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Submitted by
Brian Agron
a
from Fairfax, California, USA
Date Reviewed: October 8, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Eldridge Grade | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1600.00 | | Purchased At: | Sunshine bicycles | | Strengths: | Quick nimble handling,easy climbing and a delight to ride | | Weaknesses: | Rear brake would vibrate so severely air pump disassembled and the noise was intollerable. Fix was to add extra brace between brake and frame. Chain suck was a probelm until stock chain replaced. Frame (aluminum)just fractured behind a weld at 4,600 miles but factory is replacing frame. | | Similar Products Used: | Old Schwinn rigid. Rode like a truck, handled like a truck and never broke down. | | Bike Setup: | Stock except for the seat which was immediately replaced and the chain. | | Bottom Line: | I do not regret purchasing the Fuel 90 as it is all I could desire as far as performance and fit is involved. However the issues with the vibrating brake and the fractured frame (I am 60 and my days of fast and fearless downhill are over. The frame failure was due to a defect in materials or workmanship, not abuse on my part) made this bike problematic. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jo
a Cross Country Rider
from Calgary,Canada.
Date Reviewed: March 20, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | all trails | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1800.00 | | Purchased At: | B&P Cycle Sport | | Strengths: | 2004 fuel 90 much better frame than earlier models. | | Weaknesses: | Front fork, rock shox duke xc dust seals came out all the time and air leaked all the time. | | Similar Products Used: | 02-03 fuel 90's | | Bike Setup: | now fox talas rlc 90-130, xtr drive train shifters and derailers carbon seat, post, bar, stem, hanger banger, chris king. | | Bottom Line: | if your looking for a real bike and happen to find a 2004 fuel 90 buy it quick. I'm a big guy 220 lbs and probably why shock kept failing, but in two years i put this baby through hell and back over 19,000 kms on this bike, don't think I could find a better bike out there. thats why I did all the latest upgrades fox forx talas rlc made a completely new bike, rear fox still works like new. I also ride all winter as cold as -18 deg c. This also very hard on bikes. I would buy this bike all over again and have two other treks a session 7 and a modified 4300 hardtail. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Morgan Gruehl
a Racer
from Sunnyvale Ca
Date Reviewed: January 28, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Chain Reaction Bicycles | | Strengths: | Great ride, light frame. Handles great. strong build | | Weaknesses: | tires don't hold well in the turns, and the headset wasn't a chris king, pedals were also pretty weak | | Bike Setup: | stock except for the king headset, and the shimano DX platform pedals | | Bottom Line: | Go out and swoop if you want a bike that will take you up and down hills with equality. Find a deal and get some new pedals, a new headset and some tires | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Celeste
a Cross Country Rider
from Fort Collins, CO
Date Reviewed: February 23, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | White Ranch/Belcher Hill | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | The Bike Station | | Strengths: | Trek Fuel 90 WSD. Great handling, comfortable, light enough to climb efficiently. Overall, it has a feel of being very high quality. | | Weaknesses: | Even after a year, none found, except the tires which were very mediocre and I switched them out quick! And the pedals...forget about riding in anything slightly muddy unless you have good mud shedding ability, and the standard shimano pedals have NONE! | | Similar Products Used: | '01 Rock Hopper (hard tail) | | Bike Setup: | Stock except tires and pedals. Switched to mythos XC in the rear and Panaracer FireXCPro in front. Made all the difference in the world on cornering! | | Bottom Line: | I don't know why, but female geometry makes a HUGE difference in how comfortable a bike is how easy it is to manuver. I raced for the first time with this bike and was near the top in both Sport and Beginnner categories. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a Weekend Warrior
from Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: January 31, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | NewWorld Cycle | | Strengths: | Quality build. Awesome handling and braking power. Climbs well, shifts like 'budda. Looks sharp. | | Weaknesses: | little on the heavy side compared to my old Trek 8000 hardtail. Makes it tougher to get 'er up in the air without a launch. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 8000 | | Bike Setup: | Stock except for a KORE stem | | Bottom Line: | Look around for a deal on pricing but buy one. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Will Morgan
