my gen 7 ex 8 is approx 15.8-15.9kg... thats nowhere near DH bike's... in its burly config the alloy is similar weight to a Pro's enduro...
my gen 7 ex 8 is approx 15.8-15.9kg... thats nowhere near DH bike's... in its burly config the alloy is similar weight to a Pro's enduro bike ... Comparing to my slightly lighter test bike - spectral AL 6(new one) I dont think i can tell a difference... In stock form the 30t ring gets the cranks moving more but i've since swapped to SLX drivetrain with 32T ring and swapped wheels/tyres, fork and some other bits over and according to my ride Data, theres no measurable difference - i certainly didnt feel any difference(this is based on my Daily ride data of a 8km loop that has nearly 400m elevation gain, approx 1300 feet) - It rides up and down better than the data from my gen 6 I had when it came out(similar build)
My DH bike is deep into the 19kg mark.
The weight is getting slaughtered in the other site comments but everyone's missing the fact it's got a coil, 38, big brakes, Transmission... that all adds weight over a normal trail bike setup... and its in the lx setup which has 170mm fork...
Nowhere near? No, that's about right. DH bikes are typically lighter than their enduro brethren these days.
my gen 7 ex 8 is approx 15.8-15.9kg... thats nowhere near DH bike's... in its burly config the alloy is similar weight to a Pro's enduro...
my gen 7 ex 8 is approx 15.8-15.9kg... thats nowhere near DH bike's... in its burly config the alloy is similar weight to a Pro's enduro bike ... Comparing to my slightly lighter test bike - spectral AL 6(new one) I dont think i can tell a difference... In stock form the 30t ring gets the cranks moving more but i've since swapped to SLX drivetrain with 32T ring and swapped wheels/tyres, fork and some other bits over and according to my ride Data, theres no measurable difference - i certainly didnt feel any difference(this is based on my Daily ride data of a 8km loop that has nearly 400m elevation gain, approx 1300 feet) - It rides up and down better than the data from my gen 6 I had when it came out(similar build)
My DH bike is deep into the 19kg mark.
The weight is getting slaughtered in the other site comments but everyone's missing the fact it's got a coil, 38, big brakes, Transmission... that all adds weight over a normal trail bike setup... and its in the lx setup which has 170mm fork...
Nowhere near? No, that's about right. DH bikes are typically lighter than their enduro brethren these days.
It’s time people accept that we ask 140mm frames to ride the same trails and features that used to be exclusive to downhill bikes. The big difference is the trail bike has to do it with a dropper post and 12 speed cassette
Top tube hump ✅ Ugly Rocker link ✅ Heavier than previous model ✅
I don't think so.
The Privateer's top tube hump looks like a dog taking a dump and I had legitimately forgotten how bad the rocker link is. I've never been a Trek guy and don't think there is anything that'll convince me to be a Trek guy, but the new Fuel is downright svelte compared to the Privateer.
Weight? I'm on a Madonna, so not the guy to criticize bike weight. Lol.
Top tube hump ✅ Ugly Rocker link ✅ Heavier than previous model ✅
My first thought when seeing the frame tbh. I’m seeing way too many top tube humps these days. They signal lower stack which some of us despise, so I’m wondering if that’s the subconscious origin of the hate (beyond whatever aesthetic issue they bring…)
From the consumer side it definitely looks more complex, but from the manufacturing side even with all these options they have still reduced their SKU's, what...
From the consumer side it definitely looks more complex, but from the manufacturing side even with all these options they have still reduced their SKU's, what was previously three bikes has now been wrapped into one frame, the only parts that change are the Rocker links and lower shock mounts which are pretty small and easy to manufacture.
Before they had three bikes, the Remedy, Gen 5 Slash and Fuel, each with their own corresponding parts, e.g different rocker links, different chainstays, different seatstays, different frames, etc. Now with the new model, you have one frame, one set of seatstays/chainstays, etc.
Now, with the new platform, there's one frame and one set of seatstays/chainstays. This gives them the ability to scale output to meet demand. For example, if they previously had a bunch of Slashes or Remedys sitting around unsold, that production capacity can now be pivoted to make more Fuels if that's what consumers are after. It makes a lot of sense from a business and manufacturing standpoint. The challenging part of getting that system to work is having the scale to implement it, which a company like Trek obviously has. It also dramatically simplifies warranty procedures as rather than having to carry three different frames and sets of frame specific parts all they need is Fuel/Fuel+ parts.
