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 …

By singletrackandi

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The new Trek Top Fuel mixes uphill efficiency with downhill performance

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What’s a for too?

“compatible with a 130mm for too.”

130mm fork, too?

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

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

“Downcountry….”

Marketing BS at it’s nauseating fing worst..

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.

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

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

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.

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

Yea about 30 years ago.

Yea about 30 years ago

Ballocks. They were just mountain bikes 30 years ago.

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

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

Ballocks. They were just mountain bikes 30 years ago

Errrr, Mountain biking was full marketing bullpigs back then.

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?