Fuel+ EX 2026
How current the bike is — newer chassis, motor and battery score higher. 10 = brand-new, 0 = legacy.
Lightweight TQ HPR60-powered trail eMTB
The Trek Fuel+ EX 9.9 X0 AXS 2026 is the US brand's halo lightweight trail eMTB: a carbon ABP chassis with 150 mm of fork travel paired with 145 mm of rear, the TQ HPR60 motor at 60 Nm of torque and 350 W peak, and a removable 580 Wh TQ HPR battery. At a claimed 19.4 kg and £10,300 top-trim price, this is a serious technical contender that has rapidly built a strong forum following. With a 64.5 degree head angle and size-progressive chainstays growing 437 mm to 452 mm across five sizes (15.5"–23"), the Fuel+ EX brings Trek's class-leading Ride Aligned geometry approach to the mid-power class.
Drive system and range. The TQ HPR60 is the headline upgrade over the previous HPR50: 60 Nm of torque (vs HPR50's 50 Nm), 350 W peak and a class-leading 1.924 kg motor weight. @coregrind ran a Fuel+ EX 9.7 (HPR60) alongside a friend on a Fuel EXe (HPR50, dual 360 Wh batteries, friend 4 kg lighter) on the same trail; the Fuel+ finished with 22% battery remaining vs the friend's 12% — using 40% less battery. Strong evidence the HPR60 + 580 Wh package is a meaningful efficiency step. @Keef reports 30 miles with 4,200 ft of climbing at 90% highest power level left 13% battery — genuinely impressive real-world range for an SL-class bike. @Keef also describes the motor as "silent except when pushed hard on climbs, power delivery natural with high cadence requirement."
Geometry and handling. A 64.5 degree head angle is bang in the modern trail-all-mountain sweet spot. Reach progression is generous: 431 mm (15.5"), 460 mm (17.5"), 485 mm (19.5"), 510 mm (21.5"), 530 mm (23"). Chainstays are size-progressive: 437 mm (15.5"–17.5"), 442 mm (19.5"), 447 mm (21.5"), 452 mm (23") — Trek's Ride Aligned size-balanced rear-centre system delivers genuine geometric proportionality. Wheelbase grows 1,187 mm to 1,330 mm. Five sizes is class-competitive. The ABP (Active Braking Pivot) suspension is Trek's proven layout.
Build and value. Seven trims sit on the Fuel+ EX platform. The £4,400 5 is the alloy entry. The £10,300 9.9 X0 AXS base trim at 19.4 kg is the carbon flagship — RockShox Lyrik Ultimate fork (European pricing €11,499 per @Victorius). Between sits a strong value mid-range with £5,000–£8,000 trims. @Roaming50 on a 2026 9.7 describes the SRAM Eagle 70 transmission as "a revelation."
Community-verified strengths. Forum reception has been notably positive. @Battman85 "knew I had to have it" from launch and has documented his ownership in detail. @nickf, a former full-power Bosch Gen 4 Trek Rail owner, describes the Fuel+ feel: "gives enough support without destroying the natural sensation of pedalling with human leg effort" — a strong endorsement from someone explicitly cross-shopping the latest full-power bikes. @Yobbo has 320 miles in 8 weeks with no failures beyond an XT cassette gear-crashing issue (fixed by cassette change). The HPR60/580 Wh real-world range data from @Keef and @coregrind is the strongest single piece of forum evidence in favour of this platform.
Caveats and known gripes. Drivetrain creak has emerged as the family weakness. @Yobbo at 550 miles (880 km) developed exactly the same loud drivetrain creak the Fuel EXe predecessor had a reputation for. Stock XT cassette gear-crashing was an issue per the same rider, fixed by cassette replacement. @1234 notes the "Fuel+" naming scheme is poor for SEO and confusing for buyers. @Roaming50 reports the 9.7 is available in USA without September waitlist, but warns the LX 9.9 model has supply constraints. The 60 Nm motor is meaningfully less powerful than 120 Nm Bosch CX Gen 5 alternatives at similar money. The 580 Wh battery is more generous than 320–420 Wh competitors but smaller than 800 Wh full-power systems. @nickf wins the "balance" argument honestly — the Avinox 1000+ W feel is more dramatic than the TQ HPR60's natural assistance.
