Carbon full-suspension mountain bike Trek Fuel EX 9.8 XT Di2 purple: no derailleur housing, 145/150 mm

Trek Fuel EX 9.8 XT Di2 Purple Phaze: a clean cockpit, less maintenance

On the Trek Fuel EX 9.8 XT Di2 Gen 7, the wireless Shimano XT Di2 drivetrain does away with the derailleur housing: only the brake hoses and the dropper post cable run through the OCLV Mountain carbon frame. 145 / 150 mm Fox Factory suspension, a 10-51 cassette and four-piston XT brakes complete the package. Trek has not published a weight for this version, the reference being the 9.8 XT at 15.28 kg in size M. Purple Phaze/Amethyst Marble blends deep purple with amethyst veins.

Technical specifications

Who is it for?

For the mountain biker who wants to spend less time on maintenance and more time riding, and appreciates a bike with a clean cockpit. It suits riders who often wash their bike after dusty rides and want to stop water and dust getting into the housing.

The LVR workshop view

OCLV carbon, Trek's signature. OCLV refers to the moulding method Trek has applied to its fibres for more than thirty years: compaction under pressure and at high temperature that eliminates internal voids. Its Mountain version is designed for off-road riding, with a layup that prioritises strength against impacts. Combined with the Gen 7 Fuel EX, this carbon brings the frame kit down to 3.31 kg in M, 1.64 kg less than the aluminium version, with Trek's lifetime warranty.

In short: the 9.8 XT Di2 shares its frame, suspension, brakes and wheels with the 9.8 XT; only the derailleur changes, to wireless and electronic. Trek does not publish a weight for this version, so the 9.8 XT at 15.28 kg in M remains the most accurate reference.

A derailleur housing rubbing inside the frame eventually wears and degrades shifting; wireless eliminates this problem. The guided internal routing of the Fuel EX frame also makes it easier to replace the hoses and dropper post cable, a job we regularly carry out in the workshop.

A cockpit free of a housing is tidier, and the bar height can be adjusted without worrying about cable length. After a wash, there is no longer a water entry point towards the derailleur: a real advantage on garrigue trails, which are dusty for much of the year.

Which Fuel should you choose?

Our take: with almost identical spec, the 9.8 XT Di2 stands out from the 9.8 XT through its wireless derailleur. The aluminium Fuel EX 9 XT Di2, at 16.88 kg in M, offers the same drivetrain with a heavier frame.

Your questions

Why buy from LVR Cycles? As a Trek dealer in Béziers, we service your Di2 drivetrain, hoses and Fox suspension, with a firmware update at every service.

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