Meet the new mid-level assist Trek Fuel EXe e-mountain bike

[Hairy]

2 hours ago, MTBRIDER1234 said:

This bike is interesting, but as ChrisF said, it is Trek's version of the SL.

I would take a kenevo SL over this anyday. It looks better, is lighter, handles better and is more capable.

It is massive compared to the Kenevo SL, yet somehow has pretty much identical specs (same battery size)

A good job that could have been done a bit better IMHO

Based on the above article, how can you say the SL handles better than the Trek?

[AkwA]

2 hours ago, MTBRIDER1234 said:

This bike is interesting, but as ChrisF said, it is Trek's version of the SL.

I would take a kenevo SL over this anyday. It looks better, is lighter, handles better and is more capable.

It is massive compared to the Kenevo SL, yet somehow has pretty much identical specs (same battery size)

A good job that could have been done a bit better IMHO

Not sure I would agree.

The Kenevo is 170mm and the EXe 140/150mm, so 2 diff bikes for 2 diff applications. 

EXe weighs 18.6kg, where Kenevo is 18.7-19.1kg from what I can find, not exactly lighter?

EXe is quieter than Kenevo.

Kenevo is also MOER pricy, 155k at bottom spec, vs the EXe 9.7 with almost the same spec, for only 125k.

 

[Robbie Stewart]

Only reason I'd want one is to do repeats of the new Hoogekraal Hammer flow trail. This would mean a Saturday morning well spent doing laps up and down. If I'd manage 4 maybe 5 laps then who cares if it couldn't go very far. When running out of juice just point the nose down hill and send it.

[Mtree]

1 minute ago, Robbie Stewart said:

Only reason I'd want one is to do repeats of the new Hoogekraal Hammer flow trail. This would mean a Saturday morning well spent doing laps up and down. If I'd manage 4 maybe 5 laps then who cares if it couldn't go very far. When running out of juice just point the nose down hill and send it.

THREAD HIJACK
What's the hammer trail like?
Been hitting Jonker's lately for a change of scenery, and was just wondering. Really enjoying Red Phoenix at Jonker's though...

[MTBRIDER1234]

11 hours ago, Hairy said:

Based on the above article, how can you say the SL handles better than the Trek?

I have watched reviews of both and if you know anything about the specialised enduro (which the kenevo SL is based off) you know it is one of the best enduro bikes ever made.

[MTBRIDER1234]

11 hours ago, AkwA said:

Not sure I would agree.

The Kenevo is 170mm and the EXe 140/150mm, so 2 diff bikes for 2 diff applications. 

EXe weighs 18.6kg, where Kenevo is 18.7-19.1kg from what I can find, not exactly lighter?

EXe is quieter than Kenevo.

Kenevo is also MOER pricy, 155k at bottom spec, vs the EXe 9.7 with almost the same spec, for only 125k.

 

The Kenevo is more versatile, as it has more travel - also what is the use for a 140/150 bike? it wants to be an enduro bike but doesn't have enough travel, yet it is too much travel for a trail bike 

Also I got the weights wrong, which I will admit to

I have ridden many E bikes and personally I couldn't care less about noise

You can safely assume when people are spending north of 100k on a bike that money won't be a huge problem. 

[AkwA]

21 minutes ago, MTBRIDER1234 said:

The Kenevo is more versatile, as it has more travel - also what is the use for a 140/150 bike? it wants to be an enduro bike but doesn't have enough travel, yet it is too much travel for a trail bike 

Also I got the weights wrong, which I will admit to

I have ridden many E bikes and personally I couldn't care less about noise

You can safely assume when people are spending north of 100k on a bike that money won't be a huge problem. 

More travel isn’t always better, I recently bought a 160/160 and feel like it’s too much, I actually switched the rear travel to 145mm yesterday.

The EXe is a do it all bike, just like the fuel. More than enough for any non downhill trails we have in this country. Maybe not the fastest, but more than capable. 
 

Personally, the only thing that I want to hear on my bike is my freehub going mad, anything else drives me crazy.

These differences between people is why there are different products for different people. I do agree both bikes are great for their class, but can’t compare them.

[MTBRIDER1234]

5 minutes ago, AkwA said:

More travel isn’t always better, I recently bought a 160/160 and feel like it’s too much, I actually switched the rear travel to 145mm yesterday.

The EXe is a do it all bike, just like the fuel. More than enough for any non downhill trails we have in this country. Maybe not the fastest, but more than capable. 
 

Personally, the only thing that I want to hear on my bike is my freehub going mad, anything else drives me crazy.

These differences between people is why there are different products for different people. I do agree both bikes are great for their class, but can’t compare them.

I got a 160/160 bike as well and feel for my riding it is absolutely perfect, but I do get your point

I agree it is a do it all bike, but this means it is a jack of all trades and a master of none.

