trek top fuel cross country

Trek Top Fuel 8 review: a progressive rather than podiuming XC machine

Trek’s top fuel delivers superlative short-travel suspension performance but it’s definitely a trail bike not an xc bike.

BikePerfect Verdict

Awesome suspension, agile swagger, grippy kit and practical frame updates build a brilliant rally bike, but high weight buries any XC aspirations

Infectiously agile and playful vibe

Superlative suspension feel

Seriously tight tracking frame

Trail tough kit

Internal storage

Too heavy for XC racing

Simple fork damper

Tight internal storage access

Yawning gap between this and the Supercaliber

Why trust BikePerfect Our cycling experts have decades of testing experience. We'll always share our unbiased opinions on bikes and gear. Find out more about how we test.

Top Fuel used to be Trek’s out-and-out best full-suspension mountain bike for racing, but with the soft-tail Supercaliber under its sponsored riders now, the Top Fuel has developed a burly rather than race character. 

The latest frame, suspension and spec changes to the 8 make the most of its short-travel agility and gripped tenacity to create a proper rally racer. Excess weight shows on climbs and acceleration though.

Design and geometry

The alloy Top Fuel frame not only has the same geometry, shock and suspension layout as its carbon counterpart but Trek’s engineers have also worked super-hard to give it the same extensive, updated feature lineup. That includes the lever-locked trapdoor into the down tube for internal storage, threaded bottom bracket shell with chain guide tabs. The Knock Block 2.0 inset now allows 72-degrees of steering lock (not 58-degrees as before) or you can fit a blank insert for full rotation if the bars aren’t slammed. 

In fact, it’s one of those bikes where we continually found ourselves riding how we always want to ride, not how we actually ride. That inevitably builds into an addictive upward spiral of confidence and insolent speed that often ended with us snapping at the heels of more expensive longer travel bikes even on really rowdy trails. Picking a larger, longer frame will settle it even more at speed, but for flow trails, it was refreshing to really rip those big Bontrager side tire lugs round on a compact, close combat chassis. Just be careful you don’t get too carried away, as however good it feels, less travel inevitably means the tires are having to cope with more impact force and we soon put a couple of splits in the rear tire despite the ‘inner strength’ casing.

When that happens the narrow neck of the storage hatch can make getting your spare tube out awkward and the high cage position means you won’t get a large bottle in either. There’s space for a 2.5in tire in the rear swingarm which pivots co-axially around the rear axle according to Trek’s ‘Active Braking Pivot’ wisdom. While it limits choice, the switch to a 34.9mm seatpost size should mean stiffer, smoother dropper action, especially on larger frame sizes which get up to a 200mm shaft stock. The new trunnion style shock pivots more smoothly and is the right way up now compared to last year’s inverted shocks. That means the MinoLink geometry flip chip to change angles by 0.5-degrees is now at the base of the shock but it’s still easy to get too. Significantly all RockShox spec Trek bikes from the 8 upwards get the same ‘Ultimate RCT’ spec Deluxe rear shock.

The alloy frame is a kilo heavier (3.74kg vs 2.7kg) than the carbon option according to Trek’s weights. This saves you $1,400/£1,500 if you buy the frame separately, although it still retails for $2,319.99/£2,350. Those numbers prove it’s neither affordable or light for a bike that you’ll find listed in the XC section of Trek's website, not the trail pages. In fact, the 130mm Fuel EX Al frame is the same weight although that doesn't have internal storage.

A 66/66.4-degree head tube definitely suggests progressive riding rather than traditional podium hunting vibes too. The 465/469mm reach on our M/L size is more trad than rad though so riders after a stretch should make use of the short 450mm seat tube and opt for the L with a 480/484 reach. All bikes get the same 76/76.4-degree seat tube angle and 434/435mm chainstay length though so while having six (S-XXL) sizes is great, the balance is definitely centered around the M - M/L - L models.

Components and build 

The Top Fuel 8 is the most expensive alloy bike, above the 7 at $3,529.99/£3,200 and the 5 at $2,629.99/£2,700 (we don’t know what 6 did to offend them but its missing from the line-up), but below the carbon-framed 9.7 at $4,229.99/£4,700.

The highlights of the package are the lightweight SID fork (albeit with the simplest Rush Damper) and Shimano XT rear mech and shifters. The Bontrager XR4 tires are some of our favorite welterweight all-rounders too. The SLX crank is a great piece with a 30T ring for easy climbing, but muscle Mary’s will find a 36T fits the frame too. You get a 150mm Trans-X dropper with a Bontrager Arvada saddle on top and 35mm diameter Bontrager Elite 45mm stem and 780mm wide bar.

Deore four-pot brakes just about do the job adequately via 180/160mm rotors but together with the wide rim tubeless Bontrager Line Comp 30 wheels they’re an obvious area where extra weight creeps in and adds up to nearly 14.5kg without pedals. 

Performance

Add that weight to chunky treaded, relatively grippy tires and however Trek categorizes the Top Fuel, the 8 clearly isn’t the best choice for charging climbs and ripping round simple XC laps. Now we’ve got rid of the people who’ll likely love the 12.2kg Trek Supercaliber for the same money, we can start talking about what the Top Fuel does do really well – and that’s riding properly rowdy.

While bikes like the Evil Following , Santa Cruz Tallboy , and Norco Optic have already established that short-travel bikes can feel awesome, the Top Fuel definitely goes into the small travel, BIG capability hall of fame. Like most of its peers, it doesn’t squander initial shock movement and can feel slightly sharp in the car park unless you drop tire pressures low. 

Once moving though it’s both amazingly fluid and connected over ruts and roots whether climbing janky tech or sucking onto stutter bump/root ripple turns or off-camber high lines. The wheel path and rear pivot position mean there’s minimal pull back through the pedals as it hoovers up chunder so you can stay on the gas without getting jacked or stalled out. While we’re always suspicious of acronyms and a 160mm rotor doesn’t generate much torque anyway, the braking performance of the ABP rear end is impressively grippy compared to the same hardware on other bikes. 

The RCT damper also has plus and minus low-speed compression settings to fine-tune support sensitivity depending on personal/terrain preferences. Even in the plus setting the mid-stroke mobility does mean you’ll want to flick into the much firmer ‘pedal’ mode if you’re stood up slow cadence churning on a climb or don’t want distracting bounce on long smooth climbs. The SID fork gets a similar firming option via the fork top lever though we rarely touched it unless we were really hanging on a road climb.

While the superlative suspension performance is definitely the heart of the Top Fuel’s ‘have a go hero’ character, the rest of the bike definitely exploits it rather than squandering it. The alloy frame might be heavy but it’s seriously stout when it comes to squaring up to the trail when things get punchy.

While the simpler Rush damper starts to get seasick and inconsistent well before the back end, the 35mm stanchions do a great job of staying on track. Shorter travel means less dive too and together with well-balanced cockpit dimensions and steering angle gives a really predictable and tenacious target lock.

Despite the hefty weight and relatively slow rear hub engagement the fact you can keep the power down or brake really late meant the Top Fuel always felt hyped to be hitting trails and tweaking lines as fast as possible. The shorter M/L size made it a proper joyride on tighter, twistier trails but you can still drive it really hard, heels down, feet level through turns and it loves to pump downslopes.

Trek’s Top Fuel 8 is a brilliant example of just how good short-travel suspension can feel, and less stroke always means a more responsive, visceral ride than a leggier bike. The geometry and proper trail tires really let you exploit the hooligan that’s hiding in the frame along with your pump, tool and spare tube too. 

As much as we’ve loved ripping around the trails on it, there’s no doubt it’s heavier and harder to accelerate/elevate than we’d like for its supposed XC/downcountry range placement though. If you’re about the overall vibe, not outright velocity, that doesn’t matter though.

Test conditions

• Temperature: -2 to 8 degrees
• Surface: Mixed blue-black trail center, moorland tracks, off-piste wooded tech and DH

Tech Specs: Trek Top Fuel 8

• Price: $3,829.99 / £3,850
• Model: Trek Top Fuel 8
• Discipline: XC/downcountry/trail
• Head angle:  66/66.4-degrees
• Frame material: Alpha Platinum Aluminium
• Weight: 14.46kg
• Wheel size: 29 x 2.4in 
• Suspension: RockShox SID 120mm travel, 44mm offset/RockShox Deluxe Ultimate RCT 120mm travel
• Drivetrain:  Shimano XT M8100 mech and shifter. Shimano SLX M7100, 10-51 cassette, chain
• Cranks:  Shimano XT 30T chainset
• Brakes:  Shimano Deore M6000 brakes with 180/160mm rotors
• Cockpit:  Bontrager Line 780mm bar and 45mm stem
• Wheelset:  Bontrager Line Comp 30 wheels
• Tires:  Bontrager XR4 Team Issue 29 x 2.4in tires
• Seatpost:  TranzX 150mm dropper post
• Saddle: Bontrager Arvada, steel rail saddle

Guy has been working on Bike Perfect since we launched in 2019. Hatched in Yorkshire he's been hardened by riding round it in all weathers since he was a kid. He spent a few years working in bike shops and warehouses before starting writing and testing for bike mags in 1996. Since then he’s written several million words about several thousand test bikes and a ridiculous amount of riding gear. To make sure he rarely sleeps and to fund his custom tandem habit, he’s also penned a handful of bike-related books and talks to a GoPro for YouTube, too.

Current rides: Cervelo ZFS-5, Forbidden Druid V2, Specialized Chisel, custom Nicolai enduro tandem, Landescape/Swallow custom gravel tandem

Height: 180cm

Weight: 69kg

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Top Fuel is a quick short-travel 29er trail bike that’s perfect for riders who like to stay pinned both up and down the trail. It’s lighter and snappier than a trail bike, but it’s a lot more forgiving on rowdy descents than a true cross-country bike. It’s the best of both worlds, and a hell of a lot of fun in the dirt.

MBUK's Trail Bike of the Year 2022

Top Fuel 8 earned high praise from MBUK for its updated geometry, a build that's up for anything, and suspension that feels deeper than the sum of its numbers when the trail gets rowdy.

Enduro’s Best Downcountry Bike of 2022

Top Fuel earned top honors in Enduro’s roundup of best downcountry rippers, thanks to the bike’s clean look, practical details, and progressive suspension.

Trail-eating geometry

10+mm more reach per size than previous Top Fuel for more confidence

66-degree headtube angle is 1.5 degrees slacker than previous models making it stable at high speeds and on descents

Mino Link lets you fine tune your frame geometry on the go. Keep it slack and low for confidence or flip it for quicker handling.

Rip down and rocket up any trail with Top Fuel’s capable and efficient suspension. 120mm of travel front and rear gives you enough squish to take bigger hits while a low leverage rate and high anti-squat ensure this bike jumps forward with every pedal stroke.

Optimized anti-squat = Snappy pedaling support

Top Fuel's efficient pedaling comes from a forward pivot on the seattube that provides optimal, near-constant anti-squat through the entire travel. So regardless of where you are in the travel, the bike accelerates when you push on the pedals.

Steeper seattube

A steeper seattube means you're pushing down on the pedals while also keeping front wheel weighted.

Knock Block 2.0

Removable Knock Block 2.0 still keeps cables from getting yanked out in a crash and protects the top tube, but now it provides 72 degrees of turning radius.

Mino Link lets you fine tune your frame geometry on the go. Stay in low for a slack 66 degree headtube angle. Flip it for a quicker 66.5 degree headtube angle and a 7mm higher bottom bracket for more ground clearance.

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If you’re gonna get just one mountain bike, make it this one. Fuel EX is fast on singletrack, capable in the rough, and fun wherever you ride it.

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Hardtail efficiency meets full suspension control in Supercaliber. This game-changing XC race bike is fast, light, and smooth in the rough.

