Trek Fuel ex5: Your Ultimate Off-Road Companion

Introduction of Trek fuel ex5

A comprehensive trail bike that can handle anything is the Trek fuel ex 5. The Trek Fuel ex5 is a versatile, high-value mountain bike featuring a Shimano 1×12 transmission, a dropper post for low descents, hydraulic disc brakes, and 140mm front and 130mm rear suspension.Trek Fuel Ex5 is an affordable mid-travel trail bike that excels on descents.

Our Opinion:

For the 2020 model year, Trek has updated its well-liked Fuel EX mid-travel trail bikes. A flexible and incredibly competent ripper, the new geometry combines this bike with contemporary trends. The Trek Fuel EX 5, albeit not the most powerful or fastest climber, is well-rounded and affordable.

The Fuel feels solid and firmly planted on descents because of the ABP suspension system’s flexible, ground-hugging design. Despite being heavier than average, it climbs rather effectively. The dropper post and big tires make it work better as a whole, and you won’t have to pay more money up front because of this. We will suggest the Trek Fuel EX 5 to just about everyone without hesitation.

Do I need to buy Trek fuel ex5?

The Fuel EX 5 is a good option for newcomers to sports or those on a low budget. Trek’s 2020 Fuel EX overhaul improved versatility and performance with updated geometry and rear suspension. This bike’s soft suspension feels terrific whether you enjoy calm flow trails or tumbling down a treacherous rocky part.

The geometry is current without being ostentatious.Relative to some competitors, it’s a little on the colossal side and feels sluggish on the hills, but it’s still cozy and reasonably practical. Even though the competitors won this evaluation, our testers were pleased with the Fuel EX 5’s overall performance. At this price, this bike is a steal.

Fun Effort:

Testing motorcycles in this price category used to be nerve-wracking, but today’s bikes, including the Fuel EX 5, encourage far more grins and excitement than they did a few years ago. This is because the efficiency of this entry-level model is now more comparable to that of higher-end versions owing to the current trail bike design and a well-considered component list. This comparatively well-rounded and adaptable mid-travel trail bike was a delight to ride for even our seasoned testers, who are all bike snobs and favor high-end bikes.It excels with smooth suspension, plenty of grips, and self-belief angles that don’t hinder you when directed downwards. It has an apparent preference for the descents.

Suspension System:

The Fuel EX’s highly active ABP suspension system provides this bike a particular trail-smoothing, ground-hugging feel and exceptional stability on descents. Although it isn’t the most animated or entertaining bike, it travels smoothly down the trail and has current geometry that works well on various surfaces.The Fuel EX 5 isn’t an extreme climber, but it’s capable, comfortable, and dependable enough to bring you back to the summit for more circuits or to be a loyal riding partner on extended trips. This bike punches beyond its weight class and is far more enjoyable to ride than we’d anticipate at this price. Sure, there are a few parts of this budget-conscious design that we’d replace if it were our own.

Downhill Capability:

On the descents, the Fuel EX 5 is a smooth operator. When gravity takes over, this bike’s solid, ground-hugging design and soft rear suspension feel fantastic. As well as being user-friendly and versatile enough to be enjoyable on various terrain, the geometry gives riders the courage to let loose on the descents. Due to its 140mm fork and 130mm rear wheel travel, it falls into the mid-travel category, which is perfect for most riders.

Competency:

Trek made the Fuel EX models larger and steeper than its predecessor to address the bulk of contemporary trail bike geometry trends while redesigning them for the 2020 model year. The Trek Fuel ex5 is now more competitive than ever, and it can ride down whatever you’re willing to try. Additionally, they included flip-chip changeable geometry, allowing the rider to vary the bottom bracket height by 5mm and the head and seat tube angles by 0.5 degrees each.

Regular Trail Riding:

Although our tester found the low option to be relatively suitable for regular trail riding, this is a handy feature that lets you adjust the shape to your liking. The ideal head tube angle, reach, and wheelbase for a contemporary mid-travel trail bike appear to be 66 degrees, 470 millimeters, and 1210 millimeters. However, our reviewers agreed that Fuel EX 5 cycles seemed more  than the previous size big test bikes with comparable specs when they slung a leg over it. Despite this, the bike’s lengthy wheelbase makes it exceptionally stable at high speeds, and the 66-degree helmet tube angle gives the rider confidence while descending steeper slopes.

Performance of Trek fuel ex5:

Trek’s ABP suspension system creates a highly flexible back wheel, and this bike performs well through high-frequency chop and minor bumps. However, it doesn’t provide much assistance throughout the middle of the stroke; the Fuel grips the ground and smoothes the path quite well. This bike could be a bit livelier, but the ground-hugging elasticity of the rear suspension saps some life and pop out of the back end.

Rear Suspension:

Despite this, it enjoys mobbing downhill and does it successfully, but with a bit less panache than some of the rivals. Although it occasionally reminds us that it is a cheap fork, the Adjustable Coilovers Recon fork is also pleasant and soft and works well with the rear suspension.

All of the different Fuel EX models from REK include wide tubular rims and tires in addition to dropper posts. This is the EX 5 variant we tested, which had 2.6″ wide BONTRAGERXR4 tires. These tires featured a lot of air volume, allowing for lower operating pressures and a flexible tread design, which helped provide a consistent cornering grip.

