My ex 5 has several upgrades now, It went from a very nice bike to an Unreal ride,, the bike Has Fox 36 factory 150 grip2 up front, Fox Factory DPS Evol rear, 2x Rekon 2.60 max terra, 3c eco tw wt, Egon grips (3) and Ergon Seat, Part of Group is XT now. It's very sweet,
I agree, Sounds similar to mine now. Mine has been completely upgraded as well nothing is stock. Mine has a fox 36 140mm performance with oil slick chrome decals , fox factory Dpx 2 with the piggy back, full XT drive train with race face crank arms, 4 piston Deore brakes front and rear, Hunt trail wide wheels with 72 points of engagement, Oneup carbon bar, crank bros 150mm dropper, Ergon oil silk saddle and grips, and Maxxis tires DHF 2.5 and Ardent 2.4 in the rear, race face turbine stem and PNW pedals both raw aluminum. Bike is an absolute weapon now.
Hey I’m thinking about getting this bike on sale and doing the same upgrades. Can I handle really techy climbs and down hills ? I want an AL bike as it is going to get scratched.
@@cberg9480 the bike works very well for me, I like tech riding, I have found nothing i can not do on it, is it a DH bike no but it feels very good on a decent
without sounding like the old guy in the room, but its truly amazing at what you can get today vs 20yrs ago, it may sound obvious but for anyone who has been riding since the 90's or before, Im sure you will agree, the advancments in Geo, suspension.....truly the golden era for MTBing. Kudos to Trek and other companies bringing excellent value to this under $2,500 price range for full suspension
I definitely know what you mean. Someone donated a rockhopper (really old one, 90s maybe) to me and I got hooked on riding mtb. Decided to upgrade to a 2020 trek and it was night and day, even 3rd world country. I have no idea how ppl use to mtb on the old stuff.
I'm still riding a 1997 Specialized Ground Control and getting ready to upgrade after getting back in the woods. New bikes I've tried out are such fun to ride with out getting tossed around.
@@MrVinman711 longer travel forks, brakes, Eagle drive train, grips, saddle, Maxxis tires, and last but not least..... my handlebar mounted downhill bell so people can avoid me like the plague when I toss myself down the side of a mountain.
@Silver Back the bike itself works fine no issues at all. The tires it came with are 2.6’s which is a bit aggressive for the XC type trails i ride so I’m in the process of going to a tubeless setup with Vittoria mezcal 2.35s.
Bike is a beast when upgraded. Mine now has better spec then the 9.7 trek fuel ex, upgrades: A Fox 36 performance kept it 140mm, fox factory DPX 2 with the piggy back, 4 piston Deore brakes front and rear, full XT drivetrain, one up carbon bar, hunt wheels Maxxis tires and Ergon oilslick contact points, race face turbine stem and PNW pedals both raw alloy, bike is an absolute weapon!
I own this bike and really like it so far. Great video as always! I also swapped my tires out to convert to tubeless. I chose the Specialized Butchers in 2.6 because tires options are limited at the moment but they seem to be pretty decent so far. I'm a MTB newbie so I guess time will tell if I like them long term.
Wow. Looks nice. Fuel EX 5 improved a lot. Nice to see dropper post and 1x12 drivetrain. Just few years ago Fuel EX 5 had 2x drivetrain with no dropper posts.
So true. My only bummer is the "Comp" level tires. Everything else is killer for the price of this bike. Not to mention the frame is a worthy one to upgrade with over time.
@@Jamesthebikeguy I have used XR4 Team issue tires for 2 years now and never had a flat. Can be bit sketchy with slides here and there but fast rolling and solid tire. Rode XR2 Comp before and it is just XC tire but had 2 flats in a week. Felt durability and flat resistance wasn't good.
@@Jamesthebikeguy its a lovely frame but for the money its not a killer build. Look what u get for the same price by canyon. A fox rhytm fork, fox dps damper, Slx dirvetrain with xt derailer and slx brakes. For the same price
Where are you located and what was your wait time ? I ordered and paid for mine August 2019....Still not here....they told me December now....im pissed....Oh and I'm in Canada
Originally I was planning on getting the five,,, everybody says get a level or two up you won’t regret it because of the suspension upgrades.. man, I think it’s happening I might get my full suspension bike soon!
@@sassysteve6700 yea, I mean go level up because of the better shock that comes with the bike. Same bike different components I believe, anyways ended up not pulling the trigger on the trail bike just yet. I’ll put another year into my Rasco 7
Got this bike on the 6th of January even in the same colour.. My experience has been very different with this bike. My BB makes alot of annoying creaking sounds.. the dropper seat jiggles left and right. The knockblock doesnt stop anything. I'm 20 yr old student and trust me.... I look after this bike like my own eyes and I was very very disapointed to have all these issues with bike that's almost 4 months old. It's never been to trails either (because of weather in uk), no crashes ... I wasn't expecting such things after 4 months of owning and riding it every Sunday only...
