Trek Fuel EX-e first impressions review - lightweight, smooth but enough power?

[@shwndh]

Trek is knocking it out the park with a very well thought out lineup of bikes. I don’t even like eBikes but this is a very attractive offering. The e factor seems to disappear with modest power, decent weight, no noise, and looks normal. Nice job!

[@randallgd]

We just bought a EXe for my wife, only one ride so far, snow here in Idaho. Im guessing a range extender will be our next purchase. Her previous two bikes were turbo levo's. I ride a non e-bike (Ibis ripley). She can go any of my hard rides and thats been so great. My friends often leave their wives home and mine gets to in these big epic rides. So cool! We also ride double track climbs with my 89 year old Dad on his Levo. On these rides I have to say I feel pretty lucky to ride as hard uphill as I want with my two favorite people. Total game changer for us! So many ways to use these e-bikes.

[@bradnelson2637]

Thanks for posting this!

[@ridingdeep8530]

I really enjoy my Levo SL, I definitely get a better workout with it than I did with my full-fat eMTB but what I enjoy the most is how much more "normal" it feels - 50+ lbs of bike is less fun to me personally.

[@chickenclips]

Thanks nice video. Can’t wait for the comparison videos

[@AdamSpencerKirkland]

Wow! That motor is super quiet. No rattle on the descents? Great first impression video. 🤙

[@user-fx7uy7vu4m]

I looked at one at the bije store i live by i wish i could get one so much its super nice i live ut but dint have that much money

[@laroc003]

Rad! This might be my next bike... great review!!

[@MtbrVideos]

Thank you for this. We'll let you handle this category and will link to them. 2 Questions: How's it compare to the Rail? And how does it stack up against the Orbea Rise, Levo SL and the upcoming mid-power bikes from Pivot, Haibike, etc.

[@tomcagle5324]

Yep. I have the Rail and rode the Fuel Ex-e two weeks ago. Straight away, It lacks significantly in turbo/boost mode...needs 60-70 Nm. The TQ 50 is a brilliantly silent and stealthy motor...wave of the future. The Ex-e is an excellent trail rig with lower/mid power. It's very compliant as shedding 10 lbs from the Rail is sweet and great for lifting over fences and storing on racks in comparison. Tempted to sell my Rail for the stealthy looks alone BUT...It also needs 150-160 mm rear travel for more Enduro-oriented, rugged singletrack where non-groomed trail conditions exist. So, either Trek puts out the Slash-E next or many will be hold their cash to see how the Transition Relay Fazua 60 will turn out in Spring.💰🤟

[@tomcagle5324]

Excellent astute review!💪

[@dangrant7537]

Seems to be a big issue with the motors failing at the moment, a lot of people are on their second or third motor in only a month or so from reading the forums..

[@dongkapuyawn5107]

@@dangrant7537 which motor is failing? Thanks

[@bradsanders6954]

@@dongkapuyawn5107 If motors were failing regularly, it would be all over the internet I guarantee it.

[@burnx45]

That's one sweet bike. I currently have a 2020 Specialized Levo comp and it's a blast, but my next emtb is definitely going to be a lightweight one. I'll keep the Levo for a while longer though since I got a new motor this year after 4300 miles and a new battery at 4900 mi under warranty. Specialized stands behind their products. I also did a whole bunch of replacement upgrades this year such as brakes, seatpost, suspension, and drivetrain.

[@vicentvanmole]

best looking stealth e bike so far. If manufacture can do a thinner downtube battery .it will be perfectly pass the ranger park which not allow any ebike!

[@peterwilliamson4296]

i like your comparison to big e bikes by implying the Fuel's power is a bit underwhelming. If someone has owned an 85nm bike could they then drop to the 50nm Fuel?

[@benswift2206]

Nice vid, how tall are you? Is this a medium?

