yep. the Trek EX's are no joke

 

I too would like to know why this is

 

If you like the way the Gen 5 ('22) feels, you'll be shocked all over again if you try the new Gen 6 which is said to be even better. I had a Gen 5 and loved it. It wasn't the best climber, although it was fair, but it was a magic carpet ride going back down the mountain.

 

Carbon wheel reduce rotational mass. Suspension platform with better leverage curve??.

 

You sure it wasn’t a Fuel EXe?



I will say that tires that have “Basically the same tread pattern” can pedal very, very differently. And also weigh hugely different amounts, and have harder (easier to pedal), or softer (more grippy but more tiring to pedal).

I’d imagine that is the biggest difference, based on pure conjecture.

 

I swear that you can read my mind. That's the exact thought that I had when reading the OP.

 

If you have 1100g+ tires (Assegai or the like) and heavy alum wheels, the difference in moving to lighter tires and wheels is pretty dramatic. If you can get by with a trail tire like the Mazza and change from the heaviest alum rims you can shed 10oz per wheel.

 

I have an EXe, not EX but I find the Trek rear suspension very impressive.

I also haven’t tried a lot of bikes either, but I find the rear suspension very efficient, like there’s very little power loss, even when standing up to pedal. And yet still very comfortable.

Carbon wheels can also make a notable difference.

 

When I put light carbon wheels on a bike it has always made a big difference. Also, the Trek may be designed to have better pedaling performance?

Some bikes just pedal better than others.

 

Also… just to check…

Do your brakes drag, is your drivetrain clean/well adjusted, and do your wheels spin freely (no bearing issues/etc)?

I have a buddy who was constantly complaining about his bike, and how poor of a climber it was, and also his fitness. I later borrowed the bike for a visiting friend who was his size, and as always I tried to make sure it was in prime condition for both the visiting friend, and my buddy. Turns out, his rear brake was dragging fairly significantly.

So if you feel like you’re “dragging a body” behind you, it might be worth checking to make sure all the mechanical bits on your bike are functioning as intended.

 

Also… just to check…

Do your brakes drag, is your drivetrain clean/well adjusted, and do your wheels spin freely (no bearing issues/etc)?

I have a buddy who was constantly complaining about his bike, and how poor of a climber it was, and also his fitness. I later borrowed the bike for a visiting friend who was his size, and as always I tried to make sure it was in prime condition for both the visiting friend, and my buddy. Turns out, his rear brake was dragging fairly significantly.

So if you feel like you’re “dragging a body” behind you, it might be worth checking to make sure all the mechanical bits on your bike are functioning as intended.

The worst feeling is when you do all these checks and the bike is smooth and fast and you find out you're just out of shape.

 

I owned a EX9.8 on a 2020 model and yes it was a fast thing.... i too think the rubber plays a big part of it.

 

I have the fuel exe and yes it pedals really well. Way better than my canyon sender.

 

I know how you feel when it comes to that Goldilocks bike that feels perfect. My Santa Cruz 5010 gave me the exact feeling you described. It feels light enough to pedal as if I have some kind of assist. At the same time, it shreds really good and it was just an overall fun experience. For me, it was the VPP suspension that won me over. I wouldn't be surprised if the suspension is the main reason why the bike feels so amazing to you.

 

You need to try an xc race hardtail now you won’t believe how it pedals and accelerates and trust me xc hts can shred hard in the right hands

 

There isn't THAT much difference between his bike and yours. 90% of the difference in most bikes is in the set-up, tires, or maintenance. These things do all in fact make quite the difference.

The largest difference was likely in the tires and he had less sag in the shock with you riding his bike.

 

Trek makes a really nice MTB. There are more more efficient/faster pedaling designs on smooth terrain especially, but the ABP is a little better on technical terrain and still pedals really well. Now you guys have me thinking of the Fuel EXe though.

 

Does Trek still put XR4s on the Fuel Ex? They roll much faster than minions IME with the downside being they're terrifying when it's slippery.

 

It's SE5's on the fuel ex. I have them on a bike. They're 1000+ grams and probably comparable to something like a DHR.

 

They do. I just picked up a Top Fuel. I did not like the stock wheels though, so I got a custom set built and in the process, I swapped to the Maxxis DHRii/Disssector combo which is my light trail setup. The XR4s are too light duty for me.

Edit- Sorry...wrong bike, they seem to spec the SE5 on the Fuel EX.

 

Lol...it could just be New Bike Syndrome. I let a friend of mine borrow my road bike. He said he went so fast and broke some PR's. His bike and mine were set up pretty similar. I think that its in his head and that he's now on an "aero bike".

 

Wheels and tires aside, maybe not being a Horst type? The newer 5 tread? Mine's a few years old now but it was nice against others then and trying other new bikes still feels like it would be serious diminishing returns to want to replace it.

No matter what, light wheels and tires will always make a bike feel zippy, and newer Horst-types I've tried with newer shocks haven't felt like that sinks but gobs of traction old Horst bike characteristic. IMO most popular stuff is really good these days.

 

Is Trek still using a rebranded Split Pivot design that they ripped off of DW?

 

After I worked in a firm that made machines that make machines and products I realized how much the bike industry does the equivalent of putting a trademark on a hammer and sell it as the "El Slammo" wonder product or some stupid name to catch tribal love. Now with a kid in engineering school sharing what he's doing I get that reminder again. Going to an old farm machine show and museum is also a reminder that about everything that can be done with pivots and calculating statics and dynamics stuff is probably well into diminishing returns if not already done.

On a family vacation where we were renting and trying stuff plus demos bikes, what really stood out trying 5 brands of suspension bike was light wheels, the condition of my bike engine, and blood sugar levels.

If all this brand and design stuff is so important, why is my friend with his DW, $ thousands more bike and 14 years younger than me not beating me?

 

I they use ABP which is Split Pivot, though I do not know any other ownership/use details. It is a good design. I recently bought my first Trek (Top Fuel) and I like it a lot.

My first DW Link was when the Mojo came out. Before that, I had been on some single pivots with seat stay pivots like the Yeti ASR-SL (Ti flex pivot) Yeti 575 (carbon flex pivot), Lenz Behemoth and Ventana X5 & El Saltamontes. The minute I jumped on the Mojo, I could tell that it pedaled so differently and so efficiently. Just on the parking lot ride, I was very surprised. It also rode high in its travel, which was unique for me at the time. I'm not sure they ride as high anymore though I have heard that the Revel Rascal does.

 

I'm riding a DW designed Split Pivot Devinci Troy. At the time, 2019, it seemed that Trek was also licenceing this same system. In the following years it seems that Trek modified the design just enough to not have to pay DW for it.
Just curious what the actual history is here.

 

After riding trek for a while, having a rear pivot NOT concentric with the axle just looks so strange.