a Weekend Warrior
from Gainesville, FL USA
Date Reviewed: August 24, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Oregon | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1399.00 | | Purchased At: | Gator Cycle | | Strengths: | Lightweight frame, excellent shock system, lifetime warranty | | Weaknesses: | cant say that there is one right now | | Similar Products Used: | n/a | | Bike Setup: | factory | | Bottom Line: | ive ridden a 4300 trek for the past 2 years. decided that it was time to lay down some bux for a bike with all the bells and whistles. i tried many of the high end trek models 8000 other fuels 70, 80...and this was by far the best bang for the buck. the ride is extremely clean and smooth and it blows away any other bicycle ive ridden. try one out at your local trek dealer. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David
a Cross Country Rider
from Baltimore, MD
Date Reviewed: July 27, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Patapsco | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Connection | | Strengths: | Trek Quality, Fit, tires | | Weaknesses: | Sram Cassette is very heavy, plastic saddle | | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale super v, trek 9800 oclv | | Bike Setup: | xt shifter/brale levers, xtr derailleurs and v brakes, mavic crossride wheels and stock jones acx tires | | Bottom Line: | Once you get used to the new geometry (24" top tube), and more upright position-which I hate, so I inverted the stem-this bike is a real confidence booster. It handles better than my oclv. People have complained about the tires, but I think people are going off what some beginner riders have said. These tires arent made to be mud tires! They are fast, light cross-country tires. By the way NO tire hooks up great in the mud. I got mine down to 26 lbs. by replacing the 400gram cassette with an xt and ditched the 3/4 lb saddle for my trusty and old vetta tri shock. I have raced this bike at he 24 hours of snowshoe and others, never flatted nothing. and i was turning 1hour lap times! Gete this bike and with a few personal mods, this bike will reward you with many enjoyable rides! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
BigLarry
a Cross Country Rider
from San Jose, CA
Date Reviewed: July 25, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Henry Coe | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1700.00 | | Purchased At: | Cambria Bike | | Strengths: | Fuel 90 Disc climbs stiff like my years on a hard tail. It's light weight and performs well. Disc brakes are great in handling steep technical downhills. Shifts nicely. My butt stopped hurting after buying this bike, even on 6 hour rides with the Bontrager saddle (which I'm one of the few that's happy with it). The rear shock was easily adjusted for my weight with enough pressure, but then that may have been what broke the frame after a year. | | Weaknesses: | Frame strength - I'm 250-270 lb and a terror to bike frames. Well, the 2002 Fuel 90 only lasted about a year (~900 hard technical climbing miles for me). I was given a free (with $120 overhaul fee) frame replacement to the new 2003 ZR frame that has held up for six months now. My Manitou Black front shocks are too weak for my size, even with the strongest spring (only rated up to 215 lb) and I endo real easy - gotta keep the weight way back. I snap chains and have horrible chain suck in general, so I got a Shimano LX crank on purchase but even then got immediate chain suck in the slightest wet conditions, but I found my standard trick of using White Lightning completely eliminated chain suck. I had to get the torsion bar to eliminate squeal in the rear disc. I also burn out the hydraulic fluid in long descents (>3000') due to my size. Loosing all brakes on steep switchback is no fun, and now stop periodically to allow disc brake cooling. | | Similar Products Used: | Univega hard tail, tried Liquid 20 in LBS and loved it - will upgrade when I get the $$. Liquids should handle my size better too. | | Bike Setup: | Fuel 90 Disc with Shimano LX cranks, Velociraptor tires (Bontrager tires filled with mud and became slicks). | | Bottom Line: | As stated, I'm very big and do a lot (>1000 mile/year) of climbing and modest technical (6"-12" rock hopping). I broke my Univega frame chain stay on a hard stroke in a climb. I was up in the Sierras about to start a 30+ trek running on a narrow single track on the side of a cliff when I heard a loud snap and saw the seat tube broke just above the crank. I now realize the Fuels don't have a pivot there, and rely on frame flexing. Fortunately, I was only 1 mile from the entrance, but was pissed because I had four days of fantastic ridding planned. (But my family saw much more of me.) I got upgraded to the new ZR frame and hope it will not leave me in the middle of nowhere (Oh, and I'm loosing weight - already down to 240 - to help the bike frame.)
