Submitted by
peetrmac
a Cross Country Rider
from Vancouver
Date Reviewed: January 17, 2011
Strengths: great golf course bike and limited race riding. It has served me well for 8 years. recently rode slickrock at Moab and performed beautifully.
Weaknesses: Creaking in the rear suspension, brakes heat up too quickly for any type of sustained downhill technical riding. This is a race bike and therefore requires regular maintenance and cleaning. rear cassette constantly came loose and bottom bracket required regular tightening.
Bottom Line:
this bike is a great bike but has a limited ability to survive anything more than light to moderate North Shore and Squamish/Whistler riding. The 28 spoke rim pretty much determines it all.
Help!!!
I wrecked a fork on this bike and need to replace it. It has served me well but will never be more than a fall back bike. I don't want to spend $1000 on a race fork. What are my best options???
Bike Setup: completely stock, tried some minor changes to stem and riser bar but returned to original platform. Changed tires to a nice tacky Minion and need help now
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Rick O'Shea
a Cross Country Rider
from Bellingham Washington
Date Reviewed: March 24, 2010
Strengths: I'm not a big air rider, but I've been pounding this bike down trails in Arizona and Washington for almost 7 years. It has been amazing for performance and durability. No regrets. Just routine maintenance.
Weaknesses: V-brakes. I bought a new bike this year with discs because of the steep, muddy trails in Washington.
Bottom Line:
This bike has served me well for years with only routine maintenance. It has been reliable and durable beyond my expectations.
Favorite Trail: SST, Pollo Elastico, All of Galbraith
Duration Product Used: More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$1500.00
Purchased At: Broadway Bikes Tucso
Similar Products Used: Gary fischer marlin,
Bike Setup: Shimano XT components, fox shock, duke fork, avid v brakes
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Submitted by
DRAGIN
a Weekend Warrior
from Newington, CT
Date Reviewed: May 5, 2009
Strengths: Solid frame, maneuverable and nimble with the woods, climbs like a mountain goat, great component level for the price. Lightweight considering the standard bars, stem, seat, seatpost it comes with. Hayes hydraulic disc setup and UST race disc rims are great.
Weaknesses: they say the welds can break but so far so good with mine. Could use a bit more rear travel and a better front fork. The AC Jones tires are very twitchy in the loose stuff and in wet conditions. The basic Bontrager butt kickin seat had to go too.
Bottom Line:
This is a great bike. Got it for what I feel is a great deal compared to other bikes in the $700 range locally. All my friends who have more experience that I love it and compliment it all the time. I feel the bike has really helped my confidence grow and it's tame stable ride in the woods has helped me push hard and improve as a rider fast. Never thought I'd own a Trek but this bike has made me a believer in Trek bikes.
Bike Setup: Upgraded to FSA Kforce bar, FSA 90mm stem, WTB seat, and Kenda Nevegal UST tires. Stans tubeless goo in the tires, and lock on Lizard skin grips. The only thing I may do is upgrade the fork.
Submitted by
mtbbiker@heart
a Cross Country Rider
from Corona, CA
Date Reviewed: November 20, 2008
Strengths: Solid frame, handling is exceptionally stable, comfortable. Great value for all that you get.
Weaknesses: Chain suck, noisy brakes.
Bottom Line:
I have been riding this bike off & on for 7 years. Everytime I get back on the bike I remember why I bought it. It's an excellent XC bike. I am 6', 215#'s, not an agressive rider, but do like the way this bike has performed. Once I get used to shifting again the chain suck goes away. Adjusted the brakes that has minimized the noise (not ready to spend the money on disk brakes). Still love riding this bike, and has held up very well.
Bike Setup: Changed shifters & brakes to XT right away. In the past year replaced the headset with a Cane Creek. The rest is stock.
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Submitted by
Brian Mitchell
a Cross Country Rider
from CO,
Date Reviewed: January 2, 2008
Strengths: Durability, Handling, Price
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
I am 6' 215lbs, and I have beat the crap out or this thing. It just keeps coming back for more. Hardly any bob and easy on the back. I take this bike on trails and jumps that it is really not meant for. Going to put a lighter fork on it and race it tis year. I recomend this bike or the Fuel 80 (we have a 2003 that has been sweet also)for anyone that does not want to pay big $$ for a boutique bike
Weaknesses: Where to start... a few details on the reviewer, I'm 6'3" and have depending on the season, clock in at around 215 to 230 lbs. I ride my Trek Fuel 90 (X-large frame) on XC trails and maintain my equipment. A few observations and opinions on Trek. They do not care about repeat customers, if they did, they would not hand out replacement components with the same design flaws as the originals. My Trek Fuel 90 has gone through a full frame replacement and two rear triangles and now a pivot point, all in the span of four summers. My bike has spent most of it's time at bike shops, waiting for replacement components to arrive. Raplacement components sent by Trek with the full knowledge that these parts will likewise fail. The dealers (off the record) seem to be aware of the design flaws but refuse to address the problems. I've even asked for an upgrade with me paying the difference, but was declined. My past 4 summers, I've (on average) had a hand full of rides prior to the bike failing me, usually by mid summer the bike is off the trails and in the shop. This year I will be puchasing a new bike and will never again give Trek a dime of my hard earned cash. Trek should also be aware that my difficulties with the bike have been very public within my local bike club.
