Aluminium full-suspension mountain bike Trek Fuel EX 8 Eagle 70 Fury red: Fox 36, 4-piston brakes, 16.89 kg

Trek Fuel EX 8 Fury Red: stepping up on the descents

With its 36 mm stanchions, the Fox Rhythm 36 fork on the Gen 7 Trek Fuel EX 8 gives real front-end guidance over 150 mm, while the Fox Performance Float X shock works over 145 mm. The Alpha NEXT Platinum aluminium frame, SRAM Eagle 70 T-Type drivetrain and SRAM DB8 4-piston brakes add up to 16.89 kg in size M according to Trek. The Gloss Fury Red/Matte Dark Carmine colour plays a vivid gloss red against a matt dark carmine.

Technical specifications

Who is it for?

For the mountain biker who already rides regularly and wants to tackle more technical descents, with steps, roots and rock gardens, without moving to an enduro bike that is heavy on the climbs. It will appeal to riders who like long outings mixing fire-road climbs and committed descents.

The LVR workshop view

Alpha aluminium, Trek's expertise. On Trek's alloy scale, the Alpha NEXT Platinum of this Fuel EX 8 sits above the Alpha Platinum of the Procaliber and Slash 8, and well above the Alpha Silver of the Marlin. The frame takes the ideas of the carbon version: interchangeable rocker, adjustable lower shock mount, adjustable progression and down tube hatch. It keeps a threaded BSA 73 bottom bracket and ISCG 05 tabs for a chain guide.

Put simply: aluminium costs 1.64 kg on the frameset compared with OCLV Mountain carbon (4.95 kg versus 3.31 kg in M), but it copes better with rock strikes and car-park tip-overs. On a trail bike that goes out every weekend, it is a sensible choice we are happy to stand behind.

The difference between a fork with 32 or 34 mm stanchions and a 36 is felt from the first rock garden: the front wheel deflects less and the bike holds its line under braking. The Rhythm's GRIP damper is simple to adjust, with compression and rebound that we set up with you.

The 4-piston DB8 brakes, with a 200 mm front rotor, go the distance on the long descents to Lamalou from the ridges of the Caroux, where a 2-piston brake heats up and loses bite. We bleed the systems before handover for a firm feel from the very first ride.

Which Fuel should you choose?

Our take: compared with the Fuel EX 5, this Fuel EX 8 brings a Fox 36 fork, Float X shock and 4-piston brakes for 130 g less. The Fuel EX 9 XT adds Fox Factory suspension and a Shimano XT groupset at 17.14 kg.

Your questions

Why buy from LVR Cycles? At LVR Cycles in Béziers, we bleed and set up your Fuel EX 8 before handover and handle Fox servicing of the fork and shock.

Please note that the specifications may be changed without prior notice by the manufacturer, based on the availability of components and other factors.