active Braking Pivot (ABP) and Mono Link suspension technologies. ABP generally tunes the bike suspension to the braking and acceleration to enable you to brake more confidently and boss the trail.

Mono Link in opposite allows you to adjust the bike’s geometry quickly and on the go. The difference is that Fuel EX employs Re: Aktiv suspension technology while Top Fuel uses Anti-Squat suspension technology.

Re: Aktiv offers Fuel EX more grip, control, and a responsive feel, while Anti-Squat suspension allows you to go faster with every step. The more you pedal a Top Fuel, the faster it accelerates.

6. Trek Ex Vs Top Fuel Project One

Project One is Trek bike’s customization project. While Project One is available for top high-end Top Fuel models, it’s not available for Fuel EX. So, if you want a custom-made MTB for competition, Top Fuel is the way to go. 

That, however, doesn’t make Fuel EX an inferior family. No! There are so many high-end Fuel EX models to choose from, and they all come in all frame sizes, which means you can easily find your fit.

7. Bike Weight

There is at least a 2-4-pound difference between Fuel EX and Top Fuel of the same generation and size. For example, while Fuel EX 9.9 X01 AXS weighs 28.15 pounds, Top Fuel 9.9 XXL weighs 26.13 pounds.

That makes Top Fuel lighter than Fuel EX, and it’s understandable, given that Top Fuel is a cross-country racer while Fuel EX is a trail bike.

8. Top Speed

Being the lighter of the two and employing Anti-Squat technology makes Top Fuel faster than Fuel EX. That hugely explains why Top Fuel is a cross-country bike as it’s speedy, thus suitable got cross county.

Though you can race with a Fuel EX since it’s an all-terrain trail bike, you cannot go as fast as someone riding an XC bike, which is Top Fuel.

9. Bike Price

Trek Top Fuel costs more than Fuel EX because of the lower weight advantage, anti-squat technology, and Project One customization availability.

Trek Fuel EX Vs Top Fuel Similarities

After looking at the things that set Fuel EX and Top Fuel apart, here are some things that the two Trek MTBs have in common.

Suspension Technologies – Both bikes employ Active Braking Pivot (ABP) and Mono Link suspension. ABP promotes confident braking while Mino Link encourages geometry adjustment on the go.

Frame – Both families employ alpha aluminum on their mid-range bikes and OCLV carbon on high-end options.

Sizes – Both bike families come in all frame sizes as follows:

• Extra small (rider’s height: 137-155cm)
• Small (rider’s height: 153-166.5cm)
• Medium (rider’s height: 161-172cm)
• Medium/Large (rider’s height – 165.5- 179cm)
• Large (rider’s height: 177-188cm)
• Extra Large (rider’s Height – 186-196cm

Weight Limit – These two bike families limit their load capacities to 300 pounds. So, they are equally strong and perfect for heavyweight guys.

People Also Ask

1. what is the difference between trek top fuel and fuel ex.

The difference between Trek Top Fuel and Fuel EX is that the latter is a 29-inch trail bike while the former is a 29/27.5-inch cross country bike.

2. Is The Trek Fuel EX A Trial Bike?

Yes, Trek Fuel EX is a trail bike. It is a full-suspension trail bike with 140mm front suspension and 130mm rear suspension.

3. How Much Travel Does the Trek Fuel EX Have?

Trek Fuel EX comes with a 140mm front suspension and 130mmm rear suspension. The suspension offers optimum bump absorption and stability to take on just about any trail.

Closing Thought on Trek Fuel EX Vs Top Fuel:

Generally, Trek Fuel EX is an all-terrain trail bike with a 140mm front suspension and 130mm rear suspension. On the other hand, Trek Top Fuel is a cross country racing 29er with a 120mm front and rear suspension.

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Trek Fuel EX vs Top Fuel: How Do These Iconic MTBs Compare?

When it comes to quality mountain bikes, few companies have the reputation and legacy of Trek. Trek has been producing high-performance bikes ridden by beginners, enthusiasts, and professional racers alike for decades. The Fuel EX trail bike and the Top Fuel cross-country bike are the most popular and capable models. But how exactly do these two iconic mountain bikes compare?

The Trek Fuel EX and Top Fuel represent two distinct bike categories and riding styles. In this in-depth comparison, we’ll examine each model’s key features and performance to help you decide which is better for your riding type.

Table of Contents

Overview of the Trek Fuel EX

The Trek Fuel EX epitomizes the modern trail bike. As a full-suspension 29er, it’s designed to provide control and stability across various terrain and trails. This makes it an excellent choice for a daily rider or all-mountain enduro racing.

With 140mm of front suspension travel and 130mm in the rear, the Fuel EX soaks up bumps and obstacles whether you’re going uphill or downhill. This plush suspension lets you maintain momentum and power over even the most technical trails. Trek’s active suspension technologies, like the Re:aktiv shock, provide a smooth and responsive feel.

An aluminum or carbon frame paired with quality components like Shimano SLX, XT drivetrains, and Bontrager Line wheels give the Fuel EX durability and all-weather performance. The balanced trail geometry provides a middle ground between agility and high-speed stability.

One standout feature is the Fuel EX’s versatility. It has 29” and 27.5” wheel options to fit many riders. The frame sports a water bottle mount and is compatible with a front derailleur if you want to run a 2x drivetrain. Plus, there are multiple build specs at different price points.

Overall, the Trek Fuel EX lives up to its reputation as a confidence-inspiring trail bike ready to take on everything from mellow singletrack to the most gnarly downhill trails.

Overview of the Trek Top Fuel

Whereas the Fuel EX leans towards trail riding, the Top Fuel is Trek’s thoroughbred cross-country racing bike. It prioritizes speed, acceleration, and climbing ability above all else.

The Top Fuel lives up to its name with 120mm of suspension travel front and rear. This shorter travel paired with a carbon frame provides a lightweight and responsive feel on fast cross-country courses and flowy singletrack. The 120mm may be less than the Fuel EX, but it’s explicitly dialed to smooth roots and more minor hits at speed.

Trek only outfits the Top Fuel with 29” wheels, taking advantage of the larger diameter’s faster rolling and obstacle-clearing ability. The geometry is optimized for cross-country racing with a steep 74° headtube angle and a shortened wheelbase for quick steering.

High-end carbon frames keep complete bike weights under 23 pounds. The premium build specs feature Shimano XTR or SRAM XX1 Eagle drivetrains with 12-speed cassettes and race-ready carbon componentry. The suspension comes dialed from Fox Racing Shox or RockShox with lockout.

While not the best choice for technical downhill and enduro racing, Top Fuel’s cross-country prowess is hard to match. Trek engineers have created a World Cup-level XC rig to quickly shoot up climbs and rail berms. It’s built for riders who want every advantage when racing against the clock.

Here is a comparison chart highlighting the key differences between the Trek Fuel EX and Top Fuel mountain bikes:

Direct Comparison of Key Specifications

Now that we’ve provided an overview of each model let’s directly compare some of the key specs and components. This will reveal precisely where the Fuel EX and Top Fuel differ.

