I agree, I have a 9.8 Fuel ex. It is an amazing trail bike for someone who is switching from an XC bike. Not a fan of the knock block though. It limits the bars turn to much.
@@Shareeftraish lol I feel for you! But seriously though I talk to GOD about it! That’s what I did! This is my second marriage and my last! My first marriage was rough GOD save me from a woman that was out to destroy me! Would love to go more into that! But can’t do that here! Just know that I prayed for my wife I have now and GOD answered! Much blessings to you and take care!
Yet another VERY pretty Trek mtb! I'm usually seduced by looks, so i'd buy that in a heartbeat! (anything I buy that costs thousands, needs to have heart-stopping looks...) Very good video, guys.
I own the 9.7 and made some small upgrades to it: deore xt brake levers, gx eagle shifter, bontrager elite dropper remote. Enhances this bike quite a lot and so far I love it! So if you want to save some cash towards the 9.8 buy a 9.7, get a nice carbon frame, tune the Cockpit and you are good to go and have the excellent carbon frame version. ✌🏻😊
First time watching your videos and I really like his in-depth review as well as his honesty/explanation on what his opinion is for your best bang for the buck, hence an EX-8. All in all great video and looking forward to some more.
i have the last years edition of this bike it's a wonderfull bike but i ride for 3 months the bold unplugged volume 2 150mm of travel and its🤯 the i think best bike i ever ridin
The Fuel EX 8 is a fantastic bike at an affordable price. I would agree with Trek in that it does everything well. It climbs , it bombs down and its playful. I feel like the rear end outshines the front a tad, but it's the best bike I've owned to date.
Hello, having the bike personally could you advice how does it oerform on the flat terrain. I am looking to buy my first full suspension bike ( kind of do it all mtb) i dont have a hartial anymore so this woukd be used on ocvasional commute to work maybe, not to much on the road /tarmac but like next to canal etc. Is the oeddaling efficency on lock suspension ok? Cheers
@@MichalBudzik_ the bike pedals very efficiently on smooth trails, but while the wide tires roll great on the mtb trails, they are not what id call ideal for travel on pavement. I guess you can if you had to, but the fuel is a mtn bike, not a road bike.
@@douglaseaton1581 thank for replying. It is between fuel and giant trance 2 29. It seems that Giant is between kind off half xc half trail as it has many good reviews regarding its trail capabilities. It has 2.3 tires so should be better for what I need will be using it at least for now. Shame it does not look as good as the fuel :) Cheers mate
Interesting bike. I have last years Slash 9.8 but there are a few shared things which can be said. Great and capable bike. Knock Block - ok not 90 degree bar turn but maybe 80. Enough for me to pull the front and rear wheels and throw the bike with the bars turned into the boot of a car. XR4 2.6 tyres, maybe fine for medium trails but, you are right about the pressures and I believe the compound on the tyres are harder then their SE4 versions. If you want a tyre that has better support and grip, the SE versions are it but I would drop to a 2.4 to save the weight. I tried a 2.6 XR5 on the front of my Slash and although it was capable, it had to be pressured to maintain shape. Gone back to SE4 2.4's front and rear although I did use a SE4 2.6 in winter on the rear. I'm looking at alternatives for the next set. GX and NX Sram is garbage. I have GX on the Slash and it is precious and no way as nice in shifting as an XT drive train. Have the Fox 36 Performance fork up front which is their 36 GRIP fork and it does its job. The ReAktive rear shock was a Rocshox and it needed a MegNeg to get it working nice. Might drop the fork to 150mm for more rolling terrain use but still have chunk capability the Slash can deal with. With Trek, you get a nice frame but have to pay $$$ for decent component spec. I am happy with my Bontranger Carbon Rims, Carbon Bar, stem and Dropper Post though. Seat and Grips were crap and were swapped out for Ergons. Chainstay protection not long enough near the cranks. Need additional protection and also the cables rattle in the frame but maybe that isn't an issue on the 2020 Fuel Ex. Anyway, think with some upgrades, the 2020 Fuel Ex would be a good all in one kind of bike for the average rider.
Good Review, I would get the carbon frame with cheaper components and upgrade those through the next year, or take from previous bike. Much easier than upgrading a frame. Carbon just feels different.
Brian Garner exactly what I’m doing with mine, I was gonna wait to get the 9.8 but I had nothing to do during the lockdown so I ended up buying the 9.7 so I could get it earlier and I’m just gonna upgrade as I go along!
Warranty is the reason I buy Trek bikes. Even if you pay more on the front end, if you keep your bikes they'll pay for themselves. Personally I've had great experiences with Trek, they've always held up there end with replacing bikes and I've never had to fight for it.
I see a bike that one could place a 32 or 34 step cast forks on, a few other ultralight conversions and enjoy the odd cross country race in comfort. Brilliant, cheers.
I'm just over the big box companies for full suspension bikes, they all need to drop their prices. I understand there's a retail markup, etc., and I'm ok with that. But $4100 USD for SRAM NX and Fox 34 Rhythm? It's time for these companies to check themselves, they bred their own competition with direct sales because their prices are so high. If they weren't so high there may not be as much competition, or at least people considering a direct sales company would put Trek and Specialized in their list too. There's no way I'd spend that much money. You can get a full Canyon Strive Enduro bike with better equipment for $3500, and $3000 when they have sales. Scale down from there when it comes to direct sales Trail bikes.
Another keyboard warrior that thinks a bikes ride characteristics are defined by a rear derailleur, I'll take a top quality frame with mid level components over a cheap frame with singing spec any day
Alex Why settle for a good frame and meh components when you can have a good frame and good components for the same price? Brands like GG, YT, Commencal, and even Intense all produce rad frames and still hang nicer stuff on them than Trek for the price. Heck, even Specialized is usually slightly better spec for the price, and they have sales far more often.
This pretty much nails it - while the street price bridges that gap a fair bit, it's not as though a four-bar bike is a ground-breaking design, or that the geometry isn't quite decidedly middle of the road. NX is great kit, on a $2000-2500 bike, ditto on the Rhythm fork. It pains me to wonder how much they saved per unit on brakes that are janky compared to what a set of SLX and bigger rotors would have run... even Deore brakes on 203 front rotor is a solid and cheaper option.
