I am in the market for a new bike. Still researching and have narrowed it down to the Trek Fuel EX8 or EX9 and the Cannondale Habit 3 or 4. I was curious if anyone has an opinion on which would be the best all around trail bike for the money? I am mostly curious about the geometry differences and rde feel as I've not ridden either and wonder if anybody has?
Trek fuel ex or cannondale habit ?
abrown
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I've been having the same thoughts as you. I currently ride a 26, thought I would go to an ex8/9 27.5. Reviewed all I can find online and decided a 29er was the way to go using the same new geometry arguement you are. So I test rode a ex8 29er today and though I liked it all right I don't see what the hype is for 29er's? It just felt big and lumbering to me which is the same impression 29er's have left me in the past. I was riding slow twisty singletrack.
So I'm back to looking into 27.5
So I'm back to looking into 27.5
Great thread. I was just about to post the same question. I currently have a 650b hardtail (Foundry Tomahawk - currently for sale). I have had a C-dale Scalpel, sold it because I didn't like the 29er FS.
The wife wants to move to CO so.... I am thinking in order to save my body and back from falling apart with my bad mtb skills, a FS would be best.
Looking into the Habit 3/4 and Fuel EX 9. Subscribed and thoughts encouraged!
The wife wants to move to CO so.... I am thinking in order to save my body and back from falling apart with my bad mtb skills, a FS would be best.
Looking into the Habit 3/4 and Fuel EX 9. Subscribed and thoughts encouraged!
I've now managed to ride a 9.9 Fuel EX9 (that's all they had at a Trek Factory Demo ) . I think the Fuel still seems to be the better general use trail bike. But I am also now throwing in the mix a slightly shorter travel option like the Top Fuel or even the Scalpel still now that it is being redesigned. I could see either bike working for singletrack but just not sure how big of a difference a cross country FS vs trail FS would be. Fuel Ex seems more versatile with the mino link making it feel more cross country if I wish... Anybody else try the Top Fuel or Fuel Ex with more input to share?
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ABrown- what did you end up buying? I am looking at the same two bikes you were originally looking at and hoping to find one on closeout deal. I am a little concerned that the whole "long, low, slack" think is going too far with a lot of the 2017 models. It sounds like Trek, in particular, hit the sweet spot in 2016 and now all I hear about with the 2017's is pedal strikes and weaker climbing ability. I rode a 2016 C'dale Habit 3 carbon today and it felt quick, nimble and playful. Of course, I'm coming from a Trek Cobia 29er so anything would feel more playful than that bike. I'm hoping to ride one of the Fuel EX's from 2016 later this week at a different LBS.
For what its worth, I just bought the Cannondale Habit Carbon 3 and absolutely love it! I came from a 23 lbs hardtail and they feel different but the FS does feel much different climbing but I am able to go for longer riders without my back saying "screw you" after 15 miles. The descending ability with the "slacker" head tube is nice when your pointing it downhill. It climbs pretty well (coming from a hardtail). No complaints and highly recommend the Habit!!
Honestly I waited. Not buying anything til I know for sure and I'm in no rush. Still riding my road bike primarily as I just finished my first 150 mile charity ride. Wasn't really sold anything 100% so waiting for 2017 and seeing what changes. I consider the experience thus far an education.
Currently in the running are 17 Cannondale Scalpel SI, 17 Carbon Bad Habit , 17 Cannondale Cujo...
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Thank you for the replies to this revived thread.
abrown- it's interesting that you modified your search. Also, the bikes you mention above are a bit different from each other and from the original bikes you were considering. I rode that Scalpel yesterday and it is a beautiful bike, but I am guessing it rides nothing like the Fuel EX or the + bikes you are now considering. I can get $600 dollars off a new 2016 Habit 3 Carbon and am seriously considering it. The other bike I would like to check out (but it's not in my LBS yet and I will have to pay full price when it arrives) is the new SC Tallboy 3. Also perhaps considering the Kona Hei Hei.
SRock and Shaynec- thanks for the positive reviews on the Habit. I'm curious if either of you are coming from a 29er and if so, how you feel about the difference between a 29er and the Habit. I really liked the Habit, but I felt like I wanted it to be a 29er and that would seal the deal for me. Do you feel like you miss the added rollover of a 29er? Also, do you ever feel like you could use the stability of a 29er? I like how playful the Habit is, but it feels kind of twitchy compared to my Trek Cobia. Maybe that's a good thing, but I'm not sure yet.
abrown- it's interesting that you modified your search. Also, the bikes you mention above are a bit different from each other and from the original bikes you were considering. I rode that Scalpel yesterday and it is a beautiful bike, but I am guessing it rides nothing like the Fuel EX or the + bikes you are now considering. I can get $600 dollars off a new 2016 Habit 3 Carbon and am seriously considering it. The other bike I would like to check out (but it's not in my LBS yet and I will have to pay full price when it arrives) is the new SC Tallboy 3. Also perhaps considering the Kona Hei Hei.
