Submitted by
stuartwi
a Weekend Warrior
from UK Date Reviewed: October 6, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Llandegla North Wales
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1875.00
Purchased At:
online retailer
Strengths:
A tough, sassy bike. Looks great and more than a match for my quality as a rider. Fell off the roof of my car at 60mph and nothing wrong with it except a bent rear mech hanger, ripped saddle and slightly ovalised headset.
Weaknesses:
If choosing again, might choose a model with a bit more rear travel such as Fuel EX8; I'm more into all-day comfort than racing. Avid Juicy 5s a bit squeeky in the wet.
Bike Setup:
Factory, except change of grips and headset upgraded.
Bottom Line:
Its light compared with other friends MTBs, excellent value for money. Very good quality components on the whole.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Paul Hogue
a Weekend Warrior
from San Diego, CA Date Reviewed: October 25, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$2000.00
Purchased At:
rbikes.com
Strengths:
A really sweet ride for a newbie to soft tails. Handles great and the componentry is top nitch. The shifiting is amazingly crisp and the brakes provide great control
Weaknesses:
Trek could provide some better information with the bike or on the webiste about different configurations and pressures for the rear suspension and front shock
Similar Products Used:
10 year old specialized hard tail
Bike Setup:
70 psi in rear shock with all stock equipment
Bottom Line:
A great bike. Rbikes.com was great to work with and helped advise me of the bike type that was right for me. This bike provides outstanding control when rumbling down the hills at high speed. Once you get a quality rear suspension bike like this one, you won't go back!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Carl Vassel
a Cross Country Rider
from Phoenix, AZ Date Reviewed: September 30, 2007
Favorite Trail:
National, Little Bear
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1500.00
Purchased At:
Local Shop
Strengths:
Great geometry, this bike is fast on climbs and the decents. The Fox fork eats up the bumps, the Mantiou shock also works well but has had some problems (see below) SRAM drive train is solid like always, the XO is crisper than XTR. Avid Juicy 5's are golden.
Weaknesses:
Bontrager saddle sucks, so do the grips. Main problem is the Mantiou rear shock. After 5-6 rides it started loosing air, it would drop from 100 to 30 psi over night. Sent it back to Manitou, it has been 2 weeks and I am still waiting... Not really Trek's fault, but why in the F are they using Manitou and not something reliable???
Similar Products Used:
Spec. Epic, Fisher Rig
Bike Setup:
Stock, except Ergon grips, Fiz'ik saddle, Time Pedals.
Bottom Line:
The problem with the Manitou has been a bummer, the bike was flawless up until then. This bike is more than a cc racer, it really has enough travel for almost any trail. For the price, this bike gets 5 chilis.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Eric
a Cross Country Rider
from Scottsdale, AZ Date Reviewed: May 18, 2007
Favorite Trail:
MMR
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$2500.00
Purchased At:
Bicycle Ranch Scottsdale
Strengths:
Value. Comes with a good component group - the SRAM rear derailer rocks and the suspension (Fox 32 F100 RL and Manitou S-Type SRL schock) is very good.
Weaknesses:
I wouldn't say that this bike has weaknesses. The bike comes very solid. You will however want to upgraded/change a few things - and these things are pretty standard changes on just about any stock bike. 1) Saddle - I ride a WTB Rocket V. Stock saddles are almost always heavy and sub par. 2) Pedals - I kept my Shimano 540s off my old bike. 3) I had my bike setup as tubeless at the shop (the way to go). I also changed the tires right from the start. Note: if you go tubeless - the rear wheel has off center spoke holes...so the rear wheel needs an off center wheel strip. You may want to make sure your LBS has one in stock. Regarding tires, where you ride really dictates your tire choice. I live and ride in the Arizona dessert so low tread, fast XC tires are what I like. 4) I decided to upgrade the front shifters to SRAM X.9. The rear derailer is top of the line SRAM X-0 combined with the X.9 = very crisp shifting. I thought if I spent any additional money this was a good place to spend it.
Bike Setup:
See above
Bottom Line:
Initially when I set out to buy a new bike I started looking at the Blur, Racer-X and Truth. I race in off road triathlons/Xterra and wanted something fast that could climb well. I thought I would be spending easily in the neighborhood of $3500. Given that I am not a full blown XC racer the $3500 was hard to justify - so initially I thought the Top Fuel 8 was a real compromise. However, after racing in the Arizona Xtreme Dessert Xterra Triathlon I can say that I don’t feel like I gave up anything. My bike split easily improved and I felt very efficient and fast on climbs. The bike handles very well and the suspension is extremely good. One thing I recommend it that you get a professional bike fit. I did and I can say that I have never felt more comfortable and powerful on a bike. If you live near Scottsdale AZ – go to Bicycle Ranch for your fit. They know their stuff.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Sneakyracer
a Cross Country Rider
from PR Date Reviewed: April 26, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
solid components, good value, climbs very very well, handles well in the tight stuff and in descents. It has lots of grip everywhere, sticks to the trail. Shifting gears is flawless, the rear SRAM XO works perfectly even under load on climbs.