• Suspension Travel:  The Fuel EX has 140mm front and 130mm rear suspension, while the Top Fuel has 120mm front and rear. The Fuel EX has more travel and is better suited for rough trails.
•   Wheel Size:  The Fuel EX has 29” and 27.5” options. The Top Fuel is only available in 29”. The Fuel EX fits more riders.
•   Frame Material:  The Fuel EX has alloy or carbon frames, and the Top Fuel is carbon exclusively. The Top Fuel frame is lighter.
•   Geometry:  The Top Fuel has a steeper 74° head tube angle than the Fuel EX’s 67.8°. This makes it handle quicker at high speeds.
•   Drivetrain:  The Fuel EX is spiced with Shimano SLX/XT or SRAM GX. The Top Fuel gets higher-end XTR or XX1 Eagle drivetrains.
•   Brakes:  Both bikes come equipped with hydraulic disc brakes. The Top Fuel often gets higher-end Shimano XTR brakes.
•   Weight:  The Top Fuel size 19.5” can get under 23 pounds. The Fuel EX tends to weigh around 26-28 pounds.

As you can see, the Top Fuel edges out the Fuel EX regarding specs. But the Fuel EX is no slouch and offers tremendous versatility at a more accessible price point.

Riding Experience and Performance

Beyond just the specs, what matters most is how a bike rides out on the trail. This section compares how the Trek Fuel EX and Top Fuel perform when put to the test.

The Fuel EX is the more versatile of the two bikes. With its well-rounded geometry and quality suspension, it can comfortably handle various terrain. Flowy singletrack, steep descents, big jumps, and technical sections are manageable thanks to the balanced handling and plush 140/130mm of travel.

The Fuel EX also fares well in enduro racing, where uphill and downhill performances are equally important. The 27.5” wheels provide quick handling and acceleration on climbs while the long travel soaks up hardcore downhill runs. It’s also great for lift-served riding at bike parks.

Alternatively, the Top Fuel shines at high speeds over less technical terrain. Its stiff, lightweight carbon frame and fast-rolling 29” wheels let you fly up climbs and hold momentum over undulating singletrack. The 120mm of travel provides enough cushion for smoothing roots and more minor obstacles at a race pace.

While the Top Fuel can still handle intermediate trails, its limitations become more apparent on steep, loose descents than the Fuel EX. Quicker steering also requires more focus at high speeds. But for cross-country racers, it delivers every advantage possible when it counts.

Both bikes utilize quality components and advanced suspension designs to provide a precise, confidence-inspiring ride. However, the Top Fuel’s focus on weight and speed gives it the edge for racing, while the Fuel EX takes the lead for versatility.

Ideal Use Cases Given the differences in design and performance, the Trek Fuel EX and Top Fuel best suit slightly different riding applications.

The Fuel EX is the better choice for mountain bikers looking for a high-performance daily driver. It excels at everything from mellow singletrack to downhill riding while providing quality components at a reasonable price. The Fuel EX is also excellent for newer riders exploring different disciplines and trail types.

In comparison, the Top Fuel is ideal for competitive cross-country racers and riders who prioritize lightweight and absolute speed above all else. Its flyweight carbon frame and fast-rolling 29” wheels give it superior acceleration and handling at a race pace over less technical trails. The premium specs are worth it for racers chasing every advantage.

To summarize:

Fuel EX – Better value for the aggressive trail rider. More versatile for varied terrain. Casual trail riders looking to have fun on the descents while exercising good fitness on climbs are likely better served by the well-rounded Fuel EX at a more affordable price point. But hardcore cross-country racers should give the advantage to the Top Fuel.

People Also Ask

What is the main difference between the trek fuel ex and top fuel.

The Fuel EX is a trail bike built for all-around riding, while the Top Fuel is a dedicated cross country racing bike built for speed and efficiency.

Which bike has more suspension travel?

The Fuel EX has 140mm of front suspension travel and 130mm of rear travel. The Top Fuel has 120mm of travel front and rear.

Can you customize the Trek Fuel EX or Top Fuel?

The Top Fuel is available through Trek’s custom Project One program, allowing you to customize colors and components. The Fuel EX has preset build specs without custom options.

What wheel size is the Fuel EX available in?

The Fuel EX comes in both 29” and 27.5” wheel size options. The Top Fuel is only available as a 29er.

Which bike is better for downhill riding?

Between the two, the Fuel EX is better suited for downhill and enduro riding thanks to its slacker geometry and longer travel suspension. The Top Fuel is faster uphill and on flat terrain.

Trek’s Fuel EX and Top Fuel represent two of the most capable and reliable mountain bikes in their respective categories. While they share similarities like quality construction and geometry, their intended use and performance differ.

The Fuel EX is likely the better choice for most trail and enduro riders. It provides spectral performance at a more affordable price point and can handle terrain or conditions. But competitive cross-country racers will appreciate Top Fuel’s specialization for speed over varied surfaces.

While they differ in their strengths, both Trek models benefit from meticulous engineering and quality construction. Trek’s innovative designs allow both bikes to excel in their respective categories. So whether you prefer all-around trail riding or pure race performance, Trek has you covered with the iconic Fuel EX and Top Fuel.

Trek Top Fuel gets trail rated with longer travel in carbon or alloy

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The engineers at Trek are refreshing another popular model in less than two years, the long-running Top Fuel. Yes, this mountain bike just recently received an overhaul, but the Trek team decided it could be even better and more fun… as a longer travel, more capable trail bike!

2022 Trek Top Fuel mountain bike goes trail riding

Trek introduced their Top Fuel all the way back in 2005. The bike was a first for the company, a full-suspension XC race bike mixing high-end alloy and carbon elements. As cross-country racing and mountain biking in general evolved, so has the Top Fuel. It gradually went from a full charging 26″ alloy/carbon mix to its later full carbon euro-centric race machine with an integrated seatmast. Then by 2012, it was seemingly retired from the Trek line, replaced by the Gary Fisher Superfly 100 to mixed reviews…

Then in 2015, the Top Fuel was reborn as a 29″ 100mm race bike again. The bike had all the trappings of a modern XC race machine, but still capable of tackling big roots and rocks. It wasn’t capable enough for the development team at Trek though, and in 2019 the Top Fuel was again reborn as a marathon/down country bike… more capable, more range, and more travel.

In its newest iteration, the 2022 Trek Top Fuel leans into the trail category even further, taking this once “race day only” ride to big drops and all-day comfort.

What’s new in the 2022 Trek Top Fuel?

Taking about what’s new with the new trail bike , first off, let’s talk about the frame itself. For a two-year “freshen-up” Trek changed quite a lot on the Top Fuel.  The most obviously notable change for 2020 model users is a new shock orientation, moving from inverted placement, back to the “original” upright position for next season. The bike also receives an extra 5mm of travel for a more balanced 120mm front & 120mm rear travel, but there’s more…

Tweaked Trail Geometry

The committed move towards trail bike status brings with it a good tweak in geometry. The new head angle goes from a 67.6° to an even & slacker 66°, while the seat tube gets a bit steeper — migrating from 75° up to 76°.

The new bike also receives extended frame Reach (around 10mm depending on frame size), at the same time moving to shorter stems all-around for similar fits.

Tech Details

Like most of the Trek road line, the new Top Fuel gets an internal storage container (gotta keep that tube and snacks mud-free). Plus, unlike the road , even the alloy models of the Top Fuel feature the internal storage compartment.

The new framework also allows for bigger 2.5″ tires and clears a standard 20-ounce water bottle on all frame sizes excluding XS, which clears two small 15oz bottles easily.

Beefing up the overall construction of the frame, Trek designers moved up to a big 34.9mm seatpost (up from 31.6), assumingly to accommodate more robust, resilient & longer travel dropper posts. Trek says the beefier seat tube stiffens up the frame as well, but that was not their first priority.

