Fuel EX 8 (10) - BikeRadar

I bought the Trek Fuel EX 8 in June 2010 and have ridden the bike down the West Highland Way and numerous runs in the Trossachs. Excellent bike, very stable and the RP2 performed well.

I now have on order the Trek Top Fuel 9.8 2011 model with the internal cabling, E2 head, same as the EX8 not to mention the lock out for the rear shock. Faster bike and am expecting it to be better than my Spesh Epic Expert in Carbon.

the EX8 feels a bit like a Land Rover Discovery and expect the Top Fuel 9.8 to be similar to a Range Rover Sport - supercharged

Looking forward to it.

I hope I never get stuck with you at a party.

do they have it as a frame only?

I've had my EX8 since January and while i've changed a few parts (bars, stem, tyres, grips, seatpost and saddle) the ride itself is amazing. I only wish there were some more challenging terrain around here to really push it... hopefully when this Olympic mountain bike course gets finished i'll have somewhere half decent to ride right on my doorstep. :D

The personal preference of the 15mm bolt thru axle is hardly a reason to drop marks. 5star bike all the way. I would personally drop 1/2 a star if it only came with 15mm bolt thru. I want all of my bikes to ruin the same so in the middle of the night if things go awry, I am always looking/feeling for the same thing.

Hi, yes totally agree with all the above comments. I got mine about March (19.5"), I'm close to 6'3", in white. Looks ace. Wanted to get last years EX 9, but thought about it too much and missed out so got this instead! And to be fare I think its better in some ways than '09 EX 9. To go 15 mm bolt through is easy enough, fork and front wheel-look on EB! But really dont think it neccesary? I have even run it with the slightly flexier (but still great)Bonti RXL wheels, these make even more difference for speed progress. So to stiffen up the EX 8 I would tend to advise getting maybe 32 spoke but lighter wheels ( DTS EX 5.1Ds on Pro 2 hubs?) Hmmm.

To the person looking for place to ride, nothing like Y Wal trail in Afan or Llandegla, North Wales. I 've ridden quite a few on the EX 8 and I think its made for these two trails esp :) To be fare, every time I am on the trail there's somebody with one. I dont think they all know it's been voted BO th year! We will have to start a Fuel EX owners club...lol. Like Golf GTi club!

As far as the ride goes, I find it amasing how it seems to gain speed quicker than my HT (Trek 8000-'08)...on descents of course. Also just the way the front gets light and ready to actually throw from side to side in some places! Its absolutely addictive.

As for set up, Only mods are smaller rear disk (still CS 3) but 160mm. Couldnt see why they put 180 on rear with Elixirs? Find much better sutle braking in turns. Also think I prefer old Bonti Jones XRs off HT for directional control in slightly damp conditions to XDX s. Having said that found the XDXs to be ACE on dry/firm trails and softer, dry sand! Also getting back to the smaller rear disk thing. Smaller disk-does this not make (slightly) less unsprung weight!? In the magasine reveiw it was mentioned that the Trek rear susp. was not as responsive as some other set ups...although much better in stifness! I cant say I've really noticed a difference. Let me know what you think!!

Just to confirm the last coments (20.53 on 15 Oct '10)were made by me. My user name does not seem to have come up!

I have had the EX8 for 10months now, apart from a couple of worn chains & brake pads, this bike hasn't put a wheel wrong. Blasting around the seven stanes and my local rides north of Glasgow seem to be this bikes forte. Replaced the shifters with XT to give a much crisper action. Having had a GF sugar 2 from '04, the EX8 is leaps ahead in stablity and confidence building. To be honest, I bottle out before the bike feels it is beyond it's envelope!

A great bike, shame the price rocketed for 2011!