Trek's Top Fuel gets a new trail bike look for 2022
Brand's XC/marathon machine gets a relaxed but fast makeover
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The Top Fuel has a rich history and throughout, it's morphed into many different things, starting life as a dedicated cross country bike to a rig capable of marathons and light trail. For 2022, Trek has given the Top Fuel a trail focus and has given the frame quite the overhaul. Here's everything you need to know.
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For 2022, the Top Fuel gets a range of neat new features and frame changes. First off, the bike runs 120mm of suspension at either end, although Trek says that the new bike is happy to run a 130mm fork if you would like to get extra rowdy.
The Top Fuel's Trail Suspension kinematic has been revised for improved pedaling efficiency. Then, the bike comes with either a RockShox Deluxe Ultimate two-position shock with a tuneable open mode or a Fox DPS shock with three modes, open, medium, and firm.
Along with that, Trek has changed the Top Fuels geometry to bring it bang up to date. Against the 2021 model, its head angle has been slackened by 1.5° and the effective seat angle has been steepened by a whole degree. Then the bike's reach on a medium has been stretched by 10mm to 450mm. That's not bad.
The geometry all together on the new bike measures in with a 66° head tube angle, a 76° effective seat tube angle with a 435mm chainstay, and a large frame gets a 480mm reach. If you were to kit the bike with a longer, 130mm travel fork, that will slacken the head tube by half a degree.
As for sizes, there are seven to pick from with the smallest rolling on 650b hoops while the rest of the size range gets 29" wheels.
Onto the frame's features, it now gets integrated storage found in the downtube, similar to Specialized's SWAT system. This is found on both the alloy and carbon models of the Top Fuel. Then, true to Trek form, the bike gets Knock Block 2.0 which is there to protect your frame and cables against a wildly spinning handlebar during a crash.
Knock Block 2.0 has seen some improvement and now offers more of a turning radius and the frame now comes with clearance for the fork crown. It's still compatible with standard stems.
The Top Fuel then, of course, gets the geometry adjusting Mino Link. This time, it's found at the lower shock mount which Trek says will make for easier fettling. On this bike, it offers .5° adjustment in the head tube angle and 8mm of bottom bracket height adjustment.
Finally, new for this bike is a fatter 34.9 diameter seat tube. This has been added to riders can take advantage of the longer and more reliable dropper posts on offer.
The 2022 Top Fuel comes with a whopping range of nine bikes. At the base end of the scale the new bike is shod with a RockShox Recon SL fork paired with an X-Fusion XPRO2 shock, a Shimano Deore 12-speed drivetrain, and a TranzX dropper. Of course, that one gets an alloy frame.
At the top end, you'll find a Fox 34 Factory fork with a Fox DPS Factory shock, fancy Shimano XTR 12-speed shifting with four-pot brakes, and a Bontrager Line Elite dropper post.
The bike is also available through Trek's Project One bike builder, where you'll be able to pick your very own colours.
Prices for the brand new Top Fuel start at £2,600 and go right up to £11,100.
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