Is it just me or is nobody complaining about their Trek/Bosch ebikes?

Dallant

Well-Known Member
Region
USA
I see new complaints/issues about every day in the General Discussion or specific Brand threads. What I don’t see is anyone complaining about their Trek ebikes or the Bosch motors they use. Is it that Trek/Bosch owners don’t have problems or that they take their problems to their local Trek dealer?
I know I’ve had mine since May, have almost 950 miles on it and have had zero issues beyond a battery lock that was fixed within two hours.
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1,200 miles and no issues apart from the common rear hub failure. Bike, as customized as it is, a joy to ride. For the ability to customize my motor output and get a workout, I really like my Specialized Vado SL 5.0. For overall ride quality, comfort and speed, the Allant 9.9s is the winner. My Trek dealer is really good in terms of service so I have a high degree of confidence that if any problem does surface, they will be able to resolve it and/or will stand behind the product.
 

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1,200 miles and no issues apart from the common rear hub failure. Bike, as customized as it is, a joy to ride. For the ability to customize my motor output and get a workout, I really like my Specialized Vado SL 5.0. For overall ride quality, comfort and speed, the Allant 9.9s is the winner. My Trek dealer is really good in terms of service so I have a high degree of confidence that if any problem does surface, they will be able to resolve it and/or will stand behind the product.
Who services the Vado?
 
The Bosch motors are used elsewhere and faults crop up from time to time, so I'd say its probably down to good quality control and after-sales service/support.
 
I have three eBikes with Bosch power. I praise them all the time. 5,065 miles is the high mileage one of the three. Two class 3, one class 1
 
Who services the Vado?
Ha! That is what I would like to know! Well, technically the Specialized dealer does. But the dealer is horrible in terms of service. I've taken it in once, since purchase, for a software update. On the Vado SL, I think they have to drop the motor to do a software update. I got the bike back and the derailleur was misaligned and the display was no longer connecting to the bike. They fixed those things after I test-rode and informed them. But I have very little confidence in the shop when it comes to major repairs and servicing. By the way, I was standing outside the shop waiting for them to finish their software update and another customer exiting said to me in passing: "a word of advice, don't ever let these guys work on your bike".
 
I don't own Trek ebikes (I'm a happy Pedego rider, with hard working bikes in my family that have 6,000+, 4,000+, and 2,000+ miles on them, and then there's my daughter's ebike with, um, 400-ish miles on it), but it's great to see happy Trek riders. I see folks on them frequently and they are always smiling! I considered the Electra line when I was ebike shopping, but wanted Class 2, so moved on.
 
My Allant 9.9 has had the hub issue (new hub, way better than OEM installed) and I am not happy with the light failing to go into daytime blink mode and using so much battery power (they replaced it but the problem remains). Our local Trek shop and Trek corporate have been phenomenally attentive in resolving my problems. I absolutely love the bike and can't say enough good things about the after sales support at every level. Although the bike has not been trouble free, overall, I could not be more pleased.
 
I had 1700 Trouble-free miles on my SC7. I traded up to my present Allant 9.9 (1800 miles) with a few growing pains but ably addressed by LBS who also sell and service Specialized. If for a guest rider I go Specialized Turbo Vado I have confidence The LBS will keep it on the road
 
I see new complaints/issues about every day in the General Discussion or specific Brand threads. What I don’t see is anyone complaining about their Trek ebikes or the Bosch motors they use. Is it that Trek/Bosch owners don’t have problems or that they take their problems to their local Trek dealer?
I know I’ve had mine since May, have almost 950 miles on it and have had zero issues beyond a battery lock that was fixed within two hours.View attachment 71619
I have 1400 miles on my allant and no issues to report either. My only complaints is the Bontrager lync headlight gets very warm

Other issue is the stock kickstand is weak and extends at an acute angle which makes the bike susceptible to falling over on windy days, clumsy pedestrians brushing by it or even if an overweight pigeon lands on the saddle. I have an atran velo kickstand on order that I learned about from an EBR member. Expecting it early next week.
 
I have 1400 miles on my allant and no issues to report either. My only complaints is the Bontrager lync headlight gets very warm

Other issue is the stock kickstand is weak and extends at an acute angle which makes the bike susceptible to falling over on windy days, clumsy pedestrians brushing by it or even if an overweight pigeon lands on the saddle. I have an atran velo kickstand on order that I learned about from an EBR member. Expecting it early next week.
The worst thing about that hot headlight is that the heat is a manifestation of excessive electron expenditure. I estimate that that light, in low beam, gobbles up about 10-15% of the battery energy on a ride, unacceptable to me. I resorted to adding rechargeable head and tail lights on my bike to avoid using the stock, integrated lights.

It would not be so bad if it reliably went into its daytime blink mode during daylight. However the sensor is poorly located and it only does that when bright, unfiltered sunlight is shining directly on the rear light. Have you had the same issue with the blinking daytime mode?

I am working with a tech guy at Trek corporate trying to help gathering data and hopefully move them to a better light on new and existing Allant 8s & 9s.
 
