TESTED: Trek Fuel EX 9 29er

Trek is a brand that needs no introduction, having been around since near the dawn of the mountain bike revolution, their name is synonymous with innovation.

The Trek Fuel EX range is the “rugged, capable long travel bike that is nimble like a XC bike”, making it essentially their trail range. The EX 9 29 sits in the middle of this quiver, the top aluminium model with a slightly more burly build.

Initial Impressions

The chassis is constructed of Alpha platinum aluminium, which has been butted and hydro-formed. The result being a flowing frame design that is strong in all the right places while being stripped of unnecessary bulk. The frame has also been designed around internal routing, and it has really clean lines. The EVO link is forged from a single piece of forged magnesium resulting in a stiffer and lighter linkage than those bolted together.

The EX 9 is a bike that stands out from the pack with its fluorescent volt green colour and bold decals. Trek went the extra mile and sourced things like custom Fox stickers and matching blue decals on the SRAM wheels, which really adds to overall impact of the package. For such a high-viz package – it’s also pretty stealth with the internal routing, smooth lines of the tube shapes and EVO link, and the neat 1×11 SRAM drivetrain.

The revamp of the Fuel EX 29” range for 2016 has seen the introduction of the “Boost” standard, which means increasing the rear hub spacing by 6mm to 148mm & 110mm for the forks. This has several benefits. Firstly, it allows for stronger and stiffer wheels as well as more clearance for wider tyres. But, more importantly it also cuts back the chainstay length down by15mm, which livens up the ride. Geometry is also slacker, with a more relaxed head tube and slightly lower BB. Adjustability has also been made possible with the introduction of MinoLink, technology that has been brought across from other Trek models.

Suspension has been changed this season too – with the previous DRCV shock being replaced with a custom Fox Performance Float EVOL. After extensive testing in collaboration with Fox and Penske, Trek have developed an exclusive damper, coined RE:aktiv that closely matches the DRCV’s spring curves, but in a lighter, simpler and cheaper package. What’s that mean? Better suspension, and better parts on the rest of your bike for similar price points.

There were no major issues or concerns in the setup, just a straight build from the box. My personal preference was to go for a low stack height on the stem and set the MinoLink in the slack position. I ran the suspension pressures according to manufacturers specifications. It is worth noting that it comes as a tubeless system too, this is a nice touch that doesn’t get portrayed through a cursory glance at the bike.

The parts kit is well thought out, the SRAM X1 1×11 drivetrain coupled with the Shimano XT brakes is taking the best that both big brands have to offer. The SRAM Roam 30 wheels were tough and rolled well, and their hubs didn’t need any attention through a frequently wet test period. The RockShox Reverb stealth dropper seatpost is a nice little inclusion. This is one of the best droppers on the market so it’s good to see it coming stock on a trail bike like this. The only concern for the test is the tyres, the Bontrager XR3 Expert 2.3” felt a little on the flimsy side for an aggressive trail bike, which the rest of the build indicates. This is only a minor point really as tyres are personal thing. Match tyres to your needs before you roll out of your local bike shop and you’ll be all set.

On The Trail

Hitting the trails everything felt as it should, the 19.5” frame working out perfectly for my 183cm height. The slack seat tube angle matched up with the 70mm stem made for a roomy cockpit when the seat is at full height giving plenty of room to stretch out on the longer climbs and it also puts the rider’s weight in an ideal spot to transfer power to the rear without loss of traction. For the steeper terrain, the sloping TT coupled with a low seat tube allows the seat to be dropped right out of the way to give plenty of room to maneuver without fear of getting hung up or bucked off. The Bontrager Race Lite handlebar offered ample width at 720mm with a 5mm rise and Bontrager saddle and grips were all comfortable enough for a long day on the trail.

The Fuel EX handled well through all general trail conditions. Rolling singletrack gets chewed up effortlessly, which is what you want with a trail bike afterall. The bike’s ability to hold speed is most noticeable when following others and you realise that you don’t need to pedal to keep up through flowing terrain. What’s remarkable though is how spritely it feels in the tighter terrain that is normally the Achilles heel of the wagon wheelers. It didn’t succumb to the sluggishness that afflicts many of its counterparts. The effect of the shorter chainstays helps to increase snappiness out of corners whilst giving a poppiness and playful feeling to the ride.

The efficiency of the RE:aktiv damper was apparent across all three positions. The preference was to run the damper wide open on flowing trails, it gave the most lively and fun feeling to pop off roots and hit little kickers. But for hitting the longer climbs the medium mode was best, giving great bite into the trail with minimal pedal bob and the firm setting was only used for smooth firetrail or sealed road.

The Fuel EX descends confidently with many factors coming together to deliver a consistent and predictable experience. The Boost technology makes the wheels stiff and responsive to the rider’s input. The ABP (Active Braking Pivot) has been around on the Trek full-suspension bikes for some time, and it lets the suspension to continue working as normal even under heavy braking. The longer travel forks does slacken the geometry for added control at speed. As with all trail bikes it does have its limitations and whilst it is good on the technical descents the Fuel EX does meet its match when it gets steep. Not that it becomes unrideable, but it does remind you of its intended purpose.

This bike is spot on not only for how it is marketed but also for the state of the trail market for 2016. It is a fun ride and can be appreciated by a wide audience.

Although the tyres were a little bit under-specced for the rest of build they are still useable and perform well on less technical terrain. If you are planning on riding this bike to its full potential, swap the tyres to something a bit bigger and more aggressive.

Our Take

This is a bike for the rider on a reasonable budget who doesn’t want to sacrifice strength and durability, and would rather have a solid parts kit and suspension package than a carbon mainframe. This is a bike that fits riders of a wide range of abilities. The bigger forks allow for a more stable ride and the dropper post increases rider confidence on the descents. These features make it more fun for the general rider and the more adventurous rider alike. The XC end of the trail spectrum may find this a little over built for their needs, with a lot of the spec unnecessary, cumbersome and heavy for their intended purpose.

Through smart budgeting and cutting unnecessary expense Trek have put together a good value bike that suits a large portion of the trail market. The Fuel EX 9 is a bike that can be ridden happily straight out the box with all the trimmings already included – essentially ride away, no more to pay.

The addition of the MinoLink is a cool feature but it is a little wasted with its adjustability range, with the entire test completed in the “slack” position there was never a time that called for steeper geometry but there was a few occasions where a slacker option would have been welcomed, as this would also complement the capabilities of the rest of the bike’s spec.

Trek claimed that if you want “a rugged, capable long-travel trail bike and a nimble XC bike? Get both with Fuel EX. Whether it’s your millionth mile on the trail or your first, you’ll love this bike”. This is a pretty accurate a claim, the bike felt balanced and at home right from the get go. Experienced riders will appreciate and value the how well this bike works across the board; it climbs efficiently, descends confidently and doesn’t balk in the tighter terrain. Novice riders will just ride it and enjoy it.