Interesting review. I have had the 9.7 since May. It's a great bike with a few small niggles. I never ran the stock tires... had the shop swap them out for Maxxis tires before purchase. The motor mount bolts worked loose after about 250kms and the shop had a couple of attempts to torque them properly before realising the motor has adjustable mounts to widen its stance inside the frame which needed adjustment. Since then it has been creak-free for well over 1000km. The rear hub bearings got water in them on the only wet ride I did and rusted. I replaced them with decent bearings and re-greased the free-hub and it now runs almost silently. The motor developed a ratcheting sound around the 1000km mark and I made a recording to show the bike shop. They sent the video to Trek New Zealand and within a day I was told a new motor would be on its way, no questions asked. It did take some time to receive the new motor, but I was able to ride the old one until it arrived and was fitted the same day for no charge under warranty. The ridiculous ethirteen alloy crank bolts constantly worked loose so the shop got some steel ones and loc-tited them in.. no more issues there. The Fox rear shock lost air quickly and developed an internal knocking sound causing me to search the whole bike looking for the source of the rattling. My local suspension guy found out the issue..... it's a Fox warranty issue with the compression stack which I hope will be sorted out in the next couple of weeks after businesses start up again after our Christmas holidays. Apparently this affects a number of different Float X shocks and isn't limited to these bikes, but it doesn't seem to be widely known. I have spoken to two other owners of these bikes with the same problem... It would be nice if Fox would issue a re-call as its annoying as hell when the bike is so quiet in all other respects. With all that said, I would buy this bike again in a heart-beat. The positives have far outweighed the issues I have had with it, Trek New Zealand's back-up was first rate and it is just so much fun to ride.
I had the same bike and developed the fox rear shock knock. My shop sent the shock to fox under warranty and they rebuilt it with the new updated piston quiet now. Then the controller stopped working they fixed that, then the motor sounded awful they replaced that I decided I didn’t want the bike, it was in the shop most of the summer so trek sent me a rail 9.8 but the motor rattle is horrible
I have this same bike exactly. I was initially disappointed in this bike until we learned how to tune the motor via the app. Factory settings are very minimal as far as impact to climbing. I didn’t need much assistance until I really need assistance climbing the last bits of hard hills. So my son who is a monster mountain bike rider got in and tuned the last mode three bars or turbo mode as it’s called. We pushed everything to maximum. That completely changes the response of the bike when you need it. Now the bike is everything I wanted it to be and it’s does everything I want it to. It’s non invasive when I’m riding regular trails but has the impact when I really do need it. We also put some maxxis tires on for better grip and downhill control It’s so important to tune the motor for your needs. This bike has a wide range of capabilities for a lot of different riders
Nice bike and overview. I'm 54 and have been on analog bikes for 30 years. I still ride my 2013 Stumpy 29er w new parts on it. The geo is not that far off modern specs and it still rocks being an alloy bike at only 30 lbs. If I'm gong to pedal a 35 lbs.+ bike up steeps, it better have a motor on it. I have been waiting for riders like you to test the new tech, so they can work out all the bugs and glitches. It is like this w all new tech in the industry, until they refine it. The only way it improves is through rider feedback to the Industry. I think it will take about 2-3 more years of development, and light, reliable eBikes will be the norm going forward. Prices will fall as eBikes become more ubiquitous and the R&D costs less a factor. Great vid and happy trails.
I’m 65 and this bike is perfect for older riders who really don’t want to give in to old age. It has a wide range of capabilities for in shape experts to mid range riders who still have some aerobic endurance I still ride my 15 Sworks stump jumper but on harder rides I ride this one.
I think you're the most under-viewed mtb youtuber that im aware of right now. Production quality is super high, basically off the charts for a channel of your size. Anyway, great review
i’ve had my 9.8 for. several months. found at the downtown store in sac competent mechanics who so far have solved the creak and solved several other issues. i put 2.6 assegais on front and back with a huge boost in control. i’m a slow rider. also a 160 air shaft. i likewise am not a fan of their bontrager subsidiary products. the t type axs gx version makes the low power tq work because you can shift under power instantly. i also have a full power e bike.
Good to know, I had better tires on it in Washington and agree they made a huge difference. It turned out the creak was just the motor mount bolts, it seems they didn't torque things/loc-tite it when they replaced the motor
Anyone haveing a creek you need to re torque the motor bolts, and also the spindle that holds on the chairing, then your crank arms. Takes 10 minutes at home problems solved, motor has been flawless and if outside of warranty look up new replacement tq motors they are super cheap and easy to take out and reinstall. Definitely a better buy than the levo sl 2 or any fazua with there motor issues hands down. 🍺
the bike is suffering from the dreadful squeaks coming from the TQ motor enclosure ....mine had the same issue (twice).....just have to bring it back to Trek every 6-9 months
Nice review. Can you tell me how long the battery lasts? I do XC and some enduro and my main concern about this bike is the battery capacity. Would it do a ride of 40/50 km?
