TREK TOP FUEL 8
£3,850 Reworked aluminium downcountry shredder for all-day epics
Once an XC race thoroughbred, the Trek Top Fuel has morphed into a ‘downcountry’ trail shredder for 2022, with 120mm of travel, slacker geometry and all-day ride capability.
THE FRAME
Trek wanted to keep the efficient ride of a cross-country bike, “but make it way more capable”. They’ve moved the main pivot forward and tuned the anti-squat curve to keep the Top Fuel’s pedalling characteristics more consistent throughout the increased range of travel.
Hidden under the bottle cage on the down tube is a storage compartment – Trek’s answer to Specialized’s SWAT box. With reassuringly chunky hardware, this addition features on all 2022 Top Fuels, from the aluminium-framed 5, 7 and 8 models to the carbon fibre 9.7, 9.8, and 9.9. The 2022 Top Fuel also features Trek’s Knock Block 2.0 steering lock limiter, redesigned to increase the steering angle from 58 to 72 degrees. This can be removed if there’s adequate fork crown clearance without it. Another new feature is a seat tube sized for a 34.9mm dropper – a diameter that allows long-drop posts to be made stiffer and more reliable.
With a 76-degree effective seat tube angle and a 66-degree head angle (1.5 degrees slacker than that of the 2021 Top Fuel), the frame has relatively progressive geometry for a downcountry bike. Trek have grown the reach by 10mm on all six sizes, with our large measuring in at 480mm. The chainstays remain a compact 435mm long. A flip-chip at the lower shock mount can be used to steepen the head and seat tube angles by 0.5 degrees, and raise the BB by 7mm.
The US brand have returned to using the old 73mm threaded BB standard, ending plasticky press-fit issues. Internal cable routing is another trend that can cause workshop woes, but there’s full-length sheathing throughout the frame, so replacing control lines should be a breeze.
THE KIT
This is the highest-spec alloy Top Fuel and it gets a lightweight RockShox SID fork and Deluxe Ultimate RCT shock. It rolls on 29in Bontrager Line Comp 30 wheels shod with 2.4in Bontrager tyres, around which there’s ample mud clearance at the rear. A Shimano Deore XT mech and shifter are combined with an SLX crankset, cassette and chain, while Deore four-pot brakes with 180mm/160mm rotors do the stopping. The 780mm bar (which measures 800mm with grips) and 50mm stem come from in-house brand Bontrager. TranzX provide the dropper seatpost, which has a decent 160mm of travel.
THE RIDE
The Top Fuel climbs like a mountain goat. Its seat tube angle is steep for a short-travel bike and puts you further
forward over the BB on the climbs, helping to keep the front wheel planted and pedalling efficient. Combined with the 30x51t bottom gear, this means you can get up almost anything (traction permitting). You get lockouts at both ends for use on smoother ascents; the one on the shock is agricultural but effective, whereas the fork one is rather spongy.
Point the Trek downhill and its flickable chassis is easy to manoeuvre. If you’ve ever felt over-biked and sluggish on a 140mm trail bike, this could be the answer. Whereas some downcountry bikes are XC race rigs on steroids – highly efficient on trailcentre loops but out of their depth on techier descents – the Top Fuel feels like Trek tautened and lightened their Remedy trail bike. It’s a bike that encourages exuberance and practically goads you into pulling manuals.
Far more capable than its 120mm of travel might suggest, the Top Fuel has an involving ride that flatters your skills and glosses over mistakes. With its progressive leverage curve and subtle anti-squat in the mid-stroke, it gives engaging trail feedback, contributing to impeccable cornering manners, and relishes being pushed to the limit.
Even on the steepest trails we never felt limited by the KnockBlock 2.0, unlike with the OG system. The Shimano drivetrain shifts smoothly and reliably, and the Bontrager wheels track reassuringly well. While the brakes are nicely progressive, they lack power on steeper trails with the stock 180mm front and 160mm rear rotors. When you push the Top Fuel beyond its depth, the only other telltale sign is that the 120mm Rockshox SID begins to feel like what it is – a beefed-up XC fork. We’d love to fit a 130mm fork (approved within Trek’s warranty) and spend some more time on the TF8.
www.trekbikes.com