Oooh goody, a new Trek Fuel EX! This is particularly exciting for us; the existing Fuel EX is a bike we know well and have spent plenty of time on over its long life, changing every few years to keep up to the current standard the new 2020 one is a slick trail bike with well thought out features. So let’s take a look!
See the 2020 Trek Fuel EX in action in the video here
Walk-In Wardrobe, Glovebox, Pie-Hole, Not-S.W.A.T, Or simply ‘Storage’
Yep, the new carbon frame Fuel EX has internal storage in the downtube. Wait, what? We can hear you thinking ‘OMG, they copied Specialized!’. Maybe they did, or perhaps the bigger story is that Specialized was the first to make it worthwhile, and now Trek is making it possible for its bikes too. Good on them either way, it’s a great feature, and we welcome it to the trail.
Flick the lever, lift off the cage, and you’ve got access to a whole lot of space to stash your bits, store them in there, so you never leave them behind and keep them out of the way of water and mud for safekeeping.
Included with the new Fuel EX is a tool wrap and bottle cage to complete the storage picture, so you can wrap everything together for silent storage and fill a bottle with your favourite water product, leaving a hydration backpack at home for shorter trail blasts.
Curious to see how it actually works, make sure to check out the video above.
Full Floater Be Gone!
The second most noticeable change to the frame is down in the centre of things. Following the Session, Slash, Remedy and Top Fuel, the new Fuel EX is now Full Floater-free. A feature introduced many years ago to give Trek’s suspension gurus the rear shock rate they wanted, the shock would mount to the chainstay (see on the 2019 model below) and would travel downwards when compressed. Trek states that the latest high-volume shocks now perform well enough and can be tuned to achieve better results without need for the Full Floater linkage.
Without the Full Floater taking space around the BB and main pivot, the frame can be constructed with higher stiffness. No front derailleurs allowed either, a single-ring or nothing situation now.
Longer, Slacker, Steeper, Lower & All The Modern Classic Hits
We were initially concerned that the new bike would follow the apparent trends of bikes for 2020 and increase in overall size and suspension travel, but the Fuel EX stays 130mm of travel on the rear, just with a 10mm increase in fork travel up to 140mm.
Geometry scores a fairly predictable software update, with a longer reach of around 10-20mm depending on size. Head angles slacken by one notch to 66° and to keep the bike’s length in check as the reach grows, the seat angle steeps to 75°. This is all about keeping the new Fuel EX up to date with modern standards. It wasn’t like the previous version felt outdated in any one way, but as we were to find out this one is just that little bit easier to ride hard, while also being more spritely on the climbs.
The top tube is significantly lower, for longer dropper posts and increased standover too, a good move as we wanted to upsize on the previous model but found the seat tube height would restrict the decent range of a 150mm dropper post. Problem solved!
2020 Trek Fuel EX Geometry
All Carbon, Universal Mech Hanger, Rebound Numbers & Thumb-Friendly Dropper
Moving into 2020 the carbon Fuel EX models are all carbon; no more aluminium rear ends. This is something we’ve seen a lot of lately, the 2020 Specialized Enduro and Giant Reign and Trance 29 for example.
While around the back end of the bike, we spotted a suspicious ‘UDH’ marking on the rear derailleur hanger. After a little digging, we were told it’s a new universal derailleur hanger standard that the kind folks at SRAM have conceptualised. Imagine that, a universal hanger! Let’s see who adopts it next and whether it actually becomes a thing…
Numbers on rebound dials make a lot of sense, but shock manufacturers have been reluctant to do this as it needs to be set at the factory to match the frame. But, sounds like Trek hassled Fox enough and look what we have here – numbers! So much easier for setup for all involved. Good stuff, Trek.
Bontrager’s new dropper post remote is a significant improvement over the silver ‘button’ of previous models. Under the thumb, the lever-action is tighter and less wobbly. A small but nice touch that we appreciated.
Throw More Fuel On The Trail
We recently took the stealth black 2019 Fuel EX 9.9 on a trip to Derby, Tasmania, so we certainly are familiar with its vibe. The new Fuel EX feels similar but manages to charge descents harder and jumps up short sharp pinches easier. In the saddle, and out of the saddle, we felt the new Fuel was more responsive to hard pedal strokes than the previous model. Put that down to the revised shock tune, longer reach and steeper seat angle or a stiffer bottom bracket area, either way, it’s super zippy.
With a robust Fox 36 (previous versions used a Fox 34) fork leading the way, and a stiffer feeling chassis overall, the Fuel EX commands more respect from obstacles when confronted by nasty sections of trail. It’s able to plough a little harder but hasn’t lost that ultra-supple suspension feeling and sensitive reactions to choppy surfaces. Older model Fuel EX bikes would have such a cushy rear end that it required constant use of the shock’s compression lever. Nowadays the sensitivity is there, but the shock can better differentiate between body weight shifts and pedalling bounce from trail chatter.
