Just a few weeks ago, Trek announced the newest version to the Fuel EX family with the Fuel EX 27.5+. Changes to the frame included the ability to run both 27.5+ and 29″ wheels, though the bikes would be shipped with the fatter tires and wheels. Now, Trek is showing their counterparts – essentially the same bikes but with 29″ wheels and 130mm suspension forks. Both bikes use the exact same frame and will still be able to run the alternate wheel size, but Trek will be selling the Fuel EX with either 29″ or 27.5+ wheels from the shop floor.
One of the more interesting takeaways here, is that this appears to be the death of the Fuel EX 27.5. Mostly. Depending on your size (and gender) there are a few exceptions…
After launching the Fuel EX 27.5 Plus and now the Fuel EX 29, Trek slipped this line into the press release, “With the exception of Fuel EX 27.5 Plus, all other Fuel EX models are offered exclusively in a 29˝ platform.” There is one exception to that rule though – the WSD models (Women’s Specific Design) will still use 27.5″ wheels for the 14.5 and 15.5″ sizes for “more maneuverability and a better overall fit.”
Does this signal the end for 27.5″ wheels for shorter travel bikes? As Trek’s Travis Ott puts it, “the Fuel EX 27.5″ is dead.” As is the women’s Lush – both of which are replaced by different versions of the new Fuel EX. Equally as interesting is the death of the Remedy 29 which means all Remedy models going forward are only offered in 27.5″.
Like the plus models, the Fuel EX 29ers gain 10mm of extra travel for 130mm front and rear, but use a 130mm travel fork to make up for the difference in wheel size. Fuel EX Plus bikes use a 140mm travel fork to raise the front end of the bike and even out the geometry. Other details include the new Straight Shot down tube and the Knock Block steering stop. The device is meant to keep the bars or fork crown from smashing into the frame and is compatible with the custom Bontrager stems, or any other stem with an additional headset spacer clamp.
Both men and women will have options for plus or 29″ wheels and in aluminum or carbon frames.
While the Fuel EX might be giving up the 27.5″ wheels, the Remedy is keeping the little wheels rolling with a more Enduro focused build. Stock bikes will feature 150mm travel front and rear with a slacker head angle. However, there will also be two Race Shop Limited versions with a longer 160mm fork with travel adjust to slack things out even more. All Remedy models including the WSD versions will be 27.5″ wheel only.
Much like the Fuel EX, the Remedy frame benefits from the stiffer Straight Shot down tube (the new frame is stiffer than the existing Slash), Knock Block steerer stop, ABP (Active Braking Pivot), EVO Link, and Full Floater suspension system, plus the RE:aktiv suspension tech which is now packaged in a Metric sized RockShox Deluxe shock. In addition to the Mino Link which offers a high and low geometry setting, the frame offers a longer reach and lower bottom bracket than previous. Of course, the frame stretches out back to accommodate Boost 148 spacing with a Boost fork as well, and both carbon and aluminum frames now all benefit from their Control Freak cable management system.
In total there will be 7 models – 5 men’s and 2 women’s, with the men’s 9.9 and 9 falling under the RSL (Race Shop Limited) category with bigger forks and tires. Otherwise, the Remedy 7, 8, and 9.8 and the Remedy WSD 8 and 9.8 will be offered in aluminum (single numbers) and carbon (numbers with decimals) frames.
For more info on complete builds and geometry, head over to trekbikes.com.