The worst thing about that hot headlight is that the heat is a manifestation of excessive electron expenditure. I estimate that that light, in low beam, gobbles up about 10-15% of the battery energy on a ride, unacceptable to me. I resorted to adding rechargeable head and tail lights on my bike to avoid using the stock, integrated lights.

It would not be so bad if it reliably went into its daytime blink mode during daylight. However the sensor is poorly located and it only does that when bright, unfiltered sunlight is shining directly on the rear light. Have you had the same issue with the blinking daytime mode?

I am working with a tech guy at Trek corporate trying to help gathering data and hopefully move them to a better light on new and existing Allant 8s & 9s.
Yea that battery drain is noticeable to me lately since the days started getting shorter and my rides have been extending into nighttime so I’m using the head light more.

My local trek lbs has both the blendr mount adapter that takes the 1000lumen ion light in stock. It’s a total of 100€ For the headlight and 18€ for the mount. It’s compatible with the Bontrager blendr elite stem on my trek 8s but the way it protrudes I feel as if the wire harness and wiring will obstruct the headlight so much that it would be impossible to install.

 
what about the blinking daytime mode.? Does yours blink at all or is it reliable under all daylight conditions or just sometimes?

I added the Knog Trail 1000 with programable light modes and a 5,000 mAh battery designed to recharge phones or other devices. Nice easy mounting system. I have mine hanging below the handle bar.


For a tail light I got a Rayo Cliq that has an accelerometer to activate a brake light (sensitivity adjustable in a phone app) is fully controlled by the app and also has a loud motion sensor security alarm.
 
The worst thing about that hot headlight is that the heat is a manifestation of excessive electron expenditure. I estimate that that light, in low beam, gobbles up about 10-15% of the battery energy on a ride, unacceptable to me. I resorted to adding rechargeable head and tail lights on my bike to avoid using the stock, integrated lights.

It would not be so bad if it reliably went into its daytime blink mode during daylight. However the sensor is poorly located and it only does that when bright, unfiltered sunlight is shining directly on the rear light. Have you had the same issue with the blinking daytime mode?

I am working with a tech guy at Trek corporate trying to help gathering data and hopefully move them to a better light on new and existing Allant 8s & 9s.
The one on my +7 gets pretty hot also! I leave mine off most of the time when I’m only on a bike trial during the day.
 
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what about the blinking daytime mode.? Does yours blink at all or is it reliable under all daylight conditions or just sometimes?

I added the Knog Trail 1000 with programable light modes and a 5,000 mAh battery designed to recharge phones or other devices. Nice easy mounting system. I have mine hanging below the handle bar.


For a tail light I got a Rayo Cliq that has an accelerometer to activate a brake light (sensitivity adjustable in a phone app) is fully controlled by the app and also has a loud motion sensor security alarm.
Sorry forgot to mention the blinking. When I first got the bike in the early spring I did indeed notice that even without a cloud in the sky on perfectly sunny days when the light should have been blinking it wasn’t. Only if the light was in perfect angle with the sun hitting the sensor did it blink. Because of this design flaw with the sensor placement I found the daytime mode useless and had the trek lbs turn that feature off giving me the ability to switch on the lights via the hold + during nighttime or whenever I choose to do so. Since then I only switch them on at night so I’m not sure if the daylight flashing is turned off as well , I’ll check tomorrow but forecast is supposed to be mostly cloudy.

That knog trail head light looks very interesting. I’m going to see if they ship here where I am. Can you post a pic of how you have it mounted?

I have a Bontrager taillight that has been good , it’s rechargeable and very bright. It’s the ion model and very bright so I’m happy with the back lights. It’s the front Bontrager lync that needs replacing or a supplement and I’ll probably go for the one you just posted. Most of my mods and add-ons have come from EBR members as it is one more can only help.
 
Sorry forgot to mention the blinking. When I first got the bike in the early spring I did indeed notice that even without a cloud in the sky on perfectly sunny days when the light should have been blinking it wasn’t. Only if the light was in perfect angle with the sun hitting the sensor did it blink. Because of this design flaw with the sensor placement I found the daytime mode useless and had the trek lbs turn that feature off giving me the ability to switch on the lights via the hold + during nighttime or whenever I choose to do so. Since then I only switch them on at night so I’m not sure if the daylight flashing is turned off as well , I’ll check tomorrow but forecast is supposed to be mostly cloudy.

That knog trail head light looks very interesting. I’m going to see if they ship here where I am. Can you post a pic of how you have it mounted?

I have a Bontrager taillight that has been good , it’s rechargeable and very bright. It’s the ion model and very bright so I’m happy with the back lights. It’s the front Bontrager lync that needs replacing or a supplement and I’ll probably go for the one you just posted. Most of my mods and add-ons have come from EBR members as it is one more can only help.
It is on the right handlebar (on the left in the photo) with the mount right next to the display mount, under the handlebar.

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It is on the right handlebar (on the left in the photo) with the mount right next to the display mount, under the handlebar.

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And ofcourse they ship to Greece but it’s sold out. Bummer as I really like the modular features that effectively turn it into a power bank.

Nonetheless I’m going to wait it out a bit for a few weeks maybe it gets restocked before December holidays.
 
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