Verdict. The Trek Fuel+ EX 9.9 X0 AXS is one of the most credible lightweight trail eMTB platforms of 2026: TQ HPR60 power with a 580 Wh removable battery, Ride Aligned size-progressive geometry across five sizes, and a strong forum reception centred on genuine real-world efficiency data. It will suit riders who want the lighter, more natural ride feel of an SL-class motor with meaningful big-day range, and who value Trek's UK dealer network and Ride Aligned engineering. Buyers wanting maximum motor torque, a full 800 Wh battery, or the strongest possible spec-per-pound value should look at the Cube One77 SLX, Centurion No Pogo R5000 or Trek Rail+ Gen 5 alternatives. Production status: current.
Geometry · hover a row to highlight the measurement on the bike
| 15.5" | 17.5" | 19.5" | 21.5" | 23" | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reach | 431 mm | 460 mm | 485 mm | 510 mm | 530 mm |
| Stack | 610 mm | 624 mm | 638 mm | 651 mm | 665 mm |
| Chainstay | 437 mm | 437 mm | 442 mm | 447 mm | 452 mm |
| Headtube Angle | 64.6° | 64.5° | 64.5° | 64.5° | 64.5° |
| Seattube Angle (eff) | 78.7° | 78.3° | 77.4° | 76.9° | 76.4° |
| BB Drop | 34 mm | 35 mm | 35 mm | 35 mm | 35 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1187 mm | 1225 mm | 1262 mm | 1298 mm | 1330 mm |
| Headtube | 95 mm | 110 mm | 125 mm | 140 mm | 155 mm |
| Standover | 741 mm | 742 mm | 749 mm | 755 mm | 764 mm |
| Front Centre | 750 mm | 788 mm | 820 mm | 851 mm | 878 mm |
Trims · 7
5 £4,400 | 8 £5,000 | 9.7 £5,500 | 9.8 Eagle 90 £7,625 | 9.8 XT £7,625 | 9.8 XT Di2 £8,075 | 9.9 X0 AXS £10,300 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motor | TQ HPR60 · 60 Nm · all trims | ||||||
| Battery | TQ HPR 580 · 580 Wh · all trims | ||||||
| Travel F/R | 150/145 mm · all trims | ||||||
| Frame | OCLV Mountain Carbon · all trims | ||||||
| Fork | Rockshox Recon Silver RL, Solo Air spring, Motion Control damper, lockout, tapered steerer, 42 offset | Fox Rhythm 36, Float EVOL air spring, GRIP damper, tapered steerer, 44mm offset, Boost110, 15mm Kabolt | Fox Rhythm 36, Float EVOL air spring, GRIP damper, tapered steerer, 44mm offset, Boost110, 15mm Kabolt | RockShox Lyrik Ultimate, 150 mm | Fox Factory 36, Float EVOL air spring, GRIP X2 damper, 44mm offset, Boost 110, 15mm Kabolt X axle | Fox Factory 36, 150 mm | RockShox Lyrik Ultimate, DebonAir+ w/ ButterCups, Charger 3.1 RC damper, tapered steerer, 44 mm offset |
| Shock | X-Fusion Pro 2, 2-position damper, 205 mm x 60mm | Fox Performance Float X, 2-position damper, 205 mm x 60 mm | Fox Performance Float X, 2-position damper, 205 mm x 60 mm | RockShox Deluxe Ultimate RC2T | Fox Factory Float X, 205mm x 60mm | Fox Factory Float X | RockShox Deluxe Ultimate RC2T, 205 mm x 60 mm |
| Stem | Bontrager Comp, 31.8 mm, 7-degree, 35 mm length | Bontrager Elite, 35 mm, 0-degree, 45 mm length | Bontrager Elite, 35 mm, 0-degree, 45 mm length | — | Bontrager Elite, 35 mm, 0-degree, 45 mm length | — | Race Face Turbine R, 35mm, 0 degree, 40mm length |
