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Equipped with a 150 mm RockShox Recon Silver fork and a RockShox Deluxe Select shock delivering 145 mm at the rear, the Trek Fuel EX 5 Gen 7 is built on the Alpha NEXT Platinum aluminium frame shared by the whole aluminium Fuel range. The Shimano Deore 1x12 drivetrain with 10-51 cassette and the TranzX dropper post complete a bike weighing 16.88 kg in size M according to Trek. The Wild Mushroom/Trek Black colourway pairs a bronze brown, the colour of woodland mushrooms, with a deep black.
| 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 / RockShox Deluxe Select 205x60 mm shock, 145 mm |
| Drivetrain | Shimano Deore 1x12, M6200 derailleur, 30T chainring, M6200 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 2.40 Tubeless Ready (29 in, 27.5 in rear on S) |
| Cockpit | Bontrager Comp alloy 780 mm handlebar, 40 mm rise, Bontrager Comp 35 mm stem |
| Saddle / seatpost | Bontrager Verse Short / TranzX JD-YSI34 dropper, 150 mm (S) or 170 mm |
| Weight | 16.88 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 rider who goes out two or three times a month, is discovering singletrack and wants to gain confidence on descents without being held back by their kit. It will also suit anyone returning to mountain biking after several years and discovering rear suspension and dropper seatposts.
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.
On the rocky trails around Béziers, where the garrigue lets the bedrock show through at every bend, the 145 mm at the rear smooth out the impacts that a hardtail sends back into your arms. The 2.40-inch Gunnison tyres can be set up tubeless in the workshop: with less pressure, they grip better and are less prone to pinch flats.
The 30-tooth chainring paired with the 51-tooth sprocket offers very low gearing for the steep ramps of the Montagne Noire. Deore M6200 is a simple, durable groupset that is inexpensive to maintain: chains and cassettes are available everywhere and quick to change.
| 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: at 16.88 kg in M, this Fuel EX 5 is only 300 g heavier than the Fuel EX 8, but it lacks the Fox 36 fork and 4-piston brakes. The Fuel EX 9 Eagle 90 weighs 16.58 kg with RockShox Ultimate suspension.
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LVR sizing advice The Fuel EX is chosen mainly by rider size: if you are between two sizes, the smaller makes the bike more playful in switchbacks, the larger more stable on fast descents. The dropper post is matched to each size; in S, the bike runs a 29-inch front and 27.5-inch rear wheel.
Source: Trek size guide. Bike fitting available in our Béziers shop. |
| Is it suitable for a beginner? | Yes, its handling is reassuring and the dropper post is a big help for progressing on descents. |
| Why a 27.5-inch wheel in S? | To keep clearance behind the saddle for shorter riders. |
| Should I go tubeless? | We recommend it: the rims and tyres are designed for it, and we do the set-up. |
| Does the bronze show the dirt? | No, this mushroom brown hides dust well; a rinse with water is enough. |
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The LVR Cycles verdict The most accomplished Fuel EX 5 for learning and progressing on varied trails, thanks to its RockShox suspension and wide gear range. The Wild Mushroom bronze gives it a natural look that is both understated and original.
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Why buy from LVR Cycles? As a Trek dealer in Béziers, we set your Fuel up tubeless, adjust the suspension to your weight and service 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.
Data sheet
Specific References