2023 Trek Top Fuel 7 Review

Are you looking for a bike that will take your riding to the next level? The 2023 Trek Top Fuel 7 is one of the most stylish and advanced cross-country mountain bikes on the market. But is it worth the money?

With its lightweight design, modern geometry, and top-of-the-line components, there’s no doubt that the 2023 Trek Top Fuel 7 is meant for serious riders who crave an edge over the competition.

The 120mm RockShox 35 Gold RL front fork and 185mm Fox Performance Float DPS rear shock offer impressive responsiveness while maintaining low weight.

In this review, we’ll take a closer look at the features of Trek’s 2023 Top Fuel 7 and discuss how it can help you tackle any terrain with confidence. Read on to find out whether it’s worth investing in this high-end mountain bike!

The Trek Top Fuel 7 is an all-mountain bike with a lightweight aluminum frame that has been optimized for pure speed and adventure.

This model packs powerful components for an excellent value, plus the advanced suspension platform allows riders to tackle any terrain or conditions with confidence. Keep reading for an in-depth review of this bike’s components, performance, and overall value.

The 2023 Trek Top Fuel 7 is the perfect bikepacking companion. This lightweight aluminum frame utilizes Trek’s magnesium rocker link, Mino Link, providing a smooth, efficient ride on any terrain you face.

Built with a Shimano XT 12-speed drivetrain and 29″” wheels, the Top Fuel 7 enables quick acceleration while still offering great traction and confident turning. 

The frame also features Boost 148/110 hubs, an integrated chainstay protector, and three water bottle mounts for maximum convenience on your next adventure.

– Lightweight Alpha Platinum Aluminum frame provides efficient riding and reliable strength.

– RockShox 35 Gold RL, DebonAir spring front fork with Motion Control damper, lockout, and 120mm of travel

– Fox Performance Float DPS, 185mm x 50mm rear shock

– Shimano XT 12-speed drivetrain featuring a 30t chainring and 10-51t cassette offers responsive shifting across the large range.

– 29” wheels wrapped in Bontrager XR4 Team Issue 29.x2.40” tires for fast acceleration but with great agility in cornering and descending.

– Boost 148/110 hubs increase stiffness for more control on varied terrain

– Integrated chainstay protector prevents scratches to frame and components from long rides

– Internal frame storage makes it easy to ditch the pack and still carry your ride essentials.

The Trek Top Fuel 7 features a hydroformed Alpha Platinum Aluminum frame designed to deliver a lightweight yet durable frame that is ready to go anywhere. It has Trek’s ABP Convert downtube boost spacing which gives you more control when cornering on a wide range of trail surfaces.

The Trek Top Fuel 7 comes with 29” Bontrager Line Comp 30, Tubeless Ready wheelset with Bontrager XR4 Team Issue tires for added grip in loose corners. 

The rear wheel is built with Rapid Drive 108, 6-bolt brake disk, Boost 148 spacing, and a 12mm thru axle while the front wheel is made with Boost 110 spacing, and a 15mm thru axle.

The Top Fuel 7 offers top shelf componentry including Shimano hydraulic disc brakes, XT 1×12 drivetrain, 10-51t cassette, RockShox 35 Gold RL fork, Fox Performance Float DPS shock and 30t Shimano Deore crankset. These components give you all the power and control you need to tackle the toughest trail conditions out there.

Performance

On the trail the Top Fuel 7 feels fast and responsive due to its lightweight frame and powerful componentry. 

The RockShox fork provides 120mm of travel in front and the Fox Float shock out back allows you to absorb big hits without skipping a beat while at the same time providing stability on rocky technical terrain. 

You can rest easy knowing your bike will hold up even under tough mountain biking conditions – no matter where your adventure takes you!

With a retail price of $3,529.99 USD, the Trek Top Fuel 7 is an incredible value considering what it delivers in terms of performance and componentry. 

You get top shelf quality without breaking the bank, making this bike ideal for riders looking for their first full-suspension mountain bike that won’t disappoint even after years of hard use on any kind of terrain you can imagine!

In conclusion, if you’re looking for a reliable all-mountain rig at an affordable price then look no further than the Trek Top Fuel 7. 

Its lightweight aluminum frame combined with some impressive components make it capable of taking on almost any type of terrain confidently while still delivering blistering speed when needed. 

Plus, it’s got great value built into it – making it perfect for entry level riders wanting their first full suspension mountain bike!

Order online and have it shipped to your local dealer for final assembly!!

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Trek Top Fuel Review

by Kyle Scott | Nov 12, 2021 | Bike , Mountain Bikes , Short Travel Mountain Bikes

Table Of Contents

Build options.

• The Bottom Line
• Price Comparison
• Climbing Ability 100% 100%
• Downhill Ability 70% 70%
• Overall Fun 70% 70%

Travel: 115mm rear/ 120mm fork

Head Tube Angle: 68

Seat Tube Angle: 75

Reach: 470mm (large frame)

Weight: 26.08 lbs

Price: $8,999.99

What We Like: Super lightweight

What We Don’t: Knock Block in headset

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See Our  Best Short Travel Mountain Bike Review 2021 Article HERE!

Ibis Ripley

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• Climbing Ability 90% 90%
• Downhill Ability 90% 90%
• Overall Fun 90% 90%

Upgraded Rear Suspension

Bottom bracket has had some issues.

Head Tube Angle: 66.5

Seat Tube Angle: 76

Reach: 475mm (large frame)

Santa Cruz Tallboy

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• Climbing Ability 80% 80%
• Downhill Ability 100% 100%

Downhill Ability

A bit heavy.

Seat Tube Angle: 76.2

Marin Rift Zone

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• Downhill Ability 80% 80%

Budget All Day Rider

It is heavy.

Head Tube Angle: 66.6

Reach: 480mm (large frame)

Revel Ranger

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• Climbing Ability 70% 70%
• Overall Fun 80% 80%

Downhill Prowess

Seat angle could be steeper.

Head Tube Angle: 67.5

Seat Tube Angle: 75.3

Reach: 473mm (large frame)

Norco Optic

Buy Now at  Norco.com

App To Dial In Custom Suspension Settings

Slow on climbs.

Head Tube Angle: 65

Evil the Following

Buy Now at Evil-bikes.com

DELTA Link Rear Suspension

Expensive build options.

Head Tube Angle: 67.9

Seat Tube Angle: 77

Yeti SB 115

New rear linkage, not different enough from the yeti sb100.

Head Tube Angle: 67.6

Seat Tube Angle: 74

Reach: 450mm (large frame)

Trek Fuel EX

Buy Now at Trekbikes.com

Down Tube Storage

Suspension sag while climbing.

Head Tube Angle: 66

Orbea Occam

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Upgraded Rear Suspension, Customized Colour Options

Left hand only water bottle access.

Reach: 474mm (large frame)

Trek Top Fuel

Super lightweight, knock block in headset.

Banshee Phantom

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High Quality Components

Seat Tube Angle: 76.6

Reach: 470mm

Specialized Stumpjumper ST

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Seat Tube Angle: 74.5

Alchemy Arktos ST

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High Quality Build Components

Low bottom bracket, under bottom bracket water bottle attachment..

Head Tube Angle: 66.1

Seat Tube Angle: 75.5

Reach: 454 (large frame)

The Top Fuel is a spirited machine that comes in a price bracket for all riders. It has 115mm of rear travel paired with a 120mm fork to keep trails comfortable while demolishing miles. With an effective seat tube angle of 75 degrees, it is more slack than some of the other bikes on the list, and with a head tube angle of 68, it is also slack enough to help on the downhills without sacrificing climbing ability.

The Trek Top Fuel is the only bike on the list that comes with a dual suspension lockout lever stock on the build. You are able to hit a lever on the handlebars that will firm up both suspensions, helping in the climbing and sprinting department. The same lever also works the dropper post, which is a bit slow in our opinion—but at least you won’t be needing a jockstrap while riding.

Trek also uses their patented Active Braking Pivot, which will keep your wheels on the ground when braking through choppy sections, keeping traction where it needs to be. The 115mm of travel keeps this bike super fast, but that can get you in trouble if you land in chunder. The Top Fuel does come with some larger tires, albeit with limited knob, but the 2.4s will keep traction and control as you get moving. The Fox 34 front fork is burly enough to handle a lot of what is thrown at it.

Where do we start? Trek is a large company, and they can produce a lot of options. It also helps that they have their in-house component company Bontrager. At the top of the component list are the wireless drivetrain options, especially the SRAM XX1 Eagle AXS drivetrain, and just about every component is either made of or brushed with carbon fiber for between $13,049.99 – $13,699.99. The Top Fuel 9.9 X01 is between $11,699.99-$12,349.99, and again it comes complete with high-end components and a lot of carbon fiber. From there, the Top Fuel comes in models ranging from $8,000 to the Top Fuel 7 SX with its aluminum frame that still comes with dual lockout and a dropper post for $3,499.99.

Trek also offers all three frame types for the Top Fuel for those looking to build their own set up. Carbon, $3.799.99 (on sale at time of writing for $2,879.99), Aluminum, $2,499.99, and Alloy for $2,349.99 are three options. This big company equals big options.

The Bottom L ine

With a 7 year warranty, you’ll be able to trust this bike until “modern geo” standards change again, and we’re all riding on bikes with 5-meter chainstays and 42-degree head tubes looking like Fred Flintstone on his way to work.

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Trek’s Top Fuel Is More Than Just an XC Race Bike

Trek bills the Top Fuel as “fast, versatile ...for the cross country racer, marathon rider, and the Trek Factory Racing World Cup team.” All these things are true. It’s wicked fast and way more versatile than you might think. Like most race-focused bikes (or race-focused anything), the Top Fuel takes a little while to get to know. That’s not a knock, it’s a compliment. Once you earn its respect it'll carry you far and fast.

It’s got normal, 11-42-tooth 11-speed gearing and a 32-tooth front chainring. Fast and light, nothing crazy. XC bikes are designed to disappear between your legs. You don’t want too much thinking going on while trying to beat 50 other caffeine-jacked lunatics off the starting line.

The wheels are boost-ed Bontrager Kovee Pro, OCLV Carbon. They are super light and fabulous for racing. They held up fine on trail rides too, straight and true as the day they came out of the box.

The tires… well… Bontrager XR1 Team Issue are beautiful things but, unless you live in the desert, they’re a bit precious. On smooth, fast courses, they'll probably work great. I threw on Vittoria 2.35 Morsas for muddier rides and 2.25 Mezcals for faster tracks. The Mezcals were better overall than the beefy tire, but still had better tread and a stronger sidewall than the XR1.

The OE carbon stem is 70mm long. I’m mostly legs, short torso and long-ish arms—so I put a 35mm stem on the cockpit. Changing a stem is a cheap, easy way to fit a bike to you. Seems like a small thing, but in XC racing you tend to obsess more about small details like stem length, tires, air pressure, bottle cages, saddle angle, cockpit setup, computer mount and on and on.

The Top Fuel does not come with a dropper at any spec level. It has a super-light carbon seatpost, which helps keep the bike around 24lbs. I did throw on a dropper for one of the more technical races, and was glad I did. Though with the lockout and a dropper, the handlebar felt a bit crowded, but not unmanageable. Truthfully, I did ride a good bit without the dropper and got used to it.

The frame is slick and elegant, as are pretty much all Trek frames. If you buy this bike, you better like black. The carbon front, seatstays and aluminum chainstays are seamlessly integrated. Setting up the fox fork and shock is very quick. Fox’s float components are designed to be plug-and-play.

Now we come to the big leap forward for this 2017 bike. Trek’s Top Fuel experience is about the custom Re:Aktiv shock’s updated regressive valving and its simple, two-position switch. 1) Firm and 2) Locked. Boom, that’s it. When Trek first told me about this I was like “Aw, man. I’m sure it’s a fast, light bike and all...but am I in for two months of taint-punching race riding?”

