First Ride: Trek's 2020 Top Fuel Gets a Little More Travel & a Lot More Aggressive

May 23, 2019
by Daniel Sapp  



For the year 2020 (sounds crazy saying that, right?) Trek have taken what was their 100mm full suspension XC race bike and given it a major overhaul in the name of fun and versatility. The Top Fuel has been competitive ever since it was introduced four years ago, so much so that it's the only bike that many racers take to the start line.

Trek did not forget that the Top Fuel needs to be competitive, fast, and lightweight, but they wanted it to be more capable and fun on the trail, so they added a little more travel. Out back, the bike goes from 100 to 115 millimeters and it gets a 120-millimeter fork up front.
Top Fuel 9.9 Details• Intended use: XC / Trail
• Wheel size: 29"
• Rear-wheel travel: 115mm
• Front-wheel travel: 120mm
• Boost 12x148
• Carbon frame
• Size: S, M, ML, L, XL, XXL
• Weight: 24.3 lbs / 11 kg (9.9, as tested)
• Price: $8,999.99 USD (as tested)
www.trekbikes.com

The chassis is longer and slacker. There's more tire clearance and ample room for longer-stroke dropper posts. The swingarm's pivot point has been pushed forward and the shock takes cues from other bikes in Trek's line and is now fixed to the down tube instead of the swingarm's forward end.

All sizes of the bike are designed around 29" wheels and there are a number of build options offered in both aluminum and carbon. The Top Fuel 8 sells for $3,299.99 USD, while the high-end Top Fuel 9.9 AXS burns a hole in your pocket to the tune of $9,999.99 USD. Both the aluminum and carbon Fuels are also available in a frame-only option.

photo
The 2020 Trek Top Fuel 9.9.

Trek's Top Fuel has gone through several generations. Four years ago, the most recent redesign saw 29" wheels across the board (except size small frames), Trek's Full Floater suspension design, and the ABP (Active Braking Pivot) concentric dropout pivot. Times have progressed, as has the Top Fuel.

Trek have chosen to forego the eddy and jump into the current - joining vanguard brands who have been creating more aggressive XC bikes that are not only quick and nimble, but also fun and not terrifying to ride in technical terrain. The Waterloo, Wisconsin based brand has realized that there are probably more people riding for fun than strictly racing and a more versatile bike is a better option for a lot of people than choosing a strictly race or strictly trail set up. The new Top Fuel slots perfectly into the middle ground - a practical mountain bike for most people - and does a damn fine job of it, I must say.

Trek Top Fuel 2016
The 2016 Top Fuel used to seem modern.
photo
The 2020 edition makes 2016 look pretty dated.


Construction / Features

Knock Block and Down tube Guard: Trek's Knock Block fork stop is one of those things people either love or hate. I'd wager that if you've smashed a frame with your controls then you'll love it, otherwise, you probably aren't a fan. Either way, it does serve a purpose and keeps your fancy bike frame safe.

ABP: Trek's ABP, or Active Braking Pivot system, is a pivot that rotates around the rear axle to keep braking forces from interacting with the suspension.

1x Only: The Top Fuel will nor accept a front derailleur. As a high-end XC bike, there are no ISCG mounts on the frame either, but you can run Trek's top-guide if you feel that you need that extra chain retention.

photo
Trek's Knock Block integrated headset fork-stop keeps your frame safe.
photo
ABP is a dropout pivot that isolates braking from the suspension by rotating around the rear axle.


Cable routing: The Top Fuel uses Trek's 'Control Freak' internal cable routing system. It allows for any combination of cables you want to run, cleanly and quietly through the frame.

Mino Link: Trek's 'Mino Link' is no longer on the seat stays. The flip-chip is now easily accessed on the suspension rocker and allows the geometry to be changed from a low to a high setting. The bike comes stock in the low setting.

photo
Cables are neatly routed and quiet.
photo
Trek's Mino Link is easier to access and allows you to adjust between low and high geo settings.