@@tehllama42 here's a question... How many bikes here use frames that are worthy of a build totalling 7.5k, I think most people here are overlooking the fact there carbon, and then there's carbon, most of the gains to be made in carbon composite technology come from how it's made and not the exact material itself, ensuring optimal compaction of layers not only reduces weight but significantly increases strength at the same time, as many people notice the fuel ex 8 is the one to buy if all you care about is spec and price, but if you want a top quality frame that comes with a top ride quality that will also come with a price tag, and that cost has to be made up somewhere...
Great review! I have a 2018 9.8 and have re-fallen in love with it. I went with an enduro for a while due to some shortcomings but this bike is amazing with TLC to the fork (more volume reducers and tweaked pressure) and the same for the shock. I still can’t use the “low “ position due to pedal strikes so I’m extending the Fox Performance 34 from 130- 150mm. I also think tires should be 2.5 and 2.3 max front and rear in the 29 version (no XR4s though)
Why is it so many reviews rarely do they discuss the uphill climbing in detail? Every rider wants to know about the geometry and how it compares specifically to other bikers in the category? Does this still sit like you are on top of the bike? Do you struggle in those tough sections when you aren’t attacking to still make it every time??
Great detailed review as usual. The bike looks amazing but some of the components not so much... I’d take the new SLX over any of these SRAM stuff and a slightly better brake... an MT520.
How about changing the rear shock out for the rock shox meg neg shock and also go with a pike for the front. Would that make the bike feel better with having the a better rear shock? I currently ride a slash 29er. Fairly aggressive with my riding skills. But the slash is a race bike. And I’m not looking to race anymore. Your feedback will be helpful
I prefer the nukeproof reactor as a trail bike , but that is personal taste , has a more aggressive feel , just leans slightly more towards an enduro feel without being full enduro , if that makes sense .
No, it is not a Horst Link / four bar suspension system. Its a linkage driven single pivot. On its travel, the rear axle rotates around a single, exact point, which is the chainstays main pivot.
Hi, as i kind-of tried to suggest, it's a hybrid of both (I clearly wasn't clear enough). In terms of pedalling it's more like a single pivot, yes, but under braking it's more like a 4-bar thanks to the seat stay mounted calliper. I'll be more clear in future videos www.bikeradar.com/features/the-ultimate-guide-to-mountain-bike-rear-suspension-systems/
Would the 2020\1 PIVOT SWITCHBLADE beat this bike in every aspect? Climbing, sprinting, descending, tight turns, NOT destroyer of pedals and cranks, flat surfaces, rocks,...
I have been hyping on this bike and what a great review! I was going to buy the ex8 but with the aluminum you give up the storage in the frame. the fact the yt izzo came out and you can get a carbon version with a great speck for way cheeper than the trek, but the yt has a 130mm fork up front instread of 140 wth the trek. The yt seems to be edging out the win but still not sure.
I wouldn't worry about the travel too much since a mere USD 45 gets you the parts needed to change it on a Fox fork...unless you have a Rhythm 34 and live in the USA. Fox does not sell the kit for modifying the 34 Rhythm here, you would have to get a new fork, essentially.
i feel like this was an extremely harsh review from an otherwise great bike, especially considering cube got a place ahead. It seems the components held the trek back. I wonder if the alu version would have ranked higher with better brakes, fork (and tires if theyre different), groupset, etc. It also seemed like a lot of the drawbacks mentioned in the video (of which there were loads) came down to personal preference (knock block) or something nit picky like a slightly heavier cassette. I'd rather leave some tire levers at home than focus on weight of a cassette. Alright, got to draw the line somewhere - some bikes just are better than others but I'm not sure I agree with this one. Especially when you praise the rear end so much.
Oliver T. It’s a detailed review and you can still decide if the cons re dealbreakers for you or not. The stone heavy NX cassette is a shame on a bike in this price range. You mentioned the Cube but it wasn’t even in the same category... The Stereo 170 is an enduro and this is a 130mm trail bike.
@@tamasvarga67 oops i must have gotten the bikes mixed up, sorry. Complicated viewing when two series run at the same time haha you're right, it's a detailled review but there were a lot of negatives pulled out of nothing in my opinion. The GX is 488 grams, the NX is 615. difference is 130 grams (rounded up!) which is the weight of some tire levers. Get realistic, or join the road biking crew. 130 grams is nothing.
@@olivert.7192 In a detailed review it should be mentioned what you get for your money and as I said, the viewer can decide if it's important or not. The other problem with the NX cassette is that there is no upgrade option. if you want to get rid of that boat anchor you cannot. It's on HG freehub body, not XD so you have to change that also and just like the weight the $$$ adds up too. On a light carbon trail bike, the NX cassette has no place in my opinion.
Do like Fuel Ex 9.7 but think for the price it could have been a little better (fork and maybe full GX). Currently ride Norco Fluid FS 1 2019 which I got new for under 2k and think this isn't worth the upgrade just yet.
I love the usability review of the knock block, quite few reviewers address issues like these! Good review, I agree that the NX gearing and the shimano brakes spoil the carbon frame, it is always bettre to choose the better components than a carbon frame.
Hey Faruk, I'd not say that, no - certainly when compared to it's 'trail' bike peers - the 470mm reach (large) is fairly long for a bike like this, and the 450mm seat tube isn't particularly long, so if you did want a 'long' bike you are more likely to be able to buy a larger size - if that makes sense? I'm 182cm / 6foot, and the Large was spot on (i could probably fit on an XL if I wanted/needed to) hope that helps?
Thomas Marvin thank you very much ! I ride Scott Spark 730 from 2014 in XL size and was wondering if Trek Fuel EX in size L would be adequate. I am 187cm and that is right in between L and XL. Thanks again.
@@farukcehic6817 Ah cool - personally if I was as tall as you I'd choose the XL - just be aware that since 2014 (and bearing Scott Sparks in mind) bikes have grown a fair bit, and the Fuel will be noticeably longer, and will feel quite different - I'd say once you're used to it, you'll find it great!
I'm a MTB noob... when you say people might want to put a spacer in to the shock because it's a bit happy getting to the end of it's travel, why would you not just add more air pressure to the shock?
I think because adding a spacer makes the stroke more progressive while using less air pressure, whereas only adding more air pressure keeps the stroke linear.
Striaght Downtubes should be standard, the stand over height is much better and cornering is so much easier, brands like giant got me going through mental gymnastics to why they’d have such high top tubes.