However, Trek was confident that, aside from smooth courses or situations where you should lock the frame out, the open position was not only supportive, but plush enough for all purpose riding and tough modern XC courses. Of course the bike still has Trek’s proven ABP (active braking pivot) technology and Full Floater shock mount.

I raced the Top Fuel in 4 races, one early season tune-up, one super smooth roadie-fest, one super-technical mudfest called the Chain Stretcher (where they purposefully and willfully set the course to knock roadies out of balance), and one other fast and very flowy one. In the super fast, no-tech tracks, hardtails seemed to have the edge, but for tough tracks, this bike shines. Bright. The Top Fuel keeps peppy and quick all the way through your ride, allowing you to finish strong and have some fun.

Early in its travel, the Re:Aktiv regressive valving maintains a linear and firm shock rate. It then ramps up in mid-stroke to be a bit more progressive. However, at any point in its travel, for medium and big hits, or over rough terrain, the shock opens up and becomes instantly supple. I have absolutely no idea how it knows how to do this, but it knows.

Here’s a quick video on the tech.

Again, the two settings on the handlebar-mounted lockout are either fully locked for both fork and shock or open, which puts the shock in its firm, ‘wonderboy’ mode and opens the fork.

After a few rides, merging the usual firm and open capabilities of a 3-position shock actually makes perfect sense, not to mention massively simplifies everything. I either want to push the gas hard in locked out mode, or I want the shock be firm/open for supple travel when the going gets gnarly.

When you’re pushing hard and concentrating on racing--eyes bleeding, legs burning, your whole body in the pain box--you don’t want to think about three positions.

With a 70-degree head angle, the Top Fuel’s steering is super fast and responsive. This is where the ‘getting to know it’ phase is. The better you can handle a bike the more you’ll enjoy it. Ride it like a champion fencer, cutting and thrusting precisely through a course. While the Top Fuel doesn't have 65-degree head-angle impunity, I never went over the bars or felt sketchy. You just have to slice and punch with some accuracy.

It climbs great (a 74-degree effective seat tube angle helps). Just like an XC bike should. Really, that’s job one for any XC bike, because it’s where races are lost and won. So check that box for this bike and move on.

While the suspension can handle punchy climbs so well, it's still ready for an unexpected log-over, root section or big hit. That's where I found the Top Fuel to have a remarkable advantage over other XC bikes: it’s ability to flow right from fast to tough. Guys on hardtails look like baby giraffes on long root sections but the Top Fuel mashes through with no problems.

The SRAM X01, 11-speed drivetrain was always smooth under the toughest, most demanding (and occasionally ill-advised uphill) shifts. If you’re so inclined, The Top Fuel 9.9 gets you SRAM Eagle, which has 12 speeds and a 50 rather than 42-tooth top cassette ring. Might be nice if you need it, though not having it forces you to push without bailing to a too-easy gear.

The SRAM Level brakes (the lighter, XC race version of their capable Guide brakes) also had no issues. Through the mud and muck they stayed true without rubbing, squealing or fading. They still work like new.

The bike has a Mino-link flip chip, but leave it in the low position. It comes that way, no reason to change it. It’s there if you want to experiment. I didn't touch it.

Because Trek’s jam is making bikes more versatile than their intended design, I took it on a few trail rides. Powering up and keeping speed are, of course, easy on this bike. This is also where the Re:Aktiv tuning gives you the plushness and ability to ride the bike with comfort and a bit more playfulness. The geometry is still racy, so you have to handle it. Descend with precision and you're able to hit any trail you'd normally ride on a longer-travel bike.

The Bottom Line

Once again, Trek has put out a bike that's great at what it's made for, but is also really good at something else. The Top Fuel is, first and foremost, a race bike. It's light, fast and stiff—so go out and race it. Your secret weapon will be how well it handles rougher courses and sections that toss hardtail roadies. It's also really tough, with low-stress brakes and shifting which hold up great on trail rides. Add a dropper and some beefy tires and you've got yourself a short-travel trail bike rocket. It's enjoyable as a precise, not slacked-out, ride.

Frame: OCLV Carbon main frame & seatstay, alloy chainstay, ABP,Mino Link, Carbon Armor Boost 148 & G2 Geometry on 29ers, 100mm travel Fork: Fox Performance 32 Float 100mm travel w/ Grip 2-position remote damper. Shock: Fox Performance Float 100mm travel, RE:aktiv XC 2-position remote damper Wheels: Bontrager Kovee Pro Carbon W/Boost Hubs Tires: Bontrager XR1 Team Issue 2.2 Drivetrain: SRAM X01 w/11-speed 10-42 cassette Crank: SRAM X1 Carbon w/32T Direct Mount X-Sync chainring Brakes: SRAM Level TLM Seatpost: Bontrager Pro, OCLV Carbon It’s Black. All Black. Everywhere. 24lbs $5,199

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September 6 th , 2017

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Trek Top Fuel 9.9 SSL review

Trek world racing’s cross-country race rig.

You can trust Cyclingnews Our experts spend countless hours testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

The Top Fuel 9.9 SSL is a replica of the bike that was ridden to victory by Trek World Racing's Mathias Flueckinger in the 2010 U23 World Cup and World Championships. It's certainly superlight, but after three months of testing, we came away somewhat disappointed. We found two issues: the rear suspension doesn’t produce the pedaling performance expected from a cutting-edge cross-country rocketship and the front end of the bike feels soft, to the point of affecting handling.

Ride & handling: Promising ride stifled by rear shock and front stiffness issues

Our first experience with Trek’s ABP suspension system came when the technology was launched in 2007 (for the 2008 model year) with the Fuel EX. That bike climbed like a champ, with a firm but active suspension platform that offered very little pedal induced shock movement or feedback. On top of great pedaling, it provided the best downhill suspension performance Trek had ever offered.

We expected a similar experience from the Top Fuel, albeit race-tuned for cross-country. Instead, we found the rear suspension disappointing. With the Fox RP2 Boost Valve shock set at Trek’s recommended 25 percent sag — roughly 150psi; about 8psi more than recommended in the setup chart — the bike wallowed and the shock sensed every pedal stroke. This made the 9.9 SSL feel sluggish and heavier than its 22.84lb (without pedals) weight.

Bumping up the spring pressure to 190psi produced good pedalling performance with ProPedal platform damping engaged but left us with just 10 percent sag, reduced usable travel by 20 percent and required us to run the rebound circuit full-closed. We also had to run the fork harder to balance the bike, resulting in the same compromises up front.

This situation wouldn't be acceptable on any bike, let alone one costing close to US$8,000. Experience with the 2009 Top Fuel suggests the suspension design is sound, so it appears to be the latest Boost Valve equipped rear shock that's caused the problem. The suspension's leverage rate appears to be overwhelming the BV controlled pedaling platform. More on this below...

The Top Fuel’s Wisconsin-made OCLV Mountain carbon fiber frame offers good pedaling stiffness, which gives kudos to the new-for-2011 full-carbon rear end . However, while the frame has been given a tapered 1-1/8 to 1-1/2in head tube and correspondingly bigger down tube this year, the front end of the complete bike lacks stiffness. This issue – which we think is largely attributable to the lightweight carbon stem and front wheel; again, more on this below – presents itself at inopportune times.

Bontrager's Race XXX Lite stem threw the performance of the front end off

Charging rock gardens at medium to high speed, the bike felt like it was bending, loading up and pushing back; in a few cases this panicked the rider and in one case it contributed to a get-off. The same sensation of flex somewhere between handlebar and tire tread could be felt when muscling the bike up steep, rocky and technical terrain in the small chainring and 36-tooth low cog, particularly when torque was applied – for example, as the front wheel fell into a hole and the rider tried to correct.

Flex could also be felt in the saddle, where the seatmast produced an annoying bounce, especially when climbing or spinning at a high cadence on dirt roads with the rear shock locked out. However, this lack of stiffness is deliberate. Michael Browne, Trek’s mountain bike brand manager, told us: “It’s by design that it has deflection. And a lot more so than the [Elite 9.9 SSL] hardtail, because it’s a suspension bike and that’s what they were trying to build into the frame.”

These issues aside, the Top Fuel handled well, with a fit and geometry that's best described as performance cross-country. It doesn’t have the super-steep head angle of the race bikes of yesteryear, but it's not progressively slack either, at 70°. Along with a 73.5° seat angle, this gives the 9.9 SSL a neutral feel. It's very well mannered on singletrack or double track in most situations.

The longish top tube (23.8in, effective, on the 18.5in size) and 100mm stem provide a fit that a Lycra-clad racer is likely to appreciate more than an all-day trail rider. The 12.9in bottom bracket isn’t too high, but also not so low that you're constantly clipping rocks with your pedals. Overall, Trek seem to have nailed the geometry on this all-out racer, and you can ride it downhill fast until you start butting up against the stiffness issues.

In fact, this is where the bike excels. When properly sagged, the downhill performance of the ABP design is up there with the best – and not just in cross-country race terms; the same platform is used on Trek's Session downhill bike. We threw it on the ground a few times (ie. crashed) without any repercussions, which speaks well for its durability, and we also think it looks darn good.

Equipment: Replica component complement offers good performance, with exception of stem

Despite our misgivings with the rear shock and front end of the Top Fuel, Trek have left no possible hiccup in the specification of this bike. A full complement of Shimano’s new M980 XTR is paired with Bontrager’s top-level XXX components including their carbon rimmed wheelset, carbon stem, RXL handlebar and Evoke 4 saddle with carbon rails. Heck, even the top cap on the Cane Creek IS-3 headset is molded from unidirectional carbon. This thing is blinged out.

The new Shimano XTR offers rougher, yet faster and more forceful shifting performance than previous editions of the top-level group. The 42/30t double crankset paired to the 11-36t cassette providing all of the range any racer will need, World Cup or otherwise. The brakes offer a major step forward in power, even in their cross-country configuration, all the while maintaining the high level of modulation that Shimano brakes are known for.

For cross-country racing, we find two-ring cranksets provide the best possible performance

The 28-spoke wheels are sexy, though we wished the front was stiffer – or 15mm axle compatible. We’ve reached the point where through-axles can be appreciated by all, even World Cup cross-country racers, and in this case the axle may have added crutch to the soft front end of the bike. Despite the carbon rims, the wheels survived occasionally being bounced off rocks and tire pressures of 25psi.

Our bike came with Maxxis CrossMark UST tires, which added considerable weight (705g each, claimed) when compared to the super-light (370g actual), super-fast-rolling 120tpi Bontrager XR0 tube-type tires that grace the production bike. Note that the proper spec tires, set up tubeless like Trek World Racing run them, will drop 670g or 1.47lb, bringing the total package to 21.37lb without pedals and likely still under 22lb with pedals — darn light for a full-suspension rig.

One last issue: replacing the rear derailleur cable requires the cranks and bottom bracket to be removed, while a rear brake line change is even more laborious, involving the additional removal of the fork and the brake line’s threaded lever attachment.

Conclusion: Parts swaps could radically change this bike, but that shouldn't be needed at $8k

A bike costing close to $8,000 should be close to perfect, not hampered by rear shock issues and a lack of front end stiffness – both of which have been confirmed by our technical editor, James Huang. Trek have produced some amazing bikes over the past few years – including the 2009 Top Fuel we reviewed – so we decided to do a bit of digging to get to the root of the problems we encountered with the 2011 bike.

After explaining our issues with the rear shock to Fox Racing Shox’s race team suspension department, we sourced two different mdoels – a Float RPL and prototype RP2 Boost Valve model with a firmer ProPedal platform. We also sent the original RP2 remote shock back for evaluation, just to make sure it was working properly, which it was.

