So I won a raffle where the prize was $$$ towards a new bike from my LBS. I'm currently riding a Kona hardtail, so all of these bikes are a substantial upgrade. They also are more bike than I really need but who cares….
It has to be a bike they stock and I'm looking @ Trek Fuel EX, Salsa Horsethief C XT, Mondraker Raze Carbon R https://99spokes.com/compare?bikes=trek-fuel-ex-9.8-gx-axs-t-type-gen-6-2025,trek-fuel-ex-9.8-xt-gen-6-2023,salsa-horsethief-c-xt-2023,mondraker-raze-carbon-r-2023
I think these are all fairly similar, but I'm leaning towards the Horsethief – from the small amount of research I've done, it seems like the nicest components, but I'm not sure.
The Mondraker just looks cool, but I'm not that familiar with the brand.
Trek is a more "common brand" and I guess that's why I'm less interested in them, but could be convinced otherwise.
In your opinion are the XT components the nicest? (It seemed the preference in some other posts I read). Which bike would you choose and why? Thanks yall
by millergl89
3 Comments
These are all great bikes, so you have a great problem on your hands.
The reviews of the Trek Fuel Ex are really very good. I’d argue that the Pinkbike reviews are some of the best, and they quite like it. The only thing they didn’t really like was the one piece handlebar that comes only on the top end model (so not a concern for you).
ps://www.pinkbike.com/news/field-test-2023-trek-fuel-ex-evolution-underlined.html
What kind of trails are you riding on? Are you more of a pedal fast up hill rider or are you a get through the climb to bomb the down person? Also, how tall are ya?
The Mondraker is a fantastic pedaling bike, very efficient but also really stable with the 150mm fox 36 up front and a 75.5 degree head tube angle. It’s the rally car of the group. Fast, nimble, and rewards you for being an active rider. It’s also the lightest bike in the group which you’ll definitely notice on the trail. As for the components, they’re fine and will work well. When it comes to drivetrains on bikes I’m of the mindset that you can upgrade those as parts wear out. The more important things are forks/shocks/wheels to consider. May also want to consider the [Raze R AXS](https://mondraker.com/us/en/raze-carbon-r-axs) version of the bike if you want electronic shifting and nicer components. The mondraker has really long reach numbers when compared to other trail bikes so it’s something to keep in mind. I’m 5’9 and fit great on a Medium Raze. That said I like more of an XC/aggressive fit. Full disclosure, I own a raze and absolutely love it. It’s perfect for the trails out here in Colorado where you’re climbing for a long time and then hitting fast steep rocky descents.
The Trek is going to be a bit more slack and not as efficient of a pedaling bike but still very good. It’s designed to be more of a bash through the rough stuff bike. If you like plush this is the bike to go for. Its got a steep seattube angle so it’ll get you in a good position for climbing but may feel a bit off if you’re doing a lot of flat riding. The Trek has frame storage if you care about that. Also, those builds come with carbon wheels which are a nice perk and one less thing you’d be tempted to upgrade later on. Trek’s are popular for a reason and you can’t go wrong with a Fuel EX. I test rode a Trek Top Fuel and at 5’9 i found the Medium/Large to fit me best. The Fuel Ex should be similar in fit.
As for the Salsa, the geometry appears a bit dated when compared to more modern and progressive bikes. The 67 degree headtube will give you a more nimble fast handling bike but others may consider it twitchy and not as confidence inspiring. You’ll especially notice the twitchyness going down hill. For reference, race oriented cross country bikes are coming with 65.5 degree headtubes these days. That said, I don’t know too much more about this bike so maybe someone else could chime in.
Whatever you end up with you’re gonna love any of these bikes!
Congrats!
While I prefer Shimano drivetrains and brakes, I’d go with the Mondraker in this case if I wanted a snappy pedaling bike that could also handle your local trails.