Trek Top Fuel.. frame sizing

Looking at a Trek Top Fuel 8. Now I’m a bit confused by the Trek frame sizing… what size would riders recommend: 6:2ft (198cm), 33inch inside leg, 81kgs. Normally a XL (Ragley hardtail & Giant Trance), but the Fuel geometry puts me very close to a XL/Large. Do the frames run on the large/correct/small size ?

Are you 6’2” or 198cm? As they are quite a difference 😆

I would suggest an XL, due to the low stack, they do feel quite small.

The only challenge will be the seat tube height – you will be limited on longer droppers.

Pretty much correct size according to their size chart so I’d go off that.

6’2″ Would be within the realms of Large.

If you’re right between sizes go up.

I’m 6’2″ with an XL top fuel..

As mentioned above front ends is low, I’ve got 30mm of spacers and a riser bar to compensate, and I’ve got a 180mm oneup dropper slammed to the collar…. Reach is apparently the same as my sentinel but the top fuel feels smaller.

Great bike though. You’ll love it 👍

I’m 6ft and have an L. For 6’2” I’d be going for XL.

I am 6:2ft, 189cm 🙂 Trek size chart just puts me into the XL range. Thanks, seems to be XL is the overriding answer.

Got mine a few weeks ago, 6’1 and shrinking with age.. L fits me fine but ‘feels’ small. I’d  go with XL if 6’2.

great bike, be careful with the sizing. Im 5’8 and went medium (was gonna go ML glad i didn’t)

as stated the front is super low.. i had no idea why i was getting lower back pain… until i sat next to a mates trail bike…

I’m on 38mm risers at the top of the steerer and it only just works for general trail riding for me, so id advise NOT to size up unless your fitness allows you to get onto the bars comfortably

To be fair, I’m 185cm (or 6’1” & a bit) and the large was considerably shorter once you ran a bit of steerer tube & some higher rise bars to ‘fudge’ the stack up to what would be more normal for that size of bike.

I’d say that’s precisely the reason to size up. It’s only going to be a bigger issue on the smaller bike.

6ft and on a large with the seatpost nearly maxed out. Id definitely be going XL if you’re any taller, unless your height is entirely due to a freakishly long neck. (Actually given the 33 inside leg, you’re probably also right on the edge)

I went into a Trek store earlier and sat on a Ex Fuel in XL, felt perfect. Think I’m going to order the XL and raise the bars to the top of the steerer. How heavy are the stock Bontrager wheels ? worth upgrading to something a bit lighter ?

I’d say that’s precisely the reason to size up. It’s only going to be a bigger issue on the smaller bike.

I would agree with the above. If the stack is low and you compensate for this by raising the stem higher up the steerer and with riser bars this will reduce the reach, therefore better to go slightly bigger in that case (?).

stock wheels? the aluminium’s? 1800? or there abouts maybe a bit more.. some of which is in the “tape” thing they fit

the wheels are great, I prefer them to my dt350 / xm481’s

but i say that from a 72kg rider, at 6’2 you’ll; be asking more from them than me

Be careful with Trek sizing, I am 5′ 10″ and ride a Large 2023 Trek Procaliber.

I have a 2022 ML top fuel and the front is ridiculously low compared to my old fuel ex. Even with riser bars and all spacers it’s just too low so just be be aware. If possible would really try to sit on one first.

Might hold fire on the order then, until I can sit on one in a shop. Seems a few people have an issue with the very low stack ?

Low stack, shorter travel and with the head tube angle it does make the front low. My last trek was a 2018 Fuel EX8 and that has a much higher front end so the top fuel felt even lower.

Crikey… the Top Fuel is a low stack. I have a Ragley Big Al (XL) that I find fairly low, the stack on the Ragley is 652mm, the Top Fuel is a fair bit lower at 615mm. Now you have me doubting if this is the right bike as that’s a very low front end, strange how none of the reviewers online referenced this.

I honestly didn’t notice the stack, until i tried longer rides.

i think the selling point is, ride it as a trail bike, or take it on a marathon with a low stretched out position

Can the stack issue be resolved by lifting the stem up the steerer and running a 40-50mm riser bar? Looks like the SID steerer has a fair bit left on top and not trimmed right down. The standard Trek bar has a reasonable amount of rise already (27mm). Not concerned with slightly reducing the reach as it would be an XL. Can’t easily find a XL to try, I was going to order online from Pauls Cycles, they’re too far away to go and size the bike up.

The other thing to mention, is that the lower models come with a 120mm fork, top end are 130… so if you were thinking about top end, or re forking, you’ve got a token amount of extra height there

Great advice as always, much appreciated. I need to go go find one of these in the flesh and sit on it really.

I managed to try a XL Trek Roscoe 7 for size today, to check the stack height on that. The Roscoe felt correct, but is almost 50mm higher than the Top Fuel and had a lower dropper post at full extension, the Roscoe looks to have more steerer adjustment than the Top Fuel too. I’m not going to proceed with the Top Fuel, concerned about the very low stack and the high weight of the bike. I believe little could be done about the weight (XL = 14.68kgs without pedals) as the bulk of the weight is in the frame (3.96kgs).

my 9.8 in medium, with 300g pedals and xt crank, weighed 14.2kg on a cheap scale

a few 100g can come off the 2kg entry level fox 34, another 100 odd off the dropper

honestly, the weight isn’t a concern, bike is rapid up stuff, and so eager to jump, my big(er) bike is 1kg heavier… and they are worlds apart in climbing performance

the plus side, the bike is solid, the frame is solid, the wheels are solid, nothing feels down country or cross country