I wouldn't think so, but I generally rode it at full power. That meant about 20km and 1066m of climbing. If the terrain is more rolling and you use it at lower power it will go much farther but 50km seems like a stretch. Lastly, because of the weight I never had an issue riding it after the battery died.
@@Simon1279. the motor was recently warrantied and the shop failed to tighten it down. I figured it out about halfway through the ride and was able to get rid of the creak.
hey man helpfull tip to get better watch time on your video= more view try and shorten your intro to about 5 seconds just thought i would share my thoughts best of luck!
Great job, nice review. I've given up on Trek, house brand components are junk and warranty support (which everyone riding hard will need at some point) is even worse. Longevity of the frames is poor BUT they do ride great and pass the parking lot test ride with an A+.
@jimsteinway695 I'm not trash talking. I'm a drive train destroyer on a std mtb. I can't conceive of keeping one going on an e bike. Id nuke casettes monthly.... Also there's no darn reason for concentric chainrings on ebikes. Extra complication in the motor section.
Interesting review. I have had the 9.7 since May. It's a great bike with a few small niggles. I never ran the stock tires... had the shop swap them out for Maxxis tires before purchase. The motor mount bolts worked loose after about 250kms and the shop had a couple of attempts to torque them properly before realising the motor has adjustable mounts to widen its stance inside the frame which needed adjustment. Since then it has been creak-free for well over 1000km. The rear hub bearings got water in them on the only wet ride I did and rusted. I replaced them with decent bearings and re-greased the free-hub and it now runs almost silently. The motor developed a ratcheting sound around the 1000km mark and I made a recording to show the bike shop. They sent the video to Trek New Zealand and within a day I was told a new motor would be on its way, no questions asked. It did take some time to receive the new motor, but I was able to ride the old one until it arrived and was fitted the same day for no charge under warranty. The ridiculous ethirteen alloy crank bolts constantly worked loose so the shop got some steel ones and loc-tited them in.. no more issues there. The Fox rear shock lost air quickly and developed an internal knocking sound causing me to search the whole bike looking for the source of the rattling. My local suspension guy found out the issue..... it's a Fox warranty issue with the compression stack which I hope will be sorted out in the next couple of weeks after businesses start up again after our Christmas holidays. Apparently this affects a number of different Float X shocks and isn't limited to these bikes, but it doesn't seem to be widely known. I have spoken to two other owners of these bikes with the same problem... It would be nice if Fox would issue a re-call as its annoying as hell when the bike is so quiet in all other respects.
With all that said, I would buy this bike again in a heart-beat. The positives have far outweighed the issues I have had with it, Trek New Zealand's back-up was first rate and it is just so much fun to ride.
Good to hear they're keeping you on the trail and you're enjoying the bike!
I had the same bike and developed the fox rear shock knock. My shop sent the shock to fox under warranty and they rebuilt it with the new updated piston quiet now. Then the controller stopped working they fixed that, then the motor sounded awful they replaced that I decided I didn’t want the bike, it was in the shop most of the summer so trek sent me a rail 9.8 but the motor rattle is horrible
I have this same bike exactly. I was initially disappointed in this bike until we learned how to tune the motor via the app. Factory settings are very minimal as far as impact to climbing. I didn’t need much assistance until I really need assistance climbing the last bits of hard hills. So my son who is a monster mountain bike rider got in and tuned the last mode three bars or turbo mode as it’s called. We pushed everything to maximum. That completely changes the response of the bike when you need it.
Now the bike is everything I wanted it to be and it’s does everything I want it to. It’s non invasive when I’m riding regular trails but has the impact when I really do need it.
We also put some maxxis tires on for better grip and downhill control
It’s so important to tune the motor for your needs. This bike has a wide range of capabilities for a lot of different riders
Yeah, the motor tuning is really cool. I was initially fine with the stock setup, but my dad has definitely been playing with it.
Nice bike and overview. I'm 54 and have been on analog bikes for 30 years. I still ride my 2013 Stumpy 29er w new parts on it. The geo is not that far off modern specs and it still rocks being an alloy bike at only 30 lbs. If I'm gong to pedal a 35 lbs.+ bike up steeps, it better have a motor on it.
