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Trek vs Orbea... please help !!

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I was decided on a brand new 2019 Trek Roscoe 8, but doing some research recently discovered the Orbea Laufey (previously called Loki). The price on both bikes is comparable. Please help me choose. Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk  

*OneSpeed*

Juancts said: I was decided on a brand new 2019 Trek Roscoe 8, but doing some research recently discovered the Orbea Laufey (previously called Loki). The price on both bikes is comparable. Please help me choose. Click to expand...
Juancts said: I was decided on a brand new 2019 Trek Roscoe 8, but doing some research recently discovered the Orbea Laufey (previously called Loki). The price on both bikes is comparable. Please help me choose. Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk Click to expand...
Juancts said: https://www.orbea.com/int-en/bicycles/mountain/laufey/cat/laufey-27--h30-19 https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/...trail-mountain-bikes/roscoe/roscoe-8/p/23608/ Click to expand...

https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/7046253/monte-pirata This is the trail you get to ride. Both bikes will be good. Each will get better with a better fork.  

I’ve ridden and liked both bikes. Very similar geometry. Trek Roscoe has slightly steeper seat tube and slacker headtube angle with an imperceptibly longer chainstay. Between these two it really comes down to personal preference or even, dare I say it, color. I think you’ll love either of these bikes. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk  

Slowtalker said: I've ridden and liked both bikes. Very similar geometry. Trek Roscoe has slightly steeper seat tube and slacker headtube angle with an imperceptibly longer chainstay. Between these two it really comes down to personal preference or even, dare I say it, color. I think you'll love either of these bikes. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Click to expand...

LyNx

Big question, can you test ride any of these bikes? If the answer is yes, then they're similar enough to say go with the one that you like the colour/shape of best and/or which fits better. For me though, I agree with Huckleberry and put a bit more to get the 29+ Stache.  

BlueCheesehead

Here's a spec comparison for you: https://99spokes.com/compare?bikes=trek-roscoe-8-2019,orbea-laufey-27plus-h30-2019 You can hover points on the scatter graph to find other bikes. Frankly the Roscoe seems to out pace others by a long shot on spec vs $. That said, the geometries are quite different. What kind of riding do you do?  

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vitus sentier

The 14 Best Hardtail Mountain Bikes For Ripping Trails and High-Performance

Whether you want a lightweight cross-country rocket or a cheap trail ripper, one of these picks will work for you.

See our top picks below and scroll deeper for more in-depth reviews of these bikes, as well as helpful buying tips and advice.

Looking for more riding options? Check out our picks for the best electric bikes , folding e-bikes , and commuter bikes .

The Best Hardtail Mountain Bikes

  • Best Overall: Trek Roscoe 7
  • Lightweight and Balanced: Specialized Rockhopper Elite
  • Best Hardtail Deal: Salsa Rangefinder Deore 29
  • Best Kids: Specialized Riprock 24
  • Best Aggressive Trail: Vitus Sentier 29
  • Best Cheap: Polygon Premier 4
  • Best Value: Giant Talon 29 1
  • Best Beginner Women’s Hardtail: Liv Tempt 2
  • Best for Heavy Riders: Zize Bikes Yonder
  • Best Throwback Style: Marin Team Marin 2
  • Best E-Bike: Orbea Urrun 30
  • Best Lightweight: Cannondale Scalpel HT Carbon 3
  • Best Race Bike: Cervélo ZHT-5 GX AXS
  • Best Canadian-Made: Chromag Primer

What to Consider

If you are looking for the best high-performance mountain bikes (full suspension and hardtail, electric and analog), check out our Bike Awards coverage. You’ll find 11 exceptional, award-winning bikes rigorously vetted by our editorial team.

If you’re looking for an efficient race machine, a carbon fiber hardtail might be the bike for you. Hardtails also make great adventure bikes for bikepacking off-road and other long-distance riding shenanigans. Build a hardtail with a longer-travel fork and wide tires and you’ll have a fun ripper for romping around your local trails —and you’ll save money and weight compared to many full-suspension options.

For decades, hardtails have appealed to riders due to the infinite ways you can build them up and for their simplicity. Here’s what you need to know about hardtail mountain bikes.

Land vehicle, Bicycle, Bicycle wheel, Bicycle part, Vehicle, Bicycle tire, Spoke, Bicycle frame, Mountain bike, Bicycle fork,

You almost always get more bang for your buck with a hardtail. The design allows manufacturers to either reduce the bike’s overall price or include better components than you would find on comparably priced full-suspension rigs.

Hardtail frames lack rear shocks, pivots, linkages, and the associated hardware. Thus, they are generally lighter than comparable full-suspension frames. For riders who climb a lot, the weight saving can make a difference—both physically and mentally. Carbon fiber frames have the best strength-to-weight ratio of any material but are typically more expensive than metal-framed bikes. Despite this, there are desirable characteristics in all frame materials.

Wheel Sizes

Hardtails come in many wheel sizes and gearing options. You’ll find wheel sizes of 29- or 27.5-inches, standard tire widths (up to 2.6-inches), plus-size (2.8- to 3.0-inches), and fat tires (3-inches and wider). Some hardtails will accept different wheel and tire sizes, allowing you to swap out options to suit your riding needs.

Great for Kids and Tweens

The explosive growth of youth cycling programs and NICA (National Interscholastic Cycling Association) racing got a ton of kids onto the trail and needing mountain bikes. With their combination of lightweight, lower cost, and wheel size options, hardtails make ideal bikes for young riders starting out or teens who quickly outgrow bikes.

Maintenance and Durability

Fewer moving parts mean fewer things that could potentially go wrong. And higher-quality parts mean those parts are less likely to need fixing. The simplicity of not having a rear shock and rear suspension system increases the durability of the bike as it requires less maintenance and fewer replacement parts.

Ride Quality

A hardtail can feel more responsive than a dual-suspension bike when pedaling. The lack of rear suspension creates a more efficient-feeling pedaling platform, so acceleration feels more immediate. Climbers, especially, appreciate the extra responsiveness. Though, you lose some traction (especially under braking) without the rear suspension. Still, for a fast, brutally efficient ride, nothing beats a hardtail.

Hardtail Testing

Find the Right Fork

After the frame, the fork is arguably the most important part of a hardtail's build kit. You’ll find suspension forks with as little as 80mm of travel on some cross-country bikes while trail or all-mountain hardtails may have forks with 140mm of travel or more. Some hardtails still use forks that lack any suspension. These rigid forks are typically the lightest weight and require no maintenance.

Build One Up

Hardtails also make an excellent second, third—or tenth, or twelfth—bike to have around to loan to friends, for when your primary bike is in the shop, or for dabbling into other areas of riding. Many brands (particularly small or mid-sized) offer frame-only options that you can build up on your own or with the help of your local shop. Perhaps you have some old parts kicking around and collecting dust: Hardtails are a simple and cost-effective way to put those parts to use!

How We Tested

Many of these bikes were tested by our team of gear editors. We mapped out rides featuring most of the trail elements that you’ll likely encounter. We pushed these bikes hard on flow trails, up steep climbs, down pucker-worthy rocky descents, and through rock gardens. Our editors rode these bikes on the terrain best suited for each bike, as well as terrain entirely unsuitable, to see how far we could push the limits.

The bikes that weren’t ridden by Bicycling ’s editors were carefully chosen based on their value, quality of parts, our experience riding similar models, and how the overall package meets the needs of the intended rider.

Trek Roscoe 7

Roscoe 7

There is so much to love about this bike, it’s hard to decide where to start. The 12-speed Shimano Deore drivetrain (with a 30T chainring and 10-51T cassette) provides a massive range, with gearing low enough to ease the pain of climbing steep hills. Its 29-inch wheels (27.5” on XS size) carry speed while maintaining maneuverability on technical trails and the 2.6-inch tubeless-ready tires offer great traction and a plush ride. The 140mm travel RockShox Recon SL SoloAir fork has plenty of travel for getting rowdy and can be locked out for added efficiency, such as when climbing a paved road. And speaking of rowdy, a dropper post is a very cool addition and adds to the Roscoe's versatility.

Specialized Rockhopper Elite 29

Rockhopper Elite 29

The Rockhopper has been a mainstay of Specialized’s product line longer than most mountain bikers have been alive. The brand spent decades perfecting the Rockhopper into the well-rounded mountain bike platform it is today. And that experience—paired with learnings from its World Cup-winning high-end bikes—translates into a refined quality on the trail.

The Rockhopper Elite climbs efficiently, is quite capable on singletrack, and isn’t too nervous when descending. It does everything decently—a quality many buyers in this price range want and expect from a mountain bike.

While the Rockhopper’s frame lacks the tapered headtube and thru axle rear end of the near-equally priced Vitus, the bike strikes a modern and lightweight appearance. The frame has routing for a dropper seatpost (if you wish to add one), its cables route internally on the front triangle, and it has rack mounts.

The components on the Rockhopper Elite don’t jump out, but they also don’t let you down. The air-sprung RockShox Judy TK fork does not perform to the level of the higher-end Recon fork model (more flex under braking and harsher riding). But it is easy to set up for different weight riders and has a crown-mounted lockout for pavement sections.

Specialized offers a bevy of Rockhopper models between $650 and $1,400—We consider the Comp ($950) , Elite, and Expert ($1,400) models most suited for trail riding use. Specialized also has 27.5-inch wheel Rockhopper variants in these models to fit shorter-height riders.

SHOP 27.5-INCH WHEEL

Salsa rangefinder deore 29.

Rangefinder Deore 29

The Salsa Rangefinder is one of the least expensive bikes in this test and it’s also one of the heaviest. But neither significantly takes away from its abilities on the trail. I was pleasantly surprised by the Rangefinder’s performance in most situations.

The Rangefinder’s extra heft comes from its oversized aluminum frame, heavy 120mm SR Suntour 120mm XCM fork, extra-wide range cassette, and 29x2.6-inch Maxxis tires. These parts, though, also make the Salsa more confident and capable on the trail than the bike’s weight might suggest.

On dirt, the Rangefinder lumbers along. It’s also not light and racey, nor is the Salsa a “go fast and take chances” style bike. The Rangefinder's slightly upright positioning, steep seat angle, and low gearing allow you to sit and spin up climbs, despite the bike’s weight.

The Rangefinder is capable, though not fully confident when descending. The wide Maxxis Rekon tires and thru axle fork provide extra grip over roots and precision when picking a line through rocky sections of trail. But the Tektro Gemini brakes with 160mm rotors are insufficient at higher speeds or when the gradient pitches steeply downward. The fork’s lack of damping adjustment also made the fork ping-pong off of rocks when they came in quick succession.

Salsa provides options for riders seeking a Shimano-equipped Rangefinder or one with plus-sized wheels. It offers three other Rangefinder models between $900 and $1,500. Each model has 27.5+ or 29-inch wheel variants. There are Shimano Deore 10 , 11 , and 12-speed drivetrains Rangefinder models.

MORE RANGEFINDER PHOTOS

Specialized Riprock 24

Riprock 24

The Riprock 24 is an excellent bike for kids who want to take their riding skills off-road. Designed to accommodate riders between 3-foot-11 and 4-foot-8, this bike comes with 24-inch wheels, a 1x9-speed MicroShift group, and hydraulic disc brakes. While many kid's mountain bikes use a suspension fork, the Riprock 24 features an aluminum rigid fork. Most bikes at this price use heavy suspension forks that don't work for lightweight riders; the Specialized’s rigid fork saves weight and looks great. This makes the Riprock 24 well-equipped for young riders' trail riding adventures. The bike comes in four colors and is also available with 20-inch wheels for riders under between 3’5” and 4’4”.

SHOP RIPROCK 20

Vitus Sentier 29

Sentier 29

This bike stands for its capabilities and temperament on more technical trails. The Sentier’s combination of frame geometry and solid component selection allows it to ride faster, carry speed, and carve corners like much higher-priced trail bikes.

The Sentier’s frame boasts a slack head angle and a long top tube length. The bike’s short chainstays and low bottom bracket height also aid the bike’s great handling attributes. The thru axle rear wheel (the only one in the test) provides additional stiffness when turning, and the tapered headtube adds a sense of security when going down chutes or hitting jumps.

A small detail of the Sentier 29’s components specification helped the bike more than any others in our test—its tires. The wide Schwalbe tubeless tires have a soft rubber compound that grips rocks and roots and provides excellent traction while climbing and descending. The tires help give the Sentier a premium, high-end ride feel.

The upgraded tires and thru axle wheels meant Vitus needed to trim costs elsewhere to keep the Sentier affordable. It did this on the drivetrain and brakes. The 1x10 Shimano Deore drivetrain shifted predictably and had a sufficient gear range for all the climbs I tackled. Also of note, the Sentier was the only bike in our test with a lighter, stiffer two-piece crankset.

The lone low mark on the Sentier is its stock brakes. Our test bike came with Clarks M2 stoppers (some Sentier 29s come with Tektro brakes) that were noisy under hard braking and had an unpredictable bite point.

Another odd choice was Vitus’ use of external cabling with exposed sections of shift cable. It seemed a bit retro in its aesthetic but functioned fine. The frame has only one bottle cage mount, so plan to use a big bottle or hydration pack for longer rides.

At $1,200, the Sentier 29 is the most expensive bike in our test but the base model of Vitus’ Sentier four-bike hardtail range. For $200 more, you get the Sentier 29 VR with an upgraded fork, dropper seatpost, better brakes, and an 11-speed drivetrain.

MORE SENTIER PHOTOS

Polygon Premier 4

Premier 4

Cheap hardtails usually aren't great for trail riding as the parts wear out quickly, the brakes are underpowered, and the suspension doesn't really do much. While not as well equipped as a high-end hardtail, Polygon's Premier 4 offers many of the same features and components found on competitors' bikes costing hundreds of dollars more. We particularly like that Polygon chose Tektro hydraulic disc brakes and a Shimano 8-speed cassette on the Premier 4. Other bikes around this price usually come with lower-quality mechanical disc brakes and 7-speed freewheels.

Giant Talon 29 1

Talon 29 1

The Giant Talon 1 was the biggest sleeper in our test. The Talon’s frame doesn’t have an aggressive trail bike silhouette. It also does not look oversized and burly. The plain black paint and blue logo also help to subdue the Giant.

Appearances and first looks are often deceiving. Once on the trail, the Talon 1 surprised me with its capabilities. It rides like a bike that should cost a couple of hundred dollars more.

The Giant’s good ride feel comes down to its fork. The house-brand 100mm travel SXC-32-2 RL fork features 32mm aluminum stanchions, an alloy steerer, and an air spring. These shave weight off the bike while improving stiffness and steering precision. The fork’s rebound adjustment and air spring help you tune the fork for your weight and local trails. It is a big plus for a bike at this price.

The Tektro M275 brakes on the Talon 1 were underwhelming. They slowed the bike down but lacked modulation and a good feel at the lever. The Deore 10-speed drivetrain shifted smoothly but was over-geared for steeper hills compared to the other bikes in the test.

Giant offers three models in the Talon range, with the Talon 1 being the most expensive and best equipped for trail riding. For a more premium Giant hardtail trail bike, check out the Fathom 29 models . Starting at $1,500, the Fathoms have longer travel forks, tubeless tires, and dropper posts.

MORE TALON PHOTOS

Liv Tempt 2 27.5

Tempt 2 27.5

Purchasing a bike when you are new to mountain biking can be tricky! Perhaps you don't want to invest much money, only to find out you didn't like the bike. Or, maybe you want a bike for occasional use or more mellow trails? That's where bikes like the Liv Tempt fit in. These bikes are enough to have a fun (and safe) time on the trail but without some of the high-end features that drive up a bike's price.

The Tempt 2 ticks all the right boxes for a solid beginner bike. It has a wide gear range for climbing hills, hydraulic disc brakes with good stopping power, and an SR Suntour suspension fork. Liv exclusively makes women's bikes, and the Tempt has proportional wheel sizing for better bike fit: 27.5” for XS and S, 29” for S, M, and L.

Zize Bikes Yonder

Yonder

While most brands make bikes rated for riders up to 200 or 250 pounds, Zize exclusively focuses on bikes for heavyweight riders. With its cromoly frame and fork, heavy-duty wheels, and Clarks hydraulic disc brakes, the Yonder accommodates riders up to 550 lbs. The Yonder also features a 100mm wide bottom bracket shell and 3-inch width, 26-inch WTB tires for added rider stability. The bike has a dependable Shimano Deore 10-speed drivetrain, however, the gear range is not super low—so it's not best for riding up steep hills. Though the Yonder is pricey, consider this bike if you're a heavier rider looking to get into off-road riding.

Marin Bikes Team Marin 2

Team Marin 2

The mid-90s were a golden age for hardtails and mountain bike racing. Brands fought it out on the trail with big factory teams at NORBA races and on shop floors with well-equipped bikes purpose-built for cross country racing. Marin brings that vibe back with the Team Marin, a bike designed for privateer XC racers but also well-suited for daily trail riding.

While the Team Marin 2's design ethos and aesthetic harken back to years past, the bike is thoroughly contemporary and outfitted for the needs of modern-day trail riders. The aluminum frame sports a slack 67-degree head angle for confident descending and a 74-degree seat tube angle for better climbing and improved performance with dropper posts—which the Team Marin comes equipped stock. A wide-range 1x12 Shimano XT/SLX drivetrain, sure-stopping TRP G-Spec hydraulic brakes, and a 120mm Fox 34 Step Cast fork round out the features of this super-capable and great-looking hardtail.

Orbea Urrun 30 Hardtail E-Bike

Urrun 30 Hardtail E-Bike

E-mountain bikes have grown in popularity over the past few years, helping cyclists to tackle harder rides and longer climbs. But you don't need to drop 5-figures to get a solid, trail-capable e-bike. Orbea's Orrun is equipped with trail-ready features such as a 120mm travel Marzocchi Bomber Z2 fork, Magura MT30 disc brakes, and Maxxis tubeless tires. The internal 540Wh battery provides assistance for a claimed 8 hours of riding (a 252Wh range extender is available for even more trail time). The addition of a dropper post would turn the Urrun into an even better trail bike.

Cannondale Scalpel HT Carbon 3

Scalpel HT Carbon 3

Introduced last year, the new Scalpel Carbon hardtail pairs the lightweight of a World Cup-level XC racing frame with the geometry and handling prowess normally found on more aggressive trail bikes. The outcome is a bike that climbs with almost road bike efficiency but descends and corners better than other hardtails in the category. Of the four-model Scalpel HT lineup, our favorite is the Carbon 3. It features a 29-inch wheel carbon frame (Hi-Mod designated models feature the superlight, 885-gram frame variant), a Shimano SLX 12-speed drivetrain, Stan's tubeless rims, and Shimano hydraulic brakes. Cannondale's Lefty (found on the Hi-Mod models) is polarizing. Luckily, the Carbon 3 comes equipped with a RockShox Sid SL Select+, the go-to choice for many cross country racers. We only wish the Scalpel HT shipped standard with a dropper post to really take advantage of the bike's great geometry.

Cervélo ZHT-5 GX AXS

ZHT-5 GX AXS

I'm sure many of you are perplexed right now and just said, “Wait, Cervélo makes mountain bikes?” When the Tour de France winning Jumbo-Visma race team required a mountain bike for its racers, the product folks from team sponsor Cervélo stepped up to deliver this podium-worthy ride. Sporting a 907-gram (claimed) carbon frame, 69-degree head angle, and long reach top tubes, the ZHT-5 is made for speed. This SRAM GX Eagle AXS 12-speed wireless equipped model also comes standard with a 100mm travel RockShox Sid SL Select fork, e.thirteen TRS Race tubeless wheels, and a RaceFace cockpit.

Chromag Primer Frame

Primer Frame

Whistler, British Columbia-based Chromag Bikes builds bikes, frames, and parts engineered to withstand the challenging trails that make its hometown a destination for mountain bike riders. (Chromag also makes the best-named kids bike in cycling history!) Build up the Canadian-made Primer frame with your choice of parts to meet your riding needs and budget. Designed for use with 160mm travel forks and either 29-inch or 27.5+ wheels, the 4130 steel-framed Primer is not meant to be a flyweight bike, but something that can be ridden hard deep in the woods.

Headshot of Tara Seplavy

As Deputy Editor, Tara Seplavy leads Bicycling’s product test team; after having previously led product development and sourcing for multiple bike brands, run World Championship winning mountain bike teams, wrenched at renowned bicycle shops in Brooklyn, raced everything from criteriums to downhill, and ridden bikes on six different continents (landing herself in hospital emergency rooms in four countries and counting). Based in Easton, Pennsylvania, Tara spends tons of time on the road and trail testing products. A familiar face at cyclocross races, crits, and bike parks in the Mid Atlantic and New England, on weekends she can often be found racing for the New York City-based CRCA/KruisCX team. When not riding a bike, or talking about them, Tara listens to a lot of ska, punk, and emo music, and consumes too much social media.  

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2024 Orbea Orca vs Trek Emonda

Our bicycle maestro Bernard Lu compares the Orbea Orca and Trek Emonda, comparing the variant, features, technologies and pricing.

In this article, I’ll guide you through a comparison between the Orbea Orca and Trek Emonda ; both popular road bikes among cyclists.

I’ll walk through the Orbea Orca and Trek Emonda models lineup, their specifications, and retail pricing (USD). I’ll explain the carbon fiber technology used ( Orbea Monocoque (TorayCa) Carbon vs Trek OCLV ), and unique frameset features for each bike.

The goal is to help you get a better understanding before you make your final purchasing decision.

Orbea Orca SRAM Red eTap AXS

The latest Orbea Orca was launched in mid-July 2023, during the last week of the Tour de France.

Compared to its predecessor, the 2024 Orbea Orca is a lot lighter (832g previously vs 750g for a size 53 frame). This is achieved using a traditional-looking, round tube frame without the dropped seat stays seen on the majority of road bikes today. At 6.7kg for the top-of-the-line M11eLTD PWR model with SRAM Red AXS , it’s among the lightest, disc brake road bikes available today, alongside the likes of Cannondale Supersix Evo LAB71 and Cervelo R5 .

Like many other Orbea models, the Orbea Orca offers a lot of customization options for the riders, thanks to the MyO configurator. There are 11 models available with either Shimano or SRAM electronic shifting groupsets. The models with PWR indicate it comes with a power meter, the LTD models use the highest grade OMX carbon.

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Trek Emonda

Trek Emonda SLR 9 Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 (R9200)

The Trek Emonda is a lightweight bike for the high mountains.

The lightest Trek Emonda frame weighs less than 700g using Trek’s OCLV 800 carbon. This is the bike Richie Porte rode to his third place in the 2020 Tour de France.

The SLR is the lightest and most expensive atop the Trek Emonda models. There are six Emonda SLR options, specced electronic shifting groupsets from SRAM or Shimano.

Next in line is the SL, the mid-range, more budget-friendly option. It has the same frame design and geometry as the SLR but uses the OCLV 500 carbon instead. The groupset choices are Shimano Ultegra Di2 , Shimano 105 Di2 , SRAM Force AXS , or SRAM Rival AXS .

The Trek Emonda SLR and SL framesets are also available separately.

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Orbea vs Trek carbon fiber

Orbea monocoque (torayca) carbon.

Orbea uses carbon fiber from TorayCa in their bikes. It’s one of the handful of bike manufacturers that uses a monocoque carbon fiber construction, resulting in a lighter and stiffer frameset. The two most prominent types of carbon used in Orbea’s bike frames are OMX (T1100K) and OMR (T800) carbon.

  • OMX ( Orbea Monocoque X ) carbon is Orbea’s top-grade carbon fiber, with the ultimate blend of stiffness, lightness, and strength. Monocoque refers to a type of construction technique where the external skin supports the structural load, which, when applied to bike frames, results in a balance of strength and weight. Due to its high manufacturing cost, OMX carbon is typically reserved for Orbea’s top-tier models.
  • OMR ( Orbea Monocoque Race ) is the standard carbon composite used by Orbea. While OMR doesn’t match the absolute performance capabilities of OMX, it offers a fantastic performance-to-value ratio. This makes it a great choice for riders looking for top-notch performance without the premium price tag of the top-grade OMX carbon.

