Trek Top Fuel 8
- Price: $3,999
- Category: Full-suspension mountain bikes
- Frame: Aluminum
- Gear: 1×12
- Tires: 29×2.40
What we like about it: The high-quality Shimano XT drivetrain and 4-piston brake configuration give you the perfect experience on and off the slopes.
What we don’t like about it: Too few color options for the body.
Rating (4.7/5 )
Do you want to have a perfect and rapid riding experience? Flying down from the top of the hill, facing the fierce hurricane wind of the valley, and feeling the hiss from the earth. I believe this is also the dream of every cross-country mountain bike rider. Believe me, today’s protagonist – Trek Top Fuel 8 can meet all your imagination for a mountain bike.
The lightweight aluminum frame with an internal storage compartment not only offers a great price but the 120mm RockShox SID fork with DebonAir springs greatly reduces the ground impact on ascending or descending sections. The high-quality Shimano XT allows you to maintain great traction and stability even on muddy and slippery surfaces. The tubeless design of the Bontrager Line Comp tires also gives you confidence on the climbs, even when facing sharp branches and debris. We have been reviewing the Trek Top Fuel 8 for two months. For your reference, here’s a detailed look at the Trek Top Fuel 8’s performance on the bike, key features, components, and specifications, as well as other versions of the series. If you’d like to learn more about the other versions of the Trek Top Fuel 8, please refer to our review.
Descending
I’m sure every rider enjoys the endless thrill of speeding down the valley. I am confident in the Trek Top Fuel 8 when it comes to rappelling, and the alpha aluminum frame gives it a lighter build so you can lift it easily.
We chose the more rugged flowing single-track trail with a lot of debris and dead tree branches piled up on the road, but this environment does not pose a threat to Trek Top Fuel 8.
The Bontrager XR4 has a rough aramid bead surface that holds onto the ground while descending. The vacuum tire design also allows the Trek Top Fuel 8 to have a longer life.
Of course, the RockShox SID, which is the secret killer, also cleared a lot of obstacles for me in the descent. The 120mm fork kept the bike stable on undulating rides, and with the Rush RL dampers, it did a great job of blocking out the sound of the rocks colliding with the bike. As you know, such a noisy racket can cause some disturbance to the descent.
It’s worth mentioning the Shimano RT66 disc brake that comes with the Trek Top Fuel 8, which is amazingly responsive and quick. When I need to stop in a hurry, I can brake by simply pressing the control on the handlebars.
Climbing
They say that every smooth descent is often accompanied by a hard climb. But that may not be a big deal for professional riders. Because the steep and rugged rock climbing is what they have to conquer.
During the climbing process, strong vibrations are also a challenge to be faced. Luckily, the RockShox Deluxe Ulitmate RCT shock absorber installed on the Trek Top Fuel 8 was able to counteract the tingling sensation in the arms caused by the body-ground collision.
I never lost control of the Trek Top Fuel 8, even on gravel roads with gravel spread and on top of successive drops and climbs. Maybe it’s the confidence that comes from the 29×2.5″ Bontrager XR4. The large, wide tires grip the ground like a pair of heavy hands, keeping the ride stable and fast at the same time.
As I made the final kilometer sprint, I was faced with a relatively smooth ascent and I needed to adjust the gears for a more appropriate ride. That’s when I suddenly realized that the 1× system might be tailor-made for rough roads, allowing for silky smooth gear shifting without overly complicated operations. In this regard, my trust in Shimano has always been the same. Whether it’s the smooth, silky shifts or its rich, dense gear ratios, it has always provided fast, seamless shifts that remain quiet and stable enough.
Main Features
Frame
The scarcity of body color options is perhaps my biggest complaint about the Trek Top Fuel 8, as there are only two options, red and blue. If possible, I hope the next version of Trek Top Fuel 8 will be available in a wider range of colors.
Brakes, wheels, pedals, and other components make up a clean and simple body structure. The interior alignment is complete without excessive tangling. The universal internal management system puts any combination of shifting, braking, and locking through the frame, presenting a clean and crisp body structure.
Of course, the essential thing is to have a bracket. You can install a bracket for your water bottle at the down tube if you wish. A stylish internal storage compartment provides a versatile place to store your tools and equipment. Plus, the integrated mount makes it easy to add racks or fenders for your riding adventures.
Geometry
As a stealth configuration, the geometry setting is also very important. That’s why Trek Top Fuel 8 has its considerations. The right geometry setting also allows you to maintain the ultimate stability during ascent and descent.
The Trek Top Fuel 8 has a more moderate seat tube angle of 70.4°, which allows you to maintain a comfortable seating position on both uphill and downhill trails. The 43.4° rear fork length is also designed to avoid heavy tires that can cause problems with the steering. Because of this shorter rear fork distance releases the pressure of the rear tire, so that it has more flexible steering, to ensure that you can have a smoother drift in the corner.
Mino Link allows you to make small adjustments to geometry quickly and easily, even while riding.
