Trek Top Fuel: Lighter and with more features - this is the fourth generation

The Trek Top Fuel is no stranger to reviews. On our homepage you will find one test report after another on many different model variants. The manufacturer describes the fast trail bike as more powerful and more forgiving than an XC bike and at the same time lighter and more manoeuvrable than an XC bike. Long-travel bike, such as the Trek Fuel EX. On the trail climbs, the low weight should lead to a less strenuous ride. The enduro geometry and the short but sufficient suspension travel should make descents fun.

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Trek Top Fuel: Who is the bike made for?

The short answer to this question is simple: trail bikers. Depending on your own interests, however, you will have different requirements for a trail bike. If comfort is the top priority, you probably want more suspension travel. If you want to go fast above all else, you'll focus on weight and geometry.

In general, the Top Fuel is aimed at riders who attach great importance to low weight and pedalling efficiency on climbs and at the same time want to tackle descents with confidence. Trek has designed the range primarily for less aggressive and more fun terrain and includes experienced "rippers" and occasional XC riders, among others. One-does-it-all bike?!

The fourth generation of the Trek Top Fuel: What has changed?

As mentioned at the beginning, one of the main changes to the new Trek Top Fuel is the lighter frame. Compared to the previous generation, it is said to weigh 220 grams less - both in the aluminium and carbon versions. The frame compartment is also said to have been improved: It is said to have a tighter seal and larger opening, according to Trek. The new compartment would also provide better protection for cables. There is also a two-bag system for the compartment: carbon bikes are supplied with a padded bag for tools and an unpadded one for a tube - aluminium bikes only with the padded one. However, both bags are available for retrofitting.

Geometry

Not much has changed to the geometry of the Trek Top Fuel. The head tube angle has been reduced from 66 degrees to 65.5 degrees. The reach has increased minimally by 2 mm to 447 mm in size M, while the effective seat tube angle remains the same at 76 degrees. However, the chainstays are now size-dependent compared to the previous generation: The third-generation Trek Top Fuel had a 435 mm chainstay in all sizes - on the new trail bikes it is only this long in sizes S & M. In ML & L it is 440 mm and in XL even 445 mm. As a result, the manufacturer promises balanced handling for all frame sizes: Smaller riders would have better manoeuvrability, while larger riders would have a smoother ride.

Trek Top Fuel: very adaptable

What makes the new Trek Top Fuel so special is its versatility and adaptability. The trail bike is compatible with various components that can be retrofitted. Examples of this would be a 140 mm suspension fork (standard fork: 130 mm) or a 185 x 55 shock (standard shock: 185 x 50). With the exception of frame size S, the bikes come with 29-inch wheels. Here it is possible to replace the rear wheel with a 27.5-inch wheel and turn the bike into a mullet version. However, this requires the 140 mm fork and the - also revised - flip chip on the shock (the so-called Mino Link) must be set high.

New Mino Link flipchip with 4 setting options

Trek's Mino Link makes it easy to change the geometry. Until now, you could choose between two positions for the flip chip: In the low position, the head tube angle was 65.5 degrees and the bottom bracket was further down - in the high position, the angle was 66 degrees and the bottom bracket was correspondingly higher.

In practice, this makes the following possible: The steeper head tube angle makes the steering more agile, ergo: less smooth. The opposite is true for the slacker angle: the slacker head tube requires more input from the rider when cornering, but is smoother. The lower bottom bracket also results in a smoother ride, as the centre of gravity has moved downwards.

The new generation of the Trek Top Fuel now also features a new Mino Link with four adjustment options. It is now possible to switch between the upper and lower position as well as the front and rear position.

