Fuel EXe TREK's new lightweight trail ebike

[Mabman]

This quote from a PinkBike editor nicely voices my concerns about Light class eBikes in general:

This is where there is a temporary problem that cannot be undone by any amount of engineering: you won’t be able to keep up with a full-powered E-bike on lengthy, steep climbs. Ok, so set the assist to Boost. That might keep you in touch for a few minutes, but you’ll be working like a dog. At best, you’re still only getting 50 Nm of torque. Plus, you’ll absolutely rinse the battery dry in about thirty minutes. If you’re conservative, you could run it in Eco mode and chill with your friends on non-assist bikes, but there are still three basic divisions of bikes, so you’ll have to find riding mates with similar style bikes or deal with the moaning of, “Oh. You brought the e-bike today,” or, “You should have bought the full meal deal!” That doesn’t make or break this bike. It simply puts it in a separate category, which is gaining some serious traction.

Beginning to think that maybe there is a more middle option that will develop more along the Rise line.

 

[Oupy]

Seems to be a well thought out and designed bike, bravo to Trek they've certainly landed in a big way in this segment.
Agree that there is always a risk with a new motor type, particularly one as unique as this - I guess only time will tell.

I'm actually interested in the market research that has driven this new category of EMTB and would be curious of sales volumes in the middleweight vs full fat classes. Weight seems to be the only metric non emtb crowd seem to think about and argue this is their reasoning for not wanting to jump into the EMTB world. It will be interesting to see if this crowd now jump in or find another reason that becomes the default reply to anything positive EMTB related. Even the whole "Super Light" mantra seems to geared to fooling people into thinking there is some secret sauce special technology being used in these bikes, as opposed to just smaller motors and batteries.

 

[Rob Rides EMTB]

9.8 XT in Smoke is looking pretty fine....

 

[Losiak]

9.8 XT in Smoke is looking pretty fine....

View attachment 92260

Tempted But I will wait for new Levo SL I hope they will speed up release and then will decide. For now my Levo SL rides awesome Expect noise ;(

 

[Neverbeentomoab]

Tempted But I will wait for new Levo SL I hope they will speed up release and then will decide. For now my Levo SL rides awesome Expect noise ;(

Agreed,come on specialized get a move on.

 

[Ribinrobin]

Love the motor size and the noise seems (from robs video) super quiet. I got a kenevo sl and aint to fussed about more power but the quietness of the motor does appeal to me. I've heard many rumours specialized are upping to 50nm for the next SL in september. I feel trek has really set the bar with motor noise and size here, be interesting how reliable it will be. Exciting time for the lighter/stealth ebike market!

 

[JP-NZ]

A little gutted with Trek NZ. Here I am
Waiting now 6 months for a 2022 rail and today get an email from LBS they already have all models of Fuel Ex-e in stock and ready to pick up.

Come on rail…. Pretty please

 

[Oupy]

A little gutted with Trek NZ. Here I am
Waiting now 6 months for a 2022 rail and today get an email from LBS they already have all models of Fuel Ex-e in stock and ready to pick up.

Come on rail…. Pretty please

Are they still thinking end of this month for Rail stock or has it been pushed back?

 

[Xinto]

A little gutted with Trek NZ. Here I am
Waiting now 6 months for a 2022 rail and today get an email from LBS they already have all models of Fuel Ex-e in stock and ready to pick up.

Come on rail…. Pretty please

Wish they had some bikes here in Finland also.
Heard from LBS, that maybe at the end of August we get the first Fuel Ex-e and only 3 models.

 

[Chicane]

A dealer in California has an XL for sale on Pinkbike, so apparently there are some available today.

2023 Trek Fuel EXE 9.7. Size XL For Sale

2023 Trek Fuel EXE 9.7. Size XL For sale on Pinkbike buysell

m.pinkbike.com

 

[JP-NZ]

Are they still thinking end of this month for Rail stock or has it been pushed back?

I haven’t had confirmation yet but yes they look on track for 1st week august.

 

[Zimmerframe]

An interesting comparison.

FAZUA Ride 60 versus TQ HPR 50 – the two new light-assistance eBike motors in direct comparison

The two new light-assistance e-bike motors TQ HPR 50 and FAZUA Ride 60 in direct comparison: are we witnessing the birth of a new generation of eMTBs?

ebike-mtb.com

 

[St4nley]

Wondering what size and cost of the range extender or two against possibly a second battery

 

[TonTonUB]

Nice bike, and disruptive technology for the motor.
A bit out of topic, it makes me wonder why TQ doesnt release a motor between the massive TQ120 Nm and the minimalist hpr 50 Nm.
I just can't figure how even more disrupting could be a TQ HPR-90 Nm with a 700WH battery 'ala spesh".

All in all, the new Trek is a really good surprise.
Can't wait to read more in depth reviews about it.

 

[Ou812]

Anyone know of any dealers in Scotland that have these in stock yet? A friend that works for a trek dealer in the US told me they have a bunch of stock already.

