Fuel EXe Trek Fuel EXe Megathread!

[erider1]

Do you think the bike is still relevant in today's date, meaning still a good choice, for the sale price of $3800?
Or one would be better served by something else, or perhaps wait for updated version of Ex-e with stronger motor and larger battery. Perhaps never coming... speculating here a bit based on what most folks and reviewers see as ideal bike- SL bike with larger battery. Or majority of folks here think, it is still perfect bike, even now, 3 years after it's first release, for that 2-3 hour rides, mostly for riders that want just a bit help and are in decent shape?

 

[Mteam]

Do you or anyone know what seems to be the most common problem of the motor failures?
Also what is the warranty on the motor, in your understanding?

About to grab one of these 9.5s now for sale price, and having second thoughts after reading about motor reliability

For me, both failures have been caused by moisture, the first motor failed because the sprag clutch seized up. In the second motor one of the bearings ended up running dry and rough then the torque sensor started throwing an errror.

I ride in the UK though, and the winters are wet and muddy, if you ride in a drier location I wouldn't expect these issues.

For context, I also have a bike with the bosch CX gen 4 motor, which I think is widely considered to be one of the most reliable motors, and I'm on my second motor, so I think the tq motor is not especially unreliable, it's just if you ride a lot in the UK especially in winter you will break motors.

For more context, I ride with a friend who has an orbea rise( shimano ep8) , and he is on his 5th motor doing the same rides as me.

 

[Mteam]

Do you think the bike is still relevant in today's date, meaning still a good choice, for the sale price of $3800?
Or one would be better served by something else, or perhaps wait for updated version of Ex-e with stronger motor and larger battery. Perhaps never coming... speculating here a bit based on what most folks and reviewers see as ideal bike- SL bike with larger battery. Or majority of folks here think, it is still perfect bike, even now, 3 years after it's first release, for that 2-3 hour rides, mostly for riders that want just a bit help and are in decent shape?

Tricky to answer as everyone has a different priority for what they want from their ebike, but I think for the money you can now buy them for theyre still a decent choice if you want a low power lighter bike.

If you focus purely on objective numbers (power,torque,battery capacity etc) then the fuel exe is not as good as some of the newer bikes, but it does have some characteristics that other bikes still dont get close to, but maybe these are not relevent to you?

things like:-

- Noise - the tq is super quiet
- reliability - its pretty decent, especially compared to something like the fazua r60 motor
- Motor size/bike looks - the motor is V small and as a result the bikes dont look much different to a regular bike
- Flexibility - if you want you can run the bike on just the range extender for a super light ebike, or for the ability to take it on a plane , you get a lot of options for combinations of battery capacity and overall bike weight. Some people talk about wanting a modular battery in their ebike, so you can pick the best battery size for the ride you do rather than carrying around battery capacity you wont use. the TQ system essentially allows this:-

- no battery at all, bike weighs 17kg - not sure anyone would ride it like this in reality
- just the range extender, 160wh, bike weighs 18kg, I ride it like this a few times a year when I go away by air.
- just the main battery, 360wh, bike weighs 19kg
- combination of main battery and range extender, 520wh, bike weighs 20kg
- happy to carry another main battery? 720wh, 21kg bike. etc ad infinitum

I have a look at what else you can buy in the 20kg (ish) or less weight range, and there are more options now, but they're more expensive and you lose some of the above characteristics, but gain power, range, and a weight increase. I'm not sure what I would buy now if I was in the market - I do appreciate all the above from the trek, so its not a clear cut choice for me. Maybe the canondale moterra SL, or the whyte Elyte might be a good choice if I were looking today?

 

[JayX2A]

For me, both failures have been caused by moisture, the first motor failed because the sprag clutch seized up. In the second motor one of the bearings ended up running dry and rough then the torque sensor started throwing an errror.

I ride in the UK though, and the winters are wet and muddy, if you ride in a drier location I wouldn't expect these issues.

For context, I also have a bike with the bosch CX gen 4 motor, which I think is widely considered to be one of the most reliable motors, and I'm on my second motor, so I think the tq motor is not especially unreliable, it's just if you ride a lot in the UK especially in winter you will break motors.

For more context, I ride with a friend who has an orbea rise( shimano ep8) , and he is on his 5th motor doing the same rides as me.

My motor is probably on around 300 miles and it’s gone. Not even lasted the whole uk muddy season.

Not good if the bike can’t handle muddy winters as we have them every year lol.

The worry is once warranty is up there is no way I am affording replacement motors.

Not sure what the alternative is though, such a good bike when it works.

Not sure what the issue with mine is, will ask when I pick it up. Defiantly clutch related as when you turned bike off the motor still seem engaged and peddling was near impossible!!

 

[Mteam]

My motor is probably on around 300 miles and it’s gone. Not even lasted the whole uk muddy season.

Not good if the bike can’t handle muddy winters as we have them every year lol.

The worry is once warranty is up there is no way I am affording replacement motors.

Not sure what the alternative is though, such a good bike when it works.

