i have a fuel ex 9.8 2019 model. Got it on the BUPA discount as well.
It's great. Came off a 150/140mm Trance 27.5.
You can get your dealer to swap out the pawl kit to go 108pt on the stock hubs. $50 worth of parts or so.
If you're worried about carbon wheels just stick cushcore or other rim protection in and/or beefier sidewall tyres. I've given mine a pretty solid workout with the rocky trails round here and things have been fine. 2 year uncondtional warranty on them as well, i think.
Only weak point I thought were the SLX brakes on a $6k bike, swapped them out to Magura MT5 4-pots. The bontrager tyres weren't too bad but swapped to minion DHR2's as I am more comfortable with them. Probably needs a 10-15mm shorter stem as well, but all good for now.
also if you want to take the fork out to 140mm the fork on the 9.7 apparently needs a new CSU to work with a 140mm air shaft (stanchions too short, most likely). the 9.8's fork just needs the air shaft.
It's great. Came off a 150/140mm Trance 27.5.
You can get your dealer to swap out the pawl kit to go 108pt on the stock hubs. $50 worth of parts or so.
If you're worried about carbon wheels just stick cushcore or other rim protection in and/or beefier sidewall tyres. I've given mine a pretty solid workout with the rocky trails round here and things have been fine. 2 year uncondtional warranty on them as well, i think.
Only weak point I thought were the SLX brakes on a $6k bike, swapped them out to Magura MT5 4-pots. The bontrager tyres weren't too bad but swapped to minion DHR2's as I am more comfortable with them. Probably needs a 10-15mm shorter stem as well, but all good for now.
also if you want to take the fork out to 140mm the fork on the 9.7 apparently needs a new CSU to work with a 140mm air shaft (stanchions too short, most likely). the 9.8's fork just needs the air shaft.