Weaknesses: The only weakness of this bike, in my opinion, is the functional design of rear-suspension linkage leads to rear wheel/brake lockups in certain conditions.
Bottom Line:
This is a good bike, lightweight for a full-suspension bike. As mentioned above the only downfall of this bike is a design error in the rear suspension in which under hard braking the rear suspension, brakes, and even the cranks lock up until the brake is released again. The only time this was really an issue was in racing situations. ...makes entering and exiting corners while maintaining maximum momentum challenging ...no, difficult. Kinda tough to excelerate out of a corner when the rear wheel and cranks are locked up.
But all in all, especially for all around trail riding, this is a good bike. I'm stingy with the chilis, but 3 is "good" and 4 is "great."
Similar Products Used: Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Comp
Bike Setup: Stan's wheels. SRAM X.0 shifting and derailleurs. SID world cup fork. XTR M960 crankset. Magura Marta brakes.
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Submitted by
desert dog
a Cross Country Rider
from Gilbert, AZ US
Date Reviewed: December 17, 2008
Strengths: Totally light weight, climbs like it's mountain goat on crack. The Shimano XTR conponents will make you a better rider
Weaknesses: OEM saddle, it feels like a rock strapped to your butt for long rides. The OEM tires are wimpy
Bottom Line:
This bike is awesoem! The light weight Carbon Fiber frame is so light you feel like your gonna break it. i had a lower-end model Trek before this bike and my riding skill and endurance has improved greatly with this bike. The XTR components react instanly and make you feel that you are in total control of the bike. The front and rear suspension lock-out features are awesome for big climbs and bombing it downhill. This bike is made to race and will fly. I have sued it on big climbs and rough desert terain and it has been limited only by my endurance and skill level. I replaced the OEM seat becuase it use good only for short rides or racing. The OEM tires had to go, they are not agressive enough for desrt terain. I had to replace the stock bars becuase I am a little short for the 19.5" frame (I am 5'8") with risers becuase I was too stretched out and laening to far forward. The price tag is is high and if you just want to put around the cannels it's way too much but if you an all-mountain bike or a ready to race frame I would get this baby!
I have ridden Specialized Stumpjumpers, Blur's and many others and don't let the biased magazines fool you. This is the ultimate XC bike. No rear lateral flex. No bob. Most that complain dont have shock set up correctly. Some people rely on shock and forget that you have to "know" how to pedal as well. True, the Blur and stumpy will be more plush (at first). Working as a mechanic quickly exposes their faults-pivot placement results in early bearing wear. Mis-shifts due to chain stay flex. They do have some pedal induced bob as well. Bottom line, the fuel does everything a high end XC bike is designed to do. If you can get one-don't hesitate.
Similar Products Used: I own a Trek 9800, Dirt research HT, Y-33, Trek Liquid, Redline Monocog. I have ridden Specialized Stumpjumpers, Blur's and many others
Bike Setup: XTR drivetrain. SID WC fork. Ario rear shock.
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Submitted by
Matt
a Weekend Warrior
from Memphis,TN
Date Reviewed: September 25, 2005
Strengths: Fast, light, strong, great components
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
Great bike, a little pricy. Made in the USA. I just had to submit a review to let the public know that this is an unbelievable bike. It has been too amazing, I just felt obligated to tell whoever is thinking about buying one. Bike is for a pretty serious rider. I wouldn't recommend eating up xtr components if you aren't really into it.
Weaknesses: As far as the frame and my set-up goes, none.
Bottom Line:
Based on the set-up described above, this is the best XC riding/racing bicycle I have ever owned. I built it from the frame up (hence, no Bontarger parts) with lightweight and efficient parts that were on my XC hardtail; and added a few nice new (or via Ebay) parts (XTR derailluers, carbon seat post, Fox forks). I was switching between a Blur and an older Trek OCLV hardtail frame for trail riding and racing, but I wanted to have one bike I could be satisfied with for both uses. And the Fuel has surpassed my expectations.
