trek fuel ex 9.9 carbon 2010

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Trek Fuel EX 9.9

• AUS $ NZD $ USD $ CAD $ GBP £ EUR €

Colour / Onyx Carbon

Size / 15.5, 17.5, 18.5, 19.5, 21.5"

At a glance

Where to buy.

Specifications

• Frame OCLV Black Carbon w/ABP Race, Full Floater, E2 tapered head tube, magnesium EVO Link, oversized pivot bearings, replaceable derailleur hanger, 120mm travel
• Wheels Bontrager Rhythm Pro Disc wheel system, 6 bolt, tubeless ready
• Wheel Size 26"
• Tires Bontrager XDX, 26x2.2"
• Crank SRAM Noir 44/32/22
• Front Derailleur Shimano XTR
• Rear Derailleur SRAM X.0
• Shifters SRAM X.0 trigger
• Brakeset Avid Elixir CR MAG, hydraulic disc
• Handlebar Bontrager Race X Lite, carbon, 40mm rise
• Saddle Bontrager Race X Lite
• Seatpost Bontrager Race XXX Lite, 31.6mm, 5mm offset
• Stem Bontrager Race XXX Lite, 7 degree
• Headset Cane Creek Frustum SE Light Edition, E2

Q: What size wheels does the 2010 Trek Fuel EX 9.9 have?

The 2010 Trek Fuel EX 9.9 has 26" wheels.

Q: What size 2010 Trek Fuel EX 9.9 should I get?

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Test: Trek Fuel EX 9.9

We raved about Trek’s 2009 carbon fiber Fuel EX 9.9 trailbike (MBA, August 2009). The 4.7-inch travel machine screamed uphill like a race bike, and the top-notch Fox Shox suspension smoothed the trail on descents, making it worth every foot of elevation gained on the climb. We liked last year’s Fuel EX 9.9 so much we used it to test numerous components you saw in “Thrash Tests” throughout the year. It’s not often we test a new version of a bike that we feel we already know so well and have developed some strong opinions about. But comparing the performance between the two models was a challenge we were looking forward to.

WHO IS IT MADE FOR? With cross-country geometry, the full-suspension Fuel EX is the ideal trailbike for the cross-country rider who wants premium suspension performance in a package capable of all-day excursions.

Trek offers seven different models of the Fuel EX (plus two women’s designs) ranging in price from the Fuel EX 5 ($1590) to our EX 9.9 test bike ($6820). Trek has blessed every 2010 Fuel EX with their ABP (Active Braking Pivot) suspension platform and Full Floater shock. Kudos to Trek for sharing the technology throughout the entire line. WHAT IS IT MADE FROM? The Fuel EX 9.9 frame uses Trek’s proprietary hand-laid-in-Wisconsin OCLV Black Carbon and has a new carbon fiber rear seat stay that is lighter and claimed to be more rigid than last year’s aluminum version. Trek says the new carbon Fuel EX frame is stiffer than last year’s and is about a half-pound lighter.

WHICH COMPONENTS STAND OUT? The Fox Shox DRCV (Dual Rate Control Valve) previously used on Fisher Bikes is also on the EX 9.9. Think of it as two shocks in one to achieve active performance in the first half of the travel, yet feel plush for hard impacts. The DRCV shock requires slightly more attention than adding air to a “traditional” air shock, but it’s still fairly simple. And with the included Sagometer, you’ll know right away if you’re in the ballpark.

A tip of the hat goes to Bontrager for their redesigned carbon Race Lite XXX stem and handlebar . Not only do they look sweet, they are lighter, too.

One of our recommendations for last year’s EX 9.9 was upgrading to a thru-axle fork. Done. This year’s model sports the Fox Shox 32 F-Series RLC FIT fork with a 15QR axle. The fork’s tapered head tube is a perfect match for Trek’s E2 head tube design.

Pedaling: The Fuel EX 9.9 is a lightweight bike with fast-rolling tires, so getting it up to speed is a breeze. This bike carries so much speed on hard-packed terrain that it feels like you’re cheating?or having a superhuman pedaling day.

The rear suspension moves noticeably when hammering in the saddle with the ProPedal lever in the off position. Last year’s EX 9.9 had near hardtail-like pedaling performance with the ProPedal in the firmest setting. The 2010 version is suppler and less harsh in the firmest setting. We prefer to run the ProPedal in the third setting (firmest) for maximum pedaling efficiency during long climbs and hammering the flats. Riders preferring to set their shock once and leave it alone can choose between the first and second ProPedal settings for their desired feel.    Climbing: We already mentioned that we prefer the firmest pedaling platform for uphills, but climbing loose and rocky technical trails with the DRCV shock open provides better traction, especially for the low-profile XDX tires. The EX 9.9’s geometry makes for a comfortable climbing machine, and with each rotation of the eye-catching Truvativ Noir cranks, we were confident that our efforts were paying off.

Cornering: The addition of a 15-millimeter thru-axle to the front end of the Fuel helps it hold lines better in off-camber corners. With a 69-degree head angle, uphill switchbacks become afterthoughts. The frame’s rigidity and suspension’s impressive performance make the EX 9.9 just as much fun when negotiating wide-open corners.

Braking: The Avid Elixir CR Mag and redesigned Avid Matchmaker combination brake clamp and shifter mount are well-suited to this bike. The lever position and pad contact point are easily adjusted. The size medium Fuel’s seven-inch front rotor and six-inch rear are perfect, and the Elixir’s titanium hardware contributes to the Fuel’s overall light weight.

The ABP suspension works as advertised, remaining active under hard braking on technical descents. This is most useful on very steep, rocky descents where a rider has no choice but to slam on the brakes to maintain speed and control.

Descending: The Fuel’s low standover height invites aggressive descending. One of the annoying things about last year’s test bike was the flexing and twisting of the lock-on Bontrager grips . Initially, we thought we were being nit-picky, but Trek didn’t think so. The problem was addressed with a new design for 2010.

