Submitted by
benjamin n mays
a Weekend Warrior
from cocoa fl USA
Date Reviewed: March 9, 2010
Strengths: smooth, fast, nimble, weight, good geometry for 5'10" 170lbs
Weaknesses: fox float shock not quite enough flex for big stuff
Bottom Line:
real sweet all around trail bike ready & hungry for fast & furious tempo as well as slow-n-low technical ( more my style). great fo those who wanna really ride but dont wanna break the bank. sure theres more capable stuuf out there but if you dont need all that dont buy it buy this instead. you dont need to spend $2000.00 + to have fun. i spent $500 and im pacing guys on $3200.00 dollar bikes they dont know how to use
Similar Products Used: giant trance (hardly comparable)
Bike Setup: stock frame & suspension rock shox pilot air- fox float rear shock good enough ( bought used had to rebuild= $63.47 not bad)stock wheels. after market parts serfas rx saddle- triple trap platform pedals- new sram chain- serfas tires 2.35 swoop up front( super sweet tire seriously buy one NOW) serfas 2.1 boil ( dito )fsa bash ring ( sweet )
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
teruyasu
a Weekend Warrior
from Akishima-shi, Tokyo, Japan
Date Reviewed: June 10, 2009
Strengths: The frame seems enough as they guarantee though, little bit heavy?
Weaknesses: It's own heaviness.
Bottom Line:
Totaly color design is nice(in Red). Designd in only black and red.
Now I am satisfied after changing the wheel set and crank set to Mavic 819 disc UST with XTR hub, XT sprocket, Cross-mark UTS by Maxxis, and Raceface Evolve XC X-TIPE.
I changed the devices at the same time, so after changed them, it makes me feel like just as 'a different bike'.
So, I think maybe I should stop to spend money any more with this bike, to keep money for having new one.
Bike Setup: For make the bike it is able to ride in any situation at west side of Tokyo.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Ladislav Beneš
a Cross Country Rider
from Praha, Czech Republic
Date Reviewed: January 9, 2008
Strengths: Pretty good stiffness of the rear triangle, nice design in the VW-Trek red, Avid Juicy 5 brakeset.
Weaknesses: The RS Bar 2.1 rear shock, the HUGE weight, low activity of the rear triangle, Shimano M440 crankset
Bottom Line:
I bought this bike for my father for a reduced price as a first fully and as a replacement for Trek 6500. The impression is very poor. The 80mm on rear wheel are not fully activated because of the poor shock, so the bike acts more like a hard-tail. The weight is too much for 80mm (more than 14 kg). The rest of the bike is quite OK. Considering the stock price, it only supports my worst meaning about Trek full-suspension bikes before 2007, but for the reduced price, it is a good toy for weekends. I recommend to change the rear shock to all users.
Submitted by
Paul
a Weekend Warrior
from London, UK
Date Reviewed: December 27, 2007
Strengths: Solid, quality frame, comfy, climbs well, good all rounder
Weaknesses: Manitou splice fork had to go. Tyres no good for damp UK conditions and way heavy. Heavy/cheap parts, especially drivetrain and bars/stem combo. 505 pedals went straight in the bin.
Bottom Line:
Bought the bike to have a go at getting back into mountain bikes after 10 years out so didn't want to spend too much up front. The TF80 looked to be the best option with discs for the price and after upgrades sourced cheap from Ebay and CRC I'm well happy with the ride. The bike has lost 4.1bs and I'm 2 stone lighter!
Suitable for the larger rider doing XC.