Bottom Line:
If you're over 190 lbs, stay away from Trek Fuel bikes. Trek and their affiliated bike shops have no issues about selling bikes to people over 200 lbs, but it's obvious, they don't design the bikes with this market share in mind.
Submitted by
edward loucks
a Cross Country Rider
from fall river ma. u.s.a.
Date Reviewed: July 7, 2007
Strengths: very aggressive suspension the large frame is just right for me the aluminum frame is just as good as the carbon fibre y22 i use to ride
Weaknesses: switching gears to quick tends to pop the chain off.but im getting better at switching gears
Bottom Line:
anyone looking for a good quality bicycle american made should definately see your local trek dealer and take a trek bike for a ride .i promise you,you will be satisfied
Similar Products Used: i also use to ride a cannondale full suspension,but it didn't really ride as well as trek cycles.i also had a trek 970 candy apple red with alot of chrome ,unfortunately it was stolen.
Bike Setup: it just stock right now,but i plan on giving it an overhaul real soon
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Submitted by
Maya Neal
a Weekend Warrior
from East Wenatchee
Date Reviewed: March 10, 2007
Strengths: All around excellent bike
Weaknesses: Sram grip shift shifter handles split
Bottom Line:
Corners like it was on rails decends like a dune buggy great on the flats
Similar Products Used: Gary Fisher Tassalaharra most likely spelled wrong
Bike Setup: Stock except for speedplay clipless pedals
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Submitted by
Rupert Collins
a Cross Country Rider
from Seattle, WA. USA
Date Reviewed: March 4, 2007
Strengths: U.S. made, Maneuverability and Comfort. Call me old fashioned but the thought of twelve year-old standing in a pool of water for 14 hours while holding a tig-welder makes me sad. My Trek cost no more than the rival Specialized bike and it was made here in the U.S. As for the handling, my Fuel 90 descends like a bike with much more than three inches of travel, can handle the tighest technical section and climbs like a goat. What more could you ask for? As for the comfort, oh sweet, sweet full suspension I will never go back to a hardtail again. Energy loss my @#$! I can ride things now I could never make on my hardtail and ride for hours longer without any of the back pain of years past.
Weaknesses: Chain suck, and the stock quick release seatpost clamp that died three months in. As for the chain suck problem, once I got rid of the Bontrager cranks, the problem all but vanished. Try any the Shimano cranks and you will forget the bike had the problem in the first place. I also highly recommend going straight to disc brakes. I didn't have the cash at the time of purchase and used the stock Avid-3 v-brakes "happily" for two years. But now that I have upgraded, I don't know how I rode all those years without them.
Bottom Line:
I know Trek is not known for their Mountain Bikes but do yourself a favor and try one. You will be pleasantly surprised. I bought my Fuel in '03 expecting to use it a season and try something new. It's just about Spring '07 and I still can't justify buying a new bike...damn it! And best of all...look Mom, no slave labor! Buy North American!!!
Bike Setup: Upgraded the cranks to Shimano XT octalink, upgraded the fork to a Marzocchi Z2 Atom 80 and when I went disc, switched the wheels to Mavic Cross Max XL and Avid Juicy 7 disc brakes.
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Submitted by
Doug Hathaway
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver, Colorado, USA
Date Reviewed: October 29, 2006
Strengths: Strengths of this bike are its versatility. It climbs very well. Its not stupid heavy like a downhiller, yet descends at speed right along bikes with much more suspension.
Weaknesses: Lack of adjustability on the front fork. Its a Manitou Black and I pretty much always run it in the 80mm mode, because in the 100mm mode its too soft at the top of the stroke and therefore either too much travel during flat fast sections when cranking, and bottoms out when descending slower technical sections. In the 80mm mode its just about right, but I feel Im gettn ripped off for not gettn to use that extra 20mm. The rear shock is fine, not sure what the complaints are about, dont put too much air in let it work. Many people crank the pressure, then complain that its too stiff. Try it with less air! Stock brakes suck bad. I bought the one w/o disc and recently put disc on it. The caliper brakes squealed non stop, they ground up the rims and just worked horribly. I can ride a stoppie for 30ft on my commuter bike with great breakes, but this one needed discs to be able to perform like my other bikes. So first thing is dont get calipers, if you did, buy disc and dont go back.
