*Works great my **Latest.Bike** I have a bad knee so I still get exercise but the bike assists me. I am a big guy so I didn’t think it would go as fast but it works great.*
I've had mine now for about 3 weeks or so. I use it on a 40 mile (round trip) commute. I absolutely love it so far. One flat tire so far. I have more to learn about the bike but I definitely love it. Most surprising thing for me regarding e-bike commuting - I still get a killer work out in! I am seeing more and more e-bikes nowadays too....woo hoo!
I've owned mine for a year and a half. It has operated fault free. All I've had to do was adjust the derailleur. I tried almost every electric bike on the market. IMO, this one beat the others hands down. It's also VERY fast.
750 miles on mine. Love it. Chain needed to be replaced after 600 miles. Bike made by Diamantrad, a German company owned by Trek. I wish the US version came equipped like the European version, with standard rear rack, rear light, frame lock for the rear wheel. So I added all of those to make it the ultimate commuter bike. Bontrager rack. Axa Victory lock. Herrman's H-Track rear light. I'm going to add an SKS spoiler/mud flap to the front fender. Bought an extra battery charger ($200) to keep at work. I get to work sweat free and quickly in the morning. I pedal hard and fast on the way home for a workout. I have had the chain come off the front sprocket while shifting, but fortunately the chain guard pops off slightly without tools allowing access to get the chain back on. Words of caution ... 28 mph is fast and cars aren't expecting that .. Extra vigilance is required. Relatively expensive, but I feel that I got a high quality bike, and it brings me joy every time I ride it.
I complained about the range to my shop. They called and had a charger sent for free. Almost 3k on mine. Good upgrade ideas. Thanks for including the list. Cheers and happy riding. @thecyclingtherapist on Instagram
I just purchased this bike yesterday and took it out on my first ride. I went about 15 miles. This thing is a hill killer! I went up some major hills with a variety of grades....man it really performed. But I will say...when I operated it without assist on even the slightest grade...I felt slow as a turtle! I'm going to be using this bike for a 16-mile (one way) commute to work....this is the perfect bike for it too (lots of hills).
excellent overview! I was delighted to see this, and impressed by the clarity, detail, in general entertaining style of presentation. Keep up the good work!
+sightlink Hey, that's an awesome compliment! Thank you so much, I do my best to research and test each bike a lot before shooting but there's so much to say... they can get a little long at times but I'm glad you enjoyed it and said so ;)
I really want a 28 mph electric bike, I don't know if spending the extra $1,000 over a Specialized Turbo is worth it for this bike. It seems like the motor is a lot torquier but I like the more "race" looking aesthetics of the specialized. This bike looks a little too relaxed and commuter for my tastes, especially if I'm going to spend $3,500. Do you think this bike is worth $1,000 more than the Turbo?
I now have 1,500 miles on mine after four months of riding to and from work every day. It's been bulletproof for me. Put lock tite on the front light as vibration will move it around.
I have a dedicated bike path for 70% of my route. This is what really makes it doable in the long run. Podcasts, audiobooks, and music are all to be had because I don't have to listen for traffic. Its great for the body and I've gotten into road cycling now as a result. Riding my first 100 mile race on the 27th.@thecyclingtherapist on instagram for more.
Yes, bike paths are the only reason I am considering it. I would have about 1 mile of on road, then 7 miles of bike path. I think on road cycling is more dangerous than a skilled rider on a motorcycle due to difference in speed with traffic. The XM700+ somewhat alleviates that.
The e-bike can make it more equal. I beat most cars off the line with the torque which makes them notice me more. Going up hills is much nicer speed wise as well. However, I light myself up like a Christmas tree at night. Two lights on the front, three on the back. Plus I'll hang a 1000+ lumen Olight tactical flashlight from my bag on the front shoulder strap down towards the ground. It lights me, the bike and the road around me. Find a setup that works for you. Just be aware if you go too Rambo with the lights you may get pulled over for distracting other drivers. Cheers
This is nice. As you say the higher end model has some nice features as well. My concern with mid drive electrics is they put a lot more strain on the chain. As long as the chain does not break, it is a real plus on hills. But another minus is if you have to slam on the brakes at a light leaving you in the wrong gear, well that puts the electric behind the 8 ball too. Hub motors do not have those concerns unless you have a pedal assist. Mine is just an on / off button, which I really appreciate at intersections. Even if you are in the wrong gear, no problem. You still go. I really like my simple 250 front hub motor setup as long as you don't mind contributing quite a bit on the hills. A 350 in the middle like this one should be real sweet.
