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New 2020 Trek Top Fuel balances fast & fun with versatile XC and Trail build options

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Heading into the Summer, Trek’s light weight full suspension specialist is getting an update. For the 2020 model year, the Trek Top Fuel is evolving from a light weight, competition focused race bike to become a more versatile and capable bike capable of both XC riding and racing as well as trail riding.

New 2020 Trek Top Fuel balances fast & fun with versatile XC and Trail build options

To do so, the Top Fuel is getting a number of notable improvements starting with a bump in travel numbers. While the current Top Fuel is a 100mm travel front and rear full suspension bike, the new Top Fuel jumps to 120mm in the front and 115mm in the rear.

The rear suspension also changes its packaging with a new fixed lower shock mount and relocated Mino Link. A fixed lower shock mount is said to improve the cable routing and frame stiffness while Trek claims there is no loss of suspension performance. Trek’s ABP or Active Braking Pivot suspension platform continues.

 

New 2020 Trek Top Fuel balances fast & fun with versatile XC and Trail build options
Click to enlarge.

New 2020 Trek Top Fuel balances fast & fun with versatile XC and Trail build options

Mino link is now on the front of the rocker link and upper shock mounting bolt. This makes it easier to access, and therefore easier to change. Flipping the Mino link results in a 0.5° change to the head tube angle and seat tube angle, while changing the BB height by about 6mm. The bikes ship in low position – so you’ll need to flip the link if you prefer faster steering.

The ability to make the bike slacker or steeper with Mino Link is in conjunction a new “balanced geometry” that has a steeper seat tube angle, slacker head tube angle, and longer reach compared to the current Top Fuel. All of these attributes should result in a more trail-worthy ride, but without losing the XC edge the bike has been known for.

Up front, the frame now makes use of their Knock Block steering lock system with Trek’s Straight Shot Downtube. The Straight Shot Downtube is just that – a straight shot down from the head tube. This is said to provide a stiffer and lighter downtube but it makes it so the fork could contact the frame in a crash. Trek’s answer to this has been their Knock Block steering lock system which is integrated into the headset and stops the fork before it can contact the down tube.

New 2020 Trek Top Fuel balances fast & fun with versatile XC and Trail build options

Additional frame details include Control Freak internal cable routing that keeps the cables from rattling, and also allows for any cockpit configuration including Di2. All Top Fuel frames are 1x only with a 34t maximum chainring and 180mm rotor maximum. Coinciding with the more trail-worthy frame design, the frame will also include larger tire clearance with enough room for a 29 x 2.4″ tire.

Frames also get more room for dropper posts and every build will include one. You can expect to see 100mm travel droppers on smalls, 150mm on medium and larger, and 170mm on large and XL 9.8, 9.9 models.

Each bike will ship with a directional 13° stem that Trek envisions as slammed for XC or flipped up for Trail riding. This provides up to 47mm of adjustment in bar positioning.

New 2020 Trek Top Fuel balances fast & fun with versatile XC and Trail build options

As you might expect, adding more suspension travel, bigger tires, and dropper posts adds some weight and the claimed weights from Trek seem on the high end for an XC race bike. Does this mean we’ll see something new from Trek for pure XC racing? We’ll have to wait and see.

New 2020 Trek Top Fuel balances fast & fun with versatile XC and Trail build options

With the exception of the Top Fuel 8 which is all aluminum, all other models feature a full carbon frame. Pricing starts at $3,299.99 for the Top Fuel 8 NX up to $9,999.99 for the top end Top fuel 9.9 XX1 AXS. Two framesets will also be available with the alloy and carbon option. Standard bikes should be available now, with Project One carbon options available in Late July.