[@kickin123]

This is my favorite ebike ive ridden and its not even close. But also the most frustrating and it has single handedly kept me out of the market... why? Because I love its delivery profile, its noise profile, how it feels, but I want it but with *slightly* higher power (60ish nm is my sweetspot) and of course improved baseline battery options. And you *KNOW* this is coming in what, 2, 3 years? But if I'm dropping close to 10 grand on an ebike its something I expect to keep for a long time. Very frustrating.

[@chaseg4567]

Per trek manual, the ex-e can be ridden without the battery. Have you tried it?

[@isrz8740]

Did you use the handle bars that came with it that has a 27.5 rise or you replaced it? if so, which one and what rise?

[@jimsteinway695]

The surge of power is available by tuning the motor. I figured that out later

[@EMTBReview]

So true. It's unfortunate they tune it down and it's not clearly explained how to get the claimed power out.

[@seniordaywalker503]

Wait... are you a MTB guy that also does RC... or an RC guy that also does MTB? I'm confused and impressed at the same time. =)

[@56namnam]

Sir whens your trek e fuel will be on sale😅 local UCSC here

[@DaBinChe]

This might be the gateway drug into emtb for me.....how is the rear suspension?

[@bradsanders6954]

@@EMTBReview In another test I heard several times "harsh" describing the suspension on these Trek exe's. If it has to be wide open in boost to go a moderate pace............the battery isnt big. I can see limitations cropping up.

[@Roddaculous]

This might be a silly question but I've heard that this motor has zero drag when the battery is dead. Could this bike be run without the battery in it? Transition is coming out with the Relay where they are saying that you can remove the battery for a non e-bike trail or park day. This really interests me because a lot of my local trails don't allow e-bikes but I would love to have the option to do either as there are some trails that allow e-bikes here in Colorado and I would love to have a little boost for those bigger days.

[@bobleitner68]

Yes, you can remove the motor and ride it. They made the range extender small enough to be allowed in a plane so that you can travel with the main battery out and a range extender and run that way. Not sure hotter much life you’ll get from a 160 range extender but still an interesting option

[@akissparaskevopoulos]

I think you need to lower the rebounce on yr front fork. I maybe wrong. Just looked like that

[@akissparaskevopoulos]

@@EMTBReview slow it a bit

[@bradsanders6954]

@@akissparaskevopoulos rebounce isnt a real word.

[@Gerald-iz7mv]

Difference of motor to orbea rise m20?

[@bobleitner68]

Just got my 9.8 XT and noticed that when I stop pedaling briefly and start again I can feel what I assume is the motor re-engaging through the cranks. I didn’t notice this when I briefly rode a test bike in a parking lot before ordering. Curious if you feel this too?

[@bobleitner68]

@@EMTBReview thanks for letting me know, sounds like I need to take it back to trek

[@laneconaway780]

Hold don’t you make RC related videos as well?

[@islandaerial3414]

I'm miffed at why TQ has no 85 Nm DU and a 600 wh battery to compete with everyone else

[@joysassoon9003]

what does this build weigh? approx?

[@danielboesch9057]

The weights are on the Trek website for all models.

[@joysassoon9003]

@@EMTBReview thank you.

[@thim8009]

For what I ride, they need more travel like kenevo. Problem is everyone has more power than kenevo.

[@lforrest14]

Rocky Mountain Altitude Power Play, the bike is sick!

[@texfromro]

This is a bike to go back up without the shuttle car.. not an electric bike with which to make some 50-60km and 2000-2500 meters a day. Or if you love playing life on hard you can probably use this in the second scenario as well.... for a while 😆

[@drTeddyJo]

Does your fuel exe make this noise? kzbin.info/www/bejne/haa4Y4R8eLOVbM0

[@JogBird]

trek is using so many motor types, how are they gonna support them in 10+ years

[@555arcane]

So less power than orbea

[@Me_ThatsWho]

only 50 nM ? weak-sauce. that's not an improved motor, it's a weaker (albeit quieter) motor. deal-breaker.

[@jeffrogers2180]

Nope.