Ode to the Trek Allant+ 8s

[Sefutau2020]

Since 2022, I’ve owned two Trek Allant+ 8S e-bikes, and both delivered impressive performance. The first bike gave me 4,500 miles of flawless, uninterrupted service. The second followed closely behind with 7,700 miles, only experiencing a single battery issue, which Trek resolved by replacing the battery at no cost. At around the 7,000-mile mark, the chain finally gave out, a small casualty that actually speaks volumes about both my aggressive riding style and the solid durability of the Allant+ 8S. These bikes are undeniably fun, fast, and built to go the distance.

However, at a purchase price of $4,450, the Allant+ 8S was the most expensive bike I’ve ever bought, and now, they’re selling for nearly $2,000 less. That price drop stings a little more considering the compromises I had to make. The rigid fork forced me to add a suspension stem for comfort. The uniquely shaped rear rack required a custom-made plate just to mount a trunk bag. I even replaced the outdated COBI system with a more modern Kiox 300, which meant buying a new display holder. Altogether, those upgrades cost me an extra $700, expenses that shouldn’t be necessary on a premium e-bike.

While I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the Trek Allant+ 8S and appreciate its reliability and power, the value proposition has become harder to defend. My 2023 Specialized Vado 4.0, which cost only $2,750 on sale, didn’t require a single upgrade to meet my needs. With the rapid evolution of e-bike technology and more competitive offerings from other brands, it's clear the market is shifting. As I pass my Allant+ 8S to its next owner, I do so with gratitude, but also with eyes open to better, more balanced options ahead.

 

[fooferdoggie]

Well, not sure you can blame Trek for your upgrades. That's a personal thing. Getting rid of the stock tires and going tubeless has made the bike a smoother ride. My bull's bike with a decent air fork is still a harsher ride. But this bike is not an off-road bike. but yes the cobi turned out to be not great but at the time bosch had not really had the kiox or nyon out much. The rack is odd, but it holds my bags fine; you just can't carry anything on top of it. Better tires make a huge difference on this bike, and it makes it faster and smoother. I have over 15,000 miles on it. I did have a rear rim crack that was replaced under warranty. But I just got a new wheelset. Most of my bikes have had the rear wheel crack. I wanted narrower rims for smaller tires. I have worn out one chainring, I think two cassettes, numerous chains and brake pads, and rotors. I had to have the bearings in the headset replaced with sealed ones, but that's the way on all my bikes, as I ride in the rain so much. There are always going to be compromises on bikes for the price.