 

[Jujujuice]

Hi team,

I have just purchased the trek exe 9.8xt and I am in a bit of a dilemma. My battery is going to 50% in less than an hour on the max mode on 200% assist. My wife and I are so used to the rail only using up one to two bars when we do our normal rides i.e. 2-3 hours , so just worried about the battery situation. Also it feels comparable to eco mode on the Bosch system... I am just hoping trek does an update to increase the nm to 60nm as I am really feeling the difference between the rail and the fuel exe. For reference , I am 188cm and 83kg.

 

[Ribinrobin]

Hi team,

I have just purchased the trek exe 9.8xt and I am in a bit of a dilemma. My battery is going to 50% in less than an hour on the max mode on 200% assist. My wife and I are so used to the rail only using up one to two bars when we do our normal rides i.e. 2-3 hours , so just worried about the battery situation. Also it feels comparable to eco mode on the Bosch system... I am just hoping trek does an update to increase the nm to 60nm as I am really feeling the difference between the rail and the fuel exe. For reference , I am 188cm and 83kg.

Amazed you found one so quick! aint seen any in person yet. I guess with the SL bikes their not designed to be rode in max mode all time, maybe try one of the less powerful modes.

Whats your take on the bike except the power difference?

 

[Jujujuice]

Amazed you found one so quick! aint seen any in person yet. I guess with the SL bikes their not designed to be rode in max mode all time, maybe try one of the less powerful modes.

Whats your take on the bike except the power difference?

It has superb geometry and has a great finish. It is very stealthy! No one knew it was an ebike. I have the 9.8xt in deep smoke. Yes my wife and I are going to try another trail tomorrow with a less steep uphill to see what it does to the battery. It definitely feels a lot nicer than the specialised levo sl having ridden both.

 

[Ribinrobin]

Ah awesome! i really like how it looks and the motor noise being silent really peaks my interest. What dealer did you find yours at? Love to see some pictures next time you head out. Wish my wife would ride bikes!

 

[Jujujuice]

haha yes will post some pics next time. I found mine from a New Zealand dealer called evo cycles! Here's a pic of us at the store. Apparently the first to get the trek exe in NZ. I would say the geometry is definitely better than the orbea rise and the specialised levo sl and I could not hear anything on the trails. I am now just waiting for the range extender to be released here as I am worried about running out of batt before my wife.

 

[Oupy]

I think the whole purpose of this category is to be more similar to riding an analogue bike with some extra assistance. You are going to be putting in more effort than the Rail for sure.

I'd expect battery range will take a few rides and cycles to calibrate properly, but i think if you are only running in the high power mode you are going to be disappointed in the range difference when comparing to a full fat emtb.

 

[Richridesmtb]

haha yes will post some pics next time. I found mine from a New Zealand dealer called evo cycles! Here's a pic of us at the store. Apparently the first to get the trek exe in NZ. I would say the geometry is definitely better than the orbea rise and the specialised levo sl and I could not hear anything on the trails. I am now just waiting for the range extender to be released here as I am worried about running out of batt before my wife.

View attachment 92372

Pinkbike article mentioned Trek didn't do a charge cycle on the battery so Matt Beer had the same experience with a quickly depleted battery. It was fine after the next charge.

I think the big win for these over the Rise and SL is the removable battery. I wish I could bring my battery in for extreme hot and cold weather. Other than than I'm very happy with my Rise.

 

[Ribinrobin]

Pinkbike article mentioned Trek didn't do a charge cycle on the battery so Matt Beer had the same experience with a quickly depleted battery. It was fine after the next charge.

I think the big win for these over the Rise and SL is the removable battery. I wish I could bring my battery in for extreme hot and cold weather. Other than than I'm very happy with my Rise.

I also wonder how the trek rides with the main battery Out and only range extender or nothing.

 

[Richridesmtb]

I also wonder how the trek rides with the main battery Out and only range extender or nothing.

Be keen to know as well. I'd imagine they would be ok to ride without the battery, I.e. it isn't structurally required for frame strength.

 

[Richridesmtb]

Although I think I read that the extender feeds the main battery, so I think you have to have the main battery in there to run the extender.

 

[Ribinrobin]

Although I think I read that the extender feeds the main battery, so I think you have to have the main battery in there to run the extender.

Hmm that would be a shame! I have a few friends who take their SLs abroad and have battery out and just use the range extender. I thought trek had a even quicker solution with a easy to remove battery.

 

[Richridesmtb]

Hmm that would be a shame! I have a few friends who take their SLs abroad and have battery out and just use the range extender. I thought trek had a even quicker solution with a easy to remove battery.

Don't quote me on it! Hopefully it can run straight off the extender.

 

[JP-NZ]

The fuel exe can run straight off the extender with no main battery. They even say you can take your bike on airplanes and check the extender in as carry on as the battery is under the airline limits.

 

[Ribinrobin]

The fuel exe can run straight off the extender with no main battery. They even say you can take your bike on airplanes and check the extender in as carry on as the battery is under the airline limits.

Ideal! I assumed this is why trek added a easily removable battery compared to the rise and SL

 

[Gw0175]

Anyone know of any dealers in Scotland that have these in stock yet? A friend that works for a trek dealer in the US told me they have a bunch of stock already.

Im in Scotland and was in my dealer yesterday having a chat.... They've been allocated a bunch from Trek. Expected end of August into September