I've said it before in this thread, but I expect more of the big brands to go in this direction. It maintains a wide range of choice for the consumer while reducing the total number of parts that need to be produced. It's similar to how Specialized combined the Stumpy and Stumpy EVO, but this approach feels less compromised. The rider gets much more granular control over the bike's setup with all the built-in adjustment options.
You nailed it.I keep coming back to moto and powersports, they’ve long had to figure out how to do more with less. (models, trim levels etc...
You nailed it.
I keep coming back to moto and powersports, they’ve long had to figure out how to do more with less. (models, trim levels etc, all with one frame)
When one or two “special” parts unlock a wide range of options, and those parts are easy or cheap to produce compared to the rest of the high-cost product, that’s a huge win. Even if it inflates the perceived SKU count, it’s still efficient.
It’s like Chipotle: 100,000+ burrito combinations, but just a handful of inputs and tight control over the process. Very different than cheesecake factory, even if it looks like there are an equal number of options at either establishment.
I wouldn't be surprised if they basically end up with three key frames:Next Gen Top Fuel for Cross Country/Downcountry/TrailFuel for Trail/All-Mountain/EnduroThen the Next Gen Slash/Session for...
I wouldn't be surprised if they basically end up with three key frames:
Next Gen Top Fuel for Cross Country/Downcountry/Trail
Fuel for Trail/All-Mountain/Enduro
Then the Next Gen Slash/Session for Enduro/Downhill. Similar to the latest Orbea Rallon.
I actually saw this on the Slash FB page the other day, apparently it’s a custom 190/190mm travel Gen 6 Slash with custom rocker/lower linkages and dual crown fork.
I imagine a Slashession would be extremely popular since it can be pretty hard to justify a downhill bike for a lot of people, but something that could do both without too many compromises would be pretty compelling.
There is more money to be made by selling two bikes than a bike and a link, but the marketplace can only support so many bikes. I suppose that modularity will be driven by brands calculating that tradeoff, with some brands realizing that they can sell two bikes and other brands realizing that they can’t pull that off. Someone like Speci will keep pushing a different bike for every trail you ride, while smaller brands might find themselves becoming more competitive with a modular offering.
Any info on the mech? Having an electronic DH mech would be cool on a bike like this since you could switch between long and short...
Any info on the mech? Having an electronic DH mech would be cool on a bike like this since you could switch between long and short cage for park days with minimal effort.
You can just use a Gen 1 axs and put a short or medium cage on. Then just max out limit screws.
You nailed it.I keep coming back to moto and powersports, they’ve long had to figure out how to do more with less. (models, trim levels etc...
You nailed it.
I keep coming back to moto and powersports, they’ve long had to figure out how to do more with less. (models, trim levels etc, all with one frame)
When one or two “special” parts unlock a wide range of options, and those parts are easy or cheap to produce compared to the rest of the high-cost product, that’s a huge win. Even if it inflates the perceived SKU count, it’s still efficient.
It’s like Chipotle: 100,000+ burrito combinations, but just a handful of inputs and tight control over the process. Very different than cheesecake factory, even if it looks like there are an equal number of options at either establishment.
I wouldn't be surprised if they basically end up with three key frames:Next Gen Top Fuel for Cross Country/Downcountry/TrailFuel for Trail/All-Mountain/EnduroThen the Next Gen Slash/Session for...
I wouldn't be surprised if they basically end up with three key frames:
Next Gen Top Fuel for Cross Country/Downcountry/Trail
Fuel for Trail/All-Mountain/Enduro
Then the Next Gen Slash/Session for Enduro/Downhill. Similar to the latest Orbea Rallon.
I actually saw this on the Slash FB page the other day, apparently it’s a custom 190/190mm travel Gen 6 Slash with custom rocker/lower linkages and dual crown fork.
I imagine a Slashession would be extremely popular since it can be pretty hard to justify a downhill bike for a lot of people, but something that could do both without too many compromises would be pretty compelling.
There is more money to be made by selling two bikes than a bike and a link, but the marketplace can only support so many bikes...
There is more money to be made by selling two bikes than a bike and a link, but the marketplace can only support so many bikes. I suppose that modularity will be driven by brands calculating that tradeoff, with some brands realizing that they can sell two bikes and other brands realizing that they can’t pull that off. Someone like Speci will keep pushing a different bike for every trail you ride, while smaller brands might find themselves becoming more competitive with a modular offering.
