I rode a large Fuel EX 8 last week in Cincinnati because I had time to kill before my flight. I’m only 6’0” and it felt perfect. Maybe because I have monkey arms? Anyway, I was doing everything I could to exclude Trek in my bike search and that bike really solidified a spot as a front runner. I rode a Cannondale Jekyll a couple days before and have to say, climbing on it left a lot to be desired. Even set up for me, the bike just felt spongy. Very plush but spongy. It also didn’t have any playfulness to it. It was hard to pop up. The Trek handled everything I threw at it with a smile. I could easily bunny hop it and a 2ft drop was basically unnoticeable. At 3ft of drop to flat, it just planted and went. No bucking and not light on the rear tire, even when body position was not optimal. It stays planted but is fairly easy to ride like a BMX bike, for a MTB. I’m seriously considering ordering a Trek, but from a logical point, it is hard to say the dealer network is worth the premium. When riding the bike though, I’d say the price point ears itself in versatility. The stock tires are terrible though. They don’t grip anywhere very well. Tread is too hard and sidewalls are too soft.
Yeah once I threw on the assegai and dhf it was a whole other world, that's the only mandatory swap I think should be made off the bat. The Fuel Ex is dialed, the more I'm riding it, the more I really am enjoying the platform. Cheers and thanks for the comment!
Love Trek. Best lookinh bikes imo and very capable. Got me 2022 slash 9.8 xt. Loving it. Flies in trails. I hope in the future they will consider doing fuel exe version for slash. Basically putting lightweight tq motor into trek slash. That would be dream bike. Easy climbing and shredding downhill
Double down tires are near impossible to get on those Bontrager carbon rims IF the plastic insert is still in them. If you swap the plastic insert out for rim tape, you should have an easier time. But with that being said I run non DD tires now and I never get flats, rather save a pound in rolling weight. Ditch the sram brakes they're trash, never had a good experience with them and you'll save time and money long run going to shimano xt 4 pistons.
