TREK FUEL EX 9.9 XX1 AXS

£12,500 Does Trek's pedigree trail bike still reign supreme on the trail?

- Tom Marvin

SPEC

Frame OCLV Mountain Carbon' carbon fibre, 140mm travel

Fork Fox 36 Factory. 150mm travel 

Shock Fox Float X Factory Drivetrain S

RAM XX1 Eagle AXS (1x12)

Wheelset Bontrager Line Pro 30 wheels, Bontrager SE5 Team Issue 29x2.5in tyres 

Brakes SRAM Code RSC, 200mm rotors

Bar/stem Bontrager RSL integrated 

Seatpost/saddle RockShox Reverb AXS/Bontrager Arvada 

Weight 14.7kg (32.4lb), large size without pedals

Over the years, one thing has remained constant in the world of mountain bikes Trek's Fuel EX has always been a benchmark trail bike that others are judged against. So, does this latest iteration uphold this reputation? With 140mm of rearwheel travel and a burly 150mm fork, stout tyres and geometry that's entirely contemporary, plus tons of customisation of both frame shape and ride feel, on paper, it seems like a thoroughly modern trail bike.

THE FRAME

While the larger frames are designed around 29in wheels, a smaller rear wheel can be fitted for a 'mullet' set-up. The extra-small Fuel EX is 650b-only and the small can be purchased with either size wheels.

Cables are internally routed, with sleeves to guide them through the carbon frame, which has a threaded bottom bracket (BB) shell, ISCG-05 mounts for a chain guide and near full-length down tube protection.