Though not as plush as the Blur (sold it!), the Fuel handles fantastically and climbs like nothing else I've ever ridden -- both in and out of the saddle. And although the Trek hardtail was super light (my Fuel is just under 25 lbs. with rim brakes, "useful" tires and the Fox fork), the hardtail's pedalling efficiency on bumpy fire roads and singletrack was poor; not to mention the beating it would give me on rough downhills.
Not so with the Fuel! It is an all around winner. If you have the power, this bike will deliver it to the trail. I have no complaints about the stock Rock Shox SID Dual Air rear (except that you may have to play with it a bit to get it set up right for your tastes). And the addition of the FOX TerraLogic fork (go with the 100mm travel version) take this bike to the next level (if there even is one!). Since the fork only compresses with input from the ground (not pedal input), it causes the rear to follow suit and kind of stiffen up -- that is until you hit a bump. Then the shocks get moving, absorbing the rough and maintaining your forward momemtum. It's amazing, really, how well this set-up works. The Fox fork is almost a pound heavier than a top-of-the-line Rock Shox SID fork, but they are way too flexy (and don't have the TerraLogic); it's a pound well spent.
I also won't use super skinny XC tires to save weight -- at least not on the loose and rocky SoCal trails. Though Stan's "No-tubes" might be a ood way to go. And I'll convert to disc brakes sometime in the future -- probably Magura Martas with coated aluminum rotors (from Stan's).
So there you have it. I'm ready to test this baby at this season's XC races and the Xterra Tri. And if you shop carefully for parts (and are good with Ebay), you can set up a second-to-none rig as I have for less than $2500. (You can also find these frames on Ebay; but since I bought the frame new from "Jim" at Helen's in Santa Monica, I do get the lifetime warranty from Trek; and that was important to me.)
Purchased At: (for the frame) from Helen's in Santa Monica
Similar Products Used: Santa Cruz Blur, Intense Uzzi XC, Trek OCLV hardtail, GT Zaskar
Bike Setup: Fox F100X Terra Logic fork, XT shift/brake levers, XTR mix drivetrain, Avid SD-Ti V-brakes, Easton carbon seat post, Rock Shox SID Dual Air rear shock (OEM with frame), XTR/Mavic wheels, SPD M540 pedals
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Submitted by
jed
a Racer
from Takoma Park, MD, USA
Date Reviewed: November 13, 2004
Strengths: Light, stiff, efficient suspension, great handling, carbon
Weaknesses: Suspension is not plush enough for the roughest courses; small-bump performance is weak. Shock does not have adjustable rebound damping, and feels over-damped in the rough stuff.
Bottom Line:
A great race bike. Mine is built with practical, solid parts and still comes in at 25 lbs. Handling is spot-on, very precise. The frame appears to be at least as stiff laterally as my steel hardtail. This makes the Fuel a sharp handler as well as improving power transmission from your legs to the ground. It would be nice to have a more adjustable rear shock to get better small-bump compliance on rocky courses; the rear end soaks up the big hits pretty well. Even so, if you ride or race XC and like to go fast, this is the bike for you. Hardtail efficiency with a smoother ride is how I would characterize it.
Similar Products Used: Santa Cruz Superlight, Specialized FSR
Bike Setup: "Custom" build, solid but not the lightest: Marzocchi X-Fly 100 fork, Hayes hydros, Bontrager Race Lite Disc Tubeless wheels, XT/XTR drivetrain, Easton EC70 bar, Thomson post, WTB Rocket V Team saddle
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Submitted by
Defurnaux régis
a Cross Country Rider
from Jambes
Date Reviewed: July 1, 2004
Strengths: carbon frame, bike geometry: efficiency in climbing and reduction of vibrations
Weaknesses: rear shock, original tires
Bottom Line:
This is an update from a past review. I recently decided to change all my components to carbon. It's incredible how carbon frame and components change the way you can handle the bike. The geometry is definitely amazingly efficient. Still believe this bike climbs like a mountain goat. It is really reacting like you want : I more and more have the impression that this bikes becomes a part of me and so is dissapearing - leaving-me enjoy the ride.
