Trek Electric Bikes: A Comprehensive Review and Comparison

Whether you have experience riding electric bikes, standard unpowered bicycles or both, there is a good chance you’ve heard of Trek. This Wisconsin company is one of the leading bike and e-bike manufacturers in the United States, offering an extensive selection of models and distributing them worldwide for over 40 years. 

Upway carries numerous Trek electric bike models for riders of all experience levels. Discover Trek’s history, learn more about their top e-bike models and how they compare for riders with different needs.

The Trek story begins in 1975, when the future company’s founders, Dick Burke and Bevil Hogg, met on a plane and discussed their shared interest in bicycles. Together, they opened a bicycle shop in Waterloo, Wisconsin, and Trek Bicycle Corporation was incorporated in 1976. Although the shop mainly sold bikes from other brands, Trek also offered a range of custom bicycle frames. 

In the company’s first year, Trek made 904 touring bicycle frames, entirely manufactured from steel tubing, brazed and painted on location. It represented Trek’s early commitment to innovation, which became a company value.

Since then, the company has long been at the forefront of bicycle technology and development. Trek began manufacturing its first complete bikes in 1980, becoming a full-fledged bikemaker and introducing its first line of racing bikes, the Trek Pro series, in 1981. Over the years that followed, Trek became known for its technological innovations with standard bicycles. 

A short timeline of Trek’s most significant developments:

1985: Trek produces the 2000, its first bonded aluminum bike frame, using technology borrowed from the aerospace industry. It was considered as strong as steel-frame bikes of the era while being much lighter.

1989: Trek develops the 5000, its first bike with a molded carbon fiber frame. Although the 5000’s original version was a commercial failure, it spearheaded the company’s carbon fiber manufacturing capabilities, which it continues to use today. All modern Trek e-bike carbon frame models, such as the E-Caliber, are descended from the lessons learned with the 5000.

1990:Trek introduces the MultiTrack, pioneering a new bicycle category. The MultiTrack was advertised as a hybrid bicycle, combining the capabilities of a road bike with those of a mountain bike. The category naming lives on today in the e-bike world with city/hybrid e-bikes.

2010: The first Trek electric bike, the FX+, hits the market. Introduced as an electric version of the non-powered FX bicycles, the Trek FX+ is marketed as a lightweight, easy-riding e-bike for everyday commuting. Despite its early introduction, Trek continues producing the FX+ to this day, offering a 250 Wh battery pack and a rear-hub motor. The FX+ is Trek’s lightest model on the current catalog, capable of providing electric assistance for up to 35 miles and at speeds of up to 20 MPH.

Whether you prefer riding in the city, on the open road or through trails and mountain paths, Upway carries the Trek e-bikes you need. Choose from several new and used e-bikes for sale from Trek’s catalog, including the Verve+, E-Caliber, Super Commuter+, Powerfly, Domane+ and Allant+.

Not sure what model best fits your needs? The following is a feature-by-feature comparison of the best Trek e-bikes we carry to help you find your perfect Trek bike.

Trek Verve+ 3

The Verve+ family of electric bikes is an electric version of Trek’s non-electric Verve city commuters. Trek designed the Verve+ to be as intuitive and easy to use as possible, providing riders with a pick-up-and-go experience.

The Verve+ 3 is the third-generation model of the e-bike. Like most Trek e-bikes, this model features a Bosch electric motor. The Verve+ 3 is fitted with the Active Line Plus electric motor, providing a manageable and easily controllable 250 W of power and 50 Nm of torque. 

Its 28” Bontrager E6 hard-case tires feature a central deep groove and shallow, square treading. The tire construction is designed to handle all terrains you might find in an urban environment, from roads and sidewalks to gravel paths.

The Verve+ 3 is a Class 1 e-bike with a 500 Wh battery pack, making it capable of delivering pedal electric assistance until you reach 20 MPH. Its LCD-screen display is mounted near the left handle and features large, easily actuated buttons, letting you control the boost level easily. 

The clear LCD characters allow you to view your speed, riding mode and remaining battery power with no unnecessary information, in line with the Verve+’s philosophy of simplicity and intuitive riding.

Trek E-Caliber 9.8 GX Gen 2

Trek’s E-Caliber line can be considered the electric bike equivalent to its non-powered mountain bike families, such as the Supercaliber. E-Caliber e-bikes are Trek’s top-of-the-line electric mountain bikes (eMTBs) designed to let riders tackle any terrain and conserve as much battery power as possible. 

The lower the e-bike’s overall weight, the less power it needs to reach a desired speed. This is why Trek designed the E-Caliber 9.8 GX to be as light as possible with a total weight of just 37 lbs. Trek achieved this low weight by using an all-carbon frame, a lightweight Fazua Ride 50 motor and an all-aluminum SRAM GX crankset.

The SRAM GX is a 12-speed gearbox, ideally suited for controlling your ride on gravel paths, dirt roads, mountainside trails, rocky terrain and virtually any other surface. The deep-tread Bontrager XR3 Team Issue tires are among the best and most well-regarded cross-country (XC) e-bike tires on the market. Their narrow profile makes them lighter and more maneuverable than most other off-roading tires.

The Trek E-Caliber may be one of the best choices if you are looking for an eMTB for long-range adventures. While its battery pack is engineered to minimize weight and has a capacity of only 252 Wh, it is rated to provide up to 43.5 miles of continuous assistance at speeds up to 20 MPH.

Trek Powerfly 5

While the Powerfly is a family of eMTBs like the E-Caliber, they are intended for beginner riders looking for a more casual offroad experience. Although they don’t have the super-lightweight construction of their high-performance counterparts, Trek Powerfly e-bikes are highly capable and offer excellent value for money.

