Hey, I like the review. I don’t think you did it if you did I missed it but I wish every reviewer would mention their height and weight. The only one that does that consistently is Mtb Yum Yum and I appreciate that every time I think everybody needs to do that. Because when you say, the medium large would be good good for you we have nothing to gauge that on your height or weight.
You're right! I actually did mention it but accidentally edited it out of the video. I do mention my height in my initial impressions video but either way I'm 6ft 210lbs.
Im happy they brought the integrated bar and stem to the top fuel even though i dont like it. But fact is the resale value on those bars are great cuz they always sold out.
Sticking with the gen 3 9.8 XT, that came with carbon wheels and XT brakes. Looks like with this model, it costs more $$ for less bike. I would have been interested though in what the new range tyres are like on the trail.
Great video. There are some good deals on the gen 3s now and I’m thinking of going that direction with an XT build. I live in CO so there’s often a long climb with techy bits to start a ride. Do you think the gen 4 is worth it for the improvements to climbing capability? Thinking of Hunt Race Wide alloy wheels as a light wheelset upgrade since the OEM wheels are garbage. Thanks again for the well put together review and comparison.
Both are great technical climbers. Gen 3 is ever so slightly more active generating traction, and the Gen 4 made up for the stiffer platform by having a slightly longer chainstay length to generate grip. If you find a good deal on the Gen 3 it's probably worth going that route still.
I never thought of the previous gen Top Fuel as a Downcountry bike. It had a very heavy frame, Enduro level rims, and the tires were not fast rolling. A Downcountry bike should have a light frame, XC-ish rims, and light-weight fast-rolling tires. The Top Fuel is more of short-travel trail bike. Now that the new generation comes with a 130mm Trail fork, it's all trail bike. Honestly, the TF should come with a 140mm fork. 130 and 140mm versions of the same fork weigh and cost the same, so why not? A real Downcountry bike would be the Spur or the Epic 8: 120mm XC fork, lightweight frame, XC rims, fast tires.
You make a good point about the suspension for the gen 4. Ultimately what is downcountry or not is probably more semantics than anything else. Either way I still think the spec choices for the gen 3 make sense given the capabilities of that bike. (Also XR4 tires are pretty light, supposedly ~800 grams 😊)
How tall are You ? Good rev. btw ! Got the gen 3 with a custom spec to the moon :P Thinking about swaping frames or buying a new. Got a Slash also. Good bike but i visit mountains not so much as i wish i would, so im thinking aobut selling the slash and making the gen3/gen4 a do it all bike. With the new one i would go with 130mm back + a vivid air and a 140 pike. With some settings done it could be a cool bike i think. The question is is it worth ? Does those settings actually change the feeeling. For me the settings on the shock mount and 5mm longer chainstays sound like a good addon.
You do notice those changes but the new top fuel is still a top fuel. The extra progression definitely helps and if you're running the vivid (assuming it fits) you'd probably want it in the progressive setting. If I were to own the gen 4, by default I would need it in the progressive setting even with the oem shock.
12:25 Are you sure this is not because the older bike has a top-end wheelset? Other than geo making a bike lighter should make it more willing to fly. And weight is the most important at the wheels on a bike.
Trek seems to have an issue with overpricing compared to build specs. The components are always lesser than but they will always premium price. Don.t get me wrong, I love Trek bikes. I own one myself along with several other brands but yeaaah, they need to chill with the Bontrager components on higher model bikes.
I bought the Top Fuel 9.8 GX AXS T-type Gen 3 in Plasma Grey 2 months ago at a nice discount. The Gen 3 Looks nicer somehow. I think the new Gen4 9.8 is a downgrade as mine came with carbon wheels
@@sebastienhakimejdaa9363 Yeah the Gen 4 is a slight downgrade with the alloy wheels but does also retail $500 less (not that it makes the difference up). I thought the same about the looks when I first saw images of the gen 4, but in person the lines on the Gen 4 look good as well. From the side the tubes are slimmed down.
@@leocirino4319 Personally I like the RSL bar (once it's cut down to size). It is stiff, but I don't mind that. The roll and sweep are comfortable enough for me. I test rode this bike with my own bars since I couldn't cut this set.
Thank you, amazing video. I was looking for that comparison. I want to buy the GEN 3 on sale probably.
Hey, I like the review. I don’t think you did it if you did I missed it but I wish every reviewer would mention their height and weight. The only one that does that consistently is Mtb Yum Yum and I appreciate that every time I think everybody needs to do that. Because when you say, the medium large would be good good for you we have nothing to gauge that on your height or weight.
You're right! I actually did mention it but accidentally edited it out of the video. I do mention my height in my initial impressions video but either way I'm 6ft 210lbs.
Can't believe my favorite MTB influencer got his hands on the new Top Fuel
Im happy they brought the integrated bar and stem to the top fuel even though i dont like it. But fact is the resale value on those bars are great cuz they always sold out.