Bottom Line:
The bottom line is this. You will get chain suck if you are dorky enough to late shift and then force it under torgue to switch gears. When you know what youre doing both mechanically and athletically, you wont have these problems. If you want more travel, get a hucker or a dowhiller. This is a bike for doing everything, climbing AND descending. I dont descend any hill I didnt climb. Leave the resort weenies in the dust and get some exercise! Trek makes a solid, great performing bike that can chew up bikes 3x more expensive when piloted by seasoned cyclists who know how to set up and control a bike. Dont blame the bike, its solid. Remember, back in the day we all rode with solid front forks, stiff rear ends, crappy brakes, cruddy shifters, and still had fun. You dont need a bike so plush you dont spill your latte. You need something that does it all. And the Fuel90 is that bike. Peas out!
Similar Products Used: I have been riding mt and road bikes since the late 80s. I ride almost daily, but do more road riding than mt anymore.
Bike Setup: Its pretty stock aside from the caliper brakes. I ride smaller tires at high pressures and eat up everyone I encounter. The bike does me proud.
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Submitted by
Ralf Woodlund
a Cross Country Rider
from Sweden
Date Reviewed: September 29, 2006
Strengths: Great when riding steep declines downhill over roots and stones. comfortable
Weaknesses: Screws rust, must tighten rear frame section at regular intervalls,heavy, crap geometry sit far to upright even with lowwered stem and flat bars,headset feels loose, alot of vibration in stem section.
Bottom Line:
The bottom line is I am really disapointed from having to tighten rusty screws every ride and the Ario rear suspension being so difficult to fit correct bounce.The vibrating headset section (which has been serviced twice)I went from HT to FS big regrets all my cycle races this year I came worse than the HT years,allthough I have trained a hell off alot more.To have the comfort of FS is not worth hauling a heavy lump on a 100KM track every steep hill was hell. Lastly the XT paddles or combined brakes and gears are rubbish, you more or less have to release the handlebar grip to push with your hands/palms=very unnatural hand movement. I have now sold this tractor and ordered a HT Scale 10 OK a huge price increase and you cannot compare but my recomendation is BUY HARDTAIL and wizz past the heavy tackle on the steep hills.
Strengths: Has been taking abuse from a 210 beginner rider for 2 years without major complaints.
Weaknesses: VBrakes, you can get disks for the same money nowdays. Lots of chainsucks. Bumpy rear suspension (tried various setups).
Bottom Line:
This bike is giving me a good treat. As a somewhat heavy beginner racer I give this bike a hard time and nothing broke on me so far (besides a couple of drive trains). In over 140 hours of riding, I had way more good times than bad. I am just wondering if the stock setup wont depreciate to fast because of the weak rim brakes and quite cheap rear shock.
Similar Products Used: First full suspension. Otherwise Diamondback Sorrento.
Bike Setup: Stock + Rapid Rise and Maxxis Mobster tires. Replaced big front ring with Race Face bashguard. Replaced Shimano pedals with Crank Brothers Mallet C.
Strengths: I haven't really done too much with the bike. But, I have noticed looking at other bikes the Fuel 90 gives you the most for the money. It has LX and XT parts which is not bad at all. The bike also has a nice smooth ride to it and and there is really no peddle bob if you ajust the air in the rear shock correctly.
Weaknesses: The rear shock(Fox Float R) started to squeack a little, but eventually stopped and the when going over rough terrain the bike is noisy because of the chain. I would really recommend the Lizard Skin which dampens the noise a little.(Chain could be a little tighter.
Bottom Line:
The bike couldn't give more for the money especially when you get a good deal on it. It has nice parts and shocks!
Bike Setup: Well.... lets see, A Trek Fuel 90 with all stock parts.
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Submitted by
Jim Richardson
a Weekend Warrior
from Fremont, CA
Date Reviewed: July 8, 2005
Strengths: Good Value
Weaknesses: Broke the rear derailer (middle of a long ride) Went through two chains that the front derailer pushes over to far and drops chain between petals and frame. Just broke the Frame going uphill at a slow pace
Bottom Line:
I wouldn't recommend Trek MTB. My buddy and I went and got a deal on two. Both of us have had lots of problems and are always having our bike down for one reason or another. The suspension and brakes seem good but too many problems. You should not have to worry if the manufacturer has a warrenty on the frame.
