Submitted by
Joe Tolisano
a Weekend Warrior
from East Hartford, CT, USA
Date Reviewed: July 8, 2005
Strengths: Nice geometry, fairly light, smooth drivetrain. Feels very agile riding even technical trails and uphills. Pretty good descents if not too technical. But light weight does allow it to get knocked around a bit. Great bike if you're under 180 lbs. No problems with the frame creaking as others have mentioned.
Weaknesses: Aheadset completely and uterly blows. Didn't like seeing seal for bottom bearing split. What's keeping those bearing from falling out? Brakes squeal like mad when wet. Not too fond of the 2 tone paint job/silver rear triangle and loads of stickers.
Bottom Line:
I bought this bike after test riding several bikes at several LBS. After testing several bikes I realized it's really the components that make the bike. As long as you have a quality frameset that has a geometry that feels right and a good suspension design. So before I even got the bike I'm ordering parts. Then I start riding some really nice trails and decide I want more than 3" of travel. So I find a real nice 2005 Trek Liquid 25 frame in VERY nice shape. Now I'm just taking off a few parts like the cranks, seat, seatpost, bars and stem since I blew my budget. I'm doing what I wanted in the first place: Bulding my own bike. So does this mean I don't like the Fuel SlR frameset and geometry? Absolutely NOT! If I could have a second bike I would spend the extra $500 and get the parts I need to build up my Lquid and have 2 bikes. I just can't do it right now. I just feel that for many people that are getting into mountain biking will need something with more travel as their skills and ambitions progress. If this bike is used for trail riding or racing it's great. When you want to get a bit more aggresive, well that when you need to upgrade. The right tool for the job. I outgrew the capabilities of this bike very quickly.
Submitted by
Quincy Shanks
a Weekend Warrior
from Reno Nevada United States
Date Reviewed: December 1, 2004
Strengths: Pretty sturdy. Ok on downhills. Ok for the price.
Weaknesses: Tires have no grip. Horrible handling. heavy. all cables are on top of the top tube and that gets really anoying. fork freezes up in just a bit of cold weather. Brake levers squeez horrible and are not smooth.Really bad climbing. slow. Derailers constantly need to be readjusted(i meen all the time).
Bottom Line:
bad bike don't buy it. but of coarse if you dont believe me go waist your money and see for your self.
Similar Products Used: Giant Nrs 2 (great highly recomended)
Bike Setup: stock
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Submitted by
Michael Kline
a Cross Country Rider
from Elmora, Pennsylvania
Date Reviewed: April 9, 2004
Strengths: Frame is fairly light, but also rugged. Great climber, good decender, great on technical singletrack, harsh as hell through rock gardens and studder bumps. Great value.
Weaknesses: Bontranger! Bontranger! Bontranger! and Promax brakes that couldn't stop a 90lb rider.
Bottom Line:
Great value. After about 1700 miles the componets I've replaced have stood the test of time much better than the stock stuff. My next upgrade will be the fork. This thing is awesome when its above 55 degrees. Unfortunatly for me western PA in only above that mark four months of the year. I converted the stock AC Jones tires to my snow tires. Thats all they were good for. The knobbie patteren holds sheet metal screws very well. The stem was junk, the bars were junk, the rims gouged out in about 250 miles, and the seat post was made of iron or lead. Those damn cranks must have come of an old soviet T-72 tank, because they wont bend or wear. The crank also weighs somewhere in the lead category of the periodic table. I paid 1000 bones for it. It lasted six months with the stock set-up, so thats a pretty good value. I ride hard, I dont baby my bikes, and I sure the hell don't let nature dictate to me when to ride. Solid frame, upgrade as you go. My first full suspension bike. If your agressive, plan to upgrade. Beats any hardtail out there. NOT FOR HUCKING, OR DOWNHILLING.
Similar Products Used: just a few demo rides on various fully suspended modles.
