A quick look at the 2008 Trek Fuel EX 8

I raced my XC bike all year, I am kind of sick of bikes right now and really don't want to touch a bike with a 10 foot pole. I have been doing a ton of hiking, kayaking, hockey, squash, and camping, yeah bring it! But a bike ride? Wenting's cycle in Mission some how convinced me to demo this 2008 Trek EX8. I went to pick up the bike and my first thought was, man this bike looks deadly, it just looks like it will eat anything on the trail for breakfast.

Hey maybe a bike ride will be alright?My plan was to become a “freerider” for the day but a Euro freerider. In Europe “freeriding” is when you bring a pack full of food, water, clothing, and maybe some tools then you head out for an all day epic ride with a bunch of friends. Well most my friends have this thing from 9-5, called work? So since everyone was busy or fat and out of shape (Mike), I was in for a solo all day adventure.


My goal for the day was to try and give this bike the beat down of the century! You know really test it hard like no one else can. I rode every trail known to man on Vedder MTN., then a ton of unknown trails that only I know. I rode for 7 hours and the only thing that made me want to go home was the fact that my hands were so blistered from braking/shifting for that long. In turn I was the one who was beat down, the bike along with the mountain fed it to me, and I liked it.

The bike was so much fun. Trek did an amazing job with this thing. The EX bikes are all new for 2008 and the rear pivot is in the axle, it's a crazy idea and so smart. Having the pivot in the axle makes for a real smooth movement in the rear end, I was getting no “bucking bronco” effect (ye haw) and was able to huck off everything. The rear axle pivot also looks very clean- mean and clean. The bike had 120mm travel in the rear end and 130mm up front. I locked it out for the pavement/long gravel road climbs, and with the high/low chain stays it was one stiff mother of a rear triangle. This bike is very light for what it is, you must remember it's a 5 and 5 trail bike, so it's not quite as light as my 21 lbs Top Fuel race rocket but it came in at around maybe 26-27 lbs. So you put 5-6 lbs on a bike and it becomes indestructible and you can just ride right over and through everything.


The specs-

Frameset:
Sizes-15.5, 17.5, 18.5, 19.5, 21.5"
Frame-Alpha Red Aluminum w/R1i Trail Tuned Suspension, ABP pivot, Full Floater, Aluminum EVO Link, Hi/Lo chainstays, oversized sealed bearings, 120mm rear wheel travel
Front Suspension-Fox Float 130 RL w/air pressure, rebound, lockout, alloy steerer, 130mm
Rear Suspension-Fox Float RP2 w/ Pro Pedal, rebound, custom tuned

Wheels:
Wheels-Bontrager Race
Tires-Bontrager Jones XR, 26x2.2/2.25"; 120 tpi, folding

Drivetrain:
Shifters-Shimano Deore LX, 9 speed
Front Derailleur-Shimano Deore LX
Rear Derailleur-Shimano Deore XT "Shadow"
Crank-Shimano Deore LX 44/32/22
Cassette-SRAM PG970 11-32, 9 speed
Pedals-Shimano M520, clipless

Components:
Saddle-Bontrager Race
Seat Post-Bontrager Race Lite
Handlebars-Bontrager Race, 40mm rise, 31.8mm
Stem-Bontrager Race, 7 degree, 31.8mm
Headset-Aheadset w/cartridge bearings, sealed, alloy
Brakes-Avid Juicy 5, hydraulic disc; 185mm front, 160mm rear rotor

The parts spec on this bike was very good. I'm not gonna lie and tell you that I know a ton about all the parts but everything was solid and smooth; Avid brakes worked very well, and full Shimano drive train is always a good bet. As far as the parts go the one that impressed the most was this new XT rear derailleur, it was all tucked in and the chance of smoking it on some rock is reduced, this rear derailleur owns rocks! The bike was fitted with Bontrager parts, bar, steam, post, wheels and it made for a light weight, solid ride. 7 hrs of trails and there is not one thing I would change except for my woman hands, it hurts to type this.


I was so glad that I got out and did this ride. It brought me back to my youth when we would ride real slow all day and have a ton of fun, and on the way home we would hit up the Burger king to chow down on JR. Whoppers until we felt like tossing our cookies. Post ride I took a pass on the BK and just killed a box of Lucky Charms instead. Unlike the old days this time I rode a sweet bike instead of some piece, this bike made me a better technical rider and I was able to climb real fast to boot. For me this was the such a fun ride and that's what matters most-having fun!


Please visit www.trekbikes.com to learn more about the Fuel EX 8.

-Ricky "Lucky Charms" Federau