A Bosch Performance Line CX mid-drive motor combined with a 625Wh PowerTube battery, delivering pedal assist up to 20mph as a Class 1 e-Bike.
Co-op Cycles DRT e3.1 E-Bike Review
Written by: Tom Fortune | September 14, 2026 | Time to read 5 min
REI’s first electric mountain bike exceeds the usual budget-brand compromises, with full suspension, a Bosch CX motor, and a dropper post included from the start.
More about the Author: Tom Fortune
Tom is a Brit living in the French Alps. When he's not creating written and video content for various brands, he's either pedalling or snowboarding around his local mountains. E-Bikes have unlocked the potential for Tom to explore Alpine terrain and get away from the crowded bike parks. He is only too keen to share his knowledge and experience with other riders.
The Co-op Cycles DRT e3.1 was REI’s first full-suspension electric mountain bike, a step up from the hardtail REI Co-op DRT e1.1. REI no longer sells this bike, but you can still find it on the second-hand market and Upway when available— its components still hold up well against current e-MTBs at a similar level.
👋 Welcome to Upway!
Upway is your top destination for buying and selling e-Bikes online. Discover your next e-Bike at up to 60% off retail prices, available in new or like-new condition.
Co-op Cycles DRT e3.1 Specs
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Motor | Bosch Performance Line CX mid-drive |
| Battery | Bosch PowerTube 625 (625Wh) |
| Class | Class 1, pedal assist up to 20mph |
| Suspension | RockShox Recon Silver RL fork (140mm) and Deluxe Select Plus RT shock (130mm) |
| Drivetrain | SRAM SX Eagle, 1x12-speed |
| Brakes | Tektro Gemini SL, 4-piston hydraulic disc |
| Tires | Kenda Nevegal, tubeless-ready, 2.6in |
| Seatpost | X-Fusion Manic dropper |
| Weight | 55 lbs |
How It Rides
The REI Co-op DRT e3.1 has RockShox suspension, which you normally find on higher-end bikes, and you get 140mm of travel up front and 130mm on the rear. The shock works through a Horst-link design that keeps the rear wheel compliant over roots and rocks. On flatter trails, most riders cycle through the assist levels manually, but it also has an adaptive trail assistance mode that handles technical sections on its own, so you're not fumbling with buttons mid-climb.
I like that a bike at this level has a dropper seatpost, letting you lower the saddle for descents and pop it back up for climbing without stopping. The Tektro 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes bring strong stopping power to a 55 lb bike, with thicker 2.3mm rotors than most e-MTBs in this range. It comes with 180mm rotors front and rear, but you can upgrade to a 200mm front rotor. This would be better for heavier or more aggressive riders.
Motor and Battery
The Bosch Performance Line CXmid-drive motor is the same system found on e-MTBs costing considerably more. So you get strong, natural-feeling climbing power through Bosch’s Smart System. It works with a 625Wh PowerTube battery, and you can connect your phone to the eBike Flow app to check ride data and adjust assist modes. It also has a very useful Walk Assist mode to push the bike up sections too steep to ride.
A nice touch is that it comes with a SRAM UDH derailleur hanger. This means it’s ready for SRAM’s newer Transmission drivetrain if you ever want to upgrade from the stock SRAM SX Eagle mechanical drivetrain.
Things to Know Before You Buy
- Gear shifter placement takes some getting used to if you’re used to a different index-finger-and-thumb layout.
- Factory assembly on this model has occasionally missed details like the front brake caliper adapter orientation or dropper post cable length. Both are simple fixes, but worth checking on a used bike in case they were never sorted.
Who Should Buy the Co-op Cycles DRT e3.1?
- Riders who want full-suspension e-MTB performance without paying flagship prices should find the component spec here properly competitive.
- Anyone comfortable buying a discontinued model secondhand, without the option of a manufacturer warranty or new-bike support, will get a lot of bike for the money here.
- Riders who want a dropper post and a Bosch CX motor together, without paying for a bike from a premium brand.
Alternatives Worth Considering
The Cannondale Moterra Neo 5 sits in a similar accessible price range with a comparable Bosch-powered full-suspension design, a fairer comparison than jumping to a premium boutique e-MTB.
Co-op's own DRT e1.1 trades full suspension and the CX motor for a hardtail frame and a smaller Bosch motor, a reasonable compromise if you’re on a budget.
Find a Co-op Cycles DRT e3.1 on Upway
A full-suspension frame and mid-drive motor both see plenty of wear on aggressive trail riding, so check the shocks, motor, and drivetrain closely on a used DRT e3.1, along with the dropper post’s action. Every e-Bike on Upway goes through a 50-point inspection before it’s listed, so all this is covered.
Browse the current electric mountain bikes selection, the used electric bikes collection, the Class 1 range, or check the sale collection to compare current options.
Frequently Asked Questions
What motor does the Co-op Cycles DRT e3.1 use?
Does the Co-op Cycles DRT e3.1 have a dropper seat post?
Yes, an X-Fusion Manic dropper post comes standard, an upgrade over bikes in this category that leave it as an aftermarket add-on.
Is the Co-op Cycles DRT e3.1 still available new?
REI has discontinued it, so new stock is limited. It shows up regularly on the secondhand market instead.
Key Takeaways
- The Co-op Cycles DRT e3.1 combines a Bosch Performance Line CX motor, RockShox suspension, and a dropper post at a price well below flagship full-suspension e-MTBs.
- The adaptive trail assistance mode handles technical sections automatically, so you don’t have to adjust assistance levels by hand mid-climb.
- The frame's SRAM UDH derailleur hanger means it's ready for SRAM's newer Transmission drivetrain down the line, a forward-looking detail that's easy to overlook on a bike at this price.
