Thread: Review: '08 Trek Fuel EX8 (a bit long...)

I purchased a brand new Trek Fuel EX8 in March fulling intending on riding it a ridiculous amount over the coming summer. I sold my old Specialized Stumpjumper HT, and with the money I got for that coupled with the incredible deal on got on the Trek I was feeling pretty good about myself.

Fast forward to April and May...There wasn't, um, actually much of a spring this year. The snow stayed late, the temperature stayed quite cool and the local trails remained the sloppy mess that they had become over the past winter. Okay, no matter because it can't be cold in June, right?

Fast forward to June...It certainly wasn't cold! It was typical June temperatures, and it was very pleasant. Except for the tiny fact that we got about 11 inches of rain. Now, I know that all of these things are excuses, but it really wasn't a good spring/early summer to ride anything around here.

Now, onto the actual review. After I got a replacement rear caliper (it was defective) and had the rear brake bled--both before I even rode the bike--I was finally ready to ride! I first got to take the bike out on a couple of local trails just to break it in a bit. One of the trails was pretty technical with lots of roots, rocks, short but tight ups & downs and some off-camber stuff all on hard packed dirt. The other trail is much less technical, but much faster with a lot more flow along with some little hucks to it. The Trek did very well on both trails, and the only thing really holding it back was the rider

About 3 weeks ago some buddies and I went up to Marquette, MI to take on some of their amazing trails. For those who don't know, a few years back Marquette was voted by BIKE magazine as one of the top 5 places to live and mt. bike in the United States. The "south" trails outside of Marquette are just awesome! They are very well maintained, very well marked and there is something for everyone there (climbing, downhill, technical XC, fast sweeping switchbacks, etc). I could go on and on, but this review (though it may not seem like it) is actually about the bike.

For a 5" full-suspension XC bike, the EX8 is actually fairly light. Hoist it over your head and you may not think so, but power up a hill in the right gear and it actually climbs very well. It accelerates smoothly and quickly, and getting up to speed is so easy that you might actually forget you're on a FS bike!

The ride is plush without being mushy at all. There seems to be a great juxtaposition of comfort and responsiveness; I could be comfy just pedaling along, and then just point the EX8 and quickly go with no drama. The ergonomics are quite nice as they find a good midpoint between being straight-up in the saddle and being hunched over like a racebike. It's a very confidence inspiring bike, and one that you can get on and ride fast and hard from the very beginning.

The component mix is a good one for the most part with a Fox fork and rear shock, LX shifters, cranks and front derailleur with an XT rear. Avid Juicy 5 hydraulic disc brakes, Bontrager race wheels, stem, seatpost and bars round out the rest. However, the stock tires are Bontrager as well, unfortunately.

Good points:
-fast, good climber, handles well
-good components for price range
-confidence inspiring
-comfortable
-excellent all-around XC bike
-Looks awesome in Satin Khaki Green

Bad points:
-Stock tires. The Bontrager tires are fine for hardpack and some technical stuff, but anything remotely loose, rocky or rutted will have your front washing out and your rear spinning. Sand is their archenemy! I had a spectacular (but easy) crash going downhill in Marquette due to the front washing in sand. I replaced them this week with some WTBs!
-saddle gets a bit hard after a long ride
-stock grips are hard as a rock--they chewed my hands up through my gloves.

Overall, I'm VERY pleased with my purchase, and I won't ever go back to a HT bike ever again. I'd recommend the EX8 to any experienced to serious XC rider. The components are very good for the price point, and the bike's positives far outweigh the negatives--which are simple fixes as well. For my first dual-suspension bike, I think I made the perfect choice.