I have been waiting for riders like you to test the new tech, so they can work out all the bugs and glitches. It is like this w all new tech in the industry, until they refine it. The only way it improves is through rider feedback to the Industry. I think it will take about 2-3 more years of development, and light, reliable eBikes will be the norm going forward. Prices will fall as eBikes become more ubiquitous and the R&D costs less a factor. Great vid and happy trails.
Thanks!
I’m 65 and this bike is perfect for older riders who really don’t want to give in to old age. It has a wide range of capabilities for in shape experts to mid range riders who still have some aerobic endurance
I still ride my 15 Sworks stump jumper but on harder rides I ride this one.
@@jimsteinway695 Agreed, it has a wide range of uses and rides more like a modern mountain bike rather than a standard e-mtb..
I think you're the most under-viewed mtb youtuber that im aware of right now. Production quality is super high, basically off the charts for a channel of your size.
Anyway, great review
Thanks so much! Some videos come out better than others but it's a ton of fun either way
i’ve had my 9.8 for. several months. found at the downtown store in sac competent mechanics who so far have solved the creak and solved several other issues. i put 2.6 assegais on front and back with a huge boost in control. i’m a slow rider. also a 160 air shaft. i likewise am not a fan of their bontrager subsidiary products. the t type axs gx version makes the low power tq work because you can shift under power instantly. i also have a full power e bike.
Good to know, I had better tires on it in Washington and agree they made a huge difference. It turned out the creak was just the motor mount bolts, it seems they didn't torque things/loc-tite it when they replaced the motor
Anyone haveing a creek you need to re torque the motor bolts, and also the spindle that holds on the chairing, then your crank arms. Takes 10 minutes at home problems solved, motor has been flawless and if outside of warranty look up new replacement tq motors they are super cheap and easy to take out and reinstall. Definitely a better buy than the levo sl 2 or any fazua with there motor issues hands down. 🍺
@@JoJo-yr6io good explanation
Love the look of this bike
Same, you really cannot tell its an ebike from a distance and the performance is what I'd be looking for.
the bike is suffering from the dreadful squeaks coming from the TQ motor enclosure ....mine had the same issue (twice).....just have to bring it back to Trek every 6-9 months
Sounds about right, I tightened it up and the noise was gone. 🤞it stays tight
Nice review. Can you tell me how long the battery lasts? I do XC and some enduro and my main concern about this bike is the battery capacity. Would it do a ride of 40/50 km?
I wouldn't think so, but I generally rode it at full power. That meant about 20km and 1066m of climbing. If the terrain is more rolling and you use it at lower power it will go much farther but 50km seems like a stretch. Lastly, because of the weight I never had an issue riding it after the battery died.
@NICADV thank you for the answer. Very informative. I'm your new follower 😊
The creaks 😵
yeah, the shop didn't tighten the motor, but luckily I was able tighten it and get rid of the creak
what's up with the sound of that bike? were you able to fix that? it would drive me crazy
It was the motor mounts and once tightened things were good. The motor had failed and the shop that took care of it failed to torque it down.
What's that creacking noise?
@@Simon1279. the motor was recently warrantied and the shop failed to tighten it down. I figured it out about halfway through the ride and was able to get rid of the creak.
hey man helpfull tip to get better watch time on your video= more view try and shorten your intro to about 5 seconds just thought i would share my thoughts best of luck!
Thanks
Great job, nice review. I've given up on Trek, house brand components are junk and warranty support (which everyone riding hard will need at some point) is even worse. Longevity of the frames is poor BUT they do ride great and pass the parking lot test ride with an A+.
Haha, Thanks.
I can hear it creaking 😮
Yeah, the motor was loose. I tightened it after the first climb
On sale now for 5K
@@davewallace9048 🤷🏻♂️
whats that horrible creak?
The motor mount bolts wiggle loose and starts creaking.
motor mount bolts, its all fixed now
All e bikes are compromised untill they come with a gearbox and high drive instead of concentric chainrings
Doesn’t matter. It gets us older guys off our ass and in the hills. I can keep up with my buddies on my Sworks mountain bike so e bikes are perfect
@jimsteinway695 I'm not trash talking.
I'm a drive train destroyer on a std mtb.
I can't conceive of keeping one going on an e bike. Id nuke casettes monthly....
Also there's no darn reason for concentric chainrings on ebikes. Extra complication in the motor section.
Not sure when those things will happen with ebikes, but in the meantime ruclips.net/video/Gbx2kY8xpNc/видео.htmlsi=xpT5dmAdffZdUtZs
Squeaking is horrible
Yeah, luckily I was able to fix it after the 1st climb, but a bit of a letdown as it was at the shop not long ago.