Trek OCLV carbon

The OCLV (Optimum Compaction, Low Void) carbon is a proprietary carbon fiber manufacturing technology developed by Trek.

  • Optimum Compaction refers to the heat and pressure applied during the curing process to squeeze out excess resin and ensure that the carbon layers are compacted to the optimal density.
  • Low Void refers to the goal of reducing microscopic air pockets or voids that can occur in the carbon fiber and create weaknesses.

One of the key advantages of OCLV carbon is its ability to achieve an optimal balance between stiffness, strength, and weight. Trek engineers carefully tune the carbon layup and utilize varying modulus carbon fibers to create stiff frames in certain areas to maximize power transfer while maintaining compliance in other areas to enhance comfort and ride quality.

The OCLV carbon is available in 800 and 500 series.

  • OCLV 800 is the highest-grade carbon fiber used by Trek. The carbon modulus is higher in OCLV 800, making it stiffer and lighter. The manufacturing process is more refined, using more advanced carbon and resins, leading to a bike frame that provides top performance levels for stiffness, weight, and strength. OCLV 800 is used in all models with SLR .
  • OCLV 500 is a lower-grade carbon but still offers a high level of performance. It has a slightly lower carbon modulus, meaning it’s a bit less stiff and heavier than OCLV 800. OCLV 800 is used in all models with SL .

It’s worth noting that the different OCLV grades don’t only refer to the material itself, but also to the manufacturing techniques used to form the carbon fiber into bike frames. Higher-grade carbon requires more precise manufacturing techniques to take full advantage of its superior material properties.

Frameset technologies and innovations

Orbea Orca and Trek Emonda framesets incorporate advanced technologies to enhance their bikes’ performance and ride characteristics.

Here’s an overview of the technologies used in each bike model.

Where to buy

Orbea retailers.

  • Orbea retailers . Use this tool to find your nearest Orbea dealers.
  • Trek online shops . Australia, Austria, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, United Kingdom, United States
  • Trek retailers . Use this tool to find your nearest Trek retailers.

Bernard Lu at Mr.Mamil

Bernard Lu has 7+ years of experience working in a bicycle shop, overseeing the retail and workshop operations. He’s a qualified bicycle mechanic who understands a cyclist’s needs and speaks the same cycling lingo.

If you meet him at the cafe, he will happily talk to you for hours about all the intricacies of bikes and cycling tech. Just buy him a coffee next time you see him.

Mr. Mamil's content is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The content is not a substitute for official or professional advice. Please do your own due diligence.

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Best climbing bikes 2024 | Lightweight bikes for when the road points upwards

The top lightweight road bikes for climbing

Russell Burton / Our Media

Simon von Bromley

The best climbing bikes are low-weight, helping you conquer the longest (or steepest) ascents.

There's a definite buzz to riding a fast, flyweight machine, and many road cyclists love the fast acceleration and responsiveness of climbing bikes.

A modern lightweight bike has to prove itself not solely through whether it's under the UCI weight limit, but also by having the aerodynamics to up your ride speed on descents and the flat.

Keep reading to see our pick of the best climbing bikes and to find out more about these lightweight bikes, check out our buyer's guide at the end of this article .

Best climbing bikes 2024, as rated by our expert testers

Giant tcr advanced sl 0 disc.

Black Giant TCR Advanced SL0 Disc road bike

  • £9,699 / $11,000 / AU$13,499 as tested
  • Weight: 6.7kg (L)
  • Pros: Light, stiff and responsive race bike; top-spec build
  • Cons: Exposed brake hoses; narrow tyres

The Giant TCR has long been a benchmark for race bikes and the ninth generation of the bike remains a top performer.

While the TCR comes in many variants to suit different budgets, the Advanced SL 0 model is unapologetically high-end and its frameset sports an integrated seatpost with a topper rather than a conventional one.

With a full SRAM Red eTap AXS wireless groupset and carbon wheels from Giant's in-house brand Cadex, it's ready to race out of the box and is properly light.

  • Read our full Giant TCR Advanced SL 0 Disc review

Bianchi Specialissima

Bianchi Specialissima Dura Ace di2 road bike

  • £11,206 / $11,626 / €11,449 as tested
  • Weight: 7.2kg (59cm)
  • Pros: Great mix of speed, handling, control and smoothness
  • Cons: Wheels are a bit of a disappointment

The Bianchi Specialissima is a bike that's gone from round tubes to aero profiles in its latest iteration, also gaining disc brakes and hiding the hoses, while still ticking the lightweight boxes with a 750g frame and 370g fork. You could lose another 80g by opting for black paint instead of celeste.

Bianchi incorporates Countervail anti-vibration tech into the frame and the bike comes with Shimano Dura-Ace 12-speed shifting and other top-notch kit. The Vision SC 40 carbon tubeless wheels feel a little low-value compared to the rest of the spec though (even at £11,000).

The ride is a mix of responsiveness with great handling, while also composed, smooth and more comfortable than some bikes with tyres wider than the Specialissima's 26mm Pirellis.

  • Read our full Bianchi Specialissima review

Cannondale SuperSix Evo Hi-Mod 2

Cannondale SuperSix Evo Hi-Mod 2 road bike

  • £8,250 / $8,300 / €8,999 / AU$11,999 as tested
  • Weight: 7.57kg (56cm)
  • Pros: Excellent handling combined with compliance and stiffness
  • Cons: Vision Trimax handlebar may not suit those with smaller hands

Now in its fourth generation, the SuperSix Evo continues to cement itself as one of the best climbing bikes. The new bike takes much of what made the previous versions so well regarded, but removes the often-maligned PF30a press-fit bottom bracket and replaces it with a 68mm BSA threaded model. The front-end design and down tube have also been refined and there's a new proprietary seatpost, too.

Out on the road, the SuperSix Evo balances its inspired handling with compliance and stiffness. It's a particularly adept climber, feeling assured and firm when under the rider and when you want to put the power down, it rockets forward. The new aero seatpost isn't as stiff as you might expect, offering a good amount of buzz-reducing compliance.

The Shimano Ultegra R8100 groupset on this build is BikeRadar's pick of the Japanese brand's latest groupsets and we were impressed by the newly updated flagship HollowGram R-SL 50 wheels, too. Although Cannondale specs Continental Grand Prix 5000 tyres, they're in a 25mm width and we'd be keen to run wider rubber. We also suspect the Vision Trimax won't suit those with smaller hands because the tops are very deep.

  • Read our full Cannondale SuperSix Evo Hi-Mod 2 review

Canyon Ultimate CF SLX 8 Di2

Canyon Ultimate CF SLX 8 Di2 road bike

  • £6,199 / $5,499 / €6,499 / AU$9,899 as tested
  • Weight: 7.26kg (L)
  • Pros: Cheaper than Ultimate CFR; smother than Ultimate CFR
  • Cons: Can’t customise components at purchase

The Canyon Ultimate CF SLX 8 Di2 sits below the range-topping CFR, but our tester found it to be smoother with the same handling and stiffness as the pricier model.

In short, you get better value for money with this Shimano Ultegra-equipped bike and a more balanced ride, earning it a place on the very top shelf of current road bikes.

It’s a shame you can’t customise the build at the point of purchase, which might be an annoyance if you prefer an inline seatpost.

  • Read our full Canyon Ultimate CF SLX 8 Di2 review

ENVE Melee (Ultegra Di2 build)

ENVE Melee (Ultegra Di2 build) road bike

  • £5,500 / $5,500 / €5,500 for frame 'chassis' | £10,400 / $12,834 / AU$19,220 as tested
  • Weight: 7.8kg (58cm in this example build)
  • Pros: Outstanding handling balanced with great comfort and geometry
  • Cons: Expensive and you can't buy a full build off the peg

The ENVE Melee took our 2024 Performance Bike of the Year crown, thanks to its outstanding handling and balanced comfort. The brand's second bike after the Custom Road has been aerodynamically optimised, albeit with a slightly taller ride position than you'll find on longer and lower bikes. The Melee also fully integrates its cables and hoses and uses a D-shaped seatpost.

We found the Melee to be one of the easiest-handling race bikes on the market and we were struck by how stable and composed it is in every scenario. It deals with everything with real calmness.

A stable and composed ride can sometimes be a little boring, but there's none of that here. The Melee's reaction to inputs is quick and it's unperturbed by crosswinds.

Unlike the other bikes on this list, the Melee is sold as a 'chassis' – a frame, fork, stem, handlebar, seatpost and thru-axles. You then build the bike up with your preferred electronic groupset , wheels and tyres. Even in a modest build, that means the Melee is far from a cheap proposition, but the ability to mould it into your own makes it a real winner.

Our example build came with a Shimano Ultegra R8100 groupset, and ENVE's Foundation 45 carbon wheels and SES tyres in a 29mm width.

  • Read our full ENVE Melee review

Focus Izalco Max 9.7 AXS

Focus Izalco Max 9.7 AXS

  • £5,699 / €6,199 / AU$8,999 as tested
  • Weight: 7.9kg (L)
  • Pros: Racy handling; decent value
  • Cons: Grey paint scheme

Similar to many other bikes in this category, Focus has evolved its Izalco platform to be more well-rounded.

The latest version takes both weight and aerodynamics into account, but doesn’t go so far as to ignore practicality completely – the aero cockpit, for example, uses a standard stem and handlebar setup to make fit adjustment and maintenance a little easier.

At 7.9kg (size large), it’s not the lightest bike we’ve ever tested, but this does include 50mm-deep aero wheels and, with a frame weight of just 890g (claimed), it could certainly be lightened up considerably with a few weight-weenie optimisations.

There’s also a slightly cheaper version, the Izalco Max Disc 8.8 , that has Ultegra R8000 mechanical gears, but performed similarly well in our testing.

  • Read our full Focus Izalco Max 9.7 AXS review

Lapierre Xelius SL 9.0

Lapierre Xelius SL 9.0 road bike

  • £7,399 / €7,799 as tested
  • Weight: 7.5kg (L)
  • Pros: Good-value spec; racy geometry
  • Cons: Limited sizing; can be twitchy in the wind

Another lightweight bike with aero features, the Xelius nevertheless stands out thanks to the design of its seatstays. The navy blue fade glitter paintjob looks stunning and the racy geometry leads to sharp handling.

If you're at either extreme of the size range, the five sizes available may not work for you though.

The spec is really good for the price, with 12-speed Dura-Ace Di2, a carbon bar and stem and Lapierre's own-brand carbon wheels with 25mm Continental GP5000 tyres that measure 27mm on the 47mm-deep, 21mm internal-width rims.

  • Read our full Lapierre Xelius SL 9.0 review

Merida Scultura Team

Merida Scultura Team performance road bike

  • £8,000 / €9,999 as tested
  • Weight: 7.1kg (M)
  • Pros: Great value for a pro-level spec; exciting ride
  • Cons: Tricky fit adjustment

The Merida Scultura Team took our 2022 Performance Bike of the Year crown, thanks to its superb, exciting ride and racy handling. It's also great value, with a Shimano Dura-Ace 12-speed groupset, complete with power meter.

Merida has shaved 4.2 per cent from the previous Scultura's drag numbers, while also lowering weight slightly to a claimed 822g for a size M frame. It's well kitted out; we particularly liked the Vision Metron 45 SL wheels, their 1,372g weight leading to low inertia on climbs. They're shod with 28mm Continental GP5000 tyres for a comfortable ride.

The one downside is the lack of narrower options for the integrated bar/stem.

  • Read our full Merida Scultura Team review

Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8 Dura-Ace Di2

Pack shot of the Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8 Dura-Ace Di2 road bike

  • £12,000 / $14,000 / €14,000 / AU$19,900 as tested
  • Weight: 6.76kg (56cm)
  • Pros: Exceptionally well-balanced handling; aero bike speed
  • Cons: Wider tyres would be beneficial; cost

The Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8 is the brand’s latest flagship road bike.

The SL8 rides like a dream with exceptionally well-balanced handling. It has the speed of an aero bike and it’s a fantastic climber.

Our tester described this no-expense-spared build, featuring Shimano Dura-Ace, as one of the finest race bikes available. But he cautioned that it doesn’t shift the goalposts far enough from the performance of the previous-generation SL7 to warrant upgrading.

  • Read our full Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8 review

Basso Diamante Ultegra Di2

Pack shot of the Basso Diamante Ultegra Di2 road bike

  • £7,199 / €8,299 as tested
  • Weight: 7.58kg (58cm)
  • Pros: Sharp but stable race geometry
  • Cons: Long and low cockpit won't work for everyone

The eighth-generation Diamante is a thoroughbred race bike, while remaining classic in its appearance. The tube shapes are rounded, which Basso says is designed to improve stiffness and efficiency, while minimising weight.

The geometry is in pure race bike territory – long and low, so you'll want to have a long think about whether it will work for you and carefully study the geometry chart. That said, in testing we found the Diamante to balance its tactile handling with satisfying stiffness. It's surprisingly comfortable, too, thanks to the slim seatstays and carbon seatpost.

There's little to criticise with the Ultegra Di2 specced. The second-tier groupset delivers identical shifting and braking performance to Dura-Ace with a compelling cost saving. We also rated the Microtech RE38 wheels – many own-brand efforts can vary in design modernity, but these are on the money with a 23mm internal rim width.

  • Read our full Basso Diamante Ultegra Di2 review

BMC Teammachine SLR 01 Two

2021 BMC Teammachine SLR 01

  • £9,800 / $10,999 / €10,499 as tested
  • Weight: 7.09kg (56cm)
  • Pros: Lightweight and fast
  • Cons: High price

The latest iteration of BMC’s excellent Teammachine learns lessons from the Timemachine (BMC’s aero road bike) to improve its aerodynamic efficiency, without adding too much weight.

In fact, its 7.09kg weight makes the BMC Teammachine SLR 01 Two one of the lightest bikes on this list, and that’s seriously impressive considering it has aero wheels, disc brakes and plenty of other aero features.

The omission of a Dura-Ace crankset in favour of Rotor is perhaps the only minor criticism we could make of a bike that's otherwise extremely hard to find fault with. There’s no denying it comes at a very high price though.

  • Read our full BMC Teammachine SLR 01 Two review

Canyon Ultimate CFR Di2

Pack shot of the Canyon Ultimate CFR Di2

  • £10,399 as tested
  • Weight: 6.3kg (L)
  • Pros: More versatile than ever
  • Cons: Inconsistent spec

The Canyon Ultimate CFR Di2 is tremendously expensive and light at a mere 6.3kg in size large.

The top-dog Ultimate retains its race-winning stiffness, agility and climbing ability while becoming ever more aerodynamic.

However, the shallow-section DT Swiss wheels undermine the Ultimate's versatility, while the Schwalbe Pro One TT tyres are a puncture risk on all but the smoothest roads.

  • Read our full Canyon Ultimate CFR Di2 review

Cervélo R5 Disc Force eTap AXS

Cervélo R5 Disc Force eTap AXS road bike

  • £8,599 / €8,799 / $8,400 as tested
  • Weight: 7.4kg (56cm)
  • Pros: Stiff, but not too stiff frameset; includes power meter
  • Cons: Expensive compared to competition

Cervélo claims a 703g frame weight for the latest R5 and, like all Cervélos, there's an aero edge, with Squoval tube profiles and smooth frame edges, while internal hose routing saves a claimed 3W at 48km/h.

The SRAM Force AXS chainset comes with a power meter and the bike is equipped with Reserve 34/37mm carbon wheels, although they're planned to be swapped out for Zipp ZR1 wheels from 2024. The 25mm Vittoria Corsa tyres measure around 29mm on the wide rims.

Cervélo has a reputation for stiff frames, but the latest R5 is slightly less stiff than its predecessor. The geometry is racy, leading to an agile, predictable ride, and the light weight and good power transfer make for sprightly climbing.

  • Read our full Cervélo R5 Disc Force eTap AXS review

Colnago C68

Colnago C68 road bike

  • £11,753 / $15,772 / €14,065 as tested
  • Weight: 7.3kg (58cm equivalent)
  • Pros: Beautifully built; superb handling
  • Cons: Saddle should be better at this price

Colnago uses its lugged construction on the C68, but the tube shapes are more reminiscent of the monocoque V3R . Colnago fits its own comfortable one-piece cockpit with hidden cable routing.

The ride position is long and low, although not too aggressive for less flexible riders and leads to great handling from the taut frame.

There's a full Dura-Ace R9200 build, including C50 wheels with 28mm Pirelli tyres, although the Prologo saddle isn't the range-topping carbon-railed version. It's a great bike that merits its superbike rating.

  • Read our full Colnago C68 review

Colnago V4RS

Colnago V4Rs Dura-Ace Di2

  • £5,000 / €12,630 as tested (UK price is for frameset only)
  • Weight: 7.23kg (57cm)
  • Pros: Pinpoint handling
  • Cons: Seriously expensive

Ridden by UAE Team Emirates (and perhaps most importantly) Tadej Pogačar, the V4RS is Colnago's monocoque carbon race bike, where a balance of lightness, stiffness and speed is the name of the game.

Colnago claims the V4RS is 3 per cent more aerodynamic than the outgoing V3RS and the new CC01 cockpit alone is said to be 16 per cent more aerodynamic. There are some new tube shapes too, with a reprofiled head tube, although many will be glad to hear the brand has reverted back to a round steerer tube.

Out on the road, the V4RS is unerringly poised, with direct handling and sharpness. It felt particularly confident on descents, driving hard into an apex and the bottom bracket laps up power when climbing, the bike keen to accelerate when you get out of the saddle.

  • Read our full Colnago V4RS review

Giant TCR Advanced Pro 2 Disc

Giant TCR Advanced Pro 2 Disc 2021

  • £2,999 / $5,199 / €3,100 as tested
  • Weight: 7.87kg (M/L)
  • Pros: Solid all-round spec; lively ride quality; generous tyre clearance
  • Cons: Limits aftermarket upgrades

The legendary TCR has finally gone aero, but that doesn’t mean a huge increase in weight, fortunately.

At 7.87kg, it’s not the lightest bike on this list, but it’s very competitive in its price range and could likely be lightened considerably with some component upgrades.

It also offers a noticeably smooth ride, with confident handling and clearance for up to 32mm tyres, which is very welcome.

Giant’s sister company Liv offers a women's version called the Langma Advanced Pro Disc, which is one of the best women's road bikes .

  • Read our full Giant TCR Advanced Pro 2 Disc review

Scott Addict RC 10

Scott Addict RC 10 road bike

  • £5,949 / $8,000 / €6,599 as tested
  • Weight: 7.9kg (56cm)
  • Pros: Quality ride; power meter
  • Cons: Middling wheels and mediocre tyres

The Scott Addict marries sharp handling with a predictable and compliant ride quality that's similar to the Cervélo R5. There's integrated cabling that works for mechanical and wired electronic, as well as wireless shifting, and it's reasonably easy to work on.

Scott includes a power meter with the SRAM Force AXS electronic groupset and you get decent, if not outstanding, Syncros Capital 1.0 35 Disc wheels with a claimed weight of 1,574g a pair.

We were disappointed with the fitted Schwalbe One TLE tyres though, with their higher rolling resistance than many of the best road bike tyres . Tyre clearance is a little narrow at 28mm too.

Although this mid-spec Addict weighs just under 8kg, you can spend a lot more and get the bike's claimed weight down to 6.7kg.

  • Read our full Scott Addict RC 10 review

Specialized Aethos Comp

Pack shot of the Specialized Aethos Comp road bike

  • £4,500 / $5,000 / €5,400 / AU$6,900 as tested
  • Weight: 8.2kg (58cm)
  • Pros: Rapid handling, but stable ride quality; climbs well
  • Cons: Wheelset and tyres limit performance

Although the Comp spec of the Specialized Aethos weighs over 8kg, the top-spec S-Works Aethos brings that down to a claimed sub-6kg, definitely earning a place on our lightweight bikes list. The classic frame profile with round tubes goes against the aero-is-everything modern trend.

The Comp uses a lower-spec carbon than the S-Works, but still has a 700g frame weight and comes with a SRAM Rival AXS groupset and lower-priced, heavier wheels. These make it feel less skittish than the S-Works bike, while it retains its rapid handling and shares its geometry with the Tarmac SL7. It still feels light when climbing too.

  • Read our full Specialized Aethos Comp review

Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL7

2021 Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL7

  • £10,500 / $12,000 / €11,499 / AU$18,000 as tested
  • Weight: 6.7kg (54cm)
  • Pros: Stiff, fast and responsive
  • Cons: Ride might be too racy for some; that price tag

The Specialized Tarmac SL7 has now been replaced by the Tarmac SL8, but you can still find this bike for sale.

The Tarmac SL7 is disc-only and has clearance for 32mm tyres. It's a fast and uncompromising race bike that will delight riders who can kick out big power numbers.

In its halo S-Works spec, this is a seriously expensive bike, but more affordable models are available, with the second-tier frame claimed to weigh a respectable 920g.

  • Read our full Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL7 review

Trek Emonda SL 6 Pro

2021 Trek Emonda SL 6 Pro

  • £3,350 / $3,799 / €3,799 / AU$5,499 as tested
  • Weight: 8.13kg (56cm)
  • Pros: Stiff, exciting ride; great-quality components
  • Cons: 25mm tyres harm performance; uncompetitive weight

In line with market trends, Trek has amended the Emonda’s design parameters to encompass a broader, all-round riding style, with the obligatory disc brakes and aero optimisation.

This does mean builds won’t quite be able to match the positively feathery lows of previous models , but Trek is, unsurprisingly, adamant they are faster most of the time. Our tester broadly agrees with this sentiment too, heaping praise on the Emonda's speed and stiffness.

It’s also worth considering Trek’s beautiful Emonda ALR . Not only are there rim and disc brake versions of that frame (as things stand), but it’s also substantially cheaper. We think it’s an absolute peach of a bike.

Trek says the Emonda is now a unisex bike, and offers a broad range of sizes (from 47cm to 65cm) with the intention of fitting all different kinds of cyclists.

  • Read our full Trek Emonda SL 6 Pro review

What we've included (and what we haven't)

This buyer's guide features lightweight bikes at a range of prices, reviewed by BikeRadar and having scored at least four stars in our testing.

While lighter bikes may be available (including custom builds and different models within a given manufacturer's range), these are bikes we have tried and tested, and can confidently vouch for as a result.

Buyer’s guide to climbing bikes

Rebecca Richardson's Specialized S-Works Aethos at the British Hill Climb National Championships

It perhaps goes without saying, but when you’re riding uphill, gravity is always trying to pull you back down.

Reducing the total rider plus bike system weight means less energy (or power , in cycling parlance) is required to maintain a given speed while climbing.

Therefore, if you want to ride uphill faster, or simply make the hills a little easier, a lightweight bike helps a lot.

It’s for this reason we see hill-climb obsessives chopping and changing practically every component to bring their overall bike weight down to its lowest possible limit.

The only issues are that high-end, lightweight bikes and parts can be eye-wateringly expensive, and the weight-weenie bug can be hard to shake once you get started. However, some of the best road bikes under £3,000 are good for climbing.

5.1kg with pedals, pretty good for a bike with an aluminium frame

Cheaper still is improving your power-to-weight ratio . You can do this by becoming more powerful at the same weight or losing weight through cycling and maintaining power.

Top-quality carbon fibre is prized for its incredible stiffness-to-weight ratio, and rightly so – this is the reason it’s used in Formula One. If you can afford it, the lightest bikes and parts will almost always be made out of high-end carbon fibre.

At the lower end though, good aluminium is competitive with, or even better than, cheap carbon fibre. That applies not just to weight and stiffness, but also ride quality and strength.

The very last of those characteristics is also a general worry for ultra-lightweight carbon fibre frames and parts. You have to be very careful about sticking to recommended weight, torque and clamping specs, or else it’s very easy to break these feathery items.