Although the TRANZX type on the Fuel is far greater than nothing, our testers liked that bicycles in this price range come with dropper posts. However, the big frame and 130mm travel length seemed a touch short.

Configuration:

Although the cockpit configuration is generally good, our testers felt this bike would be easier to maneuver with a handlebar broader than 750mm. The Shimano MT200 hydraulic disc brakes on the Fuel EX 5 are similar to those on many of the other bikes in our study. These brakes are in good working order and usually do their stopping tasks satisfactorily, but they seem weak, given the bike’s peak speed.

Climbing Capacity:

Although the Fuel EX 5 is reasonably competent and comfortable riding uphill, this bike isn’t very good at climbing. It works pretty well; however,it wouldn’t be our first pick if we were looking for a speedy or energizing climbing experience. Although the geometry appears excellent, it is somewhat limited by its weight, extremely active front suspension, and some dubious components.

Since the Fuel EX 5 is a semi-bike in this price bracket, it climbs rather well, but some of the lighter and more efficient competitors beat it there. It can handle almost any climb, but its 33+ pound weight and incredibly active rear suspensionseem sluggish. Although not excessive, the heaviness of this bike is apparent when it is ridden after lesser versions.

Specifications of trek fuel ex5:

We also enjoy the Trek ABP rear suspension system, although the FUEL EX 5 is slightly too active for our tastes without the Re Active Valving featured on the back shocks of their higher-end models. When sitting, the pedal bob isn’t too severe but kills any out-of-the-seat attempts or quick sprints upwards. Thank goodness this bike features a compression damping control on the rear shock, which is quite helpful for climbing on any terrain. The Recon fork on this bike had the propensity to dip when the rider’s weight shifted forward in addition to the pedal bob.

Trend Following Geometry:

On paper, the Fuel EX 5’s geometry is utterly accurate to all current trends. In actual use, this bike seems smaller and more constrained than those figures imply. When we tried a higher-end model in an XL, it proved that our taller testers had expressed a need for bigger frame size. If your frame size is on the verge, we advise doing a test ride and maybe sizing up if possible.However, testers usually regarded the seated riding position as pleasant despite the shorter reach leading to a more upright and passive stance.

Power:

Power is transmitted directly down into the gears thanks to the steep seat tube, which positions the rider over the bottom bracket. Even while the bike’s 1210mm wheelbase seemed to be relatively lengthy, everything about it felt shorter than it was, and it was typically simple to operate in almost any environment.

The Fuel EX’s geometry may be somewhat altered using a flip-chip, but our testers thought the Low setting was suitable for regular trail riding. Additionally, this bike incorporates a knock block headset that testers found to reduce the turning radius in highly tight corners by preventing the fork from touching and damaging the down tube.

Other Specifications of trek fuel ex5:

On climbs, the Fuel EX 5’s construction is inconsistent. With a large contact patch and tread that offers tons of grips in various circumstances, the 2.6″ wide BONTRAGER XR4 tires are a high point. The specifications of a Shimano DEORE10-speed transmission left testers unimpressed. The rivals with 12-speed drive trains provide a more comprehensive range, despite the changes being crisp and dependable. The worst situation is trying to shift gears and finding you’re in your slowest gear already.

Build:

Trek’s Alpha Platinum Aluminum is used to construct the Fuel EX 5’s frame, which has an Active Braking Pivot (ABP) suspension system and 130mm of rear-wheel travel. This rear suspension design has undergone various revisions for the 2020 Fuel models, most notably the usage of the system. ” shock mount as opposed to the full-floater design from earlier generations. The frame incorporates a drink cage support within the front triangle, a knock-block headset, flip-chip changeable geometry, internal cable routing, and integrated downtube and chainstay protection.

Least Costly Model:

In Trek’s lineup of Fuel EX models, the 5 is the least costly model to construct, and the component specifications reflect that. This is particularly true of the stabilizer parts, even though they function very well, given their cost. The RockShox Recon RL fork, also present on numerous other bikes in our review, controls the 140mm front wheel travel. This fork is supple and functions admirably, but it can seem a little flaxy and harsh on more brutal strikes or during high-speed chop. At this price range, the RockShox Deluxe Select+ rear shock is a beautiful feature, and it feels exceptionally plush when combined with the ABP design on the bike’s back end.

Budget Range:

Like most bicycles in this budget range, Trek equipped the Trek Fuel EX 5 with several cockpit parts under the BONTRAGER house brand. This features the 50mm BONTRAGER Rhythm Comp stem and 750mm broad handlebar. The 750mm handlebar is small by today’s standards, but testers didn’t think it hindered bike handling. However, testers thought the 130mm TRANZX dropper seat post was too short for a large-size frame. Although adequate, the BONTRAGER Arvada saddle was not among the most comfortable seats we’ve recently experienced.

Conclusion:

The Trek Fuel EX 5 is a good 29-inch bike for newbies with a mid-travel fork and a fair price. It performs well overall, is a smooth descent, and climbs very steadily. It finishes in the middle of this evaluation’s top motorcycles, but buyers shouldn’t be deterred. This bike is an excellent choice at this price since it is flexible and all-around.