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It's right for you if...
You're ready to go full suspension, and you want a versatile trail bike at a great value. You want a ride that's sure-footed, capable and responsive, so you can stay in control no matter where you're riding.
The tech you get
A lightweight aluminium frame with a Straight Shot down tube for extra stiffness in the rough and a Knock Block steerer stop to protect against spinning bars. A 140 mm RockShox Recon RL fork, 130 mm of rear travel with an X-Fusion Pro 2 shock, a durable 12-speed Shimano Deore drive train, dropper post and hydraulic disc brakes.
The final word
You get full suspension performance without the sticker shock. Fuel EX 5 has the same frame technology as our higher-end alloy Fuel EX models with parts chosen to keep the price tag low and stoke level high.
See it in action
favorite_borderWhy you'll love it
- You get a high-end ride at an exceptional value with frame features like Boost148 and ABP that give you confident handling and room to upgrade parts as your skills grow
- It has the capability of far more expensive trail bikes: it shreds singletrack and can even handle the occasional XC or enduro race
- The dropper post lets you lower your saddle on the fly so it's out of the way on descents
- The RockShox fork's DebonAir spring can easily be adjusted for a specific rider weight, and it's lighter than a coil spring
- We expanded our size range to ensure a better fit for all riders. And, you get the fastest wheel that fits your frame: XS frames get 27.5˝ wheels, S frames get to choose between 27.5˝ or 29˝ and sizes M to XL get 29˝ wheels
'A world-class trail bike!'
'The Fuel EX is a beautifully balanced and capable trail bike. The rear suspension is beautiful; as close to ideal as any bike I've ridden. It's sensitive where you want it to be, firm and crisp where it should be. It feels deep and controls big hits very well, and there's a nice platform for pedalling, and to pump and pop off when you're playing.'
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'Good at pleasing everybody.'
'The Fuel EX has a few tricks that help it keep a level head when outside of its comfort zone, and to be a cloud on rails when it's in the zone. Everything about the Fuel EX, which was already good at pleasing everybody, is now even better.'
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'An absolute trail rocket.'
'Thanks to its burlier components, increased travel and more aggressive geometry, it has become more of a shredder than ever! More performance, fun and trail prowess.'
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‘Perfect all-rounder’
‘In a world where most new full-suspension mountain bikes are amazing, Fuel EX stands apart as even more than that.’
Read moreFeatures
Will my bike have a curved top tube?
Smaller frames (XS and S) have a top tube that dips down as it approaches the seat tube. This design makes for a lower standover height, which is good for shorter riders because it allows them to straddle their bike more easily. Larger frames (M and up) have a straight top tube because taller riders with longer legs typically don’t have the same issues with standover height.
Trek's Straight Shot frame design optimises the stiffness-to-weight ratio for a more responsive ride. You'll be able to push harder and stay more planted on your line when the going gets rough.
Active Braking Pivot allows our engineers to tune how the suspension reacts to acceleration and braking forces independently. That means you get more confident control when you need it most.
Control Freak cable management
The lightest, quietest, most versatile cable management system allows any combination of shift, brake, lockout and dropper post lines to be routed through the frame for clean looks and the ultimate custom set-up.
Boost148/110
Wider dropouts (110mm front, 148mm rear) give you the stiffness of a 27.5" wheel with all the benefits of a 29" wheel, and Boost148 at the back lets you run wider tyres and a larger chain ring without affecting q-factor and pedalling efficiency.
Suspension Calculator
This suspension calculator will help you optimise your suspension settings for your riding weight. Simply follow the steps to find your best set up.
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Mino Link adjustable geometry
Fine tune head tube angle by 1/2° and BB height by up to 10mm with the simple turn of a nut. Just flip the link to choose between slack or slacker geometry, without negatively affecting suspension performance. A Trek exclusive.
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Alpha Platinum Aluminium
Our premium lightweight aluminium is continuously cold extruded and butted at multiple points, and hydroformed into sophisticated tube shapes for maximum strength and minimum weight.
