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Trek Fuel EX Ditches 27.5″ wheels (mostly); New Remedy gets more Enduro, drops 29″

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Fuel_EX_98_29_angfle

Just a few weeks ago, Trek announced the newest version to the Fuel EX family with the Fuel EX 27.5+. Changes to the frame included the ability to run both 27.5+ and 29″ wheels, though the bikes would be shipped with the fatter tires and wheels. Now, Trek is showing their counterparts – essentially the same bikes but with 29″ wheels and 130mm suspension forks. Both bikes use the exact same frame and will still be able to run the alternate wheel size, but Trek will be selling the Fuel EX with either 29″ or 27.5+ wheels from the shop floor.

One of the more interesting takeaways here, is that this appears to be the death of the Fuel EX 27.5. Mostly. Depending on your size (and gender) there are a few exceptions…

Fuel_EX_8_Womens_profile
Photos c. Trek

After launching the Fuel EX 27.5 Plus and now the Fuel EX 29, Trek slipped this line into the press release, “With the exception of Fuel EX 27.5 Plus, all other Fuel EX models are offered exclusively in a 29˝ platform.” There is one exception to that rule though – the WSD models (Women’s Specific Design) will still use 27.5″ wheels for the 14.5 and 15.5″ sizes for “more maneuverability and a better overall fit.”

Does this signal the end for 27.5″ wheels for shorter travel bikes? As Trek’s Travis Ott puts it, “the Fuel EX 27.5″ is dead.” As is the women’s Lush – both of which are replaced by different versions of the new Fuel EX. Equally as interesting is the death of the Remedy 29 which means all Remedy models going forward are only offered in 27.5″.

Knock block Knock block non bontrager

Fuel_EX_29_Carbon_Frameset_profile

Like the plus models, the Fuel EX 29ers gain 10mm of extra travel for 130mm front and rear, but use a 130mm travel fork to make up for the difference in wheel size. Fuel EX Plus bikes use a 140mm travel fork to raise the front end of the bike and even out the geometry. Other details include the new Straight Shot down tube and the Knock Block steering stop. The device is meant to keep the bars or fork crown from smashing into the frame and is compatible with the custom Bontrager stems, or any other stem with an additional headset spacer clamp.

Fuel_EX_98_Womens_angle

Fuel_EX_5_275_Plus_angle Fuel_EX_9_29_angle

Both men and women will have options for plus or 29″ wheels and in aluminum or carbon frames.

Remedy_98_angle

Remedy_8_profile Remedy_9_angle

While the Fuel EX might be giving up the 27.5″ wheels, the Remedy is keeping the little wheels rolling with a more Enduro focused build. Stock bikes will feature 150mm travel front and rear with a slacker head angle. However, there will also be two Race Shop Limited versions with a longer 160mm fork with travel adjust to slack things out even more. All Remedy models including the WSD versions will be 27.5″ wheel only.

Mino Link Remedy

Remedy_Carbon_Frameset_profile

Much like the Fuel EX, the Remedy frame benefits from the stiffer Straight Shot down tube (the new frame is stiffer than the existing Slash), Knock Block steerer stop, ABP (Active Braking Pivot), EVO Link, and Full Floater suspension system, plus the RE:aktiv suspension tech which is now packaged in a Metric sized RockShox Deluxe shock. In addition to the Mino Link which offers a high and low geometry setting, the frame offers a longer reach and lower bottom bracket than previous. Of course, the frame stretches out back to accommodate Boost 148 spacing with a Boost fork as well, and both carbon and aluminum frames now all benefit from their Control Freak cable management system.

Fuel_EX_98_Womens_angle

In total there will be 7 models – 5 men’s and 2 women’s, with the men’s 9.9 and 9 falling under the RSL (Race Shop Limited) category with bigger forks and tires. Otherwise, the Remedy 7, 8, and 9.8 and the Remedy WSD 8 and 9.8 will be offered in aluminum (single numbers) and carbon (numbers with decimals) frames.

2017 Trek Fuel EX Remedy pricing 2017 Trek Fuel EX Remedy weights

For more info on complete builds and geometry, head over to trekbikes.com.

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24 Comments
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Matt
Matt
7 years ago

Wow, top of the line Fuel EX coming in at 25 pounds and 28 for the Remedy. That is heavy for premium pricing.

Zach
Zach
7 years ago
Reply to  Matt

25lbs for a 130mm 29er with a dropper….in what world is that heavy?

JMUSuperman
JMUSuperman
7 years ago
Reply to  Zach

Well, last year’s 9.9 29 came in in the 24 pound range.