Aero vs. weight for climbing

Canyon Ultimate CFR Di2

Until fairly recently, climbing bikes made no concessions to aerodynamics, leaving drag-reduction to the best aero road bikes . But with the rise of computer modelling, on-bike aero sensors and other advanced testing techniques, this has all changed.

Even dedicated climbing bikes are now launching, with brands touting their aerodynamic efficiency.

Take the Trek Emonda , for example. Trek says it has been designed specifically for the rigours of iconic Tour de France climbs such as Alpe d’Huez (a 13.85km monster in the French Alps), yet still features extensive aero treatment.

Cannondale SystemSix Hi-Mod Dura-Ace Di2; 'the fastest bike in the world'

True hill climb aficionados will no doubt be tearing their hair out at this point, exclaiming ‘anything under 10 per cent isn’t even a proper hill anyway!’, but if you want to go fast, aero always matters, regardless of the gradient.

It's true that aerodynamic drag becomes a smaller part of the equation as gradients increase in severity, but the absolute amount of air resistance you experience remains the same for any given speed.

On top of that, the power to overcome any increase in air resistance is proportional to the cube of speed. So, if you want to ride your bicycle twice as fast, you’ll need eight times more power to overcome the extra drag force, unless you can reduce your aerodynamic drag.

In an ideal world, then, you want a bike that’s both lightweight and aero for smashing hills.

Computational fluid dynamics modeling of the Kamm Tail tube shaping on Trek's new Madone 7-Series frame

"Weight weenies should be Crr weenies"

So said Robert Chung, Professor and Theoretical Mathematical Demographer at the University of California-Berkeley. Chung is perhaps most famous for devising the ‘Chung Method’ of calculating aerodynamic drag, but he also reminds us of the importance of not ignoring rolling resistance.

Using a power equation for wheeled vehicles (such as the one found at www.kreuzotter.de ), he showed that even a relatively small difference in rolling resistance (Crr stands for 'coefficient of rolling resistance') can be worth as much as large changes in weight, even on steep gradients.

Chung's graph plots the difference in Crr between Continental’s GP4000S II and GP5000 tyres in terms of the equivalent efficiency found through weight loss on different gradients.

On a flat road, it’s clear that even a relatively small decrease in rolling resistance is worth more than practically any increase in weight. What’s really interesting to note though, is that changing from a GP4000 to a GP5000 is still worth more than 500g of extra mass even on a 10 per cent slope.

Yes, that’s right; the small difference in rolling resistance between two of the best road bikes tyres can have a greater effect on your efficiency than 500g of extra weight even on a 10 per cent slope, and that equivalent mass penalty only increases as the gradient gets shallower. On a 6 per cent slope, the difference is equivalent to a kilogram of extra mass.

The key takeaway is that you shouldn’t just look at weight figures when shopping for tyres. The differences in rolling resistance between tyres will be worth far more to your climbing speed than any minor weight variations.

Gearing and cadence when climbing

Jack’s Canyon Ultimate CF SLX Haute Route Davos Horse for the Course

Some riders apparently enjoy using singlespeed or even fixed-gear bikes for climbing hills . But most people are going to want bike gears .

For a long time though, back in the days when riders only had five or so cogs on their cassette to choose from, gears such as 42×21 were considered adequate for climbing mountains.

Thankfully, though, things have moved on and we now have access to compact/sub-compact chainsets , long-cage rear derailleurs and much larger bike cassettes .

Used together, these can allow practically anyone to spin up steep climbs at a comfortable cycling cadence , rather than turning them into a series of leg presses.

Shimano 105 R7000 crankset

Muscling up a steep hill in a massive gear might feel heroic, but it’s probably slower and it’s costing you more energy too, as anyone with a power meter will be able to attest to. These days, even the pros know you need to gear down when the road goes up .

Rim or disc brakes

Jack’s Canyon Ultimate CF SLX Haute Route Davos Horse for the Course

Another thorny issue. In our opinion, there are two answers to the bike brakes debates – a simple one and a nuanced one.

The simple answer is that rim brakes are, generally, lighter, and therefore are better for climbing bikes .

There's a more nuanced answer, however. While disc-brake equipped bikes generally come with a weight penalty (though this is becoming harder to measure because, despite what we wrote in 2017 , new high-end rim brake road bikes are uncommon), the advantage of better braking will be keenly felt on the way down the hills.

If the only thing you care about is going uphill as fast as possible, then rim brakes could still be the right choice. Otherwise, the advantages of road disc brakes might tip the balance.

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trek vs orbea

Senior technical writer

trek vs orbea

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  • EMTB Discussion

2021 Trek Rail 7 vs Orbea Wild FS H20

  • Thread starter Calamity
  • Start date Oct 9, 2020
  • Oct 9, 2020
  • Easier to remove battery, important for me in apartment
  • Microspline freehub> Shimano cassette> better gear switching
  • Better brakes
  • A little lighter (?)
  • The store can not give me a delivery date, and considering all delays from subcontractors it may not be delivered before May or later.
  • 130mm dropper post
  • Delivery in November this year
  • Better suspension (?)
  • Better wheels and tires
  • Kiox Display
  • Sunrace cassette / HG freehub
  • 32t chainring
  • Poorer integration of electrical system (charging port, battery mount)

Mteam

E*POWAH Elite

  • Oct 10, 2020

The suspension on the orbea (especially the forks) is a lot better than that used on the trek. The battery on the orbea is quite easy to remove. The speed sensor is better designed on the rail,but works fine on both bikes. Out of those two I'd go for the orbea because the spec is better, but I may be biased because I narrowed my choices down to either a trek rail 9.8 or orbea wild fs m team, and I went for the m team because of the higher (much higher) spec for the same money. They're both going to be decent bikes though. The sizing or geometry on the orbea may not suit you, so don't just buy on spec differences.  

JoeBlow

Active member

I just bought a 2020 Orbea Wild FS H20 a couple of weeks ago from Bikester in Germany. It has Fox suspension but the display is a Purion. I paid £3,950 which is a LOT less than the Trek and what I would have paid in the shop (£5400 if I recall) and why I bought it. Never had a problem getting the battery out but I tend not to bother. It's a lovely bike, rides like a dream and gets plenty of admiring glances and comments even some from the professionals of EMBN. Al  

  • Thread starter
Mteam said: The suspension on the orbea (especially the forks) is a lot better than that used on the trek. The battery on the orbea is quite easy to remove. The speed sensor is better designed on the rail,but works fine on both bikes. Out of those two I'd go for the orbea because the spec is better, but I may be biased because I narrowed my choices down to either a trek rail 9.8 or orbea wild fs m team, and I went for the m team because of the higher (much higher) spec for the same money. They're both going to be decent bikes though. The sizing or geometry on the orbea may not suit you, so don't just buy on spec differences. Click to expand...
JoeBlow said: I just bought a 2020 Orbea Wild FS H20 a couple of weeks ago from Bikester in Germany. It has Fox suspension but the display is a Purion. I paid £3,950 which is a LOT less than the Trek and what I would have paid in the shop (£5400 if I recall) and why I bought it. Never had a problem getting the battery out but I tend not to bother. It's a lovely bike, rides like a dream and gets plenty of admiring glances and comments even some from the professionals of EMBN. Al Click to expand...

Not sure. It was the only bike I saw under £4000 that had Fox suspension. It was longer, better quality suspension that prompted me to buy a new bike in the first place. I had a Trek previously, a Powerfly 4 FS with Suntour forks but fancied a change. I also liked the look of the Orbea and the fact that it got loads of positive reviews. Don't quote me on this as I'm not sure but from the look of the design I think it may be possible to change the shifter cables and brake hoses without dropping the motor which has to be an added benefit. I would have liked a Levo but I spoke to so many people at my local bike park that had experienced motor failures that it put me off Specialised and Brose. At least I knew what I was getting with Bosch although I do dislike the Purion display. 29" wheels was also a positive for me. It was a serious contender even at £5,300, the price in most retailers, so when I saw it drop to £3,950 I ordered straightaway and got the last one delivered within 10 days. I had been dithering for months. Al  

Calamity said: From the Wild 21 bluepaper PDF here page 22-23 it seems that the 2021 models have integrated sensors and magnets. No more spoke magnet! Yes I'm trying to find somewhere to demo them both. That's a nice price! Would you have chosen the Orbea over the Trek if the price was exactly the same? (Both preorder for 4200 GBP in my country) Click to expand...
  • Oct 11, 2020
Mteam said: Wonder if the new spped sensor can be retrofitted to the 2020 bike? Click to expand...

trek vs orbea

  • Feb 13, 2021

Did anyone get a S/M? I’m 171cm and have tiny arms. It’s in the post... Thanks in advance  

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E-MOUNTAINBIKE Magazine

The best e-mountainbike of 2023 – The biggest group test yet:⁠ 30 e-mountainbikes head-to-head

trek vs orbea

30 hot and trendy e-mountainbikes, 26 brands and 12 motor systems go head-to-head in our biggest e-mountainbike group test yet. Our search for the best e-mountainbike of 2023 held many surprises, providing exciting insights and an unprecedented market overview. We cover everything you need to know about buying an ebike and finding out which is the best e-mountainbike for you.

trek vs orbea

Table of content

What must the best e-mountainbike of 2023 be capable of, what type of e-mountainbiker are you, our expansive e-mountainbike test field: 30 of the most exciting e-mountainbikes on the market, the motor systems of the e-mountainbikes on test, their features, and functions at a glance.

  • How and where did we test the e-mountainbikes?

Our e-mountainbike group test in numbers

What should you look for when buying an e-mountainbike.

  • Tops and flops from our 2023 e-mountainbike group test

An overview of all e-mountainbikes in our huge 2023 group test

The best emtb of 2023: the orbea wild, our best buy tip: the radon deft, more exciting recommendations.

Have you ever thought about the countless dials and gauges in the cockpit of an aircraft when you last flew away on holiday? The current e-mountainbike market is similarly complex with its sheer mass of products, misleading promises and supposed innovations. Before you know it, you’ll have lost your bearings, and making the right purchase decision is almost impossible – if you make one at all. Finding the right e-mountainbike to suit your needs is more challenging than ever. And nothing is more frustrating than investing your hard-earned money in the wrong bike, which may look good or seem like a bargain but doesn’t meet your own demands and intended use, or simply doesn’t perform reliably.

trek vs orbea

Long story short: we literally worked our a**** off for months on end to conduct and compile the biggest and most diverse e-mountainbike group test ever. The result is a comprehensive and detailed market overview containing all the most important information, exciting insights and, above all, clear buyer’s advice. As you read these lines, we’re not just toasting on the completion of this huge project – spanning 202 A4 pages – but also celebrating our 10th anniversary as E-MOUNTAINBIKE magazine. And if we’ve learned one thing during these last 10 years, then it’s the fact that data from spec sheets and geometry tables can’t be taken at face value, revealing little about the overall performance and functionality of the bike. Ultimately, it is the cohesive performance of the bike as a whole that really counts out on the trail.

For this group test, we had a clear goal in mind: to create an all-encompassing market overview and comprehensive buyer’s guide, not just to make comparisons of similar models, but also to open the doors to a broad classification. To this end, we had 30 e-mountainbikes with 12 different motor systems compete against each other, once again demonstrating the variety and vast number of combination possibilities offered by today’s eMTB market. Different battery concepts, range extenders, custom software solutions and specially developed apps, accessory integration, myriad geometries and components… we could go on forever. But instead, we’ll focus on the essentials and tell you what to look for when buying an e-mountainbike, what really counts, and how to find the right bike for you.

trek vs orbea

There are many misconceptions, false assumptions, and misunderstandings about what makes a good e-mountainbike. Those who aren’t properly equipped with the right information will shop according to criteria like the best motor, the largest battery, and fall for seductive marketing hype without asking themselves what it is they actually need. In our annual reader survey – which is considered the largest and most representative survey in the e-mountainbike industry – over 12,000 loyal readers answer up to 90 questions, providing us with hard facts and figures about what it is that you really want. Thanks to this data, we don’t just know how, what, and how long you ride, but also what your experiences have been, what you’re interested in, and what makes you tick. This allows us to tailor our test field as well as our test criteria perfectly to your needs. By the way, it just so happens to be time for our 2023 reader survey and we would appreciate your feedback very much! It allows us to continue driving the industry forward and not just know exactly what you want to read, but also ride in the future.

The best e-mountainbike is made up of a combination of good components, geometry, and kinematics, with a suitable motor and software ecosystem. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link – and this also applies to e-mountainbikes. It’s not isolated parameters but the harmonious interaction of all components that matters. Of course, the design, practical accessories, available service network, and detailed solutions also play a key role. Many reviewers will judge a bike based on a short test ride or on spec sheets and geometry tables. But not us, which is why the future of our jobs is secure: AI can’t test bikes and fit them into the overall context – or have you seen ChatGPT ride the trails?

trek vs orbea

The best e-mountainbike of 2023 can cater to supposedly contradicting use cases and needs, making it the ultimate all-rounder for every type of trail and riding style. It must excel on the trails with intuitive handling, providing a balanced combination of agility and composure, while being a blast to ride. It must perform equally well on epic rides and long climbs, providing sufficient long-distance comfort, efficient yet comfortable suspension, as well as easy-to-modulate yet powerful electronic assistance. The best all-rounder also provides a pleasant user experience with high-quality details. This includes a wide range of software and connectivity solutions, and guided help with the setup or service. Variable battery concepts and the option of configuring the motor output to your needs also provides obvious advantages. Does it sound utopian to combine all this into one bike? It does. Fortunately, however, there are a few e-mountainbikes that can do all this, making them great investments that we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend to our best friends. It also goes without saying that while the best overall e-mountainbike of 2023 is the best choice for the majority of our readers, some of you have very specific requirements, which is why you might be better off with one of the specialists in our test field. Not to worry, though, thanks to our holistic approach and personalised buyer’s guide everyone will find a bike that suits them and their requirements in this group test.

trek vs orbea

Before we dive into this group test in Turbo mode, it’s important to know what you need and demand. If you need help with that, you should check out our interactive buyer’s guide . By answering a few simple questions, it will help you make the right decision, providing you with specific bike recommendations along with a selection of other articles that you might find interesting and helpful.

As part of our mega group test, we had 30 current e-mountainbikes from 26 different brands compete head-to-head in a direct comparison. The test field includes as many as 12 different motor systems, some of which provide double the torque compared to other candidates – at least on paper ;). We’ve got everything from 40 to 95 Nm, packaged in vastly different concepts. But don’t fall for the trap of being blinded by the figures. There are enormous differences between how the power is delivered, in which situations, and whether all the power can be transferred to the trail! The differences in battery capacity are just as big, ranging from just 250 Wh to a whopping 800 Wh. However, more capacity doesn’t automatically mean more range. As with EVs, different motors consume electricity at different rates and their respective efficiency must also be considered, which in turn depends on the rider, their riding style, and cadence. Among the 30 e-mountainbikes, we also included 9 of the latest generation Light-eMTBs to shake up the field. This also explains the massive weight difference of over 11 kg between the heaviest and lightest bike on test. The lightest ones tip the scales at just 16 kg, but whether they perform well on the trail is a different matter.

The brands aren’t shy about charging for the rapid pace of e-mountainbike development with the most expensive bike on the test costing a staggering € 15,999. That’s easily the same as a new compact car. Therefore, it’s all the more important to know whether you’re investing your money in the right place. But don’t worry, the test field includes a wide price range, starting at € 6,699. The best part is that certain bikes are on par with more expensive models in terms of riding fun and performance, though some cost twice as much. However, if you find the prices are still too high, don’t stop reading, because most findings and tips are universally applicable and we’re already back on the trails, conducting our budget eMTB group test, which will be coming soon.

Isolated specs and figures say little about the character and stand-out traits of an e-mountainbike. As such, we’ll give you a brief introduction to every bike in this group test along with the table above, providing a rough overview of our test field. Let’s start with a classic among e-mountainbikes: The Specialized Turbo Levo Expert is undoubtedly one of the most popular e-mountainbikes on the market, pioneering integration and holistic development since the first generation was introduced in 2015. This hasn’t changed with the latest generation, which was launched in 2021. Specialized consider the bike as whole, not just developing a frame, but also their own motor and software to go with it, which offers clear advantages in their interaction. That said, the competition doesn’t sleep. The young and still relatively unknown boutique brand Forestal have a similarly holistic approach to development. If you haven’t heard of the Andorran brand, you’ll know what’s up the moment you catch a glimpse of the futuristic looking Forestal Siryon Diōde at the latest. The Light-eMTB relies on a custom BAFANG EonDrive motor and in-house software. On top of that, they’ve integrated a touch display – yes, you read that right – into the top tube. Is this what the future of e-mountainbikes looks like?

trek vs orbea

The test field includes numerous e-mountainbikes featuring exclusive or unique motor systems. GIANT also rely on their own GIANT SyncDrive Pro 2 motor for the Trance X Advanced E+ LTD , which is based on the Yamaha PW-X3 and combined with an 800 Wh battery – the largest in the test field. Moreover, GIANT resort to the electronic FOX Live Valve suspension, but does it offer any advantages on an e-mountainbike? Without a doubt, the Berria Mako Hybrid GT LTD is one of the underdogs on test. The golden e-mountainbike of the Spanish brand is the only contestant to rely on the exotic Polini E-P3+ MX motor, producing a hefty 90 Nm of torque and paired with a large display in the top tube. But does the overall concept work and can it transfer all that power to the trail? Only the Panasonic GX Ultimate motor in the FLYER Uproc X 9.50 can put out even more torque with a peak of 95 Nm. In addition, it relies on the so-called FIT system, which offers countless connectivity features. Off to a good start for a good test result?

trek vs orbea

Most of the e-mountainbikes on test hedge their bets on the proven Bosch Smart System. Bosch don’t just offer one of the world’s best service networks, but they’ve recently also started offering bike companies different combinations of displays, remotes, and batteries. The Orbea WILD M-LTD takes full advantage of this, not just allowing you to customise the componentry spec in Orbea’s MyO configurator, but also letting you choose between two battery sizes. We opted for the smaller 625 Wh version. In addition, the WILD relies on the limited edition CX Race motor, which predominantly offers advantages on technical climbs due to the way it’s tuned. The KTM Macina Prowler Exonic – which is KTMs big hitting e-mountainbike – and the Mondraker Crafty Carbon XR LTD also rely on the more powerful Race motor. Check out the individual reviews to find what advantages this offers, if any, and whether it allows them to pull away from the competition.

trek vs orbea

While the Moustache Samedi 29 Game 11 relies on the proven Bosch system, the company developed their own shock, promising magical levels of grip and a ride like a flying carpet. The RADON DEFT 10.0 doesn’t claim to be a flying carpet, but it can come right to your front door, nonetheless. At just € 6,799, the direct-to-consumer brand offer a well-specced package that surprised us all in the group test. The UNNO Mith Race will let you stand out from the crowd with its extravagant look. However, it doesn’t just look like a designer piece, the integration of the Bosch system is equally refined. Thanks to the large swingarm and asymmetrical design, the Ibis Oso features an equally striking and unique look. It also comes with practical features such as an integrated light. The Cannondale Moterra Neo Carbon LT1 combines the best of both worlds, specced with a coil shock as well as practical accessories such as lights. The two newly introduced FOCUS siblings, the FOCUS SAM² 6.9 and the FOCUS JAM² 6.9 , also took part in the group test. Besides many similarities such as the removable batteries and integration, they’re targeted at very different use cases due to their geometries and spec. However, being overweight seems to run in the family as they’re both on the heavier end of the spectrum, weighing in at 27.1 and 26 kg respectively. Does that matter?

trek vs orbea

The two FOCUS representatives have brought light reinforcement, because the German bike brand can fall back on a new Light-eMTB in their portfolio. The slender FOCUS JAM² SL 9.9 weighs 19.3 kg and produces 60 Nm of torque via its FAZUA Ride 60 motor. FOCUS entered the Light-eMTB segment many years ago and are considered pioneers in this field. We found out whether this has resulted in a mature product. The ebike pioneers Haibike also rely on the FAZUA drive system for their new Haibike LYKE CF SE . The popular brand aim to take on the competition with the bike’s sporty look and innovative approach to the integration of the motor. Will they succeed? American brand Pivot have also chosen to integrate the FAZUA system into their Pivot Shuttle SL Pro X01 . In doing so, they weren’t just early to the party, theirs was the first Light-eMTB available on the market with this motor. For our group test, we chose the model configured for trail performance instead of the top-end version. As usual, it relies on the firm DW-Link rear suspension and high-end components.

trek vs orbea

The Thömus Lightrider E Ultimate isn’t just specced with the weakest motor on test at 40 Nm, but also the smallest battery with a capacity of 250 Wh. But it lives up to its name with a weight of just 16.1 kg, and there’s no denying its cross-country genes. For obvious reasons, the prize for integration goes to the SCOTT Lumen eRIDE 900 SL . It doesn’t break the scales with its featherweight 16 kg, but its € 15,999 price point might just break the bank. This makes it both the lightest and most expensive bike on test, relying on the inconspicuous TQ HPR 50 motor. As the name suggests, the SIMPLON Rapcon Pmax TQ features the same system, but it’s packed into a long travel frame with a focus on the descents. Its analogue sibling has already shown what the platform is capable of, having been crowned the best enduro bike of 2022 by our sister magazine ENDURO. The Trek Fuel EXe 9.9 XX1 AXS also relies on the 50 Nm TQ system, but the EXe is less gravity-oriented than the SIMPLON. The US mega-brand were the exclusive launch partner of the TQ HPR 50 motor, and they were significantly involved in its development. In doing so, Trek have garnered some advantages that the competition has no access to. Does that make it better? As you can see, very different concepts rely on the same motor system. This raises an interesting question: does the motor suit all concepts equally well?

trek vs orbea

The Orbea Rise M-Team is considered a bridge between the Light- and full-power e-mountainbikes because it has a conventional Shimano EP801 motor that’s been throttled from 85 Nm to 60 Nm, as indicated by the RS suffix. In addition, the Rise has a large 540 Wh internal battery, which you can increase to a whopping 792 Wh with the optional range extender. This is the second largest battery capacity in the entire test field, and that’s in combination with a more economical motor compared to the standard EP8!

All other Shimano powered bikes in the group test come with the standard EP8 model, but Shimano leave it up to the respective brands to decide which battery they want to use, which allows them to take very different approaches. The Pivot Shuttle LT Team XTR subscribes to the “more travel, more battery and more fun” school of thought. With a generous 756 Wh, it has the largest internal battery of the Shimano driven bikes, promising a long range. The ROTWILD R.X735 ULTRA has a slightly smaller yet still big 720 Wh battery, and thanks to their convenient removal system, you can swap it out in the blink of an eye. Does that make it the trail king?

trek vs orbea

The Santa Cruz Heckler MX X01 AXS RSV features the usual high-quality workmanship, look, and VPP rear end. It promises to be more agile on the trail thanks to the smaller 27.5″ rear wheel. But does it have what it takes to be an all-rounder? The Transition Repeater AXS Carbon and the Yeti 160E T1 are the first e-mountainbikes of the two American brands. Both bikes are designed to perform on the trail and are specced accordingly. Nevertheless, the Yeti was crowned the best all-rounder in last year’s group test. Can it build on that success and defend its title, or will it be toppled from the throne this year? The MERIDA eONE-SIXTY 975 comes factory fitted with a headlight and other practical accessories. Its build spec is very promising and it’s fairly priced, too, so it’s no wonder that it’s already secured several titles in previous group tests. The final opponent to roll into our group test is the BULLS SONIC EVO EN-SL 1 . At € 6,699, it’s the most affordable bike on test, pairing the new EP801 motor with an automatic Shimano XT Di2 drivetrain. We put the setup to the test to find out whether it provides any advantages over conventional shifting.