After riding a hardtail down the scariest trails we have here, I have grown accustomed to a loud and noisy bike. My full sus feels eerily quiet haha

It definitely isn't an apples for apples comparison and the Trek has some things about it that appeal to some, and the SL has some which appeal to the gravity/enduro crowd

Edited July 14, 2022 by MTBRIDER1234

[psc]

You can also make the EXe 1.8kg's lighter by pulling the battery (without having to drop the motor as on many of the other lightweights). It can also just run on the REx (910g).

[Headshot]

I can se eMoto's are slowing evolving back into bicycles. A bit like gravel bikes to MTB's

[Chadvdw67]

3 hours ago, AkwA said:

More travel isn’t always better, I recently bought a 160/160 and feel like it’s too much, I actually switched the rear travel to 145mm yesterday.

The EXe is a do it all bike, just like the fuel. More than enough for any non downhill trails we have in this country. Maybe not the fastest, but more than capable. 
 

Personally, the only thing that I want to hear on my bike is my freehub going mad, anything else drives me crazy.

These differences between people is why there are different products for different people. I do agree both bikes are great for their class, but can’t compare them.

This ^^^

 

Also have a 160/170 Enduro bike which I have dropped to 140/150, and I am actually having more fun on it now, even down the DH track in Harties, were I was actually faster now with less travel...

 

Travel is not the be all and end all of what bikes are capable of, if the pricing is right on these Fuel EXe, I will be very seriously considering getting one, it seems to be exactly what I want

[Robbie Stewart]

16 hours ago, Mtree said:

THREAD HIJACK
What's the hammer trail like?
Been hitting Jonker's lately for a change of scenery, and was just wondering. Really enjoying Red Phoenix at Jonker's though...

Objectively speaking the line is awesome. Very fast and a gazillion jumps.

The big drawback to me at least is the climb back to the top making a few loops a rather costly affair in terms of how many matches you have on the day. Since the club has emphatically made it clear that people are not permitted to dismount halfway down to maybe redo a jump or even take a pic of your mate, I'm not so sure the effort versus reward ratio makes it worth the drive any more.

Plaisir is a MUCH better reward for the money and effort. And I agree that Red Phoenix and Armageddon are a much better ride. Super fun although the effort to reach to top is much the same.

but that's my subjective opinion. the objective fact is the line is fun at least.

 

Edited July 14, 2022 by Robbie Stewart

[Steady Spin]

On 7/13/2022 at 7:42 AM, dave303e said:

Not to be a tonsil. But surely an e-bike is an enabler. Ie get someone on trails for like 40-60 km rides who couldn't manage it previously or as easily as they used to for whatever reason.

If you are that dedicated that you are doing 100km high elevation rides surely you are dedicated enough to be fit enough to manage them without a battery? Or you are fit enough for 60 of those km and the e-bike takes up that last 40% stop gap and thus inly a smaller baytery required? If cycling was that important to you and you needed to do such big rides you would be fit enough.

Or am I missing something here?

As for the bike in article, I think it is a good idea, if you still fit ish and feel you on that slippery slope. Or are just starting to battle to keep up with the regular group due to age or injury. It is a good option.

I'm not fit or strong enough to do a 60km outride to experience everything that Karkloof has to offer. 

I just don't have the time to get that fit and strong due to other responsibilities. If an e-bike improves or "enables" my riding experience then so be it. 

 

 

Edited July 15, 2022 by Steady Spin

[ChrisF]

On 7/12/2022 at 7:49 PM, ChrisF said:

360Wh .... when the industry is moving from 625Wh to 750Wh, and now even a couple of 900Wh options.

 

Watched EMBN last night, Eurobike episode.

 

WOW !! 

 

LOTS of these lightweight, lower power and smaller battery ebikes coming onto the market.

 

Even a full suspension ebike coming in at 14kg.

 

Clearly a big market for these small battery ebikes.

[rorydewet]

Wow.

I never thought I would see the day.

Few years back the hub had a plethora of threads and posts about whether E-Bikes were legit and would be allowed to ride where normal bikes ride. e-Bikes and E-Bike riders were roasted and maligned.

Skip to today.

Here is a post debating the merits of different E-Bikes one to another.

TIMES HAVE CHANGED.

 

[ChrisF]

1 hour ago, rorydewet said:

Wow.

I never thought I would see the day.

Few years back the hub had a plethora of threads and posts about whether E-Bikes were legit and would be allowed to ride where normal bikes ride. e-Bikes and E-Bike riders were roasted and maligned.

Skip to today.

Here is a post debating the merits of different E-Bikes one to another.

TIMES HAVE CHANGED.

 

 

Soon, very soon, we will be debating the merits of allowing "normal bikes" to enter ebike events ....