{"id":7525,"date":"2019-05-25T11:09:10","date_gmt":"2019-05-25T09:09:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sparkbikereview.com\/?p=7525"},"modified":"2019-12-23T11:52:36","modified_gmt":"2019-12-23T09:52:36","slug":"first-ride-2020-trek-top-fuel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sparkbikereview.com\/first-ride-2020-trek-top-fuel\/","title":{"rendered":"First Ride: 2020 Trek Top Fuel"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>On the 23<sup>rd<\/sup> of May 2019, Trek Bicycles held a massive launch at Meerendal Wine Farm. There they unveiled something that riders have been anticipating greatly a brand spanking new Top Fuel! It\u2019s got more shock travel, a dropper seat post, and wider tyres. Giving it a nerve for extra edgy descends, but still keeping things speedy on climbs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We got our\nfirst taste of the new Top Fuel only moments before the launch. Here\u2019s what you\ncan expect. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Frame:<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Trek have\nstandardized their frames. Only fully OCLV carbon or fully Alpha Platinum\naluminium frame models are now available. There are no decals on the frames to\ndistinguish the different models. It just says, \u2018Top Fuel\u2019. Apart from the Top\nFuel 8 and below. This leads us to believe that Trek are moving more in the\ndirection of levelling the quality of their frames, and then only offering\ndifferent spec levels. What that means for more entry level buyers is that they\nwill be getting a higher quality of frame even though they are not paying the\npremium bike price. The only thing that will distinguish the different bike\nmodels from Trek will be the components of each one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The 2020 Top\nFuel is still maintaining its ABP technology on the rear triangle but is now\ngetting the Knock Block feature on the head-tube of the frame. In terms of\nframe integrity, Trek\u2019s Carbon Armour is still the main defence on the\ndown-tube of the bike. Trek\u2019s Mino Link has also been added to the rocker arm\nlink, on the pivot that attaches directly to the rear shock. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped alignwide wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/sparkbikereview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/IMG_6196-min-1160x773.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"7527\" data-link=\"https:\/\/sparkbikereview.com\/?attachment_id=7527\" class=\"wp-image-7527\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/sparkbikereview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/IMG_6262-min-1160x773.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"7529\" data-link=\"https:\/\/sparkbikereview.com\/?attachment_id=7529\" class=\"wp-image-7529\"\/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What\u2019s New?!<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><p><!--steady-paywall--><\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What\u2019s different\nfrom the previous model Top Fuel is prominently longer suspension travel. The\nbike now makes use of a 120mm fork and 115mm rear shock. As you can imagine it\ngives the bike an added plush feel on the downhills. Then every bike from the\nTop Fuel 8 comes standard with a dropper seat post. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At first\nglance the bike might seem slightly longer. And rightfully so, thanks to the\nupdated longer and slightly, slacker geometry. You might also notice the wider\ntyres, namely the new Bontrager Team Issue XR3\u2019s that are sporting that 2.4\ninch wall, and low rolling resistance grip. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/sparkbikereview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/IMG_6256-min-1160x773.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7530\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Fast Facts:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Head\ntube angle low: 67,50-degrees.<\/li><li>Head tube angle high: 68-degrees.<\/li><li>Top\nFuel 9.9 comes with SRAM\u2019s AXS wireless drivetrain.<\/li><li>Every\nfrom the Top Fuel 8 comes with a 12 speed gear set. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/sparkbikereview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/IMG_6278-min-1160x773.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7531\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Bike Weight:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"\"><tbody><tr><td><\/td><td>\n  Pounds\n  <\/td><td>\n  Kilograms\n  <\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\n  Top\n  Fuel 8\n  <\/td><td>\n  30,42\n  <\/td><td>\n  13,8\n  <\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\n  Top\n  Fuel 9.7\n  <\/td><td>\n  27,85\n  <\/td><td>\n  12,63\n  <\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\n  Top\n  Fuel 9.8\n  <\/td><td>\n  26,11\n  <\/td><td>\n  11,84\n  <\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\n  Top\n  Fuel 9.9\n  <\/td><td>\n  24,36\n  <\/td><td>\n  11,05\n  <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pricing:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"\"><tbody><tr><td>\n  Top\n  Fuel 8&nbsp;R45,999\n  <\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\n  Top\n  Fuel 9.7&nbsp;R68,999\n  <\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\n  Top\n  Fuel 9.8&nbsp;R89,999\n  <\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\n  Top\n  Fuel 9.9&nbsp;R149,999\n  <\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\n  Top\n  Fuel 9.9 AXS (P1 Now)&nbsp;\u2013 TBA No pricing\u2013 Will only be\n  launched end Jul\n  <\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\n  Top\n  Fuel AL Frameset&nbsp;R32,999\n  <\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\n  Top\n  Fuel C Frameset&nbsp;R54,999\n  <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/sparkbikereview.com\/trek-updates-top-fuel-with-longer-travel-and-new-geometry\/\">More specs here<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Ride: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Once we got\nthe cranks turning and the wheels rolling over the first few obstacles, we immediately\nnoticed an improvement from the previous Top Fuel models. There was intently\nless bopping effect on the rear suspension. Trek have also taken pride in\nthemselves to be able to deliver a fast and pedalling efficient full suspension\nbike, and we must say that with the 2020 Top Fuel they\u2019ve outdone themselves.