Fully charge in only two hours.
An LED charge display illuminates to indicate how much charge your battery has, and lets you know when it's full.
E-bike technology is evolving at a very fast pace. We now have more refined technology, proven motors and larger capacity batteries, all combining to give more reliability, better performance and longer range. Within all this progress we're also seeing a splitting of genres, with new options giving E-bikes even more appeal, and to a wider audience. Exciting times for sure and Trek are up there at the forefront of this development, partnering up with TQ (from Germany) and Hyena as well as the ever-dependable Bosch. Trek's all-new Fuel EXe could well be the E-bike you've been waiting for...
The Trek Rail has been an incredibly popular bike here at Bay Cycles and it continues for the 2023 range as the brand's most powerful hard-hitting E-MTB. With a huge battery capacity, 85Nm of torque and progressive geometry, it's gathered plenty of test wins and accolades of the past few years. The Rail is a stunning bike but it's now joined by an exciting and quite possibly ground-breaking new model. Enter the Trek Fuel EXe...
While some e-bikes feel cumbersome and bulky, the Fuel EXe is light, nimble and playful, just as any trail bike should be. Its capable geometry is fine-tuned for charging into berms and making light work of technical trails – sweeping through turns, negotiating tight switchbacks and making light work of chaotic rock gardens. The 29" wheels and centrally located crank-driven TQ motor aid stability in the rough too. The Fuel EXe’s assistance feels natural and a lot less noticeable, like an extension of your own power, so you can ride just as you would on a regular mountain bike. It's quiet too, without the constant drone of a high powered motor.
TQ is a German robotics manufacturer that has not only a wealth of knowledge in producing impressively complicated components, but also a very high percentage of staff who are passionate about cycling. The brand’s experience creating technology for space travel, aviation, and daily consumer electronics has no doubt been an asset to the development of the Trek Fuel EXe. One component specifically – the patented Harmonic Pin Ring (HPR) transmission – was developed in TQ’s Drive department.
Most e-bike motors use gears and belts to move you forward – but belts and gears lash, slip, rattle and wear out over time. That disconnects you from the ride. The Fuel EXe uses a motor unlike anything else out there – the TQ harmonic pin ring transmission. The harmonic pin ring transmission is not only smaller and lighter than traditional e-bike motors, but because it has fewer moving parts it’s also smoother, quieter and more durable. It delivers more of the ride experience without any downside.
The TQ-HPR50 motor is super-efficient with an amazing power-to-weight ratio, delivering 50Nm of torque and neatly housed inside the slender down tube is a 360Wh battery (1,835g). The motor weighs 1,850g and because the concentric design is so small it’s hard to distinguish the new Fuel EXe from the new non-motorised version. The fact that the TQ motor is almost silent, makes it even harder to tell it apart from the regular Fuel EX.
The key benefits to the TQ power and drive system:
Light – Tipping the scale at just 1,800 g, the HPR50 is 1,100-grams lighter than other high-powered drive systems.
Small – HPR50 tucks neatly behind the front chainring for the clean look of a traditional bike.
Quiet – Foregoing noisy belts and geared teeth, the HPR50 comes in as much quieter than other systems.
Q Factor – The small size of HPR50 allows for a traditional 135 mm q-factor (the distance between the outside of one crank and the outside of the opposite crank), providing the same comfortable riding position as a non-electric bike.
Power Density – A balanced 50 Nm of torque gives just the right amount of assist that isn’t overwhelming, and doesn’t jerk you around like a full-powered 85-90 Nm e-bike.
Quite simply the TQ uses a better battery... here are the specs:
360 Wh packed into a lightweight 1,835 g package.
Fully charge in only two hours.
An LED charge display illuminates to indicate how much charge your battery has, and lets you know when it's full.
Daisy-chain to charge your booster and battery simultaneously.
Simple removal, just unplug, remove the downtube guard and two bolts, and pull out by the handle.
Hammer out big days with the Range Extender – give yourself up to 44% more range with an optional 160 Wh external battery. A long ride on Dartmoor or a full day ripping round a trail centre? No problem... This compact back-up battery fits in the supplied Bontrager bottle cage and doesn’t require any complicated wiring or special mounts. There's a short reach to the charge port, and it's secured in place by a retention strap (Range Extender cable and retention strap sold separately). Then move your water bottle into a handy waist pack such as the Bontrager Rapid Pack.
Range Extender Battery: £459.99 Extender cable: £29.99 Retention Strap: £10.99
Tuned for you – You’re in control with three completely adjustable motor tune settings that can be easily tweaked on the fly. Quickly adapt your Fuel EXe to your terrain or riding style from the Trek Central app.
Plan your ride – Map out the perfect ride with easy-to-use maps and let the app show you how far you’ll make it with your current battery level.
See your stats – Keep track of the hours you spend in the saddle, the distance you ride, battery usage and calories burned with activity tracking.
Make history – Scroll through a complete history of your rides and work towards new goals with ride history that logs every ride automatically when your Fuel EXe is paired to the Trek Central app.
Plays well with others – Pair your Trek Central app with Strava and Komoot to seamlessly communicate ride details and automatically log your rides across different apps.
Suspension:
Trek may well be employing some new technology on the Fuel EXe but it hasn't messed with success when it comes to suspension design. This E-MTB uses a proven suspension design that we've seen on Trek full suspension bikes for many years – EVO link and ABP rear axle pivot – it's all fully-evolved and reliable, both in longevity and on-the-trail performance. With 140mm of rear travel and a 150mm fork leading the charge, 29" wheels with chunky 2.5" tyres for grip, and premium suspension components the EXe is a modern day trail tamer.
Carbon Frame:
With an eye on keeping weight down – one of the main benefits of these mid powered E-MTBs – Trek has paired the TQ motor and battery with a carbon frame. With a long history using this material, the end result is a bike that is not only light but one with sleek and stylish good looks. The detail is incredible, from the cable routing to the neatly integrated display it really does showcase Trek's attention to design and finish.
Sizing and Geometry:
With four frame sizes to choose from, with 29" wheels front and rear on all options, there is a Fuel EXe to suit riders from 153cm (5' 0") to 196cm (6' 5"). The geometry is bang up-to-date, with Trek's proven Mino Link giving a 'high' and 'low' position to suit different terrain or rider preferences.
All of the six Fuel EXe models use the same carbon frame, TQ motor, battery and control system. Every model is equipped with a dropper seatpost, tubeless ready rims and tyres and a wide-range 1x12 drivetrain.
Fuel EXe 9.5 £6400
Fuel EXe 9.7 £7800 - 8350
Fuel EXe 9.8 XT £9250 - £9800
Fuel EXe 9.8 GX AXS £9900 - £10450
Fuel EXe 9.9 XTR £12500
Fuel EXe 9.9 XX1 AXS £13500
For more information and detailed geometry and sizing see the Trek Bikes website HERE