This bike is expensive but don't regrett a single €. About the rear shock, just try to find your own pressure according to your style of riding. Go for it, this bike makes you feel like a mountain goat !
Similar Products Used: Cannondale Scalpel, Trek 8500 disc, Klein Mantra Pro
Bike Setup: New setup : stock except Pro carbon handelbars, Pro carbon bar ends, Pro carbon direction, Pro carbon seatpost, Pro carbon Venom seat, Hutchinson Spider Airligth tires, XTR V-brakes, Pro-campagnolo cables
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Submitted by
Jim
a Cross Country Rider
from Lafayette, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: March 24, 2004
Strengths: Great climber, front fork lockout is very cool, fast and light!
Weaknesses: Chain suck; pedals should be top-of-the-line to match the other components; seat is light and good for racing, but too hard for regular riding
Bottom Line:
I took this bike for a test ride in the bike shop parking lot, and then kept going for ten miles on the road. It was so light, nimble and responsive that I had to turn onto a fire road and go another 15 miles and 3000 feet in the dirt. When I returned to the shop the bike was no longer in showroom condition, but the owner’s dismay turned to relief when I told him I would buy it.
I raced this bike 3 days after purchase, and was delayed 5 times in the race by 2 chain sucks and 3 wipe outs. All of the chain sucks occurred while shifting from the middle to the small chain ring (and a variety of cogs on the rear) under pressure. If you look at the 2002 reviews for this bike, you will see that chain suck was a big problem (5 of the reviewers mentioned it), but there was only one other chain suck complaint for the 2003, which has an all-XTR drive train.
My local shop (Sharp’s in Lafayette, CA) worked closely with Trek to deal with the chain suck problem, did some fine tuning (such as adding a small spacer to the cog set), and Trek bought me a new chain. The problem was largely solved (moral: buy bikes from reputable shops and manufacturers that will support their products), but I still get the chain suck under torque every so often if the chain is anywhere near the middle to small end of the cog set while shifting from the middle to small chainring.
The wipeouts were partly a result of the pumped up (in my case to 45 psi front and back) Bontrager Revolt racing tires that come stock: they are very fast, but do not stick very well in the dust and gravel, and I was sliding all over the course. WTB Velociraptors which I am more used to would have stuck, so I am back to those on the Fuel 100 (which compromises the bike’s raison d’être, speed and weight, but saves on the cost of bandaids and neosporin).
The front fork lockout is very useful and handy, and I use it on just about every long, steep ascent. It is important though to remember (but easy to forget) to click it off going down the other side.
I also appreciate the V-brakes instead of disc brakes which, despite the hype, do not appear to be the Great Leap Forward especially at the cost of an additional pound or so.
This may be the fastest production X-country racer out there, light, efficient, and ready to go from showroom to race course. To enjoy every-day riding though I felt compelled to change the pedals ($100 upgrade), seat ($100), and tires ($80), which stung a little after spending the $4K. Still, the ultra-light stock seat and tires go back on for the next race.
Submitted by
bob umbel
a Cross Country Rider
from melbourne bch, fla
Date Reviewed: January 23, 2004
Strengths: light, cool looking caron cloth frame with no paint
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
I had to send my 2002 Klien adapt pro back under warrenty. Trek offered to upgrade to a 2004 fuel 100 large frame I went with it. I have only ridden the fuel off road 2 times. It rides great, climbs very balanced, tracks well in single track and handles switch backs the same. I really like the bike but circumstances have come up causing me to unload bike at a great price! Drop me an e-mail for more info?
Bike Setup: 2004 Trek Fuel 100 full carbon cloth frame with Fox float RL rear shock.