We tested the Top Fuel 9.9 with additional Fox shocks and found the Float RL to best suit our — and the bike's — style. Note that it comes with Fox's Float RP2 Boost Valve shock

The Float RPL offered three settings – open, ProPedal and full lockout – while the prototype used different internals to limit Boost Valve bleed and offer a firmer platform. Both shocks worked better than the original RP2, but the prototype still had too light a pedalling platform, which left us with the RPL as our preferred option for the Top Fuel. Whether on its non-Boost Valve ProPedal setting or full lockout, it gave the bike reasonable manners. The 9.9 SSL wasn’t vaulted to the top of the class, but performance at least fell into an acceptable range.

Fox’s 90g handlebar remote (weight includes cable, housing and shock mounted hardware) doesn't work with the Float RPL. Considering this, and that Trek want to offer handlebar control for both front and rear suspension, we believe the bike would be best equipped with Fox’s stalwart Float RL. This shock would also make the most of the ABP design's excellent downhill performance, offering a firm locked out pedaling platform that can be remote actuated but opens fully for the downhill.

Trek World Racing appear to have also worked through this. According to Fox, while the squad use a range of rear shocks with their Top Fuels, the racers can most often be found on the Float RL. However, Michael Browne, Trek’s mountain bike brand manager, told us that, while he can see the appeal of a full lockout shock to top-level racers, the production Top Fuel is aimed more at the type of rider who "goes up to the BC Bike Race, does 100-milers or 24-hour races".  "The conception of this bike... was more about a fighting weight cross-country bike that had trail bike performance to it," he told us.

As for front end stiffness, Trek say the 2011 Top Fuel was four percent stiffer in their full frame torsion test than the 2009 model (which had alloy chainstays). That, in turn, was claimed to be 33 percent stiffer than the 2008 model. (For comparison, The 2011 Fuel EX trail frame is said to be 20 percent stiffer than the 2011 Top Fuel, and 200g heavier.) So, if the flex isn't coming from the frame – or at least not all of it – what's to blame?

The e2 head tube points in the right direction, we'd just like it to be slightly better supported.

On the recommendation of Travis Brown, mountain bike race icon turned Trek product tester, we tested the bike with a different front wheel and a trail-bike-oriented stem. The stock Bontrager RXXXL rims and stem are made from carbon fiber and skewed toward the ‘light’ side of the performance equation. “I think all of our paradigms for stiffness are changing based on [today’s] forks and axles,” said Brown. “I have that bike, but I ride it with a 15mm fork. Set up that way, I feel like that frame, torsionally, is a little better than a [Fuel] EX.”

Switching the wheel and stem separately identified that much of the flex was coming from the carbon RXXXL stem, with the rim adding a little extra vagueness on top. After changing both components, the Top Fuel fell into a more normal and comfortable stiffness range. It was still notably softer than super-stiff rivals like the new Rocky Mountain Element RSL , but in line with other cross-country race bikes.

If you're thinking of buying a 2011 Top Fuel, we think it's worth considering whether the 20 percent stiffer, 200g heavier Fuel EX might better suit your riding style.

This review first appeared on BikeRadar here .

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Trek's Top Fuel is Reborn a Fast and Fun Trail Bike

The new Trek Top Fuel Pulls the XC-race stick out of its butt and joins the trail bike party.

The takeaway: You can ride all day without sweating the climbs.

• Reborn as a trail bike, the new Top Fuel has more travel and is more stable.
• Complete builds come with dropper posts and other trail-oriented parts.
• Aluminum frame Top Fuels start at $3,300. The most expensive carbon model is $10,000.

Weight: 24 lb. (9.9, size small)

.css-1hhr1pq{text-align:center;font-size:1.1875rem;line-height:1.6;font-family:Charter,Charter-roboto,Charter-local,Georgia,Times,Serif;}.css-1hhr1pq em{font-style:italic;font-family:Charter,Charter-styleitalic-roboto,Charter-styleitalic-local,Georgia,Times,Serif;}.css-1hhr1pq strong{font-family:Charter,Charter-weightbold-roboto,Charter-weightbold-local,Georgia,Times,Serif;font-weight:bold;} —Five Great Details—

Hidden Adjustment

Trek's MinoLink flip chip is hidden in the upper shock mount.

Slippery Gold

This top-end model gets the extra-slippery Kashima Coat legs on its Fox fork.

State Pride

Take a bit of Wisconsin with you wherever you ride.

The Knock Block headset prevents damage to the top and down tubes.

The housing and hoses are clamped to prevent rattle.

From Cross Country to Trail Bike

While the 2019 Top Fuel featured 100mm of travel in the front and back, the new Top Fuel now has 120mm of front suspension and 115mm of rear suspension. They’ve also done away with the floating mount that compressed the shock from both ends. Instead, the lower eyelet is fixed to the downtube, a change that reduces weight and improves stiffness.

Tires are also trending wider across the industry, and the same proves true here. Instead of light and skinny race tires, the new model comes with 29x2.40-inch Bontrager XR3 Team Issue tires designed for a variety of riding conditions. The new Top Fuel 9.9 also has armor to protect the downtube against rock strikes and Trek's Knock Block headset which prevents the bars and fork from twisting backward and damaging the frame.

As for geometry, the new model is slacker and longer than the last, and it has a shorter stem and wider bars than the previous generation. One of the most notable changes, however, is the updated front suspension offset. Trek was arguably the first to get behind an increased offset—specifically 51mm—for their 29ers.

Other brands eventually followed and soon most 29ers were using 51mm offset forks. But the current trend of longer front centers and slacker head angles has reversed this tide, and the offsets are shrinking. Even Trek couldn't fight the reduced-offset trend: the new Top Fuel uses a 44mm offset fork.

All the Bells and Whistles

As a top-of-the-line 9.9 model, our review bike comes with everything you’d ever want on an endurance bike and then some. Last year’s Top Fuel family didn’t feature a single dropper post, but now, every model comes with one. The small starts with a 100mm dropper and from there dropper sizes run all the way up to 170mm on the largest sizes.

The left handlebar grip features a TwistLoc remote that lets you lock out both front and rear suspension with one simple twist. Unlocking it is even easier, you just push a small button with your thumb. I was warned about it prior to riding, to prevent me from accidentally triggering it, but I didn’t find that to be a problem at all. Maybe it’s my small hands, but I think you really have to activate it intentionally. However, near the end of the review period the fork's lockout mechanism began to stick and sometimes wouldn't open.

The bike also comes with Trek’s Mino Link, which is located on the front of the rocker, making it easier to access and change than on previous versions. In the high position, the 9.9 has a quicker-steering vibe. If you want a more stable feel, flipping it to the low position will drop the bottom bracket 8mm, and relax the head angle from 68 to 67.5 degrees.

Right now the Top Fuel 9.9 comes in two color options: All black matte (for those minimalists) or an eye-catching black and teal hybrid with neon green lettering seen here. If you’re thinking of getting the Top Fuel and really want to go all out then you might want to wait until July 25, when the new Top Fuel joins Trek's ProjectOne customizable paint and build program.

You get all of these features, and the bike still only weighs 24 pounds (size small). The only thing the Top Fuel 9.9 doesn’t come with is electronic shifting. For that you’ll want the $10,000 Top Fuel 9.9 AXS with SRAM's Eagle AXS wireless group .

Frame: Carbon Wheel Size: 29-inch Travel: 115mm Shock: Fox Factory Float Fork: Fox Factory 34 Step-Cast, 120mm Drivetrain: 1x12 Crankset: SRAM XX1 Eagle Carbon, 32t Rear Derailleur: SRAM XX1 Eagle Cassette: SRAM XG-1295 Eagle, 10-50 Brakes: SRAM Level Ultimate hydraulic disc, 180mm front/160mm rear rotors Seatpost: Bontrager Line Elite dropper, 100-170mm travel Rims: Bontrager Kovee Pro 30 carbon, tubeless ready Tires: Bontrager XR3 Team Issue 2.4 in., tubeless ready Sizes: S, M, M/L, L, XL

The Top Fuel Family

If this $9,000 9.9 falls outside of your budget, there are three other bikes in the Top Fuel family that you can get for less.

The family starts with the Top Fuel 8 at $3,300. It’s the only aluminum bike in the line-up, and it weighs almost 30.5 pounds (size medium, claimed). It comes with the same amount of travel, a SRAM NX Eagle drivetrain, and you’ll even get the TwistLoc remote. For $4,000, you can get the Top Fuel 9.7. You’ll get roughly the same set up as the 8 but with a full carbon frame.

The Top Fuel 9.8 comes in at just over 26 pounds (claimed) for $5,500. You’ll get better components like SRAM GX Eagle, the Bontrager Line Elite Dropper (like the 9.9), and a Fox Performance 34 fork and Bontrager Kovee Elite 30 wheels with carbon rims.

The the 9.9 and the 9.9 AXS get Bontrager Kovee Pro 30 wheels with 108-tooth Rapid Drive hubs, for near-instant engagement. At $10,000, the biggest differences between the 9.9 and the 9.9 AXS are the wireless SRAM Eagle AXS shifters and the wireless RockShox Reverb AXS dropper.

Reshuffling the Trek Full-Suspension Family

Trek has a number of world-class cross country racers on its mountain bike teams. With the Top Fuel no longer a race bike, those riders will need a new XC bike. And it appears one is coming soon. Trek's racers are aboard a new bike with a sock on the top tube covering up a new full suspension design.

With its new trail orientation, the Top Fuel has serious overlap with Trek's current Fuel EX, a 130/130mm trail bike. We expect that will be rectified with a new version of the Fuel EX that will launch later this year. It will likely have more travel than the current Fuel EX, as well as longer geometry, slacker headtube angle, steeper seat angle, a shorter offset fork, a stiffer frame, and will be built with heartier parts.

How It Rides

I took the new Top Fuel to the trails I'd been riding on my personal Trek Fuel EX 5 — a heavier and longer travel bike than this Top Fuel 9.9. The trails I rode during the initial test ride were flowy, with a few technical spots and long climbs.

The biggest thing I noticed? Climbing wasn't nearly as difficult as it was on my personal bike. I wouldn't call it effortless, but the difference was significant. Riding in the "cross country" setup, with the Mino Link set high and the stem flipped in the downward position, the Top Fuel is a quicker steering and faster feeling trail bike. In this form, the bike truly would be great for endurance races like the Breck Epic and BC Bike race.

In the low mode, the bike feels mellower, but still a fast and agile bike. On paper, it has a lot in common with the Yeti SB100 and Santa Cruz Tallboy, which puts the new Top Fuel in very good company.

Taking it on some rocky trails, the Top Fuel tackled them just as well. While it might not have as much suspension as other trail bikes, it can just as easily rip down most technical trails. The 29er wheels and wider tires help the bike roll over obstacles with ease, without taking away from the bike's superb climbing ability.

The new Top Fuel might not be a pure XC-race bike anymore, but it's still precise and very fast. Its new trail orientation makes it a great choice for a rider who wants a fast and light bike with most of the the efficiency of a cross-country race bike, but with bit more versatility and playfulness.

equipment Top Fuel 9.9

When she’s not out riding her mountain bike, Jessica is an editor for Popular Mechanics . She was previously an editor for Bicycling magazine. 

.css-1t6om3g:before{width:1.75rem;height:1.75rem;margin:0 0.625rem -0.125rem 0;content:'';display:inline-block;-webkit-background-size:1.25rem;background-size:1.25rem;background-color:#F8D811;color:#000;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-position:center;background-position:center;}.loaded .css-1t6om3g:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/bicycling/static/images/chevron-design-element.c42d609.svg);} Bike Reviews

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Trek Top Fuel 8

• AUS $ NZD $ USD $ CAD $ GBP £ EUR €

Weight / M - 12.70 kg / 28 lbs (with tubes)

At a glance

Top Fuel 8 is a high-performance, high-value full suspension cross country mountain bike. It’s built for speed and efficiency in rough singletrack and XC races. A lightweight Alpha Aluminum frame, a 1×12 drivetrain, and Tubeless Ready wheels make it a great choice for new racers, fast singletrack riders, and anyone who wants to ride fast on trails without breaking the bank.

