Other Gen 2 Trek Fuel + (EXE) Official thread.

Rockhopper70

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I‘ve been adding intel on this new bike as I’ve stumbled across, onto the Trek Megathread.
It’s a new bike, however, and deserves its own thread.

Looks like Evans are preparing to stock these. The link goes to an unknown page, hence the screen shot.

580wh battery and 60Nm looks like a good package for mid assist but with good range.

Link below for an alloy version in the flesh. Small size, and I hope that’s why it has that ugly kink in the top tube.


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Posted about this earlier in that thread, think it’s getting properly released on the 8th. Apparently there’s an embargo but Trek seems to be doing a terrible job of enforcing it since there seems to be a million different bike shops with these up on their websites.

Once again will get on my soapbox and whinge about what a trash naming scheme Fuel+ is from an SEO perspective. Really goddamn hard to google and distinguish from the regular fuel. Fuel EX-e is so much easier. And the Slash+ should have been the Slash-e, which sounds like Slashy which is way more fun to say. Curse you trek for taking that from me.

Anyway, looks like three different versions coming out:

Trek Fuel+ EX - 150/145mm Travel - 29er
Trek Fuel+ MX - 160/150mm Travel - Mullet
Trek Fuel+ LX - 170/160mm - 29er

So effectively a Fuel, Remedy and Gen 5 Slash all in one platform, pretty impressive from a product management perspective to get all of that from one frame, will be an extremely versatile bike.

Comes with the 580wh battery and TQ HPR60, also looks like they are releasing new longer travel droppers to take advantage of that deliciously long insertion depths so all larges are coming with 200mm droppers. Adjustable headset cups and progression flip chip on the lower shock link. Conceptually the adjustability is pretty similar to the slash+ but without all the high pivotness. Main difference being the adjustable rocker links which is a whole other thing that really ups the adjustability to another level.


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More on the adjustability, it looks like it's primarily the top linkage that changes between them. Can see how the seatstay portion changes quite a bit between them. Included some overlays at the end to help show the difference (First overlay is the LX over the EX, Second one is the MX over the EX). The stroke length of the model also helps change the travel, the EX is 205x60mm, And the LX and MX have 205x65mm.

Would be very cool if they sell them aftermarket so you can easily change between long travel/mid travel/short travel.

From a manufacturing perspective it’s extra impressive as the two piece rocker will be a lot cheaper to sell and produce compared to a one piece rocker. Trek must of worked hard to engineer the required stiffness into the frame rather than relying more on a machined one piece rocker. This isn’t actually different to many of their current bikes which seem to work fine without eating too many bearings or being floppy as hell.

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Can see in this one below how the cooling fins have been integrated.
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Also did an overlay with the Slash+, strikingly Similar design language up until you get to the rear where they obviously diverge.

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Also found some geo charts and a comparison to the outgoing EX-e

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Overall I would say it’s a solid update over the prior models. Should be a compelling option for people starting out who aren't quite sure what type of riding they want to be doing or for people who want a bike that suits their local terrain but can easily be changed up to go bigger for bike park use.

I think more companies are going to go in this direction as well, at least the bigger ones like Trek and Specialized, much easier to manufacture and stock one frame that can become three distinct bikes compared to having three different models entirely. For Trek it seems like a bit of a no brainer as there was already a lot of overlap between the Gen 5 Fuel, Gen 5 Slash and the remedy. With this direction they will be reducing their skus and achieving better economies of scale without compromising their product lineup. Which means cheaper bikes for us (lmao, lol, haha)

Both Trek and Specialized have said they're aiming to reduce the number of SKUs they sell. It already looks like the Kenevo and Kenevo SL, for example, won't be getting updated. And the Stumpjumper 15 has taken the place of both the regular Stumpy and the Evo, I think we will see more of this consolidation as we go on.

I said this on another forum but I think this could lead to a market where small, boutique brands keep making limited runs of high-end bikes, while mid-range options become more scarce as the economics get harder for the bigger companies.

It reminds me of something I read once: the engineering challenge of a VW Golf is actually much greater than a Bugatti Veyron. Making something that’s good and affordable to manufacture is far more difficult than throwing everything at a small run of incredibly expensive machines that only a few people will ever buy. It’s easy to make something awesome when price isn’t a factor.

The real challenge is making something great that’s also affordable. Probably the same reason there are still plenty of high-end sports cars, but not many interesting options at the lower end, it’s just not an easy market to make work.
 
The versatility of this looks great. I sometimes fly with my bike so the option to remove the battery and run it with just the RE (as per the EXe) and also alter the linkage to suit Alps style riding would be great. That way I can concentrate the upgrade habit on just the one bike, rather than having an E and keeping an analogue for trips abroad.
 
Credit to @Flow81 for spotting this.


Looking forward to some reviews on this as it could be the one to tempt me to, at last, pull the trigger.

That model looks pretty solid. Not sure where in frame storage can be though?
 
Credit to @Flow81 for spotting this.


Looking forward to some reviews on this as it could be the one to tempt me to, at last, pull the trigger.

That model looks pretty solid. Not sure where in frame storage can be though?
On the Propain Shresh SL there is some storage space inside the battery cover, perhaps it's the same on the Trek.

Or perhaps this downtube protector can be removed giving some downtube access.