Specifications
*spec applies to all sizes unless otherwise noted
| Frame | Alpha Platinum Aluminium, tapered head tube, Knock Block, Control Freak internal routing, downtube guard, ISCG 05, magnesium rocker link, Mino Link, ABP, Boost148, 130 mm travel |
|---|---|
| Fork | RockShox Recon Silver, DebonAir spring, Motion Control damper, lockout, tapered steerer, 42 mm offset, Boost110, Maxle Stealth, 140 mm travel |
| Shock | X-Fusion Pro 2, 2-position damper, 210x55 mm |
| Max compatible fork travel | 150mm (561mm axle-to-crown) |
| Wheel rear | Alex MD35 rim/MST148A Boost hub, 29'', 32H, 14 Gauge Spokes, Micro Spline Freehub, Black rim graphics, spokes, and nipples |
|---|---|
| Hub front | Bontrager alloy, 6-bolt, Boost110, 15 mm thru-axle |
| *Hub rear |
Size:
M , ML , L Bontrager alloy, sealed bearing, 6-bolt, Shimano MicroSpline freehub, Boost148, 12 mm thru-axle |
|
Size:
M , ML , L Bontrager alloy, sealed bearing, alloy axle, 6-bolt, Shimano MicroSpline freehub, Boost148, 12 mm thru axle |
|
| Skewer rear | Bontrager Switch thru-axle, removable lever |
| Rim | Alex MD35, tubeless compatible, 32-hole, 35 mm width, Presta valve |
| Spokes | 14 g stainless steel |
| Tyre | Bontrager XR4 Comp, wire bead, 30 tpi, 29x2.60" |
| Rim strip | Bontrager TLR |
| Max tyre size | Frame: 29x2.60" Fork: See manufacturer |
| Shifter | Shimano Deore M6100, 12-speed |
|---|---|
| Rear derailleur | Shimano Deore M6100, long cage |
| Crank | Shimano MT511, 30T steel ring, Boost, 170 mm length |
| Bottom bracket | Shimano MT500, 92 mm, PressFit |
| Cassette | Shimano Deore M6100, 10-51, 12-speed |
| Chain | Shimano Deore M6100, 12-speed |
| Max. chainring size | 34T |
| Saddle | Bontrager Arvada, steel rails, 138 mm width |
|---|---|
| Seatpost | TranzX JD-YSP18, 130mm travel, internal routing, 31.6 mm, 425 mm length |
| Handlebar | Bontrager alloy, 31.8 mm, 15 mm rise, 750 mm width |
| Grips | Bontrager XR Trail Comp, nylon lock-on |
| Stem | Bontrager Rhythm Comp, 31.8 mm, Knock Block, 0-degree, 50 mm length |
| Head set | Knock Block Integrated, 58-degree radius, cartridge bearing, 1-1/8" top, 1.5" bottom |
| Brake | Shimano hydraulic disc, MT201 lever, MT200 calliper |
| Brake rotor | Shimano RT56, 6-bolt, 180 mm |
| Weight | M - 34.61 lbs / 15.7 kg |
|---|---|
| Weight limit | This bike has a maximum total weight limit (combined weight of bicycle, rider and cargo) of 136 kg (300 lb). |
Sizing & fit
The charts below show our recommended sizes based on height, but there are some other factors, like arm and leg length, that determine a great fit. That’s why you’ll see some overlap in our recommendations. Not every rider who’s 5´8˝, for example, will fit on the same size bike. The best way to find your perfect fit is to consult the experts at your local retailer.
Rider Height
Inseam
XS
137.0 - 155.0 cm
4'5.9" - 5'1.0"
64.0 - 73.0 cm
25.2" - 28.7"
S
153.0 - 166.5 cm
5'0.2" - 5'5.6"
72.0 - 79.0 cm
28.3" - 31.1"
M
161.0 - 172.0 cm
5'3.4" - 5'7.7"
76.0 - 81.0 cm
29.9" - 31.9"
M/L
165.5 - 179.0 cm
5'5.2" - 5'10.5"
77.0 - 84.0 cm
30.3" - 33.1"
L
177.0 - 188.0 cm
5'9.7" - 6'2.0"
83.0 - 88.0 cm
32.7" - 34.6"
XL
186.0 - 196.0 cm
6'1.2" - 6'5.2"
87.0 - 92.0 cm
34.3" - 36.2"
2XL
195.0 - 203.0 cm
6'4.8" - 6'7.9"
92.0 - 95.0 cm
36.2" - 37.4"
All measurements provided in cm unless otherwise stated.
| Frame size number | Frame size letter | Geometry position | Wheel size | A — Seat tube | B — Seat tube angle | Effective seat tube angle | C — Head tube length | D — Head angle | E — Effective top tube | F — Bottom bracket height | G — Bottom bracket drop | H — Chainstay length | I — Offset | J — Trail | K — Wheelbase | L — Standover | M — Frame reach | N — Frame stack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17.5 | M | Low | 29" | 42.0 | 67.5° | 75.0° | 10.0 | 66.0° | 60.3 | 34 | 3.4 | 43.7 | 4.3 | 11.9 | 117.9 | 74.2 | 44.0 | 60.9 |
| 17.5 | M | High | 29" | 42.0 | 68.0° | 75.5° | 10.0 | 66.5° | 60.2 | 34.6 | 2.8 | 43.6 | 4.3 | 11.6 | 117.8 | 74.8 | 44.5 | 60.5 |
| 18.5 | ML | Low | 29" | 43.5 | 67.5° | 75.0° | 10.5 | 66.0° | 61.9 | 34 | 3.4 | 43.7 | 4.3 | 11.9 | 119.6 | 74.5 | 45.5 | 61.3 |
| 18.5 | ML | High | 29" | 43.5 | 68.0° | 75.5° | 10.5 | 66.5° | 61.8 | 34.6 | 2.8 | 43.6 | 4.3 | 11.6 | 119.5 | 75.1 | 46.0 | 60.9 |
| 19.5 | L | Low | 29" | 45.0 | 67.5° | 75.0° | 10.5 | 66.0° | 63.4 | 34 | 3.4 | 43.7 | 4.3 | 11.9 | 121.1 | 75.0 | 47.0 | 61.3 |
| 19.5 | L | High | 29" | 45.0 | 68.0° | 75.5° | 10.5 | 66.5° | 63.3 | 34.6 | 2.7 | 43.6 | 4.3 | 11.6 | 121.0 | 75.6 | 47.5 | 60.9 |