Haromania
7 years ago
Reply to  Matt

Weights look pretty awesome to me.

yard dog
yard dog
7 years ago

Trek really seems to know WTF they’re doing. Nice bikes.

Nick
Nick
7 years ago

I’m just confused as to what bike has which wheel, and which ones don’t have which other wheels sizes.

CJ
CJ
7 years ago

I do not get dropping the 29 wheels from the Remedy, what is the point? First long travel 29’er appear to be more in style these days. Second the 29’er Remedy got a lot of great reviews in the last few years. I do not like Trek, but it was a bike I would have considered for a longer travel 29’er.

CJ
CJ
7 years ago
Reply to  CJ

One more odd thing, their EWS team raced the 29’er Remedy A LOT, and won a lot on that bike. Who knows…..

chris
chris
7 years ago
Reply to  CJ

Maybe the decisions are based on sales results and not race results??? Also, they have/have had a couple riders who excel on 29ers, but most everyone else is most often on the smaller wheels, seems like?

Tom
Tom
7 years ago
Reply to  CJ

The new Slash is rumoured to be a 29er, which will then add a long travel 29er back into the range

Chader09
Chader09
7 years ago
Reply to  CJ

Expect to see a new Slash model that uses 29″ wheels. It will replace what the Remedy 29 was. Probably 160mm front and 150-160mm rear travel, long & slackness and such. It will be more like what the team raced last season and in line with the other long-travel 29ers from other makers.

Trek is making a more clear break in the intended usage by wheel size and travel this season. It should make it more clear than the duplicated mess that was the double wheel size model mess that was the 2016 model year.

traildog
traildog
7 years ago
Reply to  Chader09

@chader09 interesting, that would explain more, as T-Mo and Justin Leov put the Remedy 29 to very good work in the EWS.

TheKaiser
TheKaiser
7 years ago
Reply to  Chader09

While I get the general principal of varying wheel size with intended usage, if the rumors are true about the new 29er Slash it seems seems kind of schizophrenic to run 29″ on the shorter travel Fuels, then go 27.5″ only on the mid travel Remedy, and then BACK to 29″ for the long travel Slash.

Chader09
Chader09
7 years ago
Reply to  TheKaiser

Since the Slash seems to be their “Enduro” bike, they want it to be the “race” bike. As such, all their testing shows the larger wheel size to be superior for holding speed via better rollover, maintaining momentum and increasing cornering traction.

All of those are “free speed” in the EWS world, so that wins out over the slight advantage of 650b flickability, for racing purposes at least.

I see the breakdown this way:

Fuel EX: 29er mid travel for all-around trail riding, but some XC/Endurance racing and wanting the speed from 29er wheels.

Fuel EX+: 650b+ mid travel for all-around trail riding, focusing on entry to mid level riders looking for more security and stability from the mid fat tires.

Remedy: 650b long travel for the more aggressive trails and drops.

Slash: 29er long travel for enduro racing.

I could easily be wrong, but it makes sense to me.

Cam BOD
Cam BOD
7 years ago

CJ, don’t assume Trek isn’t releasing a long travel 29er. The success of the remedy 29 with a 160 fork on the EWS may prompt the development of a longer travel model than the remedy 29. I’m absolutely loving the fuel ex 27.5 plus, can’t wait to see what they release next…

chris
chris
7 years ago

Can’t wait to see the new Slash if the Remedy is that good… 🙂

Marin
Marin
7 years ago

I think 27.5+ concept is flawed.
When they were making it, it would’ve been more logical to go for slightly bigger rim diameter so that 27.5+ with an appropriate tire has same circumference as 29er.
As it stands, it’s smaller and messes with the geometry in a counter productive fashion, BB height drops with tires that are meant to be better over rocks, loose and chunky terrain

GTM
GTM
7 years ago

Thanks Trek for dropping size 23 and further limiting choices for bigger riders…

Steve
Steve
7 years ago

Have you any recumbent tricycles for adults with electric motors?

cym
cym
7 years ago

Tried a 29″ for the first time the other day. So glad I didnt buy into it (pushed by sales people as I’m 6’3″).
I went 26 as I dont want that 15% increase in acceleration power)
As suspected my big boat feet kept touching the front wheel.
But finding decent tyres these days issue.

Izzy
Izzy
7 years ago

The 27.5 Plus men’s models are the same prices as the WSDs?

Matt
Matt
7 years ago

pressfit + integrated headset. thanks but double no thanks.

Thierry
Thierry
7 years ago

I want my fuel to be a Trail bike not a Remedy. 130 mm, 28,4 lbs for the 9,8, slack head angle…. That s a west coast fuel and I dont want to ride that in the eastern trails. I ride a fuel for many years (3models), and i m very dispointed by this Remefuel 9,8.

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