Where To Buy

"Super light and fast as hell"

"The new Top Fuel might not be a pure XC-race bike anymore, but it's still precise and very fast. Its new trail orientation makes it a great choice for a rider who wants a fast and light bike with most of the the efficiency of a cross-country race bike, but with bit more versatility and playfulness."

"More than just race-winning performance"

"It's a seriously rapid bike, and it responds well to roots and rocks, allowing you to keep the power on rather than having to ease back. It manages a fine line between a taut and lithe XC race machine and a bike that most riders would be happy to use for general trail duty."

"Racing blood, trail spirit"

"It's devilishly quick, accelerates in a way that makes it seem like my legs actually produce real power. It's stable, planted, and it tracks like it's supposed to. Endurance athletes will be able to remain seated over more terrain, saving precious energy over the long haul, while XC pinners will hook up better on steep technical climbs."

Specifications

• Frame Alpha Platinum Aluminum, ABP, Full Floater, EVO link, tapered head tube, Mino Link, MicroTruss, internal derailleur and dropper post routing, down tube guard, PF92, Boost148, G2 Geometry on 29ers, 100mm travel
• Fork RockShox Recon RL, Solo Air, Motion Control damper, TwistLoc remote lockout, tapered steerer, Boost110, G2 Geometry w/51mm offset on 29ers, 100mm travel
• Shock Fox Performance Float DPS, 2-position remote, tuned by Trek Suspension Lab, 6.5x1.5˝
• Wheel Size 29" 27.5"
• Tires Bontrager XR2 Team Issue, Tubeless Ready, 120 tpi, aramid bead, 29x2.20˝ (13.5 & 15.5: 27.5x2.20˝)
• Chain SRAM NX Eagle
• Crank SRAM NX Eagle DUB, 32T Direct Mount
• Shifters SRAM NX Eagle, 12 speed
• Brakeset Shimano MT500 hydraulic disc
• Handlebar Bontrager alloy, 31.8mm, 5mm rise, 720mm width
• Saddle Bontrager Montrose Comp
• Seatpost Bontrager Rhythm Elite, 31.6mm, 0mm offset
• Stem Bontrager Elite, 31.8mm, 7 degree
• Headset FSA IS-2, 1-1/8˝ top, 1.5˝ bottom

Q: Where to buy a 2019 Trek Top Fuel 8?

The 2019 Trek Top Fuel 8 may be purchased directly from Trek .

Q: How much does a 2019 Trek Top Fuel 8 weigh?

A 2019 Trek Top Fuel 8 weights M - 12.70 kg / 28 lbs (with tubes).

Q: What size wheels does the 2019 Trek Top Fuel 8 have?

The 2019 Trek Top Fuel 8 has 29" and 27.5" wheels.

Q: What size 2019 Trek Top Fuel 8 should I get?

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Trek Fuel EX vs Top Fuel: How Do These Iconic MTBs Compare?

When it comes to quality mountain bikes, few companies have the reputation and legacy of Trek. Trek has been producing high-performance bikes ridden by beginners, enthusiasts, and professional racers alike for decades. The Fuel EX trail bike and the Top Fuel cross-country bike are the most popular and capable models. But how exactly do these two iconic mountain bikes compare?

The Trek Fuel EX and Top Fuel represent two distinct bike categories and riding styles. In this in-depth comparison, we’ll examine each model’s key features and performance to help you decide which is better for your riding type.

Table of Contents

Overview of the Trek Fuel EX

The Trek Fuel EX epitomizes the modern trail bike. As a full-suspension 29er, it’s designed to provide control and stability across various terrain and trails. This makes it an excellent choice for a daily rider or all-mountain enduro racing.

With 140mm of front suspension travel and 130mm in the rear, the Fuel EX soaks up bumps and obstacles whether you’re going uphill or downhill. This plush suspension lets you maintain momentum and power over even the most technical trails. Trek’s active suspension technologies, like the Re:aktiv shock, provide a smooth and responsive feel.

An aluminum or carbon frame paired with quality components like Shimano SLX, XT drivetrains, and Bontrager Line wheels give the Fuel EX durability and all-weather performance. The balanced trail geometry provides a middle ground between agility and high-speed stability.

One standout feature is the Fuel EX’s versatility. It has 29” and 27.5” wheel options to fit many riders. The frame sports a water bottle mount and is compatible with a front derailleur if you want to run a 2x drivetrain. Plus, there are multiple build specs at different price points.

Overall, the Trek Fuel EX lives up to its reputation as a confidence-inspiring trail bike ready to take on everything from mellow singletrack to the most gnarly downhill trails.

Overview of the Trek Top Fuel

Whereas the Fuel EX leans towards trail riding, the Top Fuel is Trek’s thoroughbred cross-country racing bike. It prioritizes speed, acceleration, and climbing ability above all else.

The Top Fuel lives up to its name with 120mm of suspension travel front and rear. This shorter travel paired with a carbon frame provides a lightweight and responsive feel on fast cross-country courses and flowy singletrack. The 120mm may be less than the Fuel EX, but it’s explicitly dialed to smooth roots and more minor hits at speed.

Trek only outfits the Top Fuel with 29” wheels, taking advantage of the larger diameter’s faster rolling and obstacle-clearing ability. The geometry is optimized for cross-country racing with a steep 74° headtube angle and a shortened wheelbase for quick steering.

High-end carbon frames keep complete bike weights under 23 pounds. The premium build specs feature Shimano XTR or SRAM XX1 Eagle drivetrains with 12-speed cassettes and race-ready carbon componentry. The suspension comes dialed from Fox Racing Shox or RockShox with lockout.

While not the best choice for technical downhill and enduro racing, Top Fuel’s cross-country prowess is hard to match. Trek engineers have created a World Cup-level XC rig to quickly shoot up climbs and rail berms. It’s built for riders who want every advantage when racing against the clock.

Here is a comparison chart highlighting the key differences between the Trek Fuel EX and Top Fuel mountain bikes:

Direct Comparison of Key Specifications

Now that we’ve provided an overview of each model let’s directly compare some of the key specs and components. This will reveal precisely where the Fuel EX and Top Fuel differ.

• Suspension Travel:  The Fuel EX has 140mm front and 130mm rear suspension, while the Top Fuel has 120mm front and rear. The Fuel EX has more travel and is better suited for rough trails.
•   Wheel Size:  The Fuel EX has 29” and 27.5” options. The Top Fuel is only available in 29”. The Fuel EX fits more riders.
•   Frame Material:  The Fuel EX has alloy or carbon frames, and the Top Fuel is carbon exclusively. The Top Fuel frame is lighter.
•   Geometry:  The Top Fuel has a steeper 74° head tube angle than the Fuel EX’s 67.8°. This makes it handle quicker at high speeds.
•   Drivetrain:  The Fuel EX is spiced with Shimano SLX/XT or SRAM GX. The Top Fuel gets higher-end XTR or XX1 Eagle drivetrains.
•   Brakes:  Both bikes come equipped with hydraulic disc brakes. The Top Fuel often gets higher-end Shimano XTR brakes.
•   Weight:  The Top Fuel size 19.5” can get under 23 pounds. The Fuel EX tends to weigh around 26-28 pounds.

As you can see, the Top Fuel edges out the Fuel EX regarding specs. But the Fuel EX is no slouch and offers tremendous versatility at a more accessible price point.

Riding Experience and Performance

Beyond just the specs, what matters most is how a bike rides out on the trail. This section compares how the Trek Fuel EX and Top Fuel perform when put to the test.

The Fuel EX is the more versatile of the two bikes. With its well-rounded geometry and quality suspension, it can comfortably handle various terrain. Flowy singletrack, steep descents, big jumps, and technical sections are manageable thanks to the balanced handling and plush 140/130mm of travel.

The Fuel EX also fares well in enduro racing, where uphill and downhill performances are equally important. The 27.5” wheels provide quick handling and acceleration on climbs while the long travel soaks up hardcore downhill runs. It’s also great for lift-served riding at bike parks.

Alternatively, the Top Fuel shines at high speeds over less technical terrain. Its stiff, lightweight carbon frame and fast-rolling 29” wheels let you fly up climbs and hold momentum over undulating singletrack. The 120mm of travel provides enough cushion for smoothing roots and more minor obstacles at a race pace.

While the Top Fuel can still handle intermediate trails, its limitations become more apparent on steep, loose descents than the Fuel EX. Quicker steering also requires more focus at high speeds. But for cross-country racers, it delivers every advantage possible when it counts.

Both bikes utilize quality components and advanced suspension designs to provide a precise, confidence-inspiring ride. However, the Top Fuel’s focus on weight and speed gives it the edge for racing, while the Fuel EX takes the lead for versatility.

Ideal Use Cases Given the differences in design and performance, the Trek Fuel EX and Top Fuel best suit slightly different riding applications.

The Fuel EX is the better choice for mountain bikers looking for a high-performance daily driver. It excels at everything from mellow singletrack to downhill riding while providing quality components at a reasonable price. The Fuel EX is also excellent for newer riders exploring different disciplines and trail types.

In comparison, the Top Fuel is ideal for competitive cross-country racers and riders who prioritize lightweight and absolute speed above all else. Its flyweight carbon frame and fast-rolling 29” wheels give it superior acceleration and handling at a race pace over less technical trails. The premium specs are worth it for racers chasing every advantage.

To summarize:

Fuel EX – Better value for the aggressive trail rider. More versatile for varied terrain. Casual trail riders looking to have fun on the descents while exercising good fitness on climbs are likely better served by the well-rounded Fuel EX at a more affordable price point. But hardcore cross-country racers should give the advantage to the Top Fuel.

People Also Ask

What is the main difference between the trek fuel ex and top fuel.

The Fuel EX is a trail bike built for all-around riding, while the Top Fuel is a dedicated cross country racing bike built for speed and efficiency.

Which bike has more suspension travel?

The Fuel EX has 140mm of front suspension travel and 130mm of rear travel. The Top Fuel has 120mm of travel front and rear.

Can you customize the Trek Fuel EX or Top Fuel?

The Top Fuel is available through Trek’s custom Project One program, allowing you to customize colors and components. The Fuel EX has preset build specs without custom options.

What wheel size is the Fuel EX available in?

The Fuel EX comes in both 29” and 27.5” wheel size options. The Top Fuel is only available as a 29er.

Which bike is better for downhill riding?

Between the two, the Fuel EX is better suited for downhill and enduro riding thanks to its slacker geometry and longer travel suspension. The Top Fuel is faster uphill and on flat terrain.

Trek’s Fuel EX and Top Fuel represent two of the most capable and reliable mountain bikes in their respective categories. While they share similarities like quality construction and geometry, their intended use and performance differ.

The Fuel EX is likely the better choice for most trail and enduro riders. It provides spectral performance at a more affordable price point and can handle terrain or conditions. But competitive cross-country racers will appreciate Top Fuel’s specialization for speed over varied surfaces.

While they differ in their strengths, both Trek models benefit from meticulous engineering and quality construction. Trek’s innovative designs allow both bikes to excel in their respective categories. So whether you prefer all-around trail riding or pure race performance, Trek has you covered with the iconic Fuel EX and Top Fuel.

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Best downcountry mountain bikes of 2024 | Top-rated downcountry MTBs and buyer's guide

The top downcountry mountain bikes, tested and rated by our expert reviewers

Steve Behr / Immediate Media

Stan Portus

Imagine a bike that can tackle all-day epic rides with ease and efficiency, cover ground extremely fast and has just the right mix of componentry to fly down descents, and you're on your way to picturing the best downcountry mountain bikes.

Here, we list the best downcountry mountain bikes in 2024, as tested and rated by our expert reviewers at BikeRadar.

