Ok then.Trek has realised some lovely-looking Fuel EX 27.5+ bikes.

But they come with a proprietary headset designed to stop your fork crown smashing the newly-straight (and stiffer… OH SO STIFFER) down tube.

I thought we’d figured out that problem years ago, producing perfectly stuff down tubes (and bikes) all the while.

I have no particular axe to grind with Trek. I had a 2011 Fuel EX – and was very happy with it. And Boost looks like a generally good thing, achieving improvements to bikes that could not be achieved any other way.

But this is absolute bollocks, surely?

I have a remedy with a curved downtube and it’s bloody disgusting to look at. This resolves that at least.

Looks like a copy of Acros Block Lock.

Canyon have something similar, but it doesn’t seem to require a specific headset and stem.

From what I can tell, the only thing that is proprietary is the spacer and cover – which you shouldn’t ever need to replace.

Scratch that, I’ve no idea what a “keyed stem” is.

To solve this issue they came up with the ‘Knock Block’, which uses a keyed headset cover and a replaceable stop chip in the top tube that prevents the handlebar from turning too far.

Nope, just sounds like its the cover and block interaction, which is exactly the same as Canyon’s solution.

Probably the first trek I’ve liked in forever, too.

just sounds like its the cover and block interaction, which is exactly the same as Canyon’s solution

Nope – it requires a special stem. See here:

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gR0ClsDgck[/video]

“For additional failsafe frame protections……”

or

“For when it doesn’t work…..”

My lads islabike has a headset with limits. Same as init?????
😈

I kind of agree with the principle, but it looks way over-engineered, and clumsy. It would also be worth pointing out that their commitment to straight downtubes is limited to the top end only for some reason – there’s another massive bend by the BB which is presumably required to keep the shock mounting position as per Trek’s standards. I wonder how much extra weight that mechanism adds, compared to the stiffness that could be gained by adding that weight to the original (curved) downtube.

Plus it means you can’t X-up. Which I’m sure will affect all of us.

Monty had a very similar system on their trials bikes (10+) years ago. That was all contained within the headtube and was far more elegant than this system.

And just like that Trek present a bike that’ll not fit in your boot.

Ha, that’s a good point actually.

So they wanted to avoid a curved down tube, and gave it a shitting dog top tube instead. IMHO they’re far more ugly.

No x-ups or bar spins. I’m out.

Anyone else bothered by the length of the seatpost compared to the amount inserted into the tube? Bet it looks gopping in a large frame size

Cause proprietary stems worked out so well for Giant.