Trek FX+2 gen3 or gen4 LT?

[Mhacha]

Hi folks.
I’m new to the forum. Good to be here!
I’m looking at buying my 1st e-bike.
I’ve settled on the FX+2 cause of budget.
I see a gen 4 LT version now out.
A review said it gave a more upright riding position than the gen 3 due to geometry but looks like geometry data is identical.
Any experience from the forum on the new gen 4 LT or advice on FX+2. What do I think about my going for FX+2? I live in Ireland so many US e-bikes not available here. I will mostly ride on roads or paths. Cheers folks. Karl

 

[Stefan Mikes]

What is the main purpose of you considering e-bike purchase? Commutes? What distance? Is the part of Ireland you live in hilly? What is your physical shape?

There are two fundamental issues of any Trek FX+ 2 e-bike:

• A low power, hub drive Hyena motor
• A smallish 250 Wh battery.

The hub drive motor is not any good for hills. It is a terribly bad climber: as the e-bike speed drops on the climb, the hub drive motor converts most of the battery power into heat instead of the mechanical power. As the outcome, it makes it hardly possible to do a sustained longer climb and you even can fry the motor!

250 Wh battery is a joke nowadays. It is as small as it will go flat after riding not many miles or kilometres. The purpose of an e-bike such as Trek FX+ 2 is a relatively short commute in flat or almost flat terrain by a body able person. Have you tried it on a demo ride?

Trek FX+ 7 is just a very different beast. It has a TQ HPR mid-drive motor, which is a good hill climber as well as a 360 Wh battery. The battery is not too big but its capacity is typical for this class of lightweight e-bikes. You can commute and arrive at work dry. Aye, the FX+ 7 is very expensive
------
I'm sure you are not looking for a lightweight low power and small battery e-bike. What you probably need is so called "full power, mid-drive motor e-bike". In the EU, there are plethora of such e-bikes equipped with Bosch or Shimano mid-drive motors that could be got for some 2,800 - 3,500 Euros (2,400 - 3,000 GBP). It requires a careful search. You do not need the most powerful motor or the largest battery but an e-bike with, say, Bosch Active Line motor and perhaps a 500 Wh battery is the minimum you need.

The only Trek e-bikes meeting the criteria are the District+ or Marlin+ or Verve+ (the lower priced models). A Bosch Active Line motor and only a 400 Wh battery. There are plethora of better e-bikes available from other brands (please check CUBE).
-----
As I was on my holidays in Co. Donegal, I visited a bike rental in Carrick (Eircode: F94 VY84). They had a basic Thompson Enigma e-bike for a day rental. It was a simple Bosch equipped mid-drive motor e-bike with a reasonably big battery. I made a nice trip to Malin Beg (to see Slieve League cliffs). I could climb any hill in the area, and there was aplenty of juice in the battery post ride. I'm sure a Trek FX+ 2 couldn't make it!

The brand I have never heard of. Just a basic Bosch E-Bike with the weakest Active Line motor and a 500 Wh battery...

I could easily climb 10% grade ascents...

A quite hilly area, innit.

I hope you can reconsider buying a FX+ 2. Or, at least try to get one for a demo ride.

 

[Mhacha]

What is the main purpose of you considering e-bike purchase? Commutes? What distance? Is the part of Ireland you live in hilly? What is your physical shape?

There are two fundamental issues of any Trek FX+ 2 e-bike:

• A low power, hub drive Hyena motor
• A smallish 250 Wh battery.

The hub drive motor is not any good for hills. It is a terribly bad climber: as the e-bike speed drops on the climb, the hub drive motor converts most of the battery power into heat instead of the mechanical power. As the outcome, it makes it hardly possible to do a sustained longer climb and you even can fry the motor!

250 Wh battery is a joke nowadays. It is as small as it will go flat after riding not many miles or kilometres. The purpose of an e-bike such as Trek FX+ 2 is a relatively short commute in flat or almost flat terrain by a body able person. Have you tried it on a demo ride?

Trek FX+ 7 is just a very different beast. It has a TQ HPR mid-drive motor, which is a good hill climber as well as a 360 Wh battery. The battery is not too big but its capacity is typical for this class of lightweight e-bikes. You can commute and arrive at work dry. Aye, the FX+ 7 is very expensive
------
I'm sure you are not looking for a lightweight low power and small battery e-bike. What you probably need is so called "full power, mid-drive motor e-bike". In the EU, there are plethora of such e-bikes equipped with Bosch or Shimano mid-drive motors that could be got for some 2,800 - 3,500 Euros (2,400 - 3,000 GBP). It requires a careful search. You do not need the most powerful motor or the largest battery but an e-bike with, say, Bosch Active Line motor and perhaps a 500 Wh battery is the minimum you need.

The only Trek e-bikes meeting the criteria are the District+ or Marlin+ or Verve+ (the lower priced models). A Bosch Active Line motor and only a 400 Wh battery. There are plethora of better e-bikes available from other brands (please check CUBE).
-----
As I was on my holidays in Co. Donegal, I visited a bike rental in Carrick (Eircode: F94 VY84). They had a basic Thompson Enigma e-bike for a day rental. It was a simple Bosch equipped mid-drive motor e-bike with a reasonably big battery. I made a nice trip to Malin Beg (to see Slieve League cliffs). I could climb any hill in the area, and there was aplenty of juice in the battery post ride. I'm sure a Trek FX+ 2 couldn't make it!

View attachment 196229
The brand I have never heard of. Just a basic Bosch E-Bike with the weakest Active Line motor and a 500 Wh battery...

View attachment 196230
I could easily climb 10% grade ascents...

View attachment 196231
A quite hilly area, innit.

I hope you can reconsider buying a FX+ 2. Or, at least try to get one for a demo ride.

Thanks Stefan for taking the time for this very helpful reply. I will use the bike mostly on road & paths. My work commute is about 10miles each way with some bumpy roads & longish but not steep hills. I spend a lot of time up on our north coast where as you know from your holiday in Donegal, lots of undulating hills! My fav journey here is about 40miles return with some hills.
I’m in my mid 50s & recovering fitness after a hip replacement & cancer. I’ve always cycled and have a tek road bike. Ideally I’d live a specialised turbo Vado SL2 5.0 but my budget right now is £2k plus my wife is keen to start cycling with me as was looking for a Dutch style upright like the trek verve+1 step through but it has only 250 watt battery,

Reviews I saw on fx.+2 had said cause it had a 1-1 ratio from motor to battery that it was good torque wise & v good cause of its lightweight. I think I would mostly use it for just some assist & try off electric a lot but don’t want false economy of wasting £2k . My wife thinks I’m obsessing over this but hey it’s all to make a good choice & get my out there cycling! Bit overwhelming with options . Other issue is buying something I can take to a local bike shop if the bike had motor issues which I guess most will. So I looked at Tenways but it only had a dealer shop in Dublin. Anyways, I’ve yapped enough! Maybe my budget doesn’t match my needs & I should wait till I can afford £3-4k! First world problems here buddy! Cheers karl

 

[Mhacha]

Thanks Stefan for taking the time for this very helpful reply. I will use the bike mostly on road & paths. My work commute is about 10miles each way with some bumpy roads & longish but not steep hills. I spend a lot of time up on our north coast where as you know from your holiday in Donegal, lots of undulating hills! My fav journey here is about 40miles return with some hills.
I’m in my mid 50s & recovering fitness after a hip replacement & cancer. I’ve always cycled and have a tek road bike. Ideally I’d live a specialised turbo Vado SL2 5.0 but my budget right now is £2k plus my wife is keen to start cycling with me as was looking for a Dutch style upright like the trek verve+1 step through but it has only 250 watt battery,

Reviews I saw on fx.+2 had said cause it had a 1-1 ratio from motor to battery that it was good torque wise & v good cause of its lightweight. I think I would mostly use it for just some assist & try off electric a lot but don’t want false economy of wasting £2k . My wife thinks I’m obsessing over this but hey it’s all to make a good choice & get my out there cycling! Bit overwhelming with options . Other issue is buying something I can take to a local bike shop if the bike had motor issues which I guess most will. So I looked at Tenways but it only had a dealer shop in Dublin. Anyways, I’ve yapped enough! Maybe my budget doesn’t match my needs & I should wait till I can afford £3-4k! First world problems here buddy! Cheers karl

Should have said that majority of my rides will be shorter than described above- in reality maybe 20miles on flatter paths! But still you have opened my eyes re fx+2. I just thought it might be ok if I used it mostly for some assist/ not looking it to take me up hills without my effort added in just to add to my 4/10 to get me up some hills! Trying to see if fx+2 might work but sounds like 250W battery not enough?! Cheers

 

[Stefan Mikes]

My fav journey here is about 40miles return with some hills.

Impractical on a FX+ 2...

Trying to see if fx+2 might work but sounds like 250W battery not enough?!

I was riding for 50 miles with 2,477 ft elevation gain at the average speed of 12.9 mph on last Saturday. The battery consumption factor was 11.3 Wh/mi. A 250 Wh battery has the maximum usable charge of 237 Wh. 237/11.3 = 20.9 miles under similar conditions (undulated terrain).

P.S. Vado SL 2 is a wonderful machine! I have demo ridden it.

 

[Mhacha]

Impractical on a FX+ 2...


I was riding for 50 miles with 2,477 ft elevation gain at the average speed of 12.9 mph on last Saturday. The battery consumption factor was 11.3 Wh/mi. A 250 Wh battery has the maximum usable charge of 237 Wh. 237/11.3 = 20.9 miles under similar conditions (undulated terrain).

P.S. Vado SL 2 is a wonderful machine! I have demo ridden it.

Sounds like an awesome trip!
I’ve just spotted 20% off a turbo Vado SL1 5.0 for £2.2k ( usually £3.5k).
240W motor, 320W battery. 36nm torque.
That might squeeze into budget!
One issue is the need to have local bike shop input in case motor packs in etc - is that common with these mid price models? Thanks again.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Sounds like an awesome trip!
I’ve just spotted 20% off a turbo Vado SL1 5.0 for £2.2k ( usually £3.5k).
240W motor, 320W battery. 36nm torque.
That might squeeze into budget!
One issue is the need to have local bike shop input in case motor packs in etc - is that common with these mid price models? Thanks again.

I greatly recommend that e-bike. One of the best e-bikes ever (i own a 4.0).

Specialized e-bikes are always delivered in or from a Specialized dealer. The Specialized LBS handles all electrical repairs and the warranty. Most of bicycle matters may be handled by you or any LBS.

Vado SL 1 is a very reliable e-bike.

 

[Mhacha]

excellent! Really appreciate all your top tips & Rec’s. Hoping to bag that Vado now on sale! I’ll let u know how it goes! Cheers k

 

[Mhacha]

Hi Stefan, just a quick qu in sizing.
Read a separate thread re L or XL for turbo Vado.
The bike on sale is XL!
I’m 187cm ( 6 ft 1.25 inc).
I test drove the L step through & thought it a bit neat.
Do you reckon XL shd be ok, can’t see it being too big? Some say longer reach .= less upright. How do u find your 4.0 in terms of riding position? Cheers again!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Please visit an archive webpage for Vado SL 5.0:

Turbo Vado SL 5.0

There's no other e-bike out there with ride quality, range, and power like this, at a weight that's light enough to carry. The Turbo Vado SL 5.0 is best...

www.specialized.com

There is the Size Guide:

Now, what you should consider first is your own "standover height" (please look it up on YT!) Then, read the Geometry webpage section, and find Standover Height.

If the Bike Stand-Over Height is greater than your own standover height (measured in shoes) then you won't be able to dismount the e-bike safely.
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Here is my own example. My legs are short but arms are long. The Standover Height forced me to choose the size M. However, the Reach was too short. I felt squeezed in the cockpit. As I love a more aggressive riding position (to decrease the air drag as well as relieve my butt and also relieve me from assorted aches ), I had to buy a long stem. In case of Specialized Future Shock suspension, it is possible to find compatible Specialized stems of various length but it narrows down the choice.

Simply saying: I don't know. Please use the Size Guide first. If the Standover Height is acceptable, you may go with the XL.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

@Mhacha: have you spent some time on your own geometry? I'm curious!

Do you live in Norn Ireland? We visited Derry as well!

 

[Mhacha]

@Mhacha: have you spent some time on your own geometry? I'm curious!

Do you live in Norn Ireland? We visited Derry as well!

Yeah, worked well. Definitely ok for Stand over height on XL.
Yep, I live in norn iron ! Cool
That u got the lingo!
I live south of Belfast.
Developing some greenways here now.
Where is home for u?

 

[Mhacha]

Yeah, worked well. Definitely ok for Stand over height on XL.
Yep, I live in norn iron ! Cool
That u got the lingo!
I live south of Belfast.
Developing some greenways here now.
Where is home for u?

Next task is picking a 1st e-bike for my wife.
She is a bit resistant to an e bike but wants to cycle with me but more likely only if the flat trips! So far saw , you guessed it a trek verve +1 low step. Think I’ll post a new thread!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I live in norn iron

I knew I missed something! Iron!

Where is home for u?

It it approximately 25 kilometres SW of Warsaw City Centre (Poland).

I cannot wait until you get your hands on a Vado SL! We have a very strong community here on EBR Forums