TIME Best Inventions of 2023
"Fuel EXe's natural-feeling assist and stealthy good looks earned it a coveted spot on TIME's Best Inventions of 2023 list."
From TIME. © 2023 TIME USA LLC All rights reserved. Used under licence.
TQ HPR-50 is Pinkbike's Innovation of the Year
'That tiny harmonic pin ring drive unit is the golden goose of e-bike motors.' Find out what Pinkbike had to say about the revolutionary motor at the heart of the Fuel EXe.
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Best All-Around
"Overall, the Trek Fuel EXe is a bike that ranked consistently well across the board when it came to performance on the trail. It does everything pretty darn well and would be a great jack of all trades lightweight eBike for those looking to have a mid-power eMTB for trail shredding fun."
2022 Gear of the Year
'This is the first time an e-bike has made my Gear of the Year list [...] in addition to being silent, the HPR50 motor feels frictionless while pedalling. The assistance comes on with a subtlety that makes it feel like you are a younger, fitter version of yourself with a tailwind at your back.'
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Editor's Choice
"The low-key, silent assist is just enough, keeping it riding like a real mountain bike but making the climbs less miserable. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good high-power eMTB, but I loved this bike, too. The Trek Fuel EX’s handling is dialled, and this is merely an enhanced version of that. I tested the top model, but, fortunately, there are also mid-priced models that eschew some of the AirWiz(ardy) without giving up any of what makes this bike rad."
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'Nothing comes close'
'Simply put, nothing comes close to the Fuel EXe when you paint the picture of the mountain bike experience as a whole.'
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'Probably going to be the most significant bike launched this decade'
'The Trek Fuel EXe is the bike (e or otherwise) that plenty of people have been waiting to see… Removes the final few issues that the e-curious crowd had.'
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'One of the best mountain bikes – powered or unpowered – I’ve recently ridden.'
'The Fuel EXe is such a harmonious package that I got comfortable with it very quickly, and it wasn’t much longer before I was in love with this bike... I legitimately forgot that I was on an e-bike at times… it’s the most natural-feeling motor I’ve yet ridden.'
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4.5/5
'We have to call it as we see it and the Trek Fuel EXe just elevated the eMTB game.'
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'Wow'
'The first impression was a unanimous "Wow". This is one of the few times that a bike exceeded expectations.'
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'Nothing less than a great leap forward for eMTBs'
'There are times when I am left amazed by something new and shiny, and that is the case with the Trek Fuel Exe... I might even go as far as to call it an engineering marvel.'
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Service manual
Time to get out the repair stand for some maintenance? Find a detailed breakdown of your bike with part numbers, torque values and platform-specific tech instructions below.
Ver el maillotUnboxing Fuel EXe with Mahalo My Dude
Follow along as Jason from Mahalo My Dude unboxes and builds a brand new Fuel EXe.
Watch the videoGet faster on the trail in a week
When it comes to being a better trail rider, practice makes perfect. Get seven tips from Pinkbike’s Christina Chappetta that will have you setting PRs and riding with more confidence in no time.
Read moreProduct features
TQ-HPR50 – small, quiet, mighty
The TQ-HPR50 motor is super-efficient with an amazing power-to-weight ratio. Most motors use gears and belts that take up space and can make noise or break. The TQ-HPR50 uses a harmonic pin-ring drive transmission that’s small, ultra-quiet and unbelievably natural-feeling.
Range Extender
Give yourself 40% more range with an optional 160 Wh external battery. It fits in a standard bottle cage and doesn’t require any complicated wiring or special mounts.
Connect, customise, calculate
The Trek Central app seamlessly connects with your bike for custom motor tuning, activity tracking and more ways to analyse and personalise your ride. You even get navigation features and real-time range calculations.
Removable battery
The 360 Wh battery gives you power for 2-5 hours. It’s concealed in the downtube, but it’s still easy to remove for more convenient charging.
Active Braking Pivot
Active Braking Pivot allows our engineers to tune how the suspension reacts to acceleration and braking forces independently. That means you get more confident control when you need it most.
Slack or steep, the choice is yours
Install angle-adjust headset cups (sold separately) to tweak the head tube angle a degree steeper or slacker to your liking – all without impacting your bottom bracket height.
Shimano XT
Shimano XT is the original mountain bike groupset and trusted by generations of mountain bikers around the world. Whatever the trail, wherever you ride, XT is your solution for mountain biking today. Reliable shifting. Superior braking. Intuitive maintenance. XT is the high performance workhorse you can count on.
You almost forgot your pedals
This bike doesn’t come with pedals because you'll have a better ride if you choose your own. Explore the pedal guide to find the best pedals for your riding style. Reach for flat pedals for simple versatility or go for clipless MTB pedals if you want control and efficiency.
See the guideSuspension Calculator
This suspension calculator will help you optimise your suspension settings for your riding weight. Simply follow the steps to find your best set up.