A relative newcomer to the mountain bike scene, downcountry bikes are growing quickly in popularity because they give you everything you need and nothing you don't.

Many of these bikes started life as race-ready cross-country mountain bikes, but they have been given some extra travel and a more progressive geometry, while retaining their XC speed.

Not all downcountry bikes are built the same, though. While some are more like beefed-up cross-country mountain bikes , others are closer to the best trail mountain bikes – pared-back and adrenaline-seeking.

We've put together a buyer's guide at the end of this article to help you choose the best downcountry bike for you and to help explain this new category of bike.

Best downcountry mountain bikes of 2024

Transition spur x01.

• Great geometry
• Smooth downhill, sprightly uphill
• £6,000 / $6,499 / AU$10,499 as tested

Unlike some downcountry bikes, the full-carbon frame Transition Spur is neither a beefed-up XC machine or a pared-back trail bike. Instead, Transition started from the ground up to build a bike that, it claims, will cover ground quickly and fly down descents.

The Spur has 120mm of travel in both the front fork and the rear shock , and when it comes to descending it really shines a light on how capable a bike like this can be, staying composed with an innate ability to smooth out the trail despite its modest travel.

When climbing, the Spur is quick and efficient, surging forward as you step on the pedals, and staying firmly rooted on rough pitches.

Overall, Transition has created a bike with superb geometry, well-considered kit and a ride that would put many longer-travel bikes to shame.

• Read the full Transition Spur X01 review

Cotic FlareMAX GX AXS

• Very capable downhill
• Fast rolling and responsive

Designed for riding in the UK, the FlareMAX feels capable in most situations, leaning more to the side of ‘down’ in the downcountry equation.

Uphill, the FlareMAX offers tons of traction, accelerating efficiently when you stamp on the pedals. Featuring 125mm of rear travel, the FlareMAX has a ground-hugging feel that never makes it seem under-biked when pointed downhill.

The bike comes well specced with a 120mm RockShox SID fork up front, while Cane Creek's DBair IL takes care of the rear. It also features SRAM’s Eagle AXS drivetrain and G2 RSC brakes, making the bike weigh in at 13.9kg for a size large.

Juliana Wilder CC X01 AXS TR Reserve

• Super-light, responsive build
• Impressively capable on the descents
• £8,299 / $9,449 as tested

Weighing in at 10.5kg, it’s no surprise that this range-topping new downcountry build from Juliana is a mega climber.

By dropping the VPP linkage, the rear-suspension design has helped to shave 289g off the frame weight of the Blur – the Wilder’s Santa Cruz equivalent – yielding 115mm travel using the single-pivot linkage and flex-stays.

There’s more to this new downcountry rig than pure prowess uphill though: specced with 120mm travel up-front, the Wilder is surprisingly capable when it comes to tackling rougher ground and descents.

• Read the full Juliana Wilder CC Xo1 AXS TR Reserve review

Specialized Epic EVO Expert

• Super-fast when you step on the pedals
• Short-travel but incredibly capable
• £6,750 / $6,300 / AU$10,100 / €6,699 as tested

The Specialized Epic EVO is a rocketship, reflective of its cross-country roots.

On climbs, the bike is sprightly and energetic and gives the feeling that everything you put into the pedals is translated into forward momentum. Slow up a little bit and the bike sits in the middle of its travel and feels more supportive than others.

When you point the Epic EVO downhill, it's surprisingly stable, delivering far beyond its 120mm of travel on rougher terrain, but getting the right line is important to really unlock the bike's potential.

For the price, one might expect a carbon bar rather than the alloy one Specialized has specced, and the brand's in-house tyres could be switched out for some extra bite.

• Read the full Specialized Epic EVO Expert review

Trek Top Fuel 8

• Ideal suspension and geometry
• Meaty but weighty frame
• £3,850 / $3,830 / €4,099 / AU$5,300 as tested

The Trek Top Fuel 8 won't quite match its rivals on descents, but it's highly versatile, climbing and nullifying rugged surfaces with aplomb.

The modern geometry and gearing of the Shimano XT/SLX groupset allow you to scamper up sheer inclines, provided the Bontrager XR4 tyres retain purchase.

Downhill, the Top Fuel is agile and the RockShox SID fork is only outgunned on the most technical sections.

Unlike an XC bike, the Top Fuel should be forgiving enough to pootle along on all-day adventures.

• Read our full Trek Top Fuel review

YT Izzo Uncaged 7

• Modern geometry
• Impressive climbing ability
• Good spec for the money
• £6,299 / $6,499 / €6,299 as tested

The Izzo Uncaged 7 features the same frame as the rest of YTs Izzo range, but features 120mm of travel front and rear instead of the usual 130mm.

Being direct to customer, YT has provided a high spec for the money featuring SRAM's XX1 AXS groupset and G2 Ultimate brakes. A full carbon frame and the carbon DT Swiss XCR 1200 wheels make covering ground quick and easy.

Descending is at the core of the Izzo, though meatier tyres would allow it smash gnarlier trails.

• Read our full YT Izzo Uncaged 7 review

Nukeproof Reactor Carbon 290 ST

• Downhill demon
• Great spec for the price
• £4,700 / $4,700 / AU$6,600 as tested

The Nukeproof Reactor ST is a really capable bike that comes with progressive geometry and a good riding position.

Considering the price point of the Reactor ST, the kit that is bolted to it is really impressive. There is a Fox Factory 34 fork, a Shimano XT 12-speed groupset, Maxxis rubber and carbon handlebar.

On descents, the Fox 34 feels well-controlled and the 125mm of travel in the rear can take some pretty big hits, creating a ride that is seriously fun.

The Reactor ST isn't energetic on climbs and locking the shock is advised to get a bit more efficiency on long drags. This means the Reactor ST isn't quite as rounded as other downcountry bikes, but when it comes to descending and value for money, it's hard to beat.

• Read our full Nukeproof Reactor Carbon 290 ST review

Scott Spark 900 Tuned AXS

• Lightning fast
• Suspension eases over bumps
• £8,199 as tested (international pricing TBC)

Even in its downcountry guise, with a 130mm-travel fork, the Scott Spark 900 Tuned AXS is suitably rapid. This is in part due to the Fox Nude 5T shock and fast-rolling Schwalbe Wicked Will tyres.

Thankfully, the Shimano XTR brakes can cool off that speed.

Although the Scott Spark whizzes up rock-strewn ascents, on leveller ground the suspension tends to absorb power from the pedals instead of propelling the bike forwards.

• Read the full Scott Spark 900 Tuned AXS review

Scott Spark 910

• Very fast, devours climbs
• Clean hardware

Sharing its frame with the Spark RC cross-country race-bike, the Spark 910 is a fast mile-munching monster with top-of-the-class climbing ability.

The Fox Nude rear shock provides 120mm of travel and is hidden away in the seat tube, creating a clean-looking frame and protecting the shock from the elements. A 130mm Fox 34 fork supports the front end, and the bike is specced with Shimano's XT drivetrain and features a Syncros Fraser integrated bar and stem.

Unlike some downcountry bikes, the Spark is still very much 'country' focused, and is more at home at trail centres rather than gnarly backcountry descents.

Also consider…

This downcountry mountain bike scored fewer than four out of five stars in testing, but is still worth considering.

Cannondale Scalpel SE LTD Lefty

• Incredibly comfortable
• Agile and fun
• £7,000 / $8,300 / €8,399 as tested

The Scalpel SE LTD Lefty shares the same carbon frame as Cannondale's XC Scalpel but has a longer stroke shock to increase the travel from 100mm to 120mm.

This cross-country DNA is apparent in the handling, with the Scalpel eager to get moving and climb. The bike doesn't feel quite as supportive or as bob-free as other downcountry bikes, but on long straight climbs, it can go along at a good pace.

The Scalpel really shines on meandering downhills. It slithers over roots and rocks with ease and is nimble on flowing trail park descents. But rougher terrain will reveal the limits of the Scalpel quicker than other similar bikes.

Having said this, if you're looking for a downcountry bike more at the XC end of the spectrum, the Scalpel is ready to eat up some big miles and comfortably cut through singletrack too.

• Read the full Cannondale Scalpel SE LTD Lefty review

First ride recommendations

These downcountry bikes have only been ridden by the BikeRadar testers a handful of times, so they haven't yet been given a full, rated review, but they are worth considering.

Yeti SB115 T1

• Supple and supportive suspension
• Super-solid chassis
• £6,499 / $6,300 / €7,490 as tested

Adapted from Yeti's SB100 cross-country bike , the SB115 T1 is a solid bike that feels very planted through the chunder but efficient on the climbs.

The SB115 is graced with Fox Factory suspension that comes up trumps. High anti-squat figures keep the bike feeling stable on climbs.

On descents, it is soft enough to keep the rear wheel stuck to the ground and with enough mid-stroke support for some good pop. It also ramps up nicely for bigger hits, even though there is just 115mm of travel in the rear.

The geometry of the Yeti is fairly similar to the SB100, which contributes to its speed, but the reach is short and it could do with a bit more length to remain stable and less skittish on loose rocks and steep chutes.

• Read the Yeti SB115 T1 first ride review

Buyer’s guide to downcountry mountain bikes

Mountain biking often feels like a broad umbrella for many different disciplines; from trail to high-flying downhill, there are myriad riding styles and, of course, the bikes to match.

Downcountry bikes are one of the latest mountain biking phenomena, sitting at the intersection of cross-country, trail and all-mountain bikes.

Having existed in one form or another for a number of years, downcountry bikes have recently hit the mainstream. As demand for this type of bike began to balloon, the bike industry responded, and downcountry is now a burgeoning category.

Different brands approach downcountry bikes in slightly different ways, but this buyer’s guide will take you through everything you need to know.

What is a downcountry mountain bike?

In short, downcountry bikes are lightweight XC-style frames with added travel, trail-friendly geometry and wider, knobbly tyres.

The result? Bikes that will cover ground extremely fast but still enable you to charge down descents.

The term 'downcountry' was coined by Mike Levy at PinkBike three years ago, and is a mash-up of 'downhill' and 'cross-country'. So, a pretty neat encapsulation of what the bikes are for, and consequently a term that has stuck around.

The origin of downcountry bikes is a bit hazy. Some say it extends back to cross-country racing, where gnarlier courses demanded more technical, gravity-capable machines. Others say it comes from engineers making small tweaks to thoroughbred XC race bikes to make them more fun to ride.

Arguably, they could stem from manufacturers doing their market research and seeing consumers riding more extreme terrain on their cross-country bikes and making corresponding upgrades to existing bikes.

However they came to be, some of the biggest bikes brands now offer off-the-shelf downcountry bikes that deliver a refined balance of short travel, minimal mass and progressive geometry.

What to look for in a downcountry mountain bike

Alongside trail-friendly geometry, wide knobbly tyres and extended travel, downcountry bikes have a few other features that help them balance their fast and agile ride with their downhill performance and more relaxed feel.

Much of what makes a downcountry bike is what it is specced with, and here we run through the key things to look out for.

A lightweight frame with a relaxed geometry

Go back 10 years and tell a cross-country rider they’d one day be riding a bike with a 66-degree head tube angle and they’d probably look at you as if you’d had one too many caffeine gels. But now, this is exactly what is happening with downcountry bikes.

This angle is slacker than traditional cross-country bikes and helps give downcountry bikes their gravity-riding potential. This is because a slacker angle means the front fork sticks our further, creating a more stable ride at high speeds.

Reach figures have also increased as head angles have decreased. A longer reach number makes the bike feel more stable when you’re stood on the pedals descending.

Descending stability was going to be an inevitable outcome when combining the slack head angle, long reach and the consequential longer wheelbases created by those two figures.

Even though downcountry bikes have more gravity-friendly geometry, they remain relatively light so riders aren’t pushing too much mass, helping the bikes stay fast.