New 2020 Trek Top Fuel balances fast & fun with versatile XC and Trail build options New 2020 Trek Top Fuel balances fast & fun with versatile XC and Trail build options

Models

Top Fuel 8

  • 12-speed SRAM NX Eagle
  • Dropper post
  • TwistLoc remote
  • Bontrager Kovee Comp wheels
  • Bontrager XR3 Team Issue Tubeless Ready

New 2020 Trek Top Fuel balances fast & fun with versatile XC and Trail build options New 2020 Trek Top Fuel balances fast & fun with versatile XC and Trail build options

Top Fuel 9.7

  • Full carbon frame
  • 12-speed SRAM NX Eagle
  • Dropper post
  • RockShox Reba RL fork

New 2020 Trek Top Fuel balances fast & fun with versatile XC and Trail build options

Top Fuel 9.8 GX

  • Full carbon frame
  • Wider 30mm Bontrager Kovee Elite carbon wheels
  • 12-speed SRAM GX Eagle
  • Bontrager Line Elite Dropper
  • FOX Performance 34 Step-Cast fork

New 2020 Trek Top Fuel balances fast & fun with versatile XC and Trail build options New 2020 Trek Top Fuel balances fast & fun with versatile XC and Trail build options

New 2020 Trek Top Fuel balances fast & fun with versatile XC and Trail build options

Top Fuel 9.9 XX1

  • Full carbon frame
  • Bontrager Kovee Pro carbon wheels
  • 12-speed SRAM XX1 Eagle
  • Bontrager Line Elite Dropper
  • FOX Factory 34 Step-Cast fork
  • SRAM Level Ultimate brakes

New 2020 Trek Top Fuel balances fast & fun with versatile XC and Trail build options

Top Fuel 9.9 AXS

  • Bontrager Kovee Pro carbon wheels
  • Wireless SRAM XX1 Eagle AXS
  • Wireless RockShox Reverb AXS dropper post
  • RockShox Pike Ultimate fork
  • SRAM Level Ultimate brakes

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27 Comments
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Patrick
Patrick
4 years ago

After having bought an EX 9.8 this month for midwest riding in the heart of Trek Country, I think this is what I had truly wanted. Dang that bike is gonna sell.

Bob
Bob
4 years ago
Reply to  Patrick

Also living in the Midwest, people here buy things based on what they are sold by bike shops not what they need for the trails that actually exist. Outside of Duluth, and maybe a few trails in the UP there is no “need” for more than 100mm of suspension. Most of the fastest times are set on hard tails or full rigid bikes. the trails are super buff and smooth compared to other parts of the country. i take pics and laugh at all the people in the parking lots with Spec Enduros and SB5.5’s. you are really going to need all that suspension for 400ft of elevation change over a 9 mile course.

Jason Etter
Jason Etter
4 years ago
Reply to  Bob

So right Bob. I’m faster at every trail in the lower peninsula on my 100/100 XC bike. I do like my 130/120 trail bike for “fun” rides where lots of air time is the flavor of the day. And the 130/120 beats you up a bit less. All that said, I have a few fast laps are on my 29+ full rigid SS. You pay for those the next day though. 🙂 I’d love to have a SB130 or SB150. I have no need for one though. I don’t travel enough.

Bob
Bob
4 years ago

Looks like another bike that does nothing great and most things meh. It either needs to have a steeper geo with the limited travel to be a race bike or it needs 20mm more suspension to just be a trail bike.

Jason Etter
Jason Etter
4 years ago
Reply to  Bob

This^^^^. That’s why I have a XC and trail bike.

Tom
Tom
4 years ago
Reply to  Bob

My trails are far too rough to enjoy a pure 100 mm xc race bike. Some of them are rougher than the Fuel EX likes.

This Top Fuel and my Slash will be the perfect two bike quiver!

Jason Etter
Jason Etter
4 years ago
Reply to  Tom

I unfortunately don’t have trails that rough here in Michigan. I would love to need an Enduro!

Andrew
Andrew
4 years ago

$7.1k CDN for a bike with GX Components?! wtf

Dinger
Dinger
4 years ago
Reply to  Andrew

A shifter and derailleur are a very small part of a full suspension bike’s value.

LeRoy Manninen
LeRoy Manninen
4 years ago
Reply to  Dinger

I guess look at Scott Spark RC Pro for that price and lighter, and no in house parts, and no need for a bumper on a down tube.