Pedro Schettino Probably something like a Pivot Switchblade or Revel Rascal for least compromise. I think the key is whether you like to send it up as much as down rather than the gnar-factor.
What's this bike like at climbing and long xc runs, I'm new to mtb been riding 2 years now on a hardtail and 40yr old I'm never going to be an aggressive rider but would like full suspension do it all bike, I like riding trail centres and doing long days out riding probably split my time 50/50 doing this so need a bike good at both but not excellent at one, is this that bike or anybody got any recommendations much appreciated thanks..
The fuel EX is a handsome looking bike. The straight top tube and downtube just make it look beautiful. Also, the top of the chanstays almost align with the top tube. It is just a cool looking bike. The bikes with curvy tubes, especially by the headset just look ugly and cheap to me. Make them in Waterloo again and take my money.
How does the 2020 compare to the 2019 Fuel EX? Anyone have time on both? Trying to decide between this and a Ripley V4 but I’ve only ridden the ‘19 EX and no time on the others to compare.
I've got the 2019 Fuel EX 7 and I am really happy with it. I changed the brakes for XT 4 pistons and different rubber, the Michelin Wild AM. The rear shock without the Re:aktive still works really nice. Its a workhorse of an Mountainbike, from 80 km tours to days in the bikepark shredding blue and red lines, even handling rocksections really well. Can't go wrong with eather of it. But the 2020 model has 10mm more travel at the front, so i will upgrade for a 2021 Carbon 9.8 Model 😄
Mostly cost of manufacture - though, I should have been fairer to Trek here in that it's more likely applicable to alloy frames (which also feature the straight DT with knock block)
I tried the Polygon before buying the Fuel EX8. What changed my mind was the paint is bad and peels off easily and the rear skewer threads into the actual frame and not a replaceable nut.
knock block kills it for me, just because I wouldn't be able to get the bike in my car. Shame because the 9.8 looks like the perfect bike otherwise (threaded bb would be nice though).
Half of the videos in there are where I live, i recogniced the trails straight away, im from Madrid, If you guys ever come back text me at @marcoreg2 (my instagram) more than happy to show you around more trails than what you filmed!! Amazing.
I blow up back wheels on my hardtail. Been trying hard to smoothen drops. Urban fun riding makes it worse tho. This is on a basic Giant revel. Been thinking of upgrading to a full sus like the EX5
you can buy most of the trek's w shimano 12 sp... but you may have to order it and most shops do t stock shimano equipped bikes.. things are changing though, sram nx/gx is a joke
UltimateMTB What's sad is that this all just keeping up with the Joneses. XT 1x11 is still better than GX 1x12; who actually uses that 50 tooth cog with any regularity?
Pretty disappointing bike. Even the ex8 aluminium model is not that good in terms of value. Better get a remedy 8, or a slash 8 for less money, and better components.
That’s highly dependent on the trails the bike would be on. Someone not going downhill often or at all would probably dread one of those And as far as value, nothing beats direct consumer brands. But there’s pros and cons to each
@@ieatslag5947 absolutely agree with you. But honestly, having the opportunity to ride both the fuel ex 8 and the slash 8, I didn't find the fuel to climb much better than the slash and both bike are about the same weight. On the other hand, the slash was much more confident inspiring in the descents, at a point where I just couldn't justify sacrificing the descents ability of the slash in favour of the fuel, only to gain a very little more climbing abilities.
Bought the Remedy 8 a few weeks ago and haven't been off it. Plenty of climbing done too and it goes up with ease. Best looking bike I've ever seen with the Teal/Volt fade it's just amazing. I'd strongly advise considering the remedy over the Fuel EX.
Kevin Maldonado I prefer my remedy 9.8 in most trail conditions over my dads fuel ex 9.8. I personally believe it climbs just as well and descends 2x better (due to a fox 36 and x2).
If it’s that price, they should cover everything so people know what they are getting for 3500 - not their fault if the bike has something they find undesireable
see, this splits opinions haha - some say it's a single pivot, and some a 4-bar/horst. The reason I put it the way I did is that in terms of pedalling force inputs, it acts more like a single pivot (uninterrupted swingarm from front triangle to rear axle), however in terms of braking (with the caliper mounted on the seatstay) it acts more like a 4-bar under braking. hence a bit of both on the trail 👌
@@TomMarvin1 Gotcha. I was merely commenting that there is still a "4 bar linkage" utilized here. It's fascinating to see how manufacturers go about improving ride characteristics differently.
It is not a 4 bar suspension, it is a single pivot. There is a single pivot between the bb and the axle. Whatever happens AFTER the axle does not change the suspension design, the pivot of the seat stays is there to help the shock actuation, NOT the rear wheel path.
4k in the USA and also has super cheap brakes and cheap fork rockshock Reba soo I bought my yt Jeffsey for 3 k with 4 piston brakes and fox 36 lol big difference just saying
I am really, suprised / disappointed / angry of the high price of the mountain and road bikes high prices in recent years. Why prices are so high despite the popularity of bikes ? usually high volume sales mean lower prices.
It sucks but there are ways to save. Buy a demo (many will still have the warranty), buy a year or two old model at the end of year sales when dealers are looking to move stock, buy used if you trust the seller (would recommend for aluminum more than carbon) and of course direct order brands- (especially direct order brands used because they started cheaper). You can also by a lower component spec’d bike- not something terrible mind you just not the highest end,lightest out there, and upgrade as stuff wears out. Technology flows down and the lower end stuff out there these days is pretty damn good. You don’t need the highest end stuff for what most of us do- is it nice- sure- but if you trying to save money they’re far from essential.
@@majoromg449 I am talking in general not that specific mountain bike in the present video. In the last year's there are more road and mountains bikers when I go for a ride
@@majoromg449 well I am biking for 20 years and commute and training from April to November every day. 20 years ago, at the place where I train, I can count at most 20 road cyclists in my 2 hours training session . Last year, I count about 100 road cyclists .. All my road cyclists friend also do mountain biking ..except me ! So I think cycling is more and more popular.
Overpriced, over-engeneered machine. Trek had something interesting with full floating design, now it's just like any other brand. Knock-block? Dumbest crap in years. Who will notice 2% or whatever stiffer downtube? Not even most of world class riders. Those 15$ brake levers though will be noticed. You can probably find cheaper bike with XT brakes for the price of this Trek.