Frames are big for their quoted size, massive spec changes every year
Bike Setup: 19" Red, 2006 model bought NOS in May 07. Reba SL w/poploc up front, Spec'd Houffalize 1.8" tyres, Xpedo pdeals, carbon bars stem and post, Shimano Hollotech LX crankset, roadie block
Strengths: the price, its very quick , good climber, & good looking, great allrounder
Weaknesses: rear shock is a rock shox bar 2.1 , its jerky doesnt work its sh*t lets the whole bike down.also really high top tube
Bottom Line:
apart from rear shock , the ridiculously high top tube is way to high, its only a 17 1/2" frame and Evey time i jump off the pedals i kill the family jewels which shine no more, when your on the pedals its fine but any other time its torture. Dont let me put you off' you would have to spend a lot more money than this to equal the ride. GM,UK
Submitted by
JH Park
a Cross Country Rider
from Korea
Date Reviewed: June 6, 2007
Strengths: very good for climbing up in terms of strength & speed
Weaknesses: Bontrager tires : very slippy
Bottom Line:
Overally,very satisfied with this model except the tires. Not only in the mountain but also in the road, I could feel very excellent for a straight drive.
Feel better than Truth in terms of bobbing in rear shock when go up the hill.
Submitted by
Alberto Zamacona
a Cross Country Rider
from Oaxaca, Mexico
Date Reviewed: May 2, 2007
Strengths: Great geometry
Weaknesses: It's falling appart
Bottom Line:
I have had this bike now for three years and I was really happy with it, BUT. The dam thing is falling appart at the seams, literally !!!!. The top tube has craks, fractures, the rear triangle is has several fratures also. It is now at the local aluminum welder and I think I can fix it. But for the price I shouldn't have to do this. I am a thousand miles from where I bought the dam thin so it's kind of dificult to get the waranty.
Purchased At: kenself cycles hobart tasmania australia
Similar Products Used: trek fuel 70 cannodale rush
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Darren
a Cross Country Rider
from Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: November 4, 2006
Strengths: Awesome geometry - the most comfortable seating posture of any bike I tried...Specialized FSR came close. Smooth shifting, decent (but not stellar) weight.
Weaknesses: Stock tires suck. That's about it actually...
Bottom Line:
I bought this bike after two years of low-intensity shopping. Finally narrowed it down to the Fuel or a Specialized FSR but the Trek just seemed to fit better...plus I found it on ebay for $800.00 CDN in December of 2004 (it's a 2004 model) so price-wise that couldn't be beat. Overall I'm very pleased with it.
Submitted by
Wes Tanner
a Cross Country Rider
from Salt Lake Utah
Date Reviewed: June 20, 2006
Strengths: The Fuel 80 geometry is awesome for the Larger rider. Good components that are well matched.
Weaknesses: Stock Pedals, bontrager tires and wheels.
Bottom Line:
@ the weight of 246 and 6'4" I contest that this is the best value to performance ratio. The S Works was nice on descents until sand or shell. The Cannondale had the single post Fork and I thought is looked awesome and was quick to repair to flats, but the fork sucked on the way up it would bounce off rocks and tree stumps favoring the post side. On the third decent from the resort top the fork boot was tearing and leaking oil and the wheel was out of round. The Gary Fisher Cake was nice but the fuel I purchased had Hayes Nine brakes and more better quality components for 310 less.
Just looking for a heads up on what a 2003 Fuel 80 should go for its in great shape hasn't been ridden to much still has the factory tires on it with minimal wear. Thanks Read More »
Looking to upgrade the Bar rear shock to match the Reba Race front fork and going to get a Rock Shox Monarch RT3, Just don't know which tune to get, low-med, or high. Does anyone k Read More »
I posted this in a different forum and haven't had a lot of responses- probably because my initial post was sooo long.
Quick overview- LBS has a used Fuel 80 (2002 or 03) almos Read More »
I recently purchased an 03 Trek Fuel 80 and want to put a Juicy Seven rear Disk brake on it.
I have no clue whatsoever what mounting bracket I need. The holes are there but there Read More »
I have a 2005 Fuel 80. I don't have any of my records/paperwork. I'm 5-10 and they didn't make 18.5's then so I'm assuming it's a 17.5 and not a 19.5.
My question is this: back Read More »