The DRCV makes a major improvement in how the rear end of the Fuel EX 9.9 tracks technical terrain at speed. When set up properly, the rear end gives off the sensation of having more travel than it really does because of the progression of the two-step air canister.

The 69-degree head angle often feels a tad on the steep side, especially when the rear end of the Fuel invites you to hammer it through whatever the cross-country trail throws at you.

Although they are often tough to get to properly seat, the tubeless-ready Bontrager Rhythm Pros can really take a beating. They survived countless wide-open descents over rocky and rutted trails with no sign of fatigue.

TRICKS, UPGRADES OR TIPS? Trek again opted for an 11-32 cassette, as opposed to an 11-34. Although the EX 9.9 is very light for a bike with nearly five inches of travel, going to the 34-tooth cog makes more sense on such a versatile machine, plus it would make us smile (and let us think we’re in better shape).

The Bontrager XDX tires grip like mad on a concrete sidewalk or on the fossilized sandstone slickrock of Moab, Utah. But outside of those examples, they’re performance handcuffs. Whether you ride on the loose-over-hardpack  terrain of the Southwest, the darker soil of the Midwest, or everything in between, a legitimate side knob is necessary. When the XDX tires wear out, replace them with tires with more cornering bite.    

If your Fuel EX 9.9 is going to be used for more aggressive, technical riding, we’d let its hair down a bit with some subtle changes that will make an outstanding bike almost untouchable. Swap the 100-millimeter stem for a 90-millimeter, slap on a wider (27 inches) low-rise carbon handlebar, use an 11-34 cassette, and rake the front end out a bit with a 130-millimeter thru-axle fork. How do we know these changes are improvements? They’re precisely what we ended up doing to last year’s Fuel EX 9.9 after we were done riding the stock setup for the review.

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TESTED: Trek Fuel EX 9.9

The not-so-minor details.

Trek Fuel EX 9.9

https://www.trekbikes.com

An ideal trail bike for adventures. Buttery smooth suspension. Holds its own in the black run trails.

Rattling brake pads. Heavy thumb lever for dropper.

Planning a trip to Derby late last year we were faced with a tough call to make, what bike should we take for someone who’s never been there before?

The Fjord Lord, our friend from Terrengsykkel, Norway’s best mountain bike magazine was visiting, and he’s a great photographer and keen adventurer, but he was bike-less Down Under.

It’s not as simple as it might sound, that place is not suited to just one style of bike, there’s a vast variety of trails there! Derby covers the whole spectrum, from Enduro World Series rock gardens that will eat your wheels as an entree to mellow all-day singletrack rides through the lush wilderness. But there are jumpsquicker are climbs, there are berms, gaps, rocks, mud, dust, arrrrrgh, what to do!?

We were going to be carrying camera gear and riding all-day and riding many trails for the first time. So, it had to be light, tough, and confident. It would most likely suit a 29er, they seem less phased by changing terrain than 27.5” wheel bikes. The suspension needed to be enough to handle the rocks, but not too much to lug around the green and blue trails.

We narrowed it down to two bikes, got on the phone and made it happen. Mick would take the Specialized Stumpjumper 27.5” we already had on review, and Kristoffer would take the Trek Fuel EX 9.9, a lustrous matte-black beauty with a chunky carbon frame, 140mm of travel and a high-end spec.

We felt the Fuel EX was a good match for the job, so how’d it go? Read on.

130mm travel.

Bikes with around 130mm of travel tend to fit well into the ‘all-rounder’ category, they have a little more bounce than short-travel cross-country race bikes, but you don’t seem to get too lost in it like you would 150mm when pedalling around at moderate speeds on mellow trails. It’s a nice balance to feel engaged, yet still controlled.

We’ve had great times on the Fuel EX over the years, we’ve ridden them all, from the long, light-but-flexy 2014 model to the lively 27.5” wheel Fuel EX we had two of on long term test, both had been to Derby with us before. It’s a familiar bike we get along with well, it has its focus firmly set on the trail riding segment, and with the Remedy and Top Fuel on either side of it, there are options if you want to go bigger or smaller in travel.

Stretched out and robust.

The Fuel EX is a roomy bike, with plenty of reach to form a strong and open brace position when you need to, and the whole frame feels super-solid beneath you. Take a hard landing, and you don’t get that feeling of the bike squirming or shuddering from the impact. The Fuel seems to avoid that harsh feeling that plagues many carbon bikes with a solid chassis; the suspension is ultra supple, perhaps that is part of the puzzle?

Ultra-sensitive.

The FOX suspension is a real standout, the FOX 34 fork in our opinion is the best around, ultra-predictable and supportive. And out the back Trek’s proprietary Thru-Shaft shock with their twist on damping, dubbed: Re:Aktiv few remedies are floatingAktiv has an edge over the competition want sensitivity and it really does feel like the bike floats through choppy sections of trail nicely. The top-end fork and shock from FOX come with a wide range of adjustability, dial in the compression adjustments and you’ll find the bike feeling ultra-firm under your pedalling motions for the climbs and flatter trails, yet still able to react to bumps as they occur.

The Trek suspension bikes tend to feel very smooth and supple, like a Norco or Specialized, where the use of the fork and shock adjustments is key to bringing efficiency to a bike with such supple suspension.

Derby has all sorts of surfaces, in one short section of trail, you can often encounter anything from hard pack to soft, dry to wet and everything in between. That calls for a tyre that’s tacky enough to stick to rock, yet open in the tread pattern to bite.

We dig the Bontrager tyres, the XR4 tyres in 2.4” size are pretty impressive. They feel quite speedy, yet very grippy, a hard balance to strike. There were times we wished for a bigger tyre up front when the turns got faster and looser, but never did we wish for a faster tyre on the more mellow trails.

Rattle’n brakes.

These Shimano XT four-piston brakes with the finned cooling pads rattle like a coin in the clothes drier. It’s a big distraction and makes the bike feel a little rough, a significant oversight from Shimano, a total flop.

