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The Gen 7 Trek Fuel EX 5 opens the Fuel range with an Alpha NEXT Platinum aluminium frame, a 150 mm RockShox Recon fork, an X-Fusion Pro 2 shock for 145 mm of rear travel and a Shimano Deore 1x12 drivetrain. Trek quotes 17.02 kg in size M, with sealant in the tyres. Its Gloss Fury Red/Matte Dark Carmine finish contrasts a bright gloss red with a dark matt carmine, a colour you can spot from afar among the holm oaks.
| Frame | Alpha NEXT Platinum aluminium, adjustable progression, interchangeable rocker and shock mount, internal storage, threaded BSA 73, ISCG 05 |
| Suspension | RockShox Recon Silver RL Solo Air 150 mm fork, lockout / X-Fusion Pro 2 2-position 205x60 mm shock, 145 mm |
| Drivetrain | Shimano Deore M6100 1x12, MT512 30T chainset, 10-51 cassette |
| Brakes | Shimano hydraulic, MT201 levers, MT200 callipers, RT10 180 mm Centerlock rotors |
| Wheels / tyres | Bontrager Line TLR 30 Tubeless Ready rims, Shimano TC500 Boost hubs / Bontrager Gunnison Elite XR 29x2.40 Tubeless Ready |
| Cockpit | Bontrager Comp alloy 780 mm handlebar, 40 mm rise, Bontrager Comp 35 mm stem |
| Saddle / seatpost | Bontrager Verse Short / TranzX JD-YSI34 170 mm dropper |
| Weight | 17.02 kg in size M (Trek figure, with tubeless sealant, no inner tubes) |
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At a glance
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For the mountain biker moving from a hardtail to full suspension who wants a bike that can keep up as they progress, without going straight for high-end components. This colour is offered in XL: it is aimed at tall riders, from 188 to 195 cm, who often struggle to find a well-sized trail bike.
Alpha aluminium, Trek's expertise. Trek groups its alloys into three tiers: Alpha Silver for the Marlin, Alpha Platinum for the Procaliber and Slash 8, then Alpha NEXT Platinum, reserved for the Gen 7 Fuel. So the Fuel EX 5 does not get a cut-price frame: it is the same structure as on the Fuel EX 8 and 9, with its kinematics, storage hatch and progression adjustments. Only the kit fitted to it changes.
| Alpha Silver | Alpha NEXT Platinum | OCLV Mountain | |
| Level | Trek's entry-level alloy | The most refined of the Alpha alloys | Trek's mountain bike carbon |
| Construction | Alpha aluminium, hardtail frame | Alpha aluminium, adjustable Fuel platform | OCLV process tuned for impacts |
| Reference bike | Marlin 4 to 7 | Fuel EX 5, 8 and 9 | Fuel EX 9.8 and 9.9 |
| What it means | Simple and affordable, no rear suspension | 4.95 kg frameset in M, tough and more affordable | 3.31 kg frameset in M, 1.64 kg less |
Put simply: buying a Fuel EX 5 means buying the frame from the top of the aluminium range with simpler components. The day the fork or shock shows its limits, you can replace them without changing bikes; the 4.95 kg frameset in M is the same as on the more expensive versions.
For a tall rider, the 170 mm TranzX dropper post changes everything: saddle low on descents, saddle high with a flick to climb back up, without ever stopping. The 780 mm handlebar and short 35 mm stem give calm steering, welcome in the rock gardens of the Caroux when the bike is looking for its line.
The X-Fusion Pro 2 shock has two positions: open for trails, firmer for long link tracks. We set the sag and rebound to your weight when we hand over the bike; on a simple shock, this initial set-up matters more than anything else.
| Model | Frame | Fork / rear | Drivetrain | Weight (M) |
| Fuel EX 5 | Alpha NEXT Platinum alloy | RockShox Recon 150 / 145 mm | Shimano Deore 1x12 | 16.88 kg |
| Fuel EX 8 | Alpha NEXT Platinum alloy | Fox Rhythm 36, 150 / 145 mm | SRAM Eagle 70 1x12 | 16.58 kg |
| Fuel EX 9 Eagle 90 | Alpha NEXT Platinum alloy | RockShox Lyrik Ultimate, 150 / 145 mm | SRAM Eagle 90 1x12 | 16.58 kg |
| Fuel EX 9.8 XT | OCLV Mountain carbon | Fox Factory 36, 150 / 145 mm | Shimano XT 1x12 | 15.28 kg |
Our take: the Fuel EX 8 moves to a Fox fork with 36 mm stanchions and 4-piston brakes for 130 g less. The carbon Fuel EX 9.8 XT drops to 15.28 kg, but it plays in a different budget category.
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LVR sizing advice This colour is offered in XL, from 188 to 195 cm according to Trek. If you are at the lower limit of this range, come and compare with an L in store: the 170 mm dropper post and short stem make the XL more agile than you might think.
Source: Trek size guide. Bike fitting available in our Béziers shop. |
| Enough travel for descending? | Yes for trail riding, even committed; for regular enduro, look at the Fuel LX instead. |
| Can the fork be upgraded later? | Yes, the frame is the one from the Fuel EX 8 and 9: a higher-end 150 mm fork fits without any problem. |
| What rider height does the XL suit? | Trek lists it for 188 to 195 cm, with an 89 to 91 cm inseam. |
| Does the gloss red mark? | Protective film on the down tube and chainstays limits rub marks. |
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The LVR Cycles verdict A Fuel EX 5 that does not hold its rider back: the frame is the one from the more expensive models and the kit does the job on the trail. In Fury red and XL, it also delights tall riders looking for a full-suspension bike that fits.
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Why buy from LVR Cycles? In Béziers, we prepare your Fuel EX 5 in the workshop, set the sag and rebound to your weight and advise you on the upgrades that will make sense later.
Please note that the specifications may be changed without prior notice by the manufacturer, based on the availability of components and other factors.
Data sheet
Specific References
Aluminium full-suspension mountain bike Trek Fuel EX 5 Deore Fury red: 150/145 mm, dropper, 17.02 kg in M