As a 2020 EX7 owner I have a couple of thoughts for you. 1st - the creaking is not from the BB, it is a known issue with the main pivot bolt, checkout my video on how to fix it in less than 30min: czcams.com/video/JZTtCDeZfg8/video.html 2nd - the Knock Block "doesnt do anything" because it is preventing damage. If it wasn't there that is when "something" would happen. 3rd - Dropper post toggle is relativly normal. A few degrees each way is standard. Anymore then you might want to take advantage of the warranty that comes with your bike. 4th - Have fun and pedal on!
i have bought a 2022 fuel ex 5 deore …cant wait. the only problem is what tires would fit the rim because the x4r comp are not tubeless compatible. i’m looking toward maxxis tires.
Aside from the paint job the giant trance x 29 3 has this beat in every category. Better brakes, better dropper, better wheels/hubs, for $150 less. The value from Trek just isn’t there.
Ya, the specs aren't great for the price, I was looking at a giant, but I ended up going with a norco fluid fs 1, and I got the bike shop to take some $$$ of the price tag because I had to drive quite a way to pick it up. It's the only bike in this price range with a rockshox pike, plus it has 4 pot brakes and an xt derailleur with a slx shifter and cassette. I do like the adjustable geo on the trek though
@@carbone141 what's your price range and what's in stock at your local bike shop? I always recommend buying at your local bike shop instead of online because most bike shops will give you some free tune ups and other perks. The bike shop where I bought my norco gives free tune ups for a year (let's say you go for 5 tune ups in a year, that saves you close to $500), they also give you a free lesson on bike maintenance taught by their professional mechanics, and they give 15% of on bike accessories on the day that you buy your bike and they even claim that they will even give you free brownies if they have any left and you ask nicely:D .I would go around to your local bike shops and see what brands they carry in your price range and start there
Hi James, Great videos mate. Enjoying the channel a lot. Keep up the good work. I have a question regarding the rear hub. Is it upgradable as per your videos for the Shimano Mirco Spline Freehub? Is it also 54 teeth and can it be upgraded to 108 POEs? Best, Alex
Which one would you recommend between Marshal devinci, Trek Fuel EX 5 and RM Instinct Alloy 10? I have never ridden Full Susp but had ridden HT in easy trails. I rather a bike that is more confident in descent, corners and efficient enough on the climb. So, which one do you think is best for the price and what I am looking for? Thanks
Me too. what did you get and if you would would you reconsider? currently I'm looking at this bike Trek fuel EX 5, 29er and the Trance 2, 29er that comes with the Fox set-up. and NX eagle drive train
@@janventer9413 I think I'm gonna go for the Trance 27.5 aluminum in M size . The reason why I haven't purchased the bike yet is because I hate that black matte they painted the bike in and since it is on layaway , the store allows me to wait until the 2022 colors come in .... so I keep beating my old Ironhorse 3.1 Warrior which is completely built until the call me from the store , and of course , making the monthly payments .
@@armandojuan64 thank you very much for the feedback! I unfortunately couldn't buy the giant trance but then a specialized stumpjumper came my way with fox 36 extra volume fork and extra volume Fox float rear suspension also fitted Magura brakes. So I'm very happy
@@Jamesthebikeguy Great review! I was looking for an entry-level full suspension bike. After visiting a few bike shops & watching some reviews, I decided to buy this bike at the local Trek store. I really like how the color pops! It’s like the Caterpillar version of bikes. When placing the order, since I’m a small frame, they gave me the option of 27.5” or 29” wheels. I ended up buying the bigger wheels but what baffled me was the ETA. The bike with 29” wheels had the earliest ETA around January 2022. But the 27.5” had a longer ETA, by August 2022! I never imagined the wheel size could make such a big difference in delivery time! 😳
I'm currently looking to buy a new mountainbike, it's been 20 years. After extensive research I'm a little upset that this bike cost 2800€ and has such low quality components on it. 200€ Fork, 100€ Shock (7+ year old tech from noname brand? Can't find any information about this shock for setting it up), very heavy aluminium frame, no XT components, not tubeless ready by factory. Comparing it to 2700€ Cube Stereo 140 HPC SL, which is ~3kg lighter with carbon frame, has better fork, Deluxe Select+ shock, XT shifter, better brakes, etc. Really wondering where the money on this bike goes to be honest. Problem is, local stores have the Trek in Stock, but none has the Cube. I tried ordering online, but because the only 3 bike shops in my city only take in bikes that were bought there I would have trouble to get stuff repaired. Also I cannot try multiple sizes. So I sent the Stereo 140 HPC SL back, even though it's basically a ferrari compared to this trek for less money. Pike Ultimate fork alone is ~700€, triple the price of this cheap Silver RL on the trek. What a bummer, really.