When buying an e-mountainbike, you don’t just decide on a bike, i.e. the frame, but also on a motor ecosystem and software, which has a significant influence on the performance and handling of your bike. Nevertheless, the drive unit can only be as good as the bike it’s in, and how well it suits your specific requirements. Do you want the battery to be permanently integrated or removable, should it be as big as possible, or would you rather a smaller capacity with the option of an external range extender? Besides that, there are numerous aspects that go far beyond the hardware of the motor, with many systems now providing a vast array of options. These include customisable or progressive support modes, additional features such as digital immobilisers with an alarm, GPS tracking, range-based navigation, assistance that’s linked to your heart rate, or gamified ride data that tracks things like airtime. There are countless options available, and they will continue to grow, so it’s good to have an overview and be aware of what you want from your bike. While newly introduced technologies are state-of-the-art, they often suffer from teething issues. Large established brands usually have a reliable and well-established service network, so you can easily get help when you’ve got trouble with your motor, but they often take fewer risks during development than smaller or more agile players might do. Fortunately, software updates can be used to expand the range of functions or remedy bugs in retrospect, even when the bike’s been in your possession for a long time.

trek vs orbea

The products offered by large, established brands are usually aimed at the masses, so they don’t necessarily meet your individual requirements. The same applies to custom solutions such as the touch display in the Forestal or the charging port integrations on the Specialized. Practical and individual solutions such as these are usually reserved for bike companies that are involved in the development of the motor instead of sourcing closed systems with technical limitations. However, custom solutions can cause durability issues or lead to difficulty in procuring spare parts. Manufacturers of bikes, components and motors must work hand in hand to offer a complete package. Due to the wide range of systems that are now available on the market, this aspect has improved greatly, increasingly allowing brands to tailor bikes to your individual needs. Nevertheless, the development of an ebike is vastly more complex than that of its analogue counterpart. The large selection of components and rapidly developing industry only serve to complicate matters even more.

That’s why it’s vital to not just consider an e-mountainbikes performance and functionality on the trail, but also its secondary aspects.

Note: with such rapid development, the market is constantly being flooded with new software updates and accessories such as range extenders. Much of it solves problems or extends the field of application. However, as we’ve seen in the past, this can also create new problems. So, we wrote this article for you based on current information as it stands in March 2023.

Below, you will find an overview of all the motor systems featured in this group test.

Smart System and CX Race – The 2023 Bosch Performance Line CX motor system

trek vs orbea

The Bosch Performance Line CX system is the top dog among the motors in our group test, featured in 10 of the 30 bikes on test. All of them rely on the Smart System, introduced in 2021, which lends the proven Performance Line CX motor a smarter infrastructure and provides a basis for upcoming features and developments. While the motor has remained largely the same, apart from a few minor hardware adjustments, the ecosystem consisting of the remotes and displays has been completely revised and the old wiring harness also gave way to a new, optimised version. Unfortunately, the Smart System upgrade isn’t backwards compatible with your old Bosch motor, though it’s become standard on new bikes.

The motor still produces 85 Nm of torque with a maximum assistance of 340% in TURBO mode. But beware: some of the bikes on test rely on the CX Race motor. It’s the twin brother of the Performance Line CX motor, just with a gym membership. Thanks to adapted software, the CX Race motor provides assistance of up to 400% with the same 85 Nm of torque. But nothing on the hardware has changed, except for slightly optimised internals.

trek vs orbea

Bosch give manufacturers the option to combine their motor with the new Bosch PowerTube battery with capacities of 750 Wh, 625 Wh or 500 Wh. All the Bosch powered bikes in our group test come with the largest battery – except the Orbea, which you’re free to configure as you please. We opted to go with a 625 Wh battery on our Orbea Wild test bike. Depending on the bike, some of the batteries are more or less easy to remove while others are permanently integrated. At 4.38 Kg, the 750 Wh PowerTube battery is one of the heaviest on test, and pushes up the system’s overall weight despite the rather light 2.79 kg motor.

trek vs orbea

The Smart System gives bike companies access to new accessories and combination options. Starting with the Bosch LED remote on the left-hand side of the handlebar. It’s quite large and exposed, and it indicates the battery level in comparatively fine 10% increments by means of classy looking illuminated bars. The colour around the Bosch logo indicates the selected support level. The buttons all offer pleasant haptics, but they could be a little bigger or further apart, because it’s easy to push the wrong button while riding.

trek vs orbea

For brands who opt against the feature-rich LED remote, Bosch offer the System Controller and Mini Remote combination. The Bosch System Controller is an LED display that integrates into the top tube, indicating the battery and support level via illuminated bars and a colourful, illuminated ring, similar to the LED remote. The Mini Remote provides a cleaner cockpit, with functionality limited to the minimum. Thanks to the few large buttons, you can reliably hit the right button, even as you’re ploughing through a rock garden shortly before a punchy climb.

trek vs orbea

Bosch also have a fitting solution for riders who don’t want to limit communication with their bike to a few LEDs. The high-quality Kiox 300 display can be mounted in different positions next to the stem, and is controlled via one of the two remotes. The new menu navigation is user friendly, and the display is easy to read while riding. There are some additional functions, too, such as navigation or location tracking by means of the Bosch ConnectModule in the motor. However, the only bike on test with the ConnectModule is the KTM Macina Prowler Exonic. Moreover, using it requires a paid subscription. On the other hand, all Bosch Smart System bikes have the eBike Lock function as standard, which allows you to lock all motor functions temporarily via the eBike Flow app as an anti-theft measure.

trek vs orbea

The Bosch eBike Flow app also provides a good overview of all functions and is intuitive to operate. In addition to a wealth of information about the system, it lets you tune the support modes according to your own preferences. If you want to use the app, you must first create an account, after which connecting it with the bike is easy to do. It gets a little trickier if several users want to access the same bike via the app. Once the bike has been registered with one account, it can no longer be accessed by another account.

trek vs orbea

Depending on the bike, you’ve got access to different support modes on the trail. With the TOUR and eMTB modes, Bosch have two dynamic modes that adapt the support to match the riding situation on the trail. The TOUR+ mode is the more efficient variant and is great for maximising your range, or as a less aggressive alternative to the eMTB mode for light riders. As you might have guessed, the CX Race variant also has a RACE mode. In general, the Bosch motor is one of the best, most efficient, and most powerful on test despite putting out “just” 85 Nm on paper. Thanks to its smooth characteristics and wide cadence range, it provides a shuttle-like feeling on the climbs and leaves the Shimano EP-8 behind despite also being rated at 85 Nm. The Panasonic, Specialized, and Polini motors can all keep up with the CX motor, but they can’t compete with its big, even more powerful CX Race sibling. On the other hand, Bosch are yet to address the annoying metallic knocking noise that the motor produces. This only occurs when the motor isn’t providing any assistance and the chain isn’t pulling on the chainring – during big compressions or when the chain is bouncing around through a rock garden, for example. While this doesn’t detract from its performance, it can get on your nerves in the long run, especially on rough trails.

The Polini E-P3+ MX motor system

trek vs orbea

The Polini E-P3+ MX system is an exotic powerhouse. In our test field, the Italian motor features in the no less exotic Berria Mako Hybrid GT, and the list of bikes that Polini supply with their system reads like a guide on the exotic plants of Borneo. With a torque output of 90 Nm, the Italian motor is one of the most powerful in the test field, capable of matching your own input by up to 400%. And all that from a motor that weighs just 2.9 kg. For those who don’t need that much power, Polini offer the 75 Nm E-P3+ motor.

For the Mako Hybrid GT on test, Berria combine the Polini motor with a custom 720 Wh Portapower battery. Polini also have two batteries of their own, one with a capacity of 550 Wh and the other with 880 Wh. Nevertheless, the Italian brand leave it to the bike companies to choose where they want to source their batteries. The integrated Portapower battery in the Berria is secured with a lock and can be easily removed. If you don’t find the battery capacity to be sufficient, you can combine it with Polini’s 252 Wh range extender, which mounts onto the bottle cage bosses. Together with the integrated 720 Wh battery, this gives you a total of 972 Wh! Unfortunately, the range extender wasn’t available for our review.

trek vs orbea

Despite its impressive power output, the Polini E-P3+ MX doesn’t make a big show of it on the Berria Mako Hybrid GT. The motor is relatively compact and the down tube housing the battery is rather slender for a full-power ebike. Berria decided to do their own thing with the large Polini colour display, integrating it into the top tube instead of attaching it to the handlebar. Although this looks nice at first glance, it’s a little rough around the edges with the two exposed screws and uneven gaps. The display isn’t quite as large as the touch display on the Forestal, though it’s much larger than the mastermind display in the Specialized Levo. Polini tried to take full advantage of the display size and squeezed in as much information as possible. However, displaying the support level, battery level, distance covered, speed, and motor map each with dynamic bars on one screen is slightly too much of a good thing.

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Besides this information overload, the menu navigation isn’t the most intuitive. It doesn’t help that Polini offer 3 predefined support modes as well as two customisable modes, each of which are divided into 5 sub-modes – it will leave you scratching your head! In total, that’s 25 support modes to choose from. The custom modes can be tuned in Polini’s E-Bike app, via which you can also access the display information on your smartphone or retrieve all kinds of data about your rides and the motor. To scroll through the different support modes on the bike, you will have to get accustomed to the very peculiar remote, which makes do with just two buttons. On our Berria test bike, it’s mounted between the grip and the dropper remote, pointing downwards. To reach the button on the back, you’ve got to take your index finger from the front brake (rear brake in the UK). This results in unwanted thrills on the trail and even on forest service roads when shifting modes. Even if the remote is mounted pointing upwards, you’ve got the same problem. In general, the operation of the system isn’t exactly user-friendly with its two buttons. To switch between certain menu items, you must push both buttons simultaneously, which requires accurate timing. It’s a good thing that Polini also offer a remote with four buttons.

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Riding the bike, the Polini E-P3+ MX motor is a little unpredictable, changing character depending on the support mode. In Touring mode, the motor is very restrained, unleashing its power very predictably and gently. In race mode, the motor flexes its muscles and turns from sensitive to schoolyard bully. It’s very harsh and direct as it kicks in, giving it an unnatural ride feel. The power output is relatively independent of your cadence, always providing plenty of assistance. We were also struck by how loud it is in the higher support modes.

The Panasonic GX Ultimate motor system

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The Panasonic GX Ultimate is the bodybuilder amongst the motors in the test field – it’s the undisputed powerhouse of the bunch, with a peak torque output of 95 nm. It only comes specced on the FLYER Uproc X in our test field. Despite its power, the Panasonic motor doesn’t stand out from the crowd of full-power motors in terms of weight, tipping the scales at a mere 2.95 kg. In the FLYER Uproc X, it’s paired with a 750 Wh battery. Panasonic deliberately allow bike companies to use batteries from third-party suppliers.

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On our test bike, the Panasonic GX Ultimate motor is controlled via components from the ebike systems suppliers FIT. Compared to most other remotes in the test field, the FIT Basic Remote on the handlebar is rather chunky and the small joystick requires some getting used to. The first time you use it, you could get a little fright from the unusual vibration feedback it provides. You can switch it off, though it certainly doesn’t leave you guessing whether you’ve pushed the button. Alternatively, Panasonic also offer in-house remotes. The Panasonic Side Colour Display Remote has a small display integrated into the remote, as the name suggests. However, this makes it slightly bigger than the not-exactly-dainty FIT Basic Remote. The display on the FLYER is also supplied by FIT and mounted in front of the stem where it’s very exposed. It has a ton of functions and display options, including some more unique features like an inclinometer and an ice warning. In combination with the FIT E-Bike Control app, the display can be adjusted according to your preferences, and even has a navigation function.

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When riding the bike, the Panasonic GX Ultimate motor offers four levels of support. In addition to three classic modes, it also has a dynamic Auto mode, which claims to adjust the assistance according to the riding situation. In the highest support mode, the motor provides a good deal of support. Its power output doesn’t decrease significantly at a low cadence, giving you that shuttle feeling on forest road climbs. Due to the sustained assistance, you can easily let it push you over ledges or other obstacles in technical terrain, but it also means you’ve got to brake hard when stopping in a hurry. The Auto mode feels somewhat abrupt and unnatural on level terrain, but it comes into its own on uphill trails. Here, it offers even more precise and sensitive assistance than the highest mode, making it easier to harness its power.

The GIANT SyncDrive Pro 2 motor system

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As the name suggests, the Giant SyncDrive Pro 2 motor is exclusive to GIANT and represented by a single bike in the test field, the Giant Trance X Advanced E+ Ltd. Based on the Yamaha PW-X3 motor, the GIANT drive unit delivers 85 Nm of torque with up to 400% support. The 2.75 kg motor is combined with a massive 800 Wh battery – the biggest in our test. If that still isn’t enough for you, there’s the option of a 250 Wh range extender. It mounts to the bottle cage bosses and pushes the total battery capacity to an incredible 1,050 Wh! With an internal battery capacity of 800 Wh, however, we could skip the range extender for the purposes of our review.

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The interface between man and machine is taken care of by the Giant RideControl GO control unit in the top tube, paired with the minimalist RideControl Ergo 3 remote on the handlebar. The control unit isn’t a display as such, indicating the support mode as well as the battery level via 5 illuminated bars. GIANT refrain from installing an additional display on the handlebar. The inconspicuous remote sits flush against the left grip, where it’s within easy reach of your thumb. In general, the operation of the Giant SyncDrivePro2 system is quite straightforward. You’ve got three buttons to shift through the 5 support modes from Eco to Power or activate the progressive Smart Assist mode. Due to the minimalist display in the top tube, you don’t get much information, but it also saves you from having to navigate a maze of menus – the pared down functions of the remote are entirely sufficient. Those who want a little more information can access it via GIANT’s Ride Control app. The app also lets you assign the functions of the remote buttons.

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On the bike, you immediately get a sense of the Giant SyncDrive Pro 2 motor’s power. While it feels significantly more powerful than the Shimano EP8, it can’t quite match the punch of the Bosch CX. It kicks in very directly in Power mode. This allows you to get back going after coming to a stop on a steep incline, but you’ve got to brace yourself in anticipation of the motor pushing you forward. In general, the drive unit doesn’t hold back and could be described as more of a ruffian amongst motors. The dynamic Smart Assist mode is significantly more hesitant, holding back longer than the comparable eMTB mode from Bosch. As a result, the Giant motor is clearly slower than Bosch powered bikes when using their dynamic modes to pull away at traffic lights, easily leaving you behind. The automatic mode also lacked the necessary grunt for technical climbs, in which case we preferred using Power mode.

The Specialized 2.2 motor system

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The Specialized 2.2 system was developed in collaboration with mechatronics specialists Brose, based on the Brose Drive Mag S motor. Compared to most other brands, Specialized have acquired in-depth motor expertise over the years and want full control over the drive system. They pursue a holistic approach, developing as much as possible in house to ensure the best possible interaction of components, a better user experience, and minimal dependence on the motor manufacturers and their development pace or cycles. The Californian company go to great lengths to achieve this, employing a team of around 70 people in Cham, Switzerland, dedicated to their ebike department! Numerous reviews have shown that their efforts pay off, and the Specialized Levo is amongst the lead pack with its 2.2 motor system this year once again, but more on that later. After two years on the market, the system is now considered one of the old-timers of the test, which is particularly noticeable when looking at the proportions of the hardware – especially the area around the bottom bracket, which is relatively bulky. With a torque output of 90 Nm, the motor of the Californian brand is amongst the more powerful on test, trumped only by the 95 Nm Panasonic GX Ultimate. All that power is produced by a unit weighing 2.98 kg. With a capacity of 700 Wh, the removable battery is neither particularly large nor small. To remove it, you must loosen just one screw with the SWAT tool, which is conveniently integrated into the head tube, and you can pull the battery out of the down tube.

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Specialized offer an entire ecosystem around the 2.2 motor, providing harmonious integration. The bike’s brain is integrated into the top tube and goes by the name of Mastermind. Specialized were one of the first manufacturers to integrate a display into the top tube, pioneering a whole range of bikes that have now followed suit. The small and slender colour display gives you all the relevant information you need on a ride, as well as a few fun gimmicks like your current elevation, GPS data, or the number of jumps and airtime generated – rather than big stories about your latest heroics, you get the bare facts! The Specialized Mission Control app also lets you customise the layout and data fields of the Mastermind display to suit your own preferences. Furthermore, you’re able to configure the support, maximum power and acceleration of Eco, Trail, and Turbo mode via the app. You can link the Mastermind up to a heart rate monitor or an additional bicycle computer, too. Doing so would allow you to use the Smart Control function, for example, which adjusts the support level based on your heart rate. The app is very clearly structured and using it doesn’t require a degree in computer science. The remote with which you control the system while riding is quite minimalistic, but it has all the functions you need on the trail. It is easy to use with the left thumb and provides good haptic feedback.

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As already mentioned, you’ve got three support modes to choose from on the trail: Eco, Trail, and Turbo – all of which you can customise in the app. The Micro Adjust function is super practical, frequently used, and easy to activate, allowing you to fine tune the support in 10% increments. It’s great for saving battery, or keeping your effort at the perfect, sustainable level. On the way to the trailhead, the Specialized 2.2 system feels like an integrated shuttle service with its 90 Nm torque output. The motor is just as powerful as the Bosch CX Race, though a little less punchy. The support doesn’t kick in too brusquely and the power is easy to modulate. It isn’t bothered by fluctuating pedalling cadences and the generous sustained assistance, i.e. the assistance offered after you stop pedalling, is a fantastic help in getting cleanly over ledges and obstacles. This makes easy work of technical climbs. It’s positively inconspicuous on the descents, too, remaining absolutely quiet!

The maxon BIKEDRIVE AIR motor system

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The BIKEDRIVE AIR motor system is maxon’s debut to the ebike market. Before the Swiss brand started supplying bike brands with motors, they helped Mars rovers cruise along on the red planet. In our group test back on planet earth, the maxon system can only be found in the Thömus Lightrider E Ultimate Light-eMTB. The relatively light 1.9 kg motor is generally still a rarity, featuring on just a handful of bikes. With a torque output of merely 40 Nm, it’s the weakest motor in the test field. The battery is permanently integrated into the down tube. Depending on your personal preference or requirements, you have the choice between a battery capacity of 250, 360 or 426 Wh. The Thömus Lightrider E Ultimate on test had a 250 Wh battery installed, for which maxon indicate 3.5 hours for a full charge. It can be paired with a 250 Wh range extender, which weighs 1.4 kg and can be mounted in the supplied maxon bottle cage. Unfortunately, it wasn’t available for our test.

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The slender battery and compact, lightweight motor allow the system to be integrated relatively inconspicuously. The only thing giving the Lightrider E Ultimate away as an e-mountainbike is the hockey stick silhouette of its downtube. The motor is controlled via a minimalistic aluminium remote that matches the system’s overall look and feel well. It’s beautifully finished and one of the most inconspicuous remotes in the test field. Like the FAZUA Ring Control remote, it’s a ring-shaped control that can be pushed up and down. It’s intuitive to use and fulfils its purpose. The control unit integrated into the top tube, on the other hand, is slightly more striking than the remote. It indicates both the battery level and support mode via illuminated bars, using 8 increments for the battery. It’s not quite as refined as the TQ display, though not as rudimentary as the FAZUA LED HUB either. The control unit also provides an interface for most common bicycle computers and the maxon Connect app via Bluetooth and ANT+ LEV connectivity. This allows you to have information such as the battery level displayed on your bike computer while riding, or customise the three support modes to suit your preferences in the app.

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On the bike, you’ve got three support modes to choose from: Cruise, Push, and Blast. They all offer a very natural ride feel and you can quickly forget that you’re even riding an ebike. The motor engages instantaneously as you apply pressure to the pedals, avoiding any unnatural feeling delays. Moreover, the maxon BIKEDRIVE AIR system is virtually silent – all you can hear are cowbells ringing in the distance and the crunch of your tires. Compared to the Eco mode on a full-power e-mountainbike, Blast (maxon’s highest mode) is more like a sparkler than a full-blown firework. Nevertheless, you’ll be surprised at how much assistance the motor provides on steep climbs, especially if you’ve briefly forgotten about it, which is apt to happen. That said, it’s noticeably weaker than the competition from TQ or FAZUA. Don’t think you’ll make the summit without breaking a sweat with the maxon motor – it’s more of a tailwind on steep climbs. As such, it’s really aimed at fit and active riders, not at leisurely weekend warriors with a phobia of sweat.

The TQ HPR 50 system

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The TQ HPR 50 is the Bavarian tech company’s first minimal assist motor, though not their first ebike motor, and it relies on their patented harmonic pin-ring technology. It was developed in collaboration with Trek, which gave the bike brand the exclusive right to the motor for 3 months before other manufacturers such as SCOTT and SIMPLON were given the green light. At first glance, it seems like Trek use the same display as the competition, but they developed their own software and app. All HPR 50 motors are capable of putting out 50 Nm of torque with a 300-watt peak, and they’re exclusively compatible with the 360 Wh TQ battery. In the case of Trek, the battery can be removed, whereas all other brands have chosen to keep the 1800 g battery firmly integrated in the frame. Due to the compact design of the battery, bike designers can keep the downtube slender too. As a result, bikes such as the SIMPLON and Trek are difficult to distinguish from their analogue siblings, easily boasting the most discreetly integrated mid-mounted systems on test with the motor equally well hidden in the bottom bracket. If you want more range, you can stick the optional 160 Wh range extender in the bottle cage, upping the total battery capacity to 520 Wh.

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The 2″ TQ display is designed to be integrated into the top tube where it is inconspicuous but clearly visible. It uses monochrome dots and rings to indicate the chosen support mode, which isn’t the most intuitive at first. The battery status is displayed via 10 small bars, each representing 10% charge. By double clicking on the button below the display, you can scroll through various data points, or switch the system on/off. You have the following data points to choose from:

  • current speed in km/h
  • battery level in percen
  • remaining range in the current support mode
  • current power output of the rider and motor in watts

The system can be controlled via a small remote, which is always attached to the left side of the handlebar. It is very unobtrusive and intuitive to use, with just two buttons. It will let you choose the support mode, activate walk mode, or turn off the assistance altogether. The remote has a pleasant feel and ergonomics due to its rubberised coating, and it provides clear feedback thanks to a distinct click. You can also adjust the motor settings and access more data via the TQ app.

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Trek, on the other hand, have integrated these functions into their own app, which, above the regular scope of TQ functions, gives suggestions for the suspension setup, lets you connect to third-party sensors like the TyreWiz via Bluetooth, and has a map-based range calculator. All in one – cool! The display of the Trek is a bit more intuitive, too, showing you the support levels with 3 large bars and the battery level in %. Alternatively, you can switch the view to see your average speed and remaining range, with the range displayed in minutes or kilometres.

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You have three support levels to choose from on the trail: ECO, MID and HIGH, and there’s a Walk mode too. The HPR 50 motor is by far the quietest and most natural feeling in the test field. Due to its slightly lower power output and the inconspicuous way it engages and disengages, it feels more like you’re extremely fit rather than being assisted by an electric motor. It’s only when the support is switched off that you become aware of how much help the motor has been. To unleash its full power, the motor requires a relatively high cadence, making it more likely that you’ll break into a sweat, but it suits the motor’s character. This makes it better suited to gravel road climbs than technical singletrack ascents, taking the burden out of the uphills when you ride while still keeping you fit. Compared to the rest of the test field, technical climbs require much more physical effort and conscious gear selection to maintain the required cadence for optimal power delivery. If you’re looking for something that will push you up the mountain without putting in any effort yourself, you won’t like the TQ. However, if you like sweating at least a little on the uphills and want a quiet and natural feeling bike, this might just be the perfect companion. Unfortunately, the display became defective during the test, though it’s super easy for anyone to replace once you can track down a spare.