Weaknesses:
nothing that ive encountered yet... The stock tires might not be very low resistance or very fast rolling but do provide lots of grip.
Similar Products Used:
2002 Fuel 100
Bike Setup:
Stock except for crankbros pedals.
Bottom Line:
This bike is a great package for XC. its comfy, has tons of grip even on steep loose climbs. Handles very intuitively, inspires confidense and it fast. Its a fast bike. A sleeper in the trek lineup.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Al Osorio
a Cross Country Rider
from Zurich, Switzerland Date Reviewed: April 24, 2007
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$2450.00
Purchased At:
Swiss Trek dealer
Strengths:
(Follow-up REVIEW) Handling during fast singletrack with lots of roots/rocks. You'll never ride a hardtail again. Solid rear suspension set up for climbing. Great value vs. performance/weight. Juicy five 2007 brakes are stopping my big self on a dime! Reduction of energy needed on longer rides with Brakes/full suspension noticeable.
Weaknesses:
Can't avoid the facts. Specialized Brain system is good stuff, but it cost more at the expense of lower components and problably is not cheap to fix and maintain. Why does Trek continue so long with Bontrager Jones tire design when everywhere you read, it's all negative? Saddle change a must. Put pressure on your dealer to upgrade or else.
Bike Setup:
stock except for shimano pedals, conti explorer tires and saddle upgrades.
Bottom Line:
For ths price I don't know which other bike can beat the new Fuel 8 in terms of performance and looks. (It is an eye catcher, but I told my wife she doesn't have to worry) I think the spec vs. price will change and I would jump on this bike if you are considering it. I've got a feeling Trek want more MTB market share (CEO said so last year)and the 2007 line has a few "well baited hooks". The fully frame is a totally new world for 2007 compared to prior models, TREK is trying hard!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Omaha, NE Date Reviewed: April 22, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Swanson
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Highgear Bike Store of Omaha
Strengths:
This bike is a big improvement over my Fuel 90. Not that the Fuel 90 was bad by any means but the Top Fuel 8 is a lot more confidence inspiring at speed through the corners. It climbs like a scalded cat and the choppy decents that used to make the Fuel 90 buck around are now smooth and manageble allowing me to carry more speed over them. The Fox fork makes a world of difference, it would be nice if it had a remote lockout though. The rear shock on mine came with a remote which I found odd sense there was no mention of it in the Trek info. The Juicy 5's are sweet! I've read complaints on here about them but I think it's a matter of break in and your set up. I have had no problems with them, they have great modulation and enough power to put you on your face if you squeeze too hard. And this is my first bike with a SRAM XO derrailure and SRAM shifters...WAY better than my XT bikes before. Shifting is flawless!
Weaknesses:
The saddle sucks, I didn't bother even putting it on when I was assembling it (I'm a bike mech.). The grips were crappy too, I have never liked thin grips. I put on ODI lockjaws before the bike hit the trail as well. I haven't changed out the tires yet, the wheels are tubless ready but I haven't got around to the switch yet. The stock tires are not my favorite, they seem to wash out on hard pack but I probably just need to play with the pressure more. As of now that is all I can find I don't like on this bike.
Similar Products Used:
Trek 6500, Jamis Dakar Sport (WAY heavy), Trek Fuel 90
Bike Setup:
eggbeaters, stock except saddle and grips
Bottom Line:
This bike is a great value. And for the little bit of difference in price between the Top Fuel 7 I think it would be foolish to not go with the Top Fuel 8. You get a huge upgrade for a little more cash, you won't regret stepping up to the 8.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Albert Osorio
a Cross Country Rider
from Zurich, Switzerland Date Reviewed: November 22, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Engadin, Switzerland
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$2450.00
Purchased At:
In Switzerland (FULL PRICE)
Strengths:
Improved weight!/seems very well balanced for handling/Rear suspension (I think) is as good as it gets without having a specialized brain system/The looks can kill!-almost did not want to get it dirty. Free saddle and pedal upgrades from my shop added to the ride quality. (Especially the Saddle-Ouch!) The first feel of the Juicy 5 2007 brakes is that they are very accurate and great have power transmission with little strain on hands. (Have not yet tested a long downhill in varied terrain yet)
Weaknesses:
I have heard so many bad things about the Jones tires I put Continental Explorers on right at the shop. Upgraded the ROCK HARD saddle it came with for no extra charge.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Stumpjumper 2004 model. A well known local Swiss bike maker called Price Bikes, the Marathon version fully. (otherwise I was a fulltime hardtailer up til now!)
Bike Setup:
Stock as on brochure, with pedal upgrade to Shimano 540 and Selle Italia Flight Gel.
Bottom Line:
Just got it and only rode it about 2 hours so far. but in all kinds of singletack and climbs. The additional stability from rear suspension/traction on short grinding technical climbs offsets any setback from frame flex of a fully. This cross country design really is a cross country design and works great as such. It's cool how Trek gives you a CD for the owners manual. Again, the bike look great. I can live with the LX Crank/pedals and LX derailleur (up front only), all the other spec is top notch for the price. (WILL FOLLOW-UP IN 6 to 12 MONTHS with another Review)
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Overall Rating:
