You cannot compare a full-suspension e-bike to a road oriented one. If you consider the Trek purchase, answer yourself these questions:
- Will you be happy with a Class 1 e-bike (20 mph speed limit) which the Powerfly is? Or, do you need a Class 3, 28 mph e-bike (Vado)?
- How important e-bike connectivity is to you? Will you prefer electronics that is rather poor (Bosch Smartphone Hub on the Powerfly) or the market best Specialized Mastermind TCD-w? (Bosch e-bikes are on the transition to the Smart System while Specialized e-bike already have their smart system in on the 2022 models)
- Which of the LBS nearby you is better: Trek or Specialized?
- Is there a Bosch E-Bike specialist nearby? (Trek e-bikes depend on Bosch)
- Is the added weight of the full suspension worth it?
- Can you actually buy the Powerfly? Can you actually buy a Vado? In your size?
- Will you actually fully utilize the full suspension? Do you ride singletrack? Will you ride on the rocks? Will you ever jump?
Here's my story. Once, I bought a Giant Trance E+ 2 Pro. No doubt, a proper full suspension e-MTB. Very soon, I discovered that e-MTB didn't feel good in the urban environment! It was born for off-road, and the more difficult off-road it was the better. After a year of ownership, I found I actually hardly ever needed an e-MTB! So, experiencing storage problems, I simply gave it away as a present to my beloved brother. Now, he does everything to "commutize" or "cityzy" his e-MTB, as my brother is a commuter.
Vado 5.0, over two years of ownership, and 10,600 km ridden. Giant Trance E+ 2 Pro, one year of ownership and only 2,300 km ridden. Why?! Because the e-MTB was not fond of where I was mostly riding...
Powerfly 9 FS Equipped looks nice. However, look to the suspension fork specs. Suntour? A quality MTB fork? Not. And the MTB-grade-drivetrain maintenance will cost you a small fortune.
Discover your next great ride with Powerfly FS 9 EQ. See the bike and visit your local Trek retailer. Shop now!
www.trekbikes.com
My opinion: the Trek e-bike reminds me of those shiny SUV cars that are rarely driven off-road...
Yesterday, we rode together with my brother for 50 miles, winter conditions. He was on his FS e-MTB, and I was on a Vado. And yes, I could ride there:
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Deep, frozen, dangerous ruts. I also could ride Vado off-road with my brother...,
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...also in the snow and ice.