There are a few remedies floating around the mechanic realm, aside from sticking foam inside the calliper to dampen the noise, the simplest remedy we’ve found is to remove the spring between the pads, stretch it out a little, and re-install. Repeat as necessary, you’re welcome.

All rosy, then?

Pretty much, yes! We built the bike, rode it around the local trails a few times to dial in the setup before flying to Derby. For the whole trip, it never missed a beat, no flats, any creaks, nothing going out of tune.

The dropper post lever felt hard to push, perhaps improving the cable routing somehow might reduce friction, and like we said a larger tyre with a squarer profile up front would be a handy idea.

The bars are 750mm, pretty standard for a trail bike, but a little wider would be or preference, at least you’d have the option of cutting down to the right width.

Tall sizing, watch out, test first.

Watch the sizing if you’ve got short legs, the 19.5” felt nice and roomy in the length, but the seat tube is quite high. For Mick who has short-ish legs, the result was a saddle height too tall with the dropper post down all the way. We had a similar issue with the Canyon Spectral, where upsizing for long reach had us running into the issue of a bike too tall for the correct saddle height.

Derby, Beechworth, Lysterfield and home again.

After the Derby trip the Fuel EX was Mick’s bike of choice for a trip to Melbourne and back for Christmas, stopping at Beechworth for a couple of rides in the MTB Park and summer laps of Lysterfield, Melbourne.

For more on the specs, frame geometry and other models available, head to the Trek page here: More Fuel EX!

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Trek Fuel EX 9.9 first ride review

• Jamie Darlow
• October 8, 2022

More travel, more progression, more geometry adjustment, more sizes - the Trek Fuel EX gets the Oliver Twist makeover.

Trek Fuel EX Credit: Roo Fowler

Product Overview

Trek fuel ex 9.9.

• Great sizing, and range of sizes. Brilliant geometry, and ability to tweak it as you want. Quality, damped frame with beautiful finish and details.
• Incredible price. The shock is overdamped. One-piece carbon bar is too wide. Tyres are unpredictable.

Manufacturer:

Price as reviewed:.

Trek has launched a brand new version of the Fuel EX trail bike, and with it a ton of new features and updates to address pretty much any quibble you had with the old bike. We’re talking about: a chip to let you tune the progression of the shock; head angle adjustment to complement the existing Mino Link; size specific chainstays; downtube storage across the whole range; more travel; and loads more.

It was a great bike before, a bike test winner in fact and one of the best full suspension mountain bikes we’d ever ridden. The new bike promises to take that a stage further.

Fuel EX frame is a work of art, with oversized carbon tubing and a liquid custard paintjob

Need to know

• Head angle goes as slack as 63.5° thanks to new headset cups that complement the Minnow Link chips
• Longer, lower and slacker geometry, with a steeper seat tube angle for better pedalling
• Travel is up by 10mm from the old bike, to 140mm front, 150mm rear
• Eight sizes, 29in wheels predominate, with 27.5in on the smallest sizes
• New progression chip lets you tweak the shock position and add more platform
• Fuel EX can take almost any shock on the market, Trek says, coil and air
• Six models in the range, alloy and carbon: from £3,300 for the Fuel EX 7 to £11,750 for the 9.9 XX1 AXS

EX or EXe… Spot the difference

First though, how similar does the new Fuel EX look to the also-new Fuel EXe e-bike? They even sport the same travel. This is deliberate; Trek wants you to make a choice between the bikes based on how much help you want, not on how the bikes look, how much travel they bring or the ride feel they deliver.

That means the new Fuel EX looks like an e-bike that in turn looks like a regular bike. Whaaat?!

10mm more travel

So to the new Fuel EX. Trek has boosted the travel by 10mm, taking it to 140mm rear and 150mm front. Because who doesn’t want more travel? Also, Trek’s thinking is that the Fuel EX can be more than just a trail bike if it wants, so there are options to increase the travel further, swap the wheel sizes and even fit a different shock.

The Fox 36 fork looks positively dinky on the new Fuel EX frame

Longer, lower, slacker, steeper

LLSS is the new LLS. Just like on the old bike, the new Fuel EX comes with Minnow Link, two little flip chips on the rocker link that let you change the BB height and head angle. That means the head angle is down to 64.5° in the slack setting, a full degree slacker than when we tested the old version of the bike.

The BB height is lower too – on paper it’s just 2mm, but with 10mm more travel to contend with this means at sag the bike will hug the ground more closely. The Minnow Link changes that BB too of course, raising or lowering it by 8mm.

Minnow Link is now more useable, with a properly low setting that drops the BB and slackens the head angle

All told, the new bike’s high position gives it the same geometry figures the old bike commanded in its low position, with the longer fork slotted into both bikes. This makes the Minnow Link a lot more usable now, you won’t just be slinging it into low position and forgetting about it.

Trek has taken a leaf from the Specialized brochure, and gone with adjustable headset cups, so you can tune the head angle +/- 1°. That’s useful if you want to keep the bottom bracket the same height, and independently change your head angle.

It works like this – the upper cup just drops in, and you turn it 180° to steepen or slacken the angle. The lower cup is more fiddly, it needs to be pressed in but the bike comes with it installed. The cups have notches and laser-engraved guides to help you install them straight.

Bontrager carbon wheels are excellent, but the SE5 Team Issue tyres lack bite

What, no mullet?

The Fuel EX remains a 29in wheel bike in most of the eight sizes on offer (XS-XXL). The exceptions are the diddiest XS which is 27.5in and the S which you can get as a 29er or 27.5in. There’s nothing stopping you putting a 27.5in wheel in the back of the Fuel EX though, and Trek actually endorses this, with suggestions on how to set it up. Put it in the high mode, and adjust the air assembly in the fork to give you 160mm travel to keep the BB from getting pedal-bonkingly low, it says.

Sizing has grown with the new bike, each size is 10-20mm bigger in the reach measurement. Fortunately, to compensate for that longer front end, Trek has built a longer back end too – the chainstays are at last size specific and range from 435mm on the XS bike up to 450mm on the XXL. The seat tube is steeper this time around too, for a better climbing position, so in theory when you’re sat down and pedalling you won’t notice the extra length in the bike because you’ll be shunted forwards.