Learn moreComplete Tubeless System
Tubeless Ready rims and tyres make it easy to ditch the tubes so you get better traction, fewer flats and less weight. You're ready to roll straight out of the box with the included TLR rim strips, valves and sealant.
Learn moreIntegrated display
The Fuel EXe's display is simple to use and protected in the top tube. Check your assist level, range, speed and more at a glance.
Sleek and simple remote
Toggle between assist modes or engage the walk-assist function with the ergonomic low-profile remote.
Easier internal routing
Integrated channels in the frame make it easy to route the brake hose, dropper and derailleur housing so you get a clean set-up with no hassle.
Rapid Drive 108 rear hub
With 108 points of engagement, Rapid Drive gives you nearly instant acceleration instead of a clunky lag when you step on the pedals. You get smooth, immediate power to blast out of corners and hammer through the rough stuff. And that extra pedal ratchet adds control that can make all the difference when tackling a tricky climb.
Oversized 34.9mm dropper post
Bigger is better. The oversized seat tube diameter gives more support and strength for longer travel droppers, and allows for more robust, durable internals that work faster.
Mino Link adjustable geometry
Fine tune head tube angle by 1/2° and BB height by up to 10mm with the simple turn of a nut. Just flip the link to choose between slack or slacker geometry, without negatively affecting suspension performance. A Trek exclusive.
| Frame | Alpha Platinum Aluminium, removable battery, internal routing, alloy rocker link, 34.9 mm seat tube, upper chain guide mount, 55 mm chain line, Mino Link, ABP, Boost148, UDH, 140 mm travel |
|---|---|
| Fork | Fox Rhythm 36, Float EVOL air spring, GRIP damper, tapered steerer, 44 mm offset, Boost110, 15 mm Kabolt axle, 150 mm travel |
| Shock | Fox Performance Float X, 2-position damper, 205 mm x 60 mm |
| Max compatible fork travel | 160 mm |
| Wheel front | Bontrager Line Comp 30, Tubeless Ready, 6-bolt, Boost110, 15 mm thru axle, 29" |
|---|---|
| Wheel rear | Bontrager Line Comp 30, High Strength 6000 Series Aluminium rim, Tubeless-Ready, Rapid Drive 108, 6-bolt, Shimano MicroSpline freehub, Boost148, 12 mm thru axle, 29" |
| Skewer rear | Bontrager Switch thru-axle, removable lever |
| Tyre | Bontrager XR5 Team Issue, Tubeless Ready, Inner Strength casing, aramid bead, 60 tpi, 29x2.50" |
| Tyre part | Bontrager TLR sealant, 180 ml/6 oz |
| Rim strip | Bontrager TLR |
| Max tyre size | Frame: 29x2.50", Fork: See manufacturer |
| Battery | TQ 360Wh |
|---|---|
| Charger | TQ 4A charger |
| Computer | TQ LED display with Bluetooth & ANT+ connectivity |
| Motor | TQ-HPR50, 50 Nm, 250 watt maximum continuous rated power, 300 watt peak power |
| Shifter | Shimano XT M8100, 12-speed |
|---|---|
| Rear derailleur | Shimano XT M8100, long cage |
| Crank | E*thirteen E*spec Plus, 165 mm length |
| Chainring | E*thirteen E*spec, 32T alloy ring, 55 mm chainline |
| Cassette | Shimano XT M8100, 10-51, 12-speed |
| Chain | Shimano Ultegra/XT M8100, 12-speed |
| Max. chainring size | 1x: 34T, min 30T |
| Saddle | Bontrager Arvada, hollow chromoly rails, 138 mm width |
|---|---|
| *Seatpost |
Size:
S Bontrager Line Dropper, 100mm travel, MaxFlow, internal routing, 34.9 mm, 310mm length |
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Size:
M Bontrager Line Dropper, 150mm travel, MaxFlow, internal routing, 34.9 mm, 410 mm length |
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Size:
L, XL Bontrager Line Dropper, 170 mm travel, MaxFlow, internal routing, 34.9 mm, 450 mm length |
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| Handlebar | Bontrager Line, alloy, 35 mm, 27.5 mm rise, 780 mm width |
| Grips | Bontrager XR Trail Elite, nylon lock-on |
| Stem | Bontrager Elite, 35 mm, 0-degree, 45 mm length |
| Head set | Integrated cartridge bearing, 1-1/8" top, 1.5" bottom, angle adjust cup compatible |
| Brake | Shimano 4-piston hydraulic disc, M6100 lever, M6120 calliper |
| Brake rotor | Shimano RT66, 6-bolt, 203 mm |
| Rotor size | Max brake rotor sizes - Frame: 203mm, Fork: see fork manufacturer |
| Weight | M - 20.28 kg / 44.71 lbs (with TLR sealant, no tubes) |
|---|---|
| Weight limit | This bike has a maximum total weight limit (combined weight of bicycle, rider and cargo) of 136 kg (300 lb). |