Short-travel

Although downcountry bikes have a short-travel design, they still offer a bit more travel than cross-country race machines to help them on more technical downhill sections.

As a general rule, downcountry bikes have between 120mm and 130mm travel in the forks and a variation of between 110mm and 125mm at the back, depending on brand and model.

Some downcountry bikes do offer more travel, but this is testament to how downcountry is a rather woolly category that is more about different factors coming together than travel defining what the bike is.

Large wheels and burly tyres

29in wheels are standard on downcountry bikes. Compared to 27.5in wheels, they require less effort to keep their momentum and are consequently more efficient, making them the right choice for the sorts of longer, more pedalling-intensive rides you’ll be doing on these bikes.

Downcountry bikes pair 29in wheels with wider and burlier tyres than you would expect to find on 29er cross-country bikes.

These mountain bike tyres sit between fast-rolling, lightweight XC tyres and chunkier downhill treads, making them fast and less of a drag when climbing, yet more durable and capable on the rough stuff.

Wide bars and short stems

Wide bars and short stems are the go-to for downcountry bikes.

The wide bars give you more leverage and help make downcountry bikes super-stable, agile and less skittish than bikes with more XC-focused components.

A shorter stem also improves handling. It gives the bike quicker handling characteristics by making steering more direct and makes the bike feel more responsive.

Dropper seatposts

Dropper posts are a common feature on downcountry bikes because they give riders a bit more space for moving around and shifting weight on technical descents.

It’s possible to raise the saddle for efficient pedalling and to make the most of downcountry bikes’ cross-country-style speed, combining the best of both worlds.

It might not be a surprise that downcountry bikes come with dropper posts considering their versatility, and dropper posts are even making their way onto gravel bikes .

Gearing on downcountry bikes is slanted towards the cross-country end of the spectrum. Front rings tend to have between 32 and 38 teeth compared to the 30- to 34-tooth rings on trail bikes.

This allows for more speed, which is always appreciated on the smoother trails and fire roads that a downcountry bike is at home bombing along, and for long days in the saddle.

When it comes to brakes on downcountry bikes there is a mix, but they tend to use two-pot rather than four-pot mountain bike disc brakes , where there are only two pistons rather than four.

This is because downcountry bikes don't need the braking power of four pistons because they aren’t descending at the fast, white-knuckle speeds of downhill mountain bikes .

Two pistons rather than four also saves weight, helping downcountry bikes achieve their svelte builds.

In keeping with this, downcountry bikes also tend to have a mix of rotor sizes; 180mm on the front for better braking and heat dispersion and 160mm on the rear, where braking isn’t so strenuous on the disc and a few grams can be saved.

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Best down-country mountain bike: short travel shredders

• Danny Milner
• January 10, 2024

Short on travel but big on geometry, we review the best down-country mountain bike rigs – fleet-footed steeds that blend the speed of an XC bike with the capability of trail bike.

Trek Top Fuel 8 Credit: Roo Fowler

Short on travel, light on weight, but big on geometry, the best down-country mountain bike rippers give you everything you want and nothing you don’t. Fast and fun, in a lightweight, efficient package, these bikes can cover ground with minimal fuss and still be thrashed to within an inch of their lives on proper trails.

• Best mountain bikes: hardtail, XC, trail and enduro to suit all budgets
• Best cross-country XC mountain bikes

The Yeti SB120 is a down-country bike you can buy with your head as well as your heart

1. Yeti SB120

The best down-country bike if money is no object.

Wheel size: 29in | Frame: Turq carbon, 120mm | Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL | Weight: 13.3kg (29.3lb) | Rating: 9/10

Reasons to buy:

• All round overachiever with superlative suspension
• Wide size range

Reasons to avoid:

• Agile rather than ultra aggressive
• Not actually that light
• No internal storage

From one of the most aspirational brands in the business comes the impeccable SB120. Yeti shrinks and shoehorns its unique Switch Infinity suspension design into the SB120 chassis. Where the swingarm moves up and down on dual Fox shafts just above the bottom bracket. And the new design has improved seals, bearings, hardware, and pivots, so it should stay in tip-top condition for longer.

And this clever suspension design really works. As we explained in our review, “the supple suspension is stable under power gives a really positive pedalling feel”. Then, when you really hit a something hard and the rear wheel sticks to the ground, giving superb traction and control. It needs a lighter set of wheels to do the flickable geometry and sublime suspension justice, but even out of the box the Yeti SB120 had us smitten.

Read our full review of the Yeti SB120

Santa Cruz’s Tallboy is a terrier that thinks it’s a rottweiler

2. Santa Cruz Tallboy

Best down-country bike for sending it.

Wheel size: 29in | Frame: Carbon CC, 120mm | Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL | Weight: 13.08kg (28.84lb) | Rating: 9/10

• Outstandingly fast and focused full-send aggression
• Does things normally reserved for burlier bikes
• Superb size range
• Internal storage compartment
• Needs a pretty skilled rider to avoid pratfalls
• Uncomfortably uncooperative on technical off-piste trails
• Can be tiring to ride

Although often overlooked in the comprehensive, verging on confusing, Santa Cruz range, we think the Tallboy is an undiscovered gem. You’ve heard of small man syndrome, or small dog syndrome, well the Tallboy has small bike syndrome, where it steadfastly believes it’s actually an enduro bike, and deserves to be ridden as such. The stiff frame and aggressive angles beg to be wrung out on every descent, yet the efficient suspension and lightweight mean it’s always the first bike back up to the top of the hill.

For some riders, all that straining at the leash might be too much. But if you love wringing the neck of a short travel whip, and seeing your buddies slack-jawed in amazement as you undermine and overtake their big-travel enduro bikes, the Tallboy is the ultimate sleeper bike.

Read our full review of the Santa Cruz Tallboy

Transition’s Spur is still one of the finest down-country bikes we’ve ever tested

3. Transition Spur

Best lightweight down-country bike.

Wheel size: 29in | Frame: Carbon, 120mm travel | Sizes: S, M, L, XL | Weight: 11.25kg (24.8lb) | Rating: 10/10

• Perfect blend of speed and control
• Lightweight
• Not the most robust build if you’re carrying some timber
• Narrow size range

The Transition Spur is arguably the bike that spawned the down-country category, and also the bike that perhaps best defines it. At under 11.5kg, the Spur flies out of the gate, haring up climbs and tearing along high-speed singletrack. That lack of inertia encouraged us to sprint every rise, pop every jump, and schralp every turn, helped by the stable geometry and supple suspension.

With lightweight RockShox Sid forks up front, the temptation is to add travel and girth, but to do so is to dilute the Spur’s potency and add unnecessary grams. So while there’s a bit of flex when pushed hard, we’d treat that as part of the charm, and lap up the whirlwind of action that accompanies every descent. As we said in our review, the Transition Spur is “the best-realised ‘down-country’ bike we’ve ever tested and the one we all covet if we were spending our own cash”.

Read our full test review of the Transition Spur

Trek’s Top Fuel 8 offers a high-octane ride

6. Trek Top Fuel

Explosive trail weapon.

Wheel size: 29in | Frame: Carbon or alloy, 120mm travel | Frame sizes: S, M, M/L, L, XL, XXL | Weight: 14.89kg | Suspension travel: 130mm f/120mm r | Rating: 9/10

• Poppy, playful and efficient
• Available in six frame sizes
• Internal down tube storage
• Mino Link flip chip allows geometry tweaks
• Needs a 180mm rear rotor
• Accurate rear shock set up is crucial
• A solid build, so not the lightest in its class

While the Trek Top Fuel used to be a lean, mean, cross-country fighting machine, the middle-aged spread has left it sagging a little on the scales. But don’t let that fact put you off, because the ride quality is worth its weight in gold, even if it won’t be competing for gold medals on the race track.

In our test we praised the Top Fuel as offering a “fast, fun and engaging ride”. Where “Its poppy playful nature, combined with generous sizing, means you never feel limited by the travel for regular trail riding”. Combined, this means the Trek Top Fuel provides a high-octane ride that keeps the pace high without compromising on fun. If you can stretch to one of the carbon options, that will help shed some weight, and really light the blue touch paper.

Read our full test review of the Trek Top Fuel 8

The Canyon Neuron 6 is fast and frugal

7. Canyon Neuron 5

Speed freak that also enjoys a party.

Wheel size: 27.5in or 29in | Travel: 130mm | Frame sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL | Frame: Aluminium or carbon | Weight: 14.63kg (32.25lb) | Rating: N/A

• Friendly yet rewarding geometry
• Excellent value
• Seat tube could be a bit shorter
• Saddle is a bit too racy
• Not that light for a down-country bike

The Neuron is Canyon’s back-to-basics trail bike, newly updated for 2023, There are four carbon and four alloy models to choose from, with prices starting from £1,849 for the Neuron 5 and going up to £5,749 for the Neuron CF LTD. There’s also a kids’ Young Hero model with an XS frame and 27.5in wheels for £1,499, and women’s versions of the Neuron 6, Neuron 7 and Neuron CF8 available at no extra cost.

As with the previous bike, all XS and S frames come with 27.5in wheels, while the Medium upwards come with 29in wheels. As with most Canyons, you’ll need to factor in a bike box at £18.99 and delivery at £37.99 to all of the headline prices. Whichever you choose, the latest Neuron is versatile, affordable and a total blast to ride, as happy hitting enduro tracks and sending jumps as racking up the miles on a multi-day ride. The alloy frame has a comfortable, compliant ride that’s never jarring, and the choice of fast-rolling Schwalbe tyres means it rolls along almost effortlessly.

Read our full test review of the Canyon Neuron 6

Looks so sharp you could cut yourself just looking at it: The YT Izzo Uncaged 7

Rapier-sharp speed and agility

Wheel size: 29in | Frame: Carbon, 120mm travel | Frame sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL | Weight: 11.4kg | Rating: N/A

• Acutely responsive and ruthlessly efficient
• Agile and accurate
• Good spec for the price
• Nowhere to hide in the rough
• Traction/grip is not the best
• Doesn’t really need the remote lockout
• Front tyre could be more aggressive

YT’s razor-sharp Izzo feels a million miles away from the brand’s signature Capra and popular Jeffsy trail bike. It’s blisteringly fast but ruthlessly unforgiving, so you need to be on top of your game and fighting fit to keep it under control and take the punches. It’s much stiffer than the Transition Spur, and not as capable as the Santa Cruz Tallboy or Yeti SB120, so in some ways it’s a bit of an anomaly. But it’s also a great-looking bike, feels amazing in certain situations, and the fact that it’s a challenge to get the most out of will definitely appeal to a certain type of rider.

Read our full test review of the YT Izzo Uncaged 7

Orange knows how to build a great handling bike, and the Stage Evo is no exception

9. Orange Stage Evo

Packs big bike geometry into a nimble 120mm package.

Wheel size:  29in | Frame: 6061-T6 Aluminium, 120mm travel | Frame sizes: S, M, L, XL  | Weight: 13.83kg (30.49lb) | Rating: N/A

• Incredibly well-poised handling belies its modest weight
• It’s arguably a trail bike

Orange may have ploughed its own furrow over the years, towed by a horse rather than a GPS-guided John Deere, but despite the UK-brand’s traditional frame materials and construction methods, it continues to bang out bikes that ride every bit as well as more cutting-edge rivals. Often even better. The Stage Evo is one such bike, and effectively a shrunken Stage trail bike. And from the very first corner we were reminded why Orange still commands a loyal customer base – the Stage Evo simply shreds. When we tested it, we noted “yes, it’s easy to ride beyond the physical limits of the travel, but that’s what makes the Stage Evo such an engaging bike on regular terrain”.

Read our first ride review of Orange Stage Evo

As soon as you release the reins, the Spur starts to gallop

What is a down-country mountain bike?

