Trek Fuel EX 9.8 GX AXS Gen 5

The 2021 "Fuel EX 9.8 GX AXS Gen 5" model from Trek is a high-quality mountain bike that stands out for its advanced technical specifications and robust construction. Priced at EUR 7,299, it offers a wide range of features that will appeal to both ambitious amateur riders and professional mountain bikers.

The bike’s frame is made from OCLV Mountain Carbon for the main frame and seat stays, ensuring high stability and low weight. The integrated storage compartment and internal Control Freak cable routing contribute to a clean look and functionality. Further features such as the tapered head tube, Knock Block, Carbon Armor and the magnesium lever highlight the high-quality construction of the frame, which offers 130 mm of travel. The maximum rider weight is 136 kg, whilst the bike itself weighs just 13 kg.

The braking system consists of SRAM G2 RS hydraulic disc brakes at both the front and rear, each fitted with a 180 mm SRAM CenterLine disc with a 6-hole mounting pattern and rounded edges. These brakes deliver reliable and powerful braking performance across a wide range of conditions.

The gear system is provided by the SRAM GX Eagle AXS 12-speed shifter, which enables precise and rapid gear selection. The FOX Performance 36 fork, featuring Float EVOL air spring and GRIP damping, offers 140 mm of travel and ensures excellent damping performance on uneven terrain.

The crankset consists of a SRAM GX Eagle DUB with an aluminium chainring (30 t.) and a Boost crank arm length of 170 mm. The cassette is an SRAM Eagle XG-1275 with a 10–52-tooth range, also 12-speed. The drivetrain is completed by the SRAM GX Eagle, also with 12 speeds.

The handlebars are Bontrager Line Pro made from OCLV carbon, with a width of 780 mm and a rise of 27.5 mm. The grips are Bontrager XR Trail Elite with nylon clamps. The stem is a Bontrager Line Pro with Knock Block and Blendr compatibility; it is 35 mm long and has a 0-degree angle.

The wheelset consists of Bontrager Line Elite 30 rims made from OCLV Mountain Carbon, which are tubeless-ready and feature a 6-hole disc mount. The front hub is Boost 110 with a 15 mm thru-axle, whilst the rear hub is Boost 148 with a Rapid Drive 108 freehub body.

The saddle is a Bontrager Arvada with austenitic struts and a width of 138 mm, mounted on a Bontrager Line Elite seatpost with a 100 mm rise and internal cable routing.

The bike’s geometry has the following dimensions: a reach of 40 mm, a stack of 56 mm, a seat tube length of 36 mm, a top tube length of 55 mm, a head tube angle of 66 degrees, a seat tube angle of 69 degrees, a head tube length of 9 mm, a chainstay length of 44 mm, a standover height of 70 mm and a wheelbase of 112 mm.

Overall, the Trek Fuel EX 9.8 GX AXS Gen 5 offers a balanced blend of lightness, stability and advanced technology, making it the ideal companion for challenging mountain bike adventures.