Daniel Rose I have owned the bike for a few weeks now. I really like the ride, power and looks. I do wish the battery was integrated but I will get over it. I got a good price and really like the service at my local Trek stores. I ordered the hardware to have an integrated rear light installed lik the Europe version. I also go the Topeak rack, trunk bag. I added some additional Bontrager lights and remote, and shimano dual style pedals. Oh, add a suspension seat post, mine is Suntour.
+Kobbetop Completely agree, Trek has been making solid regular bicycles for a long time and they were one of the early ebike manufacturers in the US as well but they held off for a bit maybe waiting for the market to mature, I feel like this second round does an excellent job
Local dealers for me makes the choice between the XM700+ and Specialized Turbo. I see you've reviewed them both and praised them both. Which would you pick between them? Thanks!
I ended up with the turbo x and love it. I did not get to see the Trek since there were no dealers with one in my area. My other bikes are Trek, but I agree with you, the turbo has the looks.
Great review and a nice quick commuter. remember when pedals would spin freeley? its a bugger to find them but i wont use pedals that dont spin freely,i m stuck with 1950s pedals.
+Mark Elford Like the actual pedal? Do you feel like they have stiffer bearings now so the pedals don't spin as much? Trying to understand what you mean... the cranks or the pedals?
The pedals made now dont spin freely unless you spend alot.there not stiffer for resistance reasons there just poorly made.Tullio Campagnolo would spin in his grave but cant because of resistance from new age bicycle components.
+Mark Elford it has been said that china-made pedals (all now) are very stingy with the bearing grease. I cannot recall the exact video, but one showed opening up pedeals to re-pack bearings with grease and as a result, they turned more easily.
Tech will get there. Also the cost. I got mine for 3.5k when they first came to the US. It's still niche and they want to grow the US market; not stifle it with price from emerging $$$ tech when the markets not matured yet. Great question.
Well, here's the problem: you can't GAIN and EXPEND energy at the same time (trust me, I'm a physics teacher). If so, you would have a perpetual motion machine. There are some ebikes that have battery regeneration when going braking (designed primarily for going downhill); that was the case with my old Trek Valencia+, which had the motor integrated into the rear wheel, and therefore could achieve regeneration. Not the case with the XM700+, and in any event the XM700+ is overall a MUCH better bike. Pros and cons all around.
I would add that regeneration capability adds complexity and costs up front. It would also mean more expensive repairs when the regeneration ability deteriorated or failed. I'm also concerned with how exactly it would work. The mid-drive on my XM 700+ actually exerts a little drag when the motor is not running at some level and I suspect this would be even worse if the bike had regeneration. For me personally, range hasn't been a problem as I round trip commute on a single charge. With some careful route selection, really light wind, and a bit more sweat, I'm pretty sure I could make two round trips to work on a single charge.
Did you say that this Bosch Performance version on'y increases the power assist in the Eco mode? And that the top mode is the same? I realize it goes to 28mph, but that sounds like a software tweak more than a more powerfully built motor itself. Also, I am aware some bike shops will tweak the software setting to make a 20mph top speed into 28mph. So if it's only software changes, I feel cheated paying more a bosch performance over a regular bosch
+ForbinColossus Well... I'm running Adobe Creative Suite 5 and if I want the advanced features of 6 I'll have to pay more, even though my computer is running the same hardware. Same with Tesla's and other consumer tech, they use software as an upgrade and selling feature to segment markets. Not everyone wants 28 mph but I agree that in a perfect and free sort of dreamworld situation you could set any speed you wanted and all bikes would cost the same :D
ElectricBikeReview.com to clarify my point, a better more powerful motor has more copper windings and now sometimes carbon fiber windings. Hence, I'm asking if the bosch performance motor is it self built more robustly regarding windings, stator, rotor - physical things - not mere software adjustments.
I bought a 2017 in December 2020 with 3500 miles for 900! Riding this beauty is amazing, also I recorded on a flat surface 29.5 miles per hour! I'm 5'8 and I bought the 60cm which is a little bit large but still fits me good and I love it!
Any chance you can always include the frame sizes and bike weights in all your reviews? Love your reviews, just inconvenient to have to Google the specs after your videos. Also, how about some Top 5 reviews? Maybe buy category, i.e. Mountain, Commuter, Touring, Speed, etc.
Have you checked out his website electricbikereview.com? It has all of the specs as well as the category listings you mention. He also has a great forum worth checking out as well.
I typically get 17 full turbo. You can drop tgat in between sport and tour and double it. My commute is 35 miles daily and it's worked great for me 10 mo tha straight.
