In a major transfer that marks a departure from its conventional e-bike choices, Trek has launched the FX+ 1, its first-ever electrical bike geared up with a throttle. This launch responds to rising shopper demand for extra versatile and accessible e-biking choices, significantly within the North American market.
The FX+ 1 is a hybrid e-bike designed for city commuting, leisure driving, and lightweight off-road adventures. At its core is a 500W Hyena rear hub motor delivering 60 Nm of torque, offering sufficient energy for numerous terrain driving, although it won’t have the ability to dangle with the wide selection of 750W e-bikes cruising US streets. The motor is paired with a UL-certified 540 Wh battery built-in into the downtube, providing a variety of as much as 50 miles on a single cost.
The highest pace may be user-adjusted to both 20 mph or 28 mph (32 km/h or 45 km/h), offering efficiency that matches the utmost restrict for Class 2 and Class 3 e-bikes within the US, respectively.
Riders can select between two variations: the usual FX+ 1, a Class 2 e-bike with pedal help and throttle assist as much as 20mph, and the FX+ 1S, a Class 3 variant that extends pedal-assisted speeds as much as 28mph whereas sustaining the identical throttle restrict.
The FX+ 1 boasts a light-weight aluminum body out there in each mid-step and high-step configurations, accommodating riders from 5’1” to six’6”. It rolls on 27.5-inch wheels fitted with 50mm Bontrager GR0 gravel tires, balancing effectivity on pavement with consolation on rougher paths.
The bike contains with built-in entrance and back lights, with brake mild and switch sign capabilities as effectively. Trek even says that after the battery is depleted to 0%, there’s nonetheless sufficient juice left in it to run the bike’s lights for an additional three hours.
The bike additionally options an 8-speed Shimano ESSA drivetrain, hydraulic disc brakes with 180mm rotors, and mounts for racks and fenders, enhancing its utility for every day commutes and errands.
Charging is streamlined by way of Trek’s new EasyMag magnetic charger, which absolutely fees the battery in roughly 5.5 hours. The system features a wall-mountable unit with easy-to-see LED indicators, simplifying the charging course of.
Traditionally, Trek has centered on pedal-assist e-bikes, emphasizing a pure driving expertise shying away from throttles that enable riders to energy the bike’s motor with none pedaling enter. The introduction of a throttle-equipped mannequin signifies a strategic pivot to satisfy the preferences of many North American e-bike customers who’ve lengthy proven a shopping for desire for e-bikes with throttles..
Taylor Cook dinner, advertising supervisor for Trek Canada, defined the rationale: “There are a whole lot of bikes on the market calling themselves e-bikes that aren’t actually made to be pedaled. This isn’t that. It’s nonetheless a Trek bike, constructed to be ridden, simply with an additional little bit of assist once you want it.”
By getting into the throttle e-bike section, Trek positions itself head-to-head towards newer manufacturers which have capitalized on this market area of interest. The FX+ 1’s mixture of respected construct high quality, considerate design, and relative affordability (for a Trek) at $1,999 makes it a compelling possibility for a broad vary of riders.
Electrek’s Take
The FX+ 1 is definitely an attention-grabbing growth of Trek’s e-bike portfolio, and I believe followers might be blissful to see the corporate mixing conventional biking efficiency with trendy electrical bike throttles. Its introduction reveals that the corporate is effectively conscious of what number of US riders desire to have a throttle on their e-bike, and has made strikes to satisfy that want.
The truth that Trek’s sister firm Electra started together with throttles two years in the past was possible a good way for Trek to get its toes moist within the throttle sport. The corporate little doubt noticed the rise of riders that have been flocking to Electra’s throttle-equipped electrical bikes and wished to get a chunk of that pie as effectively.