This is a great bike that performs and climbs well. It only has problems are related to my size that also affect other components. Today I would spring instead for the Liquid that on tests at the LBS handled much better for my size, and has a stronger frame that won't leave me stranded in nowhere. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bikegal
a Cross Country Rider
from Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 30, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Hardwood Hills, Bruce Trails | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Purchased At: | Sport Swap | | Strengths: | Fuel 90 WSD - Amazing ergs for female anatomy, not too girly design, very lightweight, minimal bob, suspension is very responsive | | Weaknesses: | Chainsuck blows - happened to me 2/3x on the trails which was a waste of time. I just checked the Trek website and they have tips for this problem. Chain and gears creaking a lot but I hear this gets worked out the more you use it. | | Similar Products Used: | Schwinn Mesa hardtail only | | Bike Setup: | Stock everything. Switched to slicks for a few road/multi terrain races. | | Bottom Line: | Unbelieveable price for this demo bike. It is the perfect entry level dual suspension bike for me being a small framed, female rider.
The quality suspension and lightweight frame/components has improved my skills on the trails by leaps and bounds and I haven't had any problems with bob and energy loss.
Once I make minor adjustments to get rid of the chainsuck it will be perfect. I'll probably upgrade the brake pads and bontrager knobby tires soon as suggested in other reviews.
All in all, I love this bike so far. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan
a
from Raleigh, NC
Date Reviewed: May 30, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Flythe Cyclery | | Strengths: | Responsive geometry, light weight, efficient design | | Weaknesses: | broke rear triangle, now broke the seat tube. Bontrager cranks suck. Bonty tires suck. Stock vbrakes weak. Lx front der weak. Stock seat- better off riding on a pallet. | | Bike Setup: | XT Vbrakes, XT cranks, WTB Laser saddle, eggbeaters, Velociraptor tirs, yadayada. | | Bottom Line: | This is an update to an older post. Since the bike is so great to ride I've been upping the ante in my riding. A month ago after a local ride I was cleaning the bike and noticed a crack on the rear triangle just behind the BB. I brought it to the good folks at the Bike Rack and they sent it off for warranty. I got a call from their manager a couple of weeks later and he said that they had "a black triangle in NJ, the silver (stock) was backordered. Would the black one be ok?" I was stoked when I picked up the bike- the rear triangle is carbon fiber! But after hammering onthe trails for a couple more weeks I just found a major crack on the seat tube just above the front derailleur clamp. I'm glad it has the warranty but I really want to be riding... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Will
a Weekend Warrior
from Knoxville TN USA
Date Reviewed: May 25, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Any trail that a wheel will roll over. | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1600.00 | | Purchased At: | Cedar Bluff Cycles Knoxville | | Strengths: | Lightness, climbs like a cat, shifts like butter (after some tweaking) stops on a dime (get the discs!) great looking paint job, IT'S A TREK! | | Weaknesses: | Though I'm by no stretch of the imagination an expert, the R/S Duke seems a little on the flimsy side. Again, not a major criticism, and it took some thought to come up with a weakness, so don't be put off by my comment-maybe it's just MY perception. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 4500-prior to that, just discount-store junk. | | Bike Setup: | Stock Fuel 90 w/disc option. (Go with the discs-stopping power is unreal-be careful!) | | Bottom Line: | My story: I went on a mission last summer after some weight and cholesterol concerns. Major change in diet and an inclusive exercise routine allowed me to drop 40 lbs from July 15th to Sept 1st. Running every day, though, soon became quiet boring, so my wife suggested getting a bike. I had ridden mountain bikes (cheap ones) about 15 years ago and remembered it as being a relatively, pleasant experience. I had no idea of what brand to look for-I just knew that I wanted decent quality. Being a follower of the Superbike series, I saw that TREK was a sponsor of Mat Mladin, who rides for Suzuki. I know that this sounds goofy, but being a very satisfied Suzuki owner I thought that TREK must be a reputable manufacturer to be associated with such a team.