Components and Specifications
RockShox SID Fork
I’m confident in the Trek Top Fuel 8’s damping ability, with 120mm of super high travel to protect you from the ultimate in downhill stability. The DebonAir springs provide a higher forgiveness rate, which greatly reduces the tingling sensation caused by rock collisions.
Of course, you can choose to lock the forks on the way to accelerating. This allows you to accelerate even on flat roads where no damping is used, reducing unnecessary pedaling and allowing you to go faster.
Shimano RT 66 Brake
I have always had great confidence in the Shimano brand. Whether it’s on a road bike or a mountain bike, it shows both stable and fast braking.
The Shimano RT 66 better meets consumers’ demands for a stylish aesthetic on a molded carbon bike. The mechanical disc brakes are also easy and convenient to maintain, and they last a long time without too many maintenance measures. When I need to stop in a hurry, all I need to do is press the controller paddle on the handlebars for quick and agile braking.
Bontrager XR4 Tires
Bontrager XR4 tires have a rougher surface design (120tpi) and the extremely prominent aramid beads on the surface have greater friction, making them the best choice for wider tires. This also means a smoother ride and less effort to keep the bike moving smoothly.
People often equate 29ers with giant trucks, which is certainly a compliment. Tubeless rims make it easy to ditch the tires, resulting in less weight and thus more traction.
Shimano XT M8100 12-Speed Drivetrain
As I mentioned earlier, I have a great deal of confidence in the Shimano. Its strength is its light and compact size, both in its smooth and silky shifting and its rich and dense gear ratio, which provides fast and seamless shifting while remaining quiet and stable enough. Allowing me to shift effectively in the face of different riding situations.
Other versions of Trek Top Fuel 8
To give you more possibilities in your choice. In the interest of objectivity and fairness, we have tested the other models in the Trek Top Fuel lineup and put them through a lengthy riding test. These include Top Fuel 7 and Top Fuel 5.
Top Fuel 5
As the big brother of the previous version, Top Fuel 5 has a bulkier body. Its 15.3kg may cause a lot of trouble when driving. The Top Fuel 5 is also made of RockShox Recon Silver RL and has the same front and rear travel as the Trek Top Fuel 8 (120mm front and rear).
However, it does not bring as much stability and safety as the RockShox SID in actual riding.
So if you’re a strict bike rider with a price tag, you might want to try the Top Fuel 5. Of course, I’d recommend the Top Fuel 8 regardless of price.
Learn More: Trek Fuel EX 5 Review-How Does It Break Through The Obstacles Of The Trail?
Top Fuel 7
The previous generation version of the Top Fuel 8, the Top Fuel 7 is similar to the Top Fuel 8 in many ways. That is, the aluminum frame coupled with 29er tires lends great stability to your ride. Perhaps the RockShox 35 Gold RL is also something that has been criticized. It is with this in mind that the Top Fuel 8 has been improved and upgraded.
The Top Fuel 7 has a heavier body condition, which makes it more difficult to lift it when encountering some impassable roadblocks.
Therefore, I would recommend the Top Fuel 8, because for an extra $400 you might get a better ride.
FAQs
What is the price of the Trek Top Fuel 8?
The Trek Top Fuel 8 is priced at $3,999.
What is the weight of the Trek Top Fuel 8?
The weight of the Trek Top Fuel 8 is 14.3kg.
What is the tire size of the Trek Top Fuel 8?
The tire size of the Trek Top Fuel 8 is 29×2.4.
Trek Top Fuel 8 Specs
| Trek Top Fuel 8 | |
| Frame | aluminum frame BB Standard: BSA, 73mm, Threaded Tire Clearance: 2.5″ Colors: Crimson; Mulsanne Blue |
| Fork | RockShox SID, DebonAir spring, Rush RL damper, lockout, tapered steerer, 44mm offset, Boost110, 15mm Maxle Stealth, 120mm travel |
| Rear Shock | RockShox Deluxe Ulitmate RCT, 185mm x 50mm |
| Bottom Bracket | Shimano SM-BB52, 73mm, threaded external bearing |
| Headset | Knock Block 2.0 Integrated, 72-degree radius (includes infinite-radius chip), sealed cartridge bearing, 1-1/8” top, 1.5” bottom |
| Stem | Bontrager Elite, 35mm, 0 degree, 45mm length |
| Handlebar | Size: S, Bontrager Line, alloy, 35mm, 27.5mm rise, 750mm width; Size: M, M/L, L, XL, XXL, Bontrager Line, alloy, 35mm, 27.5mm rise, 780mm width |
| Saddle | Bontrager Arvada, steel rails, 138mm width |
| Seatpost | Size: S, TranzX JD-YSP39, 100mm travel, internal routing, 34.9mm; Size: M, M/L, TranzX JD-YSP39, 150mm travel, internal routing, 34.9mm; Size: L, XL, XXL, TranzX JD-YSP39, 170mm travel, internal routing, 34.9mm |
| Grips | Bontrager XR Trail Comp, nylon lock-on |
| Rims | Bontrager Line Comp 30, Tubeless Ready, 6-bolt, Boost110, 15mm thru-axle |
| Front Hub | Bontrager alloy, sealed bearing, alloy axle, 6-bolt, Boost110, 15mm thru-axle |
| Rear Hub | Size: S, M, M/L, L, XL, XXL, Bontrager alloy, sealed bearing, 6-bolt, Rapid Drive 108, Shimano MicroSpline freehub, Boost148, 12mm thru-axle; Size: S, M, M, /L, L, XL, XXL, Bontrager alloy, sealed bearing, 6-bolt, Shimano MicroSpline freehub, Boost148, 12mm thru-axle /L, L, XL, XXL, Bontrager alloy, sealed bearing, 6-bolt, Shimano MicroSpline freehub, Boost148, 12mm thru-axle |
| Tires | Bontrager XR4 Team Issue, Tubeless Ready, Inner Strength sidewalls, aramid bead, 120tpi, 29.x2.40” |
| Disk Rotors | Size: S, M, M/L, L, XL, XXL, Shimano RT66, 6-bolt, 160mm; Size: S, M, M/L, L, XL, XXL, Shimano RT66, 6-bolt, 180mm |
What we like about it?