How does the slack seat tube angle work on really steep climbs? Other options like the Trance X 29 have 2 degrees steeper seat. Did you loop out on any steep climbs?
I have the ex8 and no, it's too long to loop out. For a heavy full suspension bike it climbs very well. I do employ the compression damper on the rear shock for any steep climbing, which seems to have the effect of raising the rear end a bit as the damper resists bobbing from pedaling forces.
Unlikely, they are wire-bead. Those rarely setup tubeless, and never stay seated. Wire bead tires rely on the tube to press the tire bead into the wheel's hook.
Well would you pay $100 more for the bike with tubeless? This will sell mostly to novice/intermediate riders who might not initially go tubeless. If they do they can always upgrade. Saves everyone from paying the $100 up front and keep the bike Price competitive
Hi there, I’d like to know how this bike does on uphills, about to buy one and I’m more of an XC guy, I’ve been told that it does great on uphills but I’d like to know an opinion from someone else
Yes it is nice to ride uphill with the Fuel Ex. I think it's the perfect bike to combine XC and sort of Enduro riding. As it has 140/130mm of travel it's easy to ride uphill and you also have lots of fun riding back down. So if you want a good bike to ride uphill with then i would definately recommend you the Fuel Ex. Got my 9.8 2 months ago and could not be more happy (My english is not that good as i am from Switzerland. Sorry)
Bro.. Ordered my Fuel Ex 5 M/L frame last August...it's still not here...I was told it's coming in December....Trek hasn't said when they are releasing the 2022's yet.... I'm located in Canada...where are you ?
Hey mate , this is cyclepath from Australia . Was wondering if you have a easy fix for rattling internal cables . Love to ride hard but the rattling is driving me batty .
Still... didn't get one thing about the numbers. If 5,7,8 are the same frame why these numbers then? And why 9 goes in 9.5, 9.7, 9.8... etc. What these numbers mean and how do I understand what to buy if I never rode any of them?
@@Jamesthebikeguy ok I have this bike and I considered to buy the rockhopper elite but it was much better except for the fork but the fork is fine on the norco so I bought it mudch lower price than rockhopper
The stumpy generally has a better build for a better price, I’ve also also thought the fuel ex feels heavy to ride around where as my friends stumpy feels alive, try to ride both if you can find them anywhere, cheers.
I am 5'8 w/ 30" inseam when I buy pants. Owning both the MD and the M/L I prefer the M/L. No way you want a small, and only a medium if you prefer something a bit more playful. If you favor reach and stability the M/L is the ticket.
Haha yeah it actually does. 5mm at the crank is actualy fairly substantial. Headtubes from the slackest to the steepest on mountain bikes are about a 7 degree spread. So .5 is a fair increment
@kintamaHD I am afraid you are missing the supply chain cost. Trek knows what they are doing, and in fact, higher-end versions of this bike come with different-sized droppers correlating with frame size, so you get the most drop possible. Here is a very likely reason they do not do so on the lowest-end version of the bike. When building these bikes, you have almost 100 unique parts, and changing to where you have multiple dropper lengths intensifies both the SKU management and the JIT management. Usually, a part like this is much less expensive to produce in just one size. That reduces production cost and inventory cost. The moment you add multiple SKUs, the JIT management gets much more complex, leading to delays and reduced capacity. This change would result in likely a $20-30 production cost, and a $50-75 customer landed cost. So to get a seat post on an M/L that has a 150mm drop would make the bike cost $75 more since you can't run a 150mm dropper on every bike. At this price point, these bikes are ultra-competitive and super high volume sellers. It would be foolish of Trek to add $75 to the MSRP on the bike with little to no perceivable change for the customer. That is the kind of thing that you usually see on higher-end bikes where the price elasticity allows for a product manager to make minor incremental tweaks that only some will appreciate.
Interested in Cars, Racing, and R/C Vehicles? Check out my 2nd Channel Jrs Gasoline Alley here: czcams.com/channels/pRReJABfwDGgsfSTYiItUg.html
Haha yet another mountain biker who like cars and RC
maybe do the slash
My ex 5 has several upgrades now, It went from a very nice bike to an Unreal ride,, the bike Has Fox 36 factory 150 grip2 up front, Fox Factory DPS Evol rear, 2x Rekon 2.60 max terra, 3c eco tw wt, Egon grips (3) and Ergon Seat, Part of Group is XT now. It's very sweet,
I agree, Sounds similar to mine now. Mine has been completely upgraded as well nothing is stock. Mine has a fox 36 140mm performance with oil slick chrome decals , fox factory Dpx 2 with the piggy back, full XT drive train with race face crank arms, 4 piston Deore brakes front and rear, Hunt trail wide wheels with 72 points of engagement, Oneup carbon bar, crank bros 150mm dropper, Ergon oil silk saddle and grips, and Maxxis tires DHF 2.5 and Ardent 2.4 in the rear, race face turbine stem and PNW pedals both raw aluminum. Bike is an absolute weapon now.