Sorry for the rambling digression! After my intitial purchase of the 4500 hardtail, I loved it so much that I went back and bought my wife and daughter Navigator 100's, and my four year old a Jet 16-the family thing, you know??!! A couple of weeks after that I bought my dad and mom a couple of Trek Classics. I couldn't get the prospect of a full suspension out of my mind, though. So about a month ago I went for the Fuel. I really can't say enough good things about this bike: It handles anything that you can throw at it and then some! When I said it climbs like a cat, that's an understatement! If you can muscel it the bike will climb it! There were some (minor) shifting issues during the initial break-in, but after a quick adjustment by the guys at Cedar Bluff they have completely disappeared. BTW, I ride a six mile loop every day, twice a day and try to visit different trails on the weekends. This bike simply has it all! If you've ever wondered about the differences between a cheap bike and a quality machine, I can tell you emphatically: There is no comparison! If you're considering the Fuel 90, buy it! If you're more into downhill, or blasting off of major drops you might want to look toward one of the Liquid models (more travel)Otherwise, this is your bike for off-roading.
AND, it should not go unsaid that the folks (Tim, Chris Mike, Jerry, et al) at Cedar Bluff Cycles are there for YOU. I will, no doubt, be a TREK customer for life. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
EMR
a Weekend Warrior
from South Carolina
Date Reviewed: April 21, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | DuPont State Forest | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1299.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Line of Charlotte, NC | | Strengths: | Solid engineering and quality assembly. Price as a leftover was a tremendous deal for a bike of this level wiht disks. I have just started riding MTB, and the Fuel 90 suspension works great for a clydesdale like me, even when tuned to the soft side. Hayes hydraulic disks are amazing. No chainsuck problems -- I try to keep the chain clean and well lubed. See Trek's website FAQs for their fix on this issue. | | Weaknesses: | Bontrager ACX tires -- the first time I rode in muddy conditions, I fell every 100 yards! Replaced with Michelin Hot-S and what a difference. | | Similar Products Used: | -- | | Bike Setup: | Stock Fuel 90(Disk Option) with Michelin Hot-S tires | | Bottom Line: | You owe it to yourself to test ride this bike -- it is a lot of value for the money | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jumbo
a Cross Country Rider
from western New York
Date Reviewed: April 13, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | any | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1100.00 | | Purchased At: | bert's bikes | | Strengths: | Great bang for the buck. Climbs great, very little bob even for a clydesdale like me. Components are more than sufficient. You want better components? Spend more money. Besides half the fun is in making upgrades. Great deals on leftover 03's Trek stands behind their product. | | Weaknesses: | Had a little chainsuck problem, which I attribute mostly to poor shifting technique, not the engineering of the bike. Had a slight problem brakes but that was after a major crash. | | Similar Products Used: | Old Ross steel hardtail, Fuji Royale | | Bike Setup: | Stock except for pedals | | Bottom Line: | This is a great bike. I've ridden singletrack, used it with slicks for commutes and I'm planning to race it very soon. This bike is hard to beat for the money. It's a quality setup that is very much upgradable. Buy this bike if your serious about mountain biking but don't want to break the bank. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ben
a Cross Country Rider
from Winona, MN USA
Date Reviewed: April 6, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Holzinger | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$950.00 | | Purchased At: | Adventure Cycle and Ski | | Strengths: | Climbs like a goat, very light, no bob when pedaling, fast. | | Weaknesses: | none so far | | Similar Products Used: | trek 8500, cannondale beast of the east, | | Bike Setup: | fuel 90 frame, fox float rl rear, marzocchi xfly100 with E.C.C. fork. Full XT component group. white industries hubs on mavic 517 rims. RaceFace system stem and Raceface air alloy riser bar. Sellia Italia Ti Flite on Syncros Alloy seat post. Chris King headset and some yellow ouri grips | | Bottom Line: | I love this bike. It is so smooth and fast. It climbs like a goat. The rear suspension works well and I dont feel any loss in energy when I pedal. I have taken a few good crashes on it too and it took it like a champ. I bought it as a whole bike and stripped it down to a frame and built it up with my stuff. I have it set up with a 100mm fork and a riser bar which gave it a freeride feeling compared to the original race type feeling. Overall, I am extreamly pleased with the frame and how responsive it is to the trail. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
H Ydrogen
a Cross Country Rider
from Rocky Mountains, Colorado
Date Reviewed: March 4, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything off road | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$890.00 | | Purchased At: | Grand West Outfitters | | Strengths: | Great value, stiff and light zirconium/AL alloy frame (rivaling pricey Ti and OCLV in weight), great V brakes, tires work great in snow (they shed the white stuff and give excellent traction), front shock has repeatable and predictable response, rear suspension design keeps the rear tire on the trail - resulting in fantastic traction and control, rear derailleur (XT) shifts precisely. Keeps me dreaming about my next ride. | | Weaknesses: | Front derailleur (LX) takes effort to shift. | | Similar Products Used: | Stumpjumper, Klein, Cannondale Scalpel. | | Bike Setup: | Stock, replaced Overstuffed Bontrager saddle with my trusty Kooby Tri, replaced Bontrager seatpost with Thompson. | | Bottom Line: | After 10 years on a no suspension Marin, the Trek Fuel 90 stands out as a fantastic ride at a reasonable price. Technology has come a long way in the cycling industry. The feeling of riding on air and floating across rough terrain is addictive ! The rear suspension design is magical in its results, always driving the rear tire back to terra firma.