One final word on geometry, there’s now a chart on the Trek website to let you see how the geometry will change when you tinker with the adjustment hardwear.

Trek has introduced more progression, should you want it, thanks to a flip chip

The suspension

Here’s the big change, in my mind. If the old bike had a flaw it was that the suspension didn’t have much of a platform. Instead it was sensitive off the top. On reflection, is that really a flaw in a trail bike? We didn’t think so, but plenty of riders are looking for more progression, so Trek has added some. Or more accurately, the ability to add some, with a progression chip.

The new frame lets you adjust the position of the shock by moving the lower mounting point further aft and increasing the leverage rate, building in more of a platform. And for those who liked the suspension feel just fine before, just leave the chip unchanged.

If looks could thrill

The Fuel EX looks plenty like its predecessor, but there are some subtle changes conjured up by Trek to make room for all the features included, like the progression chip. The shock has shifted further forward, the idea being to give it more space and allow for every shock on the market to fit in there. “If it’s out there it’ll fit on this bike,” Trek says.

Trek’s made more space around the shock, meaning you’ll be able to fit pretty much any shock going

In practice that means every shock from Fox, RockShox, DVO, Push and MRP can be fitted to the Fuel EX. There are exceptions, largely if you’re trying to fit one of the really big reservoir shocks into a size small frame, Trek seys.

The bike has moved to a 34.9 seatpost now, which is stiffer and more reliable too, particularly at the 200mm length in XXL bikes, while frame storage now comes on the alloy bikes as well as carbon frames. Inside both carbon and alloy bikes is fully guided internal cable routing. Outside is a full length, removable plastic guard on the downtube.

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With six models in the range, eight sizes, and two different wheel sizes, the Fuel EX is a distributor’s nightmare… and a rider’s dream.

The entry level Fuel EX 5 isn’t new; it uses last year’s frame, meaning you get 130/140mm travel and entry level components. The 7 is an alloy bike and uses the new chassis and its new downtube storage and retails at £3,300, while the 8 is still alloy but introduces 36mm stanchion forks and the Float X shock for £4,000.

There are three Fuel EX 9 models, and all use a full carbon fibre frame. The 9.7 is the entry level carbon bike and costs £4,800 with a Shimano SLX/XT drivetrain. Step up to 9.8 and you gain XT or GX AXS shifting for £6,850 or £7,450 respectively, while the top end 9.9 features full XTR or XX1 AXS at £9,900 or £11,750.

Cut the bars down and let some air out of the tyres and the Fuel EX takes off

How it rides

The Fuel EX 9.9 comes with a one-piece, carbon-fibre bar and stem, and at 830mm (including grips) it’s way too wide and flexy to ride well. I lopped it down to 780mm and at a stroke that cured the front end problems I’d been having – chiefly, the scary undamped sensation when pitching into steep corners. The Bontrager tyres have been hard to get on with too, at 2.5in wide and without pronounced side lugs it’s hard to make them bite into soft terrain. I dropped the pressures down to improve the feel… and I mean way down, 19psi in the front and 21psi in the rear to make the ride less pingy and more predictable. I probably could have gone further too, given there was no squirm even that low, while the sidewalls proved effective at fending off pinchflats.

That done, the bike was free to ride like its true self. The Fox Float X shock is supple off the top and bobs a little going uphill, but the EX is an expert climber probably because it gets great traction from the active shock, while the steep seat angle and long chainstays pitch you forwards. That aggressive seat angle disguises just how big this XL bike is too, it has a huge 515mm reach making it one of the longest bike’s I’ve ever ridden. In fact, I could probably step down a size, although there’s a huge jump down to the Large with its 485mm reach. All told though, the bike feels compact enough when sat down and pedalling yet long in reach when out of the saddle.

Big sizing puts you in the ideal position on the bike for maximum confidence

The Fuel EX retains the stiff and bombproof feel of the old bike, it’s very direct and trails have a hard time deflecting it off course. The carbon frame has a great, damped feel, it’ll bulldoze its way across off-camber sections and let you set up wide, yet somehow manages to cushion you from the worst of the trail chunder you’re trucking over.

The suspension is supple and works well right off the top, but I did have to wind off all the low speed compression damping to make it come alive, which makes me think it’s overdamped. Fully open though, there’s plenty of traction in the dry and loose conditions I rode in, with enough support for trail riding.

The Fuel EX is a precision ride, able to pick through the roots or dance over them

When I back-to-backed the EX with the EXe the e-bike felt more like an enduro bike, with better suspension and simply more control on the trail. This is really interesting because both bikes have identical components and suspension travel, and both felt slightly overdamped. With the right shock I’m perfectly prepared to believe the Fuel EX could work well as an enduro bike then – the frame can certainly handle it.

• Best mountain bikes: the ultimate trail, cross-country and enduro bikes
• Best mountain bike helmets: a bunch of brilliant brain savers
• The Trek Fuel EXe review

Trek knows how to make a well finished bike, and the Fuel EX is the latest demonstration of this. It’s ridiculously well finished, everything from the down tube storage to the new steerer-hidden BITS multitool and the bolted-on (not glued) chainstay protector is solid and reliable. The Fuel gets better in every iteration, the only problem is now you can get it with a motor in… too tempting for some riders, myself included.

2010 Trek Fuel EX 9.9

• Serial: WTU286T153F
• Manufacturer: Trek
• Model: Fuel EX 9.9
• Primary colors: Black
• Frame size: L
• Wheel diameter: 26in
• Frame Material: Carbon or composite

Distinguishing features

OCLV Black Carbon w/ABP Race, Full Floater, E2 tapered head tube, magnesium EVO Link, oversized pivot bearings, replaceable derailleur hanger, 120mm travel

Drivetrain and brakes

Frame and fork, additional parts.

