Trek Fuel+ EX 5

More trail time without going full-power

The Trek Fuel+ EX 5 is a full-suspension electric mountain bike, not the unassisted Fuel EX 5. It is the entry-level aluminium model in the current Fuel+ Gen 2 family, aimed at riders who want proper help on long climbs and technical woodland loops while still putting plenty through the pedals themselves. The UK-sold bike uses the TQ HPR60 mid-drive, a removable 580 Wh battery and Shimano Deore 12-speed gearing. At an original UK RRP of £4,400, the money goes chiefly into the motor, battery and adaptable frame platform rather than top-end suspension.

The current UK model is the Fuel+ EX 5 Gen 2 Shimano Deore build. Some retailer titles use a 2026 label, but Fuel+ Gen 2 is the useful identifier when separating it from the earlier Fuel EXe 5. Its 60 Nm motor is intended to deliver a measured, responsive boost rather than the hard shove of a full-power e-MTB. That suits rides where you want to spin up repeated climbs, keep pace with quicker mates and still feel involved in the work.

Motor, battery and trail character

TQ lists 250 W maximum continuous rated power and 350 W peak power for the HPR60. The removable 580 Wh battery is one of this bike's most practical strengths: you can bring it indoors to charge or store it securely when the complete bike lives in a garage or shed. The supplied charger is rated at 2 A. On a long day, leave a sensible reserve rather than relying on the final few per cent of charge, as motor output is reduced below 10%.

A 150 mm fork leads the way on every size. M, L and XL use 145 mm rear travel in the standard EX arrangement, while Small has 150 mm at the rear. Alongside the four-piston Shimano brakes and a 10-51-tooth cassette, that makes for an assured all-round trail package for improving riders and experienced regulars alike. It is happy on rooty descents and sustained climbs, but it is not presented as a downhill, enduro or bike-park specialist.

The RockShox Recon Silver RL fork and X-Fusion Pro 2 shock are sensible value-led choices rather than the fanciest parts on the Fuel+ chassis. With sag and damping set properly, they give the bike a useful comfort cushion over rough trail surfaces. Riders who repeatedly hit harder impacts at greater speed may find their control limits before they exhaust what the frame can handle. That is a manageable compromise, and one that leaves a clear upgrade path if your riding develops.

Small is a genuinely different configuration

Do not treat size S as simply a shorter version of the larger frames. It has a 29 in front wheel and 27.5 in rear wheel, an MX rocker arrangement and 150 mm rear travel. M, L and XL are full 29 in bikes with 145 mm rear travel and EX-specific hardware. The mixed-wheel Small should feel more manoeuvrable for shorter riders while retaining a larger front wheel's rollover. It also means that wheel, suspension and replacement-part choices must match the frame size.

The published maximum combined bicycle, rider and cargo weight is 136 kg. Size S has a published bike weight of 21.92 kg, so it will feel more substantial than an unassisted trail bike when lifting it over a gate, loading a vehicle or carrying it upstairs. Removing the battery where appropriate can make those jobs less awkward.

A durable platform with useful future options

The Alpha NEXT Platinum aluminium frame uses Active Braking Pivot suspension, guided internal cable routing, UDH and Boost thru-axles. Its adjustable leverage rate, interchangeable rocker link and lower shock mount create approved EX, MX and LX-style configuration routes. That flexibility is real, but it is not a simple flip-chip change: a proper conversion needs the corresponding rocker link, lower shock mount, fork, shock and, where required, wheel combination. Buy the EX 5 because the standard EX setup suits your riding now, then view the modular chassis as useful long-term potential.

Bontrager Line TLR 30 rims and Gunnison Elite XR tyres are Tubeless Ready, although a tubeless setup depends on sealant being fitted. Mechanical Deore shifting keeps routine drivetrain work familiar and avoids another battery on the derailleur. In wet British conditions, regular cleaning and drying around the drivetrain, charging-port cover, motor guard and suspension pivots will pay off. TQ software updates and deeper system diagnostics use an authorised service route, which is worth factoring into long-term ownership.

A TQ Range Extender can be added for longer rides, but the extra battery, mount and cable are separate purchases. The frame also has space for frame bags. A colour display and Smart Box for powered accessories can be added later through a Trek/TQ service route, but neither is factory-fitted to the EX 5.

How Fuel+ Gen 2 differs from the Fuel EXe 5 predecessor

The previous 2025 Fuel EXe 5 aluminium model belongs to the earlier Fuel EXe generation. Fuel+ Gen 2 replaces it with the HPR60 motor, a removable 580 Wh battery, more rear travel and a much more configurable chassis. Fuel EXe and Fuel+ are different public model names, not alternative component builds of the same current bike. That distinction matters if you are comparing listings, parts or specifications.