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Submitted by
Jeremy
a Cross Country Rider
from Salt Lake City, UT
Date Reviewed: January 13, 2004
Strengths: Carbon Fiber, Made in the USA, Read all the review before mine and you will see. If I cannot sell it I will post at a later time after I have riden the bike a while
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
I ordered this to replace my 9.8 frame that broke. I have not rode it yet or even put any parts on it yet. I have read a lot of reviews on this frame as well as on the Liquid. I am thinking that I should have gone with the Liquid 55 instead. I am thinking about selling it if anyone is interested please email me.
I am a XC rider, I ride some trails in the Alps as much as I can and my local mud and forest twice a week. Biking is not my priority, it's more like a training routine for alpinism and climbing, but since I am riding this Fuel, it's changing! This bike is SOOO efficient, climbs like a mountain goat, quite stable descending and cornering well. I just regret my disc brakes for the power and my winter use, will probably go back to disc again. The rear shock works well so far, but I have to agree that it's not a real rear suspension like the Fox Talas. It 's absorbing some bumps. The tires are not for winter use at all, I had to change them for Jimmy. The seat was quite -and is still- a problem for my "rear", I agree this seat goes well with the bike, but I guess I have to adapt my butt to it... Considering the sizing, I would go for the smallest size possible, mine is a 17,5 and I am 1, 82 m. Doing this, I feel you will get all the benefits of the agressive and responsive bike geometry.
The bottom line is: efficient, ligth, climbs like a dream, carbon frame is night and day comparing to my 8500 disc. Being a country rider, but not a racer, I recommend this bike to serious rider who wants a bike that's reacting like a part of your body. Enjoy your riding and come to the french Alps! -Régis
Similar Products Used: Klein Mantra Pro, Trek 8500 disc, Cannondale Scalpel
Bike Setup: Stock, except Skinny Jimmy tires -but will probably change to: XTR disc brake (for winter riding), Mavic 717 disc, Fox Talas RL, Easton carbon seat post, Carbon Handlebars.
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Submitted by
Brad Jenks
a Racer
from Gurnee, IL., USA
Date Reviewed: November 25, 2003
Strengths: Light, fully loaded, and seriously comfortable
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
Transition from the hardtail to the full suspension was a problem in the cornering at first. This 04 Fuel apparently was a few steps ahead of me in the turns. I was overcontrolling the front end and loosing traction on the front wheel. Once I sat back and let the bike work on it's own a bit, I got around much smoother. Biggest thing is that this bike is comfortable and will add years to my riding. After 8 years of Aluminum hardtails, this is night and day. Get airborne on this bike, and when you land it feels like you landed on your bed. This bike is ideal for a serious racer. It's light, it's fast, it climbs, and it's smooth. Don't buy one, I don't want anyone else to own this bike!
Bike Setup: 2004 Factory setup, except that I swapped out the Cane Creek S6 headset for Chris King, and put on my trusty Time ATAC Carbon pedals.
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Submitted by
sal
a Cross Country Rider
from San Fran
Date Reviewed: October 29, 2003
Strengths: This bike is the ultimate race bike. The frame is very light and very stiff. It descends great and climbs even better.
Weaknesses: I have had problems with the rockshox rear shock. It feels very sticky and didnt get full travel. Also the pivot bolts came loose twice and easily taken care of with loctite.
Bottom Line:
This is the best xc/race bike around. Its not real trailbike of huck bike. Also if you get it tricked out like mine it can put a really big whole in the wallet.
Bike Setup: XL 2003 Project 1 custom with full xtr discs and xtr 965 disc wheels with notubes. SID Blackbox carbon, titec foam grips, king headset,Ritchey WCS stem , thomson seatpost and SLR saddle, easton 99 bar. Bike weights just under 24#.