No stress cable routing & new KnockBlock 2.0

Those who were not super stoked on Trek’s “Control Freak” cable routing ( quietly raises hand )… rejoice. The new 2022 Trek Top Fuel shifts to a fully-guided internal routing layout through the front triangle for an easy shift, brake, and dropper installation ( with no rattling ).

Trek also moves away from PressFit BB design for this updated Top Fuel — now going with a tried & trusted standard BSA threaded bottom bracket (unlike the move to T47 on their revamped road bikes .)

Another tweak is the KnockBlock, now in version 2.0. The new update allows for more free movement without “over-blocking”, providing for a free 72° of tail-whipping action OR the option to remove it altogether.

Smaller frame option AND 27.5″ wheels

For those shorter riders that are looking to take advantage of the new design too, Trek has you covered.

The latest Top Fuel now also comes in a new XS size with proportionally scaled down 27.5″ wheels. But it’s only available in just one model for 2022, the new Top Fuel 9.7 .

2022 Trek Top Fuel — suspension updates

Trek went with a matching 120mm front & rear on the 2022 Top Fuel, but that’s not all in the suspension update department. The new bike’s anti-squat curve was tweaked to provide improved stability while pedaling. Trek still wants the Top Fuel to remain a fast category bike, and keeping the pedaling efficiency up and bob down is vital.

For 2022 the Trek Mino-Link flip chip gets a slight tweak, moving back down to the lower shock mount with the swap back to an upright shock layout (the previous model had the Mino up top). Having the Mino-Link at the bottom of the shock mount keeps it easier for position swapping.

Flipping the Mino-Link from low to high will steepen the seat & head tube angles by half a degree and raise the bottom bracket by roughly 7mm – allowing the user to dial in the bike for a tighter feeling ride for more classic XC-oriented riding.

For the 2022 model, the Mino-Link area is more robust in either carbon or alloy frames, the same with the entire bottom bracket junction.

Even longer 130mm travel?

For those looking to get even more rowdy on the Top Fuel, the bike will accept a 130mm fork. And while they don’t spec complete bikes with longer forks, it seems like Trek is encouraging the audience to try it out.

What will that do to the ride? Trek says it moves the seat and headtube back by another half a degree, raising the bottom bracket by 3mm. It’s not a drastic change but enough for some extra confidence and less expensive than another bike. Or combined with the Mino flip-chip, it could give you more travel up front with almost no change in handling from the baseline.

New Top Fuel carbon models & specs

The new 2022 Trek Top Fuel will be available in more than ten different configurations, a bold move by Trek considering the parts shortage of recent months – seven 9-series carbon bikes, plus alloy complete builds and individual framesets.

The Top Fuel will be available in full-on race builds in the 9.9 models featuring Shimano XTR or SRAM XX1 AXS components — racer’s choice.

The top $11,000 SRAM build features a RockShox SID Ultimate fork, Deluxe Ultimate RCT shock & Reverb AXS dropper.

The more affordable $9500 Shimano build gets a FOX Factory 34 fork & Float DPS Factory 3-position shock & a Transfer dropper. The top of the line builds come with Bontrager’s Line PRO 30 wheels — a set we liked for its wide rim, indestructible construction, and fast roll – plus Bontrager’s new one-piece carbon RSL bar , the “trail” zero degree rise version to be exact.

For dropping, the new Top Fuel 9.9 to 9.8 (excluding that halo wireless SRAM AXS build) rock the Bontrager Line Elite “MaxFlow” dropper posts — sized for the max drop, respectively in frame size; S – 100mm; M/ML – 150mm; L – 170mm; XL – 200mm.

Trek’s carbon Top Fuel 9.8 builds are a solid mix of Shimano XT, SRAM GX AXS or GX mechanical — with SRAM builds paired to RockShox and Shimano with FOX suspension. The Top Fuel 9.8 has long been the workhouse race build and for 2022, Trek keeps a similar spec from previous years.

Top Fuel 9.8 rolls on quality, nearly top-tier race components, in-house Bontrager Line 30 Elites carbon wheels, and the same frame as the 9.9.

Each separate build has its own distinct personality, some are more performance/speed-oriented, and some more playful and fun — one thing is certain, Trek took their time making sure to balance them out with the right gear.

The Top Fuel 9.7 is the entry into the carbon Top Fuel frameset and features much of the same careful component assortments we’ve noticed from Trek this year — lots of value packed into the mid-range builds. The 9.7 lines come with a mix of Shimano Deore/SLX, Bontrager Line 30 Comp wheels, and a conventional alloy cockpit.

New Top Fuel aluminum models & specs

Moving into alloy models, Trek offers some excellent options for getting the most bang for the buck in your bike purchase. The alloy frame line includes:

The Top Fuel 8 model with a full Shimano XT groupset, SID fork, and Bontrager Line 30 Comp wheels.

The Top Fuel 7 rolls a Deore/SLX mix, RockShox Recon 35 Gold fork, and Bontrager Line Comp 30 wheels.

Lastly, an entry-level Top Fuel 5 build comes with a Shimano Deore groupset, RockShox Recon Silver fork, and Bontrager/Alex MD35 wheels.

All alloy models arrive with Bontrager alloy cockpits and TranzX 34.9 dropper seatposts.

2022 Trek Top Fuel pricing & availability

• Trek Top Fuel alloy frameset : $2,300
• Trek Top Fuel 5: $2,600
• Trek Top Fuel 7:  $3,500
• Trek Top Fuel 8: $3,800
• Trek Top Fuel carbon frameset: $3,700
• Trek Top Fuel 9.7 : $4,200
• Trek Top Fuel 9.8 XT: $6,500
• Trek Top Fuel 9.8 XT (Project One): $7,000
• Trek Top Fuel 9.8 GX: $7,000
• Trek Top Fuel 9.8 GX AXS : $7,500
• Trek Top Fuel 9.9 XTR: $9,500
• Trek Top Fuel 9.9 XX1 AXS: $11,000

The 2022 Trek Top Fuel is available now at Trek retailers and online from Trek Bikes. We did some checking around at our local Trek shops, and they are indeed in stock and ready to roll.

TrekBikes.com

Jordan Villella is the Racing Tech Editor for BikeRumor.com, specializing in cross-country mountain, gravel, road, and cyclocross. He has written about bicycles and bike culture for over fifteen years with no signs of stopping.

Before BikeRumor, Jordan raced professionally and wrote for MTBR and the now-defunct Dirt Rag Magazine. He’s covered the World Championships, World Cups, and everything in between — where he loves to report what people are riding.

Based in Pittsburgh, PA,  Jordan coaches cyclists of all abilities with  Cycle-Smart ; you can find him racing bikes around North America and adventuring with his family.

For an inside look at his review rides follow him on Strava .

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Field Test: 2020 Trek Top Fuel - The Featherweight That Packs a Powerful Punch

Cool Features

Trek Top Fuel 9.9 XX1 AXS – In our 2022 downcountry group test

The Trek Top Fuel is a true XC classic – but that’s about to change! The Trek Top Fuel 9.9 XX1 AXS 2022 drifts into the new season with more travel, a more aggressive geometry and robust components. Does this make it the perfect downcountry bike?