- The aluminum body brings lightness to ensure the stability and safety of the travel path.
- The large, wide tires keep the body stable and the driving speed swift.
- The shorter rear fork length gives the ultimate in responsive body steering.
- Shimano drives the ultimate silky smooth shifting experience.
What we don’t like about it?
- Relative to the more expensive price of components.
- Too sparse a selection of colors.
Comparison Table
| Bicycles | Price | Tires | Drivetrain | Click view |
| Marin Rift Zone 29″ Carbon 1 | $3799 | 29×2.5″ | Shimano SLX,12-Speed | Click view |
| Ibis Ripley AF SLX | $4299 | 29″ x 2.4″ | Shimano SLX12-Speed | Click view |
| GT Sensor Carbon Elite | $3550 | 29 x 2.5″ | SRAM SX Eagle, 12-speed | Click view |
| Giant Stance E+ 2 | $4,400 | 29×2.4″ | Shimano Deore, 10-speed | Click view |
Trek Top Fuel 8 vs Marin Rift Zone 29″ Carbon 1
The Marin Rift Zone 29″ Carbon 1 has a certain advantage in terms of fork travel (130mm front and 125mm rear), but the Marin Rift Zone 29″ Carbon 1 has the Marzocchi Bomber Z2 fork. But the Marin Rift Zone 29″ Carbon 1 is made of Marzocchi Bomber Z2, which is not a top-quality material, so they may have a similar effect in terms of damping.
We also found the Marin Rift Zone 29″ Carbon 1 to be relatively fast in actual riding (28mph in actual testing). So, if you want to get into the speed competition of riding a race, then the Marin Rift Zone 29″ Carbon 1 will give you a better experience.
learn more：Is Marin Rift Zone 27.5 1 Worth Buying? [Marin Rift Zone 1 Review]
Trek Top Fuel 8 vs Ibis Ripley AF SLX
The Ibis Ripley AF SLX aluminum frame may perhaps be the best choice for a gravel bike. Because it has a strong strength as well as a low maintenance price. It’s friendly for the price party.
In terms of damping, we found the Ibis Ripley AF SLX to have almost the same damping capacity as the Trek Top Fuel 8. 130mm of travel and the added dropper under the seat post keep you going smoothly even on gravel roads. It has the same feel as the Trek Top Fuel 8 in actual riding. But considering the cost-effectiveness, I’d recommend the Trek Top Fuel 8.
Learn more : Is Ibis Ripley AF Deore Worth Buying? [Ibis Ripley AF Deore Review]
Trek Top Fuel 8 vs GT Sensor Carbon Elite
It has to be admitted that the GT Sensor Carbon Elite will have some shortcomings in terms of speed. In our few sets of tests, the GT Sensor Carbon Elite presented a speed of (28mph). So for some riders who are looking for speed, the GT Sensor Carbon Elite might not be a good choice.
But the good news is that the GT Sensor Carbon Elite has opted for a more advanced carbon body. As a result, it has a lighter, more resilient body structure. This, coupled with the extraordinarily high 140mm of travel, allows for excellent performance on both flat roads and rough gravel trails.
Trek Top Fuel 8 vs Giant Stance E+ 2
The Giant Stance E+ 2 is an electric bike with a bulkier body. But I’m sure it will be the perfect companion for your commute. The 29er Maxxis Rekon’s tires have an extremely stable body and also help you travel at an extremely fast speed on a wide variety of gravel trails. Unfortunately, however, it does not support a tubeless setup. This also means that it has a relatively fragile casing, and maintenance may become a headache.
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learn more: Giant Stance Review – Finding The Joy Of Riding In A Rapid Descent