Hey I’m thinking about getting this bike on sale and doing the same upgrades. Can I handle really techy climbs and down hills ? I want an AL bike as it is going to get scratched.
@@cberg9480 the bike works very well for me, I like tech riding, I have found nothing i can not do on it, is it a DH bike no but it feels very good on a decent
without sounding like the old guy in the room, but its truly amazing at what you can get today vs 20yrs ago, it may sound obvious but for anyone who has been riding since the 90's or before, Im sure you will agree, the advancments in Geo, suspension.....truly the golden era for MTBing. Kudos to Trek and other companies bringing excellent value to this under $2,500 price range for full suspension
100% agree. Pretty amazing what a bike is/can do today.
I definitely know what you mean. Someone donated a rockhopper (really old one, 90s maybe) to me and I got hooked on riding mtb. Decided to upgrade to a 2020 trek and it was night and day, even 3rd world country. I have no idea how ppl use to mtb on the old stuff.
I'm still riding a 1997 Specialized Ground Control and getting ready to upgrade after getting back in the woods. New bikes I've tried out are such fun to ride with out getting tossed around.
Love my EX5. Upgraded the hell out of it since purchasing it about 2 years ago. The ultimate Colorado shred sled.
Sweet, keep on having fun!
What did you upgrade?
@@MrVinman711 longer travel forks, brakes, Eagle drive train, grips, saddle, Maxxis tires, and last but not least..... my handlebar mounted downhill bell so people can avoid me like the plague when I toss myself down the side of a mountain.
@@stevenwanko2714How did you upgrade the brakes and to which ones? I would want to do that eventually
Getting mine in a couple days I’m stoked
Congrats, great bike!
where did you find one? I am having hard time to find it :(
I bought a 2019 ex 5 and have been upgrading it for years. Turned a 2k bike into a 4k bike and it rides amazing. Love the geometry.
Hey man what did you upgrade? I just bought one and plan on doing the same but don't know what to do
@@timhenderson9794Tires are good to go tubeless and also grips and pedals
One awesome trick on the Frame is you can snug fit an inner tube spare under the bottom rear shock mount and it will still look clean.
Ooh, I got to try that. Thanks for the idea.
Great review. I have this bike and you taught me more about it than the LBS where i bought it did.
@Silver Back the bike itself works fine no issues at all. The tires it came with are 2.6’s which is a bit aggressive for the XC type trails i ride so I’m in the process of going to a tubeless setup with Vittoria mezcal 2.35s.
I love Trek’s paint jobs. I have the 2021 Trek Dual Sport 4 and I’m loving it.
Dual sport 4 is a great bike, have fun with it!
Trek has always had those eye catching paintjobs, thats how i fell in love with the brand
@@maxstellinga4509 Exactly same for me
Bike is a beast when upgraded. Mine now has better spec then the 9.7 trek fuel ex, upgrades: A Fox 36 performance kept it 140mm, fox factory DPX 2 with the piggy back, 4 piston Deore brakes front and rear, full XT drivetrain, one up carbon bar, hunt wheels Maxxis tires and Ergon oilslick contact points, race face turbine stem and PNW pedals both raw alloy, bike is an absolute weapon!
Man Trek has cool color and pains schemes. That bike is bad ass looking.
I own this bike and really like it so far. Great video as always! I also swapped my tires out to convert to tubeless. I chose the Specialized Butchers in 2.6 because tires options are limited at the moment but they seem to be pretty decent so far. I'm a MTB newbie so I guess time will tell if I like them long term.
Good choice!
At what price did you get it ?
I also have the specialized Butchers!!
@@1995suhaib what size is ur tire?
@@1995suhaib mine was 85 a tire but I have 27.5
Just bought this bike in the UK and this video really helped in my buying decision, thank you
Wow. That's a cool looking bike. Like an angry wasp! I have a spot in my living room for it if it needs a good home.
Theres also a blue and black version and it looks sooo much better
If I'm ever looking for a new bike this guy has reviewed every 1 I'm looking at
Do my best, hopefully these are useful videos for you!
Wow. Looks nice. Fuel EX 5 improved a lot. Nice to see dropper post and 1x12 drivetrain. Just few years ago Fuel EX 5 had 2x drivetrain with no dropper posts.