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best downcountry bike of 2022 – 6 models in review

Same DNA, same key elements, different focus. For 2022, Trek redesigned the Top Fuel from the ground up, clearly shifting the focus from XC to trail riding and downcountry. The latest incarnation of Trek’s XC-classic retains all the well-proven features of its predecessor and combines them with some exciting new ones. While the € 12,099 Trek Top Fuel 9.9 XX1 AXS still rolls on 29″ wheels, Trek have bumped up the travel of the rear suspension from 115 to 120 mm and paired it with 120 mm at the front. Moreover, Trek have finally gifted their timeless classic with a storage compartment in the down tube, which can be found on many of their gravity-oriented bikes – now you can leave your backpack or hip-pack at home and store all your trail essentials in the small bag under the bottle cage. The new Top Fuel also features Trek’s proprietary Knock Block in the headset, which limits the steering angle and prevents the fork from damaging the frame during a crash. On the trail, the system doesn’t affect the handling in any way. A large TPU plate protects the down tube against stray rocks and a reasonably sized and well-positioned chainstay protector prevents chain slap and paint chips. The few remaining cables are neatly routed inside the frame, ensuring a clean look while the unused cable ports are sealed with rubber plugs.

The spec of the Trek Top Fuel 9.9 XX1 AXS

For the spec of the Top Fuel 9.9 XX1 AXS, Trek rely on a mix of components from SRAM and their own component brand Bontrager. Let’s start from the RockShox Ultimate suspension: the SID Ultimate fork features RockShox’s new Charger RaceDay damper with a lockout lever on the top of the right leg, while Trek’s ABP (Active Braking Pivot) rear suspension is controlled by a Deluxe Ultimate shock, also with a lockout lever. Together with the Specialized, the Top Fuel is the only bike in this test without a bar-mounted lockout remote, which, in combination with the wireless AXS components, ensures a super-tidy look. Thanks to its wireless components, the Top Fuel has only two cables: the brake lines of the SRAM G2 Ultimate four-piston brakes – we’re waiting impatiently for some wireless brakes ;). The G2 Ultimate model is the top-of-the-line version of SRAM’s trail-specific stoppers, which deliver the same excellent performance as the RSC model and save a few extra grams thanks to their carbon lever blades and titanium bolts. Trek combine a 180 mm rotor at the front and a smaller 160 mm one at the rear.

An electronic SRAM XX1 AXS drivetrain ensures smooth and precise shifting while the UDH mech hanger is easy to find and quick to replace. Even the 150 mm Reverb AXS dropper post doesn’t require a cable, ensuring super-fast and precise operation. That’s a must with downcountry bikes because you’re constantly swapping between climbs and descents. The one-piece Bontrager RSL carbon cockpit also contributes to the clean look of the Top Fuel, with the handlebars and stem joined together in a single carbon piece. That being said, the 820 mm handlebars are extremely wide and the one-piece design doesn’t allow for fine-tuning, except for the stem height that can be changed using spacers. We recommend cutting down the handlebars, although this will result in a stiffer cockpit. Trek also rely on their in-house components for the wheels, pairing Bontrager Line Pro 30 carbon rims with 2.4″ Bontrager XR4 Team Issue tires. The aggressive tread pattern and soft rubber compound ensure excellent traction while rolling resistance is only marginally higher than with a shallow-profiled XC tire and noticeable only on hardpack terrain. That being said, we’d choose more grip over lower rolling resistance all day long! While at 12.2 kg, the Top Fuel is the heaviest bike in the entire test field, it can easily keep up with the competition uphill. This is also made possible by the spec, which at the same time adds to the excellent trail performance of the Top Fuel.

Trek Top Fuel 9.9 XX1 AXS

Specifications.

Fork RockShox SID Ultimate 120 mm Rear Shock RockShox Deluxe Ultimate 120 mm Seatpost RockShox Reverb AXS 150 mm Brakes SRAM G2 Ultimate 180/160 mm Drivetrain SRAM XX1 Eagle AXS 1x12 Stem Bontrager RSL 45 mm Handlebar Bontrager RSL 820 mm Wheelset Bontrager Line Pro 30 29 Tires Bontrager XR4 Team Issue 2.4

Technical Data

Size S M M/L L XL Weight 12.2 kg

Specific Features

Flip-Chip Storage compartment Configurator

The geometry of the Trek Top Fuel 9.9 XX1 AXS

With five available sizes, S to XL, there should be a suitable Top Fuel for everyone measuring between 153 and 196 cm. Our test bike in the intermediate size M/L has 465 mm reach, 600 mm stack height and a short 435 mm seat tube, which, together with the generous insertion depth, allows you to insert the dropper post all the way into the frame. Not only does this ensure excellent freedom of movement on the bike, but also lets you choose the frame size based on your desired reach. A flip chip in the shock mount allows you to switch between the high and low settings and adapt the geometry of the bike to your needs and preferences. In the high setting, the head and seat tube angle are 0.4° steeper, the chainstays 1 mm shorter and the bottom bracket 5 mm higher. Needless to say, the changes also alter the reach, stack height and wheelbase of the Top Fuel. As usual, we rode the bike mostly in the low setting, which is your best option for trail riding.

The Trek Top Fuel 9.9 XX1 AXS 2022 impresses with its clean look, clever details and harmonious spec.

The Trek Top Fuel 9.9 XX1 AXS on the trail

Together with the Specialized Epic EVO, the Trek Top Fuel 9.9 XX1 AXS is the only bike in this test without a bar-mounted lockout remote – and actually the only one that doesn’t need one! Already after the first few meters, it becomes clear that the suspension is stiff and, above all, extremely efficient, even in fully open mode. Moreover, the pedalling position is very comfortable, with the weight evenly distributed between the hands and saddle, making the Trek suitable for long rides. Going uphill, the rear suspension generates sufficient traction, even on loose trail sections with slippery roots and with the shock in open mode. While your mates are still fiddling around with the climb switch, you’re already blasting up the side of the mountain onboard the Trek Top Fuel! However, tall and long-legged riders should push the saddle all the way forward to prevent the front wheel from lifting on steep climbs.

The Trek Top Fuel 9.9 XX1 AXS does not need a lockout at all and convinces in both uphill and downhill with a progressive yet traction-strong rear end.

Downhill, the ultra-wide handlebars have their pros and cons, on the one hand, inspiring lots of confidence and providing additional stability in fast trail sections, on the other, requiring great precision to squeeze through narrow trees. Like the Specialized, the Trek is intuitive and easy to ride, with the weight evenly distributed between the front and rear wheel. Downhill, the rear suspension generates plenty of traction and provides excellent mid-stroke support while offering sufficient reserves for rowdy trail sessions. Too often we caught ourselves ploughing through nasty root carpets and tall berms at Mach 10, but here the precise and intuitive handling inspires huge amounts of confidence and ensures top riding fun.

Tuning tips: tall and long-legged riders should push the saddle all the way forward | cut off the handlebars or swap the cockpit for a narrower one

Riding Characteristics

Value for money, intended use.

Not only does the Trek Top Fuel 9.9 XX1 AXS 2022 impress with its clean look, clever details and harmonious spec, but also delivers an impressive performance on the trail. The drive-neutral, rear suspension is incredibly efficient and generates plenty of traction, even with the shock in fully open mode. At the same time, the intuitive handling and progressive rear suspension put a huge smile on your face. Whether it’s an agonising lactate battle, quick post-work spin or epic singletrack adventure, the Top Fuel delivers! As a result, the Trek Top Fuel 9.9 XX1 AXS 2022 secures Best in Test in our 2022 downcountry group test.

• freedom of movement downhill
• firm and efficient rear suspension generates plenty of traction
• intuitive handling
• practical detail solutions and clean look

• very wide handlebars

You can find out more about at trekbikes.com

The test field

All bikes in test: BMC Fourstroke 01 LT ONE (Click for review) | SCOTT Spark 900 Tuned AXS (Click for review) | SIMPLON Cirex SL 120 (Click for review) | Specialized Epic EVO Expert (Click for review) | Trek Top Fuel 9.9 XX1 AXS | YT IZZO UNCAGED 7 (Click for review)

This scale indicates how efficiently the bike climbs. It refers to both simple and technical climbs. Along with the suspension, the riding position and the weight of the bike all play a crucial role. ↩

How does the bike ride and descend? How spritely is the bike, how agile is it through corners, how much fun is it in tight sections and how quickly can it change direction? ↩

Is the bike stable at high speeds? Is it easy to stay in control in demanding terrain? How composed is it on rough trails? Stability is a combination of balanced geometry, good suspension and the right spec. ↩

This is all about how balanced the bike is and particularly about how well it corners. Balanced bikes require little physical effort from the rider and are very predictable. If a bike is unbalanced, the rider has to work hard to weight the front wheel to generate enough grip. However, experienced riders can have a lot of fun even with unbalanced bikes. ↩

How sensitive is the suspension over small bumps? Can it absorb hard impacts and does it soak up repeated hits? Plush suspension not only provides comfort and makes a bike more capable, but it also generates traction. The rating includes the fork and the rear suspension. ↩

This aspect mainly comes down to the suspension. How much pop does it have, does it suck up the rider’s input or is it supportive, and how agile and direct is the bike? ↩

We don’t calculate value for money in an excel spreadsheet or based on how high-end a bike is specced. We are more concerned with how a bike performs on the trail and how the bike benefits the rider. What good are the best components if the bike doesn’t perform well on the trail? Expensive bikes with a lower-end spec can offer very good value for money – provided they excel where it matters. Just as supposedly cheap bikes with good components can get a bad rating if they don’t deliver on the trail. ↩

No, it’s not about racing, it’s about efficiency. Fast, fleet-footed and efficient – those who want to speed along flowy singletrack and gravel roads need a defined and spritely bike that accelerates with ease and efficiency. Nevertheless, reliable components are important too. We interpret XC more like the Americans do: big back-country rides instead of a marathon or XC World Cup with the ultimate in lightweight construction! Uphill-downhill ratio: 80:30 (not everything has to be 100%!) ↩

...also known as mountain biking. Classic singletrack with roots, rocks and ledges – sometimes flowy, sometimes rough. For this, you need a bike with good all-round qualities, whether climbing or descending. Uphill-downhill ratio: 50:50 ↩

Even more extreme and challenging compared to Trail riding, riddled with every kind of obstacle: jumps, gaps, nasty rock gardens, ruts and roots. For this, you need (race)proven equipment that forgives mistakes and wouldn’t look out of place on a stage of the Enduro World Series. Climbing is just a means to an end. Uphill-downhill ratio: 30:70 ↩

Strictly speaking, a 200 mm travel downhill bike is the best choice for merciless tracks with big jumps, drops and the roughest terrain. Those would be the black or double-black-diamond tracks in a bike park. But as some of the EWS pros (including Sam Hill) have proven, it’s the riding skills and not the bike that define what you can ride with it. Climbing? On foot or with a shuttle, please! Uphill-downhill ratio: 10:90 ↩

You can find more info about our rating system in this article: Click here! ↩

Did you enjoy this article? If so, we would be stoked if you decide to support us with a monthly contribution. By becoming a supporter of ENDURO, you will help secure a sustainable future for high-quality mountain bike journalism. Click here to learn more .

Words: Peter Walker Photos: Peter Walker, Benjamin Topf

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About the author.

Peter Walker

As editor-in-chief, Peter is as much a man of action as he is of words. This expert, screw-driver-flexing two wheeled-whizz has many envy-inducing characteristics, including a background in motocross, several EWS race plates to his name, and more than 150 recorded days at Whistler Bike Park. However complex the bike and however steep the trail, he’s probably already nailed it, twice. Oh, and he can do it all on skinny tyres too. When it comes to guiding consumers, Peter cut his teeth at Vancouver’s oldest bike shop and now puts pen to paper on the daily translating this know-how into our editorial plan. When not tearing up Stuttgart’s local trails while testing bikes, he loves nothing more than loading up his self-renovated VW T5 and hitting the road. The fact that he’s a trained paramedic gives his colleagues reassurance out on the trails. So far we haven’t had to call him by his alias ‘Sani Peter’, so here’s hoping he keeps it right side up for the rest of his time here!

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Trek Top Fuel 8 review

The Top Fuel's heritage may be cross-country, but this is a super-capable trail bike with a seriously addictive personality – so much so that it's our Trail Bike of the Year for 2022

Steve Behr / Our Media

Shrugs off limited travel figures on 95% of trails; loves to twist and turn; fast-rolling rubber helps keep speeds high

Fork can twang under heavier riders; you’re occasionally reminded of the 120mm travel

The Trek Top Fuel was updated at the back-end of 2021 and the result is a knock-out bike for all-round trail riding. So much so that, after pitting the Top Fuel against seven of its toughest competitors, it's our Trail Bike of the Year for 2022 .

The Top Fuel may be listed within Trek’s menu of cross-country bikes on the brand’s website but, with 120mm of travel at either end, it certainly has a whiff of ‘ downcountry ’ about it.

And, with a stout 35mm-chassis RockShox SID plugged in up front, tyres with more than a hint of tread and a 66-degree head angle, I wanted to see how far the new Top Fuel pushes into trail territory.

Trek Top Fuel 8 frame and suspension

The frame is constructed from Trek’s Alpha Platinum aluminium, with the main tubes manipulated in shape along their length.

Around the head tube, there’s a broad contact point between head, down and top tubes, while down by the threaded bottom bracket the down tube’s orientation changes to give a flatter, fatter surface for the BB shell to be welded onto.

The down tube houses a storage compartment, into which you’ll fit a multi-tool and tube, located under a door that also holds a bottle cage.

Trek admits that it adds weight, but claims it’s important to have in this category of bike. And, as the weight is relatively low, it adds stability by lowering the overall centre of gravity of bike and rider.

Trek’s contentious Knock Block steering-lock limiter allowed equipped bikes to have a straight down tube to enhance stiffness, and prevented damage from fork top caps on the down tube or low-slung brake levers on the top tube.

But some riders found the 58-degree angle irksome and disliked the compatibility issue caused by choosing to remove the device.

The 2022 Top Fuel features Knock Block 2.0, which has been redesigned to be less extreme and allow an increased steering angle from 58 to 72 degrees.

Top Fuel frames have been designed with more down-tube clearance for fork top caps, doing away with the previously straight, stiffness-promoting down tube found on Knock Block 1.0 bikes.

If both fork top caps clear the down tube and brake levers clear the top tube, Trek says it’s possible for riders to remove the Knock Block 2.0 completely with minimal fuss.

Wheel size is 29in except for the extra-small bike, which comes with 27.5in wheels (and in the 9.8 spec only). All complete bikes come with 2.4in-wide Bontrager tyres, but the frames will take up to a 2.5in, so mud clearance should be ample for UK riding.

Trek uses its APB suspension linkage to give the 120mm of travel. This features a pivot concentric to the rear axle, so is neither a true single-pivot nor four-bar linkage.

The vertically mounted shock is driven by a magnesium rocker link. It’s bulky, to add stiffness, but the use of magnesium saves weight.

The main pivot has been moved forward on the new bike, flattening the anti-squat curve and making it more consistent throughout its travel.

Trek Top Fuel 8 maintenance and durability

Trek hasn’t forgotten the mechanics out there, who will be happy to hear that although the Top Fuel has internally routed cables, Trek has fitted full-length internal sheathing throughout the bike, meaning no fishing around with bent spokes and magnets when it’s time to refresh the outer cables.

Interestingly, Trek has chosen to rid itself of press-fit bottom bracket issues for this bike and return to the venerable old 73mm-wide threaded shell.

While Trek hasn’t commented on the reason for this shift, many feel that the threaded BB is less prone to creaking, and it’s hard to argue with the ease of replacing a threaded BB when compared to its push-fit cousin.

The seat-tube diameter has expanded to the new 34.9mm standard, allowing the next generation of longer dropper posts to be fitted.

The reasoning behind yet another new standard is actually pretty sound. Its girthier chassis boosts stiffness and spreads side-loading more effectively, meaning modern, longer posts retain stiffness when extended, are stronger and experience reduced wear.

According to Trek, the related stiffness improvement in the frame itself (because of the larger-diameter tube and increased surface area at junctions) is “slight”.

Trek is also pleased to extol the burlier nature of the new Top Fuel, by extending warranty coverage to include the fitting of a longer 130mm-travel fork. Making such a move would slacken the head angle and seat tube angle by around 0.5 degrees and raise the bottom bracket by 3mm.

Trek Top Fuel 8 geometry

If you looked at the geometry figures in isolation of the suspension travel and website sub-menu, you’d be forgiven for thinking this was a totally modern 140mm trail bike.

The head angle is fairly slack at 66 degrees, while the seat angle is claimed to be 76 degrees. That’s not super-steep, but when your rear end sags less thanks to the reduced travel, its dynamic seat angle should still be pretty pert.

I also measured my test bike, with saddle 71cm above the bottom bracket, at 77.1 degrees – steeper than claimed.

The reach is impressively long at 480mm – a number I’d expect to see on some of the best enduro bikes . This combines with mid-length 435mm chainstays to give a wheelbase of 1,215mm.

The 450mm seat tube is short enough that longer-travel droppers should be within reach of most riders. The size-small bike has a 395mm seat-tube length, for reference.

These figures are for a size large (or 19.5in that Trek also gives) in its low setting. The numbers are similar for the small, medium, medium-large, large, XL and XXL – an impressive spread of sizes.

The Mino Link geometry chip is also provided, which steepens angles by 0.4 degrees, and adds 5mm to the reach. For the purpose of this review, I kept the bike largely in its lower setting.

Trek Top Fuel 8 specifications

Trek has gone to RockShox for the suspension on the Top Fuel 8, with its SID fork stood up front and a Deluxe Ultimate RC at the back. The shock has three main compression modes, from open to firm, as well as three settings in the open mode for even more fine-tuning.

The most open of these options gives a really light feel to the shock, while the most closed feels very close to the middle setting of the shock, with noticeably more compression damping.

Historically, the SID has been a pared-down XC race fork, and the SID SL still holds that baton.

The SID Select, though, is one of the new-generation burly XC/downcountry/light-trail forks that feature lighter-weight chassis, packing in extra stiffness thanks to 35mm (or 34mm in the case of the Fox 34) stanchions.

It maxes out with 120mm travel, and on this model Top Fuel we get the base-level fork that uses the OEM-only Rush RL damper.

With 120mm of travel, it feels stiffer than a 34, but perhaps not quite as stout as a Pike. The damper might be bottom-end, but it’s still smooth, and remarkably well controlled, with plenty of progression and little in the way of spiking.

Shimano is used for the drivetrain, with a mixed group of components. The 30t ring sits on a Deore crankset, an SLX chain tugs on a cassette from the same range, while the shifter and derailleur come from the XT family.

Four-piston non-series brakes from Shimano complete the package.

When it comes to wheels, tyres and finishing kit, Trek’s in-house Bontrager components feature heavily. This includes the Line 30 Comp wheels, shod in 2.4in-wide XR4 Team Issue tyres, and an alloy cockpit.

Trek Top Fuel 8 ride impressions

This bike was tested as part of our 2022 Trail Bike of the Year test. It was pitted against seven other bikes, with travel ranging from 120 to 140mm at the rear, and priced from £3,299 to £3,950.

The bikes were tested all over the UK, from long, steep tracks in South Wales to our regular testing loops in the Forest of Dean, fast rocky tracks in Scotland's Tweed Valley and the fresh-cut loam and rocky outcrops of the Cairngorm National Park.

Bikes were tested back to back, with short repeated loops ensuring differences were easily noticed. An extensive programme of workshop weighing, measuring and general poking about meant every little detail was explored.

I knew the Top Fuel was going to be a good ride from the minute I slung a leg over the 120mm-travel, alloy trail bike’s low-slung top tube. Its geometry felt right from the off, the spec list is up to the task and the suspension is all kit that I’m well versed in testing.

It’s easy to look at the bike from afar and assume this is just another downcountry rig, with its SID fork and short-travel figures. It wasn’t until I’d fired it over some jumps, nosed it down the odd steep chute and slung it through my test loops’ berms that I realised the Top Fuel is, simply put, a bloody brilliant trail bike.

Trek Top Fuel 8 climbing performance

Stab the lever that raises the unremarkable Trans-X dropper, chunk yourself precisely (thanks to Shimano’s excellent shifting even under power) into the biggest cog on the SLX cassette and the Top Fuel climbs like a sticky mountain goat.

The steep seat angle for a short-travel bike is helpful, positioning your hips further forward and centred over the bottom bracket, helping to keep the front wheel planted and pedalling efficient. When combined with the low 30x51t gearing, you can comfortably climb almost anything (traction permitting).

The Bontrager XR4s are a little slick for damp off-piste conditions, with a rounded profile and shallow tread blocks tending to skate over the surface rather than dig in. However, if conditions are dry, they happily transfer power through their mid-depth treads.

The trade-off is they roll fast and are communicative on the limit, letting go predictably. They provide acceptable grip on surfaced trails and leaf mulch, and don’t drag on tarmac.

The shock lockout lever on the Super Deluxe has an uncomfortable-to-operate indexed notch, which snaps open unpredictably, making it feel agricultural to use (especially with cold fingers). However, it does provide a severe but effective platform when climbing. In contrast, the SID Select fork lockout is a rather spongy affair.

Overall, the geometry and crisp Shimano shifting mean it’s easy to winch your way up to the top of a peak.

It does lack the taut eagerness of XC-derived downcountry rigs such as the Scott Spark , which strain at the leash to attack every climb, whereas the Top Fuel prefers to lope along comfortably.

As downcountry bikes go, the Top Fuel’s forward pivot position, placid anti-squat curve and overall build are swayed toward delivering incredible overall performance and stable, low-effort climbing rather than scintillating polka-dot-jersey-esque uphill sprints.

