At least it has the option for a mechanical drive train 🤪

 

Found this:

The Fuel+ EX 9.7 is a carbon e-MTB that packs in adaptability for any kind of trail and any style of riding. It's equipped with the smooth and quiet boost of TQ's HPR60 motor with a 580 Wh battery for bigger rides.
It has adaptable travel 145 mm-160 mm and comes with a 150mm fork.

Trek Fuel+ EX 9.7 Gen 2

The Fuel+ EX 9.7 is a carbon e-MTB that packs in adaptability for any kind of trail and any style of riding. It's equipped with the smooth and quiet boost of TQ's HPR60 motor with a 580 Wh battery for bigger rides. You get the perfect balance of price and performance, with components like a Fox...

projektride.co.uk

2026 Trek Fuel EX 8 Mountain Bike in Lithium Grey/Trek Black Splatter

Fuel EX 8 XL Lithium Grey/Trek Black Splatter

www.activcycles.co.uk

 

Reminds me of the Ozark Trail Slalom. I know they probably removed the front triangle's distinctive seat tube design to allow for larger dropper posts but I kinda like the previous gen's appearance since it was unique.

 

Interesting, it looks like the travel can potentially could be adjusted based on the bottom shock mount. Looks like whole piece can be switched out.

 

According to the rumour thread on Vitalmtb it is different top rocker links that adjusts the travel.
Threw different linkages for MX, 145 and 160mm

MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation

Wanted to start a thread for new bike tech and rumors. Recently, the racing rumors page has turned into an Ebike debate so lets get this thread started off right!First up, Santa Cruz Heckler

www.vitalmtb.com

 

Ibis did something similar with the Ripley and Ripmo. Same frame, but you change the shock and fork to convert between the two bikes. The result is a Ripley that is heavier than it should be.

I doubt most people even tinkered with the headset cups or flip chip on the gen 6. This much adjustability seems overkill for most users. But maybe consolidating multiple bikes into one is what manufacturers are going to have to do to survive the current state of the industry.

 

Yeah, I’m sure Trek tried to do what Ibis did with this Gen 7 release, and I understand that the bike industry is going through hard times, so brands are doing this to save costs.

And still, I don’t like all these LEGO bikes.
Although there isn’t really one bike that can handle everything (unless you believe the bike brands’ marketing and sales agents), there are definitely some great bikes that can handle 90–95% of what they were made for—and handle it very well.
I know this from experience—I’ve owned one of these bikes for almost 3 years now, and replacing it has never crossed my mind

 

Love the simplicity and skinniness, should keep the weight down. Looks a lot of fun. Hopefully tough. Do we have any sight of geo yet in the various rocker configs? Keen on this bike but I wonder if there’s a setup that works better than others (for intended application). This is the big question regarding the Rallon, clearly solid performance as a DH bike but how does it fair as a DH bike morphed into an Enduro bike. I wonder with this Fuel whether different configs will work as well as each other too.

Business model makes sense, hopefully will stabilise pricing through a frame the manufacturer can use on multiple orders for bikes of different configurations. Seems Treks moving in Orbeas direction.

 

2026 Trek Fuel LX 9 X0 AXS Gen 7

 

Found these geo numbers. Dont know if they are for real but seems like they dont use size ML anymore which is a shame for us 5.10” people

Trek Fuel+ EX 5 Gen 2 Trek Black/Purple Flip Splatter

Trek Fuel+ EX 5 Das Fuel+ EX 5 ist ein vielseitiges, leistungsstarkes E-Mountainbike mit natürlichem Fahrgefühl dank…

bike-alm.de

 

Those figures would be what I expect, saw similar height chart elsewhere, the head angle on the MX likely 64 then which would put the wheelbase at about 1230. The LX geo will be interesting. I’m 5ft 9, 31 inseam, I’m eyeing a medium for the playfulness, if I wanted out and out DH performance I’d go elsewhere. I think the aim of this bike is to be a solid all rounder (trail/enduro)

 

Looks better than the bloated Gen 6. At first glance I figured it must be lighter too, but then I noticed how massive it is around the bottom bracket. We will see I guess. Welds look like crap, which is something that started with Gen 5 and seems to be getting worse. I don't understand how they can put so much effort into hydroforming beautiful tubes and then weld it together like a $100 Walmart POS.

 

Found this accidentally published retailer page on the EX 5.

$2899

• Frame: Alpha NEXT Platinum aluminum, internal storage, ZS headset, adjustable leverage rate, guided internal routing, interchangeable alloy rocker link, interchangeable lower shock mount, downtube guard, shuttle guard, BSA 73, ISCG 05, ABP, UDH, Boost148, adaptable travel 145mm-160mm
• Fork: Rockshox Recon Silver RL, Solo Air spring, Motion Control damper, lockout, tapered steerer, 42 offset, Boost110, 15mm Maxle Stealth, 150mm travel
• Shock: X-Fusion Pro 2, 2-position damper, 205mm x 60mm
• Max compatible fork travel: 170mm
• Frame: Alpha NEXT Platinum aluminum, internal storage, ZS headset, adjustable leverage rate, guided internal routing, interchangeable alloy rocker link, interchangeable lower shock mount, downtube guard, shuttle guard, BSA 73, ISCG 05, ABP, UDH, Boost148, adaptable travel 145mm-160mm
• Skewer rear: Bontrager Switch thru axle, removable lever
• Tire part: Bontrager TLR sealant, 6oz
• Rim strip: Bontrager TLR
• Cassette: Shimano Deore M6100, 10-51, 12 speed
• Hub front: Shimano TC500 alloy, centerlock, 110x15mm thru axle
• Hub rear: Shimano TC500 alloy, centerlock, 148x12mm thru axle
• Shifter: Shimano Deore M6100, 12 speed
• Rear derailleur: Shimano Deore M6100, long cage
• Chain: Shimano Deore M6100, 12 speed
• Brake rotor: Shimano RT10, centerlock, 180mm
• Brake: Shimano hydraulic disc, MT201 lever, MT200 caliper
• Bottom bracket: Shimano BB-MT501 BSA
• Max tire size: Frame: 29x2.50"
• Crank: Shimano MT512, 30T ring, 55mm chainline, 170mm length
• Rotor size: Max brake rotor sizes - Frame: 203mm, min 180mm
• Handlebar: Bontrager Comp, alloy, 31.8mm, 40mm rise, 780mm width
• Max chainring size: 1x: 34T round, 32T oval, min 30T, 32T oval
• Grips: Trek Line Comp, nylon lock-on
• Stem: Bontrager Comp, 31.8mm, 7 degree, 35mm length
• Headset: FSA Orbit, sealed cartridge bearing, 1-1/8" top, 1.5" bottom, 1.5 crown