So true. My only bummer is the "Comp" level tires. Everything else is killer for the price of this bike. Not to mention the frame is a worthy one to upgrade with over time.
@@Jamesthebikeguy I have used XR4 Team issue tires for 2 years now and never had a flat. Can be bit sketchy with slides here and there but fast rolling and solid tire. Rode XR2 Comp before and it is just XC tire but had 2 flats in a week. Felt durability and flat resistance wasn't good.
@@Jamesthebikeguy its a lovely frame but for the money its not a killer build. Look what u get for the same price by canyon. A fox rhytm fork, fox dps damper, Slx dirvetrain with xt derailer and slx brakes. For the same price
@@dvxShoeN which bike would that be?
Thank you. It was in time for guests.
Just ordered mine yesterday can't wait
Great choice but be prepared to wait...
Where are you located and what was your wait time ? I ordered and paid for mine August 2019....Still not here....they told me December now....im pissed....Oh and I'm in Canada
@@fatbikedaddy8644 5 month wair
Originally I was planning on getting the five,,, everybody says get a level or two up you won’t regret it because of the suspension upgrades.. man, I think it’s happening I might get my full suspension bike soon!
Isn’t fuel ex 5 full suspension?
@@sassysteve6700 yea, I mean go level up because of the better shock that comes with the bike. Same bike different components I believe, anyways ended up not pulling the trigger on the trail bike just yet. I’ll put another year into my Rasco 7
my 2017 still amazing bike still using nowadays
Got this bike on the 6th of January even in the same colour.. My experience has been very different with this bike. My BB makes alot of annoying creaking sounds.. the dropper seat jiggles left and right. The knockblock doesnt stop anything. I'm 20 yr old student and trust me.... I look after this bike like my own eyes and I was very very disapointed to have all these issues with bike that's almost 4 months old. It's never been to trails either (because of weather in uk), no crashes ... I wasn't expecting such things after 4 months of owning and riding it every Sunday only...
As a 2020 EX7 owner I have a couple of thoughts for you.
1st - the creaking is not from the BB, it is a known issue with the main pivot bolt, checkout my video on how to fix it in less than 30min: czcams.com/video/JZTtCDeZfg8/video.html
2nd - the Knock Block "doesnt do anything" because it is preventing damage. If it wasn't there that is when "something" would happen.
3rd - Dropper post toggle is relativly normal. A few degrees each way is standard. Anymore then you might want to take advantage of the warranty that comes with your bike.
4th - Have fun and pedal on!
@@Jamesthebikeguy Thanks. I saw the video and will be doing the same process. Bike shop told me £200 to do this lol
My main pivot bolt as well just remove it and get some grease on the “c” shaped nut. Never Creek again. The Fuel ex 5 is a great bike.
Are you certainly it’s the BB? Could be the front shock needs proper adjustment.
I had it for a year and took it downhill mtb on Diamond trails with tech and it handled it perfect
Love my EX5.
Awesome
Great review and insight, thank you. Picking mine up today 🥳
Cool, enjoy!
where did you find one? I am having hard time to find it :(
thanks for the review I'm going to get mine on the 27th
Enjoy it
Nice review! Would be nice to get your thoughts on the ride quality, handling etc.
I think I did a bit, but look at any of my ride videos on the EX7
Honestly this is a pretty sweet bike for the price. Very decent build!
Agreed!
@@Jamesthebikeguy now..... The getting one is the problem 🤣🤣🤣
@@chickensendies tell me about it. Was looking at a commencal meta there's none until October. Almost worth waiting for next year's stock
@@George-je1fs Yep... I was at a local bike shop and the eta on bikes is still just crazy!!!
Great walk through thanks!
Cool. There was like four things on that bike I've never seen. It screams ride me!! Thanks for the review.
Thanks for watching!
HAHAHA 4 reflectors
theres a 4 month wait list of this bike right now.....I want it!
Thats where you gotta pre-order. 4mo today, but it will be 4mo in 4mo because everythign will have been pre-sold
Have orange bike. Love it.
Fantastic review - very helpful.
Thanks for watching
Awesome bike. I really like that it's a great do it all type bike.
Right on!
Thats a gift for me right? Man what amazing bike
Ha, wish! Sweet bike though
Nice video! Very informative. Did you make a review video of the ride?
Thanks for the vid man :) Is the hub noisy? Cant really tell if it is in person cause of the camera lol
i have bought a 2022 fuel ex 5 deore …cant wait. the only problem is what tires would fit the rim because the x4r comp are not tubeless compatible. i’m looking toward maxxis tires.
I want one. $3500 aud. For aussies. Now I just gotta work some extra days and save up.
Wow the weight difference between fuel ex 5 and fuel ex 7 is +- 1kg ? Don't you know what is the reason?