I need a new bike after be hit by hit and run driver, on my way home. (I have the video, police ain’t doing anything yet!) I have a trek in my sights but have no money since lockdown started. While I can’t work I’ve been charity fund raising.
Is not that direct to consumer sells cheaper, those big brands greedily overprice all their frames / full bikes for the sake of it. Not putting a cent on those people. If I where to spend big money on a frame I rather get something that will last, like a pole, a Stanton or a Nicolai/Geometron, not paying 2-3k+ for a frame made of the cheapest alloy, or paper carbon.
There's a lot more that goes in to the price of a bike than just the raw materials, though. Companies invest tens and hundreds of thousands of dollars in to R&D, which then gets trickled down in to 'cheaper' bikes over the years (for eg, in 1992 the lightest production road frame was Trek's first own OCLV frameset ). Then there's teams and pros to support (who create content which many people love to watch, regardless as to whether they buy a bike from that brand or not), and the dealer networks do cost money, in terms of slices of the pie being shared out across more people. This all costs money, which is paid for via the cost of the bike. Ultimately it's totally up to you where you buy a bike from, but these bike companies are all subject to the same basic economic principals of supply and demand. If Trek's (or Spesh or... etc) bikes are too expensive, they won't sell enough, and they'll have to drop their prices to reflect this.
@@TomMarvin1 I understand that, specially if they manufacture Local, but when you mass produce frames in Asia, and come back to EU to sell them for 3k+ your straight inflating prices because they have the "insert brand logo", if I'm buying a bike, I'm buying a bike, I'm not investing in their company.
None of these bikes are worth the price. They are made in the 3rd world with no regulations on safety, environment, quality control or protections for consumers or employees. These bikes should be 1/10th the price they are sold at, as these prices are what you would expect from a first world country factory charging these outrageous prices for all of the above. You are crazy to spend over a thousand bucks on a bike that isn't made in a first world country.
It's actually a hybrid of both single pivot and 4-bar/horst, really. In terms of pedalling, it's more like a single pivot, with an uninterrupted swing arm. However, like a 4-bar, the brake calliper is mounted on the seat stay. So, under braking it's more 4-bar like - hence my mix-of-the-two comment 🙂 bit more detail available here - www.bikeradar.com/features/the-ultimate-guide-to-mountain-bike-rear-suspension-systems/
@@TomMarvin1 No, it is not a hybrid. It is essentially a (linkage-driven) single pivot, as it "still uses an uninterrupted swingarm, connecting the rear axle directly to the mainframe". (no pivots in between)
What do you think of the Trek Fuel EX 9.7? Has Tom got it right? Let us know in the comments!
Yes think so
I agree, I have a 9.8 Fuel ex. It is an amazing trail bike for someone who is switching from an XC bike. Not a fan of the knock block though. It limits the bars turn to much.
On point dude! Can you guys compair the fuel ex with the yt izzo? Those are the bikes im trying to choose from
Bike does not #CLIMBVERYWELL
Debating between it and the specialized stumpy.
This is one of the greatest bikes I've ridden ever. One of my friends has one and I'll tell you, its the most fun I've had on a bike ever
I have this very same bike that my wife bought for me as a Christmas present, I absolutely love it!!
I need a wife like that! 👌
@@Shareeftraish lol I feel for you! But seriously though I talk to GOD about it! That’s what I did! This is my second marriage and my last! My first marriage was rough GOD save me from a woman that was out to destroy me! Would love to go more into that! But can’t do that here! Just know that I prayed for my wife I have now and GOD answered! Much blessings to you and take care!
I bought it for me birthday, July 10th and have not stopped riding it! I get lots of compliments!!!
Yet another VERY pretty Trek mtb! I'm usually seduced by looks, so i'd buy that in a heartbeat! (anything I buy that costs thousands, needs to have heart-stopping looks...) Very good video, guys.
I’ve been riding a 9.8 for 6 months. Love that bike.
Great to hear!
Do you know the difference between 9.9?
Currently riding the little brother of the 9.7 , the Ex7. Top bike & a lot of fun to ride.
I own the 9.7 and made some small upgrades to it: deore xt brake levers, gx eagle shifter, bontrager elite dropper remote. Enhances this bike quite a lot and so far I love it! So if you want to save some cash towards the 9.8 buy a 9.7, get a nice carbon frame, tune the Cockpit and you are good to go and have the excellent carbon frame version. ✌🏻😊
What's the difference between 9.8 and 9.9?
I'm really enjoying my 2019 Trek Fuel EX 8 29er. It's perfect for my local trails in San Diego. I haven't had any trouble with the knock block.
First time watching your videos and I really like his in-depth review as well as his honesty/explanation on what his opinion is for your best bang for the buck, hence an EX-8. All in all great video and looking forward to some more.
Love mine! Looks sooo much better in the exposed carbon finish
I did not know bike radar did mountain biking. Maybe someday, I will consider watching it again.
i have the last years edition of this bike it's a wonderfull bike but i ride for 3 months the bold unplugged volume 2 150mm of travel and its🤯 the i think best bike i ever ridin
I'm getting a trek fuel ex5 🙂🙂🙂
Got one last November and I absolutely love it
Same
@@reginaldrigney6725 Are you asking about downtube storage? That feature is only on the high end carbon models.
I love my top fuel 8
Calum Mccay me to
The Fuel EX 8 is a fantastic bike at an affordable price. I would agree with Trek in that it does everything well. It climbs , it bombs down and its playful. I feel like the rear end outshines the front a tad, but it's the best bike I've owned to date.
Hello, having the bike personally could you advice how does it oerform on the flat terrain. I am looking to buy my first full suspension bike ( kind of do it all mtb) i dont have a hartial anymore so this woukd be used on ocvasional commute to work maybe, not to much on the road /tarmac but like next to canal etc. Is the oeddaling efficency on lock suspension ok? Cheers
@@MichalBudzik_ the bike pedals very efficiently on smooth trails, but while the wide tires roll great on the mtb trails, they are not what id call ideal for travel on pavement. I guess you can if you had to, but the fuel is a mtn bike, not a road bike.
@@douglaseaton1581 thank for replying.
It is between fuel and giant trance 2 29. It seems that Giant is between kind off half xc half trail as it has many good reviews regarding its trail capabilities. It has 2.3 tires so should be better for what I need will be using it at least for now. Shame it does not look as good as the fuel :)
Cheers mate
Ended up buying a fuel EX08 GX off the back of this, really happy with it.
