The biggest news by far from Trek’s Sea Otter Launch was the addition of a full suspension Farley fat bike to their line. What’s more, Trek is speccing the new bikes with 27.5″ fat bike wheels and tires, instead of the more common 26″ size. That said, 26″ fat bike wheels with up to 4″ tires can be used on the Farley EX.
Since Trek is such a massive company with its own component arm–Bontrager–they were able to put together the whole package in house. The most crucial components–the frame, wheels, and tires–are all coming from Trek/Bontrager.
Trek is offering two models of the Farley EX: the aluminum-framed 8, and the carbon 9.8. Both will come with a 120mm RockShox Bluto, currently the only game in town for fat bike suspension forks aside from Cannondale’s fat bike Lefty. Spacing is 150x15mm front and 197x12mm rear. Tires are the same for both models as well–the tubeless-ready Bontrager Hodag in a 27.5×3.8 size. As you would expect, the 9.8 gets a serious upgrade in the wheel department in the form of Trek’s new 2,500g Wampa carbon wheelset. The aluminum Farley EX 8 gets SUNringlé Mulefüt rims laced to Bontrager hubs.
While fat bikes aren’t personally my thing, I have to admit that the new Farley EX looks pretty damn sweet–particularly the carbon 9.8.
Specs
Farley EX 8 – $3,500
- Frame: Aluminum, 120mm rear travel
- Shock: Fox Performance Float EVOL, RE:aktiv
- Fork: RockShox Bluto – 120mm travel
- Wheels: SUNringlé Mulefüt 80mm rims, Bontrager hubs
- Tires: Bontrager Hodag, 27.5×3.80″
- Derailleur: SRAM GX
- Shifter: SRAM GX
- Cranks: Race Face Affect
- Brakes: SRAM Level T
- Bar: Bontrager Line 35mm, 750mm wide
- Stem: Bontrager Line 35mm
- Post: KS eThirty Integra
- Weight: 35lbs.
Farley EX 9.8 – $5,500
- Frame: Carbon, 120mm rear travel
- Shock: Fox Performance Float EVOL, RE:aktiv
- Fork: RockShox Bluto – 120mm travel
- Wheels: Trek Wampa Carbon 80 SL
- Tires: Bontrager Hodag, 27.5×3.80″
- Derailleur: SRAM X01
- Shifter: SRAM X1
- Cranks: Race Face Next
- Brakes: SRAM Guide
- Bar: Bontrager Line Pro Carbon 35mm, 750mm wide
- Stem: Bontrager Line 35mm
- Post: Bontrager Drop Line, 125mm travel
- Weight: 32lbs.
Geometry
Both the Farley EX 8 and 9.8 share the same geo. Key numbers include:
- Head tube angle: 68.8 degrees
- Seat tube angle: 73.1 degrees
- Chain stay length: 445mm
- BB height: 352mm
- Reach: 452mm (size 19.5″)
- Wheelbase: 1175mm (size 19.5″)
So who is this bike for? If you ask Trek, it’s for everyone, all the time. In fact, their tag line for this release is, “No reason for off season.” I could see this bike being the “one bike” for a wide swath of riders, particularly those that ride purely for enjoyment. With a simple swap of the tires, the Farley EX can be ridden on dirt all summer and snow in the winter.
Look for the new Farleys at your local Trek dealer beginning August 2016.
