Bike by bike we’ve dissected Trek’s entire 2025 mountain bike lineup to help you find the right bike for your riding style and budget.

Whether you’re a weekend shredder, weekend endurance warrior, newbie or racing snake this buyer’s guide should point you in the right direction when looking for a bike from Trek. We’ve included the full range of 2025 bikes covering everything from recreational riding, commuting, eMTB’s, endurance and play bikes. Feel free to message us with any questions you might have about these machines.

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Lightweight eMTB

Lightweight eBikes are trending hard right now and there’s good reason for it. At 20kg’s (or very close to it) this category of bike is gaining popularity due to the ‘reward for input’. On these bikes, climbing speed is generally a little lower and could, depending on mode engaged, require more ‘work’ from the rider. When it comes to technical trails and descending, these lightweight eBikes are incredibly playful and fun to ride. When it comes to range, if you are prepared to work hard you’ll match the real-world range of most bigger battery eBikes. For 2025, Trek has two new lightweight eBikes in their lineup; the Trek Fuel EXe alloy and the Trek Slash+.

Trek Fuel EXe 8 XT

The Fuel EXe has 29″ wheels, features 140mm of rear suspension travel and a 150mm fork. With 50Nm of torque on tap from the almost 100% silent TQ motor, the Fuel EXe is a classic mid-power eMTB. The removable internal battery is sized at 360Wh which helps keep the total weight real low on this aluminum framed bike. Build kit highlights include Fox suspension front and rear, Shimano brakes and no-nonsense Bontrager aluminum wheels. It is available in four sizes covering rider heights from 1.55m to 1.95m.

Trek Fuel EXe 5

Sliding in under the R100k mark is the Fuel EXe 5. You’re getting the same progressive trail geometry, the same motor and the same battery as the more opulent models. If you are looking at a ‘regular mountain bike’ but might need just a little assistance to get over the climbs, then the Trek Fuel EXe is well worth your attention. The TQ Motor is barely audible and has one of the most natural ride feels of all the drive units on the market.

Trek Slash+ 9.9 XO

Looking for a big hitting, mid-power eMTB with a large (ish) battery? – Look no further bru. Slash+ is likely the most exciting long-travel eMTB to land in the rainbow nation. With geometry numbers biasing the descents you can say goodbye to B-Lines, forever. Slash+ has a medium high-pivot suspension design (bye bye square-edge hangups) and runs an idler pivot to handle chain-growth and pedal kickback. With best-in-class dropper insertion capability, the Slash+ is dialed for happy shredding. The 9.9 XO model has a build kit that will have you wanting for nothing more than gnar.

Trek Slash+ 9.7 SLX/XT

The entry-point to the new Slash+ is the 9.7 XT/SLX model. It’s R85k more efficient on your wallet than the bling-bling, 9.9 model and has the same frame, battery and motor. Build kit highlights include the Fox Performance suspension, Shimano 4-piston stoppers and a burly Bontrager wheelset – alloy of course. Not so sure about the idler and HP suspension layout — the big upside is small bump compliance meaning the comfort level when climbing and available grip, is insane.

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RECREATIONAL RIDING

The Trek Marlin range was recently updated with trail-ready geometry and is now compatible with a 120mm fork. This is a great bike for riding gravel paths, dual-track and smoother single-track trails. The frame has internal cable routing, mudguard and rack mounts. For 2025 there are three models in the lineup:

Trek Marlin 5

The build kit includes components from reputable brands like Suntour, Shimano and Tektro. A quick-release (aka skewer axle) wheel system adds convenience when loading the bike, to drive. The Marlin 5 is a value-packed aluminum framed hardtail that will serve you well as a daily driver.

Trek Marlin 6

The Marlin 6 shares the chassis of the Marlin 5, with a more premium build kit. Marlin 6 features a 10-speed drivetrain, RockShox front suspension and a tubeless-ready wheelset. In essence it is still a no-nonsense, recreational mountain bike ready for anything from commuting to trail riding — just slightly more capable.