Can 'big' people use these type of bikes??.... I'm a former Offensive lineman (+300lbs) trying to trim down and I'm wonder will the battery last with me... I know I will drain the battery ALOT more due to my weight... anybody here have experience with these types of bikes care to help me out? thanks...
I'm 220 and I've seen a drop in the estimated range. I've been commuting with this for 10 months and would REALLY recommend for getting in shape. It takes the edge off the first couple of weeks and months. I'm doing a 100 mile race this month on my road bike I got after this purchase. Wouldn't be doing it if I hadn't commuted for 9 months 35 miles a day and got an itch for something more. The great thing is that almost any body type can ride a bike. And for guys like us, our knees can't take the impact of running like others. Cheers and happy riding. @thecyclingtherapist on Instagram
250#+ Bodybuilder here with crushed leg from a van hit. This bike is going to be a life saver for me. Only form of cardio I can do for long stretches due to injuries, and believe me... It's a grrreat workout...even in turbo mode.
+Clinton Baltazor I'm a huge Specialized fan too, this model is more comfortable than most of the Turbo ebikes I've tried but the Turbo X has a suspension fork that helps a lot and I think it looks way cooler ;)
*Works great my **Latest.Bike** I have a bad knee so I still get exercise but the bike assists me. I am a big guy so I didn’t think it would go as fast but it works great.*
I've had mine now for about 3 weeks or so. I use it on a 40 mile (round trip) commute. I absolutely love it so far. One flat tire so far. I have more to learn about the bike but I definitely love it. Most surprising thing for me regarding e-bike commuting - I still get a killer work out in! I am seeing more and more e-bikes nowadays too....woo hoo!
I've owned mine for a year and a half. It has operated fault free. All I've had to do was adjust the derailleur. I tried almost every electric bike on the market. IMO, this one beat the others hands down. It's also VERY fast.
750 miles on mine. Love it. Chain needed to be replaced after 600 miles. Bike made by Diamantrad, a German company owned by Trek. I wish the US version came equipped like the European version, with standard rear rack, rear light, frame lock for the rear wheel. So I added all of those to make it the ultimate commuter bike. Bontrager rack. Axa Victory lock. Herrman's H-Track rear light. I'm going to add an SKS spoiler/mud flap to the front fender. Bought an extra battery charger ($200) to keep at work. I get to work sweat free and quickly in the morning. I pedal hard and fast on the way home for a workout. I have had the chain come off the front sprocket while shifting, but fortunately the chain guard pops off slightly without tools allowing access to get the chain back on. Words of caution ... 28 mph is fast and cars aren't expecting that .. Extra vigilance is required. Relatively expensive, but I feel that I got a high quality bike, and it brings me joy every time I ride it.
I complained about the range to my shop. They called and had a charger sent for free. Almost 3k on mine. Good upgrade ideas. Thanks for including the list. Cheers and happy riding. @thecyclingtherapist on Instagram
I just purchased this bike yesterday and took it out on my first ride. I went about 15 miles. This thing is a hill killer! I went up some major hills with a variety of grades....man it really performed. But I will say...when I operated it without assist on even the slightest grade...I felt slow as a turtle! I'm going to be using this bike for a 16-mile (one way) commute to work....this is the perfect bike for it too (lots of hills).
Bought one last week and so far so good. Replaced the saddle, added a rack, handle bar risers.
Just got mine today and cant stay off of it. This still gives you a workout at higher speeds. I watched this video to learn the features.
excellent overview! I was delighted to see this, and impressed by the clarity, detail, in general entertaining style of presentation. Keep up the good work!
+sightlink Hey, that's an awesome compliment! Thank you so much, I do my best to research and test each bike a lot before shooting but there's so much to say... they can get a little long at times but I'm glad you enjoyed it and said so ;)
I really want a 28 mph electric bike, I don't know if spending the extra $1,000 over a Specialized Turbo is worth it for this bike. It seems like the motor is a lot torquier but I like the more "race" looking aesthetics of the specialized. This bike looks a little too relaxed and commuter for my tastes, especially if I'm going to spend $3,500. Do you think this bike is worth $1,000 more than the Turbo?
I now have 1,500 miles on mine after four months of riding to and from work every day. It's been bulletproof for me. Put lock tite on the front light as vibration will move it around.
+vothry Wow! Sounds like it's working great, thanks for the tip on Loctite ;)
What do you think about commuting on an e-bike in general? I commute on a motorcycle and am thinking about going to e-bike for the additional freedom.