Not sure what the issue with mine is, will ask when I pick it up. Defiantly clutch related as when you turned bike off the motor still seem engaged and peddling was near impossible!!

My first motor failed at the tail end of its first winter, the second motor survived two winters (and two 'summers' if you can call them that).

I'm hoping they've made some running changes to make them more resilient. Maybe my third motor will make it through 3 winters?

 

[CarolinaCrawler]

Or one would be better served by something else, or perhaps wait for updated version of Ex-e with stronger motor and larger battery. Perhaps never coming...

I wouldn't think this bike will get more power. They just came out with the Slast+ with the exact same motor. So doubtfull any updated one will have more power. We might see the 580wh battery option from the Slash+, but maybe not. I would like the option for it though.

 

[Rockhopper70]

Tempted by a Fuel Exe, but I wonder if the package as a whole is now a bit last generation, as in weight v power v battery. Perhaps that is why they now seem to be on an eternal discount cycle.

I am trying to get a demo on one, and a bit randomly, I’ve been offered the Fuel Exe that Loris Vergier used for his training. Absolutely top notch no expense spared specification, but it’s still a used bike, albeit with one “careful” owner so the motor, battery and frame having no warranty gives me concerns.

 

[erider1]

For me, both failures have been caused by moisture, the first motor failed because the sprag clutch seized up. In the second motor one of the bearings ended up running dry and rough then the torque sensor started throwing an errror.

I ride in the UK though, and the winters are wet and muddy, if you ride in a drier location I wouldn't expect these issues.

For context, I also have a bike with the bosch CX gen 4 motor, which I think is widely considered to be one of the most reliable motors, and I'm on my second motor, so I think the tq motor is not especially unreliable, it's just if you ride a lot in the UK especially in winter you will break motors.

For more context, I ride with a friend who has an orbea rise( shimano ep8) , and he is on his 5th motor doing the same rides as me.

Just wow, that is some record, ....appreciate the context. I am sure, you guys, those riding in these harsh conditions are pushing the manufacturers to improve the motors and sealing properties specifically... Tx

 

[erider1]

Tricky to answer as everyone has a different priority for what they want from their ebike, but I think for the money you can now buy them for theyre still a decent choice if you want a low power lighter bike.

If you focus purely on objective numbers (power,torque,battery capacity etc) then the fuel exe is not as good as some of the newer bikes, but it does have some characteristics that other bikes still dont get close to, but maybe these are not relevent to you?

things like:-

- Noise - the tq is super quiet
- reliability - its pretty decent, especially compared to something like the fazua r60 motor
- Motor size/bike looks - the motor is V small and as a result the bikes dont look much different to a regular bike
- Flexibility - if you want you can run the bike on just the range extender for a super light ebike, or for the ability to take it on a plane , you get a lot of options for combinations of battery capacity and overall bike weight. Some people talk about wanting a modular battery in their ebike, so you can pick the best battery size for the ride you do rather than carrying around battery capacity you wont use. the TQ system essentially allows this:-

- no battery at all, bike weighs 17kg - not sure anyone would ride it like this in reality
- just the range extender, 160wh, bike weighs 18kg, I ride it like this a few times a year when I go away by air.
- just the main battery, 360wh, bike weighs 19kg
- combination of main battery and range extender, 520wh, bike weighs 20kg
- happy to carry another main battery? 720wh, 21kg bike. etc ad infinitum

I have a look at what else you can buy in the 20kg (ish) or less weight range, and there are more options now, but they're more expensive and you lose some of the above characteristics, but gain power, range, and a weight increase. I'm not sure what I would buy now if I was in the market - I do appreciate all the above from the trek, so its not a clear cut choice for me. Maybe the canondale moterra SL, or the whyte Elyte might be a good choice if I were looking today?

Thanks Mteam, indeed tough choice....
I guess, at this point, if I was to make the choice and buy it I at least would like assurance that warranty for motors is good for a very long time. Anyone knows what it is ?
Here in US, I believe frame warranty is lifetime (other places perhaps too) but does that include also motor?
What does motor cost in open market and did any of you guys had to pay for it ( ~ warranty was not approved)?

 

[Mteam]

Tempted by a Fuel Exe, but I wonder if the package as a whole is now a bit last generation, as in weight v power v battery. Perhaps that is why they now seem to be on an eternal discount cycle.

I am trying to get a demo on one, and a bit randomly, I’ve been offered the Fuel Exe that Loris Vergier used for his training. Absolutely top notch no expense spared specification, but it’s still a used bike, albeit with one “careful” owner so the motor, battery and frame having no warranty gives me concerns.

I think the Trek warranty is transferable to the second owner, but I think the frame warranty reduces to 3 or maybe 2 years, compared to lifetime for the original owner - check the Trek warranty terms. The motor/battery only ever had a 2 year warranty - in the UK anyway.

 

[Mteam]

Re replacement motor prices, if you register as a dealer on the tq website, you can log into the dealer area and download the price list for replacement parts, I don't have it in front of me, so can't be exact, but a new motor is something like 850 euros.