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With its 4-piston Shimano XT M8220 brakes and a 203 mm rotor at the front, the Trek Fuel EX 9 XT Gen 7 brakes hard and for a long time. The rest follows suit: Alpha NEXT Platinum alloy, Fox Factory suspension (a 36 at the front with 150 mm, a Float X at the rear with 145 mm) and a cable-operated Shimano 1x12 groupset. Weight recorded by Trek: 17.14 kg in M. Lithium Grey/Trek Black Splatter colourway, a steel grey dotted with black specks.
| Frame | Alpha NEXT Platinum aluminium, adjustable progression, interchangeable rocker and shock mount, internal storage, threaded BSA 73, ISCG 05 |
| Suspension | Fox Factory 36 Float EVOL GRIP X2 150 mm fork / Fox Factory Float X 205x60 mm shock, 145 mm |
| Drivetrain | Mechanical Shimano 1x12, long-cage M8200 derailleur, XT M8200 30T chainset, XT M8200 10-51 cassette |
| Brakes | Shimano XT M8220 4-piston hydraulic, RT86 203 mm (front) and 180 mm (rear) rotors |
| Wheels / tyres | Bontrager Line Comp 30 Tubeless Ready / Maxxis Minion DHF MaxxGrip / DHR II MaxxTerra 2.5 in 3C EXO+ (27.5 rear on S) |
| Cockpit | Race Face Turbine alloy 35 mm handlebar, 40 mm rise, Bontrager Elite 45 mm stem |
| Saddle / seatpost | Verse Short Comp 145 mm / Bontrager Line Dropper, 150 to 200 mm depending on size |
| Weight | 17.14 kg in size M (Trek figure, with tubeless sealant, no inner tubes) |
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At a glance
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It is aimed at riders who love long mountain descents, the kind that put brakes to the test, and want a bike that is stable and predictable from top to bottom. Available from S to XL, it fits riders from 155 to 195 cm.
Alpha aluminium, Trek's expertise. Alpha is the generic name for Trek's alloys; the NEXT Platinum version, introduced with the Gen 7 Fuel, is the most advanced. This Fuel EX 9 XT benefits from a frame that does more than just be strong: you can change its progression, flip suspension parts to adjust the geometry, slip a repair kit into the down tube and fit a chain guide on the ISCG 05 mounts.
| 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 |
In short: with identical Fox Factory suspension and XT drivetrain, the carbon Fuel EX 9.8 XT weighs 15.28 kg in M, 1.86 kg less than this aluminium version. The extra weight is felt on long climbs, much less once the slope tips downhill.
The 203 mm front rotor dissipates heat better than a 180 mm rotor: on a descent of several hundred metres of elevation, the lever keeps its travel and braking stays consistent. The 4-piston callipers spread the force over a larger pad area.
The Fox Factory 36 keeps consistent support under braking, which stops the front diving on the steep slopes of the Caroux. We check pad wear every time the bike comes into the workshop: with powerful brakes, new, well bedded-in pads make all the difference.
| Model | Frame | Fork / rear | Drivetrain | Weight (M) |
| 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 XT | Alpha NEXT Platinum alloy | Fox Factory 36, 150 / 145 mm | Shimano XT 1x12 | 17.14 kg |
| Fuel EX 9.8 XT | OCLV Mountain carbon | Fox Factory 36, 150 / 145 mm | Shimano XT 1x12 | 15.28 kg |
Our take: at 17.14 kg in M, this Fuel EX 9 XT is 260 g heavier than the Di2 version, with identical brakes and suspension. The carbon Fuel EX 9.8 XT drops to 15.28 kg with the same spec.
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LVR sizing advice To choose between two sizes, think about your terrain: the more compact for twisty singletrack, the longer for fast, open descents. The dropper post grows with the frame, up to 200 mm in L and XL; the S switches to 27.5 inches at the rear.
Source: Trek size guide. Bike fitting available in our Béziers shop. |
| Why a 203 mm rotor? | To dissipate heat better on long descents and keep braking consistent. |
| When should the pads be changed? | As soon as the lining wears below roughly 1 mm: we check them at every service. |
| Which sizes in this colour? | S, M, L and XL; the S runs a 27.5-inch rear wheel. |
| Does the flecked grey show the dirt? | It hides dust and small marks very well. |
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The LVR Cycles verdict The Fuel EX 9 XT is reassuring on long descents, thanks to powerful XT brakes and a stable Fox Factory fork. Its lithium grey flecked with black stays understated and easy to live with.
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Why buy from LVR Cycles? As a Trek dealer in Béziers, we bleed your XT brakes, check the pads and prepare your Fuel EX 9 for big descents.
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