The FAZUA Ride 60 system

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The FAZUA ride 60 motor system is the second minimal assist option to come from the Munich-based company, which was recently acquired by Porsche. While the first generation from 2017 consisted of a single unit made up of the battery and motor, which you could remove from the bike, FAZUA parted ways with that design for the latest iteration, increasing the power output while they were at it. As the name suggests, the new Ride 60 delivers 60 Nm of torque, with a peak output of up to 450 watts. FAZUA also supply their own battery, which can either be permanently integrated or removable. It weighs in at 1960 grams and has a capacity of 430 Wh. While FAZUA have announced a range extender, it wasn’t yet available at the time of the test. Due to the elongated shape of the motor and the fairly wide battery, the down tubes of many of the FAZUA powered bikes on test are shaped like a hockey stick, quickly betraying them as ebikes. Haibike are the only brand that tilt the motor horizontally into the seat tube, allowing for neater integration, though this method also comes with certain compromises.

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Like most brands, FAZUA integrate their LED HUB display into the top tube where it’s clearly visible. It indicates the support mode and the battery level via 5 small LEDs. As such, the battery level is divided into 5 large 20% increments, and the different colours of the support modes are difficult to read in direct sunlight. By pulling up the LED HUB you get access to a USB-C charging port.

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On the left side of the handlebar, you’ll find FAZUA’s Ring Control remote. Unfortunately, it’s unlabelled, and due to the cheap feel and looks, it isn’t on par with the competition. The different functions can be controlled by pressing up, down, or inwards, towards the stem. This lets you control the support modes and activate the Walk or Boost mode.

To no-one’s surprise, FAZUA also have an app with which you can configure the support modes. They’ve tried to optimise the user experience: after an extensive questionnaire, the app will recommend the ideal support mode settings, tailored specifically to the rider. This is great for ebike beginners and all those who don’t want to waste their time by playing with the settings! If you don’t trust computers or don’t always ride in the same kind of terrain, you can also configure the support modes yourself and save them as pre-sets. You could save them as “the early bird gets the dirt”, “fetch beer” or “power hour”, for example, and call them up as needed.

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For trail riding, FAZUA have already taken the creative liberty of naming the three pre-configured support modes: Breeze, River, and Rocket. They’ve also got an afterburner, officially called Boost mode, providing a brief power surge when needed. However, it takes a moment to kick in, and the duration depends on the battery status and the temperature of the motor. In ideal conditions, you’ll get up to 12 seconds of additional thrust to pass your buddies. The motor assists noticeably in Rocket mode, pushing you forward even at low cadence. The FAZUA motor is powerful enough to let you conquer technical climbs, but the Ride 60 system has a software-related issue that needs sorting out, restarting after every time you stop pedalling. So, if you stop pedalling on a climb, you’ll have a brief moment of sustained assistance before coming to a stop, or you’ll be pedalling on your own for about 1-2 seconds thereafter as it restarts. This can quickly throw you off balance in tricky terrain and is very annoying to say the least! If you find this to be a problem, you can use the app to make the motor more dynamic, which makes it kick in rather abruptly but seems to shorten the dip in power. FAZUA are already working on a solution and promise to release a software update that fixes this as soon as possible. The motor is perfectly quiet on the descents, but it is audible when pedalling, similar to the noise level of Shimano EP8 motor. Only the BAFANG motor in the Forestal is louder. The character of the FAZUA Ride 60 is much closer to a full-power system and can make easy work of the climbs. Active riders also get their money’s worth, as long as they don’t spend too much time on technical climbs, in which case the above-mentioned software bug can get frustrating. Besides that issue, we encountered several instances during our tests where the FAZUA bikes didn’t switch on. If that happens, it helps to shake the bike, recharge the battery, unplug it, or wait… Unfortunately, one of the bikes remained defective. We hope that FAZUA will get to grips with these problems soon and issue a software update to fix things. As it stands (March 2023), purchasing a FAZUA powered ebike is a gamble.

The Shimano EP8 system

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The Shimano EP8 system from the Japanese component giant has been on the market since 2020 and it features on a whole range of bikes in our group test. With a torque output of 85 Nm, it isn’t the most powerful unit, though it is amongst the lightest with a motor weight of just 2.6 kg. Shimano offer two batteries for the EP8 system: one with a capacity of 504 Wh and one with 630 Wh. However, bike brands are free to work with third-party suppliers. It’s thanks to this that some of the EP8 bikes in the test field come equipped with battery capacities beyond 700 Wh.

In our test field, the EP8 motor is universally combined with Shimano’s compact SC-EM800 display. Clamped to the handlebar next to the stem, the colour display shows the battery level in 20% increments and is easy to read even in direct sunlight. It also visualises the motor’s dynamics via a moving bar, along with the speed and the current support mode. The layout in the display is very tidy with the data fields reduced to the minimum, which is very pleasant. Alternatively, you could also get a small black and white display for the EP8 motor, which is integrated into the somewhat bulky SC-E5003 remote. The solution on our test bikes with the minimalist SW-EM800-L remote is a lot more elegant. This makes for a tidy looking cockpit while offering pleasant ergonomics and haptics. In general, the EP8 motor is also compatible with other display and remote options from the old Shimano steps E8000 ecosystem. However, you might require certain adapters.

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The Shimano E-TUBE PROJECT app serves as the interface to the motor. It lets you set up two distinct rider profiles, each allowing you to configure the three Eco, Trail, and Boost support modes individually. For each mode, you can adjust the power, support level and response behaviour. You can then choose your preferred rider profile via the display on the bike. The app is clearly structured and intuitive to use, which makes the adjustments and configurations easy to do. Connecting it to the bike is just as quick and easy.

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In practice, the Shimano EP8 motor performs convincingly thanks to its good-natured characteristics. It remains easy to modulate even in Boost mode, whether you’re pulling away or on a steep incline. As a result, it doesn’t feel like you get a kick in the backside as you start pedalling, like with other less sensitive motors. Although it’s technically on par with the Bosch Performance Line CX motor, which also produces 85 Nm, it feels noticeably less powerful in practice. You must provide more input and power of your own to get the peak output and support from the EP8 system. Therefore, it feels less like a shuttle, offering a more sporty and natural riding experience. While it emits a restrained hum on the climbs and isn’t conspicuously loud, that isn’t the case on the descents. Instead, it rattles loudly, especially in rough terrain, making it the loudest motor in the test field when riding downhill. Even though the Shimano EP8 motors we’ve tested have proven to be very reliable for the most part, it’s reassuring to know that you can fall back on an extensive dealer and service network in case you do run into any issues.

The Shimano EP801 and EP801 RS systems

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The Shimano EP801 is an EP8 motor with slightly modified hard- and software. With the 01 suffix, the motor is capable of offering support at a wider cadence range and has a FINE TUNE mode to further adapt it to your needs. Apart from that, you get a wider range of remotes, and the possibility of linking the system up with the new XT Di2 groupset, which allows for automatic shifting when touring, as on the BULLS SONIC EVO EN-SL 1. In addition to the EP801, we also got to test the EP801 RS on the Orbea Rise. Contrary to what you might think, however, the RS added by Orbea means that the motor’s power output is limited at 60 Nm instead of producing the usual 85 Nm. As with the EP8, bike companies aren’t limited to Shimano’s two in-house batteries, able to combine the 801 with options from third party suppliers. Orbea take full advantage of this, offering the Rise either with a 360 Wh or a 540 Wh internal battery. Bike brands can also pair the system with range extenders, which wouldn’t be possible with a Bosch system, for example.

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Along with the standard options available to the EP8, the Shimano EP 801 can be combined with a wider range of displays and remotes. For the EVO EN-SL 1, BULLS rely on the same combination of the minimalist SW-EM800-L remote and SC-EM800 display as all bikes on test featuring the EP8 motor. Orbea deviate slightly, fitting the Shimano EN-600L remote and no display. It uses an LED to indicate the 3 support modes, Walk mode, or an error code via 5 different colours. A second LED flashes red, green, or lights up permanently to show you the battery status. However, it’s somewhat confusing and thus serves more as an emergency signal. If it flashes red, you know that it’s time to head back. Of course, the remote can also shift the support modes up or down, activate walk mode, and switch the system on or off.

With the E-TUBE PROJECT app from Shimano, you can create different profiles for the Eco, Trail, and Boost modes, just like the EP8. What’s new on the EP801 is FINE TUNE mode. This lets you activate and configure up to 15 different support modes. The app also shows you the battery status in percentage points, in case you need more accurate information than the LED on the remote or the 20% bars in the display.

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On the trail, the EP801 lets you select from Eco, Trail, Boost or any of the additionally created support modes, same as the EP801 RS. The basic characteristics of both motors are the same, which doesn’t come as a surprise since the EP 801 RS is the same motor but with a throttled maximum output. They’re both easy to modulate in the highest mode, letting you pull away safely even in difficult conditions. They continue delivering noticeable power at low cadences, proving to have a wider power band compared to the EP8 motor. As such, they will both let you reach the summit in a relaxed manner, even if you must pedal a bit harder with the EP801 RS, especially when things get steep. Technical climbs are a cinch with the power and characteristics of the Shimano EP801, but you will reach your limits noticeably sooner with the throttled RS version. Under partial load, the EP801 emits little noise, but it drowns out the FAZUA under full load. The metallic rattling on the descents is a big shortcoming that still affects the EP801.

The BAFANG EonDrive system

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The BAFANG EonDrive motor in the Forestal represents a rather unique solution. It’s manufactured and supplied by BAFANG, but a significant part of its development was carried out by Forestal, who combine it with in-house accessories and software. It’s a daring and impressive achievement when you consider that it’s the debut product of the fledgling Andorran bike brand. The EonDrive motor delivers 60 Nm of torque and is powered by a 360 Wh BAFANG battery. Forestal have announced that they’ll be releasing a 250 Wh range extender, though it was yet to be released at the time of our group test. The Forestal is the only bike on test with a 3.2″ touch display, which is beautifully integrated into the top tube. The display sensitivity can’t keep up with the level of modern smartphones, but it works surprisingly well and is intuitive to use. Just don’t get mud or water on the display, as that seems to confuse it, going back and forth until you wipe it clean. It’s best to lock the display before you ride to prevent that from happening. The display provides an immense wealth of beautifully displayed metrics, such as the battery level percentage, distance travelled, altitude difference and current time. It also has a large navigation map. You can track your rides, too, because the Forestal comes equipped with a GPS antenna disguised as a stem spacer, which doubles as theft protection and works with an integrated eSIM card – cool!

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Many of these features require you to connect the bike to the Forestal app, however. This provides additional information about the motor, battery, and your activities. In addition to that, it lets you track your bike and get in touch with Forestal. No other bike on test can match the wealth functions of the Forestal system.

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As with most systems, the BAFANG remote can be found on the left-hand side of the handlebar, which has an additional battery indicator in 25% increments. The remote has two buttons to shift between support modes, and a third button to switch the bike on/off or activate walk mode. Unfortunately, the rubber buttons provide zero haptic feedback, and they seem misplaced on the otherwise premium looking Forestal.

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On the trail, the BAFANG system has three support modes to choose from, as well as a Walk mode. Unfortunately, the BAFANG proved to be the loudest motor on test, almost whistling like a turbo when put under strain. That said, it’s also the most powerful amongst the Light-eMTB motors, kicking in with quite a lot of force as you pull away. However, the assistance provided is heavily dependent on the cadence. The motor isn’t capable of unleashing much power at cadences below 60 rpm or above 100 rpm. Fortunately, the display shows you your cadence, which takes out the guesswork and helps you stay in the optimal range. In that case, the motor keeps chugging along even on technical climbs, though it feels like the power gradually reduces the longer the climb – you have to increase your own effort as you approach the summit, making the final bit the hardest. The sustained assistance after you stop pedalling is dynamic. This means that the harder you pedal, the longer the sustained assistance. Although this results in a natural ride feel, it can be a hindrance on technical climbs, as you often need the motor to keep pushing even if you’ve only put in a light pedal stroke. The motor is silent on the descents and there’s enough free movement in the cranks to avoid any unwanted thrust. We didn’t run into any issues with the BAFANG system, but the after sales service could be an issue considering the very small production run and the wealth of custom solutions. Also, the BAFANG system has a very high battery consumption, draining the battery noticeably just from being switched on.

How and where did we test the e-mountainbikes

We admit it: this group test didn’t just consist of superlatives (30 hot bikes!), but also of lived dreams, not to mention blood, tired legs, late-night debates, intensive repairs, and charging until the solar grid collapsed and the generator gave up. And what for? For all-day epics, for putting the bikes through the wringer, and simply because it’s fun! For the core of the test session, we spent a full two weeks with ten riders on a secluded finca with a stunning view of the trails, sun, and sea on the horizon. The fact that we didn’t want to kill each other during those 14 days with such a high concentration of testosterone is a miracle on its own, and it’s a testament to the crew – certainly, the daily test rides until sunset and cooking and dining together every evening also helped. If we didn’t test bikes full-time, we could probably open a restaurant – yum!

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If you’re wondering where we were: about an hour’s drive northeast of Barcelona, in Santa Coloma de Farners, where we found the perfect conditions to conduct a group test as big as this. The town has a huge and still rather unknown trail centre – at least in the international scene – with countless trails. Dry, sandy, and peppered with rock slabs and roots, it was the perfect place to push the bikes to their limits. Our chosen test track – a combination of “Dragon Khan” and “La Llosa” – features rock slabs with a sandpaper like surface, roots, flowing berms, and loose, sandy corners. The climb to the trailhead almost had a bit of everything you can possibly expect: wide gravel paths with potholes that would almost catapult you over the bars if you weren’t alert because your caffeine level had dropped. Flowing sections alternating with rough and sandy routes, to technical climbs that our bikes only just got up. So, if you feel like going somewhere other than Italy for a change and are looking for fine trails without shuttles, you will find everything your heart desires at Santa Coloma de Farners.

Our e-mountainbike test crew

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Although numbers don’t have feelings, they can give you a good feeling for tendencies and trends. Here are some exciting, interesting, and fun facts, figures, and statistics.

Things that broke during our tests:

  • 1 derailleur hanger torn off
  • 1 display broke
  • 3 chains snapped
  • 3 tires punctured
  • 1 Shimano brake lever broke
  • 3 FAZUA bikes had difficulties starting up
  • 1 FAZUA bike was defective
  • 1 Shimano bike was defective
  • 1 TQ display gave up
  • 3 skid plates broke
  • 1 aluminium crank bent
  • 1 brake lever broke
  • 5 charging ports torn off
  • 2 grips broke

The e-mountainbikes on test:

  • 30 bikes in the test field
  • € 15,999: the most expensive bike on test, the SCOTT Lumen eRide 900 SL
  • € 6,699: the most affordable bike on test, the BULLS SONIC EVO EN-SL1
  • 23 of the bikes roll on 29″ wheels
  • 7 of the bikes roll on 29″/27.5″ mullet wheels
  • the bikes weigh 22.1 kg on average
  • the lightest bike weighs 16.0 kg, and it’s also the most expensive bike
  • the heaviest bike weighs 27.1 kg
  • the smallest battery is 250 Wh
  • the biggest battery is 800 Wh
  • the weakest motor produces 40 Nm of torque
  • the most powerful motor puts out 95 Nm

Before you splash out your hard-earned cash on a new e-mountainbike only to realise that you made the wrong choice, you should ask yourself a few basic questions. Most bikes can only live up to their full potential if they’re used as intended and, by default, you’ll only be happy if you find a bike that suits your needs and riding style.

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It all comes down to the overall concept

Many prospective buyers want to know which is the right e-mountainbike or the best motor, but this is just like the 29” vs 27.5” wheel size debate (just slightly more complex): the best motor is only as good as the e-mountainbike it is part of. Conversely, an e-mountainbike is only as good as the way the motor supports and complements the bike’s character. Compared to analogue mountain bikes, this makes matters much more complex, because manufacturers have to take into account more factors, like the integration of the battery and motor, and the weight distribution of heavy components, which must harmonise with one another in order to offer a coherent package with supposedly contradictory characteristics.

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New possibilities on the horizon

Spending all day in nature? Exploring new areas and trails? Tired after a long day at the office? Or simply want to take your kids for a spin in the trailer without spitting out your lungs on the first climb? An e-mountainbike might be exactly what you’re looking for, and at the same time ensures top riding fun on the trail.

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A massive battery doesn’t necessarily mean more range!

Just because an e-mountainbike has a big battery, it doesn’t mean that it will take you further than one with a smaller battery. Battery capacity must always be considered in relation to the motor’s power, and as such its power consumption. You may get just as far or even further from a less powerful bike with a smaller battery, though with less support, so it’ll take longer or require more effort on your part.

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More torque ≠ more power on the trail!

While many of the e-mountainbikes in this test field share similar torque values, they’re totally different on the trail in terms of power delivery. Simply put, an e-mountainbike is far more than sheer numbers and torque values, which, unfortunately, say very little about a bike’s performance when considered in isolation. The Bosch Performance Line CX-Race is the perfect example, showing how much difference a simple software tweak can make on the trail. While technically it’s almost identical to the conventional Performance Line CX motor, churning out 85 Nm torque, the tweaked software ensures a stronger, more abrupt power delivery, transferring more power to the ground at lower and lighter rider inputs. The Shimano EP8 motor also has 85 Nm torque, but can’t keep up with either version of the Bosch CX motor despite sharing the same values on paper. The same goes for the limited Shimano EP801 RS, FAZUA Ride 60 and Bafang EonDrive, all of which deliver 60 Nm of torque, but behave completely differently on the trail. The optimal cadence range – i.e. the range at which the motor delivers its power most efficiently – varies enormously from drive to drive, and on top of that many of the motors in this test don’t cope well with pedalling cadences below 60 rpm, at which they deliver very little power while at the same time consuming huge amounts of energy. As you can see, there’s much more to e-mountainbikes than sheer numbers, and the overall performance can only be determined on the trail.

What questions should you ask yourself before buying an emountainbike?

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How much battery capacity do you really need?

If you tend to go for short rides with minimal support, big batteries only mean extra weight, which usually comes at the cost of trail performance. Furthermore, lightweight riders consume significantly less battery, and the topography of the trail also has a major influence on range. On the other hand, if you love to pile up the miles and vertical metres, you’ll probably do well with a big battery capacity. Tackling technical climbs, pedalling with high support modes and at low cadences drains the battery quicker too. Fortunately, some manufacturers offer their bikes with different battery options: with the Orbea Wild, for example, you can choose between a 625 Wh and 750 Wh battery to suit your needs and preferences. Moreover, most manufacturers offer range extenders, allowing you to adjust the capacity depending on the planned route. Removable batteries, such as those found on the FOCUS and Rotwild are an option, too. You’ll just have to budget for the cost of a spare battery, and go back to the car to switch out batteries.

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How hard do you have to work?

This depends entirely on the support level you choose and the goals you set yourself. With modern full-fat e-mountainbikes, it takes a massive ride to drain the battery in the lowest support mode, and you’ll still have a fairly relaxed time, because many full-power e-mountainbikes cope well with low pedalling cadences, pushing you up the mountain willingly without requiring too much effort from your side. However, it’s a whole different story with Light-eMTBs, which require a relatively high cadence, calling for considerably more input from the rider, even in the lowest support modes – which can be exhausting in the long run. That said, many manufactures allow you to customise the motor settings and adjust the support level to your needs and preferences, basically allowing you to decide for yourself how hard you want to work.

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What additional features should an e-mountainbike have?

In a nutshell, the possibilities are endless! Most manufacturers offer countless options for displays and remotes as well as accessories at the time of purchase. But what do you really need? What is helpful and what is simply superfluous? The good thing is that you can retrofit most accessories at a later stage and there’s a constant stream of software updates and extensions entering the market. Before buying, however, you should still have an idea of what you want from your display, whether you need a navigation function or you’re happy with a flashing LED. An integrated light or GPS tracker doesn’t hurt and doesn’t limit the bike’s performance on the trail, but keeps you and your bike a whole lot safer, regardless of whether that’s on your daily commute to and from work or after a post-ride pint in Finale. So, when buying, be aware of what you need or might want to retrofit in the future and find out about compatible options.

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Are you planning to use your e-mountainbike for everyday riding?

If you already know that you’ll be using your new e-mountainbike for everyday riding, for example to commute to work, there are a few things to consider. First and foremost, you should look for a high level of touring comfort if you don’t want to end up pedalling to work in an aggressive pedalling position, looking like Lance Armstrong crossing the finish line at the Tour de France. Moreover, it’s a great idea to look for a bike that comes standard with a navigation function and integrated light set that draws its power directly from the bike’s main battery. Both bring huge advantages in everyday riding scenarios without getting in your way on leisurely weekend rides. Another key criterion is the charging infrastructures you have at your disposal. Is there a plug in the garage or bike storage room at work, or do you have to constantly remove the battery – or possibly even have to lock the battery inside the bike frame? Needless to say, the battery capacity also plays a crucial role, because if you can’t charge it at work you might run out of juice half way when pedalling home after a strenuous day at the office. However, if your commute doesn’t exceed 20-30 km, you should be fine with most bikes in this test, which should achieve that sort of range even when riding in the highest support level.

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What should you consider when handling an e-mountainbike?

When developing e-mountainbikes, manufacturers often have to make compromises in order to create a bike that is as light, clean and slender as possible. While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it can make things tricky for you depending on the situation. For example, if you don’t have a power outlet where you park your bike, you’ll want to be able to remove the battery for external charging. Or imagine you take your e-mountainbike on a cycling holiday only to find out that there’s no plug in the garage – and what now? Conversely, it can be annoying if you have to remove the battery after each ride to charge it, even though you’ve got a plug right there. The trend of routing the cables through the headset ensures a clean look but also makes servicing a whole lot more frustrating. Inexperienced or impatient mechanics should get a bike with classic internal cable routing with cable ports in the top or down tube or, better yet, good old external cable routing.

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What should you consider regarding the components of a Light-eMTB?

While it’s true that there’s no such thing as the perfect, one-size-fits-all build, some components have a much greater influence on a bike’s trail performance and, above all, on your safety. Big brake rotors, for example, are only marginally heavier but ensure a more reliable, powerful braking performance. In this regard, the following applies: big brake rotors are far better than lightweight top-of-the-range brakes. The suspension has a huge influence on your bike’s trail performance as well as on its long-distance comfort and climbing efficiency. You don’t need the fancy Kashima coating on your fork, and should rather pay attention to the damping technology it uses. We recommend the GRIP2 damper for FOX forks, or the Charger 2.1 and Charger 3.0 dampers for RockShox models. With the shock, a piggy-back reservoir is a useful feature to get the best performance from the rear end. At the risk of repeating ourselves, we must emphasise that any component can only work as well as it does in combination with the bike as a whole.

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Do most of your riding buddies ride full-fat eMTB all-rounders?

If that’s the case, a powerful motor with plenty of torque is a decisive factor. You don’t want to be that guy holding everyone up! As a rule of thumb, the highest support mode of a Light-eMTB corresponds to roughly the intermediate support mode of a full-power ebike. If your mates with full-power e-mountainbikes ride primarily in the weakest support mode, you can still keep up with a Light-eMTB in one of the higher support levels. But remember: more power also consumes more battery. However, if you want to play it safe, you should opt for a full-fat eMTB all-rounder.

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Do you ride lots in groups with analogue mountain bikes

Then pretty much every Light-eMTB or motor system is suitable for you because you can always go slower. In most cases, you can fine-tune the weakest eco mode and adjust the amount of support according to your needs – or turn off assistance altogether. The range shouldn’t be a limiting factor either when using minimal support and if you have extremely fit colleagues, most Light-eMTBs have the option of a range extender. From our experience, you should easily keep up in the lowest and medium support modes and still have enough reserves for the occasional overtaking manoeuvre. With full-fat e-mountainbikes, on the other hand, you’ll have an easy life, because even the weakest ECO mode gives you a huge advantage over your analogue mates – sometimes you might even get bored!

Tops and flops from our 2023 e-mountainbike group test.

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Berria Mako Hybrid GT LTD

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The Berria Mako GT LTD is guaranteed to turn heads outside the pub when you stop for a well deserved post-ride pint. The eye-catching look and countless fancy components are topped off by an exotic Polini E-P3+ MX motor, which employs a big display integrated into the top tube. On the trail, however, the Berria doesn’t do justice to its tremendous looks, revealing several weaknesses. On steep, technical climbs, it struggles to transfer the motor’s massive power onto the trail, while downhill, it’s slowed down by its inconsistent spec. That said, the Berria is a comfortable and powerful tourer that doesn’t shy away from the occasional trail stint.

