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SOC16: Trek Farley EX full suspension 27.5″ fat bike crushes all seasons, hardtails get lighter

2017 Trek Farley EX full suspension 275 carbon fiber fat bike
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2017 Trek Farley EX full suspension 275 carbon fiber fat bike

Fat bikes are Trek’s fastest growing category, and it’s not because there’s more snow. Surprisingly, they say Nebraska, Kentucky, New Mexico, Arizona and Tennessee are the fastest growing states for fat bikes.

So, the natural evolution to their line is full suspension with the all-new Trek Farley EX full suspension fat bike. It has an even broader usage range than the Farley hardtails. Trek’s calling it an all-season bike, something that’s super versatile and uses the same design and performance of their standard full suspension trail bikes, so it works just as well in the desert, the mountains or the snow.

Going with a pure fat bike rather than “plus” tires gives them even more traction in all types of terrain, and the 120mm suspension gives you more bump control. With fat bike tires, you essentially have uncontrolled suspension coming from the big, inflated rubber. Putting a tuned suspension on both ends of the bike lets them control the motion better, which further enhances traction. To cap it all off, they’re built around 27.5″ fat bike tires, not 26″, which puts an even bigger patch of rubber on the ground. Grip it and rip it.

For those opposed to suspension with their giant tires, there’s also a new top-of-the-line Farley 9.9 rigid carbon hardtail with custom HED carbon wheels that’s a lightweight race rocket…

2017 Trek Farley EX full suspension 275 carbon fiber fat bike

2017 Trek Farley EX full suspension 275 carbon fiber fat bike

The Farley EX gets their Full Floater suspension design with Penske designed Re:Aktiv Fox shocks on the back and a Rockshox Bluto up front.

2017 Trek Farley EX full suspension 275 carbon fiber fat bike

It also gets their ABP concentric rear pivot/axle combo and Evo Link. The design and spec usage manages to build the pivots and tire clearance into a tight package, keeping the same Q-factor as their hardtail fat bikes. How? By simply flipping the Race Face direct mount chainrings around, moving the chainline out about 10mm without stretching the Q-factor. It uses the 121mm PFBB (100mm threaded equivalent) standard, and the mounting method means the bikes are 1x specific.

2017 Trek Farley EX full suspension 275 carbon fiber fat bike

The Farley EX 9.8 gets an OCLV carbon fiber front triangle…

2017 Trek Farley EX full suspension 275 alloy fat bike

…and the Farley EX 8 has their Alpha Platinum Aluminum front end. They share the same alloy seat- and chain stay tail.

2017 Trek Farley EX full suspension 275 alloy fat bike

The 9.8 runs everything internally, but the EX 8 keeps brake and dropper lines outside the downtube. A port on the bottom of the seat tube lets the cable inside for a stealth dropper post.

2017 Trek Farley EX full suspension 275 alloy fat bike 2017 Trek Farley EX full suspension 275 alloy fat bike

2017 Trek Farley EX full suspension 275 alloy fat bike

Axle spacing is 197×12 rear and 150×15 front. Max recommended tire size is 27.5 x 4.0, but it comes stock with 3.8s.

The 9.8 will get their 2500g Bontrager Wampa Carbon SL tubeless ready wheels and Hodag tires, SRAM X01/X1 bits with Guide brakes, Race Face Next SL cranks and the new Bontrager Drop Line dropper seatpost (more on that in a separate post). The EX 8 gets Bontrager hubs with Sun Ringle Mulefut 80mm rims, SRAM GX 1×11 and Level brakes, Race Face Affect cranks and a KS eThirty Integra dropper post. Both get a Rockshox Bluto RL with 120mm travel. Retail is $/€5,499 and $/€3,499, available for order at dealers now, delivery in August. Complete bikes only, no framesets.

2017 TREK FARLEY HARDTAILS

2017-Trek-Farley-99-carbon-ultralight-hardtail-fat-bike01

Trek’s Farley hardtails have been on the market for a minute, but they’re getting a new all-carbon race version at the top of the line. The new Farley 9.9 is a 22 pound, North America-only build that gets custom 27.5 HED Big Half Deal wheels.

