For many years, the Trek Top Fuel was a purebred cross country race bike, born as a lightweight, competitive weapon for attacking the most challenging XC circuits. However, according to Trek, the new Top Fuel takes a big step away from it’s racing heritage and reinvents itself as a more fun-loving, capable and versatile all-rounder. We have all the most important details for you!
The new Top Fuel in detail
For 2020, the Trek Top Fuel has undergone some significant changes, that Trek claim will make it a more versatile and capable trail bike. We have summed up these changes for you:
- More travel: The new Trek Top Fuel gets 120 mm travel up front (increased from 100 mm on the previous model), and 115 mm travel out back ( a 15 mm increase).
- Geometry changes: The new Top Fuel features longer and slacker geometry compared to its previous iteration. The reach has grown slightly, the head angle has been slackened by over 2.5 degrees and the seat tube angle has been steepened by one degree.
- More clearance: The new Trek Top Fuel now has clearance for 29 x 2.4” tires and more room for dropper posts.
- New lower shock mount design: The new Top Fuel has moved away from Trek’s Full Floater design and opted for a fixed lower shock mount (as found on the Slash and Remedy). According to Trek this improves frame stiffness and cable routing whilst having no derogatory effect on the suspension performance.
Features of the new Trek Top Fuel
Every Top Fuel now comes specced with a dropper post and downtube protection as well as wider bars and shorter stems compared to the previous model. The stem has 13 degrees of rise and can be run both ways, giving the option of a slammed cockpit for more nimble steering or a raised bar for trail riding.
The new Trek Top Fuel also features Trek’s renowned Active Braking Pivot (ABP) which helps to keep the suspension active under braking. Trek’s Mino Link geometry adjustment system (flip chip) is also included, now located on the front of the rocker link at the upper shock mounting bolt. The Top Fuel will be shipped with the Mino Link in “Lo” position.
Trek’s signature Straight Shot downtube is claimed to increase the stiffness of the downtube and save weight, while the Knock Block prevents the fork and controls from impacting the frame. Trek’s Control Freak cable routing ensures a neat cockpit and is Di2 compatible.
Geometry of the Top Fuel
As the Trek Top Fuel moves away from its former XC race-bike self, the geometry has changed too. Following the longer, lower and slacker trend the new Top Fuel has lost 2.5 ° from its head angle (in “Lo” setting) taking it to 67.5°. The reach has also been stretched by 13 mm to 470 mm size large (in “Lo” setting). The seat angle has been steepened by 1 degree to 75 °.
| Size | S | M | ML | L | XL | XXL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat tube | 394 mm | 419 mm | 445 mm | 470 mm | 521 mm | 750 mm |
| Top tube | 564 mm | 599 mm | 615 mm | 632 mm | 651 mm | 676 mm |
| Head tube | 90 mm | 90 mm | 90 mm | 100 mm | 110 mm | 120 mm |
| Head angle | 67.5° | 67.5° | 67.5° | 67.5° | 67.5° | 67.5° |
| Seat angle | 75° | 75° | 75° | 75° | 75° | 75° |
| Chainstay | 435 mm | 435 mm | 435 mm | 435 mm | 435 mm | 435 mm |
| BB Height | 336.5 mm | 336.5 mm | 336.5 mm | 336.5 mm | 336.5 mm | 336.5 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1117 mm | 1152 mm | 1168 mm | 1186 mm | 1207 mm | 1234 mm |
| Reach | 405 mm | 440 mm | 456 mm | 470 mm | 487 mm | 510 mm |
| Stack | 594 mm | 594 mm | 594 mm | 603 mm | 612 mm | 621 mm |
First impressions
The new Trek Top Fuel takes a big step away from its purebred racing predecessors and shifts its focus to chasing trail thrills instead of XC podiums. It has transformed into a bike that looks capable and fun and could be the perfect bike for riders looking for a fast, agile and precise trail bike for flowy trails. We can’t wait to try one for ourselves!
More info at trekbikes.com
The full model lineup can be found on the next page.