 

Looks like gray/black colorway available for the EX8 trim as well.

 

It's out. The EX8 comes in at 37.2 pounds in medium, a full two pounds heavier than the Gen 6 which was already heavy. The carbon bikes appear to be about a pound lighter than before, which means a difference of 6 pounds between the aluminum and carbon models. That seems excessive to me.

Fuel EX - Trek Bikes

www.trekbikes.com

 

 

Dang no XXL anymore, that’s a no for me. Assuming they weren’t selling, but could be the 3 frames in one idea didn’t make sense for XXL?

 

still an xxl but in carbon only

 

No XS versions either.

9.8s get factory suspension, but lose carbon wheels.

I can't see getting this bike over a Slash.

 

I had the Fuel EX 9.8 Gen 5, and it seems like every new generation adds more weight.
I searched Trek’s bike archive on their website for both carbon and alloy models.

Trek Fuel EX 9.8 (carbon, size M)

• Gen 5 – 13.13 kg / 28.94 lbs
• Gen 6 – 14.48 kg / 31.93 lbs
• Gen 7 – 15.28 kg / 33.69 lbs

Trek Fuel EX 8 (alloy, size M)

• Gen 5 – 13.86 kg / 30.56 lbs
• Gen 6 – 15.65 kg / 34.51 lbs
• Gen 7 – 16.89 kg / 37.24 lbs

Personally, I think a 2.15 kg (4.75 lbs) weight increase for the carbon model and 3 kg (6.7 lbs) for the alloy is A LOT.
At this rate, Gen 8 will weigh like a downhill bike, and Gen 9 could be as heavy as a light eMTB.
But Gen 7 frames look really good—so much better than the Gen 6, IMHO.

 

Trek Fuel EX 8 (alloy, size M)

• Gen 5 – 13.86 kg / 30.56 lbs
• Gen 6 – 15.65 kg / 34.51 lbs
• Gen 7 – 16.89 kg / 37.24 lbs

After all the complaints about the weight of gen 6, I was hoping gen 7 would come in around 32lbs for the alloy models.

37.24 pounds for a trail bike? That's going to be very noticeable on climbs. Where is all this extra weight coming from?

 

That reminds me of my Fuel EX 9.8 Gen 5.

 

I just bought my gen 6 last year and while I love it, it's almost too much bike for me. The gen 5 seems very appealing with less aggressive geometry, less travel, and a lot less weight. I may try to find one used. If I need a new bike, I'll just wait for the inevitable 130mm Top Fuel gen 5 in a couple of years.

Trying to make one frame do everything is the wrong direction. Just like the Ripley/Ripmo combo ruined the Ripley.

 

Yep, I have a Gen 4. Bought a Gen 6 last year based on all the hype but ended up returning it. Too big, too heavy for my trails. For me I think Gen 4 was peak Fuel EX, though I wouldn't mind a Gen 5 either. Now I'd go with a Top Fuel, but I haven't seen them in stock for my size in like a year.

 

I remember people brought out the torches and pitchforks when the Gen 6 was released over its weight... and then Gen 7 is heading even further in that direction. Looking at the Gen 7 frame I'm scratching my head a little bit because it looks to be simpler than then Gen 6 so I'm surprised its SO much heavier.

 

Yep, I have a Gen 4. Bought a Gen 6 last year based on all the hype but ended up returning it. Too big, too heavy for my trails. For me I think Gen 4 was peak Fuel EX, though I wouldn't mind a Gen 5 either. Now I'd go with a Top Fuel, but I haven't seen them in stock for my size in like a year.

For me, the Gen 5 was perfection in a trail bike. And I’ve also got a 2018 Slash that, again for me, is the perfect long-travel trail bike (6 pound frame!).

Now my Top Fuel has basically become my old Gen 5 Fuel EX, after installing a 140 mm fork and 55 mm shock. Perfection!

I remember people brought out the torches and pitchforks when the Gen 6 was released over its weight... and then Gen 7 is heading even further in that direction. Looking at the Gen 7 frame I'm scratching my head a little bit because it looks to be simpler than then Gen 6 so I'm surprised its SO much heavier.

These complete bike weights are bizarre since the new EX frame is apparently 200 grams lighter? I guess no longer including carbon wheels on the 9.8 could be part of it, but still.

 

Looks like a Remedy

 

Found the Gen6 a super capable bike! Gen 7 seems to be even more capable! In my opinion Treks move with this bike is definitely a winner! Perfect merge of their outgoing Remedy with the old Slash an even the Gen6 FEx.
Can‘t wait to try one…

 

If the frame ships with 160mm and a coil shock, they know people are going to be taking them to lift access downhill. They either need to add material to the frame or pay out on more warranty claims. Still, nearly three pounds is a lot.|