The Trek Powerfly 5 is the fifth-generation model of the family. It features a lightweight but durable aluminum frame and a powerful Bosch Performance Line CX motor capable of producing up to 75 Nm of torque. This combination gives the Powerfly an overall weight of just 51 lbs., making it an agile and easily maneuverable companion on the trail. The integrated 500 Wh battery pack can provide pedal assistance at speeds up to 20 MPH, making it easy to conquer uphills and steep terrain.

The Powerfly 5 comes fitted with a pair of 29” Schwalbe Hurricane tires, featuring an innovative triple trading surface system for reliable performance on all terrains. The sides of the tires feature deep treading for higher performance in dirt, mud or gravel trails. 

The central groove and square, shallow treads on both sides are nestled between deeper outer treads, providing a stable and comfortable ride on flatter surfaces. These tires’ performance is enhanced by the Powerfly’s RockShox suspension system and frame geometry, specifically optimized for maximum performance on the trail. 

Trek Domane+ LT 7

Trek has a long history of pushing the envelope with racing bicycles and passing on technological improvements to its road bikes and e-bikes. The Domane+ family of road e-bikes aims to offer as close to the racing bike experience as an e-bike can offer, combining a super-lightweight construction with the performance needed to conquer hilly roads.

The Domane+ LT 7 is an endurance road e-bike intended for riders who need to reach the longest possible distances. It features an OCLV carbon frame and lightweight components all around, including a low-profile, 250 W Fazua Ride 60 motor. The Domane+ LT 7 weighs just 29 lbs. without the rider, making it one of the world’s lightest electric bikes.

The Fazua motor is powered by a low-profile 250 Wh battery pack and can provide electric assistance through the pedals up to 20 MPH. The motor alone weighs 4.22 lbs., whereas the battery is just 3 lbs, meaning the Domane+’s power system contributes to just under 25% of the bike’s total weight.

While maximum range varies depending on the conditions, terrain and riding habits, test figures have shown the Domane+ LT 7 has enough battery for 68-mile rides, giving you more than enough juice to conquer nearly any road.

Trek Super Commuter+ 7

Trek’s Super Commuter+ e-bikes are city-riding models designed to combine comfort and performance. They are intended for riders who want to make the everyday ride to and from work as exciting as possible. 

Although it is marketed for city commuting, the Super Commuter+ 7 could also be considered a road e-bike. It features the angled frame, forward-facing handlebars and high-riding seat of a road or endurance model. However, the Super Commuter+ 7 also features a rear-mounted rack for installing side baskets, giving it extra practicality and cargo-carrying capacity.

The Super Commuter+ 7 is powered by a Bosch Performance Line 250 W motor and a 500 Wh battery pack. The motor can develop up to 65 Nm of torque, letting the rider reach the top pedal assistance speed of 20 MPH within seconds. 

It comes with a pair of 27.5” Schwalbe Super Moto-X road tires. The square treading pattern is ideally designed to capture and channel rainwater, dirt, sand and gravel away, letting you retain grip and stay in control, regardless of weather conditions.

High-quality, 180mm Shimano hydraulic disk brakes are mounted on both the front and rear wheels. They provide the rider with excellent stopping power, ensuring you can bring the e-bike to a stop as quickly as you can launch it. If you need to ride at night, the Super Commuter+ 7 ships with its own forward-mounted flashlight, producing 250 lumens of light intensity and projecting a wide-angle light beam for high visibility in all conditions.

Trek Allant+ 8

Riders looking for exciting, everyday riding experiences need the Trek Allant+. The Allant+ family of Trek e-bikes bridges the gap between pure road e-bikes and city commuters, offering a blend of convenience and high performance.

The heart of the Trek Allant+ 8 is its highly reliable Bosch Performance Line CS motor, producing 250 W and a maximum torque output of 85 Nm. The Bosch motor is mounted into the frame and receives its power from a sleek and flush-fitting 500 Wh standard battery. The battery can be found installed into the central frame strut. On its own, the standard battery will provide pedal electric assistance to the rider for up to 80 miles. 

You can extend the range further with the Trek Range Boost system, a battery extender that functions like a second battery. Range Boost packs are 500 Wh, effectively doubling the energy available to the Allant+ 8.

The Bosch motor’s ample power is transmitted to the Allant+’s efficient 10-speed Shimano Deore gearbox. This quality gearbox lets you control the smoothness of your ride and keep it as comfortable or as active as you need on nearly all elevations. 

Its integrated suspension system and Bontrager E6 27.5” tires are also designed to tackle nearly any hard surface, from potholed city asphalt to smooth open roads. While the Allant+ 8 is not explicitly designed for offroading, the tires are sufficiently versatile to handle light riding on dirt and gravel as well.

As both a bicycle and e-bike manufacturer, Trek’s commitment to technology and innovation can be seen in all their models, past and current. Whether you need a rugged eMTB such as the Powerfly or E-Caliber, a high-performance road e-bike like the Domane+, or an intuitive city commuter like the Verve+, Trek has the models you need.

Upway is proud to offer a wide selection of new and certified pre-owned Trek electric bikes for all ride types. Buying from Upway comes with the guarantee of finding an affordable e-bike; our prices are up to 60% lower than the manufacturer’s recommended sale price. 

All Trek models we receive go through our Upway Certification process. If you see a Trek e-bike on sale on Upway, it has been inspected and tested by a master technician and certified new or like-new.

Do you want to know if a Trek is the best electric bike for you or have more questions about electric bikes? Don’t hesitate to contact us. Our team is ready to answer all your questions and help you determine if one of our Trek models is the best fit for your needs.