2023 Trek Fuel EX 5 Gen 5 Review
Are you looking for a high-performance mountain bike? The 2023 Trek Fuel EX 5 Gen 5 is the perfect choice.
This latest mountain bike in the Fuel EX lineup has been refined to perfection and comes with tons of great features.
The Fuel EX series from Trek has long been an industry standard as one of the most trusted mountain bikes on the market.
The fifth generation of these bikes has taken this legacy to the next level with its combination of cutting-edge materials, impressive technology and innovative design that makes it look and ride better than ever before.
This review will explore all of the aspects behind what makes the 2023 Trek Fuel EX 5 Gen 5 stand out and help you decide whether it’s the right bike for you. We’ll go in-depth into everything from performance to price, and show you exactly why this model is one of the best choices on the market.
The Trek Fuel EX 5 Gen 5 is an unforgettable new mountain bike that was released in 2023 and has already become the talk of the town!
This awesome bike features some of the most advanced MTB construction and components, providing a truly unique and thrilling experience for riders.
Read on to learn more about why this bike has made such a huge impact on cyclists everywhere.
The 2023 Trek Fuel EX 5 Gen 5 is the pinnacle of mountain biking performance with features designed to give riders unprecedented freedom and control on the trail.
It features an aluminum frame with light and stiff geometry, as well as a dropper seat post for tackling big climbs, mountain descents, and off-road adventures with ease.
The Fuel EX 5 also comes with a reliable 12-speed drivetrain and hydraulic disc brakes that are ideal for navigating technical sections in any weather. This bike was built to tackle any terrain – from gravel roads to singletrack trails – allowing you to explore farther than ever before.
– Lightweight Alpha Platinum Aluminum frame
– RockShox Recon Silver front fork with 140 mm suspension travel delivers added control on descents
– X-Fusion Pro 2 rear shock with 210mm of travel to cushion those huge drops
– Shimano Deore 1×12 speed drivetrain offers gearing options for all terrains
– 30t chainring bolted to a Shimano crank and paired to a 10-51t cassette
– Shimano MT200 hydraulic disc brakes perfect for reliable stopping power in any conditions
– TranzX dropper post takes your ride’s capabilities up a notch so you can take on challenging terrain
– Alex MD35, tubeless compatible wheels wrapped in either Maxxis Rekon EXO or Bontrager XR4 Comp tires provide superior trail feedback
– Sizes XS and S ship with 27.5″ wheels while the Medium and larger sizes ship with 29″ wheels
Rides Like A Racehorse
The Trek Fuel EX 5 Gen 5 is designed with a lightweight aluminum frame and full suspension which make it capable of ripping over rough terrain. It also makes for snappy handling, so you can get around tight corners quickly thanks to its agile geometry.
Versatile Yet Refined
Despite its impressive performance, the Trek Fuel EX 5 Gen 5 remains very user-friendly and simple to use. Its Shimano 1×12 drivetrain may only contain 12 gears but still offers an unbeatable range of gearing options, allowing you take on any type of trail or climb imaginable.
The long range Deore derailleur also offers crisp shifts with reliable accuracy even under pressure, while the hydraulic disc brakes offer accurate modulation control so you can slow down in style.
Smooth as Silk Suspension
Thanks to its full-suspension design, the Trek Fuel EX 5 Gen 5 gives you plenty of cushioning as well as unbeatable grip when riding over roots or rocks.
Further refining things is a RockShox Recon Silver air fork up front along with X-Fusion Pro 2 rear shock, offering 140mm and 210mm of travel, respectively, for great off-road responsiveness yet enough composure for fast XC sensations too.
Final Thoughts
In short, it’s easy to see why so many experienced mountain bikers have given the 2023 Trek Fuel EX 5 Gen 5 rave reviews recently.
It’s an insanely versatile ride that allows riders from all disciplines to enjoy blazing speeds combined with great control over varied trails and climbs.