A few rules to help categorise a down-country bike. The first rule is that these rules are made to be broken!

Nothing over 120mm

No more than 120mm of suspension travel at either end. The archetypal down-country bike should have closer to 100mm of rear travel. And if there’s a 130mm travel fork up front, it’s ruled out. Usually. There are some outliers than we allow into the down-country fold. Otherwise the whole thing just gets far too close to a regular trail bike. So, no Norco Optic or Nukeproof Reactor 290c ST. Too trail-bikey.

Having said that, neither rear travel nor fork travel should have less than 100mm. Save that for XC race bikes.

With less mass to manhandle, down-country bikes like the YT Izzo goad you into throwing shapes at every opportunity. 

Nothing steeper than 67°

We’re talking head angles here. Non-XC geometry is the key thing that must be included if a bike is to be classed as down-country. And though we say ‘geometry’ we really mean head angle. There’s currently not much consensus about the other angles and measurements on down-country mountain bikes; they don’t all have longer reach numbers, nor steeper seat angles, nor super low BBs.

But the head angle on all down-country bikes cannot be steeper than 67°. 66° is arguably the most commonly seen number.

Big wheels only

You’ll not find any 27.5in wheels here. Nope, not even just on the rear as a modern mullet setup. 29in wheels rule the down-country roost.

Although it doesn’t have the poppiest suspension feel, the Tallboy is great fun on jump trails

What’s the difference between an XC bike and a down-country bike?

That’s a contentious one, and mostly a matter of opinion. But in our view, a down-country bike is a trail bike with the weight and travel of an XC bike, whereas an XC bike generally has steeper geometry, a lower front end and a stronger bias towards efficiency. Using, for instance, remote lockouts to maximise power transfer on smooth surfaces. The lines are blurred, however, and some XC bikes are closer to down-country bikes than others. And the components used also make defining bikes more difficult. Some down-country forks have all-out XC race forks. Some have middling 34-35mm stanchions. Some have four-pot brakes and huge rotors. Others just have 180/160 twin-pot combos. Some have dinky stems. Some still sport stems over 50mm long.

True XC bikes, like the Specialized S-Works Epic WC, are lighter, pricier, and more focussed machines. 

It’s the finishing kit that is perhaps key to the down-country experience. And expectation. Some down-country bikes appear to be aimed at ex-XC lycra-heads looking for more fun and less sketch in their rides. Other down-country bikes are aimed at the all-out aggro brigade who have tired of their super-capable enduro bikes and wish to inject a level of limit to their Sunday shredding.

In our opinion, it’s the latter type of down-country bike that is most interesting and exciting. But more capable XC bikes also provide unique thrills, and that injection of effortless pace never gets boring.

Slacker, longer, lower… shorter. Bring it on.

Trek Fuel EX Vs Top Fuel Mountain Bike ?

Trek mountain bikes are built for the trails, and no bikes illustrate that better than the Trek Fuel EX and Trek Top Fuel. So, it’s understandable to pit Trek Fuel EX vs Top Fuel, which compels us to ask, what’s the difference?

Trek Fuel EX is a full suspension 29er trail bike with a 140mm front suspension and a 130mm rear suspension, while Trek Top Fuel is a 29er or 27.5-inch full-suspension cross-country bike with a 120mm front and rear suspension.

So, you can distinguish the trail bikes according to the type, suspension travel, and wheel size. Other differences are with respect to the geometry, suspension technology, project one customization, speed, weight, and even price.

Below is a table breakdown of all the nine differences between Fuel EX and Top Fuel to be explored in detail later:

This article will not just discuss the differences between the two Trek MTBs but will also highlight their similarities. Without saying much, let’s begin with the bikes’ overview.

Trek Fuel EX Overview

Trek Fuel EX is a full suspension trail mountain bike by Trek designed to take on just about any trail all season long.

This mountain bike comes with a balanced trail geometry that brings out the perfect balance between speed and control. As a result, it’s easier to handle on tricky trails and promises a fast pace.   

Fuel EX is available in 29-inch (29er) and 27.5-inch wheel sizes to accommodate all heights. Women who naturally have a shorter stature can set for 27.5-inch options, while men who are inherently taller can go for 29ers.

Suspension-wise, Fuel EX features a 140mm front suspension and a 130mm rear suspension, which is enough to hit just about any trail and enjoy the same comfort and bump-cushioning.

In terms of suspension technologies, the manufacturer employs Mono Link to self-adjust the bike frame, Re: Aktiv to offer you more control, and Active Braking Pivot for more confident braking.   

The most notable miss is the Project One customization option. But we’ve several models to choose from, such as Fuel EX 5 Deore, Fuel EX 9.1XOR, Fuel EX7, Fuel EX 8, Fuel EX9.7, Fuel EX 9.8 GX/XT/GX AXS, Fuel EX9.9 XTR, and Fuel EX 9.9X01 AXS.

Overall, Trek Fuel EX is perfect for anyone who wants a versatile do-it-all mountain bike.

Trek Top Fuel Overview

Trek Top Fuel is a short travel 29er cross country mountain bike designed for cross country racing and fun trail riding.

This bike is more forgiving and impulsive on aggressive descents than regular XC bikes but has a snappier feel than a traditional trail bike. So, it gives you the best sense of both worlds.

It has a 120mm front suspension and 120mm rear suspension to have a more comfortable and confident ride. And since it’s a 29er, obstacle rolling is much funnier. The full-suspension XC bike enjoys a progressive geometry, which is more relaxed and offers you more control.

Suspension-wise, this XC bike employs Mono Link Technology and ABP, just like Fuel EX to promise self-adjustment geometry and confident braking.

But unlike Fuel EX, Top Fuel lacks Re: Aktiv suspension technology. Instead, it employs Anti-Squad technology, a suspension resistance technology that offers you more acceleration with every pedaling. That’s practically why this bike is a better cross-country racing bike.

The best bit is that Top Fuel is customizable through Project One. But still, the bike family is split into several models – which include Top Fuel 5 Deore, Top Fuel 7 Deore/XT, Top Fuel 9.7 SLX/XT, Top Fuel 8, Top Fuel 9.8 GX/AX SXS/XT, and Top Fuel 9.9X01/XTR/XX1 AXS.

Trek Fuel EX Vs Top Fuel Side-By-Side Comparison!

Now, here is how Fuel EX and Top Fuel compare:

1. Bike Type

Fuel EX is generally a trail mountain bike that can take on just about any trail every day – from dirt trails to rough off-roads and forest trails.

On the other hand, Top Fuel is a cross-country mountain bike that you can use for any cross-country event. Whether you want to compete at a local event or race casually in the countryside, you cannot go wrong with Top Fuel.

2. Suspension Travel

Fuel EX is a do-it-all mountain bike mainly because of its long travel range. The bike features 140mmm of front suspension and 130mm of rear suspension, enough to take on all terrains.

The suspension allows you to ride downslope and go over rocks. That’s how powerful the MTB is. Top Fuel promises 120mm suspension travel on the front and rear side, shorter than what you get from Fuel EX but enough for cross-country biking.

You want your cross-country race bike to feel lightweight and offer you better control, and that’s what you get from the 120mm travel range.

3. Trek Fuel EX Vs Trek Top Fuel Wheel Size

Top Fuel is a 29-er (29-inch mountain bike), while Fuel EX offers 29-inch and 27.5-inch wheel options. The difference is that 29ers mostly favor taller guys while 27.5-inch accommodate both taller and shorter guys.

So, you are more likely to get a matching fit with Fuel EX than Top Fuel. However, the advantage of Top Fuel is that you can have a custom-made bike matching your body size.

4. Geometry

These two Trek mountain bike families differ in their geometry, which affects their overall feel.

Fuel EX, for example, has a balanced trail geometry, which bridges the gap between the fast-handling short-trail geometry and the slow-handling greater-trail geometry.

As a result, the bike is easier to handle at high-speed and, pretty stable, and offers you more control. You cannot ask for anything better than a balanced trail geometry.

On the other hand, Top Fuel has a progressive geometry characterized by a longer wheelbase, thus more relaxed and promising more control.

5. Trek Top Fuel Vs Fuel EX Suspension Technology

Both Trek MTBs employ Active Braking Pivot (ABP) and Mono Link suspension technologies. ABP generally tunes the bike suspension to the braking and acceleration to enable you to brake more confidently and boss the trail.

Mono Link in opposite allows you to adjust the bike’s geometry quickly and on the go. The difference is that Fuel EX employs Re: Aktiv suspension technology while Top Fuel uses Anti-Squat suspension technology.

Re: Aktiv offers Fuel EX more grip, control, and a responsive feel, while Anti-Squat suspension allows you to go faster with every step. The more you pedal a Top Fuel, the faster it accelerates.

6. Trek Ex Vs Top Fuel Project One

Project One is Trek bike’s customization project. While Project One is available for top high-end Top Fuel models, it’s not available for Fuel EX. So, if you want a custom-made MTB for competition, Top Fuel is the way to go. 

That, however, doesn’t make Fuel EX an inferior family. No! There are so many high-end Fuel EX models to choose from, and they all come in all frame sizes, which means you can easily find your fit.

7. Bike Weight

There is at least a 2-4-pound difference between Fuel EX and Top Fuel of the same generation and size. For example, while Fuel EX 9.9 X01 AXS weighs 28.15 pounds, Top Fuel 9.9 XXL weighs 26.13 pounds.

That makes Top Fuel lighter than Fuel EX, and it’s understandable, given that Top Fuel is a cross-country racer while Fuel EX is a trail bike.

8. Top Speed

Being the lighter of the two and employing Anti-Squat technology makes Top Fuel faster than Fuel EX. That hugely explains why Top Fuel is a cross-country bike as it’s speedy, thus suitable got cross county.

Though you can race with a Fuel EX since it’s an all-terrain trail bike, you cannot go as fast as someone riding an XC bike, which is Top Fuel.

9. Bike Price

Trek Top Fuel costs more than Fuel EX because of the lower weight advantage, anti-squat technology, and Project One customization availability.

Trek Fuel EX Vs Top Fuel Similarities

After looking at the things that set Fuel EX and Top Fuel apart, here are some things that the two Trek MTBs have in common.

Suspension Technologies – Both bikes employ Active Braking Pivot (ABP) and Mono Link suspension. ABP promotes confident braking while Mino Link encourages geometry adjustment on the go.

Frame – Both families employ alpha aluminum on their mid-range bikes and OCLV carbon on high-end options.

Sizes – Both bike families come in all frame sizes as follows:

• Extra small (rider’s height: 137-155cm)
• Small (rider’s height: 153-166.5cm)
• Medium (rider’s height: 161-172cm)
• Medium/Large (rider’s height – 165.5- 179cm)
• Large (rider’s height: 177-188cm)
• Extra Large (rider’s Height – 186-196cm

Weight Limit – These two bike families limit their load capacities to 300 pounds. So, they are equally strong and perfect for heavyweight guys.

People Also Ask

1. what is the difference between trek top fuel and fuel ex.

The difference between Trek Top Fuel and Fuel EX is that the latter is a 29-inch trail bike while the former is a 29/27.5-inch cross country bike.

2. Is The Trek Fuel EX A Trial Bike?

Yes, Trek Fuel EX is a trail bike. It is a full-suspension trail bike with 140mm front suspension and 130mm rear suspension.

3. How Much Travel Does the Trek Fuel EX Have?

Trek Fuel EX comes with a 140mm front suspension and 130mmm rear suspension. The suspension offers optimum bump absorption and stability to take on just about any trail.

Closing Thought on Trek Fuel EX Vs Top Fuel:

Generally, Trek Fuel EX is an all-terrain trail bike with a 140mm front suspension and 130mm rear suspension. On the other hand, Trek Top Fuel is a cross country racing 29er with a 120mm front and rear suspension.

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