Aside from the paint job the giant trance x 29 3 has this beat in every category. Better brakes, better dropper, better wheels/hubs, for $150 less. The value from Trek just isn’t there.
Ya, the specs aren't great for the price, I was looking at a giant, but I ended up going with a norco fluid fs 1, and I got the bike shop to take some $$$ of the price tag because I had to drive quite a way to pick it up. It's the only bike in this price range with a rockshox pike, plus it has 4 pot brakes and an xt derailleur with a slx shifter and cassette. I do like the adjustable geo on the trek though
@@clmfilms8103 any suggestions on what bike I should go for
@@carbone141 what's your price range and what's in stock at your local bike shop? I always recommend buying at your local bike shop instead of online because most bike shops will give you some free tune ups and other perks. The bike shop where I bought my norco gives free tune ups for a year (let's say you go for 5 tune ups in a year, that saves you close to $500), they also give you a free lesson on bike maintenance taught by their professional mechanics, and they give 15% of on bike accessories on the day that you buy your bike and they even claim that they will even give you free brownies if they have any left and you ask nicely:D .I would go around to your local bike shops and see what brands they carry in your price range and start there
@@clmfilms8103 alright cheers thanks for your help really appreciate it
@@carbone141 did you decide yet?
Hi James, Great videos mate. Enjoying the channel a lot. Keep up the good work. I have a question regarding the rear hub. Is it upgradable as per your videos for the Shimano Mirco Spline Freehub? Is it also 54 teeth and can it be upgraded to 108 POEs? Best, Alex
Yes and yes. Thanks for watching!
You sure about that?
according to Trek shock is 210mm x 55mm
would you upgrade the rear shock and if yes
, what would you upgrade it with?
Fyi, the Small comes in the option of 27.5" or 29" tires
Good call out.
I’d normally ride a medium but see they do m/l, would anyone recommend getting the larger size?
How is efficiency?
Which one would you recommend between Marshal devinci, Trek Fuel EX 5 and RM Instinct Alloy 10? I have never ridden Full Susp but had ridden HT in easy trails. I rather a bike that is more confident in descent, corners and efficient enough on the climb. So, which one do you think is best for the price and what I am looking for? Thanks
Does the shock get stiff when you pedal/ climb? Also is the bike good at climbing?
Not quite good at climbing, it is quite heavy and the easiest gear could be a bit lighter, even with 30T
how about a shootout between Fuel EX vs. Yzzo Core?. 😅
£2150 in the UK. I swear this was £1700 in 2020. Same deal with the Fuel EX 7 price increase. Argh.
2350 now in 2022
Thanks buddy 👍
Any time!
What intro song is this from?
I'm having a hard time deciding between this bike and a Giant Trance .
Tough call since both are great bikes.
Me too. what did you get and if you would would you reconsider? currently I'm looking at this bike Trek fuel EX 5, 29er and the Trance 2, 29er that comes with the Fox set-up. and NX eagle drive train
@@janventer9413 I think I'm gonna go for the Trance 27.5 aluminum in M size . The reason why I haven't purchased the bike yet is because I hate that black matte they painted the bike in and since it is on layaway , the store allows me to wait until the 2022 colors come in .... so I keep beating my old Ironhorse 3.1 Warrior which is completely built until the call me from the store , and of course , making the monthly payments .
@@armandojuan64 thank you very much for the feedback! I unfortunately couldn't buy the giant trance but then a specialized stumpjumper came my way with fox 36 extra volume fork and extra volume Fox float rear suspension also fitted Magura brakes. So I'm very happy
My worry is the fork is Recon and 140mm travel. that might snap due to small stanchions.
I don't understand
Those colors! 🔥😎
The best
@@Jamesthebikeguy Great review! I was looking for an entry-level full suspension bike. After visiting a few bike shops & watching some reviews, I decided to buy this bike at the local Trek store. I really like how the color pops! It’s like the Caterpillar version of bikes. When placing the order, since I’m a small frame, they gave me the option of 27.5” or 29” wheels. I ended up buying the bigger wheels but what baffled me was the ETA. The bike with 29” wheels had the earliest ETA around January 2022. But the 27.5” had a longer ETA, by August 2022! I never imagined the wheel size could make such a big difference in delivery time! 😳
@@sergiodjf what is your height bro?
Hi! Nicw video!!! Do you know something about the switch in the bottom of the frame nearby the fork???
That is rebound adjustment
I'm currently looking to buy a new mountainbike, it's been 20 years. After extensive research I'm a little upset that this bike cost 2800€ and has such low quality components on it. 200€ Fork, 100€ Shock (7+ year old tech from noname brand? Can't find any information about this shock for setting it up), very heavy aluminium frame, no XT components, not tubeless ready by factory. Comparing it to 2700€ Cube Stereo 140 HPC SL, which is ~3kg lighter with carbon frame, has better fork, Deluxe Select+ shock, XT shifter, better brakes, etc. Really wondering where the money on this bike goes to be honest.