\nIn fact, the less bop on the suspension, could very well be due to the flipped\nrear shock, and more direct rocker arm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/sparkbikereview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/IMG_5896-min-1160x773.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7532\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The bike\nalso climbs with much more stiffness along the down tube and on the rear\ntriangle. The longer frame design has most probably allowed the engineers at\nTrek to improve the carbon layup slightly. Anither aspect that comes into play\nwhen climbing, are the two of exceptionally crafted stiffened and strengthened,\nBontrager wheels. Whether made from aluminium or carbon this brand never disappoints\nwith their fresh take on rim construction. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Downhill was\nsignificantly different from the shorter travel Top Fuel. The dropper seat-post\nmakes the bike feel a lot on looser and freed up on jumps and drops. Although\nwe had some the riders saying that they hardly used it during their test run.\nPerhaps it\u2019s not entirely necessary to have a dropper post on the new Top Fuel?!\nOther than that, the longer travel on the rear and front shocks gave us more confidence\non the track. Even when it came to balance and cornering &#8211; the extra weight from\nthe shocks and dropper post were not at all felt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/sparkbikereview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/IMG_5964-min-1160x773.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7533\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Trek have\ncleaned up the handlebars of the 2020 Top Fuel, by adding a twist grip, remote\nshock lockout, from the guys at RockShox. It\u2019s now easy to grasp that brake\nlever, and not have to worry about your hand catching on the remote lockout. Especially\nwhen you\u2019re in a hurry on your way downhill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped alignwide wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/sparkbikereview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/IMG_6233-min-1160x773.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"7534\" data-link=\"https:\/\/sparkbikereview.com\/?attachment_id=7534\" class=\"wp-image-7534\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/sparkbikereview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/IMG_6235-min-1160x773.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"7535\" data-link=\"https:\/\/sparkbikereview.com\/?attachment_id=7535\" class=\"wp-image-7535\"\/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Verdict:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Need we say\nmore?! The new 2020 Top Fuel is an unspoiled cross-country and race ready bike.\nKeeping it raw on single track but fast on straights. We can see it definitely\nmaking an impact on the South African bike market, with a lot of popularity\namongst the dealers already. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/sparkbikereview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/IMG_6181-min-1160x870.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7537\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Stay tuned for a more in depth test report! &nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<!-- Global site tag (gtag.js) - Google Analytics -->\n<script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.googletagmanager.com\/gtag\/js?id=UA-76830801-1\"><\/script>\n<script>\n  window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || [];\n  function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);}\n  gtag('js', new Date());\n\n  gtag('config', 'UA-76830801-1');\n<\/script>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On the 23rd of May 2019, Trek Bicycles held a massive launch at Meerendal Wine Farm. There they unveiled something that riders have been anticipating greatly a brand spanking new Top Fuel! It\u2019s got more shock travel, a dropper seat post, and wider tyres. Giving it a nerve for extra edgy descends, but still keeping&hellip;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/sparkbikereview.com\/first-ride-2020-trek-top-fuel\/\" class=\"\" rel=\"bookmark\">Read More &raquo;<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">First Ride: 2020 Trek Top Fuel<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7526,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"","neve_meta_content_width":0,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":"","footnotes":"","wds_primary_category":0},"categories":[1],"tags":[579],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sparkbikereview.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7525"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sparkbikereview.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sparkbikereview.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sparkbikereview.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sparkbikereview.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7525"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sparkbikereview.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7525\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sparkbikereview.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7526"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sparkbikereview.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7525"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sparkbikereview.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7525"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sparkbikereview.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7525"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}