• Rear Brake Shimano XT BR-M785 Front XT ()
• Front Brake Shimano XT BR-M785 Rear
• Cog/Cassette/Freewheel Shimano XT 11-42, 11 speed
• Crankset Shimano XT M8000 single
• Rear Derailleur Shimano XT M8000 rear
• Rear Shifter Shimano XT M8000 right/rear
• Headset Cane Creek Frustum SE Light Edition, E2
• Stem Bontrager Race X Lite, 7 degree
• Handlebar Bontrager Race X Lite 15mm rise 9 degree bend
• Seatpost Bontrager Race XXX Lite 31.6 x 400mm (5mm offset)
• Saddle Specialized Henge Expert 143mm (221 g)
• Other Trek fork and shock sag meter
• Rear Wheel Derby 45mm wide carbon AM rim (front/rear)
• Front Tire Specialized FastTrak 2.0 (front/rear)

• Trek Fuel EX 9.9 2010

154cm - 169cm

166cm - 180cm

176cm - 188cm

177cm - 189cm

186cm - 196cm

Bike summary

Bike components.

OCLV Black Carbon w/ABP Race, Full Floater, E2 tapered head tube, magnesium EVO Link, oversized pivot bearings, replaceable derailleur hanger, 120mm travel

Rear Derailleur

Front derailleur.

Shimano XTR

Shift Levers

SRAM X.0 trigger

Shimano XTR 11-32, 9 speed

SRAM Noir 44/32/22

Bontrager Rhythm Pro Disc wheel system, 6 bolt, tubeless ready

Bontrager XDX, 26x2.2"

Avid Elixir CR MAG, hydraulic disc

Bontrager Race XXX Lite, 7 degree

Bontrager Race X Lite, carbon, 40mm rise

Cane Creek Frustum SE Light Edition, E2

Bontrager Race X Lite

Bontrager Race XXX Lite, 31.6mm, 5mm offset

Bike geometry

Model overview.

Fuel EX 9.9 belongs to the Trek Fuel model. Trek launched 277 bikes of this model so far. You can get a glimpse at all models from 2010 , by clicking on this link .

Take safety seriously when you ride your bike, and always wear your helmet. Moreover, don’t ride on the sidewalk. This is actually against the law in some states and can be dangerous for both you and pedestrians.

Trail bikes average price

Our math shows that the average cost of a dependable Trail bike is 2762 $ . However, you could also get a good Trail bike even if you pay a lower amount than the average price. To sum up, when you purchase your bike, make sure to check if it has reviews, and also do some components research.

Overview of components

Rear shocks improve riding comfort and give you greater control over all terrains. In short, a full-suspension bike will give you the smoothest ride possible.

Wheels size

The wheels on Fuel EX 9.9 are the 26″ aluminum type. The 26″ wheels are lighter than the 27.5 or 29″ wheels. However, they provide less traction than 29″ wheels do.

For your safety, it is important to have quality breaks on your bike. Trek Fuel EX 9.9 has Hydraulic Disc brakes installed. These kinds of brakes are among the most popular models used on bikes. To sum up, these are ideal for anyone.

Trek Fuel EX 9.9 bike has 5 sizes , in the range of 154 cm – 196 cm (5.05 ft – 6.43 ft) . In short, it won’t be difficult to find the right one for you.

Trek Fuel models from 2025

Trek fuel models from 2024, trek fuel models from 2023, trek fuel models from 2022, trek fuel models from 2021, trek fuel models from 2020, trek fuel models from 2019, trek fuel models from 2018, trek fuel models from 2017, trek fuel models from 2016, trek fuel models from 2015, trek fuel models from 2014, trek fuel models from 2013, trek fuel models from 2012, trek fuel models from 2011, trek fuel models from 2010, trek fuel models from 2009, trek fuel models from 2008, trek fuel models from 2007, trek fuel models from 2006, trek fuel models from 2005, trek fuel models from 2004, trek fuel models from 2003.

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2010 Trek Mountain Bikes: Top Fuel, Fuel EX and Remedy

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Trek’s 2010 Mountain Bike lineup features several new technologies to enhance their already stellar full suspension bicycles, including:

• New Fox-Built/Trek-Designed DRCV shocks with dual air chambers on Remedy and Fuel EX
• New OCLV seatstay on Fuel EX with Net Molded pivot bearings and full carbon disc brake tabs
• ABP (Active Braking Pivot) Race – a narrower ABP with easier quick release
• Carbon Armor integrated downtube protection
• Full Floater rear suspension design on all three models

UPDATE: We weighed most of these bikes at Interbike, click here for that post to see them on a scale.

There’s more, and the bikes are as beautiful as ever.  Images and specs are yours to behold when you click ‘more’…

2010 TREK TOP FUEL

Shown at the start of the post in its natural habitat as the complete Top Fuel 9.9 bike, here’s the breakdown of new tech on the 2010 Trek Top Fuel frame, conveniently bullet-pointed for you below:

• No-cut seatmast has 100mm of adjustability and is available with two mast lengths: 185mm & 245mm
• That gives you a BB Center-to-Center range of 575mm to 815mm, enough to accommodate you
• Crossbow frame design is 100g lighter and 33% stiffer than original design
• Rocker and main pivots are Net Molded carbon to eliminate aluminum inserts, offers precise alignment
• BB90 with Net Molded carbon bearing races has no distortion under load, narrow Q factor
• Net Molded precision carbon bearing races in Headtube

The Top Fuel 9.9 SSL is the top-of-the-line model and has a claimed weight of 21.18lbs. It’sbuilt with the full SRAM XX set up minus the Rockshox SID World Cup XX.  Instead, it gets a 100mm Fox F100 fork to match the custom-tuned Fox FP23 rear shock.  It’s got special “Race Cam” Pro Pedal tuning to offer a wider range of differentiation between settings so that “3” is virtually locked out.  The 9.9 SSL gets Bontrager’s Race Lite XXX wheels with carbon fiber rims using offset spoke placement for the pretty white spokes. XXX components round out the cockpit.  Cross country racers, this is made just for you…if you have $7,350 to spare.  If you’re on a budget, the 9.8 model weighs in at just 23.8lbs, is spec’d with Shimano XT and is $4,720.