Trek Marlin 7

Stretch that budget just a little higher and you’ll be rewarded with so much more bike. With the addition of a dropper seatpost, a tubeless setup and the 1 x 12-speed drivetrain, the Marlin 7 is a lot more capable than the base-level models. If you’re a first time buyer and are perhaps a little uncertain as to what style of mountain biking you’ll enjoy, the Marlin 7 is a great place to start. The build kit screams versatility and capability; an air fork is a lot lighter and smoother than a coil, the 12-speed drivetrain has a wide range to get you up steep climbs and the dropper post will keep you safer when descending. Marlin 7 is a recreational buy that is also ready-to-race.

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PERFORMANCE HARDTAIL

Ode to their climbing prowess and affordability, the demand for performance-orientated hardtails, remains lofty. To remain competitive in this field, Trek has refreshed it’s Procaliber with new geometry, more travel and softtail-esque tech on the carbon model. For 2025, there are two models in the lineup:

Trek Procaliber 8

The Procaliber 8 is an aluminum hardtail designed for racing or running hot laps on your favorite loop. Highlights on the build kit include Shimano shifting and brakes, a 120mm RockShox fork and a Bontrager dropper post. Over 2kg lighter than the Marlin, the Procaliber is your best option from Trek when it comes to aluminum hardtails. This is a tubeless-ready so you can roll straight to the trails!

Trek Procaliber 9.6

Professional athletes of Trek Factory Racing choose the Procaliber for the smooth and fast courses of World Cup Cross-country. The geometry is very progressive and matches that of the latest-generation Supercaliber we tested here. Specifics there include a 67° head angle which is almost 2° slacker than the previous generation, reach numbers have expanded to run from 405mm up to 500mm and the seat tube is 0.5° steeper, at an effective 74.3°. These numbers bring stability with more control at speed and the ability to run the saddle a tad more forward, for those who prefer it. The Procaliber features an interesting piece of technology, the IsoBow system — essentially the seat tube and top tube is a single structure that is built to flex, providing some small-bump compliance. If you fancy a lightweight (11kg!) climbing machine, with modern geometry, the new Procaliber with it’s attractive pricing, is worth investigating.

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FULL-SUSPENSION RACE

If you look around the starting line of any local XC race, it’s clear Trek’s full suspension Supercaliber is a well-liked race whip. Globally it’s racked up more World Cup and World Championship wins than you can shake a stick at. Not to mention an Olympic Gold Medal in Tokyo. The latest generation Supercaliber is available in two carbon layups, rear travel is bumped up to 80mm and the bikes are sold with a 110mm fork. The geometry has been completely revised to boost overall capability in technical sections. For 2025 there are five models in the lineup.

Trek Supercaliber SLR 9.9 Flight Attendant

It doesn’t get more premium (or faster!) than SLR 9.9 Supercaliber. You’re getting a feathery light carbon frame built with the very best componentry from RockShox and SRAM, including the mind-blowingly smooth (yes, I have ridden it) Flight Attendant electronic suspension. The race package is topped off with ultralight Bontrager Kovee RSL wheels and an integrated (one-piece) carbon cockpit.

Trek Supercaliber SLR 9.9 XX AXS

At a mere 9.7kg, it’s fair to say you’ll be hard-pressed to find a lighter full suspension race bike. This SLR 9.9 XX AXS has all the bells and whistles for racing, sans the super dope Flight Attendant electronic suspension.

Trek Supercaliber SLR 9.9 XTR

For riders who prefer manual suspension lockouts and cable actuated shifting in place of electronics, cast your eye on the Supercaliber SLR 9.9 XTR. Tipping the scales at 9.9kg, this bike is ready-to-race.

Trek Supercaliber SLR 9.8 XO AXS T-Type

It may be one level down but make no mistake, the SLR 9.8 is a mean racing machine. The build kit highlights include Bontrager Kovee Elite carbon wheels with a 30mm inner diameter, SRAM XO T-Type shifting and the Bontrager RSL integrated cockpit. Stated weight is 11.2kg.

Trek Supercaliber SL 9.7 GX AXS T-Type

The SL 9.7 has a two-position (open or locked) remote suspension lockout. This bike rolls on lightweight Bontrager Kovee Comp wheels, features the SRAM GX AXS T-Type electronic drivetrain and is equipped with a 100, 150 or 170mm dropper post. The cockpit is a more traditional two-piece affair with an aluminum stem and carbon bar. It might be the entry level Supercaliber but at 11.8kg, it’s still a racing snake.

