A new kind of ebike, for a group of riders that has been curiously neglected – that’s what Trek said in the teaser for the press event.
Trek has previously told us how they believe the mild and lightweight emtbs will take a huge chunk of the market. Therefore, we were expecting Trek to release such an emtb. But there are already a few superlight emtbs out there. People interested in such a bike hasn’t really been neglected. So, what is Trek really talking about?
Well, they’re talking about the new Trek E-Caliber. Sure, it’s a lightweight emtb with reduced motor power. But that’s not all. It’s a proper cross country racing bike. It seems this is the first emtb made for the lycra crowd. And yeah, I guess they have been neglected by the ebike manufacturers. But it could be mutual. Is the lycra crowd also neglecting the ebikes?
The E-Caliber is here to find out. This is a full suspension bike with 120 mm travel front and just 60 mm rear. It’s based on the Trek Supercaliber. The E-Caliber is a slightly more burly bike compared to the Supercaliber. Fork travel is 20 mm longer and head angle is reduced to 67.5 degrees. Also reach is 15mm longer at 440 mm on size Medium. Trek is making the E-Caliber a more stable and controlled bike at higher speeds.
Rear suspension
The rear suspension is the same as on the Supercaliber, the IsoStrut. This design saves weight. And according to Trek, it transfers power more efficiently, making the bike feel as fast as a hardtail. Here we find pivotless seatstays that flex as the chainstays move. The seatstays are connected to a tube that slides over the IsoStrut shock.
Two in one
The E-Caliber isn’t just an electric bike, also a regular pedal-only bike. Trek opted for the Fazua motor. This motor system has been around for years. It’s a 55 nm motor that will produce 250W continuous power and 450W peak power. The motor sits in a “drive pack” that also contains the 250Wh battery. The entire drivepack weighs 3.3 kg and it can be removed. Making it a regular pedal-bike. This comes with a slight weight penalty though, as we’re left with the chunky bottom bracket which contains a few cogs to connect to the motor.
What do we think?
I keep referring to the E-Caliber as a racing bike for the lycra-crowd, but it’s more than that of course. I bet you don’t have to be a racer to enjoy a quite lightweight bike that pedals efficiently and works just as well without the motor. Now, we have to test the bike ourselves to find out if that really is the case.
A look at the different models
In Norway, the bikes will be available at stores shortly after the release date. Except for the E-Caliber 9.6, it should be available early april.