2017-Trek-Farley-99-carbon-ultralight-hardtail-fat-bike02

The wheels use 495g carbon rims laced to HED’s carbon hubs and comes in at just 1,877g for the set. Those combine with all-new Bontrager Barbegazi 27.5 x 4.5 tires that, on average, come in a little lighter than the 26 x 4.7 version (1240g versus 1305g, to be exact). The result is dramatically larger contact patch and better side knob-to-dirt engagement on the 27.5 tire that’s also lighter.

2017-Trek-Farley-99-carbon-ultralight-hardtail-fat-bike03

This, and the other carbon fiber Farley hardtails all get 27.5″ wheels with a max 4.0 tire recommended, or a 26 x 4.5, depending on brand. That figure was limited by the Bluto’s clearance, but the ability to run different size tires is thanks to their Stranglehold adjustable dropouts. Those let you tune the wheelbase or accommodate various tire sizes. It even lets you set the bike up as a singlespeed since the design is strong enough to prevent axle creep.

The carbon Farley 9.9 is 1900g for the complete frameset (frame, headset, fork) and will be spec’d with the new SRAM XX1 Eagle 1×12 group and a carbon Bontrager cockpit and foam grips. Retail is $7,500, available in August.

2017-trek-farley-carbon-fiber-and-alloy-hardtail-fat-bikes01

Below that are two more carbon models, the 9.8 (silver, $4,599) with SRAM X01 1×11, Wampa carbon wheels and the 9.6 (orange, $2,799) with GX1 and Mulefut wheels. The Farley 5 (blue, $1,729) and 7 (black, $2,399) are alloy and drop down to 26″ wheels and lower level spec, with the 5 using an alloy fork, too. All others get carbon fiber forks, and all get the new Barbegazi tires.

2017-trek-farley-carbon-fiber-and-alloy-hardtail-fat-bikes04

2017-trek-farley-carbon-fiber-and-alloy-hardtail-fat-bikes02

2017-trek-farley-carbon-fiber-and-alloy-hardtail-fat-bikes05

All are available for order now with delivery in August.

TrekBikes.com

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36 Comments
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pxx
pxx
7 years ago

Just under 9.9. pics the text says “This, and the other carbon fiber Farley hardtails all get 27.5″ wheels with a max 4.0 tire recommended”. But the 9.9 comes with 27.5″ x 4.5″ tires..?

Unravelled
Unravelled
7 years ago
Reply to  pxx

That’s a typo. All the bikes come with barbegazis…

Haromania
Haromania
7 years ago
Reply to  Unravelled

I think if you enlarge that picture, as well as a few others on the ‘Net, you will see the tire size on the sidewall, which states 27X4.5. Not saying it’s right, but there are some supporting sidewall tire size pics out there. I hope it’s right, that would be awesome.

Nino
Nino
7 years ago
Reply to  pxx

The 9.9 is rigid, so can go bigger up front than with a Bluto. At least that makes sense to me.

Izzy
Izzy
7 years ago
Reply to  pxx

Ye, I noticed that too. It’s like Trek are admitting their tires will be grossly undersized.

Scott
Scott
7 years ago

27.5″ or any other wheel size does not put more or less tire on the ground. On a round soft tire like a bicycle tire PSI is the main contact area determining factor.

paochow
paochow
7 years ago
Reply to  Scott

No, it clearly says it puts dramatically more contact area on the ground. When you add 2% more diameter you better be ready for a huge increase in performance 😉

hllclmbr
hllclmbr
7 years ago
Reply to  Scott

Sure, but if one has more air volume, as one would with a 4.5 tire on 27.5 in lieu of 26 then one can run lower pressure, resulting in more contact patch.

dan
dan
7 years ago
Reply to  hllclmbr

Air volume of the tire is roughly proportional to tire width squared and rim diameter to first power… 27.5 (really 27.2) with 4.5″ tire is about 96% of the air volume of a 26 with 4.7″. So actually lower volume.

paochow
paochow
7 years ago
Reply to  dan

But, but, but, it says dramatically more contact area…. Must believe the marketing materials and not science.

