E-Bike Overview
One of the core design elements of the Trek FX+ 2 is being lightweight. At just 40 lbs, it’s the lightest town and city e-bike that Trek makes. It has the feel of a traditional bike with the added push that comes from the motor.
As a Class 1, pedal assist-only e-bike, it lacks a throttle and will only get up to 20 mph. With its rear-hub motor, it still offers a good kick up hills, offering up to 40 Newton meters of torque when you press hard on the pedals.
Various design decisions have been made in favor of lightness. It has a fixed fork that’ll be less comfortable off-road but is lighter than a suspension fork. The rear-hub motor will be lighter than a mid-drive motor, and the battery — at just 250 Watt-hours — saves weight, too.
Reasons to Buy
The Trek FX+ 2’s lightweight design is very nimble to ride. The range at 35 miles is ample for most daily riding, perhaps downtown or around your suburb as you go about your business. With the fenders, rack, and lights, you’ll be able to ride it in most conditions and carry a comfortable payload.
As a whole, you’d buy this e-bike if you were honest and don’t need a big range every day. You can add a range extender battery to get you up to 70 miles per ride, but this will add to the weight and take away from the handling of the e-bike. If you do the odd ride out touring the countryside, the optional range extender can be clipped on for those but left off for most daily riding.
Things to Consider
Trek says in its marketing materials that the bike can be carried upstairs more easily. This is still a full-sized e-bike and you would struggle to get it around hallways!
A minor complaint is the choice of the Bontrager Sport saddle. The saddle is unsuited to this type of riding and is likely fitted to save weight. Your behind may thank you for a slightly heavier aftermarket saddle that may add a pound or two to the weight but won’t tenderize your rump on a longer ride.