Furthermore, its 14.8kg weight separates it from the most dedicated downcountry bikes, which likely shed a kilo or two.

However, view it as a trail bike, and it knocks the socks off most traditional trail bikes when pointed up a hill.

Trek Top Fuel 8 descending performance

Point it downhill and the flickable chassis is easy to manoeuvre: if you’ve felt over-biked and sluggish on a 140mm trail bike, this is the answer.

Whereas some downcountry bikes are XC race rigs on steroids – devastatingly efficient on trail-centre loops, but unwieldy descenders – the Top Fuel feels as though Trek has tautened and lightened its Remedy trail bike.

Again, look at it as a trail bike, rather than a downcountry bike, and you’ll appreciate that its quality, not quantity, of suspension that often does the bulk of the work when it comes to descending, especially when backed up with really good geometry and decent kit.

While the Top Fuel lacks athletic fervour, it feels exuberant and cheeky, goading you into manuals and riding the trail playfully.

With predictable cornering manners and progressive-feeling rear-suspension kinematics, thanks to its forward pivot point, this bike is devastating on the descents.

Rather than insulating you from every bump, the Top Fuel feels like a bike that works with you, involving the rider in the glory of a corner well hit or an obstacle correctly anticipated. It flatters your moments of brilliance but buffers any mistakes stoically.

Indeed, the level of grip and confidence is so high that it’s not until you get onto rougher black trails or find yourself offline that you need to brace for impact – and remember this isn’t an enduro bike.

This means it’s easy to inadvertently throw the Top Fuel way out of its depth and get carried away with the fun you’re having on the descent.

Over trail-centre features, the bike has an addictive personality. It has pop for days, encouraging you to hop, skip and jump your way over the trail, leaving the ground at every opportunity.

Spy a rocky or rooty take-off, and the Top Fuel seems to want you to bounce the front tyre off the top and pull the bike skyward, before the low BB, and long front end scream to be slung through the following berm as fast as you dare.

Take it to the trees, and the wide Bontrager-branded bars and short stem, and tight 435mm chainstays, work together to ensure direction changes are jet-boat rather than oil tanker in speed, while the bike’s reaction times to pedal inputs put Usain Bolt’s to shame.

Hammer it has hard as you can into jumbled rocks or amassed roots and the fork can twang a bit, but the 120mm back end is also going to struggle when you really batter it through the chunder, despite the shock’s progression later in its stroke.

Spend a little bit of time learning how the bike likes to be ridden and you’ll find yourself hunting out opportunities to jump over these or smooth the line with finesse anyway.

Okay, if you spend your weekends searching out the gnarliest lines, then the Top Fuel might not be for you – but there are other bikes in this category that’ll float your boat.

The four-piston Shimano brakes offer predictable, yet punchy power, so whether you’re grabbing a fistful of stopping power when you’re hauling down the trail, or deftly trying to shimmy down a tight, steep, slow-speed tech-fest, you’re in ultimate control.

Yes, the small rotors do lack some outright power, but at least boosting their size is a quick, easy and cheap way of adding braking grunt.

For the majority of everyday trail riders, the Top Fuel has every trick in the book ready to pull out at a moment’s notice, whether you’re rallying trail centres, carving turns in the woods, or developing your skills on steeper, more technical terrain.

How does the Trek Top Fuel 8 compare with the YT Izzo Core 2?

In terms of a light and fast machine for tackling less technically demanding trails, the YT Izzo Core 2 seems like the obvious comparison.

Both bikes give a spirited fight on the climbs. The Trek is perhaps a little perkier, with a taut back end that doesn’t waste your watts.

The Izzo might not be quite as stable as the Trek under pedalling pressure, and the lockout is a pain to access, but the Maxxis Forekaster tyres zip along with minimal resistance, really making the bike fly up climbs.

Add in a supple early stroke that helps generate grip, and I found the Izzo gave me little to complain about uphill.

Despite very much coming from the downcountry side of things, the Top Fuel 8 is a ripper on the descents. The tyres play a massive part in this, with a more pronounced shoulder tread than the Forekasters on the Izzo. This makes the Top Fuel much more confident when pushing hard on mixed surfaces.

The suspension is a bit of a toss-up here. Fox’s 34 Performance fork on the Izzo is a smooth operator, while the SID feels a little more aggressive in its damping. At the back, though it has less travel, the Trek seems to deal with repeated big hits a little better, though I’d say the Izzo is smoother on low-amplitude chatter.

Trek Top Fuel 8 bottom line

Picking a 120mm-travel bike as my Trail Bike of the Year took a bit of soul searching. The diversity of bikes available aimed at the trail rider is as broad as the trails on which they’re ridden.

But the Top Fuel stole my heart (if not my head) in 2022. A trail bike needs to do it all – climb well, descend with authority, and ask to come back for more and more.

The Top Fuel gets to the top of the hill without making us yearn for our XC rigs, made me grin like a Cheshire cat on fast flow trails and rarely baulked when gradients steepened and a firm grip on bar and brake lever was required to safely navigate to the bottom.

If you want a bike to do it all and trust that it’s quality, not quantity of suspension that does the bulk of the work, give a shorter-travel, more agile bike a shot – you probably won’t regret it.

Trail Bike of the Year 2022 | How we tested

We expect a lot of the modern trail bike, so testing to find this year’s Trail Bike of the Year not only had to be thorough, but incredibly varied, too.

This meant spending one day sitting in the saddle for hours on end ticking off miles of singletrack, and the next blasting down bike park runs, giving the bikes a proper hammering in the process.

Of course, there was a decent amount of everything in the middle, including scrabbling up steep, forested climbs before sliding back down and, quite simply, just playing about in the woods.

Most of our testing took place around the Forest of Dean or in south Wales, with a cheeky trip to Scotland thrown in for good measure.

To come out on top, we wanted a bike that could climb with close to the efficiency of the best cross-country mountain bikes , but still manage to descend with some of the composure you’re likely to find from an enduro bike .

If the bike felt sluggish and lethargic on an all-day epic, or skittish and nervous when tackling a technical descent, then it simply wouldn’t make the cut as this year’s best trail bike .

With such a competitive selection of bikes on test, deciding on the winner happened late in the day. In fact, it wasn’t until we were riding on the final photo shoot that we settled on the 2022 winner, which just goes to show how tough the competition has been.

Our Trail Bike of the Year 2022 contenders are:

• Canyon Spectral 125 CF7
• Cube Stereo 120 HPC TM 29
• Kona Process 134 DL 29
• Nukeproof Reactor 290 Alloy Pro
• Specialized Stumpjumper Comp
• Trek Top Fuel 8
• Vitus Escarpe 29 CRX
• YT Izzo Core 2

Thanks to our sponsors MET Helmets , Bluegrass Protection and BikePark Wales for their support in making Bike of the Year happen.

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Top Fuel is a quick short-travel 29er trail bike that’s perfect for riders who like to stay pinned both up and down the trail. It’s lighter and snappier than a trail bike, but it’s a lot more forgiving on rowdy descents than a true cross-country bike. It’s the best of both worlds, and a hell of a lot of fun in the dirt.

MBUK's Trail Bike of the Year 2022

Top Fuel 8 earned high praise from MBUK for its updated geometry, a build that's up for anything, and suspension that feels deeper than the sum of its numbers when the trail gets rowdy.

Enduro’s Best Downcountry Bike of 2022

Top Fuel earned top honors in Enduro’s roundup of best downcountry rippers, thanks to the bike’s clean look, practical details, and progressive suspension.