BULLS SONIC EVO EN-SL 1

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Despite being the cheapest bike in the entire test field, the BULLS SONIC EVO EN-SL 1 is the only contestant to feature Shimano’s automatic Di2 drivetrain. While the feature in itself is extremely exciting, it doesn’t bring any advantages on technical climbs. However, the clever mix of everyday features and good touring comfort makes the BULLS a great option for the price conscious rider who rarely turns off the beaten track. Offroad, it’s strongly limited by its nervous character.

FLYER Uproc X 9.50

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The FLYER Uproc X 9.50 is a great companion for extended peak expeditions with tricky climbing sections. The Uproc plays out its strengths on long tours with plenty of elevation gain, where it takes the edge off technical climbs with the strongest motor in the entire test field, the Panasonic GX Ultimate. In addition, it offers FIT system integration and shines with strong connectivity features. Downhill, however, it shows some weaknesses and quickly reaches its limits, especially in the hands of experienced riders.

FOCUS SAM² 6.9

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With its imposing frame silhouette and aggressive-looking coil shock, the FOCUS SAM² 6.9 looks as if it eats rock gardens for breakfast, which makes it the undisputed daredevil in FOCUS’ e-mountainbike lineup. While tours and moderate climbs are only a means to an end, the SAM² still manages them fairly easily. Downhill, it shines with stoic composure and potent suspension. Tipping the scales at a very proud 27 kg, it’s the heaviest bike in the entire test field. Overall, the FOCUS SAM² 6.9 comes with a great spec at a reasonable price.

FOCUS JAM² 6.9

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By contrast, its slimmer sibling, the FOCUS JAM² 6.9 , is far more relaxed. In FOCUS’ portfolio, it stands right between the JAM² SL Light-eMTB and the corpulent SAM². It impresses with beginner-friendly handling both on tours and as a do-it-all bike, without standing out for anything in particular – neither in a good nor a bad way. Only on rough trails, we wish it could feel a bit more like the SAM². That said, the two bikes are similar in terms of weight: The FOCUS JAM² 6.9 tips the scales at a considerable 26 kilograms, which becomes evident on the trail.

FOCUS Jam² SL 9.9

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Not only is the FOCUS JAM² SL 9.9 extremely understated with its black paint finish, but also rather unspectacular on the trail. However, this is by no means a bad thing, because the JAM² SL is just a discreet all-rounder for sporty riders which combines strong trail performance with comfortable touring characteristics. The rock-solid spec, potent suspension and predictable handling make it a workhorse for beginners and experts alike.

Forestal Siryon Diōde

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The Forestal Siryon Diōde is without a doubt one of the most futuristic looking e-mountainbikes in the entire test field. The young Andorran manufacturer has knocked it out of the park with their very first bike, showing a level of development competence that even some of the most established bike brands struggle to achieve – chapeau! In other words, Forestal are showing in which direction the future of ebikes could be heading. The motor system is the result of a close collaboration between BAFANG and the Andorran bike manufacturer, and is complemented by a well-functioning in-house touch display neatly integrated into the top tube and a comprehensive app, which includes a hidden GPS antenna for theft protection. In addition, the Siryon shows how it’s done on the trail, proving one of the most potent bikes in this test. Unfortunately, the battery drains quickly, the motor is annoyingly loud and the service resources are still a big question mark.

GIANT Trance X Advance E+ LTD

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If you’re fond of simplicity, the GIANT Trance X Advanced E+ LTD might not be the bike for you. The high-tech Taiwanese steed features plenty of electronic gimmicks, including FOX Live Valve, which controls the suspension fully automatically. However, to fully exploit the wide range of functions you’ll have to manage three separate apps on your smartphone. In our 2023 group test, the Giant is the only bike that employs the powerful GIANT SyncDrivePro2 motor, which is paired with a huge 800 Wh battery – the biggest one in this test! While the peculiar geometry with a very low front-end doesn’t really work downhill, the Giant convinces as a true climbing monster, combining tons of traction, good directional stability and a massive battery.

Haibike LYKE CF SE

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German ebike pioneers Haibike have taken their time to release a Light-eMTB and weren’t all that present in the more aggressive mountain bike sector until now. However, with the LYKE CF SE , they’ve made a great Light-eMTB debut featuring some clever solutions. They’re the only manufacturer to integrate the FAZUA Ride 60 motor vertically into the frame, cleverly hiding it in the seat tube. Unfortunately, the innovative concept comes at the expense of the seat post’s insertion depth. Despite its aggressive look, the LYKE struggles to deliver on the trail. Unlike the better competitors in this test, it’s difficult to control on technical trails and quickly feels overwhelmed.

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Californian cult brand IBIS has finally overcome its e-scepticism and joined the electric party with their green shredding machine, the Ibis Oso . With its striking, self-assured design language, it appears to love every minute of its eMTB debut, heading straight to the dance floor. Except for the extravagant look, however, Ibis played it safe, employing a proven Bosch CX Performance Line motor and their classic DW-Link suspension design, which has been tweaked and fine-tuned over many years. At fancy dress parties, the Oso would always turn up in the same costume, because it’s only available in one spec variant. On the dance floor, however, it’s incredibly versatile, boogying away in great style. Only when the John Travoltas among e-mountainbikes hit the dance floor, such as…, the Oso starts sweating a little.

KTM Macina Prowler Exonic

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Issued in a limited edition with a savage Bosch CX-Race motor and 180 mm travel at the front, the KTM Macina Prowler Exonic is the Austrian manufacturer’s e-mountainbike for the rough stuff. On the trail however, it doesn’t do justice to its beefy, confident appearance, quickly reaching its limits with its nervous, vague handling – partly due to some major inconsistencies in the spec. Uphill, it’s significantly more difficult to control than the other competitors with Bosch’s CX Race motor. On the other hand, the KTM cuts a fine figure as a monster truck for touring and everyday use. Cool feature: The Bosch Connect tracking module.

MERIDA eONE-SIXTY 975

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As the proud winner of our 2022 budget e-mountainbike group test under € 6,500, the MERIDA eONE-SIXTY 975 takes on a test field that includes bikes more than twice as expensive. While the current model retails at € 7,249, the eONE-SIXTY 975 hasn’t changed in its essence. At first glance, the plain alloy silhouette is rather unexciting but upon closer inspection you’ll come across several clever features at a very fair price. On the trail, the MERIDA keeps up with most of its pricey competitors and impressed several of our test riders, delivering a solid riding performance with predictable, intuitive handling. Clever features such as the standard headlight broaden its range of applications enormously and make it a strong all-rounder in all situations, from cheeky trail sessions to everyday use. If you’re looking for a bike with a consistent spec and a fair price, the MERIDA might be exactly what you’re looking for.

Mondraker Crafty Carbon XR LTD

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Straight, elongated lines, sharp edges and confident branding: it’s got to be a Spaniard! The Mondraker Crafty Carbon XR LTD is well aware of its roots, proudly rocking Mondraker’s distinctive frame silhouette and a Bosch CX Race motor. Add the fancy spec including bling Öhlins suspension, and you’re guaranteed a very coherent overall package. On the trail, the Spanish stallion rides as if on rails – provided you shred your way back into the valley in a straight line. If you like to stuff yourself with tapas, we’ve got good news: the Crafty Carbon XR LTD has the highest permissible total weight in the entire test field – go on then, knock yourself out!

Moustache Samedi 29 Game 11

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The Moustache Samedi 29 Game 11 enters the race with an old-school look and high-quality spec. The French manufacturer has fully committed itself to the electric cause. The undisputed highlight of their top spec model is the in-house Magic Grip Control shock, which didn’t quite manage to deliver the performance we hoped for in this test. In a nutshell, the rear suspension lacks support and feels rather spongy downhill, struggling to negotiate fast consecutive hits. In return, the Moustache cuts a fine figure as a touring companion, where the powerful Bosch motor and comfortable rear suspension work a treat.

Pivot Shuttle SL Pro X01

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The Pivot Shuttle SL Pro X01 was the first Light-eMTB with FAZUA Ride 60 motor available on the market. In typical Pivot fashion, the firm DW-Link rear suspension ensures an excellent riding performance, both up and downhill, while the poppy rear end provides shed-loads of fun, especially on flowing trails. The precise steering behaviour and fast-looking paint finish ensure a nerve-tickling BMX sensation. Technical trails, however, call for decent riding skills to keep the Shuttle SL under control.

Pivot Shuttle LT Team XTR

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The third iteration of the Pivot Shuttle LT Team XTR drifts into our group test with the “more travel, more battery, more fun” mantra. With a whopping 756 Wh capacity, it has the biggest Shimano battery in the entire test field, while the comfortable pedalling position and efficient suspension ensure excellent touring qualities. Downhill, it’s reassuringly intuitive to ride and only falls slightly behind the best bikes in this test field, proving one of the best all-rounders on review.

ROTWILD R.X735 ULTRA

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As one of the models in the German manufacturer’s “Aggressive Series”, the ROTWILD R.X735 ULTRA is aimed primarily at sporty riders. Its orientation is underlined by the sleek frame silhouette and clever detail solutions, like the battery’s quick-release function. The latter makes the Rotwild the bike with the fastest and most intuitive battery removal system! The agile, nimble handling slaps a massive grin on the face of experienced riders, but the somewhat inconsistent spec holds the Rotwild back on technical trails. As soon as you leave the trail to embark on longer rides, the pedalling position is a tad too aggressive, making the Rotwild less suitable for touring.

Santa Cruz Heckler MX X01 AXS RSV

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The Santa Cruz Heckler MX X01 AXS RSV came all the way from sunny California to no less sunny Cataluña to take part in our huge group test, promising to be lots of fun with its small rear wheel. And indeed, the Heckler keeps its promise on the trail, providing balanced handling and excellent support. At the same time, it inspires huge amounts of confidence, even when riding at high speeds, while the sensitive rear suspension makes you feel as if you were constantly gliding through a freshly-built trail. Not only is the Santa Cruz an excellent all-rounder, but also a comfortable tourer, albeit with some weaknesses on technical climbs.

SCOTT Lumen eRIDE 900 SL

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The SCOTT Lumen eRIDE 900 SL features a TQ HPR 50 motor and is the undisputed master of integration in our 2023 e-mountainbike group test. Not only did the Swiss development team conceal the motor and shock inside the frame, but also integrated countless features and tools in places you wouldn’t think of. In harmony with its XC genes and streamlined appearance, the Lumen grinds its way up the mountain without batting an eyelid and yet delivers an impressive performance downhill. That said, the eye-watering € 15,999 price tag only makes it an option for a handful of people and on top of that, the field of application is extremely narrow considering the price.

Specialized Turbo Levo Expert

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Already in its third iteration, the Specialized Turbo Levo Expert remains one of the most popular e-mountainbikes on the market. Thanks to Specialized’s unique do-it-all approach, developing both the motor and software around the bike, the Levo caused a stir right from its first generation and still goes strong after several years, holding up rather well against a test field of modern and rather shrewd competitors. Both the display integration and battery removal system are cleverly implemented into the overall concept and have effectively served as a benchmark for many competitors. On the trail, the Levo impresses with great versatility and intuitive handling, which ensure excellent all rounder qualities and make it suitable for both beginners and seasoned shredders.

Transition Repeater AXS Carbon

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With the Transition Repeater AXS Carbon , the Bellingham-based manufacturer has finally jumped on the electric wagon. For their eMTB debut, Transition rely on proven (albeit slightly unexciting) Shimano motor integration and a sleek paint finish, delivering an excellent overall concept with a spec that perfectly suits its intended use. As a result, the Repeater encourages you to take your finger off the brakes and take full advantage of its extraordinary downhill potential. When descending, it inspires huge amounts of confidence and impresses with supportive suspension, which makes it one of the best and most discreet trail rippers in the entire test field.

Thömus Lightrider E Ultimate

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While the Thömus Lightrider E Ultimate is the epitome of Helvetic pride, it’s far from being the Swiss army knife among e-mountainbikes. In our 2023 e-mountainbike test field, it combines the smallest battery (250 Wh) and weakest motor, which churns out a rather conservative 40 Nm torque. That said, the mellow character of the motor fits in well with the bike’s XC genes. As a result, the Thömus Lightrider requires more physical effort to get to the trailhead, but at the same time ensures a very natural riding experience. In keeping with its strong XC DNA, the Lightrider places you in a sporty, stretched pedalling position that isn’t overly comfortable on climbs. Downhill, the Thömus is held back by its own spec, though this can be customised using Thömus’ online configurator. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the chance to personalise our test bike.

Trek Fuel EXe 9.9 XX1 AXS

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The Trek Fuel EXe 9.9 XX1 AXS has a clear edge over the other TQ competitors in this test. The motor was developed in close collaboration with the American bike manufacturer and relies on Trek’s proprietary software and app, which brings several practical advantages. These include more intuitive display operation and a wider range of functions in Trek’s in-house app – although the latter only offers added value off the trails. On the trail, the Fuel EXe 9.9 XX1 AXS is capable of pretty much everything but doesn’t excel at anything in particular, discreetly cruising along the rest of the test field with beginner-friendly handling.

UNNO Mith Race

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Radical and extravagant are perhaps the best words to describe the UNNO Mith Race . With its striking seat dome and metallic paint finish with golden accents, the Catalan steed is a real head turner, both on the trail and outside the pub. Upon closer inspection, you’ll come across countless captivating details, including the seamless Bosch system integration and elegant design features – the elaborate chain and seat stay protector being just one of them. Unfortunately, the peculiar frame design with enclosed shock makes it hard to set up the suspension. On the trail, the UNNO provides tons of support and impresses with direct, precise handling, but also requires an experienced rider who knows how to handle the direct feedback. Overall, the UNNO cuts a fine figure both in your living room and on the trail, where it proves a mean downhill machine for trail veterans.

Yeti 160E T1

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Not only is the Yeti 160E T1 the Colorado-based cult brand’s eMTB debut, but also the defending champion in this group test. It employs Yeti’s proprietary and rather fascinating six-bar suspension system, which knocks it out of the park on the trail and is rounded off by a top-notch spec. Needless to say, all of this comes at a rather eye-watering price. Although the electric snow monster can’t secure victory for the second year in a row, it still delivers a mind boggling trail performance for all types of riders and in a huge range of applications.

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The Orbea WILD M-LTD 2023 is the Basque manufacturer’s e-mountainbike for the rough stuff. It comes equipped with a new Bosch Performance Line CX Race motor, which can be configured with either a 625 Wh or 750 Wh battery and customised down to the smallest detail using Orbea’s MyO online configurator. Orbea’s € 11,299 eMTB turns the volume to eleven on the trail and at the same time convinces with excellent all-round qualities.

Hit the link for the full review

trek vs orbea

With the RADON DEFT 10.0 750 2023, the German direct-to-consumer brand entered the competition with a thoroughbred eMTB bruiser, which generates a whopping 170 mm of travel and retails at € 6,799. The Bosch Performance CX Smart System and 750 Wh battery are neatly packed into a carbon frame with alloy swingarm. Together with the high-quality spec, this makes the DEFT an very interesting option, not only for its reasonable price.

Both our test winner and Best Buy tip, the Orbea WILD M-LTD and Radon Deft 10.0 750, have secured their titles for a reason and should be the ideal companion for most eMTBers. That said, every rider has their own needs and requirements, so depending on your situation, you might be better off buying a touring or Light-eMTB. Here are some recommendations from our editorial team, which should include a suitable bike for everyone.

The best touring and everyday e-mountainbike in our group test: Cannondale Moterra Neo Carbon LT1

trek vs orbea

The Cannondale Moterra Neo Carbon LT1 wants to strike the optimal balance between trail artist and everyday hero, but fails to achieve its goal. However, this isn’t all that bad, because if you shift your focus slightly, the Moterra convinces as a strong tourer and an awesome everyday companion. The excellent riding comfort and countless everyday features, like the battery lock and lighting system, make it the best tourer in the entire test field – and at a fair price! Unfortunately, sporty riders who are looking for trail performance won’t cope well with its passive, sluggish character.

The best Light-eMTB in our huge 2023 group test: SIMPLON Rapcon Pmax TQ

trek vs orbea

Winning genes? Indeed! The SIMPLON Rapcon PMAX TQ is based on its analogue counterpart, which already secured the “Best enduro bike” title two years ago. Now the Austrian brand has seamlessly integrated the TQ motor into the frame, putting together a tremendous overall package. The bike’s character suits the motor to a tee and despite its low power output, the Rapcon pulls away from most of its competitors thanks to its efficient rear suspension. The SIMPLON begs you to get rowdy downhill and encourages you to push your limits with its predictable handling, stoic composure, and unmatched suspension while inspiring tons of confidence in the process. The SIMPLON Rapcon PMAX TQ is without a doubt the best Light-eMTB of 2023!

Full-fat or Light-eMTB? Or both? Orbea Rise M-Team

trek vs orbea

With the new Orbea Rise M-LTD , you can customise both the spec and look of your new bike using Orbea’s extensive MyO online configurator. Furthermore, the Basque manufacturer lets you choose between a 360 Wh and 540 Wh battery, which is permanently integrated into the downtube regardless of the size. If you add the optional range extender, the Rise has more capacity than most full-power eMTB all rounders. Speaking of power: the Shimano EP801 is tuned to reduce the maximum torque provided from 85 to 60 Nm and therefore uses less power than other Shimano motors – which translates into even more range! However, the Rise is a strong climber despite the limited motor and cuts a fine figure downhill, where it convinces with intuitive, predictable handling. The perfect compromise between Light-eMTBs and full-fat all rounders.

Did you enjoy this article? If so, we would be stoked if you decide to support us with a monthly contribution. By becoming a supporter of E-MOUNTAINBIKE, you will help secure a sustainable future for high-quality cycling journalism. Click here to learn more .

Words: Peter Walker, Felix Rauch Photos: Peter Walker, Mike Hunger

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2023 Trek Fuel EXe Review | This brand new lightweight e-MTB is the stealthiest we’ve ever tested

The not-so-minor details.

Trek Fuel EXe 9.9 XX1 AXS

https://www.trekbikes.com

$13,999 USD

- The near-silent motor performance - Solid chassis with excellent weight distribution - Great geometry and all-round handling - Supportive suspension offers exceptional control at speed - Sleek frame is low on e-bulk - The 9.8 model is surprisingly well priced

- Highly damped RockShox suspension isn't the plushest - TQ motor can lag - Not as light as some of its competitors - Rear axle lever makes noise while riding - Crankset Q-Factor is very wide

Mick & Wil review the Trek Fuel EXe

Following two years of development, the Trek Fuel EXe launches as a brand new electric mountain bike for 2023. Aiming to straddle the gap between the Rail (Trek’s full-powered, big travel e-MTB) and the regular Fuel EX, the Fuel EXe is built around a unique, never-before-seen motor that is claimed to be one of the quietest and lightest on the market. Along with its slim battery and carbon frame, the Fuel EXe is purported to weigh around 18kg in its lightest configuration, which is a good 5kg lighter than the Rail. That puts it into direct competition with the Specialized Levo SL and Orbea Rise ; two bikes that have had a significant head start in the lightweight e-MTB category. So what exactly does the new Trek Fuel EXe bring to the party? And how does its new motor perform on the trail? We’ve been testing it for the past few weeks to find out!

Watch our Trek Fuel EXe review here:

2023 trek fuel exe 9.9 xx1 axs

Overall it’s a very clean system, and combined with the compact motor and slim downtube, the Fuel EXe does a remarkable job of not looking like an e-MTB.

2023 trek fuel exe 9.9 xx1 axs

An overview of the Trek Fuel EXe

Whereas the Rail is based upon the Slash enduro bike, the Trek Fuel EXe is essentially an electrified version of the Fuel EX trail bike. It features 29in wheels, though it gets a touch more travel with a 150mm fork and 140mm of rear wheel travel courtesy of the ABP four-bar suspension platform.

OCLV Mountain carbon fibre has been employed to construct the Fuel EXe frame, while a two-piece alloy rocker link drives the rear shock via a trunnion bearing mount. Unlike the regular Fuel EX, Rail and Slash that feature Trek’s proprietary Thru Shaft damper, the Fuel EXe relies on a conventional rear shock.

2023 trek fuel exe 9.9 xx1 axs

The compact TQ motor

Powering the Trek Fuel EXe is a brand new and extremely compact motor that has been developed in collaboration with Bavarian company TQ.

TQ has previously been known for producing the 120Nm monster motor found within the Haibike Flyon. Taking the same patented Harmonic Pin-Ring (HPR) mechanism, those clever Germans have shrunken it right down to create what it believes is the lightest and smallest e-MTB motor on the market.

Comprised of just two moving parts, the HPR drive unit doesn’t require a belt or additional cogs, and it spins at an RPM that is three times lower than a conventional motor. Thanks to its simplified construction, the HPR design is claimed to result in fewer operating frequencies, reducing not only the overall decibels produced by the motor, but also lowering the ‘tonality’ (read: annoyance) of the sound.

Despite its compact form, the German-manufactured HPR50 motor delivers a healthy 50Nm of torque and a peak power output of 300W. TQ claims this motor has the highest torque density on the market, while offering seamless power delivery with virtually no lag.

2023 trek fuel exe 9.9 xx1 axs

It’s bloody light too

According to TQ, the HPR50 motor weighs just 1.85kg. That’s lighter than Specialized’s SL 1.1 motor (1.95kg), Fazua’s Ride 60 motor (2.3kg), Shimano’s EP8 (2.6kg) and Bosch’s Performance CX (2.79kg).

To make the most of its weight advantage, the HPR50 motor is paired to a modest 360Wh battery. This is claimed to weigh 1.83kg, which is notably lighter than the 360Wh battery used in the Orbea Rise (2.2kg), and about the same weight as the Specialized Levo SL’s smaller 320Wh battery (1.8kg). The compact battery allows the downtube to be made much slimmer, which results in further weight savings.

Putting the motor and battery together, here’s how the total system weight compares between the new Fuel EXe and its two main competitors;

  • Trek Fuel EXe (50Nm motor & 360Wh battery) – 3.68kg 
  • Specialized Levo SL (35Nm motor & 320Wh battery) – 3.75kg
  • Orbea Rise (60Nm motor & 360Wh battery) – 4.8kg

2023 trek fuel exe 9.9 xx1 axs

Unlike the Levo SL and the Rise, the Fuel EXe’s battery can be easily removed from the frame without having to drop out the motor. This means you can charge it in the bike, or separately if you don’t have a power point in your shed. Trek claims you can fully charge the battery in just two hours with a fast charger.

Trek will also be offering a 160Wh Range Extender battery that customers can purchase separately for $1,199 AUD. Boosting range by a claimed 40%, the piggyback battery is designed to fit into a standard water bottle cage with the addition of a built-in retention strap for security. Unfortunately the Range Extender battery won’t be available in Australia until late 2022 however.

2023 trek fuel exe 9.9 xx1 axs

Tidy, integrated display

Just like the Specialized Levo and Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay , the Trek Fuel EXe features a display that’s integrated directly into the top tube. This 2in O-LED screen forms the control hub for the bike, with a single button that turns the system on and off. This same button is then used to cycle through four pages that display key metrics including battery status, riding speed, average speed, rider power, motor power, and estimated range. Because of its integrated display, the Fuel EXe doesn’t have room for the Knock Block steering limiter, and so omits it entirely.

2023 trek fuel exe 9.9 xx1 axs

A discreet two button controller sits next to the left-hand grip, allowing you to toggle between the Eco, Mid and High assist settings. Holding the top button also engages the Walk mode, which delivers power to the rear wheel when you’re off the bike and pushing uphill.

Bluetooth and ANT+ capability allows the TQ system to pair with your GPS head unit and mobile phone. Further functions can be unlocked via the Trek Central app, which offers navigation and integration with third party apps. You can use the app to tune the motor’s assistance levels, and it’ll also provide you with tyre and suspension pressure recommendations if you’re using a TireWiz and AirWiz.