If you’re looking for a no compromise bike that will perform at an incredible level whatever trail conditions come your way – this is it!
Order online and have it shipped to your local dealer for final assembly!!
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- Rider Notes
2022 Trek Fuel EX 5
A 27.5″ / 29″ aluminum frame full suspension trail bike with upper mid-range components. Compare the full range
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Jun 2023 · Scotty Prendergast
Arguably one of the all-time most popular bike models of any MTB on the planet, the ‘Fuel Ex’ has been at the peak of Trek’s MTB line-up for as long as anyone can remember and it has had no fewer than six major design overhauls during that time. Late last year Trek unveiled their newest reinvention of the ‘do it all trail bike’ which rolls out of the store boasting a ton of rider customisation features, including a choice of [...]
Read Review
Apr 2023 · Drew Rohde
While the new Trek Fuel EX may have alienated a few riders, it will no doubt be a welcome redesign for a lot more riders!
Fast, confident and ready to rock!
More capable than ever
Great downtube storage solution
Adjustable and versatile geometry options
Med/Large size
Bar/Stem combo
SE5 Tires in the wet
Some may not like the newer, burlier bike’s transition
Dec 2022 · Ian Collins
A couple months ago, I was on the hunt for a new mid-travel personal bike and found myself largely unconvinced by most of the offerings on the market. Then a new, highly adjustable and longer in the tooth Trek Fuel EX was announced. When I reached out to Trek to inquire about testing one they offered to send a frameset for me to build out. On paper given that it had my ideal geometry, loads of adjustments (including leverage rate!), internal storage and the options of air or coil and mullet or straight 29″, this was the ultimate Swiss army
Dec 2022 · Mike Levy
The downtube storage compartment is on the new bike, and while it seems like Trek has put all the things onto the latest Fuel EX, there's one that they didn't: Knock Block.
Wide range of effective geometry adjustments
Just as much fun on smooth trails as it is on scary trails
Great climber, efficient pedaling
One-piece handlebar might be too stiff for some riders
Paint chips easily
All-new for 2023, the Trek Fuel EX is no doubt the burliest yet. How does it compare to the competition? Read on for our Trek Fuel EX review.
Sturdy, flex-free chassis
Superb geometry with adjustable head angle
Efficient & comfortable climbing performance
Coil shock, big fork & mullet compatibility
Mechanic-friendly frame furnishings
Internal storage
Frame is on the heavy side
Rear shock tune lacks small-bump suppleness
Rattly rear thru-axle lever
New geometry, more travel, and even better suspension improves Trek's mid-weight trail bike.
Trek's top-tier Fuel EX 9.9 XX1 AXS delights on the climbs and tackles downhill terrain with it's slack (and very adjustable) geometry.
Sep 2022 · Tom Marvin
Does the benchmark trail bike retain its reputation as a solid choice?
Excellent suspension
Solid feel to the frame
Great geometry
Doesn’t feel as sprightly on climbs as some
Tyres give up corner traction too easily in loose or muddy conditions
Last updated June 28 Not listed for 661 days
FIRST RIDE REVIEW
The new trek fuel ex review.
Photos & Words by Dario DiGiulio
As mountain biking has evolved into what it is today, the trails we ride on have slowly but surely raised the bar of what modern bikes have to keep up with. Sure, some tracks have been sanitized over time, but there’s no question that the pointy end of the sport has kept pushing forward. As a result, trail bikes have had to pick up the pace to match the expectations of the average rider, leading to more capable and confident rigs with every new model. Stepping up to the plate, we have the evolved version of the Trek Fuel EX, Trek’s mainstay trail bike. This time it’s really meant to do it all, riding anywhere and doing anything. Being this adaptable can be a tricky task though, so has Trek painted themselves into a corner?