Bike Setup: Mavic X-517's/Hutchinson Scorpions gold elite 2.0 converted with Stans no tubes system. Thompson elite seat post/ Selle ti gel saddle. Sram 5.0 11-32 cassette/Pc-58 chain. Shimano 515 clipin pedals. Stock "Boontanger" crank.(Did not wear out yet,damn!). Easton EA-50 Monkey Bar 2" rise. Sette Edge stem. And Avid speed dial 7.0 brakes.
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Submitted by
Warren Cooksey
a Cross Country Rider
from North Lake Tahoe
Date Reviewed: December 30, 2003
Strengths: Nice frame design, can be modified to be good all around bike, light, can climb all day, handles great on technical single track.
Weaknesses: Most of the stock components suck and will NOT stand up to hard riding. If you plan on riding a lot you will probably end up saving money and getting something else with better components. You get what you pay for.
Bottom Line:
This is a great all around bike, I had mine for 2 years. I took mine out to Moab once and I was very glad to have that bike there for the XC riding, it works well on technical single track, you can bomb it on the downhills as long as you thread it through any larger objects, however, it is light and if you are going fast it will get knocked around a lot. I would recommend this bike to anyone who likes to climb and ride a little bit of everything. Just be aware that the components that come stock on the bike really aren't good at all and probably won't last more than a year of moderate riding. If I was considering buying a bike like this new I would probably do some research on similar bikes. I sold mine cuz I needed something with more suspension. If you like hauling ass downhill, I would look at something more of a "freeride" rather XC. Otherwise, I can't really complain. Rode 3-6 a week last summer and mine held up okay.
Similar Products Used: None, first full suspension XC.
Bike Setup: Marzocchi MXR 4" travel fork, Fox Float Race rear shock, Azonic Shorty Stem, XTR V-Brakes
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Submitted by
Tom Gormly
a Downhiller
from Australia, Sydney
Date Reviewed: July 11, 2003
Strengths: Strenghths: you can sell it for as much as you bought it if your quick enough.
Weaknesses: The fact that you bought it is a personal weakness in you, but the bike is pissweak. Trek components are made by companies that went out of business coz they were crap, then trek bought them... ie Bontrager, Gary fischer etc
Bottom Line:
This bike used to be in its penseive years, now its just EX-pensive. dont buy it coz it is smelly and a big fat poo.
Bike Setup: Marzocchi Dirt Jumper III's, Fox rear, Hayes disc. MARZOCCHI'S ARE THE ONLY GOOD FORKS OUT THERE!:P
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Submitted by
Moe
a Cross Country Rider
from Seattle
Date Reviewed: May 6, 2003
Strengths: Great Frame, Bike climbs like a hardtail, and descends just as well as most of the $2000+ bikes out there. Looks good too!
Weaknesses: Components, throw away the derailleurs ASAP. Could not keep chain from slapping, and flinging right off the sprockets every time I hit a bump.
Weaknesses: None considering the price.Just basic mid grade working parts.
Bottom Line:
Needed a strong bike to rehab a bum knee and have some fun.After reading most everything printed on these things it looked like a mountain bike would do the trick.This fuel had the best proven rep for crosscountry type rideing.Only guys complaining seemed to be bashing their bikes.This Fuel 80 has given me no trouble in 120 miles.Great Frame with a low center of gravity.Worth upgradeing parts to XT or XTR as the stock stuff wears out.5 Richard Pryers running down the street for this one...
Similar Products Used: Test rode many bikes at every shop around Nashville.
Bike Setup: Fuel 80 mostly stock.Wellgo BMX type pedals,Oury grips,Kool Stop Dual coumpound break pad set(great pads),GT bar ends(indestructable)Azonic love seat(love it)
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Submitted by
Heath Day
a Weekend Warrior
from Kodiak,AK
Date Reviewed: November 20, 2002
Strengths: Gtreat frame and suspension set-up for the price! or too little. Rear suspension is just right, not too much not too little.
Weaknesses: The components are of course not top quality, but the price is the reason.
Bottom Line:
I did not plan to buy this bike, I was going to upgrade my faithful hardtail with a new front fork and drivetrain, but for the same price I was able to do a comlpetely new bike upgrade. Great riding bike, with a great suspension front and rear,(springs up front were too soft, but that can be fixed). This bike rides hills like a hardtail, no bob, and doesn't feel like a couch on the rough downhills, but smooths things out while allowing you to enjoy your ride.