I actually think it’s the opposite. I feel like modularity is harder to pull off cost-effectively as a smaller operation. You really need the economies of scale that only the bigger brands have to pull it off in a way that actually delivers cost savings to the manufacturer.
And specialized already seem to be reducing their product lines, Kenevo is gone and it looks like the Kenevo SL isn’t getting an update either. Stumpy evo is likely out as a bespoke frame at least. Like Trek they have indicated that they are aiming to rationalise product lineups and streamline operations.
I think for these bigger companies it’s potentially almost riskier having too many models compared to smaller brands. After 2020 I think they were badly burnt from excess inventory and are now in the process of rationalising their product lines to maximise efficiency and make sure they never end up with warehouses full of outdated bikes they have to sell for steep discounts again.
It’s also a lot easier to forecast demand with a reduced number of SKU’s.
It’s actually kind of insane how many choices we have for MTB now, I expect long term we will get more market consolidation as the current industry just doesn’t seem sustainable as there’s so much competition that nobody is able to really benefit from economies of scale to undercut competitors. I guess it also doesn’t help that the barrier for entry to making bicycle frames is a lot lower than something like a dirt bike so it’s easy for competitors to enter the market and compete for market share.
My first thought when seeing the frame tbh. I’m seeing way too many top tube humps these days. They signal lower stack which some of us...
My first thought when seeing the frame tbh. I’m seeing way too many top tube humps these days. They signal lower stack which some of us despise, so I’m wondering if that’s the subconscious origin of the hate (beyond whatever aesthetic issue they bring…)
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but if you do FEA on the hump, its much stronger at the head tube junction over a straight top tube. It spreads out stress on the welds and reduces pressure spikes.
I liked the performance of mine, but it wore out so fast I wonder if I had a defective batch. That being said, is it worth getting...
I liked the performance of mine, but it wore out so fast I wonder if I had a defective batch.
That being said, is it worth getting a non-radial tire in 2025? I've asked in the tire chat thread but no one seems to know.
Maybe it's my current conditions/location, or familiarity, but I don't think an Assegai is losing out to a Magic Mary radial by much. Also have ridden Albert radial, which was good. The latest Schwalbe, updated Specialized, Maxxis stalwarts and the Continentals are mix and matched across my stable and they are all pretty good (aside from being way overpriced).
I liked the performance of mine, but it wore out so fast I wonder if I had a defective batch. That being said, is it worth getting...
I liked the performance of mine, but it wore out so fast I wonder if I had a defective batch.
That being said, is it worth getting a non-radial tire in 2025? I've asked in the tire chat thread but no one seems to know.
I guess it depends, personally, no, I love the radials, they feel better than anything else, they grip more, on rocks, roots, loose, hard pack, and they’re just insane on off camber roots, that’s where they really impress me.
A Maxxis Kryptotal, which itself is a Continental Assegai (which was kind of a Maxxis Magic Mary, which was etc. etc. etc.), we've come full circle how many times now?
Eh I guess that's nice? Dissector was always an OK tire, not really better in any way than the Spec Eliminator. Do they last more than 6 rides? That's really what we all truly need to know.
The Eliminator T7/9 grid gravity has been the burly, long lasting Dissector you've been wanting all this time. The new v2 Eliminator is more gravity focused than the old one. Better cornering and braking traction.
Once I burn through my Spec tires I'm trying Contis to see if I've been missing anything.
New Trek Fuel's configuration matrix below, added weights and prices below too (I thought Trek was reducing SKU's, but there are still a pile of build...
New Trek Fuel's configuration matrix below, added weights and prices below too (I thought Trek was reducing SKU's, but there are still a pile of build options between both bikes!)
Stack is so in right now and nice to see Trek moving it up on the latest Fuels.
Nowhere near? No, that's about right. DH bikes are typically lighter than their enduro brethren these days.
Does the new Trek frame vindicate Privateer?
Top tube hump ✅
Ugly Rocker link ✅
Heavier than previous model ✅
It’s time people accept that we ask 140mm frames to ride the same trails and features that used to be exclusive to downhill bikes. The big difference is the trail bike has to do it with a dropper post and 12 speed cassette
I don't think so.
The Privateer's top tube hump looks like a dog taking a dump and I had legitimately forgotten how bad the rocker link is. I've never been a Trek guy and don't think there is anything that'll convince me to be a Trek guy, but the new Fuel is downright svelte compared to the Privateer.
Weight? I'm on a Madonna, so not the guy to criticize bike weight. Lol.