The new Trek Fuel EX breaks just about every mold that the prior generations had fit into, with a full-on redesign for the new model. The name of the game here is adaptability, whether in the geometry, the suspension kinematics, or even what size wheels you’ll run. Thanks to their Mino Link flip chip and two sets of press-in headset cups, you can shift the character of this bike drastically to suit your terrain and preference. As a result, it’s a bit hard to parse out the specific geometry of the bike (however Trek’s site features a geometry tool to let you do so), so I’ll just speak to it in its most neutral form, which is where many will likely settle. There are a whopping 8 size variations to this bike from XS to XXL, so it’s worth digging through the geometry tables to see which might suit you best. They’re all sporting 140mm of rear travel with a 150mm fork, upping the numbers on the prior generation by 10mm.
I’ve been testing the large frame, which puts the reach and stack at around 485mm and 621mm, which are in line with the majority of the industry right now. In keeping with the new Trek Fuel EX’s theme of being adaptable and capable. In its neutral-low setting, the bike comes with a 64.5-degree head tube angle and the effective seat tube angle sits at 77.2-degrees. Chainstays shift with the frame size, and on a large come in at 440mm. Thanks to the Mino Link flip chip, you can adjust bottom bracket height by 8mm up from the slammed 38mm drop in stock configuration, with a 0.6° steeper head tube and seat tube angle. The more significant head tube adjustment comes from the independent press-in headset cups that Trek supplies, which can steepen or slacken things by a full degree, giving a very wide range of handling characteristics. The last frame toggle is the progression flip chip, offering a simple more or less option to tailor the suspension feel and offer uncompromised coil shock compatibility.
As is trend right now, you can set the Fuel Ex up as a mullet, simply by popping a 27.5” wheel in the rear, swapping the Mino Link to high mode, and bumping up fork travel to 160mm. The bike comes stock as a 29er front and rear (or 27.5″ in XS and Small), so you’ll have to make this change on your own accord.
A notable thing lacking from the newest Fuel EX its the Knock Block – you’ll find no such thing on this frame. X-up fans take note, as this is a big move for the engineers in Waterloo, Wisconsin, and was necessary to achieve the headset adjustment range they wanted. Trek has also moved away from the RE:aktiv damper shock, now simply relying on an off-the-shelf model. Still included in the frames are the handy-dandy stash box in the down tube, with what I think might be the best weather sealing of any of the options on the market at this point, and a neat BITS tool roll.
Build kits come in as many flavors as the sizes, and the range of options is quite extensive, beginning at a respectable $3,699. I’ve been on the highest end build, the 9.9 AXS especial, coming in at a healthy $10,749. From Bontrager Line 30 carbon wheels, to the RSL one-piece carbon cockpit, to the XX1 drivetrain, just about everything is as nice as it gets, as you’d hope for this kind of money.
At my height of 6’3”, the geo combination of the Neutral-Low-More flip chip configuration on the large size makes for a really comfortable fit, one that feels stable enough at speed while still remaining lively for your average trail. I started my time testing the bright yellow Trek up in Whistler, riding some gnarly rocky pedal-access trails around the Valley. This was a great context for deciding where I stood on the less or more progression debate, and I settled on the latter end of the spectrum. Increased bottom-out resistance and a more supple top of travel were worth a slightly punchier suspension feel, and I stand by that choice for most of the riding I have around me. On my home trails in Bellingham, the Fuel has been a choice companion for fast and fun rides in our local trail systems, where technical and engaging climbs lead to fast, rooty, and jump-filled descents. My general synopsis is that this is a bike that loves to ride fast, both up and down.
The climbing characteristics are comfortable and neutral, without wallowing too much or lacking grip in trickier terrain. Like many of the take-aways of the bike as it comes stock, things are extra-medium, in the best way. Compared to the new Hightower, the bike has slightly less support, but is significantly better in rough terrain and successive hits. Compared to the Stumpjumper EVO, the Fuel EX is definitely more of a trail bike, less of the all-mountain enduro-lite ride that the Specialized offers. All three bikes serve as a nice gradient from the lighter and sportier end of the trail spectrum to the burlier and more capable side of the category. Sitting pretty right in the middle is the Fuel EX, but I’m sure one could tweak it to either of the other extremes, given how much variability is baked into this frame.
