2022+ Top Fuel as XC race bike?

PB Forum :: Trek

Author	Message

jokerusn

Posted: Feb 19, 2024 at 13:34

Quote

Is anyone racing a 2022 or newer Top Fuel in XC? It's gotten the "longer/lower/slacker" treatment lately and a 130 fork so it's not quite the XC race machine it used to be. I'm in the market for a new XC bike (coming from a 120 hardtail) and my LBS has a 2023 one on sale in my size so I'm leaning toward it over some others. If you're racing it, how does it hold up? Does it feel like an XC bike or more like a trail bike? I would prefer something to feel more on the XC side of trail if that makes any sense. The other bikes I'm looking at are all 110mm to 120 in travel.

DaltonF

O+

Posted: Feb 23, 2024 at 5:01	Quote
Feels more like a small trail bike. It’s kind of heavy and not very snappy. It’s a super fun bike but I think it’s too slow to race xc on it. Even with a weight weenie build it’s still in the 27 pound range usually. Just my 2 cents

jokerusn

Posted: Feb 23, 2024 at 8:11	Quote
It definitely looks like a trail bike. I haven’t tested it on the trail yet so I haven’t rode it yet. I’m now leaning towards a supercaliber.

zeeino

Posted: Feb 24, 2024 at 8:36

Quote

It's definitely a trail bike, but a very efficient one! Since I don't race, I decided to set mine up on the burly side with 130 fork and 29x2.6 enduro tires, and it still feels more efficient than the "pure bred" 2015 Scalpel it replaced. It's never going to be as efficient as a supercaliber, but lighter, more xc oriented tires and wheels would likely get it close.

Having said that, you might be better off going with the supercaliber if race performance is your priority and you don't ride techy and rough trails.

caltife

O+

Posted: Mar 12, 2024 at 16:50

Quote

Owned one for 12 months. As a pure XC race bike, if you're chasing podiums...nope. But it's still a very efficient trail bike, enough to comfortably complete a 100km endurance race (for fun, not to win in my case). Swapped in XR1700s running Rekon Race, which helped keep things rolling easier.

In general, I found the bike suffered a bit of an identity crisis. Too heavy and burly to be a real lightweight whippet, too taut and sharp to be a "quivver killer" trail bike. Don't get me wrong, Top Fuel is a very fun bike in the right circumstances, particularly on flow trails. But I'm now on a Canyon Spectral, which is incredibly efficient for its size, and what I've lost in sharp end handling is far outweighed by its capacity on burly trails. I'd suggest the Epic Evo or Blur TR might split the difference better than Top Fuel for your needs, more XC friendly but still some travel in reserve.

tc777

O+

Posted: Mar 22, 2024 at 6:03

Quote

I built up a large carbon frame last year. All XTR except for SRAM for the braking. Tried to keep it light but reliable and it still came in at 27 lbs with pedals and sealant.

It is a great, fun bike and I love it.

However, if I was going to build a race bike, and I was locked into Trek, I'd build the Supercaliber. Should be able to bring that bike in right at 20 lbs.

The frames cost the same and full bikes are basically the same price although, the Top Fuels are on sale often lately.

samesame82

Posted: Apr 17, 2024 at 9:12	Quote
Just got a top fuel as my long distance bike. Need a bigger disc on the back , just a 180 Shimano . Is it just the 180mm post mount adaptor i need?

zeeino

Posted: Apr 17, 2024 at 18:28

Quote

samesame84 wrote:

Just got a top fuel as my long distance bike.
Need a bigger disc on the back , just a 180
Shimano .
Is it just the 180mm post mount adaptor i need?

Yes, you need the 180mm post mount! That's exactly how mine is set up.

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