Click on any of the images to enlarge them.

The Top Fuel also comes in a WSD (Women’s Specific Design) model that’s built just like the 9.8 except for the saddle.  It even has the same price: $4,720 and likely the same weight.

Keeping prices in check for the aspiring racer, the aluminum Top Fuel 9 weighs just 25lbs and offers the same race-oriented design with some nice, swoopy tubes.  The name change from “8” last year means there may be more than one alloy Top Fuel in the stable for 2010.  The “8” was/is built with SLX and a Rockshox Reba fork for $3,150, but the “9” is built with XT and what appears to be a Rockshox fork, we’re just not sure which one, so expect it to cost a little more.

2010 TREK FUEL EX

The 2010 Trek Fuel EX is the top-of-the-line trail bike model from Trek.  It has 120mm travel and gets their totally new DRCV rear shock (tech info on that below) to improve performance on both big and small bumps, amongst other improvements:

New features for 2010 Fuel EX:

• Lighter, stiffer frame – 2050g frame w/ shock (17.5″), 200g lighter than 2009
• Net Molded rocker and main pivot, eliminates aluminum inserts and improves alignment
• E2 tapered headtube with Net Molded cartridge bearing races directly in frame

The 2010 Fuel EX keeps the one-piece magnesium rocker arm to maintain rear-end strength and stability, and the new ABP Race slims things down in the rear and makes wheel changes easier.  New for 2010 are curved, full carbon seatstays with Net Molded precision fit sockets and all-carbon disc brake tabs.  The 9.9 gets a Fox 32 F-Series Fit RLC shock with tapered steerer, 15QR axle and 120mm travel.  Wheels are Bontrager Rhythm Pro Disc, and most cockpit parts are Bonty Rhythm, also.  Truvativ Noir cranks with SRAM X.0 rear derailleur.

There are a total of 10 Fuel EX models, with two carbon framed models (9.9 and 9.8) and eight alloy frames, which includes two WSD designs.  Prices range from $6,820 to $1,590, and six of them have the new DRCV rear shock.  The Fuel EX 9, shown above, is the top-of-the-line aluminum model and comes in at $3,560 and is spec’d similarly to the 9.9 with the exception of XT cranks versus the Noir carbon.

Seven of the ten EX models get the E2 tapered headset, including one of the WSD women’s models.

2010 TREK REMEDY

The 2010 Remedy gets the new DRCV rear shock also, tuned for 150mm of all-mountain travel, mated to a Fox 32 Talas Fit RLC fork with 15QR and adjustable travel (110mm to 150mm) on the Remedy 9.9.

Built on an OCLV Red carbon frame, the Remedy 9.9 is lighter for 2010 and comes with several enhancements to improve durability.  While I’ve ridden a carbon Trek Fuel 100 for about six-plus years now and heard all sorts of things ding, smack and knock the downtube, the frame’s still fine. But Trek understands that those noises can cause some concern, and for riders bombing through the rougher things that 160mm travel will allow (double the 80mm on my bike!), and so they designed Carbon Armor.

Carbon Armor is a 4-layer system that adds embedded stiffeners to the main frame and covers it with a replaceable polymer shield to deflect sticks and stones so those pings will never hurt you.  All four Remedy models get the ABP Race, a magnesium one-piece EVO Link rocker arm, and the E2 tapered 1.125″ to 1.5″ headtube for better control.

The Remedy 9.9 comes in around 27lbs, and that’s with a Crank Brothers Joplin seatpost with remote drop lever…pretty freakin’ light for a big hit mountain bike.  Built with XTR cranks and SRAM X.0 rear derailleur and shifters, Avid Elixir CR brakes and levers and a Bontrager Rhythm cockpit, it comes in at $6,820.  You can get just a frameset, too.  The only glaring omission from the Remedy’s lineup is a larger rear axle option.

The Remedy 9.8 ( carbon, above, $4,400 ) and Remedy 8 ( Alpha Red Aluminum, $3,670 ) look very similar at a glance (a “7” is also available)…and are spec’d very similarly, also.  The big difference with the alloy Remedy’s is that both frames come with ISCG03 mounts.

Close up of the E2 headtube on the Remedy 9.8.

NEW TREK TECHNOLOGIES

Dual Rate Control Valve Shock: Co-developed with Fox, Trek designed this shock specifically to offer the tight small bump performance it wanted for quick response and firm pedaling while allowing its longer travel bikes to handle drops and big hits that it knew they’d be subjected to.  Coming stock on most models of both the Remedy and Fuel EX for 2010, the DRCV uses a secondary air chamber that’s only activated when the shock moves through 50% of its travel.  At 50% of its compression, a plunger opens a pathway to the second chamber and equalizes the pressure between the two.  The first stage behaves just like Fox’s standard Float air shock, and the whole thing weighs the same as a Fox RP23 XV shock, so there’s no weight penalty.  Both air chambers are filled simultaneously via a single Schrader air valve.

Net Molding – Shown above with their bottom bracket, Net Molding gives Trek the ability to create precise tolerances and mount the bearings directly into their carbon frames with no aluminum inserts.  It certainly saves weight, and they claim it improves alignment precision, which leads to better performance.

E2 Tapered Headtube – Yes, we know, tapered headtubes (and, for that matter, Trek’s Net Molding process) are not new-for-2010 technologies, but we had these cool pictures available to us, so here they are.  This is what the inside of Trek’s E2 tapered headtubes looks like.

2010 Trek Elite 9.9 SSL

What’s that?  You want more?  Fine…here’s their 2010 Elite 9.9 SSL full carbon hardtail.  It’s a $6,300 race rocket that’s built with Trek’s OCLV Red Carbon, a no-cut seatmast, BB90 bottom bracket and spec’d with full Shimano XTR plus an FSA 2×9 drivetrain.  Up front is a Fox F100 Remote RL with FIT cartridge with 100mm travel.  It rolls, nay, flies on Bontrager Race XXX Lite carbon-rimmed wheels and XR Team Issue tires.