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Recently I was visiting Trek's LBS looking for some ebikes and the saler mentioned about this updated Fuel EXe. Both Fuels regular and E will be offered in those three versions (EX, MX, LX). I became interested after testing 1 gen EXe espiecially the battery will be now reasonable 580 Wh capacity. I did some searching in web and here are the options with European official pricing (hope will be a bit less in real offer). Only one build with RS Lyrik

EX

Alu Fuel+ EX 5

Deore, basic RS/X-Fusion
4999 Euro

Alu Fuel+ EX 8
Sram 70, Fox 36 Performance
5499 Euro

Carbon Fuel+ EX 9.7
Sram 70, Fox 36 Rhythm/Performance
5999 Euro

Carbon Fuel+ EX 9.8 XT
Shimano XT, Fox 36 Factory
8499 Euro

Carbon Fuel+ EX 9.8 Eagle 90
Sram Eagle 90, Fox 36 Factory
8499 Euro

Carbon Fuel+ EX 9.8 XT di2
Shimano XT Di2, Fox 36 Factory
9999 Euro

Carbon Fuel+ EX 9.9 X0 AXS
Sram X0 AXS , RS Lyrik Ultimate
11499 Euro

MX

Carbon Fuel+ MX 9.8 XT

Shimano XT, Fox 36 Factory
8499 Euro

Carbon Fuel+ MX 9.8 Eagle 90
Sram Eagle 90, Fox 36 Factory
8499 Euro

Carbon Fuel+ MX 9.8 XT di2
Shimano XT Di2, Fox 36 Factory
9999 Euro

Carbon Fuel+ EX 9.9 X0 AXS
Sram X0 AXS , Fox 36 Factory
11499 Euro

LX

Carbon Fuel+ MX 9.8 XT

Shimano XT, Fox coil / 38 Factory
8699 Euro

Carbon Fuel+ MX 9.8 Eagle 90
Sram Eagle 90, Fox coil / 38 Factory
8699 Euro

Carbon Fuel+ MX 9.8 XT di2
Shimano XT Di2, Fox coil /38 Factory
10199 Euro

Carbon Fuel+ EX 9.9 X0 AXS
Sram X0 AXS , Fox coil / 38 Factory
11699 Euro
 
I called Balfe yesterday and it seems that the bike on their website is an error, driven by Trek who can update their website, or a bike having a release date now being pulled. As far as Balfe are aware, that bike isn’t being launched on Friday as suggested.

They did mention a large consignment due to drop in the UK imminently from Trek, but the 9.7 isn’t in that load as far as they are aware. Their best guess might be the end of August.

It does seem, generally, quite a poorly managed launch, even Evans had it returning on a google search.
 
I could observe new fuel+ offers on many online store webpages but after few days data is removed and page doesn't exist. Google still returns some data. It looks like all stores are building their new online offer but launched for public view too early by mistake and then removed.
 
A google search for the bike now returns an entry for the Trek website, offering accessories including the RE and linkages. So maybe it might be possible to alter the geo between the three different styles with after market, but offical products. Hopefully, the listing on the Trek website means something might be dropping imminently….

Again, the link just goes to a 404page.

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LX was coil shock
Base carbon model 9.7 was RRP £5,500
Dealer expected them mid Sept.
 
9.7 had DB8 brakes, fox float shock, fox 36 rhythm fork, alloy bars. Can’t remember what the gears are.
 
Base carbon model is perfect for a strip down and upgrade to your own spec.
 
think the gears were SRAM eagle T Type with the 70 mech
 
Today from official Trek's website: EX MX LX Rockers are in offer as spare parts as well as different shock mounts (27,5 and 29"). The travel is adjustable via those parts as well as shock's stroke. So there will be a lot of wheel size/travel options. As example I think MX can be easily transformed from 205x60 150 mm travel to 205x62,5 156 mm travel or 205x56 163 mm travel and it is officially aproved by TREK.
 
Base carbon model is perfect for a strip down and upgrade to your own spec.

Spending $8k just to need to "strip down and upgrade" a bike - things only a true MTBer would say :D

e: these builds are weird though. Straight from rhythm fork to factory, nothing in between. If you want good suspension you're paying $9.5k
 
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I have tested 1 gen of Fuel EXe with it's TQ 50nm and 300W and it was plenty of extra power for me. I was giving my 200 W + 300W the motor and I was speeding uphill faster than in my twenties when I was in my best shape ever. Even the middle support mode was actually enough but the battery was definitely too small lasting for 2 hours and 1000 m of elevation. Here they made perfect bike for me. Sub 20 kg, around 160 mm travel, mullet, decent battery and enough support for my style of trail riding. Only the price for now is above the target.
 
I'm sure in a year or two they will be selling for -40% like first gens. I picked up one for my wife, she loves it...
 
2026 fuel+ mx 9.9 x0 axs
This is the one I am ordering and it will be just shy of 42 lbs.
 
I bought the Fuel+ EX 9.7, along with the parts for MX and LX conversion. So far I’ve kept the EX set up but went to 160mm fork travel and 62.5mm shock stroke, but I plan to play with some of the other options.
I’ve had a Fuel EXe and still have a Slash+ (now up for sale!). The increase in power with the HPR60 over the HPR50 is a nice gain but I feel the biggest feature/benefit with the new system is the improved efficiency. A recent on-trail comparison I did with a friend (he is 4kg lighter) ended with him using almost 40% more battery for the same ride. He had his Fuel EXe and two 360Wh batteries, each depleted to 12% remaining vs. my Fuel+ with one 580Wh battery, depleted to 22% remaining.
 
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