trek ex 7 29

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Trek Fuel EX 7 29 review

Loads of modern tech wrapped around a well-known ride feel

Russell Eich / Immediate Media

Russell Eich

Excellent rear suspension, sharp looks, modern tech, name brand notoriety

Narrow, flat bar, short top tube, front suspension can’t keep up with rear end

Trek’s Fuel EX 7 is an aluminum 29er trail bike with 130mm travel on both ends. Despite being loaded with modern technology, it reminded me of bikes from not long ago. As such, the Fuel EX 7 is an excellent bridge between old, outdated technology and all the new, modern, fun stuff we have now.

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Trek Fuel EX 7 29 features

• Frame : Aluminum, 130mm travel, ABP and Full Floater suspension
• Fork : RockShox Reba RL, Solo Air, 51mm offset, 130mm
• Shock : Fox Performance Float Evol
• Drivetrain : SRAM NX 11-speed
• Wheels/tires : Bontrager Line Comp 30 wheels / XR4 Team Issue 29x2.4in tires

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Base level is previous year’s top tier

This Fuel EX 7 sits one up from the starting point in Trek’s robust 13-model Fuel EX line up. Yet, you’d never know it. Trek has done a remarkable job on the aesthetics. Every part looks perfectly matched for a seamless appearance overall. That’s the beauty of having a giant house brand like Bontrager, Trek controls every aspect and detail.

It’s more than just the looks though. It’s loaded with the same technology as the brand’s expensive rigs. It uses the same Active Braking Pivot and Full Floater rear suspension designs, and is outfitted with wide 29in rims laced to Boost hubs, and even has an internally routed dropper post.

The frame is stiff front to back, has adjustable geometry, and remained creak-free. Trek’s turn-reducing, down tube-saving Knock Block headset felt odd when dorking around in parking lots but stayed largely unnoticeable on the trail.

Time travel back 10 or more years and this bike would’ve blown minds. It’s a lot of bike for the money and the parts are totally functional as is, and compatible with nicer components if and when needed.

Rear end overshadows the front

Trek’s Active Braking Pivot and Full Floater technologies make up the 130mm travel rear suspension. As one of the largest bike companies, Trek is able to work with Fox and RockShox and get the exact rear shock tune it wants for its bikes. It shows. The Fuel EX 7’s rear suspension comes closer to that mythical floating feeling than most.

On climbs, both traction and bump isolation were superb. And even though the Fox Performance Float damper had a lockout lever, I never needed or even wanted to flip it.

Descending saw much of the same with excellent support and tracking through rough trail sections. Throughout the 130mm of travel, it was smoothly consistent with zero hiccups or spiking. Trek has employed its ABP rear end for years and has really nailed its rear suspension leverage ratios: supple off the top, supportive in the middle, and good at resisting bottom out.

As good as the rear end was, the Reba RL fork up front wasn’t. RockShox Solo Air spring and Motion Control damping are outclassed compared to its own Charger damper and Fox’s Fit, Grip or Rhythm internals. The chassis was also too thin for a 29er wheel with 130mm of travel. Both of those things made for a long fork and the 32mm stanchions weren’t up to the task with noticeable flexing when whipping through turns.

The bike to bring riders into the new generation

Riding the Fuel EX 7 reminded me of bikes from a few years back. Thankfully, I’m not talking high-post hardtails with V-brakes and 600mm bars, but rather bikes of the mid 2000s.

A lot of this nostalgia came from the flat 750mm bar and 60mm stem. The geometry, too, nods at XC and light trail ripping with a 67.7 degree head angle which keeps the front end responsive. Trek also tilted the seat angle up at a pedal-friendly 74.7 degrees and the reach is a tad shorter than other 130mm travel 29ers.

Granted those numbers are close to today’s standards, but the riding position provided sits the rider forward, similar to how bikes felt years ago before everything got laid back and low.

That silhouette creates a trail rig that leans a bit towards the XC side, which for a bike in this sub $3,000 price range likely works very well for its intended audience. All told it felt more similar to bikes before the all-consuming long, low, slack phenomenon took over.

