13 Mountain Bikes that We Punished Over the Long Term in 2015

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"We punished 13 bikes over hundreds of miles in 2015, from XC racers to fat bikes, revealing their strengths and weaknesses."

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By Chris Daniels
December 3, 2015 Last Updated: January 27, 2026

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Trail

Trek Fuel EX 9.8

In all fairness, we decided to push the limits of the Fuel EX 9.8, a bike that fits squarely in the trail category, on Colorado terrain tough for the burliest bike. What Trek’s top-selling Fuel lacks in tackling big mountain riding, it more than makes up for in an all-around good time. We thought the Fuel EX shined most on flowy trails with moderately-sized features and, given its trail category, rides much lighter and is more capable than its 28 pounds and 120mm of travel suggests.

“As far as mountain bikes go, it’s a safe choice. And I don’t mean that negatively at all. The Trek Fuel EX 9.8 has a stout frame, excellent suspension, and a (mostly) smart parts spec. It would be a great companion on any mountain bike ride.” -Aaron Chamberlain

Read more from Aaron’s review: Final Review Trek Fuel EX 9.8

MSRP: $5000