The new Trek Top Fuel mixes uphill efficiency with downhill performance

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The Trek Top Fuel was once considered the goto XC bike, but times have changed and the Top Fuel now blurs the line between XC and trail.

We know that you don’t like the term ‘Downcountry’ but it’s hard to ignore especially when Trek are so determined to use this new genre when describing the new Trek Top Fuel. With 120mm of travel front and rear, the Top Fuel certainly looks more XC than Trail, but with a sorted geometry, Trek is promising exceptional performance as gravity takes over.

Available in 7 sizes from XS to XXL and reach numbers increasing from 400mm to 520mm the new Top Fuel certainly starts as it means to go on. A size large bike gets an impressive 480mm reach combined with a 66-degree head angle and 76-degree seat tube angle, which sounds like a fun 120mm travel bike in our book.

Of course, geometry is only part of the equation, and Trek has spent significant time getting the kinematics just right too. The whole point of a downcountry bike (sorry) is that it climbs as well as an XC bike with efficient on trail manners, and that’s what Trek has ensured with the new Top Fuel

Want your Top Fuel to go downhill even faster? Well, Trek has included a flip-chip for geometry adjustments and the frame is compatible with a 130mm fork too.

Other frame features that make the new Top Fuel a worthy trail choice are the oversized 34.9mm seat tube which is compatible with long travel dropper posts, a 73mm threaded BB, and in-frame storage just like the Trek Slash. All models run on 29in wheels too, except for the XS size which has 27.5in wheels.

For more details visit the Trek website.

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Andi is a gadget guru and mountain biker who has lived and ridden bikes in China and Spain before settling down in the Peak District to become Singletrack's social media expert. He is definitely more big travel fun than XC sufferer but his bike collection does include some rare hardtails - He's a collector and curator as well as a rider. Theory and practice in perfect balance with his inner chi, or something. As well as living life based on what he last read in a fortune cookie Andi likes nothing better than riding big travel bikes.

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Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 15 total)
  • The new Trek Top Fuel mixes uphill efficiency with downhill performance
  • Brainflex
    Full Member

    What’s a for too?

    “compatible with a 130mm for too.”

    Posted 1 year ago
    Ben_H
    Full Member

    130mm fork, too?

    Posted 1 year ago
    roger_mellie
    Full Member

    From £2550 (or £2250 frame only) in case anyone was wondering…

    Posted 1 year ago
    Nobeerinthefridge
    Free Member

    Christ, you could buy a chameleon full build for that! 🤣🤣

    Posted 1 year ago
    mrlebowski
    Free Member

    “Downcountry….”

    Marketing BS at it’s nauseating fing worst..

    Posted 1 year ago
    petedee
    Free Member

    Seems exactly like the Fuel Ex was in 2018. My 2018 Fuel Ex 9.8 is lighter than the top fuel 9.8. 🙄 minimal changes, stupid prices. Welcome to the bike market, 2021.

    Posted 1 year ago
    Kuco
    Full Member

    I don’t give a shit what Trek wants to call it, it’s an xc/trail bike. Downcountry is just marketing bullshit.

    Posted 1 year ago
    Nobeerinthefridge
    Free Member

    Xc/trail were surely just marketing bullshit at one point too? 😆

    Posted 1 year ago
    Neil_Bolton
    Free Member

    The previous Trek Top Fuel (2020/2021) was capable of a 130mm fork, so Trek have been taking the Top Fuel that direction for a while.

    The additional 10mm reach, 1.5 degree slacker HA and steeper seat tube I think completes the transition away from the Top Fuel previously being their ‘race bike’ – the S’Cal is that now.

    I brought my 2020 Top Fuel wanting a fast XC bike that could handle some gnar – and I’ve been incredibly pleased with it. Not wanting to annoy the niche haters, but fitting out my Top Fuel in full #downcountry spec made it capable of keeping up with bigger bikes. A decent set of tyres and inserts meant that, like a hardtail, skill suddenly becomes the limiting factor.

    I’m intrigued to ride the new TF, but they’re huge money now and I’m not sure I want to move so far away from the steeper angles I have on my 2020 model. Certainly, a shock tune, a set of 130mm forks with 35mm stanchions and decent tyres, and really, there isn’t much difference. Consider that the 2020 TF came with a 70mm stem – so any shorter stem will bring it in line with a 2022.

    I would love the little compartment tho – although I have one on my Slash and I’ve still not worked out what to use it for.

    Posted 1 year ago
    Kuco
    Full Member

    Xc/trail were surely just marketing bullshit at one point too? 😆

    Yea about 30 years ago.

    Posted 1 year ago
    thegeneralist
    Full Member

    Yea about 30 years ago

    Ballocks. They were just mountain bikes 30 years ago.

    Posted 1 year ago
    ampthill
    Full Member

    I looked at these when i bought my Neuron. Great idea, craxy prices. Even comparing in house to a Fuel ex

    Posted 1 year ago
    Northwind
    Full Member

    It seems to be quite a lot like a 2015 remedy tbh

    Posted 1 year ago
    bigrich
    Full Member

    Ballocks. They were just mountain bikes 30 years ago

    Errrr, Mountain biking was full marketing bullpigs back then.

    Posted 1 year ago
    Lankysprinter
    Free Member

    They are a lot of ££ but it strikes me so is every similar bike? I’m torn between one of these and more trail hardtail. I can’t decide if one of these will make my local Marple/ peaks trails feel too easy?

    I already have a Scott scale that’s fine but has non tubeless rims and rubbish suntour fork so could keep that for xc, gravel rides, marathons and have a new bike for local trails and longer marathons if needed.

    Will I regret a full sus given I can’t jump, don’t ride trail centres more than once a year, etc?

    Posted 1 year ago
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