Interesting bike.
I have last years Slash 9.8 but there are a few shared things which can be said.
Great and capable bike.
Knock Block - ok not 90 degree bar turn but maybe 80. Enough for me to pull the front and rear wheels and throw the bike with the bars turned into the boot of a car.
XR4 2.6 tyres, maybe fine for medium trails but, you are right about the pressures and I believe the compound on the tyres are harder then their SE4 versions. If you want a tyre that has better support and grip, the SE versions are it but I would drop to a 2.4 to save the weight. I tried a 2.6 XR5 on the front of my Slash and although it was capable, it had to be pressured to maintain shape. Gone back to SE4 2.4's front and rear although I did use a SE4 2.6 in winter on the rear. I'm looking at alternatives for the next set.
GX and NX Sram is garbage. I have GX on the Slash and it is precious and no way as nice in shifting as an XT drive train.
Have the Fox 36 Performance fork up front which is their 36 GRIP fork and it does its job. The ReAktive rear shock was a Rocshox and it needed a MegNeg to get it working nice. Might drop the fork to 150mm for more rolling terrain use but still have chunk capability the Slash can deal with.
With Trek, you get a nice frame but have to pay $$$ for decent component spec. I am happy with my Bontranger Carbon Rims, Carbon Bar, stem and Dropper Post though. Seat and Grips were crap and were swapped out for Ergons. Chainstay protection not long enough near the cranks. Need additional protection and also the cables rattle in the frame but maybe that isn't an issue on the 2020 Fuel Ex.
Anyway, think with some upgrades, the 2020 Fuel Ex would be a good all in one kind of bike for the average rider.
Good Review, I would get the carbon frame with cheaper components and upgrade those through the next year, or take from previous bike. Much easier than upgrading a frame. Carbon just feels different.
Brian Garner exactly what I’m doing with mine, I was gonna wait to get the 9.8 but I had nothing to do during the lockdown so I ended up buying the 9.7 so I could get it earlier and I’m just gonna upgrade as I go along!
Great review, thank you. Where abouts is the trail in the video with the huge granite rocks?
Trek was way ahead of the time. All the bikes have straight tubes now, Transition Spur and so on
Warranty is the reason I buy Trek bikes. Even if you pay more on the front end, if you keep your bikes they'll pay for themselves. Personally I've had great experiences with Trek, they've always held up there end with replacing bikes and I've never had to fight for it.
Can you present some cheaper trail-bikes?
I see a bike that one could place a 32 or 34 step cast forks on, a few other ultralight conversions and enjoy the odd cross country race in comfort. Brilliant, cheers.
Got this bike last winter. It’s made me a better rider in every way. Its changed me into an MTBer. Is it the best bike on the planet? No idea.
I'm just over the big box companies for full suspension bikes, they all need to drop their prices. I understand there's a retail markup, etc., and I'm ok with that. But $4100 USD for SRAM NX and Fox 34 Rhythm? It's time for these companies to check themselves, they bred their own competition with direct sales because their prices are so high. If they weren't so high there may not be as much competition, or at least people considering a direct sales company would put Trek and Specialized in their list too. There's no way I'd spend that much money. You can get a full Canyon Strive Enduro bike with better equipment for $3500, and $3000 when they have sales. Scale down from there when it comes to direct sales Trail bikes.
Another keyboard warrior that thinks a bikes ride characteristics are defined by a rear derailleur, I'll take a top quality frame with mid level components over a cheap frame with singing spec any day
@@Alex-md6bu LOL OK right, apparently I wasn't aware that Canyon was garbage. What world do you live in right now?
Alex Why settle for a good frame and meh components when you can have a good frame and good components for the same price? Brands like GG, YT, Commencal, and even Intense all produce rad frames and still hang nicer stuff on them than Trek for the price. Heck, even Specialized is usually slightly better spec for the price, and they have sales far more often.
This pretty much nails it - while the street price bridges that gap a fair bit, it's not as though a four-bar bike is a ground-breaking design, or that the geometry isn't quite decidedly middle of the road. NX is great kit, on a $2000-2500 bike, ditto on the Rhythm fork. It pains me to wonder how much they saved per unit on brakes that are janky compared to what a set of SLX and bigger rotors would have run... even Deore brakes on 203 front rotor is a solid and cheaper option.
@@tehllama42 here's a question... How many bikes here use frames that are worthy of a build totalling 7.5k, I think most people here are overlooking the fact there carbon, and then there's carbon, most of the gains to be made in carbon composite technology come from how it's made and not the exact material itself, ensuring optimal compaction of layers not only reduces weight but significantly increases strength at the same time, as many people notice the fuel ex 8 is the one to buy if all you care about is spec and price, but if you want a top quality frame that comes with a top ride quality that will also come with a price tag, and that cost has to be made up somewhere...
Always loved and honest review thanks
Thanks for watching and great to hear you liked the review, from everyone at BikeRadar.
Great review! I have a 2018 9.8 and have re-fallen in love with it. I went with an enduro for a while due to some shortcomings but this bike is amazing with TLC to the fork (more volume reducers and tweaked pressure) and the same for the shock. I still can’t use the “low “ position due to pedal strikes so I’m extending the Fox Performance 34 from 130- 150mm. I also think tires should be 2.5 and 2.3 max front and rear in the 29 version (no XR4s though)
The music is.. interesting.
Tomi Saaranen haha it’s pretty other worldly isn’t it !
nice video! Thx! I would have prefered to see the the aluminium version over plastic one you've tested.
Thanks for watching!
Hey Ter, the alloy one sadly didn't come within the pricing bracket for this year's test. otherwise we may have had it instead!
My favorite is the remedy !
Mine too and I wil get the new 2021 model in marigold
blvck______187 187 I got the 2020 in teal to fade !
Fantastic bike, one of the best
Notice
Low setup SA 75.0° HA 66.0°
High setup SA 75.5° HA 66.5°
Why is it so many reviews rarely do they discuss the uphill climbing in detail? Every rider wants to know about the geometry and how it compares specifically to other bikers in the category? Does this still sit like you are on top of the bike? Do you struggle in those tough sections when you aren’t attacking to still make it every time??
