Trek divides bikers into those who know and those who don't. Insiders immediately understand the connection between model name and riding characteristics. For everyone else: Top fuel refers to classes in drag racing (acceleration races) in which nitromethane is used as fuel. Top Fuel drivers are sitting on a powder keg. On tarmac and off-road. But let's start at the beginning: the brand new Top Fuel replaces the former best horse in the Trek stable, the Superfly FS. The new development benefits from the Boost 148 standard in terms of stiffness. This enables shorter chainstays, makes the bike more manoeuvrable and the wheels stiffer. The wheel size grows with the frame size. From 17.5 inches upwards, the bike rolls on 29-inch wheels, below that on 27.5-inch wheels. Only the top model tested pulls out all the stops, offering a full carbon frame and the sinfully expensive DT Swiss carbon wheels. 8999 euros (frame 3199 euros) is still a hefty price - the gap to the competition is large. As expected, the Top Fuel delivers top results in the test lab: Lightest frame, lowest total weight, very stiff overall impression. As long as the terrain doesn't get too extreme, the Top Fuel is the benchmark. Powerful propulsion, long geometry - with the suspension locked, you sprint like a racing bike. Really rough terrain becomes a ride on the razor's edge. The tyres have the limits of a dragster slick in the rain, and the front-heavy riding position immediately punishes microsleep. The RS1 fork was weaker than usual, and the rear end was also surprisingly sluggish. Like a dragster, the Top Fuel also appeals to two types of customers: Professionals and enthusiasts. Attention: Shimano's XTR gearing with 32 teeth at the front and 11-40 at the rear is hardly sufficient for a stage race. Good: 40-year warranty. However, Trek only offers a 20 per cent discount as a crash replacement.
Conclusion: The Top Fuel is a fire chair for special days - a dragster is not an everyday car either. No other race bike is as responsive to the throttle, no other goes faster. So let's put an end to the lottery. Count calories, buy a power meter, buy a licence and finally take out an energy food subscription.
The alternative: It's a stark price difference to the cheaper Top Fuel 9.8 SL (4999 euros, 11 kilos). But you have to do without the carbon rear triangle and the RS1 fork. The gearing is Sram X01/X1 (BIKE 10/15).
