£4,175
Think Top Fuel, and the image of a XC race bike instantly springs to mind. But like a faded Polaroid tucked into the corner of a dusty picture frame, it’s not an accurate representation of the current design. With the Fuel EX increasing in travel, the Top Fuel has been swept along in its backdraft and seen in high definition, it’s now a capable 29er trail bike with modern sizing and 120mm travel.
Trek offers the new Top Fuel in carbon and alloy options, where the Top Fuel 8 tested here is the high-end alloy build. Regardless of frame material, all Top Fuels come with integrated down tube storage. And while the quick-release hatch under the bottle cage isn’t big enough to cram a three-course lunch into the frame, there’s enough space for a tube, multi-tool, a few snacks and a lightweight jacket.
Trek always offers a comprehensive size range and with frame options from S to XXL, with a ‘tweener M/L option too, the Top Fuel 8 is no exception. It also has geometry adjustment, but rather than using Trek’s signature Mino-link on the seatstay pivot, the Top Fuel has a flip-chip at the lower shock mount. In the low setting this gives a relatively tall 340mm BB height for a 120mm-travel bike, which is probably the only carry-over from its race-bike roots – designed to
