Are The Refinements Worth It? // Trek Top Fuel Gen 4 Review

[@mateuszchrzastkowski5205]

Thank you, amazing video. I was looking for that comparison. I want to buy the GEN 3 on sale probably.

[@ireddie]

Hey, I like the review. I don’t think you did it if you did I missed it but I wish every reviewer would mention their height and weight. The only one that does that consistently is Mtb Yum Yum and I appreciate that every time I think everybody needs to do that. Because when you say, the medium large would be good good for you we have nothing to gauge that on your height or weight.

[@DCDean]

You're right! I actually did mention it but accidentally edited it out of the video. I do mention my height in my initial impressions video but either way I'm 6ft 210lbs.

[@victordinh8718]

Can't believe my favorite MTB influencer got his hands on the new Top Fuel

[@kylelongstaff]

Im happy they brought the integrated bar and stem to the top fuel even though i dont like it. But fact is the resale value on those bars are great cuz they always sold out.

[@Eddie65001]

Just picked up a gen 3 carbon xt 9.8 top fuel for 3800 at my lbs it rips!! I love it for xc/trail riding. Def adds alot of value to my fleet!!

[@DCDean]

@@Eddie65001 killer deal!

[@TheNationalTrails]

Well versed. Good insights.

[@ErikShing]

Incredible production value on this one Dean!

[@liambarr9936]

Sticking with the gen 3 9.8 XT, that came with carbon wheels and XT brakes. Looks like with this model, it costs more $$ for less bike. I would have been interested though in what the new range tyres are like on the trail.

[@jons5357]

Great video. There are some good deals on the gen 3s now and I’m thinking of going that direction with an XT build. I live in CO so there’s often a long climb with techy bits to start a ride. Do you think the gen 4 is worth it for the improvements to climbing capability? Thinking of Hunt Race Wide alloy wheels as a light wheelset upgrade since the OEM wheels are garbage. Thanks again for the well put together review and comparison.

[@DCDean]

Both are great technical climbers. Gen 3 is ever so slightly more active generating traction, and the Gen 4 made up for the stiffer platform by having a slightly longer chainstay length to generate grip. If you find a good deal on the Gen 3 it's probably worth going that route still.

[@marksandoval5361]

I never thought of the previous gen Top Fuel as a Downcountry bike. It had a very heavy frame, Enduro level rims, and the tires were not fast rolling. A Downcountry bike should have a light frame, XC-ish rims, and light-weight fast-rolling tires. The Top Fuel is more of short-travel trail bike. Now that the new generation comes with a 130mm Trail fork, it's all trail bike. Honestly, the TF should come with a 140mm fork. 130 and 140mm versions of the same fork weigh and cost the same, so why not? A real Downcountry bike would be the Spur or the Epic 8: 120mm XC fork, lightweight frame, XC rims, fast tires.

[@DCDean]

You make a good point about the suspension for the gen 4. Ultimately what is downcountry or not is probably more semantics than anything else. Either way I still think the spec choices for the gen 3 make sense given the capabilities of that bike. (Also XR4 tires are pretty light, supposedly ~800 grams 😊)

[@johnnnewmex]

Or maybe they could just call it a mountain bike since dc is just a media moniker.

[@adamsanchez7845]

What is your opinion on the gen 4 model5?

[@gainknowledgeandinsight]

I’ve seen gen 3 9.8 XT - for 3800 - 4700.00 they’re out there in shops. Just have to look.

[@SoilworkZA01]

The Bontrager dropper is tragically bad as well. A BikeYoke or OneUp is a big upgrade!

[@Twisted_Biscuit]

Shrinkflation, give you less and charge you more. Crazy that carbon wheels aren't offered on the 9.8 now..

[@kam1l0]

How tall are You ? Good rev. btw ! Got the gen 3 with a custom spec to the moon :P Thinking about swaping frames or buying a new. Got a Slash also. Good bike but i visit mountains not so much as i wish i would, so im thinking aobut selling the slash and making the gen3/gen4 a do it all bike. With the new one i would go with 130mm back + a vivid air and a 140 pike. With some settings done it could be a cool bike i think. The question is is it worth ? Does those settings actually change the feeeling. For me the settings on the shock mount and 5mm longer chainstays sound like a good addon.

[@DCDean]

You do notice those changes but the new top fuel is still a top fuel. The extra progression definitely helps and if you're running the vivid (assuming it fits) you'd probably want it in the progressive setting. If I were to own the gen 4, by default I would need it in the progressive setting even with the oem shock.

[@shrinkingshrimp]

12:25 Are you sure this is not because the older bike has a top-end wheelset? Other than geo making a bike lighter should make it more willing to fly. And weight is the most important at the wheels on a bike.

[@DCDean]

To me it felt more like a timing issue. I also have a comparatively heavy Trek Slash so I'm familiar with trying to hop heavy bikes 😁

[@17even]

Trek seems to have an issue with overpricing compared to build specs. The components are always lesser than but they will always premium price. Don.t get me wrong, I love Trek bikes. I own one myself along with several other brands but yeaaah, they need to chill with the Bontrager components on higher model bikes.

[@HLDefender]

Good video.
So you'd go Medium/Large....
How tall are you ?

[@DCDean]

@@HLDefender I'm 6 ft with shorter limbs

[@sebastienhakimejdaa9363]

I bought the Top Fuel 9.8 GX AXS T-type Gen 3 in Plasma Grey 2 months ago at a nice discount. The Gen 3 Looks nicer somehow. I think the new Gen4 9.8 is a downgrade as mine came with carbon wheels

[@DCDean]

@@sebastienhakimejdaa9363 Yeah the Gen 4 is a slight downgrade with the alloy wheels but does also retail $500 less (not that it makes the difference up). I thought the same about the looks when I first saw images of the gen 4, but in person the lines on the Gen 4 look good as well. From the side the tubes are slimmed down.

[@leocirino4319]

Nice video. But what about the handlebar?

[@DCDean]

@@leocirino4319 Personally I like the RSL bar (once it's cut down to size). It is stiff, but I don't mind that. The roll and sweep are comfortable enough for me. I test rode this bike with my own bars since I couldn't cut this set.

[@TheAngryHusky]

Bike is porky. My Mondraker F Podium DC-R is 24.5 lbs and came with carbon wheels.

[@DCDean]

Gen 3 definitely a bit heavier than it needed to be. But I don't see the Mondraker as a direct competitor to the Top Fuel.

[@gravelDave]

The Epic is though. And its 2kg lighter.

[@CJGrand1]

All your cons were nitpicking. Plus your UA-cam creator name is a made up mtb category, that's hilarious.