Frame Options / Build Kits

The Top Fuel is available in five different builds with the most affordable Top Fuel 8 being very similar in spec, but having an aluminum frame. The 9.7 is the first carbon model, with a SRAM NX Eagle drivetrain, RockShox Recon RL fork, Fox Performance Float DPS shock, Bontrager Kovee Comp wheels, and Shimano MT501 brakes.

The Top Fuel 9.8 takes a step up in components, with a SRAM GX Eagle group, and then the 9.9, that I've been testing, has XX1 Eagle, a Fox Factory 34 Step-Cast Fit 4 fork, Factory Float DPS Kashima shock, Bontrager's Kovee Pro 30 carbon wheels (with 108 points of engagement in the hub), 35mm carbon Bontrager handlebars, Bontrager's 13-degree stem, and SRAM Level Ultimate brakes. All models are spec'd with Bontrager dropper posts, XR3 Team Issue tires, saddles, and cockpit components.

Trek offers the new Fuel in a frame/shock only option in both carbon and aluminum. The carbon frame sells for $3,299.99 USD and the aluminum frame sells for $1,999.99 USD.

photo
Trek moved the swingarm pivot well forward of the bottom bracket.


Geometry / Kinematics

The new Top Fuel is designed with more travel, which the team at Trek say makes it a little more balanced than the old bike. The geometry on the new Top Fuel sees the seat tube get a degree steeper, up to 75-degrees from 74. The reach is also a few mm longer, 440 on the size medium in the low setting.

The Top Fuel carries over and continues to use ABP suspension design. The design uses a concentric rear-axle pivot. The idea with this is that it prevents braking forces from affecting the shock. The big difference here is that the shock is now fixed to the frame - it was formerly attached to the forward tip of the swingarm. The swingarm pivot has been moved forward to help the bike pedal better.

photo
The old Full floater system allowed a lot of small bump sensitivity, so to maintain that, Trek now specs a higher volume shock, coupled with the lower leverage ratio. Riders are able to run lower shock spring pressures and there's a wider range of usable air pressures, especially for heavier riders, who easily maxed out the previous shocks.

The fork and shock can be remotely locked out at the handlebars on the go, with a twist style lockout made by RockShox to further stiffen the bike up when the suspension is unnecessary, such as pavement, climbs, or smooth bits of trail.

Also worth noting is that there is more room to run a dropper post. According to Trek's John Riley, "Every bike should have a dropper post at this point." I couldn't agree more. The size-small frame can handle a 100-millimeter post, the medium and up can run a 150, and large and up fit a 170.



I have had the Top Fuel in hand for a couple of weeks now, putting in the miles on it at home in North Carolina. Typically, a more aggressive bike with a little more suspension is optimal for a lot of the riding here, but, I've been feeling right at home with the latest crop of short travel trail and XC bikes, thanks to the more progressive geometry their engineers are incorporating.

Some may consider the Top Fuel to be a little under-gunned on rough terrain at first glance, but it really fits right in on the tight and technical singletrack I often ride and I've been able to pedal it up and down everything from smooth climbs and buff descents to sinewy, root laden ups and chunky downs most people would opt to ride an enduro bike on.

The bike I have been riding is the size medium. I could easily go up to the in-between medium/large size Trek offers, but I have been more than happy on the size I'm on.

PC Mangler
Daniel Sapp
Location: Brevard, NC, USA
Age: 31
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 150 lbs
Industry affiliations / sponsors: None
Instagram: @d_sapp1

photo

Climbing

I have been spending a lot of time on a few shorter travel XC and trail bikes lately, so I was eager to get on the Top Fuel and see how it handled in the same situations. The Top Fuel is not just an over-forked 100-millimeter bike, as some out there are right now, it's a dedicated 115/120 bike right from the start.

The Top Fuel is competent and composed while climbing. There is the slightest amount of bob in the rear suspension. While it's barely noticeable, if you remember to use the lockout, you can feel things firm up. I really can't say it's at all necessary, except on the smoothest of climbs.