2023 trek fuel exe 9.9 xx1 axs

Geometry & mullet capability

Without a bulky motor getting in the way, there are few compromises forced upon the suspension layout and geometry of the Trek Fuel EXe. For example, the chainstay length sits at an impressive 440mm, which is quite short given the 29in rear wheel and 2.5in tyre clearance. Trek has also chosen to stick with conventional Boost hub spacing and a 55mm chainline, so there’s nothing funky in terms of standards.

With the Mino Link flip chip set in the Low position, the Fuel EXe features a 64.7° head angle, a 76.7° seat angle and a 38.5mm BB drop. In the High position those angles steepen by 0.5° and the BB lifts by almost 7mm.

In that same High setting, Trek also states that the Fuel EXe can be run as a mullet with a 27.5in rear wheel. This will affect the motor’s output and 25km/h cutoff point however, as there’s currently no way for users to adjust the rear wheel circumference in the TQ system.

trek vs orbea

Trek Fuel EXe price & specs

Globally, there will be six Trek Fuel EXe models offered for 2023. Only three of those models will be available in Australia, with prices starting at $9,499 AUD for the Fuel EXe 9.5, and maxing out at $12,999 AUD for the Fuel EXe 9.8 XT.

All Fuel EXe models make use of the same TQ-HPR50 motor, 360Wh battery and OCLV carbon frame. There will be no alloy models for the foreseeable future.

The bike we’ve been testing is the top-end Fuel EXe 9.9 XX1 AXS, which in the States will come with a staggering retail price of $13,999 USD (that’s approximately $20,000 AUD!). It features RockShox Ultimate-level suspension, Bontrager Line Pro carbon wheels, a one-piece RSL carbon bar and stem, a SRAM XX1 AXS drivetrain, Code RSC brakes and a Reverb AXS dropper post. While this model won’t be available in Australia, aside from the wireless bits the spec isn’t drastically different from the 9.8 XT. As usual though, our review won’t be focussing a whole lot on the individual components, but rather the important stuff that’s shared throughout the range; the frame, handling, suspension and drive system.

2023 trek fuel exe 9.8 xt

2023 Trek Fuel EXe 9.8 XT

  • Frame | OCLV Mountain Carbon Fibre, ABP Suspension Design, 140mm Travel
  • Fork | RockShox Lyrik Select+, Charger 3 Damper, 44mm Offset, 150mm Travel
  • Shock | RockShox Super Deluxe Select+, RT Damper, 205x60mm
  • Drive Unit | TQ-HPR50, 50Nm Peak Torque
  • Battery | TQ 360Wh
  • Wheels | Bontrager Line Elite 30, OCLV Carbon Rims, 29mm Inner Width
  • Tyres | Bontrager SE5 Team Issue 2.5in Front & Rear
  • Drivetrain | Shimano XT 1×12 w/e*thirteen E*spec Race Carbon 34T Crankset & 10-51T Cassette
  • Brakes | Shimano XT 4-Piston
  • Bar |  Bontrager RSL Integrated, OCLV Carbon, 27.5mm Rise, 820mm Width
  • Stem | Bontrager RSL Integrated, OCLV Carbon, 45mm Length
  • Seatpost | Bontrager Line Elite, 34.9mm Diameter, Travel: 100mm (S), 150mm (M), 170mm (L), 200mm (XL)
  • Saddle | Bontrager Arvada, Austentite Rails
  • Claimed Weight | 18.1kg
  • RRP | $12,999 AUD

2023 trek fuel exe 9.7 slx/xt

2023 Trek Fuel EXe 9.7

  • Fork | Fox Rhythm 36, GRIP Damper, 44mm Offset, 150mm Travel
  • Shock | Fox Float X, Performance Series, 2-Position Damper, 205x60mm
  • Wheels | Bontrager Line Comp 30, Alloy Rims, 29mm Inner Width
  • Tyres | Bontrager XR5 Team Issue 2.5in Front & Rear
  • Drivetrain | Shimano SLX 1×12 w/e*thirteen E*spec Race Alloy 34T Crankset & 10-51T Cassette
  • Brakes | Shimano Deore 4-Piston
  • Bar | Bontrager Line, Alloy, 27.5mm Rise, 780mm Width
  • Stem | Bontrager Elite, 45mm Length
  • Seatpost | TranzX Dropper, 34.9mm Diameter, Travel: 100mm (S), 150mm (M), 170mm (L-XL)
  • Claimed Weight | 19.05kg
  • RRP | $10,999 AUD

2023 trek fuel exe 9.5

2023 Trek Fuel EXe 9.5

  • Fork | RockShox 35 Gold RL, Motion Control Damper, 44mm Offset, 150mm Travel
  • Shock | RockShox Deluxe Select+, RT Damper, 205x60mm
  • Wheels | Bontrager Sealed Bearing Hubs & Alex MD35 Alloy Rims, 34mm Inner Width
  • Drivetrain | Shimano Deore 1×12 w/e*thirteen E*spec Plus 34T Crankset & 10-51T Cassette
  • Brakes | Shimano MT420 4-Piston
  • Bar | Bontrager Rhythm Comp, Alloy, 15mm Rise, 750mm Width
  • Stem | Bontrager Alloy, 50mm Length
  • Claimed Weight | 19.93kg
  • RRP | $9,499 AUD

2023 trek fuel exe 9.9 xx1 axs

Noise isn’t everything, but geez it’s nice when you’re on a quiet bike. And in this regard, the Fuel EXe sets a whole new benchmark that we expect other brands will attempt to follow over the coming few years.

2023 trek fuel exe 9.9 xx1 axs

Trek Fuel EXe sizing & fit

Deviating from the regular Fuel EX, which comes in six sizes, the Trek Fuel EXe will only be available in four. To suit our 175-178cm testers we chose the Medium, which features a 452mm reach.

We had few complaints with sizing, though the stock handlebars are comically wide at 820mm. Those were promptly chopped down to a more conventional 780mm width, which proved to be a better fit with the 45mm ‘virtual’ stem length.

While the big diameter seat tube is nice and short, the 150mm dropper post limited our freedom of movement when riding down steep descents and along jump trails. We’d prefer to see a 170-180mm dropper on a bike that’s as capable as this.

2023 trek fuel exe 9.9 xx1 axs

Otherwise the Fuel EXe cockpit is a comfortable place to be thanks to the agreeable Bontrager saddle and lock-on grips. The seat tube angle isn’t too steep, with neutral weight distribution that doesn’t put a load of pressure on your hands. There’s plenty of adjustability thanks to the long saddle rails for those who do want to shunt it forward for a more aggressive climbing position.

Where the Fuel EXe definitely feels like an e-MTB is in its Q-Factor. Although the TQ-HPR50 motor is very compact, the fat e*13 carbon crank arms see the pedalling width blow out considerably. We measured the Q-Factor at 195mm, which is wider than any other e-MTB we’ve tested, and around 20mm wider than a regular mountain bike. Many riders will be unfazed by the difference, and indeed the wider stance can improve your overall stability on the bike. However, flat pedal riders will need to be wary when riding through deep ruts, and those with sensitive knees may simply find the Q-Factor to be too wide for comfort.

2023 trek fuel exe 9.9 xx1 axs

Suspension setup

The rear shock on the Trek Fuel EXe is designed to be run with 30% sag, a process that’s made easy thanks to the anodised gradients on the RockShox Super Deluxe.

Jose Gonzalez of Trek’s Suspension Lab explained to us that the Fuel EXe does have a slightly lower leverage rate compared to the regular Fuel EX, and the rear shock has been valved with a medium compression tune. The aim here is to provide more support to handle the additional weight of the battery and motor. Because of the greater damping forces generated by the shock, we trended towards having the compression adjusters backed off from the neutral setting. High-speed was set at minus two clicks (fully open) and the low-speed dial was set at minus one click. Rebound was set a couple of clicks faster than halfway to suit our 68-75kg testers.

Up front is the new 2023 RockShox Lyrik that features the new DebonAir+ spring and Charger 3 damper. RockShox recommends an extra 10psi for this fork when it’s fitted to an e-MTB, but we found this pressure to be too high when paired with the highly supportive Charger 3 damper. We ended up running 10psi less than recommended on the chart, set the rebound on the faster side, ran the high-speed compression at minus one click, and set the low-speed adjuster a few clicks lighter than neutral.

2023 trek fuel exe 9.9 xx1 axs

Trek Fuel EXe weight

Confirmed weight for our Trek Fuel EXe XX1 AXS test bike is 18.6kg, weighed without pedals and with the tyres set up tubeless.

That’s an impressive weight for a full suspension e-MTB, especially when you factor in the aggressive Bontrager tyres, powerful brakes and piggyback shock. Still, it’s not quite as light as some of its competitors;

  • Specialized Levo SL Expert – 17.84kg
  • Orbea Rise M10 – 18.38kg
  • Trek Fuel EXe XX1 AXS – 18.6kg
  • Specialized Kenevo SL Expert – 19.12kg

When you consider that the Fuel EXe is the only bike in that list with carbon wheels and crank arms, as well as a one-piece cockpit, its weight becomes a little less impressive. Given that the Fuel EXe supposedly has the lightest drive system out of the lot, we suspect some of the additional weight is found in the frame itself. That’s no bad thing, especially if it equates to having a stiffer and more robust chassis.

2023 trek fuel exe 9.9 xx1 axs

What does the Trek Fuel EXe do well?

When riding the Trek Fuel EXe the first thing you notice, or more accurately don’t notice, is just how quiet the TQ-HPR50 motor is. No doubt about it, this is easily the quietest e-MTB we’ve ever ridden.

The overall decibel output is low, and the motor’s pitch is significantly less prominent than other motors we’ve ridden. Rather than droning or whining, the TQ-HPR50 motor emits a more discreet sound that’s a bit like a gentle breeze whistling through the trees. Furthermore, there’s no annoying clacking noise on the descents like you’ll find with the latest Shimano and Bosch drive units. The TQ motor does feature an integrated freewheel that allows the drive wheel to disengage from the cranks to minimise drag, but despite this we couldn’t detect any obvious noise when descending on rocky trails.

2023 trek fuel exe 9.9 xx1 axs

Indeed the motor and chassis are well damped, with very little vibration or rattling present. While riding back-to-back with our Canyon Spectral:ON test bike, which features a cavernous downtube and a Shimano EP8 motor, the difference in trail noise was stark. Noise isn’t everything, but geez it’s nice when you’re on a quiet bike. And in this regard, the Fuel EXe sets a whole new benchmark that we expect other brands will attempt to follow over the coming few years.

Initially the muted motor gave the illusion of providing us with less assistance. This is because the power delivery is less obvious than a louder, whinier motor. However, a glance at our average riding speeds had us soon correcting that illusion.

Of course there’s not as much punch compared to the bigger 85-90Nm motors on the market, which is to be expected. During our standardised range test (more on that below), climbing speeds aboard the Fuel EXe hovered around 14km/h, compared to 18km/h on an EP8-equipped bike. This means you’ll be working harder on the Fuel EXe if all your pals are riding on full-powered e-MTBs.

2023 trek fuel exe 9.9 xx1 axs

Still, if you only ever ride singletrack aboard your e-MTB in the Eco or Trail assist settings, the TQ motor is likely to meet your needs. This will especially be the case for lighter and fitter riders, who will find the 50Nm output to be just about perfect for trail riding.

Well-damped suspension & no-fuss handling

It isn’t just the motor that’s quiet either, with the Trek Fuel EXe delivering a nicely damped ride quality that’s complemented by the distinct lack of any slurping noises from the fork’s new Charger 3 damper.

The carbon chassis feels stout and reliable, with no hint of twisting or excessive flex under load. It somehow manages to achieve this sensation without feeling harsh or pingy, and instead offers an accommodating platform that allows you to push it quite hard without fear of being punished for less calculated line choices.

2023 trek fuel exe 9.9 xx1 axs

The top-notch suspension plays into this beautifully when you’re smashing down rowdy descents. The Lyrik’s mid-stroke is particularly good, offering a heap of support with plenty of big hit damping control that encourages you to let off the brakes when gravity takes over.

While the suspension is good, it’s worth acknowledging that the Fuel EXe is not as plush as the Rail. Along with its lower overall weight, it can’t monster-truck down wide-open terrain like the Rail can.

The Fuel EXe takes the upper hand as the trail gets squigglier though, with less exaggeration required from your handling inputs. The smaller and shorter battery puts less weight up towards the head tube, helping to centralise and lower the bike’s centre of mass. Combined with the stout frame, there’s very little understeer present with the Fuel EXe. Compared to bigger and heavier e-MTBs, it never feels like it’s trying to push wide or ride away from you.

2023 trek fuel exe 9.9 xx1 axs

The excellent handling and weight distribution makes the Fuel EXe an easier bike to ride for less experienced riders. For more advanced pilots, the Fuel EXe delivers a thoroughly involving ride quality. Yes it’s still an 18kg bike, but it’s far more playful than the heavier Rail, with the shorter chainstays helping to encourage front wheel popping shenanigans.

It dips into corners without requiring constant persuasion, and it takes to the air well too, maintaining a steady trajectory without making you feel like you’re an unwilling passenger. There’s a heap of support from the suspension for soaking up ill-timed landings when things do go awry, with the shock’s Hydraulic Bottom Out ramping up the travel in the final 20% of the stroke. While the O-ring indicated we’d used full travel on many occasions, not once were we able to detect it while riding.

2023 trek fuel exe 9.9 xx1 axs

What does it struggle with?

Though the progressive RockShox suspension on the Trek Fuel EXe offers bucketloads of high-speed control, it does feel quite aggressively damped on smaller chatter. This is more so the case with the new Lyrik, which hasn’t amazed us with its small-bump compliance, transmitting more feedback through to our hands.

The fork on our test bike has improved noticeably over the first dozen rides as the seals and bushings have bedded in, and there’s no denying the incredible support and control that the Charger 3 damper brings. However, the Fuel EXe hasn’t exactly delivered a cloud-like ride quality, certainly not compared to the floaty Spectral:ON we’ve been testing alongside it. For this reason, we’d be curious to try out the Fuel EXe 9.7 to see whether its Fox suspension package brings about a more supple ride.

We’ll point out that heavier and more aggressive riders may not encounter the same experience as us. And it has to be said that the damping support does make the Fuel EXe a highly responsive and rewarding bike to ride. Still, those eager for the cushiest ride on the chunkiest of terrain will likely be better served by the Rail.

2023 trek fuel exe 9.9 xx1 axs

Overall we’ve been impressed by the usable and natural-feeling support from the TQ-HPR50 motor. It doesn’t spike or surge, offering a nicely progressive power band that makes it predictable and easy to modulate on tricky climbs. The 25km/h cutoff point is about as seamless it gets, and because the motor is so quiet, it’s difficult to tell when the motor has disengaged from the cranks.

It took us a few rides to get used to though, as it can occasionally lag before the power starts to come on. Spinning a lower gear at a slightly higher cadence seems to be its preferred input, though we’ve not found it to be as adept at responding to rapid changes in RPM compared to some other e-MTB motors.

There are options to tune the TQ motor via the Trek Central app, which allows you to tweak the pedal response, assist factor and the maximum power of each of the three settings. Unfortunately the app hasn’t been available prior to the Fuel EXe’s public launch, so we’re yet to play around with those tuning options. We’ll be exploring more of that functionality over the coming weeks of riding.

2023 trek fuel exe 9.9 xx1 axs

What range can you get with the Trek Fuel EXe?

Depending on the terrain, most of our rides on the Trek Fuel EXe have typically racked up 1,000-1,300m of elevation gain over a distance of 30-38km. We’ve mostly utilised the Mid power setting, which strikes a nice balance for general trail riding.

It’s been mighty helpful having the battery status displayed as a percentage, and the remaining ride time and range estimations have proven to be surprisingly accurate. When you do get down to the final 10% on the battery, the motor’s power output automatically lowers a few notches to help conserve what’s left. It doesn’t totally limp home though, retaining a usable level of support all the way down to 0%. When you have finally cooked the goose, the lack of drag through the TQ motor means it’s not an awful experience to ride the Fuel EXe on human power alone.

2023 trek fuel exe 9.9 xx1 axs

To see how the Fuel EXe’s efficiency compares directly to some of the other e-MTBs we’ve reviewed, we subjected it to our standardised range test. This involves the same rider pedalling up a road climb with a 10% average grade, with the motor set to its most powerful setting, before bombing back down a singletrack descent. The idea is to see how much elevation, and how many laps each bike can rack up on a single charge, while keeping the variables as constant as possible.

Here’s how the Fuel EXe faired in our range test;

  • Norco Sight VLT (Shimano EP8, 900Wh Battery) – 2,478m climbing (12.8 runs)
  • Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay (Dyname 4.0, 720Wh Battery) – 2,108m climbing (10.9 runs)
  • Cube Stereo Hybrid 160 (Bosch Gen 4, 625Wh Battery) – 1,800m climbing (9.3 runs)
  • Canyon Spectral:ON (Shimano EP8, 630Wh Battery) – 1,570m climbing (8 runs)
  • Orbea Rise (Shimano EP8-RS, 360Wh Battery) – 1,388m climbing (7.2 runs)
  • Specialized Levo SL (SL 1.1, 320Wh Battery) – 1,377m climbing (7.1 runs)
  • Trek Fuel EXe (TQ-HPR50, 360Wh Battery) – 1,312m climbing (6.8 runs)
  • Specialized Kenevo SL (SL 1.1, 320Wh Battery) – 1,053m climbing (5.5 runs)

2023 trek fuel exe 9.9 xx1 axs

As you can tell by those figures, the Fuel EXe managed to achieve considerably more range than the Kenevo SL, and not just because it has a larger capacity battery. The Fuel EXe is also lighter, comes fitted with faster-rolling tyres and features a more efficient suspension platform.

It didn’t get quite as much as the Levo SL however, and there are reasons for that. The 35Nm output of the Levo SL’s motor is naturally less demanding in terms of its fuel requirements, since it delivers a slower average riding speed. This makes the Fuel EXe a noticeably quicker bike on the climbs, which isn’t accounted for in our range test data.

Given the Orbea Rise has the same capacity battery as the Fuel EXe and a more powerful motor on paper, how did it achieve more range? The simple explanation is the tyres. The Rise M10 we tested was fitted with a lighter and much faster rolling Maxxis Dissector and Rekon tyre combo, which likely accounts for the difference.

Of course it’d be possible to get more range out of the Fuel EXe by fitting lower profile tyres, and you can also utilise the lower assist settings to reduce power consumption. Once the Range Extender batteries are available, Fuel EXe owners will have the opportunity to boost range by up to 40%, which will see it get closer to some of those bigger capacity e-MTBs.

2023 trek fuel exe 9.9 xx1 axs range extender battery

Component highs & lows

As mentioned earlier, we won’t be dwelling on the components of our Trek Fuel EXe 9.9 XX1 AXS test bike. And truth be told, there’s not a lot to be said about the ultra high-end build kit that we haven’t discussed before.

We’ve largely ignored the TireWiz and AirWiz gizmos to begin with, partly because we’ve been experimenting with tyre and suspension setup. However, we’ll be delving more into their functionality now that we have access to the Trek Central app that pairs with the sensors to provide live readings and recommendations.

2023 trek fuel exe 9.9 xx1 axs bontrager se5

It is worth touching on the new Bontrager SE5 tyres, which are spec’d on each Fuel EXe model. These 2.5in wide tyres feature a Minion DHR II-inspired tread pattern and a dual compound mix that combines a firmer 61a rubber in the centre tread, and softer 50a rubber for the cornering blocks. They’re built upon the Core Strength casing, which combines sidewall protection with a sub-tread reinforcement for puncture protection. The result is a solid, durable and well-damped tyre that isn’t overly stiff on the trail, while also feeling predictable across a broad range of surfaces. They’re decent all-rounders, though they aren’t as tacky as a Maxxis 3C compound or a Specialized T9 tyre. If this were our bike, we’d likely be fitting something softer up front for a little more bite.

2023 trek fuel exe 9.9 xx1 axs

There have been some mild annoyances on our test bike, like the rattling thru-axle lever at the rear dropout. Thankfully this lever can be removed, though you do lose its handy 6mm hex key. That didn’t matter too much as the fork’s steerer tube comes loaded with a Bontrager BITS multi-tool inside. The tool can be a bit tricky to remove, and we also found the bits have a habit of coming loose, allowing them to rattle around inside the steerer. Once tightened up, the Fuel EXe returned to its blissfully silent state.

We love how the TQ display sits flush with the top tube, though it’d be nice to see a clock offered on one of the data screens. The option to display cadence would also be useful, especially while getting accustomed to the TQ motor’s output. The controller offers a nice tactile platform with an audible, yet discreet ‘beep’ whenever you switch assist levels. However, accessing the Walk mode requires you to constantly press down the top button with your thumb, which is awkward when you’re holding onto the bars and pushing the bike up a steep and slippery incline.

2023 trek fuel exe 9.9 xx1 axs

Otherwise all the electrics on the Fuel EXe have proven to be totally functional. Being able to easily remove the battery will be a welcome feature for anyone who needs to charge it separately to where the bike is stored, and we like that the main charge port is located high up on the downtube where it’s protected by a thick rubber plug. Internally there’s also an automatic lock built into the main battery’s connector, basically eliminating any chance of the cable coming loose while bouncing down the trail. Sure they’re only small details, but they’re also clear signs of a well-considered design.

Trek Fuel EXe vs Specialized Levo SL vs Orbea Rise

Over the past year we’ve spent a load of time aboard two of the Trek Fuel EXe’s main rivals; the Specialized Levo SL and Orbea Rise. So how do these bikes compare?

Specialized Levo SL

2022 specialized levo sl expert

Specialized launched the Levo SL at the start of 2020, which shows just how far behind Trek and most other brands have been. No, the Levo SL wasn’t the first lightweight e-MTB to hit the market, but it is the bike that has legitimised the category.

The Levo SL is built around the SL 1.1 motor, which you’ll also find in the Kenevo SL and the Creo e-Road bike. This motor dishes out 35Nm of peak torque, making it considerably less powerful compared to the TQ motor in the Fuel EXe. It’s also much noisier, emitting an annoyingly whiny pitch that takes a while for the rider to tune out. However, the SL 1.1 motor does offer more intuitive power delivery, and it’s also better at handling high-cadence pedalling spurts.

In terms of ride quality, the Levo SL delivers noticeably plusher and more active suspension performance, which makes it a comfortable bike to pedal over choppy terrain. It does have 10mm more travel at the rear, though the suspension kinematic and shock tune also feels lighter compared to the Fuel EXe. We have found it easier to bottom out the Levo SL, and the sensation is harsh with the Float DPX2 shock.

2022 specialized levo sl expert

The Levo SL’s handling is nice and lively, though the front-end steering is a little light with the 51mm fork offset, resulting in some twitchiness at speed. In comparison the Fuel EXe feels better balanced across a range of riding speeds thanks to its solid chassis and well-damped suspension. It’s no doubt the more modern bike of the two, making the two year-old Levo SL feel a little outdated.

It also has to be said that the Fuel EXe kills it on value compared to the Levo SL. The Levo SL Expert we tested features a Fox 36 GRIP2 fork and Float DPX2 shock, alloy Roval wheels, a SRAM GX/X01 drivetrain and Code RS brakes. In comparison, the Fuel EXe 9.8 XT gets a similar level of suspension albeit with a Shimano XT groupset, carbon wheels, carbon cranks and a one-piece carbon cockpit. Despite featuring a higher-end spec, the Fuel EXe sells for $2,100 AUD less , making for a far more appealing package.

orbea rise

The Orbea Rise arrived not long after the Levo SL at the tail-end of 2020, though it took a slightly different tact by taking an off-the-shelf Shimano EP8 motor and de-tuning it to reduce the peak torque output to 60Nm. Orbea also developed its own ‘RS’ firmware for the Japanese motor, which aimed to provide a more natural feel to the power delivery while improving efficiency. This was then paired to a smaller 360Wh battery and a gorgeously svelte carbon frame to deliver complete bike weights from as low as 16.2kg.