Build kit notes are mostly positive, which you’d hope to see from the highest end build. My main gripe is with the Bontrager SE5 tires, which are some the least confidence-inspiring I’ve ridden in recent memory. The casing and tread pattern are fine, but the compound doesn’t seem to want to hook up anywhere, whether it’s dry loose terrain, rock slabs, and especially wet roots. This would be an immediate swap in my book, and I’d just keep the stock tires to run in the rear when conditions are dry and beat at the peak of summer.
The removable shuttle pad doesn’t seem to want to stay close to the frame, and bows out slightly when attached, giving the downtime a funny bulged look to it. One other frame annoyance has been a recurring suspension knock, despite chasing through every bolt in the linkage with a torque wrench. I still have yet to find the culprit, but luckily it’s not very noticeable when riding.
As a system, I’ve been more than impressed by Trek’s work on the new Fuel EX. Not only does it feel quick and confidant in the stock configuration, it also offers a whole host of layout options to better cater the bike to your preferences.
THE WOLF’S FIRST IMPRESSION
To close out our review of the new Trek Fuel Ex, it’s clear that Trek’s engineers and designers set out to design a bike that caters to that wide center of the market – the trail bike – where most riders spend their time, and where a bike can take many forms. In that goal, they found success. Sure some riders may feel the new Fuel EX has departed from what they were used to and liked about the bike, but many other riders will likely welcome the advancements in capability and confidence on the trail. The Fuel EX is a highly adaptable bike that feels comfortable in a really wide variety of terrain but doesn’t confuse itself for anything more or less. Bike riders, rejoice.
TREK FUEL EX 7
Price: $3,699.99
Frame: Alpha Platinum Aluminum, internal storage | 140mm Fork: RockShox 35 Gold RL | 150mm Shock: Fox Performance Float EVOL
Drivetrain: Shimano SLX/XT Brakes: Shimano MT420 4-piston
Wheelset: Bontrager Line Comp 30, Rapid Drive 108
TREK FUEL EX 8
Price: $4,299
Frame: Alpha Platinum Aluminum, internal storage | 140mm Fork: Fox Rhythm 36 | 150mm Shock: Fox Performance Float X
Drivetrain: Shimano XT M8100 Brakes: Shimano Deore M6120
TREK FUEL EX 9.7
Price: $6,249.99
Frame: OLCV Mountain Carbon, internal storage | 140mm Fork: Fox Rhythm 36 | 150mm Shock: Fox Performance Float X
Drivetrain: Shimano SLX/XT Brakes: Shimano Deore M6120
TREK FUEL EX 9.8
GX AXS Price: $7,699.99 XT Price: $6,749.99
Frame: OLCV Mountain Carbon, internal storage | 140mm Fork: Fox Performance 36 | 150mm Shock: Fox Performance Float X
Wheelset: Bontrager Line Elite 30, OCLV Carbon, Rapid Drive 108
GX AXS BUILD Drivetrain: SRAM GX Eagle AXS Brakes: SRAM CODE R
XT BUILD Drivetrain: Shimano XT M8100 Brakes: Shimano XT M8120
TREK FUEL EX 9.9
XX1 AXS Price: $10,749.99 XTR Price: $9,749.99
Frame: OLCV Mountain Carbon, internal storage | 140mm Fork: Fox Factory 36 | 150mm Shock: Fox Factory Float X
Wheelset: Bontrager Line Pro 30, OCLV Carbon, Rapid Drive 108
XX1 AXS BUILD Drivetrain: SRAM XX1 Eagle AXS Brakes: SRAM CODE RSC
XT BUILD Drivetrain: Shimano XTR M9100 Brakes: Shimano XTR M9120
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