In rooty and technical terrain, I found myself consistently cleaning sections of trail I often find challenging. The bike is quick to get up to speed and acceleration is nearly instantaneous when getting on the gas to get over roots, logs, and whatever else is in the way. The Trek feels easy to ride and the position when pedaling is comfortable for hours on end.

The one quibble I do have is the Knock Block. It does serve a very important purpose in protecting the top tube from levers and the down tube from the fork, however, in ultra-tight sections of trail, it can be annoying and takes a bit of getting used to.

photo

Descending

The Top Fuel is damn efficient heading up, but when you hit a downhill the bike rides much more like a lightweight trail bike than a purebred XC race machine, and has no hesitation getting a little rowdy if you're willing to let it. Unless you're charging through a boulder field, the bike is capable of managing some pretty hard hits without losing its composure. The Top Fuel tracks extremely well and there's very little trepidation in rough terrain.

With the little time I have on it thus far, the biggest qualm I've had with this top level XC bike is that it's spec'd with a great set of high-end XC brakes, SRAM Level Ultimates. I've found myself pushing this bike harder than any XC bike I've ridden on descents, and the amount of braking power seems like the weak link. I'm always wanting a little more, which speaks volumes for the capability of this bike. Switching to metallic pads could do the trick, or possible a bigger rear rotor.

The new Top Fuel may not be as much of a purebred racer as its predecessor, but that just means it's a bike you could race one weekend and head out for a big backcountry adventure the next without making too many compromises. And by the looks of things, there's a good chance Trek has something else in the works for riders looking for a World Cup level XC race bike.

photo






Author Info:
danielsapp avatar

Member since Jan 18, 2007
476 articles

185 Comments
  • 209 9
 No, it doesn't look like a session. Not this time...
  • 109 8
 Looks like a Spark
  • 7 48
flag ReddyKilowatt (May 23, 2019 at 11:09) (Below Threshold)
 @Bflutz625: Yes, even though there are about a million different mountain bikes out there all doing about the same thing, all of them should look completely distinct and unique. Great comment!
  • 37 4
 looks like the 2016 version
  • 27 3
 In the end, all bikes will look like a session...everyone knows this...
  • 8 4
 Looks like a Mach 4 SL?
  • 7 13
flag Adamrideshisbike (May 23, 2019 at 12:00) (Below Threshold)
 Looks like a Giant.
  • 20 2
 Marin should call highway robbery on that paint scheme.
  • 4 6
 @Adamrideshisbike: That was the first thing I thought. Looks like my giant anthem.
  • 3 6
 Looks like a Devinci.
  • 5 0
 Transition scout
  • 8 0
 The "session" thing is a weird/cool problem Trek has. Free advertising for life for more than half of every single bike that comes out.
  • 3 9
flag fracasnoxteam (May 23, 2019 at 14:20) (Below Threshold)
 @Adamrideshisbike: nope. Not at all. Do your homework.
  • 2 12
flag fracasnoxteam (May 23, 2019 at 14:22) (Below Threshold)
 @fabwizard: maybe you should take a look at your bike. Twice.
Hint: the suspension system is completely different.
Man, you don't even know what your bike look like?! And please don't tell me it's because of the colour...
  • 25 2
 "The 2020 edition makes 2016 look pretty dated."
Utter bollocks talking.
  • 2 1
 @yupstate: And the Mach 4 SL looks like a Turner Czar.

