Trek Fuel EX 7 Mountain Bike Review

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The Fuel EX is a bike targeted at those who take things a little more the extreme. The Fuel EX is a supplement to the Trek Fuel line which is already very popular. The difference being that the Trek Fuel EX version adds an inch of travel to the rear suspension, this will allow you a bit more confidence when tackling tougher objects or obstacles.The component spec on the Fuel EX 7 is both a very good mixture of components that we found to be a good balance between quality and affordability. The geometry and components selected make for a nice comfortable cockpit if you will.

The only issue we found with this bike was the rear suspension. Small issue but nonetheless an issue. Keep reading to find out our thoughts.

Pros

Very good component spec
Great fork selection
Functional XC geometry
Lightweight, simple suspension design with fewer pivots

Cons

Somewhat harsh rear end with the RockShox MC 3 motion control

Description

RockShox Reba SL 100mm Fork
Deore / Deore XT drivetrain
ZR 9000 Alloy Frame
Hayes HFX-9 hydraulic disc brakes
RockShox MC 3 rear shock
Trek Bikes' PowerPoint Triangle / RockerLink suspension

Trek Bikes Fuel EX 7 Review

We tested our Trek Fuel EX in a reasonably wide variety of trail conditions across the Georgia, South

Carolina trail systems.In general, we found the Trek Fuel EX 7 to be a great bike. The component specs are good choices for this style of bike and they will give you very little to complain about. Trek has done a great job on the Trek Fuel EX 7, they have done an admirable job of matching up solid components with proven geometry to create a bike that simply feels right when you ride it.

The Trek Fuel EX 7 was a solid performer on the trail and cornered well, the front fork is equipped with the venerable 100mm RockShox Reba. The Reba has been a solid performer for a long time now and you can take comfort that it works well with this bike.

We encountered zero mechanical issues during out ride times, not even so much as a cable adjustment and the brakes and drivetrain performed without a hitch.

The only issue we had worth mentioning was the performance of the rear suspension when matched up with the RockShox MC 3 rear shock. This combination produced a somewhat harsh ride in all but the softest of Motion Control adjustment settings. If you firmed up the rear suspension we found that we sacrificed some bump, comfort and traction performance. It wasn't severe but noticeable at least to us.

We should caution you thought that this isn't a big enough problem to not consider the bike. Ride quality is a very, very subjective thing and what seemed harsh to us, might be perfect for you.

When the ride pointed downhill then the fully open position on the rear MC 3 shock was the ticket. We would never mistake the Trek Fuel EX 7 for an all-mountain machine but it did perform capably for an XC bike. In the open position the ride was very plush and allowed you to traverse obstacles quite easily and comfortable.

Ladies will be happy to know that there is specific Trek Fuel EX 7 WSD model targeted at the female geometry. No more having to make due with a small mans version of this mountain bike.

Conclusion

Overall, we are quite satisfied with the Trek Fuel EX 7. It is a very capable XC bike that feels "right." I hate using subjective terms like that but if you've ridden bikes for a while then you know how some bikes just feel good while others, simply don't.

For us, the Trek Fuel EX 7 is one of those bikes that feels good. It rode well, handled well, is outfitted well and would make a good choice for an all around XC style mountain bike. If you've been thinking of picking up one of these bikes then our advice is to do it.

The Trek Fuel EX 7 is a great choice.