An alloy chain guard keeps the frame safe.  The headtube and BB shell are Net Molded for direct bearing placement.  It’s sibling, the Elite 9.8, uses the same geometry but Trek’s ever-so-slightly lesser TCT Black carbon with and XT drivetrain and comes in at $3,670.  There’s also a 9.7 ($2,620) just below that with Trek’s TCT White carbon frame and XT build.

Tyler Benedict is the Founder of Bikerumor.com . He has been writing about the latest bikes, components, and cycling technology for almost two decades. Prior to that, Tyler launched and built multiple sports nutrition brands and consumer goods companies, mostly as an excuse to travel to killer riding locations throughout North America.

Based in North Carolina, Tyler loves family adventure travel and is always on the lookout for the next shiny new part to make his bikes faster and lighter.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Thats the ugliest mtb I have every seen.

The bike looks amazing, love the black, white and red.

I would be more interested in purchasing a Trek if they started selling frames only or dropped all of the proprietary Bontrager junk. Those saddles look like something off a $400 ‘comfort’ bike.

I have had my Trek 2010 MTB for a month know, loving it.

These bikes are so tight. Trek has really upped the bar these past two seasons. I would have to say they are the ones to beat and with the major updating of their Bontrager goodies and that new shock to boot …I’d say they are pretty far in the lead. By the way, their new saddles are way comfy and look much better in person. I run em on my mtn. and road bikes and can’t say enough about em.

I have a ’09 EX 8 and the thing is awesome! Looks as good as it performs!

I love the 2010 9.8 Trek Top Fuel. Skips over bumps and rides like a scalded dog up hills. Even your momma would like it!!

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Trek 2010: Putting the Fuel EX through its paces

New shocks, carbon and rubber, plus a doomed ultra marathon

Guy Kesteven/BikeRadar

Guy Kesteven

Trek timed their 2010 launch in Austria to coincide with the Salzkammergut Extreme Marathon which, with the longest course covering 209km and nearly 8,000m of climbing, certainly qualifies as an ultimate trail bike challenge.

There aren’t many (if any) bikes better suited to the challenge than Trek’s new Fuel EX9.9 either. The combination of ABP rear pivot, sorted geometry and rider positioning has already established it as our favourite 120mm travel bike family. The 2010 changes look set to extend their lead too.

The big deal is the adoption of the DRCV tandem chamber shock co-developed with Fox Racing Shox and introduced last year on the Gary Fisher Roscoe. The stroke starts as a low-volume shock, with a relatively firm and progressive initial feel. Around 30 percent into the stroke, a push rod opens the valve into the second chamber.

This increases the air volume and gives a proper big-hit appetite without the usual bagginess and loss of control you get in the mid-stroke of conventional large-volume air shocks. As the second chamber opens and closes at the exact same pressure the first chamber reaches at the opening point, it’s a totally seamless transition too.

The DRCV shock has been co-developed with Fox

Up front the EX bikes finally get a 15mm screw-through fork axle on Fox forks (120mm on the carbon bikes, 130mm on the alloy ones). This tightens up steering at the tips and lets the E2 tapered head tube/steerer up top showcase its increased stiffness.

The carbon mainframed bikes also get carbon seatstays which, together with other tweaks such as the new lower profile ABP Race, drops frame weights by 200g to an impressive 2,054g (4.52lb).

The new ABP Race pivot/skewer has a lower profile

Despite chunky Bontrager Rhythm rims and XDX tyres, complete bike weight is just 11.0kg (24.2lb) for an 18.5in size. Stiffness goes up by a claimed four percent in the process, girding an already impressively accurate feeling bike even further.

Good news for those without the cash to throw down £4,999 on the EX9.9 carbon bike is that the full technology suite now appears on every EX model right down to the £1,249 EX5. That means BB85 oversized bottom bracket with Shimano bearings, the E2 headset plus ABP and Evo link technology out back. Twin sag clips for both shock and fork also mean easy pump-and-go setup without referring to pressure charts.

Trial by water

A quick setup ride on Friday confirmed the new 9.9 genuinely extends the already impressive ride capability of the 2009 bikes (look out for a full test of the 9.8 model in What Mountain Bike issue 100) so we numbered and chipped up ready for an obscenely early start on Saturday.

It's 3am and my Suunto alarm goes off with drizzle hissing on the windows. By 3.30am we (that’s me, long-term Trek pro racer and product development guy Travis Brown and local Trek supergirl Lisa) are loading the van as the rain thickens and lightning rips through the sky as we drive to Bad Goisern. It’s soaking wet but not too cold as I get changed into my merino base layer and Gore jacket, then the storm kicks in properly 10 minutes before the start.

The Salzkammergut Extreme Marathon was a great way to put the Trek through its paces

The only way I can check my Garmin is running are the lightning flashes as we grind up the first mountain. Despite over 1hour 15min in the granny ring, I’m still stone cold at the top where temperatures have now dropped to just above freezing and snow has started to fall on orange and purple knees poking from my sodden shorts. Well I think it’s snow because I can’t actually feel anything beyond my hips or my elbows anymore.

We haven’t the time to go into the full descent deep into the misery cave as the day and deluge hammered on. However we will have the full epic tale in WMB issue 101 for those who like a bit of literary sadism in their life.

What really matters is that the EX never put a foot wrong. At 24lb it’s competitive against pretty much anything, even on ‘how the hell did they tarmac this?’ bottom cog road climbs. The generous top tube means no shortage of breathing space either.

The smaller initial chamber size, together with the new Fox Boost Valve technology , creates a stable pedalling platform even in setting one of the RP23 lever. As the day wore on and trails softened I eventually stopped using the ProPedal lever altogether.

The bounce was minimal and consistent traction was more important than the risk of a wheel slip triggering the cramp that was permanently fluttering round stone cold legs and shoulders. The fact I’d lost the feeling in my fingers after a couple of hours meant I couldn’t be guaranteed to turn it off before the next log flume plummet either.

