Trek release new Powerfly e-MTB range with integrated sideloading battery
Hardtail and full sus bikes get clean-looking overhaul
Trek's e-MTB range has seen a serious update for the 2019 model year, with a move to a full integrated, side loading battery across the entire full suspension and hardtail lineup, plus tweaks to geometry and specification throughout.
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As ever, the Powerfly pedal-assist range is split into three categories, with hardtail Powerfly, the 130mm travel Powerfly FS and the harder-hitting 150mm travel Powerfly LT, all using the Bosch motor and battery system. The big news for this year that that the battery is now fully integrated into the frame with a neat side-loading system Trek calls the Removal Integrated Battery.
The main benefit of RIB is that it helpfully keeps access out of the way of the worst of the muck, but it also means that you can have bottle cage mounts in the usual position. The battery is accessible via the drive side of the bike so you can get at it when it's lying on the ground, with a key releasing the mechanism and a neat handle built into the battery for easy carrying when it's removed.
New high-end carbon Powerfly LT models plus geo tweaks
As well as all but the most affordable bikes in each lineup getting the new battery, the Powerfly LT now gets a pair of OCLV carbon fibre framed bikes at the tippy top of the range, claiming to drop a fairly significant 650g of weight from the frame thanks to the extra integration the spendy black stuff allows over the aluminium framed models. Prices for a carbon Powerfly LT9.7 start at £5,200 and top out with the £7,250 LT 9.9.
More affordable Powerfly 4 bikes added
While the higher end bikes use the new battery pack, Trek has now introduced more affordable bikes using the older semi-integrated design, with prices starting at £2,250 for the hardtail Powerfly 4, £3,200 for a Powerfly FS 4 and £3,600 for an LT 4. All the bikes use Suntour forks but keep the same Bosch Performance CX motor, Purion control and 500Wh battery capacity as the more expensive bikes.
Geometry and spec improvements
All the bikes have also had slightly tweaked geometry, with longer chainstays for improved climbing. Trek is now making a point of speccing e-bike specific (or qualified) forks and four-piston brakes with sintered pads on all the LT bikes and some FS models, while all the rest of the bikes have at least a 34mm legged fork for extra durability.
All the bikes come with 27.5" Plus wheels as standard, but you can put in 29er wheels should you wish on all of them save for bikes smaller than a 17.5" frame. Trek has also updated the own-brand Bontrager XR4 tyres seen on many of the bikes with a tougher casing, while more robust Bontrager wheels with e-bike specific rims are also a common sight.
Women's specific models are also available, with the same geometry but smaller sizing options.
Trek says that stock of all but the tip-top carbon LT bikes should now be available, so head to their site to see more.
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