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Submitted by
Ben B
a Racer
from Wildomar California
Date Reviewed: October 25, 2003
Strengths: Carbon Frame, World Cup fork, XTR Drivetrain, bob free suspension,Sick handling, light weight, Trek name, Warranty
Weaknesses: Paint, but hey that's what you get with a carbon frame.
Bottom Line:
I got this bike from a sponsership deal at $2100 which is a smokin dea.l Coming from a hardtail I didn't think a full suspension rig could hang on the climbs. Boy was I wrong. You see a hardtail might be just a little more efficient than my fuel 100 but the fact of the matter is a hartail doesn't hook up as well as a fs bike. When the climb gets gnarly this bike is going to compensate where a hadtail won't. And don't even get me started on the downhill. This bike kicks some major ass. It might give up a couple inches to a bike like the elsworth truth(a sick bike in it's own right) but not enough to make it even close overall. However, you have to keep in mind this bike ain't built to cruise around the block, and if you thrash bikes carbon ain't for you. Buy this bike if you want the lightest, coolest, most efficient xc race bike on the planet Take it from me a hardtail junkie, this bike takes the cake. Buy it, Race it, Love it. This bike is awesome
Weaknesses: Tires, handlebar, XTR big derailer shifter, seatpost
Bottom Line:
I am probably not the normal rider for this bike. I ride about 50 miles a week and am not a racer so this might be a different perspective than the normal review. I have waited until I put 300 miles on the bike before writng this review. Overall the bike is awesome. The bike is full suspension but it is stiff compared to most other full suspension bikes like the Santa Cruz Blur. If comfort is high on your list and bike weight is not as important the Santa Cruz may be the way to go. However, the carbon fiber frame dampings some of the vibrations and the geometry makes the bike a real climber. This bike has helped my riding skills it is very responsive and easier to manevure through tight singletrack. If you crank on it it responds right away. I noticed very little pedal bob climbing the hills. If you lock the front fork out, which is easy to do, pedal bob is non existant. The front fork is the SID World Cup with lockout. This fork perfoms great. The only thing I would change is how far you have to turn the adjuster to lock it out. You currently have to turn it about 120 degrees to lock it out. They need to change this to 90 degrees. Other than that the fork is great. Some people complain about the Sid's but as long as you adjust them each time they are fine. The rims on this bike are awesome very light and so far durable. The tires leave something to be desired. I think they are about 650 grams each which is a lot of weight for a light weight bike. I put the Maxxis lightweight 330 on the trear and the Kenda Dual Tread Compund on the front. This setup also includes Stans no tubes sealant without the rim strips. This is a great product. What a way to take some weight off the bike. The seatpost is a Thomson Elite which is ok but if you have a carbon fiber frame might as well put a carbon fiber seat post. I have the Easton EC70 which I recommend. The handlebars need to go also. Again if you are going to have a carbon fiber frame might as well put a carbon fiber bar which I highly recommend especially if you have problmes with your hands or wrists getting sore. The seat is great. The XTR cranks are awesome. Very smooth and so far durable. The XTR shifters are great. They only take about 4 hours to get used to and then you will love one of them. The rear dearailer and brake como is great. They shift smooth up and down. This is a good way to go. The front shifter is good but I think a Scram grip shifter is the way to go. The XTR shifts slow on the upspeed and not precise all the time. I realize that you will have one XTR and one grip shifter but this is just my opinion. The avid black op brakes work great. Very responsive and light. Overall my bike weighs 22 pounds 13 ounces. I am very happy with my choice and if I had to pick another bike it would be the Santa Cruz Blur.
Purchased At: Kokopelli Bike And Board 970-565-4408
Similar Products Used: Santa Cruz Blur, Giant NRS Air
Bike Setup: Stock with following exceptions. Carbon Fiber riser bar, Maxxis lightweight 330 rear tire, Kenda Karma Dual Tread Compound in front with Stans No Tubes with no rim strips. Easton Carbon Fiber seat post. 22 pounds 13 ounces.