I have a dedicated bike path for 70% of my route. This is what really makes it doable in the long run. Podcasts, audiobooks, and music are all to be had because I don't have to listen for traffic. Its great for the body and I've gotten into road cycling now as a result. Riding my first 100 mile race on the 27th.@thecyclingtherapist on instagram for more.
Yes, bike paths are the only reason I am considering it. I would have about 1 mile of on road, then 7 miles of bike path. I think on road cycling is more dangerous than a skilled rider on a motorcycle due to difference in speed with traffic. The XM700+ somewhat alleviates that.
The e-bike can make it more equal. I beat most cars off the line with the torque which makes them notice me more. Going up hills is much nicer speed wise as well. However, I light myself up like a Christmas tree at night. Two lights on the front, three on the back. Plus I'll hang a 1000+ lumen Olight tactical flashlight from my bag on the front shoulder strap down towards the ground. It lights me, the bike and the road around me. Find a setup that works for you. Just be aware if you go too Rambo with the lights you may get pulled over for distracting other drivers. Cheers
This is nice. As you say the higher end model has some nice features as well. My concern with mid drive electrics is they put a lot more strain on the chain. As long as the chain does not break, it is a real plus on hills. But another minus is if you have to slam on the brakes at a light leaving you in the wrong gear, well that puts the electric behind the 8 ball too. Hub motors do not have those concerns unless you have a pedal assist. Mine is just an on / off button, which I really appreciate at intersections. Even if you are in the wrong gear, no problem. You still go. I really like my simple 250 front hub motor setup as long as you don't mind contributing quite a bit on the hills. A 350 in the middle like this one should be real sweet.
Daniel Rose I have owned the bike for a few weeks now. I really like the ride, power and looks. I do wish the battery was integrated but I will get over it. I got a good price and really like the service at my local Trek stores. I ordered the hardware to have an integrated rear light installed lik the Europe version. I also go the Topeak rack, trunk bag. I added some additional Bontrager lights and remote, and shimano dual style pedals. Oh, add a suspension seat post, mine is Suntour.
These Treks seem to be very good quality, and everything is kept clean, which I like a lot.
+Kobbetop Completely agree, Trek has been making solid regular bicycles for a long time and they were one of the early ebike manufacturers in the US as well but they held off for a bit maybe waiting for the market to mature, I feel like this second round does an excellent job
Local dealers for me makes the choice between the XM700+ and Specialized Turbo. I see you've reviewed them both and praised them both. Which would you pick between them? Thanks!
also trying to figure out if this bike is worth the price premium over the Turbo, I like the looks of the Turbo more though
I ended up with the turbo x and love it. I did not get to see the Trek since there were no dealers with one in my area. My other bikes are Trek, but I agree with you, the turbo has the looks.
Great review and a nice quick commuter. remember when pedals would spin freeley? its a bugger to find them but i wont use pedals that dont spin freely,i m stuck with 1950s pedals.
+Mark Elford Like the actual pedal? Do you feel like they have stiffer bearings now so the pedals don't spin as much? Trying to understand what you mean... the cranks or the pedals?
The pedals made now dont spin freely unless you spend alot.there not stiffer for resistance reasons there just poorly made.Tullio Campagnolo would spin in his grave but cant because of resistance from new age bicycle components.
+Mark Elford it has been said that china-made pedals (all now) are very stingy with the bearing grease. I cannot recall the exact video, but one showed opening up pedeals to re-pack bearings with grease and as a result, they turned more easily.
For walk mode to work you also have to push the plus button.
How are you able to hold onto the camera so steadily? Also, your audio sounds great too. Mind if I ask what gear you use?
Michael Ma he uses a go pro with a stabilizer
Serious question. Why do they not make these bikes re-charge the battery from your peddling? It seems like you're wasting energy? No?
Tech will get there. Also the cost. I got mine for 3.5k when they first came to the US. It's still niche and they want to grow the US market; not stifle it with price from emerging $$$ tech when the markets not matured yet. Great question.
Agreed!
Well, here's the problem: you can't GAIN and EXPEND energy at the same time (trust me, I'm a physics teacher). If so, you would have a perpetual motion machine. There are some ebikes that have battery regeneration when going braking (designed primarily for going downhill); that was the case with my old Trek Valencia+, which had the motor integrated into the rear wheel, and therefore could achieve regeneration. Not the case with the XM700+, and in any event the XM700+ is overall a MUCH better bike. Pros and cons all around.
