First Ride: 2025 Trek Top Fuel
Words James Rennie
Images Justin Henehan
Upon receiving the 2025 Top Fuel, it was clear Trek has gone for evolution rather than revolution for this latest model. While the silhouette remains largely the same as the outgoing bike, the Knock Block has been removed and the frame shares similar design cues to the current Fuel EX.
Trek has deliberately positioned the new Top Fuel in the hinterland between trail bikes and cross country, allowing owners to push it in either direction depending on how they ride. Not only can you overstroke the shock and bump up the fork an extra 10mm from 120mm and 130mm, but the frame is also compatible with a 27.5-inch rear wheel.
The updated four-position Mino Link also allows riders to independently adjust geometry and leverage rate, bumping up the progression slightly (14 per cent to 19 per cent) for more bottom out resistance. The anti-squat has also been raised to just below 100 per cent at sag, creating a firmer, more urgent feel under power.
The mixture of short travel, aggressive geometry, size-specific chainstays, and lightweight and carefully tuned suspension is intended to create a bike that can be taken right to the ceiling of a rider’s ability without compromising pedalling performance.
The Mino Link adjustments offer a large range of configurations, too many to list here, but in the low setting with a 130mm fork, a medium-large Top Fuel has a 65.5 degree head tube angle, a 76.2 degree seat tube angle, a 462mm reach, 420mm seat tube length and 440mm chainstays.
The lines are very clean, especially with only the brake lines being visible thanks to a wireless drivetrain and dropper. Mechanical drivetrain die-hards need not worry as provision has been made for derailleur and dropper cables (not via the headset either) with the unused holes plugged discretely. The updated frame storage system is larger and feels secure and well-sealed. Two bags are included on carbon models (one on aluminium framed versions) each with its own coloured grab-tag.
The whole package has a very refined feel, with the finish and parts list leaving very little to be desired. Rock Shox takes care of suspension duties with a 130mm Pike Ultimate up front including the latest 3.1 Charger damper and Buttercups, and a 180mmx55mm inline Deluxe Ultimate RCT shock in the rear.
Drivetrain, seat post and brakes are a full Sram affair with X0 Eagle AXS Transmission on shifting duties, four-pot Level Silver brakes on stopping, and a Reverb AXS 170mm seat post moving the carbon-railed Bontrager Verse saddle.
The spec sheet is rounded out with some solid-feeling Bontrager Line Pro 30 carbon wheels shod with a Bontrager Gunnison RSL XT tyre up front and a Montrose RSL XT in the rear. This is fairly aggressive rubber for this sort of bike, pushing it firmly towards the trail bike end of the territory. Some faster-rolling tyres would make this more of a cross country-style whippet.
A one-piece carbon Bontrager RSL bar and stem combo takes care of the steering, which isn’t as compliant as other set ups but may suit someone who prefers a very precise feel.
The claimed weight of this second from top model is a reasonable 13.10kg (28.89lbs). Trek says they’ve trimmed 220g from the frame weight. Feather-weight tyres would cut some more weight, if you felt you needed to.
There are seven build variants of the Top Fuel, ranging from the top of the line Sram XX AXS model to the aluminium-framed, Shimano Deore equipped model. Between the three aluminium and four carbon options, there should be a build to suit most budgets.
Setup has been a breeze, which I think is a testament to refinement of this platform over multiple iterations. Even through some of the first rides where the suspension was too soft/hard as I searched for the optimal amount of sag, the bike still handled well enough to be enjoyable.
This is a versatile bike built for everyday speed, a nimble trail bike that wants to go fast without compromising on descending ability or comfort. It’s proving to be a grade 3 trail killer, so I’m looking forward to seeing what it’s capable over the next few months.