With such a solid frame and fork it risks feeling harsh and transferring feedback to the rider, but the suspension works overtime to smoothen things out. We’d make sure to keep on top of the regular fork and shock maintenance, or that might change. Take a heavy landing though, and the Fuel EX won’t seem too fazed.
Australian Availability
We’ll see six models of the new Fuel EX coming to our shores; three aluminium and three carbon. Here’s the full rundown on what you’ll be seeing in Trek stores very soon.
2020 Trek Fuel EX 5
- Frame | Alpha Platinum Alloy, 130mm Travel
- Fork | RockShox Recon RL, 46mm Offset, 140mm Travel
- Shock | RockShox Deluxe Select Plus, 210x55mm
- Wheels | Alex MD35 Rims & Bontrager Alloy Sealed Bearing Hubs
- Tyres | Bontrager XR4 Team Issue 29×2.6in Tyres
- Drivetrain | Shimano Deore 1×10 w/Race Face Ride Cranks
- Brakes | Shimano MT200
- Seatpost | TranzX Dropper Post, 130mm Travel
- RRP | $2,999
2020 TrekFuel EX 7
- Frame | Alpha Platinum Alloy, 130mm Travel
- Fork | RockShox 35 Gold, 44mm Offset, 140mm Travel
- Shock | Fox Float DPS EVOL, Performance Series, 210x55mm
- Wheels | Bontrager Line Comp 30, 29mm Inner Rim Width
- Tyres | Bontrager XR4 Team Issue 29×2.6in Tyres
- Drivetrain | SRAM NX Eagle 1×12 w/NX Eagle Cranks
- Brakes | Shimano MT400
- Seatpost | TranzX Dropper Post, 130mm Travel
- RRP | $3,699
2020 Trek Fuel EX 8
- Frame | Alpha Platinum Alloy, 130mm Travel
- Fork | Fox 34 Rhythm, GRIP Damper, 44mm Offset, 140mm Travel
- Shock | Fox Float DPS EVOL, Performance Series, RE:aktiv Damper, 210x55mm
- Wheels | Bontrager Line Comp 30, 29mm Inner Rim Width
- Tyres | Bontrager XR4 Team Issue 29×2.6in Tyres
- Drivetrain | SRAM GX Eagle 1×12 w/Descendent 6K Eagle Cranks
- Brakes | Shimano Deore M6000
- Seatpost | Bontrager Line Dropper Post, 150mm Travel
- RRP | $4,499
2020 Trek Fuel EX 9.7
- Frame | OCLV Mountain Carbon Fibre, 130mm Travel
- Fork | Fox 34 Rhythm, GRIP Damper, 44mm Offset, 140mm Travel
- Shock | Fox Float DPS EVOL, Performance Series, RE:aktiv Damper, 210x55mm
- Wheels | Bontrager Line Comp 30, 29mm Inner Rim Width
- Tyres | Bontrager XR4 Team Issue 29×2.6in Tyres
- Drivetrain | SRAM NX/GX Eagle 1×12 w/Descendent 6K Eagle Cranks
- Brakes | Shimano MT420
- Seatpost | Bontrager Line Dropper Post, 150mm Travel
- RRP | $4,999
2020 Trek Fuel EX 9.8
- Frame | OCLV Mountain Carbon Fibre, 130mm Travel
- Fork | Fox 36 Float, Performance Series, GRIP Damper, 44mm Offset, 140mm Travel
- Shock | Fox Float EVOL w/Thru-Shaft, Performance Series, RE:aktiv Damper, 210x55mm
- Wheels | Bontrager Line Comp 30, 29mm Inner Rim Width
- Tyres | Bontrager XR4 Team Issue 29×2.6in Tyres
- Drivetrain | SRAM GX Eagle 1×12 w/Descendent 7K Eagle Cranks
- Brakes | Shimano SLX M7120 4-piston
- Seatpost | Bontrager Line Elite Dropper Post, 170mm Travel
- RRP | $6,999
2020 Trek Fuel EX 9.9
- Frame | OCLV Mountain Carbon Fibre, 130mm Travel
- Fork | Fox 36 Float, Factory Series, GRIP2 Damper, 44mm Offset, 140mm Travel
- Shock | Fox Float EVOL w/Thru-Shaft, Factory Series, RE:aktiv Damper, 210x55mm
- Wheels | Bontrager Line Carbon 30, 29mm Inner Rim Width
- Tyres | Bontrager XR4 Team Issue 29×2.6in Tyres
- Drivetrain | SRAM X01 Eagle 1×12 w/X01 Eagle Carbon Cranks
- Brakes | Shimano Deore XT M8120 4-piston
- Seatpost | Bontrager Line Elite Dropper Post, 170mm Travel
- RRP | $9,499
What do you think of the 2020 Fuel EX? Worth updating form the 2019 model, or perhaps this bike would make you consider dropping down from a longer travel bike to take advantage of a more engaging ride that’s still robust and solid? We may or may not have one of these slick new Fuel EX bikes coming to our hot hands soon, so keep an eye out for more.
Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below. Cheers for reading!