Bike Setup: Cane Creek Crono wheelset, XTR brakes, Avid levers, Kore stem and skewers, SPD's,
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Submitted by
Bill Singer
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa Rosa, CA USA
Date Reviewed: November 10, 2002
Strengths: Upgraded components for 2003 model. Air shocks keeps the weight down. Rear shock is smooth with hardly any bob.
Weaknesses: Front shock had a leaky valve, causing air to escape. Bike shop fixed it for free.
Bottom Line:
This is my first full suspension bike. I wanted a bike that wouldn't cost too much, but one that I would be happy with for a few years. I did a ton of research on this and similar bikes, and I'm very happy with this purchase. You definitely get better quality than similarly priced bikes from other manufacturers. I love my bike.
Submitted by
Jason
a Weekend Warrior
from Moss Bluff, LA
Date Reviewed: November 1, 2002
Strengths: Manitou Black Fork.
Weaknesses: Stock seat very painful. Some ghost shifts.
Bottom Line:
I love this bike! I have just gotten into trail riding, and can't imagine a better ride. The bike is much better than I am as a rider right now, but it positively inspires me. This thing climbs like a billy goat while carrying a rider built like a bear. Highly recommend to beginning / intermediate riders.
Favorite Trail: Long Leaf Pine Trail - Sam Houston State Park
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Price Paid:
$995.00
Purchased At: Capitol Schwinn
Similar Products Used: None
Bike Setup: Stock, except I replaced the seat with whatever came on a Giant Warp DS3
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Submitted by
Skip
a Cross Country Rider
from Acworth, GA, USA
Date Reviewed: October 23, 2002
Strengths: Frame is AWESOME, switched out almost everything else.
Weaknesses: Fork(Judy) could be better
Bottom Line:
This is an absolutely incredible bike! It climbs wonderfully (not sure what people are talking about when they say the front end pops up on them, My fork is 1.5 lbs less than oem and I have a 45mm stem). Descents are the best! Never gets too squirrelly, very controllable. This was my first Full Suspension bike. It made the change very comfortable. Now that I'm used to it, the upgraded parts make it that much better!
Bike Setup: 2001 Fuel 80 Frame, Manitou Mars Fork, LX Splined Cranks, XT Shifters/Levers/Deraillers/Cassette, SRAM chain/Brakes, IRC Mythos Tires, Powertools 45mm stem, Time clipless, OEM - wheels/seatpost/saddle/bars
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Submitted by
scott bilhorn
a Cross Country Rider
from St. Louis, MO, USA
Date Reviewed: October 3, 2002
Strengths: Great frame, rides like butter. Very responsive. Fox float rear shock is great. No bob!
Weaknesses: Good geometry but feel a little scrunched up on up hills. Center of gravity way off. Climbs well but have hard time keeping front down. Judy sc air sucks getting fixed right now after one week! Also warped middle chain ring due to tork! What the hell is that all about? I only weight 175
Bottom Line:
Great bike, Great frame Trek tried to slide one over by using sub par accessories. I know this isn't the Fuel 100 and all but come on. Good bike For people who don't want to drop more than a grand right away and easily upgraded.
Similar Products Used: Specealized stump jumper comp (Rigid)
Bike Setup: Factory excepy for 135mm 0 degree Kore stem, Titec flat bar, and bar ends to keep my weight forward on uphills. Clipless pedals
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Submitted by
Andrew F
a Weekend Warrior
from Mississauga,ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: September 20, 2002
Strengths: This is a great bike for the money. It is my first real mountain bike and I think that handels very well. I have jumped off many stupid things on this and it has not failed me yet.
Weaknesses: The components are worth upgrading and it ghost shifts a lot. I did a fairly rocky trail one time and it was almost impossible to ride. With a better drive train this might be fixed.
Bottom Line:
A great bike for the money. I find that this is a very easy bike ride on a low budget. With some basic upgrade it could be as good as the fuel 90 for far less of a strain on your wallet.