| Handlebar | Bontrager Comp, alloy, 31.8 mm, 40mm rise, 780 mm width | Race Face Turbine, alloy, 35 mm, 40 mm rise, 780 mm width | Race Face Turbine, alloy, 35 mm, 40 mm rise, 780 mm width | Race Face ERA, carbon | Race Face ERA, carbon, 35 mm, 27.5 mm rise, 800 mm width | Race Face ERA, carbon | Race Face ERA, carbon, 35 mm, 27.5 mm rise, 800 mm width |
| Saddle | Bontrager Verse Short, stainless steel rails | Bontrager Verse Short, stainless steel rails | Bontrager Verse P3, chromoly rails | — | Verse Short Comp, steel rails, 145 mm width | — | Verse Short Pro, carbon rails, 145 mm width |
| Seatpost | — | — | — | — | Bontrager Line Dropper, MaxFlow, internal routing, 34.9 mm (150 mm S, 170 mm M, 200 mm L/XL/XXL) | — | RockShox Reverb AXS, wireless, 34.9 mm (150 mm S, 175 mm M, 200 mm L/XL/XXL) |
| Brakes | Shimano 4-piston hydraulic disc, MT4100 lever, MT420 calliper | SRAM DB 8 4-piston hydraulic disc | SRAM DB 8 4-piston hydraulic disc | SRAM Maven Bronze | Shimano XT M8220 4-piston hydraulic disc | Shimano XT M8220 | SRAM Maven Silver 4-piston hydraulic disc |
| Rear derailleur | Shimano Deore M6100, long cage | SRAM Eagle 70, T-Type | SRAM Eagle 70, T-Type | — | Shimano XT M8100, long cage | — | SRAM X0 Eagle AXS, T-Type |
| Crank | E*thirteen E*spec Plus, 160 mm length | SRAM EAGLE 70, 160 mm length | SRAM EAGLE 70, 160 mm length | — | E*thirteen E*spec Plus, 160 mm length | — | SRAM X0 Eagle, 160 mm length |
| Shifters | Shimano Deore M6100, 12-speed | SRAM Eagle 70, 12-speed | SRAM Eagle 70, 12-speed | — | Shimano XT M8100, 12-speed | — | SRAM AXS pod |
| Cassette | Shimano Deore M6100, 10-51, 12-speed | SRAM Eagle XS-1270, T-Type, 10-52, 12-speed | SRAM Eagle XS-1270, T-Type, 10-52, 12-speed | — | Shimano XT M8200, 10-51, 12-speed | — | SRAM Eagle XS-1295, T-Type, 10-52, 12-speed |
| Chain | Shimano Deore M6100, 12-speed | SRAM Eagle 70, T-Type, 12-speed | SRAM Eagle 70, T-Type, 12-speed | — | Shimano Ultegra/XT M8100 | — | SRAM X0 Eagle, T-Type, 12-speed |
| Drivetrain | Shimano Deore | SRAM Eagle 70, T-Type, 12-speed | SRAM Eagle 70, T-Type, 12-speed | SRAM Eagle 90 T-Type | Shimano XT M8100, 12-speed | Shimano XT Di2 | SRAM X0 Eagle AXS, T-Type, 12-speed |
| Wheels | Bontrager Line TLR 30 | Bontrager Line TLR 30 | Bontrager Line TLR 30 | Bontrager Line Comp 30 | Bontrager Line Comp 30, Tubeless Ready, 6-bolt, Boost110/Boost148, Rapid Drive 108, Shimano Micro Spline freehub, 29" | Bontrager Line Comp 30 | Bontrager Line Pro 30, OCLV Mountain Carbon, Tubeless Ready, 6-bolt, Rapid Drive 108, Boost110/Boost148, 29" |
| Tyres | Bontrager Gunnison Elite XR, Tubeless Ready, wire bead, 60 tpi, 29x2.40" | Bontrager Brevard Pro XR, Tubeless Ready, dual compound, aramid bead, 60 tpi, 29x2.50" | Bontrager Brevard Pro XR, Tubeless Ready, dual compound, aramid bead, 60 tpi, 29x2.50" | Maxxis Minion DHF front / Maxxis Minion DHR II rear | Maxxis Minion DHF 29x2.5'' (front), Maxxis Minion DHR II 29x2.5'' (rear) | Maxxis Minion DHF front / Maxxis Minion DHR II rear | Maxxis Minion DHF 29x2.5'' (front), Maxxis Minion DHR II 29x2.5'' (rear) |
| Weight | 21.92 kg | 21.08 kg | 19.73 kg | — | 20.1 kg | — | 19.58 kg |
| Price | £4,400 | £5,000 | £5,500 | £7,625 | £7,625 | £8,075 | £10,300 |
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