My first thought when seeing the frame tbh. I’m seeing way too many top tube humps these days. They signal lower stack which some of us despise, so I’m wondering if that’s the subconscious origin of the hate (beyond whatever aesthetic issue they bring…)
There is more money to be made by selling two bikes than a bike and a link, but the marketplace can only support so many bikes. I suppose that modularity will be driven by brands calculating that tradeoff, with some brands realizing that they can sell two bikes and other brands realizing that they can’t pull that off. Someone like Speci will keep pushing a different bike for every trail you ride, while smaller brands might find themselves becoming more competitive with a modular offering.
You can just use a Gen 1 axs and put a short or medium cage on. Then just max out limit screws.
Well that's what I did anyway, it works fine.
Nothing will ever vindicate that bike
I like the rocker link. It looks industrial. I’m not a fan of colour matched swoopy carbon links. Give me cascades styling any day.
This looks like a rockshox Genie
Next gen Super Deluxe?
pffft that guy doesn't have any access to pre-production SRAM stuff. Just some old washed up dad.
Who are we talking about?
I actually think it’s the opposite. I feel like modularity is harder to pull off cost-effectively as a smaller operation. You really need the economies of scale that only the bigger brands have to pull it off in a way that actually delivers cost savings to the manufacturer.
And specialized already seem to be reducing their product lines, Kenevo is gone and it looks like the Kenevo SL isn’t getting an update either. Stumpy evo is likely out as a bespoke frame at least. Like Trek they have indicated that they are aiming to rationalise product lineups and streamline operations.
I think for these bigger companies it’s potentially almost riskier having too many models compared to smaller brands. After 2020 I think they were badly burnt from excess inventory and are now in the process of rationalising their product lines to maximise efficiency and make sure they never end up with warehouses full of outdated bikes they have to sell for steep discounts again.
It’s also a lot easier to forecast demand with a reduced number of SKU’s.
It’s actually kind of insane how many choices we have for MTB now, I expect long term we will get more market consolidation as the current industry just doesn’t seem sustainable as there’s so much competition that nobody is able to really benefit from economies of scale to undercut competitors. I guess it also doesn’t help that the barrier for entry to making bicycle frames is a lot lower than something like a dirt bike so it’s easy for competitors to enter the market and compete for market share.
It could also just be a larger air can though?
Whole new shock. Not stubby resivoir and head of shock all looks different.
New Maxxis Dissector (2025)
Did I miss this before now? Enduromtb posted about it already.
https://www.maxxis.com/us/tire/dissector-2/
I really liked the old Dissector, seems like this one is being marketed as a faster option, but looks good.
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but if you do FEA on the hump, its much stronger at the head tube junction over a straight top tube. It spreads out stress on the welds and reduces pressure spikes.
I liked the performance of mine, but it wore out so fast I wonder if I had a defective batch.
That being said, is it worth getting a non-radial tire in 2025? I've asked in the tire chat thread but no one seems to know.
Maybe it's my current conditions/location, or familiarity, but I don't think an Assegai is losing out to a Magic Mary radial by much. Also have ridden Albert radial, which was good. The latest Schwalbe, updated Specialized, Maxxis stalwarts and the Continentals are mix and matched across my stable and they are all pretty good (aside from being way overpriced).
I guess it depends, personally, no, I love the radials, they feel better than anything else, they grip more, on rocks, roots, loose, hard pack, and they’re just insane on off camber roots, that’s where they really impress me.
I liked it as a rear on a non-race big travel bike.
I just want it in a folding bead DH casing with maxterra…
Same with the DHR2, etc.
They need to make the forekaster v2 in DD It's a great rear tyre for alot of trails.
A Maxxis Kryptotal, which itself is a Continental Assegai (which was kind of a Maxxis Magic Mary, which was etc. etc. etc.), we've come full circle how many times now?
Dissectegai?
Eh I guess that's nice? Dissector was always an OK tire, not really better in any way than the Spec Eliminator. Do they last more than 6 rides? That's really what we all truly need to know.
The Eliminator T7/9 grid gravity has been the burly, long lasting Dissector you've been wanting all this time. The new v2 Eliminator is more gravity focused than the old one. Better cornering and braking traction.
Once I burn through my Spec tires I'm trying Contis to see if I've been missing anything.
In my opinion no it's not worth getting a non radial tyre unless you live somewhere where it doesn't rain and it's always hard packed.
welcome to....
Did Trek steal the Giant graphic designers from 2020 for this new drop ?