Love clean lines!
  • 2 0
 This made my week! Bravo @trek.
  • 6 0
 Looks like a 1987 Haro Sport. Nice colorway.
  • 3 0
 @dobermon: 130 all the way, in my opinion. Plenty of folks ride 160 bikes here too though. Just depends if you're trying to ride more XC or climb fire roads and bomb down.
  • 1 0
 @usedbikestuff: Canyon too. Kinda...
  • 1 0
 160 would be fun in Pisgah. Many rides here start near the ranger station or horse stables with a long forest road climb though. You see a bit of everything in DuPont, Bent Creek, and Mills River. Hardtails to 160 bikes. Kitsuma is another fun ride close to Asheville if you’re near the town of Black Mountain (not to be confused with Black Mountain trail in Pisgah).
  • 2 0
 Looks like a hei hei- in paint and design
  • 1 0
 Looks like Marin Alpine Trail 8...
  • 1 0
 @PIND-IT: knew I’d seen it somewhere before!
  • 2 0
 @fracasnoxteam: dude you are a huge t-bag.
  • 2 0
 @dobermon Either would be fine. Riding Black Mountain blind you might be happier on the bigger bike.
  • 1 3
 @kovaldesign: 2016 does look really archaic now...The times have changed...
  • 1 0
 @PIND-IT: My first real bike was a 1987 Master in these colors. I know a killer airbrush guy, I wonder if we could re-create those graphics for this bike.
  • 1 0
 @ReddyKilowatt:
Everyone hates you ????
  • 1 0
 I fail to see how the 2016 looks dated.. If anything the new one looks dated. Glad they ditched the insane cable routing for the shock lockout though.
  • 1 0
 ..props on pinkbike for still not allowing deleted comments. accidental double comment*
  • 1 0
 It’s the Trek Spark. At least in more sizes than a Spark.
  • 37 7
 Visually, the 2016 looks cutting edge and the 2020 appears pretty well dated...that color scheme really isnt doing it much justice though.
  • 13 1
 The paint job looks like a 1988 Haro Sport.
  • 8 0
 I agree bud %100. I have a 1988 sport
  • 2 0
 @biker2: Is yours that color? They had several options.

Looks like the 87 even had the same color graphic on the downtube:
bmxmuseum.com/bikes/haro/12446

But the 88 was blue all the way to the rear triangle:
bmxmuseum.com/bikes/haro/12446

Some designer at Trek is like, “Oh, $@&?! They’re on to me.
  • 1 0
 @TheR: All it needs is chrome stays and I’d take it down the park :-)
  • 24 0
 Does anyone else notice how, no matter the intentions of a bike, bikes get more travel and become "more capable"?

Its like a mirror of the car industry. Doesn't matter that the Honda Civic's intention was to be a small efficient subcompact. No, it has to get bigger with each new generation, until its so big it doesn't occupy the same place in the model line up and then they create a new car (Fit) to slot into the space their ever bigger car vacated.

Trek changed the nature of the Top Fuel from XC race to aggressive trail (or is it downcountry? idk anymore) and now a new bike is going to slot in to the category it just vacated. Spy shots already making their rounds on the interwebs.
  • 3 0
 Industry nomenclature and reality are two different things. I think more versatile would be a better wording than capable? Then again my overforked tallboy became more capable when I went down to a short travel fork and could clean steep uphill switchbacks that I couldn't before.
  • 1 0
 So true! This bike is much like the 2018 fuel ex.... (not like the 2019 that is longer, slacker and lost the XC genes the Fuel ex previously had)
  • 1 0
 @hansvl: I'm currently running an older Fuel EX9 and just had a chance to demo the new Top Fuel. Your comment isn't completely offside... this new bike rides how I've always wanted my old Fuel to ride. It's a stellar bike and should definitely be a top contender for anyone looking for an XC bike that has a penchant for getting rowdy.
  • 22 0
 So today is the Downcountry bike release day, or what?
  • 16 0
 I think this pretty much confirms that Trek will have a new XC race weapon out later this year / early next year in the form of the prototype seen in the spy shots posted earlier today.
  • 51 1
 Enough of the "race weapon" already. Two race weapons in one day is far too much. Live a little, get out there in that thesaurus known as Google and come up with something more creative. XC RACE CLEAVER / SABER / CUTLASS / NUNCHAKU / BAZOOKA
  • 26 0
 @usedbikestuff: Get wilder. Lets just use bigger words. XC decimator. XC pulverizer. XC Nuke. XC f*ckinator.
  • 7 1
 @chillrider199: Yea, we need to get more creative with "XC" . i know down-country is gaining popularity, but i think another term needs to take over. Overland Decimator seems like a good direction.
  • 9 0
 XCruciating!
  • 1 0
 @usedbikestuff: Trek Shiv - use it to slice the tires of your competition.
  • 2 0
 @MtbSince84: Specialized already did the shiv
  • 1 0
 @usedbikestuff: what about......WHIPPETT!!!
  • 8 0
 @chillrider199: I've never been a spandex guy, but as soon as I can throw my leg over a f*ckinator, I'll be about that life.
  • 14 2
 They unceremoniously dropped the RE:aktiv and Thru Shaft that were both a "Revolution" when each one was introduced?
  • 8 0
 I think that stuff is still on all of the bikes that don't have remote lockouts, no? They dropped reaktiv on the Top Fuel for the 2018 model year.
  • 3 1
 Thru-shaft was never meant for bikes with this amount of travel
  • 8 1
 Procaliber - HT XC race bike
?? - FS XC race bike
Top fuel - short travel 29" party fun bike (downcountry af)
Fuel EX - do it all 29" bike
Remedy - do it all 27.5" fun bike
Slash - Enduro 29" race bike

