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It's right for you if...
You're cool with your wheels leaving the ground, but you also like to go the distance on marathon singletrack sessions and aim to clear every rock garden on the first try. You want exceptional trail bike performance with the same MTB frame and suspension tech found on higher-end trail bikes, at an exceptional price.
The tech you get
A lightweight Alpha Platinum Aluminium frame, a 140 mm FOX Rhythm 34 fork and 130 mm of rear travel with a FOX Performance Float shock with Trek's exclusive RE:aktiv damper – it's enough suspension to go big while staying fast on the flats and climbs. A SRAM GX Eagle 1x12 drive train with a wide-range 10-50 cassette, Tubeless Ready Bontrager Line Comp 30 wheels, Shimano Deore hydraulic disc brakes, and a Bontrager Line dropper post for on-the-fly saddle height adjustments.
The final word
It's a trail bike that is fully capable keeping up with whatever you throw at it. It has the same frame and suspension tech found on our top-of-the-line trail bikes, with a SRAM GX Eagle 1x12 drive train that delivers a huge range of gearing with the simplicity of a single shifter.
See it in action
favorite_borderWhy you'll love it
- This bike is perfect for shredding singletrack, hitting drops and pushing your limits in multi-stage and marathon events
- If you measure quality in performance per pound, you won't do better than Fuel EX 8
- You sense its capability immediately, like when you're charging through sections of trail that you never thought you'd clean
- The shifter-style, underbar remote dropper post lever is super intuitive and easy to use
- 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.’
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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.
RE:aktiv technology gives you firm support for efficient pedaling that instantly gives way for smooth control when the trail turns rough.
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.
Tubeless Ready
Tubeless Ready rims and tyres make it easy to ditch the tubes so you get better traction, fewer flats and less weight. The rim strips are already installed; just add TLR valves and sealant.
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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 | Fox Rhythm 34, Float EVOL air spring, GRIP damper, tapered steerer, 44 mm offset, Boost110, 15 mm Kabolt axle, 140 mm travel |
| Shock | Fox Performance Float EVOL, 3-position RE:aktiv damper, tuned by Trek Suspension Lab, 210 mm x 55 mm |
| Max compatible fork travel | 150mm |
| Wheel front | Bontrager Line Comp 30, Tubeless Ready, 6-bolt, Boost110, 15 mm thru axle |
|---|---|
| Wheel rear | Bontrager Line Comp 30, Tubeless Ready, 6-bolt, Rapid Drive 54, SRAM XD driver, Boost148, 12 mm thru axle |
| Skewer rear | Bontrager Switch thru-axle, removable lever |
| Tyre | Bontrager XR4 Team Issue, Tubeless Ready, Inner Strength sidewalls, aramid bead, 120 tpi, 29x2.60" |
| Max tyre size | 29x2.60" |
| Shifter | SRAM GX Eagle, 12-speed |
|---|---|
| Rear derailleur | SRAM GX Eagle |
| Crank | Truvativ Descendant 6k Eagle, DUB, 30T steel ring, Boost, 170 mm length |
| Bottom bracket | SRAM DUB, 92 mm, PressFit |
| Cassette | SRAM XG-1275 Eagle, 10-50, 12-speed |
| Chain | SRAM GX Eagle, 12-speed |
| Max. chainring size | 34T |
| Saddle | Bontrager Arvada, hollow chromoly rails, 138 mm width |
|---|---|
| Seatpost | Bontrager Line Dropper, 100 mm travel, internal routing, 31.6 mm, 345 mm length |
| Grips | Bontrager XR Trail Elite, alloy lock-on |
| Stem | Bontrager Line, 35 mm, Knock Block, 0-degree, 40 mm length |
| Head set | Knock Block Integrated, 58-degree radius, cartridge bearing, 1-1/8" top, 1.5" bottom |
| Brake | Shimano Deore M6000 hydraulic disc |
| Brake rotor | Shimano RT66, 6-bolt, 180 mm |
| Weight | M - 13.78 kg / 30.39 lbs |
|---|---|
| Weight limit | This bike has a maximum total weight limit (combined weight of bicycle, rider and cargo) of 136 kg (300 lb). |
Sizing & fit
Proper bike fit is essential for best performance and comfort. Any size and geometry measurements shown on trekbikes.com are for general comparison purposes only. To find your perfect fit, visit an authorised retailer, where an expert skilled at sizing will help you find the appropriate bike and size for your individual needs.
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 | 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 | Stem length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15.5 | S | High | 29" | 39.5 | 75.5° | 10.0 | 66.5° | 57.7 | 34.6 | 2.8 | 43.5 | 4.3 | 11.5 | 115.3 | 70.6 | 42.0 | 60.5 | 4.0 |
| 15.5 | S | Low | 29" | 39.5 | 75.0° | 10.0 | 66.0° | 57.8 | 33.9 | 3.4 | 43.7 | 4.3 | 11.9 | 115.4 | 70.1 | 41.5 | 60.8 | 4.0 |