The more sensibly-spec’d Rise M10 we tested came in at 18.38kg, though it was fitted with lightweight Maxxis tyres that felt somewhat out of place. With more appropriate rubber, the Rise would likely come in at a similar weight to the Fuel EXe.

While value for money from Orbea is better than Specialized, it’s still not as impressive as the Fuel EXe. The Rise M10 comes with blingy Factory Series Fox suspension, a Shimano SLX/XT drivetrain and alloy Race Face wheels, but sells for two grand more than the Fuel EXe 9.8 XT.

orbea rise

On the trail the Rise is a closer match to the Fuel EXe. The geometry is pretty similar, though the Rise chassis doesn’t feel quite as stout when being pushed hard. This also comes down to the steeper head angle (65.5° vs 64.7°), and it’s also due to the suspension, which is marginally more sensitive off-the-top. It delivers terrific traction and a comfortable ride quality, though it’s not as supportive as the Fuel EXe.

Speaking of suspension, we wouldn’t be opposed to seeing both the Rise and Fuel EXe equipped with 150mm of rear travel like the Levo SL. Sure these are lightweight e-MTBs, but travel is travel, and we’re still talking about 18+kg bikes that are capable of going very fast on rough terrain. That said, any increase might see them encroaching too far into the territory of their bigger travel, full-powered siblings (the Wild FS and Rail).

We found there to be terrific power on tap from the Rise’ EP8-RS motor, and the E-Tube app allows you to tweak the acceleration response and assistance character of each setting, depending on how you want the power to come on. The stock tune works mighty well though, with the Rise being an efficient performer that feels natural and intuitive on the trail, with just a fraction more punch available for scaling crux features on a technical climb.

As mentioned earlier, the Shimano EP8 drive unit is much noisier than the Fuel EXe’s TQ motor, which is basically silent in comparison – both on the climbs and on the descents. We also prefer the clean integration of the TQ system, with its bright and easy-to-read top tube display. The standard display on the Rise is a rather austere junction box that features a couple of tiny LEDs. You can upgrade this to the Shimano EM800 display for an additional fee, though it comes with additional wires that add clutter to the cockpit. It’s plenty functional, just not as tidy as the Fuel EXe.

2023 trek fuel exe 9.9 xx1 axs

Flow’s Verdict

The Trek Fuel EXe is a terrific example of just how far e-MTB technology has come. Not only is it a fantastic looking bike that’s low on bulk, it also manages to deliver a load of performance out of an impressively lightweight package.

The unique TQ motor is stunningly quiet, and for many riders its 50Nm output will be ideal. Heavier folks and those chasing maximum power with maximum range will still be better served by the Rail and is full-powered Bosch motor. The Rail also features a plusher ride quality that suits brainless bombing down the roughest descents.

In comparison the Fuel EXe is a more involving bike to ride, and it rewards an active pilot that seeks to work and play with the terrain. It’s responsive and fun to ride on twisty singletrack, with the sort of on-point handling and geometry that we expect we’ll be seeing in the next generation Fuel EX.

While the suspension isn’t buttery smooth over smaller chatter, it does produce a heap of support and incredible control at higher speeds. Along with the stout chassis, the Fuel EXe exhibits a well-damped ride quality that shrugs off the big hits and awkward landings despite not having a tonne of travel.

Indeed for those riders who are looking for that hallowed middle-ground between a regular mountain bike and an e-MTB, the Fuel EXe presents one of the most compelling options to date.

2023 trek fuel exe 9.9 electric emtb

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Trek VS Orbea

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Specialized, Trek or Orbea, which one?

  • Thread starter Firnatine
  • Start date Mar 3, 2021
  • Mar 3, 2021

I'm new to the forum and looking for advice. I'm planning on buying an eBike in a month or two and have narrowed it down to Specialized Turbo Creo Evo, Trek Domane HP+, or Orbea Gain M20i. I'm 72 and just started cycling last may. I ride a Santa Cruz Carbon Stigmata and love it and plan to keep it. My reason for an eBike is I will be riding cross country this August with a group of firefighters for the 20th anniversary of 9/11. I will be the oldest in the group by 10 years with the least amount of cycling experience. The plan is to stay together and no one gets dropped. I don't want to be the guy that slows the group down so I hope the eBike will allow me to keep up. On the flats my Santa Cruz should be fine but there will be some major climbs to deal with that will be extremely challenging especially for a guy my age. I really like the Turbo Creo Evo and leaning heavily in that direction. I like the fact its a gravel bike, doesn't look like an ebike, is under 30 lbs. and class 3. All the reviews I've read have been positive. The battery range is one of the best and the optional battery they claim would give 40 more miles. I see they just raised the price by $500 and stock is low. The Domane HP+ has a more powerful motor that I would assume be better for the big climbs and it too is class 3. I don't like the weight at 39 lbs. which makes it 20 lbs. heavier then my Santa Cruz. Out of the 3 bikes, it is the most expensive. For me the Orbea by far is the best looking of the 3 and does not look at all like an eBike. It is also the lightest at 26 lbs. It comes with Shimano Di2 and is more then a thousand dollars less then the others. I don't like the fact it is not class 3 with the assist only to 20mph. I also have concerns about the hub motor compared to the mid drive motor. The reviews I've read have been mixed. I've read the drag is noticeable once the assist quits. I'm not looking for a free ride just some assist that will get me over the big bumps, has good range and comfortable to ride for 8 hours. I pretty much made up my mine but would love to hear others opinions to help assure me I'm making the right decision. Thanks in advance.  

Active Member

The Pros Closet has each of what you are looking for, well, maybe not the right size at the moment, but these types of bikes have a regular appearance at this web site and offered in many cases at substantial savings.  

WattsUpDude

WattsUpDude

Well-known member.

My money would be on the Creo. It’s a really versatile bike. The Orbea is beautiful and lightweight but the Ebikemotion system they use employs a speed + cadence sensor. PAS is not going to feel as natural as the torque sensor bikes from Specialized and Trek.  

indianajo

I ride a 94 lb bike with all racks, panniers, tools & water. Once a week I carry 60-80 lb supplies out to my summer camp. My heart+lungs+legs don't get tired, my hips do from the hard seat. I don't understand the passion about weight. Are you climbing the Matterhorn? Iowa doesn't have hills enough to overheat a geared hub motor. Even with 80 lb ag supplies my bike weighs about what I do. Worried about weight, lose some. My biking habit wore me down from 213 to 160 in 8 years. the wind is my worry, global warming has kicked up strong winds in May & September. 25 mph headwind can make my 30 mile commute take 6 hours without electricity. Which is why I added motor & battery. As far as I can tell both Orbea gain m20i and Specialized creo carbon both have mid drives with an 11 speed chain. As neither is a brose, shimano steps, or yamaha, they should both drag noticably when the power runs out. By contrast, my $221 ebikeling geared hub motor didn't drag at all unpowered even when the gear wore out @ 4500 miles. Low battery capacity of the models I looked at, 340 wh and 248 wh, strike me as toys. Biweekly I cross 77 to 80 hills and only use the battery on the last 25 or so. I have 840 wh and used to red light and cut out on the last hill or two on the ebikeling motor. Replacement Mac12t hub motor is more efficient and I arrive 30 miles out at about 45 v on a 48 v battery (start @ 52.5). Notice orbea gain M20i limits the assist to 20 mph. Your road bike buddies going to go that slow? My bootleg home converted Mac12 will assist to 23. The ebikeling motor would assist to about 25. Only extremely smooth pavement is safe at that speed, IMHO, without a suspension. I peak at 35 downhill but only do that with great pavement on valleys I know there is no gravel. I'm happy for you at 72 you are so flexible to ride with your head turned back at 90 deg and can lift your leg over a high bar. I refuse to flex my neck that much, always have, and it has held up better than my Mother's that ruptured a disk age 48 from sitting typing in the wrong chair+table with the neck flexed. I started having trouble getting the foot over the bar age 64, and it is not getting any better at 70. You see my drop frame left. Have a great ride. Enjoy those mud stripes on your hips. Enjoy changing your chain mid ride, too. Guys on roadbikereview.com are reporting 1000 miles life on 11 speed chain, and that is with feet only. some high speed electric commuters report ~500 miles per 11 speed chain. I got 5000 miles out of my first 8 speed chain, 2 1/2 years. Changed it at home first of spring with the tires.  

Wow Firnatine, what a fabulous adventure! You said cross country, as in across the entire U.S,? My earlier cross country rides were 400 miles max over several days. And well supported with great rest stops and sag wagons. Fabulous memories. My first thought for your situation is for sure a class 3, especially if the group holds an aggressive speed. And how long is the wait for the bike to arrive? Based on comments here I’m hearing it can be lengthy. What are the daily miles? Can you charge along the way or have extra batteries? Keep posting!  

BillH said: The Pros Closet has each of what you are looking for, well, maybe not the right size at the moment, but these types of bikes have a regular appearance at this web site and offered in many cases at substantial savings. Click to expand...
WattsUpDude said: My money would be on the Creo. It’s a really versatile bike. The Orbea is beautiful and lightweight but the Ebikemotion system they use employs a speed + cadence sensor. PAS is not going to feel as natural as the torque sensor bikes from Specialized and Trek. Click to expand...
indianajo said: I ride a 94 lb bike with all racks, panniers, tools & water. Once a week I carry 60-80 lb supplies out to my summer camp. My heart+lungs+legs don't get tired, my hips do from the hard seat. I don't understand the passion about weight. Are you climbing the Matterhorn? Iowa doesn't have hills enough to overheat a geared hub motor. Even with 80 lb ag supplies my bike weighs about what I do. Worried about weight, lose some. My biking habit wore me down from 213 to 160 in 8 years. the wind is my worry, global warming has kicked up strong winds in May & September. 25 mph headwind can make my 30 mile commute take 6 hours without electricity. Which is why I added motor & battery. As far as I can tell both Orbea gain m20i and Specialized creo carbon both have mid drives with an 11 speed chain. As neither is a brose, shimano steps, or yamaha, they should both drag noticably when the power runs out. By contrast, my $221 ebikeling geared hub motor didn't drag at all unpowered even when the gear wore out @ 4500 miles. Low battery capacity of the models I looked at, 340 wh and 248 wh, strike me as toys. Biweekly I cross 77 to 80 hills and only use the battery on the last 25 or so. I have 840 wh and used to red light and cut out on the last hill or two on the ebikeling motor. Replacement Mac12t hub motor is more efficient and I arrive 30 miles out at about 45 v on a 48 v battery (start @ 52.5). Notice orbea gain M20i limits the assist to 20 mph. Your road bike buddies going to go that slow? My bootleg home converted Mac12 will assist to 23. The ebikeling motor would assist to about 25. Only extremely smooth pavement is safe at that speed, IMHO, without a suspension. I peak at 35 downhill but only do that with great pavement on valleys I know there is no gravel. I'm happy for you at 72 you are so flexible to ride with your head turned back at 90 deg and can lift your leg over a high bar. I refuse to flex my neck that much, always have, and it has held up better than my Mother's that ruptured a disk age 48 from sitting typing in the wrong chair+table with the neck flexed. I started having trouble getting the foot over the bar age 64, and it is not getting any better at 70. You see my drop frame left. Have a great ride. Enjoy those mud stripes on your hips. Enjoy changing your chain mid ride, too. Guys on roadbikereview.com are reporting 1000 miles life on 11 speed chain, and that is with feet only. some high speed electric commuters report ~500 miles per 11 speed chain. I got 5000 miles out of my first 8 speed chain, 2 1/2 years. Changed it at home first of spring with the tires. Click to expand...
Marci jo said: Wow Firnatine, what a fabulous adventure! You said cross country, as in across the entire U.S,? My earlier cross country rides were 400 miles max over several days. And well supported with great rest stops and sag wagons. Fabulous memories. My first thought for your situation is for sure a class 3, especially if the group holds an aggressive speed. And how long is the wait for the bike to arrive? Based on comments here I’m hearing it can be lengthy. What are the daily miles? Can you charge along the way or have extra batteries? Keep posting Click to expand...

Saratoga Dave

Saratoga Dave

Are you riding across the US or Iowa? I sort of assume the US, and I get that you’re going to ride your Santa Cruz where possible now. That said, I might change my original idea of the Creo and go with the Domane, if in fact you are going to be needing something to get across the Ozarks and the mountains of Virginia... which would be the Trans Am route. For that specific purpose, I’d want my ebike to be the most rootin tootin one I could find. If you’re doing an easier route, the Creo would be a blast, I’m sure. If you’re confident enough of your strength, and it sounds like you might be, then the Creo could be a great choice for the whole thing. I guess it would keep you more in line with the rest of the outfit than to be zooming over Hayter’s Gap on a Domane while everyone else is dying. Shared suffering, right? Either way, sounds like a hell of an adventure!  

Stefan Mikes

Stefan Mikes

indianajo said: As far as I can tell both Orbea gain m20i and Specialized creo carbon both have mid drives with an 11 speed chain. As neither is a brose, shimano steps, or yamaha, they should both drag noticably when the power runs out. Click to expand...
  • Mar 4, 2021

Another thought, have you checked with the organizers to see if ebikes are allowed? More than likely they are allowed since they are getting more common. Just my slightly paranoid opinion.  

Marci jo said: Another thought, have you checked with the organizers to see if ebikes are allowed? More than likely they are allowed since they are getting more common. Just my slightly paranoid opinion. Click to expand...
Art Deco said: @indianajo Quick note Specialized uses Brose motors, so no noticeable drag with the boost off. Click to expand...
Saratoga Dave said: Are you riding across the US or Iowa? I sort of assume the US, and I get that you’re going to ride your Santa Cruz where possible now. That said, I might change my original idea of the Creo and go with the Domane, if in fact you are going to be needing something to get across the Ozarks and the mountains of Virginia... which would be the Trans Am route. For that specific purpose, I’d want my ebike to be the most rootin tootin one I could find. If you’re doing an easier route, the Creo would be a blast, I’m sure. If you’re confident enough of your strength, and it sounds like you might be, then the Creo could be a great choice for the whole thing. I guess it would keep you more in line with the rest of the outfit than to be zooming over Hayter’s Gap on a Domane while everyone else is dying. Shared suffering, right? Either way, sounds like a hell of an adventure! Click to expand...
Stefan Mikes said: A slightly off topic but corresponding to your post Marci Jo: I'm more and more attracted to group rides. In each case I'm asking the organiser whether e-bike would be allowed. I'm positively shocked: so far, ride organisers were answering "Come. Our goal is to have a good time together". So I'm joining an MTB ride for the coming Sunday. Only competing is not allowed. In any case, I would have asked the organiser because roadies might have different idea. Click to expand...
Firnatine said: We're a friends and I'm one of the organizers so I don't think I'll have any objections.LOL There will be no more then 15 us including chase/support drivers. The group is made up a first responders and military vets. Click to expand...
gtpharr said: with a tail wind all the way! Click to expand...

Glad to hear orbea included a 100 g one way clutch. That allows no drag pedaling when feet are faster than motor. I got my information from orbea website: www.orbea.com/us-en/ebikes/road/gain/cat/gain-m20i-20mph/ which says the motor is a Ebikemotion X35 Plus 20mph I don't see any hub drives in the picture. Maybe firnatine has access to some old stock in a bike shop near him. With the kind of support vehicles Firnatine is reporting, wearing out chains in his 8000 mile trip should not be a problem. In the group rides around here, I was sometimes the guy changing tubes for the road bikers, while the sag wagon was way to the rear helping the newbies on kiddy bikes that weren't prepared for any distance. Supposed to be 65 Tuesday Wed, and more important 55 Tue night. Will ride out my first 30 miles of the year to see what was stolen or fell down this winter.  

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Trek vs Orbea

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If you have ridden Trek and Orbea, please share your observation. I am torn between a used Orbea Onix and Trek 5900 SL.  

timkstl

i've ridden (and owned) an onix, opal, and an orca. take the trek. just one man's opinion.  

Gevorg

I have done test ride on Onix, Opal, Orca in 2007. Onix is very stiff and translates all the vibration, I did not like how opal/orca handled the twisty downhills. I was debating beween Lemond Zurich and specialized tarmac/roubaix. I endup buying Tarmac expert it seemed to preform better then any of the orbeas and was a better value. I did not buy Trek/Lemond because I had bad experience with bontrager wheels I have broken and replaced them under warranty 6-7 times.  

Trek..............Hands down  

Rockne said: If you have ridden Trek and Orbea, please share your observation. I am torn between a used Orbea Onix and Trek 5900 SL. Click to expand...

Trek vs. Orbea I owned the Onix and was debating whether or not to purchase the Trek. Wanted to get input from riders having experience with both.  

I think you confused people by starting a new thread saying that you bought the Trek. If you had posted a followup in this thread I think people would understand that since the original post on 4/5/09 you decided to buy the Trek and like it.  

Blue CheeseHead said: I think you confused people by starting a new thread saying that you bought the Trek. If you had posted a followup in this thread I think people would understand that since the original post on 4/5/09 you decided to buy the Trek and like it. Click to expand...
Rockne said: I have been happily riding a 2006 Orbea Onix for the past few years. It is equipped with Ultegra and mid level Shimano wheels. A couple months ago, my friend sold me his 2004 Trek 5900 Superlight at a bargain price. The bike has Dura Ace and some inexpensive wheels. He kept the wheels that were on it for his new bike. My intentions were to use the Trek as a second bike....mostly on the trainer and in poor weather. The Trek blows away my beloved Onix. It is much, much more responsive and quicker. Handles better. Stiffer and stronger in the bottom bracket. The Onix only betters the Trek in comfort and not by much. Click to expand...

Swerny

Eric S said: He didn't confuse me, he's a troll . Read both of his posts below. He already owned an Orbea Onix. I understand he wanted a comparision on his original post but he should play it straight not mistated what the facts were. I got sucked into his post on the Orbea site, which was a double post of post 2 below. So to summerize, he mistates facts and double posts, a troll. #1 QUOTE=Rockne]If you have ridden Trek and Orbea, please share your observation. I am torn between a used Orbea Onix and Trek 5900 SL. Click to expand...
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  8. 2021 Trek Rail 7 vs Orbea Wild FS H20

    Oct 10, 2020. #2. The suspension on the orbea (especially the forks) is a lot better than that used on the trek. The battery on the orbea is quite easy to remove. The speed sensor is better designed on the rail,but works fine on both bikes. Out of those two I'd go for the orbea because the spec is better, but I may be biased because I narrowed ...

  9. The best e-mountainbike of 2023

    The Orbea WILD M-LTD 2023 is the Basque manufacturer's e-mountainbike for the rough stuff. It comes equipped with a new Bosch Performance Line CX Race motor, which can be configured with either a 625 Wh or 750 Wh battery and customised down to the smallest detail using Orbea's MyO online configurator.

  10. Compare: 2021 Orbea ORCA M20 vs Trek Domane SL 5 vs Domane SL 6

    Bontrager R2 Hard-Case Lite, aramid bead, 60 tpi, 700x32 c. Disc Rotors. Shimano RT70, CentreLock, 160 mm. Shimano RT800, CenterLock, 160 mm. The Orbea ORCA M20, Trek Domane SL 5, and Trek Domane SL 6 are all carbon frame road bikes with hydraulic disc brakes. The Domane SL 6 has better components.

  11. Trek Vs. Orbea

    The Trek 2300 is about $2000 and the Orbea is about $2500-2600. I have heard horror stories about Trek paintjobs, and there are a plethora of stickers everywhere on the Trek that make it look tacky in my opinion. I do know that there are different "grades" of aluminum and carbon fiber.

  12. Compare: 2021 Orbea ORCA M20 vs Specialized Tarmac SL6 Comp vs Trek

    Specs. ORCA M20 Orbea · 2021. Tarmac SL6 Comp Specialized · 2021. Émonda SL 6 Trek · 2021. Frame. Orbea Orca carbon OMR Disc, monocoque construction, HS 1,5", BB 386mm, powermeter compatible, Rear Thru Axle 12x142mm, thread M12x2 P1, Speed release compatible dropout, Internal Cable Routing, EC/DC compatible. BB Standard: 386EVO, 86mm, Press ...

  13. Trek Top Fuel 7 or Orbea oiz H20 : r/xcmtb

    The Trek is solid and can do plenty more than what I will be using it for. However, if the Orbea is just as comfortable and build quality is on par with the Trek Top Fuel, then I will rather get the Orbea, since it has a lot more goodies for the same price. Then again.....that Top Fuel is a great bike and built like a tank...

  14. 2023 Trek Fuel EXe Review

    Orbea Rise M10 - 18.38kg; Trek Fuel EXe XX1 AXS - 18.6kg; Specialized Kenevo SL Expert - 19.12kg; When you consider that the Fuel EXe is the only bike in that list with carbon wheels and crank arms, as well as a one-piece cockpit, its weight becomes a little less impressive. Given that the Fuel EXe supposedly has the lightest drive system ...

  15. Compare: 2021 Orbea ORCA M30 vs Trek Émonda SL 5

    The Orbea ORCA M30 and Trek Émonda SL 5 are both carbon frame race bikes with upper mid-range components and hydraulic disc brakes. ... Orbea Orca carbon OMR Disc, monocoque construction, HS 1,5", BB 386mm, powermeter compatible, Rear Thru Axle 12x142mm, thread M12x2 P1, Speed release compatible dropout, Internal Cable Routing, EC/DC ...

  16. Trek Bicycle vs Orbea: Side-by-Side Comparison

    Orbea vs Trek Bicycle: Side-by-Side Brand Comparison. Compare Trek Bicycle vs. Orbea side-by-side. Choose the best bike brands for your needs based on 1,407 criteria such as newsletter coupons, Apple Pay Later financing, Shop Pay Installments, PayPal Pay Later and clearance page . Also, check out our full guide to the top 10 bike brands.

  17. Trek top fuel 5 2022 vs orbea occam H30 2021 vs specialized ...

    The story would probably be similar for the trek. The Orbea might be a better plug n' play bike since it has better components ... The Orbea has longer seat tubes for the size vs the specialized so if you want a longer dropper you should probably look at the specialized. A buddy who is 173 cm bought a large Occam as the medium felt real short ...

  18. Trek VS Orbea

    Trek VS Orbea in 29ers. Posted: Mar 15, 2018 at 10:12 Quote: I have a new Slash 9.9 with the straight shot and it make a difference in how the bike tracks through corners and the rough stuff for sure.

  19. Orbea vs trek vs ? : r/whichbike

    The Orbea is more capable on the trails. But the Trek might be slightly more comfortable to ride on the road/paths. For the same price, the Orbea is a better buy imo, especially when you consider M4100 vs M5100. I've owned two Orbea's (road bikes) and they've both been great. true.

  20. Orbea vs Trek vs Cannondale vs Motobecane

    Anyone's thoughts or comments would be greatly appreciated. Here are the bikes I'm checking out: Trek 2.1 ($1099) Orbea Gavia ($1199) Cannondale Caad 9 5 ($1299) Motobecane Sprint ($995) The LBS pro-talk tells me that the Caad 9.5 is the best value for the money at that pricepoint, but I'm awfully tempted by the Ultegra components of the ...

  21. Specialized, Trek or Orbea, which one?

    San Francisco, Bay Area. Mar 3, 2021. #3. My money would be on the Creo. It's a really versatile bike. The Orbea is beautiful and lightweight but the Ebikemotion system they use employs a speed + cadence sensor. PAS is not going to feel as natural as the torque sensor bikes from Specialized and Trek.

  22. Orbea versus Trek

    As long as you are on two wheels you will have fun! But these Orbea's are super sweet!

  23. Trek vs Orbea

    Trek vs Orbea. 1938 Views 8 Replies 7 Participants Last post by Swerny, Jun 15, 2009 Jump to Latest R. Rockne Discussion starter ...