It climbs with ease and is well balanced. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kinny
a Cross Country Rider
from Sydney, Australia
Date Reviewed: March 1, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Lane Cove & Blue Mountains National Parks | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1400.00 | | Purchased At: | Ridley's Calgary, AB, Canada | | Strengths: | Incredibly fast, reasonably light, suspension works brilliantly well, not too expensive | | Weaknesses: | Chainsuck problematic as you need a chainbreaker every time it chainsucks! Otherwise maybe the parts spec could be better. | | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale CAAD3 hardtail, Headshok Fatty fork | | Bike Setup: | Most things stock except LX cranks, Deore cassette, Time ATAC pedals, Hutchinson Python tyre on rear | | Bottom Line: | The bike feels so much faster than my Cannondale on almost all off-road conditions - shines on anything other than a really really smooth ... tarmac. Climbs like a mountain goat, even if it's not all that light, excellent traction makes me a much better climber, and so quick, nimble and agile over rougher trails.
It's no plush bike (although the fork seems to be), simply a go-fast XC racer without the sting of the hardtail. The chainsucking problem detracts from it though, I've never seen another bike with so little chainring / stay clearance that you need to break the chain if it does suck.
Anyone who loves riding fast and don't need to jump or plush suspension would love it. Just remember to carry a chainbreaker every time. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
J Martin
a Cross Country Rider
from Brasilia
Date Reviewed: February 9, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | All Single Track | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1300.00 | | Purchased At: | Bokoo Bikes | | Strengths: | Solid, Duke XC, Ride, climbing ability, downhill control, Fun | | Weaknesses: | Tires, Brakes, Sizing, Bontrager Crank | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 930, Trek 8700 | | Bike Setup: | Thomson Stem, Chris King HS, Panaracer Fire XC, Avid SD7 brakes, Flite Italia Gel seat, XT Crank, Egg beaters | | Bottom Line: | I am 5'6 and ~165. I have always ridden a 16.5in frame and was told that the 17.5 would be the right bike for me since this bike only comes in 15.5, 17.5, 19.5 or 21.5. The bike is a blast to ride but the geometry is taking a while for me to adapt to. I sit much more upright on this bike than my previous bike which has resulted in more fatigue on longer road rides at least until my body adapts to this new geometry. On the trails it still amazes me how comfortable this bike is especially when the trail gets rough. Jumping and hopping over things is a blast now and I feel like I have everybit of control that I had in my old bikes plus more. I strongly suggest the tire swap and the SD7s are fantastic. If you ride long twisty trails with plenty of technical climbs and bumpy downhills I would recommend this bike. I use it to commute to work 30k round trip and look forward to every weekend ride. I had some trouble with chain suck and ghost shifting at first but that has all but disapeared in the month I have owned it now. I have put about 400k on so far and it is getting better everyday. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin
a Cross Country Rider
from Dillsburg, PA
