Trek has always been early with its model updates. The Americans have now presented their new MTB models for 2016: the Procaliber SL and the Top Fuel are new, while the Fuel EX has been updated.
Trek Procaliber SL
The Superfly is Trek's flagship carbon hardtail. Light, stiff, fast and uncompromising. At least that was the case. Now a new star in the Trek firmament could overtake the tried and tested Superfly. With the new Procaliber SL expands Trek its model range. It should be just as light and fast as the Superfly, but stiffer and more comfortable. And don't worry, the pedalling efficiency is of course maintained despite the comfort.
The Boost 148 standard provides extra stiffness. Hubs with a width of 148 mm at the rear and 110 mm at the front ensure stiffer wheels and enable wider tyres, shorter chainstays and more chainring options. Comfort is ensured by a technology adopted from cyclocross and road bikes, which allows the frame to flex slightly without restricting stiffness at key points. Trek calls this joint IsoSpeed. Prices for the Trek Procaliber SL are between 3000 and 8000 euros, the frameset costs a hefty 2400 euros.
Trek Top Fuel
Top Fuel? Back again? Anyone familiar with the Trek line-up will know that Trek's CC-Fully is called Superfly FS for the 2015 model year. In future, however, the fast race fully will be back. Trek Top Fuel just like before. The Top Fuel also benefits in terms of stiffness from the new Boost 148 standard, which enables particularly short chainstays and makes the bike more manoeuvrable.
Apart from that, Trek has used the full range of technology for the Top Fuel. Active Braking Pivot, Full Floater and EVO Link are what Trek marketing calls the systems that are designed to make the Top Fuel's suspension both efficient and sensitive. With the Mino Link system, the geometry of the race full-suspension bike can be easily adjusted according to personal preferences. The Top Fuel will be launched on the market in an aluminium and a carbon version. The Top Fuel will be available in 27.5" up to frame size 15.5", from frame size 17.5" the Top Fuel will come with 29" wheels. Prices range from 3000 euros for the Top Fuel 8 (aluminium) to 9000 euros for the carbon Top Fuel 9.9.
Trek Fuel EX 29
Together with the introduction of the new Procaliber SL and Top Fuel race models, the tried and tested Fuel EX 29 has also been revised. But only in detail. Only the components of the entry-level models Fuel EX 5 and Fuel EX 7 have been updated. From the Fuel EX 8 onwards, however, the Boost 148 standard already featured on the Top Fuel and Procaliber SL is now used. As a result, the chainstays of the Fuel EX 29 are now only as long as those of the Fuel EX 27.5.
The stiffness of the Fuel EX 29 has also been improved. In addition, the latest Fox and Rock Shox components now level out any unevenness. The groupsets have also been updated. Prices start at an affordable 1900 euros, although this does not include the new frame. If you want to feel the innovation boost, you have to put at least 3000 euros on the table. The Trek Fuel EX only reaches the end of the flagpole at € 8000.
Adrian Kaether
Editor
