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The Trek Fuel MX 9.8 XT Gen 7 is a full-suspension mountain bike in OCLV Mountain carbon, 150 mm at the rear and 160 mm up front, equipped with the Shimano XT M8200 1x12 drivetrain, a 29-inch front wheel and a 27.5-inch rear. Weight not published by Trek for this version; for reference, in a size M, the Fuel EX 9.8 XT weighs 15.28 kg and the Fuel LX 9.8 XT Di2 15.97 kg. The Gloss Dark Carmine/Matte Trek Black shade combines a glossy dark carmine and a deep matte black.
| Frame | OCLV Mountain carbon, integrated storage, adjustable progression, interchangeable rocker link and lower shock mount, down tube and transport protection, threaded BSA 73 bottom bracket, ISCG 05, ABP, UDH hanger, Boost |
| Suspension | Fox Factory 36 Float EVOL fork, GRIP X2 damper, 160 mm / Fox Factory Float X shock 205 x 60 mm, 150 mm at the rear |
| Drivetrain | Mechanical Shimano XT M8200 1x12, 30T chainring, 10-51 cassette, M8200 long-cage derailleur |
| Brakes | Shimano XT M8220 4-piston hydraulic, RT86 203 and 180 mm rotors |
| Wheels / tyres | Bontrager Line Comp 30 / mixed set-up: Maxxis Assegai 29x2.5 MaxxGrip up front, Minion DHR II 27.5x2.5 MaxxTerra at the rear, EXO+, Tubeless Ready |
| Cockpit | Race Face Turbine alloy 35 mm handlebar (40 mm rise), Bontrager Elite 45 mm stem, Trek Line Elite grips |
| Saddle / seatpost | Verse Short Comp 145 mm / Bontrager Line Dropper post, 150 to 200 mm of travel depending on size |
| Weight | Weight not published by Trek for this version; references in a size M: Fuel EX 9.8 XT 15.28 kg, Fuel LX 9.8 XT Di2 15.97 kg |
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At a glance
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For the technical mountain biker who loves slow, tricky trails, tight hairpins and steps to clear, more than long high-speed straights. They want a precise bike that is easy to place, and keeps something in reserve when the terrain gets tougher.
OCLV Mountain carbon, Trek's signature. Since 1992, Trek has been eliminating micro-voids from its frames by compacting the fibres under heat and pressure: this is the OCLV process. Its Mountain version, used on the Fuel MX 9.8 XT, prioritises impact resistance, essential on a bike that spends its rides in scree. The frame integrates storage, a threaded BSA bottom bracket and ISCG 05 mounts for a chain guide, under Trek's lifetime warranty.
| OCLV Mountain (Fuel MX 9.8 / 9.9) | Alpha NEXT Platinum (Fuel MX 9) | Carbon Fuel EX / LX | |
| Level | Trek's mountain bike carbon, tuned for impacts | Trek's most advanced aluminium | Same Gen 7 Fuel platform |
| Construction | Plies compacted under heat and pressure | Alpha NEXT Platinum alloy | Identical OCLV Mountain carbon |
| Gen 7 Fuel frameset (M) | 3.31 kg (Fuel EX figure) | 4.95 kg (Fuel EX figure) | 3.31 kg for the EX |
| What it means | Around 1.6 kg less on the frame, lifetime warranty | Heavier, gentler on the budget | 145 / 150 mm (EX) or 160 / 170 mm (LX) |
Put simply: here, carbon is not about climbing faster by a few grams, it lightens the frame by around 1.6 kg compared with Fuel aluminium, making the bike easier to handle and carry. The 9.8 XT pairs this frame with Fox Factory suspension and a proven cable-actuated Shimano groupset.
With a 160 mm fork rather than 170 mm, the front end of the 9.8 XT stays easier to place in the tight hairpins of the Caroux. The Race Face Turbine handlebar with 40 mm rise and the short 45 mm stem give lively steering without twitchiness, ideal for carving corners at low speed.
The Bontrager Line Dropper post, with 150 to 200 mm of travel depending on size, frees up all the space above the 27.5-inch rear wheel. On steep sections, you can shift your hips right back, then come forward again as you initiate the turn, which makes the most technical sections safer.
| Model | Frame | Travel rear / front | Drivetrain | Weight (M) |
| Fuel EX 9.8 XT | OCLV Mountain carbon | 145 / 150 mm | Shimano XT 1x12 | 15.28 kg |
| Fuel MX 9.8 Eagle 90 | OCLV Mountain carbon | 150 / 170 mm | SRAM Eagle 90 T-Type 1x12 | not disclosed |
| Fuel MX 9.8 XT | OCLV Mountain carbon | 150 / 160 mm | Shimano XT 1x12 | not published |
| Fuel MX 9.8 XT Di2 | OCLV Mountain carbon | 150 / 160 mm | Wireless Shimano XT Di2 | not disclosed |
Our take: the 9.8 XT is the carbon Fuel MX most geared towards technical riding thanks to its 160 mm fork, while the Eagle 90 moves to 170 mm. Compared with the Fuel EX 9.8 XT, weighed at 15.28 kg in M, it gains 5 mm of travel at the rear and 10 mm up front.
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LVR sizing advice If you are unsure, go for the smaller size for agility on technical trails, the larger for stability on fast descents. The Line Dropper goes from 150 mm (S) to 170 mm (M) then 200 mm.
Source: Trek size guide. Bike fitting available in our Béziers shop. |
| Good for slow-speed riding? | Yes, the 27.5-inch rear wheel and 45 mm stem make it easy to place. |
| Dropper post suited to my inseam? | We check the insertion and travel that suit your build in our workshop. |
| Can I change the handlebar? | Yes, the 35 mm diameter handlebar and stem are easy to replace to suit your position. |
| Does the glossy red scratch? | Like any paint; a protective film fitted in our workshop limits marks. |
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The LVR Cycles verdict A precise, agile carbon Fuel MX, made for technical trails where every placement counts. The glossy carmine paired with matte black gives it an elegant presence.
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Why buy from LVR Cycles? As a Trek dealer in Béziers, we adjust handlebar height, lever position and dropper travel to your build, then look after your Fuel MX over time.
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