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With its 150 mm RockShox Lyrik Ultimate fork, 145 mm Super Deluxe Ultimate shock and 2.5-inch Maxxis Minion tyres, the Trek Fuel EX 9.8 Eagle 90 Gen 7 is a carbon trail bike that is not afraid of steep slopes. Trek has not published a weight for this version; the 9.8 XT, with the same OCLV Mountain frame, serves as a reference at 15.28 kg in size M. The Gloss Dark Carmine/Matte Trek Black colourway contrasts a glossy dark carmine red with matt black.
| Frame | OCLV Mountain carbon, integrated storage, adjustable progression, threaded BSA 73, ISCG 05, UDH hanger, Boost |
| Suspension | RockShox Lyrik Ultimate Charger 3.1 RC 150 mm / Super Deluxe Ultimate RC2T 145 mm |
| Drivetrain | Mechanical SRAM Eagle 90 T-Type 1x12, 30T steel chainring, XS-1275 10-52 cassette, GX Eagle chain |
| Brakes | SRAM Maven Bronze 4-piston hydraulic, HS2 200 mm (front) and 180 mm (rear) rotors |
| Wheels / tyres | Bontrager Line Comp 30 aluminium / Maxxis Minion DHF (front) and DHR II (rear) 2.5, EXO+, Tubeless Ready |
| 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 post, 150 to 200 mm depending on size |
| Weight | Weight not published by Trek for this version; reference: Fuel EX 9.8 XT, identical carbon frame, 15.28 kg in size M |
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At a glance
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For the rider who is above all looking for fun on the way down: rock gardens, steps, tight switchbacks and small jumps, with the climbs seen as a necessary evil. It will appeal to the mountain biker who rides the region's enduro spots without wanting a 160 or 170 mm bike that is too heavy for the Sunday ride.
OCLV carbon, Trek's signature. For mountain biking, Trek adapts its OCLV process into a Mountain version: the fibre sheets are still heat-compacted under pressure to eliminate micro-voids, but the layup prioritises resistance to rock strikes and crashes over saving grams. On the Gen 7 Fuel EX, the carbon frame kit weighs 3.31 kg in size M, versus 4.95 kg for the Alpha NEXT Platinum aluminium version, and it is covered by Trek's lifetime warranty.
| OCLV Mountain (Fuel EX 9.8 / 9.9) | Alpha NEXT Platinum (Fuel EX 5 to 9) | Road OCLV (Madone, Domane) | |
| Level | Trek's mountain bike carbon | Trek's best MTB aluminium | Road carbon, OCLV 500 to 900 |
| Construction | Layup focused on impact resistance | Hydroformed tubes, dressed welds | Layup focused on lightness and stiffness |
| Fuel EX frameset (M) | 3.31 kg | 4.95 kg | not applicable |
| What it means | 1.64 kg lighter than aluminium, same geometry | Heavier, gentler on the budget | Not designed for MTB impacts |
In short: the 9.8 Eagle 90 is the entry point to the carbon Fuel EX, and it makes a clear-cut choice: the budget goes into the frame and the RockShox Ultimate suspension, the same as on the 9.9, while the drivetrain stays mechanical and simple. Trek does not publish its weight; the 9.8 XT, with the same frame, serves as a reference at 15.28 kg in M.
The MaxxGrip Minion DHF at the front and MaxxTerra DHR II at the rear are a combination usually seen on enduro bikes: the front sticks in the turns, the rear brakes in a straight line. On the red earth and rock slabs of the Salagou, this combination inspires confidence from the very first corners, and the EXO+ casing resists pinch flats better.
The four-piston SRAM Maven Bronze brakes work on a 200 mm rotor at the front: power remains available on long descents where a lighter brake would end up overheating. We recommend checking the bleed at the start of the season, as the summer heat around Béziers puts the fluid to the test.
| Model | Frame | Travel rear / front | Drivetrain | Weight (M) |
| Fuel EX 9 Eagle 90 | Alpha NEXT Platinum alloy | 145 / 150 mm | SRAM Eagle 90 T-Type | 16.58 kg |
| Fuel EX 9.8 Eagle 90 | OCLV Mountain carbon | 145 / 150 mm | SRAM Eagle 90 T-Type | not published |
| Fuel EX 9.8 XT | OCLV Mountain carbon | 145 / 150 mm | Mechanical Shimano XT | 15.28 kg |
| Fuel EX 9.9 X0 AXS | OCLV Mountain carbon | 145 / 150 mm | Wireless SRAM X0 Eagle AXS | 14.08 kg |
Our take: for descending, the 9.8 Eagle 90 has the same suspension and tyres as the 9.9 X0 AXS. If you need even more travel, the Fuel LX 9.8 XT Di2 moves up to 160 / 170 mm for 15.97 kg in M.
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LVR sizing advice If you are between two sizes, the smaller makes the Fuel EX more playful in tight switchbacks, the larger more stable at high speed in rock gardens. The dropper post goes from 150 to 200 mm of travel depending on size, and size S runs a mixed 29 / 27.5 set-up.
Source: Trek size guide. Bike fitting available in our Béziers shop. |
| Enough travel for enduro? | For recreational riding, yes; for committed enduro, the Fuel LX offers 160 / 170 mm. |
| Are the brakes enough on long descents? | Yes, four pistons and a 200 mm front rotor; regular bleeding keeps them consistent. |
| Can I add a chain guide? | Yes, the frame has ISCG 05 mounts. |
| Does the matt black scratch? | Clean it without polishing products; a film protects the rub zones. |
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The LVR Cycles verdict A carbon Fuel EX that favours descending, with suspension and tyres worthy of an enduro bike. The glossy carmine red over matt black asserts that temperament.
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Why buy from LVR Cycles? As a Trek dealer in Béziers, we bleed your brakes, set the Lyrik compression for your local spots and service the suspension of your Fuel EX.
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