This guys talking about the 9.7 and I can barely afford the 5
Great detailed review as usual. The bike looks amazing but some of the components not so much... I’d take the new SLX over any of these SRAM stuff and a slightly better brake... an MT520.
Great to hear you enjoyed the video!
How about changing the rear shock out for the rock shox meg neg shock and also go with a pike for the front. Would that make the bike feel better with having the a better rear shock?
I currently ride a slash 29er. Fairly aggressive with my riding skills. But the slash is a race bike. And I’m not looking to race anymore.
Your feedback will be helpful
I prefer the nukeproof reactor as a trail bike , but that is personal taste , has a more aggressive feel , just leans slightly more towards an enduro feel without being full enduro , if that makes sense .
No, it is not a Horst Link / four bar suspension system. Its a linkage driven single pivot. On its travel, the rear axle rotates around a single, exact point, which is the chainstays main pivot.
Hi, as i kind-of tried to suggest, it's a hybrid of both (I clearly wasn't clear enough).
In terms of pedalling it's more like a single pivot, yes, but under braking it's more like a 4-bar thanks to the seat stay mounted calliper. I'll be more clear in future videos
www.bikeradar.com/features/the-ultimate-guide-to-mountain-bike-rear-suspension-systems/
confused by the music choice!
Would the 2020\1 PIVOT SWITCHBLADE beat this bike in every aspect? Climbing, sprinting, descending, tight turns, NOT destroyer of pedals and cranks, flat surfaces, rocks,...
I have been hyping on this bike and what a great review! I was going to buy the ex8 but with the aluminum you give up the storage in the frame. the fact the yt izzo came out and you can get a carbon version with a great speck for way cheeper than the trek, but the yt has a 130mm fork up front instread of 140 wth the trek. The yt seems to be edging out the win but still not sure.
Al caholic I would 100% go YT since I love DTC brands.
Been thinking the samething about YT, just a shame that trek has such awesome color schemes compared to every other manufacture.
I wouldn't worry about the travel too much since a mere USD 45 gets you the parts needed to change it on a Fox fork...unless you have a Rhythm 34 and live in the USA. Fox does not sell the kit for modifying the 34 Rhythm here, you would have to get a new fork, essentially.
My custom built 2018 Fuel Ex 9.9 got stolen Friday night unfortunately. Plan on getting the 2020 9.9 AXS in Project One Icon Refliptive!
Oh no, sorry to hear that!
I just ordered the 2021 Fuel EX 9.8 XT... Can't wait to get it
How long to wait ? My local shop is 7 months wait for a 9.7
@@trailblazeratv6306 106 days. I ordered it in August, so looking at November.
i feel like this was an extremely harsh review from an otherwise great bike, especially considering cube got a place ahead.
It seems the components held the trek back. I wonder if the alu version would have ranked higher with better brakes, fork (and tires if theyre different), groupset, etc.
It also seemed like a lot of the drawbacks mentioned in the video (of which there were loads) came down to personal preference (knock block) or something nit picky like a slightly heavier cassette. I'd rather leave some tire levers at home than focus on weight of a cassette.
Alright, got to draw the line somewhere - some bikes just are better than others but I'm not sure I agree with this one. Especially when you praise the rear end so much.
Oliver T. It’s a detailed review and you can still decide if the cons re dealbreakers for you or not. The stone heavy NX cassette is a shame on a bike in this price range.
You mentioned the Cube but it wasn’t even in the same category... The Stereo 170 is an enduro and this is a 130mm trail bike.
@@tamasvarga67 oops i must have gotten the bikes mixed up, sorry. Complicated viewing when two series run at the same time haha
you're right, it's a detailled review but there were a lot of negatives pulled out of nothing in my opinion.
The GX is 488 grams, the NX is 615.
difference is 130 grams (rounded up!) which is the weight of some tire levers. Get realistic, or join the road biking crew. 130 grams is nothing.
Oliver T. Cube is crap
@@olivert.7192 In a detailed review it should be mentioned what you get for your money and as I said, the viewer can decide if it's important or not. The other problem with the NX cassette is that there is no upgrade option. if you want to get rid of that boat anchor you cannot. It's on HG freehub body, not XD so you have to change that also and just like the weight the $$$ adds up too. On a light carbon trail bike, the NX cassette has no place in my opinion.
@@AlexAutoYYC I bet you never sit on one...
Still can't make up my mind whether to go for the ex8 or the remedy 8
Same dilemma here 🤦🏾♂️
29” is where it’s at. The Fuel is the best all around bike I’ve ever had... I’ve had them ALL!
Do like Fuel Ex 9.7 but think for the price it could have been a little better (fork and maybe full GX). Currently ride Norco Fluid FS 1 2019 which I got new for under 2k and think this isn't worth the upgrade just yet.
Can you guys review the new norco optic?
I love the usability review of the knock block, quite few reviewers address issues like these! Good review, I agree that the NX gearing and the shimano brakes spoil the carbon frame, it is always bettre to choose the better components than a carbon frame.
Thanks for watching!
Ivo Roilev unless you’re looking to upgrade over time, it’s a lot cheaper to go to a XT drivetrain than it is to get a carbon frame.
Here i am with a 2012 fuel ex..
Can you comment sizing of the bike ? I have read that sizing is on a smaller side so was that your impression too ?
Hey Faruk,
I'd not say that, no - certainly when compared to it's 'trail' bike peers - the 470mm reach (large) is fairly long for a bike like this, and the 450mm seat tube isn't particularly long, so if you did want a 'long' bike you are more likely to be able to buy a larger size - if that makes sense?
I'm 182cm / 6foot, and the Large was spot on (i could probably fit on an XL if I wanted/needed to)
hope that helps?
Thomas Marvin thank you very much ! I ride Scott Spark 730 from 2014 in XL size and was wondering if Trek Fuel EX in size L would be adequate. I am 187cm and that is right in between L and XL. Thanks again.
@@farukcehic6817 Ah cool - personally if I was as tall as you I'd choose the XL - just be aware that since 2014 (and bearing Scott Sparks in mind) bikes have grown a fair bit, and the Fuel will be noticeably longer, and will feel quite different - I'd say once you're used to it, you'll find it great!
Thomas Marvin you have been very helpful so thank you one more time !!!
Can you ride a 52t cassette with this derailleur?
I'm a MTB noob... when you say people might want to put a spacer in to the shock because it's a bit happy getting to the end of it's travel, why would you not just add more air pressure to the shock?