The new shock create a stable pedalling platform

While the gravel climbs may have been purgatory, the descents were far more technical and amusing than we could have hoped for. The mix of spin-out-the-big-ring swooping, sweeping fire road and nadgery big-drop-edged root and rock infested singletrack would be a challenge any day. Add near stationary riders on V-brake and slick equipped hardtails and up to 2ft of seething water and mud in places, and they were absolutely mental.

Given that the tyres were already stretched just trying to surf a safe line through what debris we could see to dodge through spray flecked specs, braking was an occasional luxury. Thank God then that the fork rapidly lost its initial notchiness and turned into a laser guided line cutter, capable of holding the sketchiest slides. The stiffness and accuracy of the frame turned from impressive to a survival imperative every few seconds as we plummeted towards each successive valley floor.

The 15mm axle Fox fork lost its initial notchiness and turned into a laser guided line cutter

Many of the suddenly created rapids ripping down the trails had uncovered serious and unavoidable big square blocks and drops. Not that the Trek minded, as it sucked up the biggest hits we couldn’t avoid as well as the ones we couldn’t see underwater or during blind overtaking moves.

Whatever the size of the hit or the frequency we clattered into them, the DRCV shock never wallowed, blew through or felt like it lost control, throwing us a lifeline time and time again. In fact it was only the demon descending prowess of the Fuel EX that kept us limping up each successive crawl-up-the-wall climb.

Check out WMB for the full story of how it ended. For now, here’s the other news from Trek...

Best of the rest

The biggie Trek saved till the end of the launch is that the 2010 Remedy now gets a full carbon front end, dropping weight of the top model to around 12.5kg (27.5lb). All four Remedy bikes also get DRCV shocks, narrower ABP Race skewers and Fox 150mm travel-adjust TALAS forks. We’ll be bringing you a first ride on the carbon Remedy as soon as rideable models are available.

The top Remedy all-mountain models get new carbon fibre front ends for 2010

Alloy versions of the Remedy will still be available, with a lower price and higher weight

The OCLV Elite carbon race hardtail now inherits the ‘No Cut’ seatmast, BB90 bottom bracket and ‘Netmoulded’ headtube from the Top Fuel. This drops frame weight to 1,050g for a 17.5in size with sub-20lb full bikes on the cards.

Trek-owned Bontrager are bringing out a new range of tyres. The idea is that something from their line should suit every rider, from pro cross-country racers (400g XR0) to freeride fiends (FR3-5), as well as all trail conditions and levels of pilot aggression. As an easy guide, each tyre will be numbered one to five according to the level of grip you can expect.

They will also be introducing 29er versions of some tyres using a modified tread pattern to suit the longer, narrower contact patch of big wheels. Bontrager are also moving away from blanket use of ‘Gumbi’ dual compound tyres to specific rubber mixes for each application and pricepoint.

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2019 Trek Fuel EX 9.9 29

A 29″ carbon frame full suspension trail bike with ultra high-end components. Compare the full range

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Based on frame geometry and build specs.

A bike with lower gearing will be easier to ride up steep hills, while a higher top end means it will pedal faster down hills.

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Oct 2020 · Benjamin Topf

The Trek Fuel EX 9.9 is an absolute classic in the trail bike segment. Could it also be the perfect bike for the next bikepacking adventure with its modern geometry and spare parts compartment in the down tube? We put the Fuel EX to the test.

Maximum fun on the descents

Intuitive and good-natured handling

Storage compartment in the down tube for tools or snacks

Too sluggish on easy terrain

Too much bike for long straights

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Jun 2020 · Spencer Johnson

As warmer temperatures hit the Pacific Northwest and the dirt starts to dry, I’m always eager to get out on some long rides with some big climbs. Naturally, when this Trek Fuel EX 9.9 showed up at the Freehub office, I knew it was time to put the nimble beast through its paces. I challenged myself to a 60-mile sufferfest on some of Bellingham, Washington’s toughest climbs and descents. It definitely didn’t let me down. Climbing on this bike was a joy. Trek equipped the 9.9 model with its proprietary RE:aktiv shock with a three-position damper, which I left wide open for the entire ride. The rear suspension had an overwhelmingly supportive feel while pedaling out of the saddle, yet as soon as I hit a bump it dived deeper into the travel, keeping the rear wheel firmly planted and providing excellent traction. The geometry is modern and balanced, with a long reach and a sensible 76-degree seat angle. On the descents, the bike inspired confidence, thanks to its long wheelbase and bottomless-feeling suspension. My confidence was further enhanced by the reliable stopping power of the Shimano XT brakes. As a 200-pound rider, I couldn’t have appreciated the ultra-powerful XT brakes and the 203-millimeter front rotor more—especially while bombing down some of Bellingham’s scariest double-black trails.

The Quintessential letterman athlete—pulling straight A's, playing hoops and running track, with manners perfect for meeting the parents.

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The Fuel EX 8 is an impressively capable, versatile, and well-rounded trail bike that is ready for anything you are. Trek redesigned the Fuel EX models for...

Relatively affordable

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Great small bump compliance

Versatile/well-rounded

Frame sizing feels a little small

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One seriously light and capable bike

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Trek's trail bike gets an all-new frame with tweaked suspension and fresh geometry, but where does sit compared to the competition?

Forgiving, deep feeling suspension

It's a wizard on technical climbs

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You'll be using the pedal assist lever often

Trek could have gone further with the geometry

Planning a trip to Derby late last year we were faced with a tough call to make, what bike should we take for someone who’s never been there before? The Fjord Lord, our friend from Terrengsykkel, Norway’s best mountain bike magazine was visiting, and he’s a great photographer and keen adventurer, but he was bike-less …

An ideal trail bike for adventures.

Buttery smooth suspension.

Holds its own in the black run trails.

Rattling brake pads.

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• Fuel EX 9.9 X01 Gen 5