MTBikeAZ.com

This bike is my baby. I own the 2006 edition of the Fuel EX9. The new features of the 2008 model – the Active Braking Pivot (ABP), Full Floater, and EVO Link – offer a huge step-up in performance.

My 2006 EX9 is a medium size 17.5 inch, but I demoed the new 18.5 size because it’s all they had available (Trek was a popular booth both days at Interbike.) This new size is perfect for me. The geometry has changed quite a bit since 2006. I only got a few good turns and drops in on the 2008 EX9, but it was enough to keep me smiling. I didn’t want to spend all my time on Trek at Interbike since the Ride the Best Tour will be in Phoenix next month and I can ride to my hearts content at South Mountain.

For what I rode, I really enjoyed the new technology. Trail 3 was a short spot of twisted burmed downhill, so I really got to feel the ABP technology in action. It felt smooth around every corner, every bump, every rock. I got the most out of the suspension. It felt like my 2006 Fuel on suspension steroids. No complaints at all. I wish Trek would take trade-ins.

I’ll give the EX9 another spin in a few weeks and write up a more detailed report. Maybe the new Remedy they unveiled at Interbike will be at the demo?? I’d like to see how it handles riding down Mormon, Geronimo or Holbert. Till then.

K-Man’s EX9 Review at the Dirt Rag Blog

Cycling News Fuel EX Review

The 2008 Trek Fuel EX lineup website has officially launched. I got the Trek newsletter this morning.

The official website includes a video of John Riley, Trek Mountain Bike Product Manager, giving an overview of the new technologies on the 2008 Fuel EX lineup - namely the Active Braking Pivot (ABP), Full Floater, and EVO Link. Jose Gonzalez, Trek Director of Suspension Technology, goes in to the details of ABP and Full Floater. Nice touch with the vids showing how this new technology works.

There have already been a few early reviews of the 2008 Fuel EX from Velo News, bikemag.com, Dirt Rag, cyclingnews.com and bicycling.com. Singletrack Magazine has posted a recent review of the Fuel EX including the 69ers.

I can’t wait to demo the new Fuel EX9.5 when Trek comes to Arizona on the Ride the Best Tour later this year. The demo last year was awesome.

See the entire 2008 Lineup and download The Goods (brochure, wallpapers…) and read the King of the Mountain blog where you can read up on the new Fuel EX geometry.

Fuel EX 9.5 | Fuel EX 9.0 | Fuel EX 9

Fuel EX 8 | Fuel EX 7 | Fuel EX 6.5 | Fuel EX 5.5

I just finished up a pretty complete review of my bike on Squidoo. I’ve owned the Fuel EX 9 for just over a year now. It dissapoints me to say that I’ve only logged about 400 mile on the bike so far.

If I wasn’t married or had three kids I’m sure I could have increased that mileage by a factor of 10. But I’d never even dream of trading time with my family for more solo miles in the desert. As long as I get in a few hours of trail time a week I’m pretty happy. I’m lucky that I get to spend lot’s of time with my kids. I love riding, but I love my family more and I’ve got my odometer to prove it!

But 400 miles is enough to know what works and what doesn’t work on the bike. In short, only had major problems with one component. The rear shock, a Rock Shox MC3R. The hydraulic dampening blew on the first shock, and the motion control was motion-less on the next three. I’ve never been able to get use out of the dual pop-lock floodgate control. I’m still trying to decide what to do about my fourth defective shock. SRAM has replaced each one, but when will it end?

That’s pretty much my only rant with this bike. The positives completely overshadow the negatives. For the full review, visit Squidoo.

Last Saturday I went out to the McDowell Mounatain Park for demo day with Trek, Gary Fisher and Lemond. I heard about the demo day through the Bicycle Ranch newsletter.

I’ve been wanting to demo the 2007 Trek bikes. I rode the Fuel EX 9.5 and the Session 10 from Trek and the SuperCaliber 29’er from Fisher. The Fat Possum was out of commission.

Josh Borgmeyer from the Trek Ride the Best tour led the demo and gave me the rundown on all the new features on the Fuel EX line-up. First out on the Fuel EX 9.5. I own the 2006 EX 9 so the new 9.5 was a nice step up. I could never afford to buy it so this ride was as close as I’ll ever get. What a sweet plush ride. The Fox Float RP23 rear suspension has so much versatility, I was able to dial it in pretty quick to give me exactly what I wanted in suspension comfort.

The full XTR components put a big smile on my face. I’ve been riding SRAM X.0 for the past year, so I had to think twice when downshifting… I forgot how smooth XTR feels. I love my X.0, but there’s just something about Shimano that takes me back to the day…

I tell you what too, I’d trade in my Hayes HFX-9 Carbon for the Shimano XTR hydralic disc any day of the week. I’m not a racer and have only owned a couple of bikes so I can’t say much about the technical handling of the EX 9.5 except it was one awesome ride. It climbed, cornered, and cut through everything I gave it like butter. I could really feel the extra inch of travel in back and the 30 mm up front just sweetened the ride.

The SuperCaliber 29′er was my first time out on a 29er. I can’t really give it a fair review because the seat was too high, which made the whole ride a little uncomfprtable. I realized it too far out on the trail and didn’t have the allen to adjust. Not much suspension on the SuperCaliber, so that stiffened up the ride. As for the wheels, I was expecting more out of the 29er, but honestly couldn’t feel too much difference. I was only in the saddle about 20 minutes, so I’ll have to give the 29ers another shake.

Now for the Session 10. What a downhill bombing machine! There were only two drops on the trail worthy of the Session 10 and I took them as hard as I could…several times. I felt like a kid again at the ARCO (my local BMX track)… Flying off the downhill only landing on 10 inches of feathered suspension. The bike weighs about 50 pounds. Can’t feel it going down, but it felt like a hundred on the climbs. I do not recommend climbing with the Session 10… this bike is made for nothing but down, steep and big. I had no business being on that bike, but it sure was fun feeling like a freerider for a few minutes.

I had a good day on the bikes. I’m definitely going to follow the Ride the Best tour schedule and ride more bikes when they come to town.

Josh is an excellent technician. He even helped me troubleshoot a problem with the rear shock on my very own EX 9 and offered his assistance replacing the shock if that’s what it came down too.

Thanks for a great day on the trail TREK.

The 2007 Trek Mountain Bikes are making their way online. The Trek Bikes UK site has the 2007 models up for viewing.

The 2007 Trek Fuel EX 9 (featured at your left) is looking pretty sweet. The 2007 models are decked out in Fox suspension front and rear. A big change over last year’s Rock Shox suspension. I ride the ‘06 EX 9 with pleasure. I shouldn’t even be looking at the 07’s, but it’s fun to see what’s new…

Dirt Rag, Singletrack magazine and Cycling News each reviewed the 2007 line-up. Lots of photos and tech talk about the latest and greatest from Trek.

The US site still has the spec pages hidden, but available to view if you sleuth the URL…

2007 Trek Full Suspension Line-up:

Freeride
2007 Session 10
2007 Session 77
2007 Session 7

All Mountain
Remedy 66
Remedy 6
Remedy 5

Cross Country
2007 Top Fuel SL
2007 Fuel EX9.5
2007 Top Fuel 9.9
2007 Top Fuel 9.8
2007 Fuel EX 9.0
2007 Top Fuel 8
2007 Trek Fuel EX 8
2007 Trek Fuel EX 7

UPDATE

The 2007 Trek Bikes Preview is now online with the entire 2007 line-up - full specs and MSRP.

My 2006 Trek Fuel EX9 in Action on the Hawes Loops in Phoenix, AZ. I love this Bike.