These are the four setting options of the flipchip

• Position 1: Flat geometry and not very progressive
• Position 2: Flat geometry and progressive
• Position 3: Steep geometry and not very progressive
• Position 4: Steep geometry and progressive

Trek Top Fuel: These are the bikes of the fourth generation

• Top Fuel 5
• Top Fuel 8
• Top Fuel 9
• Top Fuel 9.8 XT
• Top Fuel 9.8 GX AXS
• Top Fuel 9.9 X0 AXS
• Top Fuel 9.9 XX AXS
• Top Fuel 9.9 XTR (Trek has not yet provided any information on this)

The new trail bike models in detail

(all prices are converted and rounded to US dollars)

Trek Top Fuel 5

• Price: 2494 Euro
• Weight: 15.9 kg in size M
• Frame: Aluminium
• Frame sizes: S, M, ML, L, XL
• Fork: Rockshox Recon Silver RL with 130 mm travel
• Damper: X-Fusion Pro 2, 185 mm x 50 mm
• Tyres: Bontrager Gunnison Elite XR
• Circuit: Shimano Deore M6100
• Brake: Shimano MT200, hydraulic

Trek Top Fuel 8

• Price: 3695 Euro
• Weight: 14.58 kg in size M (with sealant, without hoses)
• Frame: Aluminium
• Frame sizes: S, M, ML, L, XL
• Fork: Fox Rhythm 34 with 130 mm travel
• Damper: Fox Performance Float DPS, 185 mm x 50 mm
• Tyres: Bontrager Gunnison Pro XR
• Circuit: Shimano XT M8100
• Brake: Shimano 4-piston, hydraulic, M6100 lever, M6120 caliper

Trek Top Fuel 9

• Price: 4434 Euro
• Weight: 14.38 kg in size M (with sealant, without hoses)
• Frame: Aluminium
• Frame sizes: S, M, ML, L, XL
• Fork: Fox Rhythm 34 with 130 mm travel
• Damper: Fox Performance Float DPS, 185 mm x 50 mm
• Tyres: Bontrager Gunnison Pro XR
• Circuit: Sram GX Eagle AXS
• Brake: Sram Level Bronze 4-piston, hydraulic

Trek Top Fuel 9.8 XT

• Price: 5773 Euro
• Weight: 13.45 kg in size M (with sealant, without hoses)
• Frame: Carbon
• Frame sizes: S, M, ML, L, XL
• Fork: Rockshox Pike Select+ with 130 mm travel
• Damper: Rockshox Deluxe Ultimate RCT, 185mm x 50mm
• Tyres: front: Bontrager Gunnison RSL XT, rear: Bontrager Montrose RSL XT: Bontrager Montrose RSL XT
• Circuit: Shimano XT M8100
• Brake: Shimano XT M8120 4-piston, hydraulic

Trek Top Fuel 9.8 GX AXS

• Price: 6465.58 Euro
• Weight: 13.20 kg in size M (with sealant, without hoses)
• Frame: Carbon
• Frame sizes: S, M, ML, L, XL
• Fork: Rockshox Pike Select+ with 130 mm travel
• Damper: Rockshox Deluxe Ultimate RCT, 185mm x 50mm
• Tyres: front: Bontrager Gunnison RSL XT, rear: Bontrager Montrose RSL XT: Bontrager Montrose RSL XT
• Circuit: Sram GX Eagle AXS
• Brake: Sram Level Bronze 4-piston

Trek Top Fuel 9.9 X0 AXS

• Price: 7851 Euro
• Weight: 13.1 kg in size M (with sealant, without hoses)
• Frame: Carbon
• Frame sizes: S, M, ML, L, XL
• Fork: Rockshox Pike Ultimate with 130 mm travel
• Damper: Rockshox Deluxe Ultimate RCT, 185mm x 50mm
• Tyres: front: Bontrager Gunnison RSL XT, rear: Bontrager Montrose RSL XT: Bontrager Montrose RSL XT
• Circuit: Sram X0 Eagle AXS
• Brake: Sram Level Silver 4-piston, hydraulic

Trek Top Fuel 9.9 XX AXS

• Price: 9698 Euro
• Weight: 12.85 kg in size M (with sealant, without hoses)
• Frame: Carbon
• Frame sizes: S, M, ML, L, XL
• Fork: Rockshox Pike Ultimate with 130 mm travel
• Damper: Rockshox Deluxe Ultimate RCT, 185mm x 50mm
• Tyres: front: Bontrager Gunnison RSL XT, rear: Bontrager Montrose RSL XT: Bontrager Montrose RSL XT
• Circuit: Sram XX SL Eagle AXS
• Brake: Sram Level Ultimate 4-piston, hydraulic