I think because adding a spacer makes the stroke more progressive while using less air pressure, whereas only adding more air pressure keeps the stroke linear.
Striaght Downtubes should be standard, the stand over height is much better and cornering is so much easier, brands like giant got me going through mental gymnastics to why they’d have such high top tubes.
I'd go for a 9.8 with xt drivetrain 😁.
here in Australia, that will cost you a tidy $9599. Crazy really!
Heavier frame? My ex8 weighs slightly less than the equivalent carbon model
Your components are lighter. Your frame is heavier.
What do you think is a bicycle that fits everything?
flat. to gnarly ?
Pedro Schettino Probably something like a Pivot Switchblade or Revel Rascal for least compromise. I think the key is whether you like to send it up as much as down rather than the gnar-factor.
For that price it really should come with better brakes and a better drivetrain.
What's this bike like at climbing and long xc runs, I'm new to mtb been riding 2 years now on a hardtail and 40yr old I'm never going to be an aggressive rider but would like full suspension do it all bike, I like riding trail centres and doing long days out riding probably split my time 50/50 doing this so need a bike good at both but not excellent at one, is this that bike or anybody got any recommendations much appreciated thanks..
The fuel EX is a handsome looking bike. The straight top tube and downtube just make it look beautiful. Also, the top of the chanstays almost align with the top tube. It is just a cool looking bike. The bikes with curvy tubes, especially by the headset just look ugly and cheap to me. Make them in Waterloo again and take my money.
What size is this frame?
So sad it didn't make the top 3
But you did get the first comment! have a heart and one billion stars from your friends at BikeRadar. x x x x x x x x
How does the 2020 compare to the 2019 Fuel EX? Anyone have time on both? Trying to decide between this and a Ripley V4 but I’ve only ridden the ‘19 EX and no time on the others to compare.
I've got the 2019 Fuel EX 7 and I am really happy with it. I changed the brakes for XT 4 pistons and different rubber, the Michelin Wild AM. The rear shock without the Re:aktive still works really nice. Its a workhorse of an Mountainbike, from 80 km tours to days in the bikepark shredding blue and red lines, even handling rocksections really well. Can't go wrong with eather of it. But the 2020 model has 10mm more travel at the front, so i will upgrade for a 2021 Carbon 9.8 Model 😄
where is the commencal tr?
Very stupid of Trek to send the carbon framed version, with alloy version you would have gotten soooo much better spec.
sadly the alloy version didn't fit within the price category of the test (£3000-£3500) - otherwise it may have broken in to the top-3!
Anybody know what the "EX" means?
What knee pads are those? Shopping now and while looks aren't the only think, I like those.
Hi Tom,
How does the the knock block make the frame cheaper to manufacture? Interesting to hear more on this.
Cheers :)
Mostly cost of manufacture - though, I should have been fairer to Trek here in that it's more likely applicable to alloy frames (which also feature the straight DT with knock block)
Trek Fuel vs new 2021 Stumpjumper....? I’m torn!
Same!
Pls revie Polygon Siskiu
I tried the Polygon before buying the Fuel EX8. What changed my mind was the paint is bad and peels off easily and the rear skewer threads into the actual frame and not a replaceable nut.
knock block kills it for me, just because I wouldn't be able to get the bike in my car. Shame because the 9.8 looks like the perfect bike otherwise (threaded bb would be nice though).
It’s an easy removal...
What bike won the bike of year?
ua-cam.com/video/t_h0LL5qEnQ/v-deo.html Here you go!
Trek is like a Toyota in the bike world
Trek should offer frameset only options
ruben conzales they do....
Half of the videos in there are where I live, i recogniced the trails straight away, im from Madrid, If you guys ever come back text me at @marcoreg2 (my instagram) more than happy to show you around more trails than what you filmed!! Amazing.
Great place to live and ride! We had a top-time with BlackTown Trails out there!
I blow up Back Wheels on anything less than 150mm rear travel 😁
I blow up back wheels on my hardtail. Been trying hard to smoothen drops. Urban fun riding makes it worse tho. This is on a basic Giant revel. Been thinking of upgrading to a full sus like the EX5
Nice
you can buy most of the trek's w shimano 12 sp... but you may have to order it and most shops do t stock shimano equipped bikes.. things are changing though, sram nx/gx is a joke
Yeah what a shame, my 2017 ex8 has full 1x11 XT, and now the bike 2 models up has a lower end drivetrain?!
UltimateMTB What's sad is that this all just keeping up with the Joneses. XT 1x11 is still better than GX 1x12; who actually uses that 50 tooth cog with any regularity?
Pretty disappointing bike. Even the ex8 aluminium model is not that good in terms of value. Better get a remedy 8, or a slash 8 for less money, and better components.
That’s highly dependent on the trails the bike would be on. Someone not going downhill often or at all would probably dread one of those
And as far as value, nothing beats direct consumer brands. But there’s pros and cons to each
@@ieatslag5947 absolutely agree with you. But honestly, having the opportunity to ride both the fuel ex 8 and the slash 8, I didn't find the fuel to climb much better than the slash and both bike are about the same weight. On the other hand, the slash was much more confident inspiring in the descents, at a point where I just couldn't justify sacrificing the descents ability of the slash in favour of the fuel, only to gain a very little more climbing abilities.
Bought the Remedy 8 a few weeks ago and haven't been off it. Plenty of climbing done too and it goes up with ease. Best looking bike I've ever seen with the Teal/Volt fade it's just amazing. I'd strongly advise considering the remedy over the Fuel EX.
gouy léonard very interesting. Thanks for your input. I might have to look into the slash
Kevin Maldonado I prefer my remedy 9.8 in most trail conditions over my dads fuel ex 9.8. I personally believe it climbs just as well and descends 2x better (due to a fox 36 and x2).
Its a shame that you even have to criticize issues like these on a bike of this price category... A bit disappointed by Trek really.
It's a comprehensive bike test dude, what do you expect
If it’s that price, they should cover everything so people know what they are getting for 3500 - not their fault if the bike has something they find undesireable
Chase Flanagan Absolutely... and everybody can decide if the listed drawbacks are dealbreakers or not for their preferences.
Samuel Paramor I meant I expected better from the bike. The test is good because it uncovers issues like this bike has
2 of my welds broke made take a hard crash
For that price tag NX shifter 🤪
i already subscribed a long time ago, what do you want from me???