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FULL-SUSPENSION RACE & PLAY

A few months back, dropped their fourth and latest iteration of the Top Fuel. It is lighter, has more features and is now a far more versatile bike that can be used to race or play. In it’s stock setup, the new Top Fuel has 120mm rear and 130mm front travel, which is unchanged from the previous model. To improve ride quality, Trek says they took a few construction tricks from their latest Supercaliber and tweaked the new Top Fuel’s tube shapes into smaller profiles. This saves weight and reduces chassis stiffness, making a bike that’s easy to ride. The aluminum and carbon frames are around 220grams lighter than the previous model.

Trek Top Fuel 9.9 XX AXS

The best in the Top Fuel line up! The 9.9 XX has all the high-performance frills worth frothing about. Bontrager Line Pro 30 carbon wheels, the very blingy SRAM XX wireless electronic drivetrain and a wireless electronic dropper post from RockShox. The cockpit is a one piece carbon bar and stem from Bontrager that is both wide and short to maximize control. Barring the wheel and tyre combination, this is the exact bike raced by the 2024 Short Track World Champion in MSA.

Trek Top Fuel 9.9 XO AXS

Like all models in the new Top Fuel range, the 9.9 XO AXS features downtube frame storage for stowing spares, gilets and biltong. The build kit on the 9.9 focuses on strong and light! The SRAM XO Transmission is a slow-to-wear wireless drivetrain, the Bontrager Line Pro 30 wheels are efficient rollers and the Bontrager Gunnison / Montrose 2.4″ tyres bring plenty of grip to the trails.

Trek Top Fuel 9.8 XT

With a Shimano XT drivetrain and brake kit, this 9.8 model is available in three colours and five sizes. As with all the Top Fuel’s, the size small rolls on 27.5″ wheels. With high-strength aluminum wheels, we like this build as a light-trail bike that’s ready for big sends and gnarly lines.

Trek Top Fuel 9.8 GX AXS

Key to the versatility of the Top Fuel is a unique flip chip on the lower shock mount that has four geometry and progression settings. As an example, the ‘high geometry with more progressive suspension’ setting would maximize pedal efficiency and might be the go-to setting for racing. Trail riders might prefer the ‘low geometry and less progressive suspension’ setup to improve grip and rollover. Of the carbon frame Top Fuels, the 9.8 GX AXS is the base model, yet still features electronic shifting, RockShox suspension and SRAM brakes. Ode to it’s wide-ranging ability, this will be a popular buy.

Trek Top Fuel 8

For the ultimate trail-party bike, you might consider converting the Top Fuel to a 130mm rear and 140mm fork, fit a 27.5″ rear wheel and run a long dropper post. It’s all possible and there’s no impact on warranty. Top Fuel 8 is built with Shimano brakes and drivetrain, no-nonsense aluminum wheels and would be a solid shred-sled in MX wheel sizing or stock 29″.

Trek Top Fuel 5

Sharing the geometry, suspension kinematics and versatility of the range, the Top Fuel 5 is your entry point into the 120mm family. This model has a RockShox / X-Fusion suspension combination, Shimano brakes and drivetrain plus a Bontrager dropper post. Out the box the Top Fuel 5 is a tubeless-ready ride that’s ready for the trails.

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Tips on choosing the right size

Riding a bike that isn’t sized correctly for you will negatively impact your experience and safety. Signs of this are a top tube that is a little short for you and you are cramped when climbing, or you can’t get the saddle low enough and it’s inhibiting hip movement when descending.

If it’s your first bike you are buying in a while, you’ll notice they are a little longer these days. This is a good thing! That extra length creates stability in all situations (well, maybe not in your passageway at home) meaning you’ll be more comfortable and a lot safer on the trails.

Generally speaking, mountain bikes have far shorter stems than a few years ago. This is a good thing. A shorter stem improves handling in all conditions. If you are in between sizes or simply undecided on which size to go for you’ll be better off on the bigger option with the short stem than the smaller option with a long stem.

Lastly, remember that the handlebars are supplied wide so they can be trimmed to fit you. Don’t be afraid of shaving them down! Properly sized handlebars will vastly improve your performance and trail safety.//

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