Trail-eating geometry

10+mm more reach per size than previous Top Fuel for more confidence

66-degree headtube angle is 1.5 degrees slacker than previous models making it stable at high speeds and on descents

Mino Link lets you fine tune your frame geometry on the go. Keep it slack and low for confidence or flip it for quicker handling.

Rip down and rocket up any trail with Top Fuel’s capable and efficient suspension. 120mm of travel front and rear gives you enough squish to take bigger hits while a low leverage rate and high anti-squat ensure this bike jumps forward with every pedal stroke.

Optimized anti-squat = Snappy pedaling support

Top Fuel's efficient pedaling comes from a forward pivot on the seattube that provides optimal, near-constant anti-squat through the entire travel. So regardless of where you are in the travel, the bike accelerates when you push on the pedals.

Steeper seattube

A steeper seattube means you're pushing down on the pedals while also keeping front wheel weighted.

Knock Block 2.0

Removable Knock Block 2.0 still keeps cables from getting yanked out in a crash and protects the top tube, but now it provides 72 degrees of turning radius.

Mino Link lets you fine tune your frame geometry on the go. Stay in low for a slack 66 degree headtube angle. Flip it for a quicker 66.5 degree headtube angle and a 7mm higher bottom bracket for more ground clearance.

Additional MTB Options

If you’re gonna get just one mountain bike, make it this one. Fuel EX is fast on singletrack, capable in the rough, and fun wherever you ride it.

Supercaliber

Hardtail efficiency meets full suspension control in Supercaliber. This game-changing XC race bike is fast, light, and smooth in the rough.

Moscow Muled

The kombucha mule: a funky alternative to the traditional moscow mule.

Sep 08, 2017

Nothing quite compares to an icy cool Moscow Mule on a hot day. But what if you are following a diet and don’t want all the sugar typically found in ginger beer? Did you know our copper mugs are perfect for keeping any drink icy cold, and not just Moscow Mules? We recently discovered a healthy and delicious twist on our favorite cocktail that tastes incredible in our copper mugs.

We’ve been using kombucha in place of ginger beer and the tart and fizzy beverage is all the rage in health circles. You may remember mushroom tea from the 90s that sat on the counter in a large jar for months growing a mushroom like disc at the top known as a SCOBY ( which is short for " symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast"). Many of our parents drank the tea and many of us remember that it had such a questionable smell that we couldn’t bring ourselves to try it. But now mushroom tea, or kombucha, has become mainstream and can easily be purchased from most grocery stores. And we can personally attest that it tastes delicious.

But what is kombucha anyways? Kombucha is essentially sweet black or green tea fermented with a culture of yeast and bacteria (or a SCOBY). It’s generally made with only four ingredients: tea, water, sugar, and SCOBY. While that might not sound appetizing, it tastes like carbonated iced tea with a slightly acidic finish. And what’s more, it’s incredibly good for you and might even help curb your hangover. Sign us up!

Kombucha is full of probiotics, antioxidants, and B vitamins to name a few. Probiotics are live, healthy bacteria that help create a healthy balance of organisms in your intestines. Kombucha is also said to have detoxification properties which cleanse the body and support a healthy immune style, which is why you might wake up without a hangover after indulging in this delicious beverage.

You can buy your own kombucha, ready made from the store and flavoured with delicious additions such as ginger, raspberry, or mint. For the more adventurous, you can even make your own kombucha from scratch if you have a small SCOBY to start the tea. You can sometimes find SCOBY s at farmer’s markets, Etsy, or even Craigslist (weird but true), but the easiest way would be to find a friend who already makes homemade kombucha and can give you a piece of their SCOBY .

Fun fact: did you know kombucha has a small percentage of alcohol already in it? You might have felt that slight wine buzz after downing a bottle quickly with lunch and that’s due to the small alcohol content. The alcohol content is less than 0.5% which is why it doesn’t have to be labeled on the bottle and you don’t have to be a certain age to purchase according to the rules and regulations of the Food and Drug Administration.

Once you’ve found your kombucha (for simplicity we prefer to buy our own ready made ginger kombucha) you can get started with your delicious kombucha mule recipe. If you’re serving guests that aren’t big drinkers, feel free to omit the vodka for a virgin cocktail that tastes seriously good.

Kombucha Mule

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 ounces premium vodka
• 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice
• 1/2 cup ginger kombucha
• Fresh herbs for garnish such as mint, basil or rosemary

Instructions:

• Pour vodka and lime juice into copper mugs.
• Add ice and ginger kombucha.
• Stir to combine.
• Garnish with fresh herbs.

Did You Enjoy This Article?

Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed this article, you might also like the following articles:  Best Moscow Mule with Ginger Ale and  Why You Should Only Use Moscow Mule Copper Mugs With Stainless Steel Lining

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Moscow Mule Copper Mug

Apr 15, 2021 • Posted by דירה דיסקרטית בחיפה

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Russia establishes special site to fabricate fuel for China’s CFR-600

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A special production site to fabricate fuel for China’s CFR-600 fast reactor under construction has been established at Russia’s Mashinostroitelny Zavod (MSZ - Machine-Building Plant) in Elektrostal (Moscow region), part of Rosatom’s TVEL Fuel Company. 

As part of the project, MSZ had upgraded existing facilities fo the production of fuel for fast reactors, TVEL said on 3 March. Unique equipment has been created and installed, and dummy CFR-600 fuel assemblies have already been manufactured for testing.

The new production site was set up to service an export contract between TVEL and the Chinese company CNLY (part of China National Nuclear Corporation - CNNC) for the supply of uranium fuel for CFR-600 reactors. Construction of the first CFR-600 unit started in Xiapu County, in China's Fujian province in late 2017 followed by the second unit in December 2020. The contract is for the start-up fuel load, as well as refuelling for the first seven years. The start of deliveries is scheduled for 2023.

“The Russian nuclear industry has a unique 40 years of experience in operating fast reactors, as well as in the production of fuel for such facilities,” said TVEL President Natalya Nikipelova. “The Fuel Division of Rosatom is fulfilling its obligations within the framework of Russian-Chinese cooperation in the development of fast reactor technologies. These are unique projects when foreign design fuel is produced in Russia. Since 2010, the first Chinese fast neutron reactor CEFR has been operating on fuel manufactured at the Machine-Building Plant, and for the supply of CFR-600 fuel, a team of specialists from MSZ and TVEL has successfully completed a complex high-tech project to modernise production,” she explained.

A special feature of the new section is its versatility: this equipment will be used to produce fuel intended for both the Chinese CFR-600 and CEFR reactors and the Russian BN-600 reactor of the Beloyarsk NPP. In the near future, the production of standard products for the BN-600 will begin.

The contract for the supply of fuel for the CFR-600 was signed in December 2018 as part of a governmental agreement between Russia and China on cooperation in the construction and operation of a demonstration fast neutron reactor in China. This is part of a wider comprehensive programme of cooperation in the nuclear energy sector over the coming decades. This includes serial construction of the latest Russian NPP power units with generation 3+ VVER-1200 reactors at two sites in China (Tianwan and Xudabao NPPs). A package of intergovernmental documents and framework contracts for these projects was signed in 2018 during a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

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Rosatom Starts Life Tests of Third-Generation VVER-440 Nuclear Fuel

• 16 June, 2020 / 13:00

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