Date Reviewed: February 6, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Singletrack | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Holmes Cycling | | Strengths: | Almost everything! The ZR9000 frame is awesome! It is light, fast, and strong. Also, Trek's Rocker Link suspension design is VERY efficient and while the Fuel does not have a super plush ride, it gets the job done beautifully! The Rock Shox Duke XC fork also adds to the bike's exceptional ride quality. The suspension feels wonderfully balanced (unlike the 2002 Fuel 90) and Trek's Pro Race geometery is an added plus! This bike handles very well even in the sketchy stuff! It is also spec'd with great components except... | | Weaknesses: | the stock Bontrager Jones ACX tires and the Avid brake pads. The tires are really light but that means they are super thin. Even though they have a kevlar bead, I got a flat on my first ride when a thorn went right through the front tire. I quickly upgraded to IRC Mythos XC tires which are MUCH better! The brake pads retain all the mud and sand and everything else you encounter on a ride and grind it all into your rims when the brakes are applied. I upgraded to Kool Stop MTB pads (the salmon and black ones). They are a lot better than the stock pads! | | Similar Products Used: | I tested several similar bikes: Rocky Mountain Carve, Jamis Dakar XC, and Klein Palomino. This is my first full suspension bike. | | Bike Setup: | Stock except for IRC Mythos XC 2.1 kevlar tires and Kool Stop MTB (salmon and black) brake pads. | | Bottom Line: | If you're looking for a GREAT full suspension XC race bike, this is definately the one!!! It climbs like a mountian goat, descends with lightning speed, handles awesome even in the sketchy stuff and is really durable. I dramatically increased my speed both through the ups and the downs and felt great even after a long, hard ride! It can handle the technical stuff too! I only crashed it once, probably due to it's awesome handling capabilities, but it was a HARD crash when I wiped out on a really gnarly downhill turn! No real damage other than a few cosmetic blemishes (that can be expected)!!! If you're looking for a long-travel, plush freerideish bike, you're looking at the wrong machine, as this is intended to be a high-end full-suspension XC race bike and does a marvelous job of it! I LOVE MY FUEL!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Craig
a Cross Country Rider
from Columbia, MO
Date Reviewed: December 28, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Chubb | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1100.00 | | Purchased At: | Cycle Extreme | | Strengths: | great climber, light frame, outstanding suspension design, good parts spec, lifetime warranty | | Weaknesses: | none as of yet | | Similar Products Used: | GT hardtail, Univega Alpina 700 | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | This is my first full suspension and I must say, I am amazed. After demoing a Fuel 100, I was ready to ditch my hardtail. Being in college, I have limited cash flow but found a good deal on a Fuel 90 and decided to go for it. I have only ridden a couple times, but I love this thing already. On rocky climbs where I would be bouncing out of my saddle on a hardtail, I remained seated and could focus on powering to the top. On downhills, the tires stick to the ground like glue. The Duke XC and Fox Float R are a great combination.
Trek has done a wonderful job specing and designing this bike and I here good things about their customer service.
