TESTED: Trek Fuel EXe 8 alloy e-bike with SRAM Transmission GX

[@cliffsangelsphotography]

I'm totally buying this, but the XT build

[@Paulthenutter34]

I was going to get the EXE last year but ride with people with full power bikes. Eventually bought a Liv Intrigue Elite 2 this year. 21.6kg all up with a Fox X2. Five power modes so I run the lower modes with low power but gives me the option to run the higher modes with high power. With a range extender, it's around 23kg. Based on my settings, I think 60Nm is the Goldilocks amount, specially if riding with full power bikes. Also, if they just made that battery 400-450Wh, it would be better. Once again, based on riding with full power bikes...

[@Australianmountainbike]

We think using a extra range batteries with mid-power eMTBs is probably the key to getting the most out of them on big rides, but having a lighter bike the rest of the time.

[@spinthatup3851]

Did the same on the first ride with the new Pod. I prefer it to the Rocker controller but took a little to get it in th right place. I actually opted in the end for the standalone controller mount that isn't the matchmaker you have. Just offered me a more dialled hand position.

[@Australianmountainbike]

Ergonomics count - and thankfully there are lots of options.

[@BikeFixIT]

I love the DB8 brakes

[@ronlind1757]

Great review. Very nice bike thar ticks a lot of boxes, but honestly, just way too expensive for these offerings.

[@emed1977]

This is a very nice bike. But as a Longtime Trek buyer(since a 1997 Y33), but the “Trek” tax drove me to get a YT decoy instead of a Rail, you get more for your money. When the direct to consumer brands start offering the light weight e-bikes I will probably go that route.

[@ronlind1757]

@@emed1977 ... exactly!

[@rawpovmtb]

As far as I know there is no Fox 36 Rhythm anymore since 2021. It's the Fox 36 Performance. The same as Factory but with GRIP Damper and black stanchions. I am a big Fan of that fork. I swapped a Fox 38 Performance Elite Grip 2 for a 36 GRIP because of more comfort and the more silent damper.

[@Australianmountainbike]

Sweet upgrade - this one is Rhythm. This range could well be OE only now but there are plenty around stock on bikes.

[@RotormanMTB]

the Deore biuld for $8499 with noodle 150mm Recon up front - sorry Trek, that's just taking the piss surely?

[@hambo76]

X-Fusion shock, and wire bead tyres! Lololol

[@RotormanMTB]

@@hambo76 I know right! laughable. Can't be taken seriously this company (Trek)

[@sufyanm4661]

i love the look of and the ride characteristics of trek bikes. but their pricing is just absolutely ridiculous. The only reason Id buy one is that my local bike park offers 50% off trek bikes (if you work there) as theyre sponsored by trek

[@gpearce11]

So true. If they just specced it with a Marzocchi Z1 or Yari and decent tyres, it'd be great, but alas. More annoyingly, overseas gets an EXe 8 XT build that gets almost the same spec as this one, only it's a grand cheaper thanks to using an XT groupset (obviously), which seems like the sweet spot of the lineup, but we don't get that one for some reason.

[@SuperTacticalcom]

what's the wire at 9:15 on that wireless derailleur?

[@capitan7891]

I think I covered that? It's called an externsion cord or something - basically the mech runs off the bike's battery. You can put a normal AXS battery in if you like, but this means one less thing to charge.

[@SuperTacticalcom]

@@capitan7891 thanks. Didn't catch that part

[@mjojrjr6231]

Can this fit to a thule 598 bike carrier?

[@Australianmountainbike]

At over 20kg, that's a no for that carrier and this bike.

[@mjojrjr6231]

@@Australianmountainbike I thought it's under 20kg as what they claimed?

[@Australianmountainbike]

@@mjojrjr6231 www.ambmag.com.au/video/tested-trek-fuel-exe-8-alloy-e-bike-597912

[@mjojrjr6231]

​@Australianmountainbike thanks for the links, Mate. As I'm after Small and plan to mullet the bike. I might be able to bring it down to 20kg. My only concern is the size of downtube, if it doesn't fit then I'll get the upride or the yakima similar to thule upride.

[@mtb.barista]

have you tried to ride this bike without a battery ?

[@Australianmountainbike]

No, not this one. We did with the carbon EXe last year. It's good, no real resistance from the motor.

[@mtb.barista]

nice ! How possibly can putting mullet affect the performance of motor and assistance ? @@Australianmountainbike

[@Australianmountainbike]

If you run it as a mullet you need to use only the high position with the MinoLink and run a 160mm fork, to maintain bottom bracket height. It also shaves a little off the top speed for the speed assistance with the smaller wheel@@mtb.barista

[@mtb.barista]

@@Australianmountainbike thanks for valuable answers ! Very considering combo of mullet with 160mm fork and try to rebuild the shock on 150mm travel …

[@ricardoa.476]

Just don't buy it with that colour. I've ordered one, it came with some minor paint failures. They gave me a small discount and promissed to give me a touch-up pen, as it comes out. I took the bike home, next day started finding more paint missing, they didn't care. They say it's all normal, and kept coming up with the touch-up pen solution. I practically forced the seller to make me a decent discount, because trek doesn't care. Just got to know at the end, that the touch-up pen for that colour doesn't exist and won't even be produced, because "it's too hard to reproduce". It was just a way to fool me and to make me keep the bike.

[@michalmalanowicz7595]

Still totally overpriced...