Seems like they'll make the Fuel EX and Slash a little bigger next go 'round.
  • 2 3
 i thinks they will kill the fuel all together
  • 5 1
 @ellisbrandt: Never. That's Treks bread and butter bike.
  • 1 0
 Rumours new Slash is longer but similar angles.
  • 1 1
 Spot on. It's questionable if this is even an XC bike anymore.
  • 6 1
 I don't get why they are now using knock block on this bike too. I have a remedy and the added stiffness is nice, but there are some tight corners that can pose a problem. I dont get the point when this bike isnt about descending. Some of those tight switch backs on those wood ladders in first UCI World Cup XC race at Albstadt would be difficult to make on a bike with knock block. Im still looking to acquire an older top fuel with boost 148, no knock block, and fit a 34 step cast onto it to make my own down country bike.
  • 2 0
 ok now i see they have a new xc race bike about to be released that doesnt have knock block. So this is a dedicated downcountry bike now?
  • 14 6
 Knock Block is an engineering failure, plain and simple. Trek and Canyon are the only companies that need them, and yet every other company does fine without them. Sure, you probably won't notice it much while riding, but it makes storage shitty, adds proprietary parts, limits tricks if you're a sender, etc.

I really wish they'd just get rid of it and make a normal headtube/downtube.
  • 1 3
 @rezrov: well first off its an xc rig so I doubt the average rider of it is out here throwing tail whips or bar spins, and also there is considerable weight savings made when the down tube doesn't have to bend.
  • 1 0
 @ellisbrandt: Knock Block is present throughout the Trek lineup, not just XC rigs. This bike is also a trail bike, not a thoroughbred XC racer. And it's not just about throwing bars. Very tight switchbacks that might require an endo, crashes, storage, transport, whatever. Plenty of reasons to want your bars to spin 'round.

