I'm thinking about buying one of the Trek EX's and I'm trying to establish if it's worth paying an extra grand to get the EX 9.8 over the EX 9 (9.9 RRP is £3500, 9 RRP is £2500)
The obvious difference is the fully carbon frame but the thing that is really worrying me is that the forks and rear shock seem to be a downgrade over the RLC/RP-23 combo on the EX 9. I'm really not that fussed about having a carbon frame just for the sake of it but if it's a much better frame I'd certainly consider it.
Most of my riding is in the South East and tends to consist of an hour long hack during the week and a 30 to 50 mile ride a couple of weekends a month. I'm also known to do the odd 100km enduro and I want a bike that is going to be really good on 4+ hour rides but don't mind carrying a little more weight if it's still going to give me that grin factor when the going gets rough or if I take it to a trail centre.
Any thoughts and advice very welcome!
of course its worth it, since when hasn't it been worth spending extra on a bike!
Just do it.
If you get the Ex9 you'll always end up feeling like you 'settled' for it, the 9.8 is much more sensible!
Personally if I had that money to spend on a bike I wouldn't. I'd buy two bikes!
Get the EX9 and use the rest for hardtail or roadbike 🙂
I love my '09 EX9, couldn't have afforded a 9.8 but only seemed lighter, by a bit, so why not get the 9 and spend the rest on a different wheelset for heavier/lighter stuff?
Why not consider the 9.9? Then after a week or so, just go for the 9.8, it'll seem really cheap!
Tracker1972 +1
If you need to think about it then no!
either that or
FLIP A COIN - that'll tell you what you really want !!
I have and EX8 and I bet I wouln't ride any better on an EX9.8!
Infact buy the EX9 and spend the rest on an SS set up - then you won't even want to use the TREK!
But the forks and shock on the 9.8 aren't as good as the ones on the 9!
I'd normally lean towards just blowing the cash but in this particular case I'm just thinking I'm paying a grand just to have a carbon frame that probably doesn't even weigh all that much less than the alloy one. I'm tempted to blow the rest on a grands worth of upgrade in 6 months. Lovely wheel set and bar/stem/steat post combo would be probably take it down to a simlar weight I reckon AND then I'd still have the RLC/RP-23 shocks rather than RL/RP-2 on the 9.8.
Either bike will easily do what You're asking.
I've ridden the Fuel EX8, EX9 and the EX9.9.
They are all very good bikes for what you're asking.
The difference between the EX8 and the EX9.9 was noticable, paticularly on the climbs, but it wasn't worth the extra 1K - to me, but it was to a friend.
BTW I ended up buying the Remedy.
If I had to have only 1 bike, it would probably be a Fuel EX.
I bought an EX9 and it's since had every part replaced (the old bits have gone on a hardtail) Wouldn't touch a carbon frame the way I ride... 🙂
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That looks nice actually, good use of colour.
Let's not get into the 'carbon's not tough enough' argument. The 9.8 would've been tougher than that!
£3.5K - I'd custom build a bike based around a Turner, Santa Cruz, etc, then you can have every part to your choice.
If you've got £3.5K to spend then after a frame purchase you'd have nearly £2k to spend on parts, or at £2.5k you could still get nearly new from the classifieds to build a great bike.
I had the same dilema a few months back, the price was'nt so much an issue, but the 9 was specced better in a few places. I went for the 9 and stuck some king wheels and bits on and some new revs, in fact, come to think, I put new forks, wheels BB, headset, bars, stem, brakes, saddle seatpost, shifters and cranks......hmmm yeah, I got the frame and rear mech I wanted and added the other bits..... 😯
£3.5K - I'd custom build a bike based around a Turner, Santa Cruz, etc
Why? He clearly wants a Fuel, why spend more on a bike with less after sales support? Arguably inferior in other areas too!
I went for an EX9 which IMHO is ace and have a OnOne456 also ace of course! Unless you are a racing snake, I'm not convinced te extra grand for a lighter rig is worth it, but it a personal thing.
Why not consider the 9.9? Then after a week or so, just go for the 9.8, it'll seem really cheap!
Brilliant logic. Must try that myself. 🙂
In answer to the original question though: No, it's almost certainly not worth the extra £1k to save probably a few hundred grams.
I almost bought a carbon Trance, but settled for the alu version and I have never regretted it.
I'm not saying there's anything wrong with carbon FS bikes, just that they provide the worst example of diminishing returns I can think of.
I tried both when I bought an EX just over a year ago, and wasn't fussed over the 9.9. So went with a 9, and not looked backed at all.
Try and get a go on the carbon, and alu versions - it's the only way you will ever "know" if your making the right choice!
- not applicable to the Fuel EX, but some carbon bikes are actually heavier than Alu ones! and (in a Sir Michael cane voice) "not a lot of people know that"
Anthem was a good example of that, can't think of any others off the top of my head.
carbon FS bikes, just that they provide the worst example of diminishing returns I can think of.
Really? I think in this case it's not the best value, but that's a massive sweeping generalisation, they're often not that much more, if it's a few hundred quid I'd say it's totally worth it.
2009 Enduro SL Carbon was