SRock and Shaynec- thanks for the positive reviews on the Habit. I'm curious if either of you are coming from a 29er and if so, how you feel about the difference between a 29er and the Habit. I really liked the Habit, but I felt like I wanted it to be a 29er and that would seal the deal for me. Do you feel like you miss the added rollover of a 29er? Also, do you ever feel like you could use the stability of a 29er? I like how playful the Habit is, but it feels kind of twitchy compared to my Trek Cobia. Maybe that's a good thing, but I'm not sure yet.
I have owned a 29er HT singlespeed then a 29er FS then a 650 HT, and now a 650 FS. There are certain things I like about each. I did like the roll over of the 29er but I felt that the handling was just sloppy (hence my switch to the 650). I do miss the roll over in technical trail sections (i.e. Rock gardens) but overall, I value the more playful 650 handling. I'm not the best in term of technical trails so that might also have something to do with it. I feel like my trail skills have to improve with a 650 because of the difference in roll over and being able to take on obstacles but it just means I need to get out more on it. I also only have 50 miles on it so to be determined at a later date. Overall, I don't miss the added roll over but probably because I am having so much fun with the Habit. It puts a smile on my face every time I ride it. Zero regrets here.
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Endo I am chiming in here. If you love the stability and smooth-trail feeling of a 9'er, you might need to stick with one. However, just as SRock says the fun factor is a very real consideration for many of us. Yes I notice less roll-over stability w/ my 27.5, but it is not slowing me down at all. What slows me down is how I swerve side to side in order to hit any little feature I see on the trail. Fun bikes like the Habit make it easy to lift off or hop over stuff, to a point where it takes me longer to do 15mi than it used to. The one bike you mentioned that I've heard is also fun (haven't ridden one yet) is that 29" Hei Hei Trail.
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Jim- I agree about the Hei Hei. It sounds very similar to the Habit, but in a 29er. I liked the spec and price on the 2016 DL Trail, but I can no longer find it at my LBS (or anywhere else for that matter) and the 2017's have a huge gap between $2500 and $4700 dollars in the equivalent bike (confirmed directly with Kona since the myriad new models made it a bit confusing to figure out which model was the equivalent of last year's 29" DL Trail. I wish they made one under $4K and then I would be all over that.
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2016 Fuel EX9 29er. I owned one
It's a awesome all around bike.
It will do tech trails some DH with drops and jump and you can race XC with it very well
The Top Fuel I saw you bring up. It's a XC race bike but you can ride whatever with them just not the big rough stuff. 70* HA 100mm travel.. They also fit small.
I ride a 19.5" and the Top Fuel felt like a 18.5
I demo'd a Top Fuel and Procal, I was Faster on the Procal
but now that you have waited
The Fuel's have been changed, the 2017's are 27.5+ or 29er
New frame, new geo, DH amazing. They are 130/130 or 140/130 travel now.
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Brent- you say you owned a 2016 EX using the past tense. Any particular reason you sold it already?
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Sold it for my Procal 9.9 SL. and upgrading to something with more travel to start racing enduro around here.
Loved the bike. Rims were a little weak.
Wish I still had it but man this procal is fast and weighs in at 19 lbs
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My thinking exactly. Picking up my 16 Fuel Ex 9.8 29 next week. Closeout price was $800 under last year's retail. Stoked to say the least.
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FWIW - I did a test ride yesterday on a 2016 Fuel EX8. It was the last 2016 EX that my LBS has in stock. I loved the shock. Great suspension. However, I had a pedal strike on that in a spot where I have never had one before, so I can only imagine what the 2017 would be like for pedal strikes. I think the 2016 was the sweet spot. I wish my LBS had some a model above the 8 in stock, because I wish it were just a bit lighter (and what's with the cheesy "gear gauge" thing on top of the XLS shifters - shouldn't that stuff be relegated to kid's bikes?).
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Call 623-536-8454
They have a EX8 and EX9 in stock. not sure what size. I think a 19.5 EX8 and 18.5 EX9
Your LBS can buy it from them. You would just need to pay a little more for shipping.
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I'm a tall rider at 6'2". I have an Xl scalpel that's 23lb with pedals, but since I got my Habit Se a few months ago it's been collecting dust. The 27.5 is more "playful" and flickable in the tight stuff. It's my first experience with a dropper post and that was also a game changer for me. The Trek was in the running for me but I chose the Habit Se because I think the spec on that bike is perfect, aside from the tires which I had swapped out for something with substantial sidewalls. Now, I did have a problem with the fork but the shop fixed it in a week. The wave washer broke and there was too much grease in it from the factory that clogged up the ports.
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