Considerable weight savings? I think Trek and Canyon frames would be considerably lighter if that were true, but it's not.
  • 3 2
 Knock block is a solution to a problem that didn't exist. The Canyon version is less annoying.
  • 1 1
 @rezrov: knock block far from failure unless your turning past 100
Or
You can fit a normal headset if you don’t want it
  • 5 0
 @enduroFactory Putting a normal headset in doesn't solve the issue, because the fork will just hit the downtube instead. You can probably eek out a few more degrees of handlebar rotation that way but if you crash and the fork spins around and hits the frame you're way more likely to damage it.
  • 4 0
 I was a solid Trek customer; I have two older Treks in the garage. But knock block made me run away. I tested and was knock-blocked several times in one test ride. Trek dismisses tricky and creative riders with this design.
  • 1 0
 I've had a Remedy- Fuel- Slash and a Stache ( no KB on Stache) I notice no difference at all in corning- if you're having issues corning with KB- I'd say there's something weird about how you corner- for me I'd have to somehow get my leg out of the way in order to turn the bars that far over.
  • 7 2
 This seems a little pointless when they already have the fuel ex which is light and has just a little more travel. Don't really see why they need two bikes that are so similar.
  • 9 0
 I agree, I'll be curious to see what they do with the current Fuel Ex when it gets redesigned.
  • 11 0
 Pretty sure the Fuel EX will get a bump this year, and then they will likely update the Slash the year after.
  • 6 0
 2020 Top fuel is now 115mm rear travel. The 2020 Fuel Ex should get a bump from 130 to probably 140-145. The Slash should get a bump from 150 to 160-165mm.
  • 2 0
 Because people will buy them.
  • 7 2
 Heck, this is pretty much a 2016 FuelEX.
  • 2 0
 Much lighter with more efficient kinematics.
  • 1 0
 much lighter and designed towards leadville 100, cape epic type and other such stage races. the fuel would be too mucb bike for those
  • 3 0
 @ellisbrandt: Most of Leadville would ride drop bars if it was allowed, it's a great race but doesn't have technicality to warrant a more aggressive bike.
  • 1 0
 @TucsonDon: more like the 2018 FuelEx.... but point taken...
  • 4 1
 Trek really needs to fix the kink in their seat tube, it is way too high and really limits the length of dropper one can use. I'm 5'8" on a Fuel EX with a 100mm. I might be able to run a 125, but it would be real close.
  • 1 0
 I'm 5'6" and running a 75mm dropper on my Fuel Ex Frown The new OneUp V2 dropper looks promising though.
  • 3 1
 the new Top Fuel in M/L comes with a 150mm dropper which can be inserted all the way into the frame. Haven't seen a medium but i assume clearance is better.
  • 2 0
 As bolmaing said, this has been addressed.
  • 2 0
 Trek Top Fuel 9.8 GX in black .... Trek, take my damn money you fools!
enduro-mtb.com/en/trek-top-fuel-2020-first-look/2

Ive beeen riding the full stache for a year now with 150mm fork and bigger brakes and couldn't be happier for sheer fun and burly trucking goodness.
A lighter weight whippet in the shed would be awesome
  • 1 0
 Weird. The Aus Trek site shows the 9.8 with the same colour as the 9.9 in this article. We basically get a 9.9 frame with 9.8 spec.

www.trekbikes.com/au/en_AU/bikes/mountain-bikes/cross-country-mountain-bikes/top-fuel/top-fuel-9-8/p/27920/?colorCode=black_tealdark
  • 1 0
 @MRO1: Yeah man I was super keen on that colour and spec combo.. but they seem to have made it a bright baby blue colour! WTF... Give my money back Trek!
  • 1 0
 @MRO1: UK seems to still have the black listed.

www.trekbikes.com/gb/en_GB/bikes/mountain-bikes/cross-country-mountain-bikes/top-fuel/top-fuel-9-8/p/27920/?colorCode=black
Have emailed trek to clarify... Really want the carbon black but sure as heck don't want to spend 11K on the 9.9. Are they are just really expensive this year? Crikey
  • 2 0
 I dont understand why anyone complains about KnockBlock. Anyone who needs to turn there bars 90 degrees on a bike is either preparing to crash or pushing it in the carpark. It offers additional strength for almost no downside when riding.
  • 4 1
 I'll be in Brevard this weekend so if you could just place this bike in a convenient spot for me to "test ride" that would rad. thx.
  • 3 1
 this is a good change for XC bikes and their overall image. Courses at the top end of the sport (cough uci cough) need to be improved to promote this bikes and get fully out of the days of no-dropper posts
  • 1 0
 Look at the bike checks from last weeks World Cup. Nearly every one had an upper chainguide, dropper post, wide bars, and EXO level tires.
  • 2 0
 @lccomz: i saw alot of that but a near paved course, and lots of hardtails
  • 2 0
 @SnowshoeRider4Life: well, you’ll get to see them first hand this September.
  • 1 0
 @lccomz: that i'm stoked about. XC Heckling
  • 1 0
 Isn't Anton Cooper riding around Nove Mesto this weekend in a new prototype fuel that has a similar shock placement as the Canyon Lux? Haven't Trek just released an filler update for a new concept?
  • 1 0
 Since this new version has appearently gained 2 lbs, they must have another high end XC bike coming out. Anton Cooper is riding prototype, with the suspension masked, at Nove Mesto this week.
  • 4 0
 I thought we would be on hover bikes by 2020, guess wheels are okay though
  • 4 0
 Looks more down country than XC.
  • 4 1
 Love them or hate them as a behemoth, but Trek do a damn good job with their ABP.
  • 8 9
 This is basically just a shorter travel fuel EX, I can't imagine most XC racers going for this over a far lighter and more XC oriented platform. I hate to say it, but I think Pivot just beat Trek when it comes to a new XC bike. There's also a certain PB Writer who may be happy to see how 'Downcountry' XC is becoming.
  • 14 0
 Except it looks like Trek is also making a far lighter and more XC oriented platform. The Top Fuel is aimed squarely at CAT7 "racers" like me!
  • 7 0
 This isn't Trek's top-flight "RACE MACHINE" it is a downcountry bike haha. Wait a few weeks and trek will have a 19 pound featherweight out that will compete with the pivot.
  • 2 0
 Well it's a good thing it seems like there's a proper short travel bike coming out to slot in under neath this.

I have the current Top Fuel and can't see myself replacing it with this bike. They both accomplish different goals imo. I'm sure this bike is more fun to ride, but I'm think the current model still has the edge for XC racing.

I do have a 2016 Fuel Ex (120/120), that I could see this replace though!
  • 7 0
 There's another Trek XC bike in the chamber, which I would speculate is a 'proper' XC bike while I see the Top Fuel now being marketed more as a Marathon XC bike. www.pinkbike.com/news/spotted-new-trek-xc-bike-nove-mesto-world-cup-xc-2019.html
  • 8 0
 This is basically my 2016 Fuel EX.
  • 1 0
 @SangamonTaylor: And that's not a bad thing. The 2016 9.8 that I had was awesome apart from the overly heavy stock wheels and the 2x XT drivetrain.

The new one benefits from a bit more "modern" geometry and components, and should be a great trail/race bike. Seems to be mostly a winner with the brakes being the one point I see for improvement.
  • 2 1
 @Thisisbenji90: I just picked up a 2019 Top Fuel. I am happy i got it before they slacked it out.
  • 1 0
 @haroprease: Just so long as they don't try to claim a rear shock as "Iso" speed something. Or go all out and call the session's rear end IsoHuck.
  • 1 0
 yes, keep telling people that 100mm bike is faster, even for non world cup racers...
  • 1 0
 @racerfacer: a 100mm bike absolutely is faster.... in Wisconsin.
  • 1 0
 on the trek website the quite literally use the word down country
  • 3 0
 Yuck @ flippy floppy'd shocks.
  • 8 0
 This way gets rid of the loopty loop cable lockout that everyone on the internets bitched about though.
  • 4 0
 @BamaBiscuits: but then we all have to bitch about the up-side-downy squisher.. god our lives are hard
  • 1 0
 What the heck is a Trek top-guide? Is that a Trek frame-specific upper chainguide? Can't seem to find details on them anywhere...
  • 1 0
 Can we get riders that are a little more heavier say 190 plus if you don’t got a rider I’ll be more happier to Ride one and right a review
  • 3 0
 More a mini-Remedy than a super Top Fuel. Great bike.
  • 4 0
 More reach then my slash
  • 3 0
 At least the top model comes in under $10k.
  • 2 0
 By one penny lol. I thought that was hilarious.
  • 1 0
 Says the Canadian? Not quite.
  • 1 0
 That's sick!

I think for me it would be in between the Top Fuel and Blur. The Pivot and Yeti have too much stack for my 5'6" self.
  • 3 4
 "As a high-end XC bike, there are no ISCG mounts on the frame either" - that's completely counter to the prior argument that this is a bike for fun. Ruining a chain or chainring on a rock is NOT fun. How many grams are f*cking saved without the ISCG mounts? Stupid decision to skip it here.
  • 5 1
 You can run a bashguard without iscg mounts. A chainguide alone won't protect anything.
  • 1 0
 @mrgonzo: not on modern bikes with direct mount chainrings (yes there are a couple rings made with integrated guards or mounting points, but they're not stock on anything).
  • 1 0
 They did sort they the rear shock lockout cable, by turning the shock upside down? would have been easy-er to remove the cable and save 50g?
  • 2 0
 Pivot Mach 4 SL or Trek 2020 Top Fuel?
  • 3 1
 Pivot Trail 429..............
  • 2 0
 Bike looks old for some reason. Can't pinpoint why. Looks dated already.
  • 1 0
 Not a fan it kinda looks weird and that's a lot of travel for xc, but I'm sure it rides nice since it's a trek
  • 2 1
 And it look outdated and the 2016 looks more modern
  • 1 0
 Speaking of 'By the looks of things', tapes, skinny seatstays and all, I bet there's no shock in the other bike.
  • 2 0
 2020 vision and murals with metaphors
  • 2 0
 $3.999 for the 9.7 with NX and a Reba?
Are they kidding?
  • 1 0
 at 50 years old, I look dated. At 4 years old the 2015 looks like a mountain bike
  • 1 1
 I don't understand a thing about rear suspension. All I look for is a low top tube. They seem to have that dialed (though of course the huge wheels are deceiving).
  • 3 1
 it looks like a scott for once.
  • 3 0
 Love that Colour Combo!
  • 2 0
 Dwncntry is a beautiful time to be alive!!!
  • 3 1
 Go home bike you cost too much..
  • 4 4
 Trek: when's Pivot's article launching?

PB: First thing Thurs.

Trek: Ok, post our article a few hours later.

PB: K cool no prob anything for our #1 advertiser.
  • 4 0
 The PB deep state.
  • 1 0
 @srjacobs said race weapon.
  • 1 0
 At least I avoided calling this bike "down-country."
  • 3 1
 Trek-sition Smuggler v1?
  • 1 1
 exactly what I was thinking....I'll keep my smuggler
  • 1 0
 Goodbye full floater for the 2020 Fuel.
  • 1 0
 The EX I mean
  • 1 0
 When will they release an enduro with more travel
  • 1 0
 9.8GX. Got mine coming for 15 september. dribbling already!
  • 3 1
 Sweet Split Pivot.
  • 2 0
 looks like norco fluid
  • 3 3
 At least the carbon version looks pretty nice. Oh wait.. never mind. Thats the 2016 version.
  • 3 2
 8999! Yeah can get a decent used car for that!
  • 5 0
 and you can get a used huffy on craigslist for $50
  • 1 0
 The chassis is longer and slacker. Who would have thought
  • 2 1
 To bad it has a KNOCKBLOCK
  • 2 0
 XC is so hot right now
  • 1 0
 Its like the scene in Wall-E where they tell everyone on the resort spaceship that the new cool color is 'blue' and they all change from red to blue. Look over here!
  • 2 0
 Make XC Enduro Again!
  • 1 0
 Just needs to come in the Miami/Volt Green fade and I'll be all set.
  • 1 0
 I wish we had more adults review bikes. Kids now adays LMFAO Jk
  • 1 0
 Aggression is a human emotion . That said I have very aggressive shoes .
  • 1 0
 I like your sunglasses.
  • 1 0
 looks like a good time!
  • 1 0
 Looks like a bike.
  • 2 2
 Can I get Trek Project One Batty/Neff head tube art, WW2 bomber style?
  • 5 5
 Pricing is shit. The race to the bottom continues in paying more for less.
  • 1 1
 I totally agree. GX spec'd on everything these days for way more $ then what you would have got X7 for back in the day.
  • 1 1
 At 51 big macs, would this be considered "downcountry"?
  • 2 0
 How much are they paying you?
  • 1 0
 @BenPea: Paying me for what?
  • 2 0
 you have been posting big macs weight conversions all the time right? hahaha
  • 1 0
 Sexy bike.
  • 5 7
 I was pretty stoked for this bike, but that pricing... :\
  • 1 3
 Not Downcountry without ISCG tabs. :facepalm
  • 1 2
 Downcountry!
  • 1 3
 Sb5
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