Raw power or natural-feeling assist? Heavyweight monster truck or a nimble lightweight ride? Answering these questions will help you decide between two of the best full suspension e-MTBs on the market today. In this blog, we’ll look at the differences between Trek Rail and Fuel EXe to help you figure out which is right for you.
Both Trek Rail and Fuel EXe have earned loads of plaudits from riders and reviewers alike. Rail was named MBR’s e-bike of the year in 2021 when its second generation was unveiled, while several in the bike media labelled Fuel EXe as a “game-changer” on its launch just over a year ago.
Despite both being long travel full suspension and highly capable bikes, there’s plenty to separate them in terms of the ride experience and who they appeal to. So let’s take a look at the key areas around weight, suspension, motor, battery and, of course, price.
Trek Rail is massively popular and continues to be a huge favourite for those who want fantastic days out on the trails. Weighing in at around 23-24kg, it’s a real beast of a bike, with 160mm/150mm suspension front and rear, a powerful motor generating 85Nm of torque, excellent range and chunky tyres. It gives confidence to riders of varied abilities on technical sections and helps you handle the rough stuff with ease. This is what we call a “full fat” e-bike.
At 18-20kg, depending on spec, the Trek Fuel EXe really is lightweight by comparison. Unless you know what to look for, it’s actually not obvious this is an e-bike at all, with the battery and smaller motor integrating nicely into the frame. The motor is also virtually silent, which lots of riders love, and it’s a really nimble and sure-footed ride, with 150m/140mm of front and rear suspension, and an incredibly planted feel for such a lightweight bike.
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Trek Rail
The Trek Rail is powered by a Bosch Performance Line CX motor that provides up to 85Nm of torque and a battery with 500 to 750Wh of power, depending on the model. The latest Trek Rail – the “Gen 4” – has 750Wh batteries on all models, which currently come with carbon frames only. There are four power modes and the range on a full charge is up to six hours, depending on how much assist you’re using. Rail will help you sail up ascents that previously left you jelly-legged and gasping.
Fuel EXe delivers mid-level assistance, with its TQ harmonic pin ring motor providing up to 50Nm of torque and weighing in at only 1.85kg. This bike was designed and built to offer the more natural feel of a traditional mountain bike and to feel very much like its acoustic brother, the Fuel EX. The 360Wh battery provides up to five hours of power. What’s great about the TQ motor is that it’s virtually silent, so the peace of your forest ride won’t be broken by the whirring noise associated with e-bikes.
Based on Trek’s Slash, the Rail has slack geometry and a full suspension set-up with 150mm of rear travel and a 160mm fork. This is a bike that rolls over just about anything and really looks after you, whether you’re a moderate rider who’s pushing their boundaries or a highly technical rider aggressively hitting trail features. Rail gives you outstanding control on the descents and the powerful motor helps you straight back up again, so there’s no reason you shouldn’t be lapping your favourite routes all day.
On the face of it, the Fuel EXe is virtually the same as the Trek Fuel EX, also having 140mm travel on the rear and 150mm on the front. Its geometry is ideal for most trail centres, and you’ll only reach the limits of its suspension on the biggest jumps and drops. This bike set-up really rewards the accomplished rider who wants to pick their perfect line on a bike that responds fast.
Our Sam's Trek Fuel EXe
Rail is about 5kg heavier than the Fuel EXe, depending on the model and specification, because everything is bigger… the frame, motor, battery and suspension travel. However, the extra weight isn’t necessarily a negative because it inspires confidence when tackling more technical terrain as it provides a more planted feel and better stability.
For those looking for whips, jumps and super-fast handling from an agile machine, the Fuel EXe might just be the one for you. This is a bike designed to be lightweight and that weight saving translates to a beautifully balanced bike that’s fast turning, flickable and feels just like a non-electric mountain bike. Despite being lighter than the Rail, it does feel nicely anchored when you’re attacking the descents and pushing it into berms.
Both Rail and Fuel EXe have had recent range updates, with the Gen 4 Rail featuring eight new models, all with carbon frames. Having been launched initially in 2022 as carbon-only, the Fuel EXe alloy range was released in the summer, bringing down the entry level price for this bike.
The aluminium-framed Trek Rail 5 Gen 3 starts the range at £5,100 and it tops out with the Rail 9.9 XX1 AXS Gen 4 at £12,950. This has Trek’s best carbon MTB frame, smooth RockShox suspension and SRAM’s awesome wireless electronic gearing.
The Fuel EXe range now begins with the Fuel EXe 5 at £5,175 and goes up to the 9.9 XX1 AXS at £13,500 – a price that will see you on the latest bike with the highest available spec of components and the envy of anyone you meet on the trails.
The answer here, of course, is… it depends on you. What do you want from a bike? How experienced a rider are you? What is your fitness level? Now that the entry level for both bikes is roughly the same, it comes down to these kinds of questions more than it does to budget.
If you want a bike that will really help you on technical trails, give you a good level of boost for longer and give you the “full fat” e-MTB experience, Rail is a great pick. We never tire of seeing the big smiles on the faces of riders who have just finished a day on this bike. However, if you want something that looks, feels and sounds more like a responsive non-electric bike but still gives you enough assist to make your rides last longer, Fuel EXe is right up your street.
If you need help choosing between the two, compare Trek Rail and Fuel EXe in our store in Calder Vale Road, Wakefield.