Bottom line: modern tech with a familiar feel

This bike is perfect for riders who prefer bikes a little more like they used to be, or for folks getting back into the sport after some time away. It’s brilliant for what it is as much as what it’s not.

It’s not super long, low, or slack. It’s not going to feel completely foreign to someone who was into riding in the past like some of today’s mega-stretched out rigs could.

Yet, it’s still loaded with all of the modern day tech. Boost hubs, single-ring drivetrain, and a dialed rear end all contribute to making a ride that is light years better than a bike from a few years back. All together it makes the Fuel EX 7 an excellent first ride or re-introduction into trail riding.

The Fuel EX 7 29 retails at £2,250 / $2,499.99 / AU$3,299 and can be purchased at Trek Bikes and local Trek bike shops.

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Trek Fuel EX 7 29

• AUS $ NZD $ USD $ CAD $ GBP £ EUR €

Colour / Trek Black/Lime Green

Size / 15.5, 17.5, 18.5, 19.5, 21.5, 23"

At a glance

Where to buy.

Specifications

• Frame Alpha Platinum Aluminum, ABP Convert, Full Floater, E2 tapered head tube, internal derailleur & dropper post routing, press fit BB, ISCG 05 mount, magnesium EVO link, down tube guard, G2 Geometry, 120mm travel
• Wheels Bontrager alloy, 15mm alloy axle front hub; Bontrager sealed cartridge bearing rear hub w/ Bontrager Duster 28-hole Tubeless Ready rims
• Wheel Size 29"
• Tires Bontrager XR3 Expert, aramid bead, 29x2.30"
• Crank Shimano M552, 42/32/24
• Front Derailleur Shimano Deore, high direct mount
• Rear Derailleur Shimano SLX Shadow Plus
• Shifters Shimano Deore, 10 speed
• Brakeset Shimano Deore hydraulic disc
• Handlebar Bontrager Race Lite Low Riser, 31.8mm, 15mm rise
• Saddle Bontrager Evoke 2, chromoly rails
• Seatpost Bontrager SSR, 31.6mm, 12mm offset
• Stem Bontrager Race Lite, 31.8mm, 7 degree
• Headset FSA IS-2, E2, sealed cartridge bearing

Q: What size wheels does the 2014 Trek Fuel EX 7 29 have?

The 2014 Trek Fuel EX 7 29 has 29" wheels.

Q: What size 2014 Trek Fuel EX 7 29 should I get?

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2019 Trek Fuel EX 7 29 Bike (discontinued)

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• Fuel EX 7 29

Trek Fuel EX 7 29

Fuel EX 7 shines when you're charging down tricky descents, where the dropper post upgrade and 130mm of front and rear suspension travel come in handy. A lightweight aluminum frame, Tubeless Ready 29er wheels, and a reliable 1x12 SRAM NX Eagle drivetrain make this an awesome all-around full suspension mountain bike. It's right for you if... You want one high-performance bike that excels on every trail, and you want it at a great value. You expect your bike handle a variety of challenges, including rocky descents, long climbs, fast corners, and gaps. The tech you get A capable and stiff Alpha Platinum Aluminum frame, 130mm RockShox Reba RL fork and 130mm of rear travel, and a SRAM NX 1x12 Eagle drivetrain with a wide range of gearing for climbs. Plus, Bontrager Line Comp 30 wheels with a 54-tooth Rapid Drive rear hub for fast engagement and a Bontrager dropper post. The final word Fuel EX 7 is a great all-around trail bike for a wide variety of terrain. It has upgrades where it matters most, like in the SRAM 1x12 drivetrain, suspension, and dropper post. Why you'll love it - It's great for riders who don't want to do just one kind of mountain biking, but want to do explore everything from XC marathons to epic descents - The dropper post upgrade makes this Fuel EX model even more capable - The NX Eagle 1x12 drivetrain gives you an extra-low climbing gear for tackling steep terrain - Wide Line Comp 30 wheels provide more tire support so you get better traction and control

Geometry chart

Dropper posts

Pedals sold separately

* Subject to change without notice.

Fuel EX: The Perfect Trail Bike

• Fuel EX 7 29