Problem is, local stores have the Trek in Stock, but none has the Cube. I tried ordering online, but because the only 3 bike shops in my city only take in bikes that were bought there I would have trouble to get stuff repaired. Also I cannot try multiple sizes. So I sent the Stereo 140 HPC SL back, even though it's basically a ferrari compared to this trek for less money. Pike Ultimate fork alone is ~700€, triple the price of this cheap Silver RL on the trek. What a bummer, really.
Im a big guy, thinking to re-take the MTB, this bike is a good entry option ?
I’m getting one
Sick. Enjoy!
How does the slack seat tube angle work on really steep climbs? Other options like the Trance X 29 have 2 degrees steeper seat. Did you loop out on any steep climbs?
I have the ex8 and no, it's too long to loop out. For a heavy full suspension bike it climbs very well. I do employ the compression damper on the rear shock for any steep climbing, which seems to have the effect of raising the rear end a bit as the damper resists bobbing from pedaling forces.
Do u think trance x is better than ghis ex 5
Carbon frame has the snack pack! Awesome!
Yes they do
You can probably set the stock tires up with tubeless, they just won't last as long as TR tires.
Unlikely, they are wire-bead. Those rarely setup tubeless, and never stay seated. Wire bead tires rely on the tube to press the tire bead into the wheel's hook.
@@Jamesthebikeguy I hope that Trek realizes the error of their ways.
Well would you pay $100 more for the bike with tubeless? This will sell mostly to novice/intermediate riders who might not initially go tubeless. If they do they can always upgrade. Saves everyone from paying the $100 up front and keep the bike Price competitive
@@Jamesthebikeguy however, since they're using house-brand tires, I doubt that it would be that great a haircut for Trek to eat the cost.
am curious ... why is the front cog so small .... is there an upgrade to make it larger ??
Depends how big, I Believe chain ring capacity goes up to 38 teeth. What makes you want a larger chainring?
@@Jamesthebikeguy more top end speed
I'm guessing you are looking at the wrong bike then
@@Jamesthebikeguy well it would be nice to have the lows and highs ... i dunno
wooow my dream bike
Get it!
Hi, this question might be stupid but can you fully lockout the rear schock, thanks.
Yes you can.
I'm trying to find myself one here in the UK! Is there a cheapish way to take some weight off this bike? Thanks!
Wheels and cockpit parts
Exelent video
Why thank you.
Hi there, I’d like to know how this bike does on uphills, about to buy one and I’m more of an XC guy, I’ve been told that it does great on uphills but I’d like to know an opinion from someone else
Yes it is nice to ride uphill with the Fuel Ex. I think it's the perfect bike to combine XC and sort of Enduro riding. As it has 140/130mm of travel it's easy to ride uphill and you also have lots of fun riding back down.
So if you want a good bike to ride uphill with then i would definately recommend you the Fuel Ex.
Got my 9.8 2 months ago and could not be more happy
(My english is not that good as i am from Switzerland. Sorry)
Yes it does tires are just too big go with TR XC Tires say 2.3 or so and it will go fast.
Should i wait for the 2022 model of fuel ex 5 or get 2021 model ?
Bro.. Ordered my Fuel Ex 5 M/L frame last August...it's still not here...I was told it's coming in December....Trek hasn't said when they are releasing the 2022's yet....
I'm located in Canada...where are you ?
Abt to buy😬
Sick!
Hey mate , this is cyclepath from Australia . Was wondering if you have a easy fix for rattling internal cables . Love to ride hard but the rattling is driving me batty .
Foam lining
Thanks mate , do you have a vid showing how to ? I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed .
Hello! Man 115kg and 190cm tall. Does such a man fit this bike?
Yeah, buy a XL
Very strange seeing your tires with XR4 comp, mine came last week with XR4 Team Issue TLR 29x2,4. I really don't know why..
Who knows why, but that's a sweet upgrade yours came with. Spec sheet calls for Comp level. Nice win!
@@Jamesthebikeguy exactly, that's a sweet upgrade, can't complain! ;) Cheers
Does this bike run big on size.. looking to buy one I’m 5,7 looking to see what’s the best size for me if anyone can help me thanks
M
Can someone not as new to me tell me if this vs the giant stance 2 is better? Or at least the price difference?
Both are good bikes. You should ride them and see what you like better
@@Jamesthebikeguy I did lol super turn between them
Hi, Do you have 49cm size? Thanks
Does it have custom tuned suspension or can I throw in a bomber z1?
You can throw a bomber on it.