Haromania
Haromania
7 years ago

That 9.9 would be a freaking riot. Awesome looking bikes, well dun Trek!

hllclmbr
hllclmbr
7 years ago
Reply to  Haromania

Trek probably had more than true fat bikes at SOC. Stay tuned.

Bazz
Bazz
7 years ago

Please make a Stache FS 29+

Zach
Zach
7 years ago
Reply to  Bazz

I assume they’ll do a carbon HT as well as a FS Stache this year….we’ll see.

Bazz
Bazz
7 years ago
Reply to  Zach

Saving the pennies now!

hllclmbr
hllclmbr
7 years ago
Reply to  Bazz

I really want to see them do the sort stays of the Stache with FS. I think it’s possible, but it’ll be an engineering challenge.

VazzedUp
VazzedUp
7 years ago
Reply to  Bazz

Expecting a carbon Stache HT, but going to have to put a lot more miles on my 9 before I can upgrade

Jeb
Jeb
7 years ago

(deleted)

mac
mac
7 years ago
Reply to  Jeb

I’ve noticed the same.

Tom
Tom
7 years ago

Sweet!

Hoping for a Stache 9.8 or 9!

Zach
Zach
7 years ago

I bought a Farley 7 last year. I haven’t ridden any of my other bikes since….that bike is just plain fun.

Izzy
Izzy
7 years ago

That orange 9.6 looks hot!
Price drops on the 5 and 7 are welcome news!

DeafDaddy
DeafDaddy
7 years ago
Reply to  Izzy

Price on the 7 & 5 remain the same, I think you meant 9.8 & 9.6 (those are $200 less than current)…

dan
dan
7 years ago

“The result is dramatically larger contact patch and better side knob-to-dirt engagement”. Overstating things just a touch? Or regurgitating Trek’s hyperbole? 5% larger rim, 5% narrower tire, 2% larger wheel+tire diameter… and you think that’s going to make a “dramatic” difference in any way? How about greeting manufacturer claims with a little skepticism?

paochow
paochow
7 years ago
Reply to  dan

Where is the like button?

Bigschill
Bigschill
7 years ago

26″ bikes are a dying breed, now even in fat bikes.

paochow
paochow
7 years ago
Reply to  Bigschill

Only, if you buy onto the marketing hype they are. Sadly 26″ fat tires are already larger than the normal 29er’s that the industry said was too big, hence the 27.5″ MTB tires. Once people switch to 27.5″, the industry will start pushing 24″ fat, which has the same diameter as a 27.5″ MTB.

Nathan Hanus
7 years ago

The clearance they give is incorrect, I have 100’s with Bud and Lou on my 9.8 and there is room to spare.

paochow
paochow
7 years ago
Reply to  Nathan Hanus

The clearance is for the Full Suspension EX model. Seeing how there isn’t much room with the undersized Hodag on the EX, I don’t think a Bud and Lou or any of the large 4.6″+ tires will fit.

paochow
paochow
7 years ago
Reply to  paochow

Nevermind- I see what you are talking about. Yeah that is wrong- my wife’s Farley 7 came with 4.7″ from Trek.

jameseo
7 years ago

If I can still just put some 27.5 3.0 or 3.25 tires (reg. semi-fat) on the fuel suspension, this is my new dream bike, and worth trading in my Fuel 9.9 in for.

comrad
comrad
7 years ago

“Surprisingly, they say Nebraska, Kentucky, New Mexico, Arizona and Tennessee are the fastest growing states for fat bikes.”

Misleading stat. It’s fastest growing because everywhere that has snow has started slowing growth because everyone has one.

klainmeister
7 years ago
Reply to  comrad

Snows quite a bit here in NM…

PJL
PJL
7 years ago

So will the 27.5×4.5 Barbegazis with Wampa rim fit on the 2016 Farley 9.8 or did they change the mold for the 2017 9.8 to provide enough clearance?

Pjh
Pjh
7 years ago

Does the 9.6 really come with non-tubeless wheel? Down grade from last years model.

mark wells
mark wells
7 years ago

275 is dumb for fatbikes! snow is not like dirt, bigger tire not wheel is what works, think hover craft, more air means more floatation duh, (deleted)!

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