Dinger
Dinger
4 years ago
Reply to  LeRoy Manninen

That’s a competitor for the “old” Top Fuel, which was just as light, but rode better with better spec (I trust the Bontrager stuff over Syncros).

Trek has chosen to build these up in more of a trail build but I am told that the frame weight is the same, so 23lb CX racers are still well within the realm of possibility.

comrad
comrad
4 years ago
Reply to  Andrew

To be fair that’s only $50 USD

Kyle Ward
Kyle Ward
4 years ago

down country buzz…..not a proper XC bike

therealgreenplease
4 years ago

Very curious to see the weights. I have a Fuel Ex 9.9 which comes in at 26.5lbs for a 130/130 trail bike with clearance for 2.6″ rubber front and rear *but* that’s also a very high end bike. For those wanting to ride XC and light trail or “down country”/”XXC” as some call it, the new Top Fuel looks like a really solid bike.

…curiously, no mention of Trek’s “thru shaft” tech though I would like to point out that the 9.9 AXS bike appears to have a Live Valve rear shock.

Tom
Tom
4 years ago

I’d hope it has live valve – $10K seems like a ton of cash for a MTB (though admittedly I don’t really know what MTBs cost now)

Chader
Chader
4 years ago
Reply to  Tom

No Live Valve, but it does have the full AXS setup, so that is big part of the pricing.

hoo
hoo
4 years ago

I got a Top Fuel Project One last year but built up with Fox 34. Very similar to the 9.8 build here. I’ve also ridden more like an XC guy but I’ve getting KOMs (or close) on the downhills now. The bike has changed the way I think about corners and drops. I gained 3 lbs from my previos bike but I’m getting faster times – on uphills and downhills. I don’t know that I’ll upgrade to this new ’20 model just to get the extra 5mm on the shock but this new bike makes perfect sense to me.

Eggs Benedict
Eggs Benedict
4 years ago

This frame must not be intended for World Cup XC use given that it has a maximum chainring size of 34t. I think I remember seeing a photo of the chainring on Nino Schurter’s bike and it was a 38t.

Chader
Chader
4 years ago
Reply to  Eggs Benedict

The full XC worlds bike is currently in use and under wraps (literally wrapped top tube to hide the new shock design and location) for what is speculated to be the new “Super Caliber”. There are spy shots around to see what is already in the pro’s hands and likely for release later this year?

Shafty
Shafty
4 years ago

Surprised about that chainring clearance as well. That can’t be enough for everyone. Hasn’t SRAM said NX isn’t meant to be used aggressively/raced? Its quality points to that, so what gives(outside of price point)? If you get that build on a Top Fuel you’ll be feeling instant upgrade-itis.

all biz
all biz
4 years ago

Looks like they forgot the XO build.. you know, the best value? This isn’t just price pointing, it’s predatory price pointing. They just can’t come up with something for $6k or $7k or even $8k – I have to leap from so-so at $5500 to not-even-full-Factory at $9000?

Jason Etter
Jason Etter
4 years ago
Reply to  all biz

That’s the thing about a free market economy. You don’t have to do anything. There are other alternatives from other brands. Count your blessings.

VeloFreak
VeloFreak
4 years ago

Great looking frame but… Just one bottle? Specialized, canyon and orbea all offer a 100mm frame with 2 bottles… Maybe this one or the blur or scott have a better suspension but, just one bottle for marathon adventures… Many people will go for a hardtail because of this.

Eggs Benedict
Eggs Benedict
4 years ago
Reply to  VeloFreak

Marathon = hydration-pack.

eric heyl
eric heyl
4 years ago

Can you say just a more responsive Ex

BigBikr
BigBikr
4 years ago

As a tall rider I have to send a big thanks to Trek for continuing to build XXL frames to support us. These specs may be the best I have seen for the 6’5+ crowd (I’m 6’7″).

Michael Giannini
Michael Giannini
4 years ago

Have about 500 miles of trial on 2020 TF 9.9. Favoring my 2017 TF 9.9. A XC bike doesn’t need a dropper post and added weight. What were they thinking. Supercaliber is next. Selling 2020 TF.

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