I would add that regeneration capability adds complexity and costs up front. It would also mean more expensive repairs when the regeneration ability deteriorated or failed. I'm also concerned with how exactly it would work. The mid-drive on my XM 700+ actually exerts a little drag when the motor is not running at some level and I suspect this would be even worse if the bike had regeneration. For me personally, range hasn't been a problem as I round trip commute on a single charge. With some careful route selection, really light wind, and a bit more sweat, I'm pretty sure I could make two round trips to work on a single charge.
Did you say that this Bosch Performance version on'y increases the power assist in the Eco mode? And that the top mode is the same? I realize it goes to 28mph, but that sounds like a software tweak more than a more powerfully built motor itself. Also, I am aware some bike shops will tweak the software setting to make a 20mph top speed into 28mph. So if it's only software changes, I feel cheated paying more a bosch performance over a regular bosch
+ForbinColossus Well... I'm running Adobe Creative Suite 5 and if I want the advanced features of 6 I'll have to pay more, even though my computer is running the same hardware. Same with Tesla's and other consumer tech, they use software as an upgrade and selling feature to segment markets. Not everyone wants 28 mph but I agree that in a perfect and free sort of dreamworld situation you could set any speed you wanted and all bikes would cost the same :D
ElectricBikeReview.com to clarify my point, a better more powerful motor has more copper windings and now sometimes carbon fiber windings. Hence, I'm asking if the bosch performance motor is it self built more robustly regarding windings, stator, rotor - physical things - not mere software adjustments.
I am looking at a used one for $800. Do you/anyone know how much a replacement battery would be? Is this bike still relevant today? Thanks!
Any update ? Will they offer a 48V version of this bike battery ?
How tall are you? Do you think a 5'11 rider would be fine on a 50cm? Thanks
I bought a 2017 in December 2020 with 3500 miles for 900! Riding this beauty is amazing, also I recorded on a flat surface 29.5 miles per hour! I'm 5'8 and I bought the 60cm which is a little bit large but still fits me good and I love it!
Any chance you can always include the frame sizes and bike weights in all your reviews? Love your reviews, just inconvenient to have to Google the specs after your videos. Also, how about some Top 5 reviews? Maybe buy category, i.e. Mountain, Commuter, Touring, Speed, etc.
Have you checked out his website electricbikereview.com? It has all of the specs as well as the category listings you mention. He also has a great forum worth checking out as well.
Whats the price best regards Oscar
Should also mention I bought mine because of a severe leg injury to help with hills.
Beautiful. because he is so basic.
But also very high quality! I love it.
كيف يتم شحن البطارية
عن طريق الشاحن في الجدار. يوجد فيشة تشبكها مباشرة في البطارية و تشحنها
What is the range on the battery?
I typically get 17 full turbo. You can drop tgat in between sport and tour and double it. My commute is 35 miles daily and it's worked great for me 10 mo tha straight.
It's called Bon-tray-Ger, with a hard G.
Can 'big' people use these type of bikes??.... I'm a former Offensive lineman (+300lbs) trying to trim down and I'm wonder will the battery last with me... I know I will drain the battery ALOT more due to my weight... anybody here have experience with these types of bikes care to help me out? thanks...
I'm 220 and I've seen a drop in the estimated range. I've been commuting with this for 10 months and would REALLY recommend for getting in shape. It takes the edge off the first couple of weeks and months. I'm doing a 100 mile race this month on my road bike I got after this purchase. Wouldn't be doing it if I hadn't commuted for 9 months 35 miles a day and got an itch for something more. The great thing is that almost any body type can ride a bike. And for guys like us, our knees can't take the impact of running like others. Cheers and happy riding. @thecyclingtherapist on Instagram
Thanks for the info! I will continue to do my research, but I think this bike may be the one for me. Thanks again!
250#+ Bodybuilder here with crushed leg from a van hit. This bike is going to be a life saver for me. Only form of cardio I can do for long stretches due to injuries, and believe me... It's a grrreat workout...even in turbo mode.
Brandon Harrison upgrade your spokes
i was 280 and this thing is a champ! and now im down to 249 and going to 200!
Good website!
Wo bleibt der Speed? Na da muss ich meinen eigenen nehmen;)
hop on already man damm it!!! GOSh!!!!KMON?!!!
You're pronouncing Bontrager wrong.
Hmm... thanks for the heads up! Can you spell it out phonetically so I can get it right next time or like link to a video where they do it right?
@@ElectricBikeReview no he can't cuz he's a jerk. Don't bother and say it however you want. PotAto potawwto
I like it, but its not Specialized!
+Clinton Baltazor I'm a huge Specialized fan too, this model is more comfortable than most of the Turbo ebikes I've tried but the Turbo X has a suspension fork that helps a lot and I think it looks way cooler ;)
$3500