Buy it! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Neal Scott
a Weekend Warrior
from Ft. Wayne, IN
Date Reviewed: November 26, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Warsaw | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1400.00 | | Purchased At: | Koehlinger Cycling | | Strengths: | Its ability to climb hills with the feeling of a hard tail and its speed in the corners | | Weaknesses: | I was disappointed in the quality of the brakes so I switched. | | Similar Products Used: | Giant NRS, Specialized Epic, Trek 8500 | | Bike Setup: | I added egg beater pedals, race lite handlebar, panaracer fire xc tires, avid mech brakes, Bontrager race light front wheel and a Sun Ringle rear wheel, xtr chain | | Bottom Line: | Its the best bike I have ever ridden continuosly. Its not quite at the weight I would like but thats easy to fix. I would recomend this bike to anyone from the weekend warrior to a new XC racer. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Peter
a
from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: November 25, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | Bushtukah | | Strengths: | Have ridden it 3 times so far. Switched from a C'Dale f400 hardtail and so far so good. Got an incredible deal on a 2003 ($1500 Cdn). Seems more nimble and easier to climb and the downhills are a blast but haven't taken it on advanced trails yet. Not bad components but a little heavy on the Bonte stuff. | | Weaknesses: | The Bonte tires included are really awful - not twenty minutes into my ride I jumped an 8 inch curb and pinched the tire flat. I hear this is a problem with these tires so I'll switch to Panaracer XC's soon. Not sure about the crank yet but we'll see. The Bonte hubs are not disc ready which is surprising for a medium grade bike. | | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale f400 | | Bike Setup: | All stock for now except I added Shimano M545's and will wait for the new RaceFace cranks coming out in the spring and will change breaks to Avid Ultimates and definitely swap out the crappy tires. | | Bottom Line: | I did months of research on FS and it came down to the Jekyll 600/800 or the Trek Fuel 90 and for value and ratings the Trek came out ahead which surprised me because C'Dale frames are so frikken well made - just check the welds. I thought my hardtail climbed well but the Fuel is incredible nimble uphill and down - a real confidence boost. If I had more money I would have gone with the lighter Fuel 98 or 100 just for the upgrades and weight reduction. I'll redo this review next season after getting more mileage. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver, CO
Date Reviewed: November 19, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Amasa Back in Moab | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1100.00 | | Purchased At: | The Bike Shop in Marshall, MN | | Strengths: | Awesome bike for the money, like the fact that the shocks are air. Nice geometry. | | Weaknesses: | My prior bike was a Trek 8500 with XT/XTR components so I am a little jaded. The shifting feels a little clunky to me right now, I might need to pull the cables and get the "new" grease out of the housings. The Bontrager cranks also seem to flex as compared to my old XTs at my porky 180lbs, although that could be my imagination. It would be nice if the seat had a setback post. | | Bike Setup: | The only thing I changed out was I moved the Terry Fly saddle and Michelin HotGripper S from my old bike. I also put an Easton straight bar on and got rid of the riser bar. | | Bottom Line: | I've had the bike for about 3 weeks and have put about 6 rides in during warm weather spouts. Overall, it's a great bike. Coming from a hardtail it's amazing what I can climb and go over now, but I'm sure most dual suspension are like that. The Trek geometry is what I love. Some of the components sort of disappointed me, but that can always be changed, they are more than enough to get by. As far as lightness goes, it rivals my old 8500 hardtail, pretty amazing... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Craig Manning
a Weekend Warrior
from Sparks, Nevada
Date Reviewed: November 2, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Tahoe Rim Trail | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1400.00 | | Purchased At: | Reno Cyclery | | Strengths: | Great suspension design, you dont even know its working under you, Very comfortable riding position, good parts for the money, great customer support. | | Weaknesses: | Blew up a bottom bracket in six weeks,Trek replaced it with and upgraded truvativ, Avid SD3 brakes are weak (get discs!!!)Duke XC sucks(or at least mine does)it absorbs hits well and feels good but mine sounds "loose". Bontrager tires feel a bit loose on hardpack. Stock chain sucks, if your drivetrain makes noise, replace your chain | | Similar Products Used: | First full Suspension bike, been on a hardtails for years | | Bike Setup: | Ditched the Bontrager wheels, SD3 brakes and got mavic 223, XT hubs and Avid Mechanical Discs, Panaracer Fires, ODI lock on grips, Vetta VR100 with altimeter(gotta know how high you are around Tahoe) | | Bottom Line: | Great bike, Goes downhill like it is on rails, great singletrack bike. It climbs like a mountain goat, I am able to climb things I could never go up on a hardtail, the rear suspension glues the rear tire to the ground. Very little suspension bob if you stay in the saddle, will bob if you hammer. Duke XC is the weak link of this bike, like I said it works good, it just feels and sounds loose, bike shop says it is OK. Think I am going to get a Marzocchi MX PRO ETA or maybe Fox (if I hit the lotto) I hear the Marzocchi is a better fork for the money. Ditched the stock wheels, tires and brakes and got Mavic 223's XT hubs and Avid mechanical discs, Like one guy said earlier, disc brakes are the best things since tires on bicycles, I think I spent $350 at Jenson USA for all of it, but it makes the bike, one finger braking and you can stop on a dime, no more sore hands from strangling your v-br |
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$ 1549.99