Still... didn't get one thing about the numbers. If 5,7,8 are the same frame why these numbers then? And why 9 goes in 9.5, 9.7, 9.8... etc. What these numbers mean and how do I understand what to buy if I never rode any of them?
lol😂 carbon is 9.Whatever.. anything else ex 5,7,8, are alloy. That’s all you need to know.
@@joshuaallswang8016 so why 9.5, 9.7 and 9.8? What do these numbers tell to a beginner/intermediate rider?
@@alexandrucovaliov8989 they literally mean nothing special bro, just treks way of describing carbon, doesn’t make sense to me either.
can you pls tell me what is that "210×52.5" on rear shock mean? thanks...
The shock dimensions
Hi would you review the norco storm 1 if you could
If I had acess to Norco, I would.
@@Jamesthebikeguy ok I have this bike and I considered to buy the rockhopper elite but it was much better except for the fork but the fork is fine on the norco so I bought it mudch lower price than rockhopper
what is the difference with the 2020 model? It looks like they are the same
Same frame. Upgrade to 12speed instead of the older 10speed. Full shimano drivetrain opposed to last year's shimano/sunrace/raceface mix.
@@Jamesthebikeguy thank you!
Good review but that trek decals make me 🤕
Specialized stumpjumper alloy or trek fuel ex 5 and why? I need help
The one that inspires you to ride the most
The stumpy generally has a better build for a better price, I’ve also also thought the fuel ex feels heavy to ride around where as my friends stumpy feels alive, try to ride both if you can find them anywhere, cheers.
I’m still debating, this one or the stumpjumper alloy?
Can't go wrong either way.
@@Jamesthebikeguy haha, agreed thanks for the reply. I'm 14 and i wanted to get started in mtb
@@arnav7093 14 and looking at a 2.5k bike? Lol I wish I ran a business or had rich parents at 14
Question. Why does you logo say 2014 in it?
2014 is the year I began doing these videos
Im 5'8 1/2 should i go for the small or medium? Help
I am 5'8 w/ 30" inseam when I buy pants. Owning both the MD and the M/L I prefer the M/L.
No way you want a small, and only a medium if you prefer something a bit more playful. If you favor reach and stability the M/L is the ticket.
@@Jamesthebikeguy thanks bro
Where did you get it? I can’t find on in stock anywhere.
Pre-order one from your LBS so it can arrive.
nice video....brazil here........please : gt force 2021
I don't want to blow 3,300 on the fuel ex7 which will hang on my 12k car so I will get the fuel ex5 lol
what's the weight of this bike
Watch until the end, and you will see.
How much?
Check with your local bike shop.
Same price as the Stumpy you reviewed, two pounds less
That is significant!
does anyone know if this will accept a CYC x1 pro gen 2?
Y reflecters🤔
Safety first!
Hi and low Millimetre adjustment. You don't even feel the difference.. 2 to 3mm!!!!!
Ok really 0.5 degrees does not make a difference, neither does 5mm
Haha yeah it actually does. 5mm at the crank is actualy fairly substantial. Headtubes from the slackest to the steepest on mountain bikes are about a 7 degree spread. So .5 is a fair increment
Sorry, but 130mm dropper is not acceptable in 2021.
At that price on a FS, it’s not bad.
@@orriechaffin2850 there's essentially no cost difference in making the tubes 2cm longer. It's just out of touch with how droppers are used.
@kintamaHD I am afraid you are missing the supply chain cost. Trek knows what they are doing, and in fact, higher-end versions of this bike come with different-sized droppers correlating with frame size, so you get the most drop possible. Here is a very likely reason they do not do so on the lowest-end version of the bike.
When building these bikes, you have almost 100 unique parts, and changing to where you have multiple dropper lengths intensifies both the SKU management and the JIT management. Usually, a part like this is much less expensive to produce in just one size. That reduces production cost and inventory cost. The moment you add multiple SKUs, the JIT management gets much more complex, leading to delays and reduced capacity. This change would result in likely a $20-30 production cost, and a $50-75 customer landed cost. So to get a seat post on an M/L that has a 150mm drop would make the bike cost $75 more since you can't run a 150mm dropper on every bike. At this price point, these bikes are ultra-competitive and super high volume sellers. It would be foolish of Trek to add $75 to the MSRP on the bike with little to no perceivable change for the customer. That is the kind of thing that you usually see on higher-end bikes where the price elasticity allows for a product manager to make minor incremental tweaks that only some will appreciate.
@@Jamesthebikeguy makes perfect sense
@@Jamesthebikeguy damn. I just got served. Can you explain why 30$ increase in price makes it 75$ more costly?
I feel like they stole those colours from Scott
Black and orange are trademarked? Pretty common color scheme across tons of industries
Sisku t8 is better
Pretty much any other bike in this price range has better specs
:o