Haha, thanks for watching and just keep on commenting........
and don't forget to like and subscribe. x x xx x x
@@bikeradar xDxD, u have all my likes bruh
It's still a 4 bar suspension.
see, this splits opinions haha - some say it's a single pivot, and some a 4-bar/horst. The reason I put it the way I did is that in terms of pedalling force inputs, it acts more like a single pivot (uninterrupted swingarm from front triangle to rear axle), however in terms of braking (with the caliper mounted on the seatstay) it acts more like a 4-bar under braking. hence a bit of both on the trail 👌
www.bikeradar.com/features/the-ultimate-guide-to-mountain-bike-rear-suspension-systems/
@@TomMarvin1 Gotcha. I was merely commenting that there is still a "4 bar linkage" utilized here. It's fascinating to see how manufacturers go about improving ride characteristics differently.
It is not a 4 bar suspension, it is a single pivot. There is a single pivot between the bb and the axle. Whatever happens AFTER the axle does not change the suspension design, the pivot of the seat stays is there to help the shock actuation, NOT the rear wheel path.
@@roilev I see that now. In function, it is single pivot. I was just saying mechanically, there is a 4 bar linkage there.
Once again..press fit bottom bracket.
So this is basically a Santa Cruz 5010?
4k in the USA and also has super cheap brakes and cheap fork rockshock Reba soo I bought my yt Jeffsey for 3 k with 4 piston brakes and fox 36 lol big difference just saying
Sergiorides olvera The 9.7 still has a Rhythm 34 in the US
Give me a shimano groupset for reliability any day
You should always be able to get 20-30% off on a new bike through a bike store. You can’t get that discount on direct to consumer.
If i could get a ex 9.8 for 20 or 30 percent off it would be great come with me to haggle with my lbs
TheHeldgaard Only if you're buying a model off the show floor. Just like cars, honestly. If what you want is not what they stock, weeellllllll...
I am really, suprised / disappointed / angry of the high price of the mountain and road bikes high prices in recent years. Why prices are so high despite the popularity of bikes ? usually high volume sales mean lower prices.
how do you know there are high volume sales?
It sucks but there are ways to save. Buy a demo (many will still have the warranty), buy a year or two old model at the end of year sales when dealers are looking to move stock, buy used if you trust the seller (would recommend for aluminum more than carbon) and of course direct order brands- (especially direct order brands used because they started cheaper). You can also by a lower component spec’d bike- not something terrible mind you just not the highest end,lightest out there, and upgrade as stuff wears out. Technology flows down and the lower end stuff out there these days is pretty damn good. You don’t need the highest end stuff for what most of us do- is it nice- sure- but if you trying to save money they’re far from essential.
@@majoromg449 I am talking in general not that specific mountain bike in the present video.
In the last year's there are more road and mountains bikers when I go for a ride
@@curvenut maybe you just went for a ride more often
@@majoromg449 well I am biking for 20 years and commute and training from April to November every day. 20 years ago, at the place where I train, I can count at most 20 road cyclists in my 2 hours training session . Last year, I count about 100 road cyclists ..
All my road cyclists friend also do mountain biking ..except me !
So I think cycling is more and more popular.
Overpriced, over-engeneered machine. Trek had something interesting with full floating design, now it's just like any other brand. Knock-block? Dumbest crap in years. Who will notice 2% or whatever stiffer downtube? Not even most of world class riders. Those 15$ brake levers though will be noticed. You can probably find cheaper bike with XT brakes for the price of this Trek.
So good..so unsexy
I need a new bike after be hit by hit and run driver, on my way home. (I have the video, police ain’t doing anything yet!) I have a trek in my sights but have no money since lockdown started.
While I can’t work I’ve been charity fund raising.
your point is? Or are you just begging?
Is not that direct to consumer sells cheaper, those big brands greedily overprice all their frames / full bikes for the sake of it. Not putting a cent on those people.
If I where to spend big money on a frame I rather get something that will last, like a pole, a Stanton or a Nicolai/Geometron, not paying 2-3k+ for a frame made of the cheapest alloy, or paper carbon.
There's a lot more that goes in to the price of a bike than just the raw materials, though. Companies invest tens and hundreds of thousands of dollars in to R&D, which then gets trickled down in to 'cheaper' bikes over the years (for eg, in 1992 the lightest production road frame was Trek's first own OCLV frameset ). Then there's teams and pros to support (who create content which many people love to watch, regardless as to whether they buy a bike from that brand or not), and the dealer networks do cost money, in terms of slices of the pie being shared out across more people. This all costs money, which is paid for via the cost of the bike.
Ultimately it's totally up to you where you buy a bike from, but these bike companies are all subject to the same basic economic principals of supply and demand. If Trek's (or Spesh or... etc) bikes are too expensive, they won't sell enough, and they'll have to drop their prices to reflect this.
@@TomMarvin1 I understand that, specially if they manufacture Local, but when you mass produce frames in Asia, and come back to EU to sell them for 3k+ your straight inflating prices because they have the "insert brand logo", if I'm buying a bike, I'm buying a bike, I'm not investing in their company.
None of these bikes are worth the price. They are made in the 3rd world with no regulations on safety, environment, quality control or protections for consumers or employees. These bikes should be 1/10th the price they are sold at, as these prices are what you would expect from a first world country factory charging these outrageous prices for all of the above. You are crazy to spend over a thousand bucks on a bike that isn't made in a first world country.
It is a single pivot suspension.
It's actually a hybrid of both single pivot and 4-bar/horst, really. In terms of pedalling, it's more like a single pivot, with an uninterrupted swing arm. However, like a 4-bar, the brake calliper is mounted on the seat stay. So, under braking it's more 4-bar like - hence my mix-of-the-two comment 🙂
bit more detail available here - www.bikeradar.com/features/the-ultimate-guide-to-mountain-bike-rear-suspension-systems/
@@TomMarvin1
No, it is not a hybrid. It is essentially a (linkage-driven) single pivot, as it
"still uses an uninterrupted swingarm, connecting the rear axle directly to the mainframe". (no pivots in between)
i don´t like trek too expensive for what you get
What the F is up with those long cables!!?! It even has knock block, just looks sloppy. Piss poor build!
Too expensive to ride it hard and enjoy without worrying about every little ding... No thank you.
The music sucks! 👎🏼