Just picked up a gen 3 carbon xt 9.8 top fuel for 3800 at my lbs it rips!! I love it for xc/trail riding. Def adds alot of value to my fleet!!
@@Eddie65001 killer deal!
Well versed. Good insights.
Incredible production value on this one Dean!
Sticking with the gen 3 9.8 XT, that came with carbon wheels and XT brakes. Looks like with this model, it costs more $$ for less bike. I would have been interested though in what the new range tyres are like on the trail.
Great video. There are some good deals on the gen 3s now and I’m thinking of going that direction with an XT build. I live in CO so there’s often a long climb with techy bits to start a ride. Do you think the gen 4 is worth it for the improvements to climbing capability? Thinking of Hunt Race Wide alloy wheels as a light wheelset upgrade since the OEM wheels are garbage. Thanks again for the well put together review and comparison.
Both are great technical climbers. Gen 3 is ever so slightly more active generating traction, and the Gen 4 made up for the stiffer platform by having a slightly longer chainstay length to generate grip. If you find a good deal on the Gen 3 it's probably worth going that route still.
I never thought of the previous gen Top Fuel as a Downcountry bike. It had a very heavy frame, Enduro level rims, and the tires were not fast rolling. A Downcountry bike should have a light frame, XC-ish rims, and light-weight fast-rolling tires. The Top Fuel is more of short-travel trail bike. Now that the new generation comes with a 130mm Trail fork, it's all trail bike. Honestly, the TF should come with a 140mm fork. 130 and 140mm versions of the same fork weigh and cost the same, so why not? A real Downcountry bike would be the Spur or the Epic 8: 120mm XC fork, lightweight frame, XC rims, fast tires.
You make a good point about the suspension for the gen 4. Ultimately what is downcountry or not is probably more semantics than anything else. Either way I still think the spec choices for the gen 3 make sense given the capabilities of that bike. (Also XR4 tires are pretty light, supposedly ~800 grams 😊)
Or maybe they could just call it a mountain bike since dc is just a media moniker.
What is your opinion on the gen 4 model5?
I’ve seen gen 3 9.8 XT - for 3800 - 4700.00 they’re out there in shops. Just have to look.
The Bontrager dropper is tragically bad as well. A BikeYoke or OneUp is a big upgrade!
Shrinkflation, give you less and charge you more. Crazy that carbon wheels aren't offered on the 9.8 now..
How tall are You ? Good rev. btw ! Got the gen 3 with a custom spec to the moon :P Thinking about swaping frames or buying a new. Got a Slash also. Good bike but i visit mountains not so much as i wish i would, so im thinking aobut selling the slash and making the gen3/gen4 a do it all bike. With the new one i would go with 130mm back + a vivid air and a 140 pike. With some settings done it could be a cool bike i think. The question is is it worth ? Does those settings actually change the feeeling. For me the settings on the shock mount and 5mm longer chainstays sound like a good addon.
You do notice those changes but the new top fuel is still a top fuel. The extra progression definitely helps and if you're running the vivid (assuming it fits) you'd probably want it in the progressive setting. If I were to own the gen 4, by default I would need it in the progressive setting even with the oem shock.
12:25 Are you sure this is not because the older bike has a top-end wheelset? Other than geo making a bike lighter should make it more willing to fly. And weight is the most important at the wheels on a bike.
To me it felt more like a timing issue. I also have a comparatively heavy Trek Slash so I'm familiar with trying to hop heavy bikes 😁
Trek seems to have an issue with overpricing compared to build specs. The components are always lesser than but they will always premium price. Don.t get me wrong, I love Trek bikes. I own one myself along with several other brands but yeaaah, they need to chill with the Bontrager components on higher model bikes.
Good video.
So you'd go Medium/Large....
How tall are you ?
@@HLDefender I'm 6 ft with shorter limbs
I bought the Top Fuel 9.8 GX AXS T-type Gen 3 in Plasma Grey 2 months ago at a nice discount. The Gen 3 Looks nicer somehow. I think the new Gen4 9.8 is a downgrade as mine came with carbon wheels
@@sebastienhakimejdaa9363 Yeah the Gen 4 is a slight downgrade with the alloy wheels but does also retail $500 less (not that it makes the difference up). I thought the same about the looks when I first saw images of the gen 4, but in person the lines on the Gen 4 look good as well. From the side the tubes are slimmed down.
Nice video. But what about the handlebar?
@@leocirino4319 Personally I like the RSL bar (once it's cut down to size). It is stiff, but I don't mind that. The roll and sweep are comfortable enough for me. I test rode this bike with my own bars since I couldn't cut this set.
Bike is porky. My Mondraker F Podium DC-R is 24.5 lbs and came with carbon wheels.
Gen 3 definitely a bit heavier than it needed to be. But I don't see the Mondraker as a direct competitor to the Top Fuel.
The Epic is though. And its 2kg lighter.
All your cons were nitpicking. Plus your TH-cam creator name is a made up mtb category, that's hilarious.