First released to the world in the second half of 2022, Trek is the latest big industry player to debut top 10 road bike brands an e-mountain bike that favours a lightweight battery, lower output motor and ride characteristics similar to that of an analogue trail bike.
Named the Fuel EXe, the lightweight e-bike is based on the brand’s wildly popular Fuel EX line of trail bikes and features a host of similarities to its unpowered sibling. In this video, we’ll take you through what we liked, what we didn’t and exactly who this modern trail e-mountain bike is aimed at.
Who’s it for?: Anyone in the market for an e-mountain bike that is so similar to a traditional mountain bike in terms of its ride characteristics that it’s almost imperceptible aside from where it counts.
What’s it cost?: AU$9,499.99, As tested.
What we liked: The drive unit and battery system are up there with the best we’ve experienced, excellent ride characteristics and playful geometry.
What we didn’t: Entry-level components let the bike down, as does the lack of adjustable suspension at the frame and fork.
A Solid Foundation
While Trek isn’t the first brand to release a lightweight e-mountain bike, the Fuel EXe represents a significant shift in how brands approach e-mountain bikes. When first introduced, the e-mountain bike was all about being big. Big batteries, big power outputs, long wheelbases, and big weight. While there is still a place for these more traditional rigs, nowadays, riders are seeking something that offers the benefits of an e-bike without the downsides, and with the Fuel EXe, Trek may have nailed that brief.
The mechanical components of the Fuel EXe mirror that of a traditional, modern trail bike. The steed rolls on 29-inch hoops wrapped with 2.5” rubber front and rear, while 150mm of suspension is found at the fork, with 140mm of rear travel also present, slightly up on the regular Fuel EX. Trail-spec specific 4-piston brake callipers are found across the entire range, with our 9.5 model using post-mounted Tektro Orion 4P callipers front and rear.
12-speed drivetrains also feature across the entire range, with our entry-level unit utilising a Shimano Deore 1x set-up mated to an eThirteen Espec 34T crankset. Out back, an 11-51T cassette provides a wide spread of gears.
Touchpoints come courtesy of the in-house brand, Bontrager, with a 750mm wide alloy bar, 50mm stem, and MTB-specific Arvada saddle all featuring. A TransX dropper seatpost with 170mm of travel on our Size Medium test bike finishes the build.
Making full use of the lack of compromise needed with the svelte drive unit and battery, the geometry of the Fuel EXe is best described as balanced. Highlights include a 440mm chainstay length, which is impressive given the bike’s ability to take 27.5” and 29er wheels and its 2.5” worth of tyre clearance. The rear wheel uses a Boost 148 standard, so the chainline won’t feel too quirky if you’re coming from an analogue trail bike.
Much like the regular Fuel EX, the EXe uses Trek’s Mino link, allowing riders to adjust the bike’s geometry if their ride style, bike set-up or trails dictate. While admittedly, we found the standard 64.7º head angle, 76.7º seat angle and 38.5mm drop adequate for our needs, steepening the angles by 0.5º and raising the bottom bracket by 7mm may be required if riders opt to run the Fuel EXe in mullet mode (29er front, 27.5” rear) or swap out the front fork for a longer 160mm travel unit.
The Electrical Party Piece
Utilising a unique german made TQ drive unit, the all-new Fuel EXe markets itself as one of the quietest and lightest e-mountain bikes available. The HPR50 drive unit delivers a maximum of 50Nm of torque and a peak power output of 300 watts. However, it’s inside the unit that the point of difference lies. Said to comprise just two moving parts, TQ claims that the HPR tips the scales at just 1.85kg, lighter than its direct competition in the Specialized 1.1 (1.95kg) and significantly lighter than its big brand competitors, Bosch (Performance Line CX – 2.79kg) and Shimano (EP8 – 2.6kg). The lighter weight and lack of moving parts also have a secondary benefit of quieter operation. Trek claims the tonality, as in the electrical whirring sound of the drive unit, has been significantly reduced as a result, as has the peak dB, or volume emitted from the motor.
The Trek Fuel EXe is available in three different levels locally. The 9.5 (tested) will set riders back $9,499 and is available in either matte grey or blue. The 9.7 is priced at $11,499, while the range-topping 9.8 will be available for $13,499 in a single deep smoke colourway.
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