Electric Bikes - '10 Trek Electric

We had Gary Fisher online doing an interview over the weekend, and the big thing he's psyched about for next year is Trek's new electric bike. Details are sparse:

- Based on Trek FX series bikes, "Looks like a bike."
- 40-45 lbs
- 4 levels of electric pedal assist; 4 levels of regenerative braking
- Engine/drive configuration? Engine rating? Battery/controls? He didn't get into details.

Apparently, there are two SF City councllors currently buzzing around town on these things. Due to be announced and unveiled at Trek World in mid-August. He says that future development for the US market will include trying to get the weight down under 32 lbs -- in the rest of the world, people leave their bikes on the street; in the US, people bring them up to their apartments or into their homes.

Stay tuned...

Looks like an e-bike to me ;)

http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/07/15/sf-supervisors-chiu-and-mirkarimi-ride-the-electric-bike-wave/

It's even more obvious with the odd-shaped battery and silver motor casing. Only difference between this and other brand name "pedal-assist" bikes is the addition of regenerative braking (which has pros and cons).

I just rode one at Trek world. Had a big smile on my face, which was typical of anyone riding the bike.

All electric pieces are sourced from BionX, but are proprietary to Trek. Castings on the motor are different, kind of a dimple pattern. Motor rated at 325w (maybe 350?), battery is a Li ion 44 cell design. Controller is also Trek proprietary, and none of the other BionX stuff will retrofit. Top speed is governed at 20mph and we were emphatically told that there is no way to increase it. I found that once you run out of assist, you are then pedalling a 45 lb hybrid.

At the show, they also had a couple single speed belt drive concept bikes with the e motors, and they looked sweet, almost a better application than on their current geared bikes.

Apparently, these are huge in europe among the trekking crowd, such sales which will allow Trek to commit to the US market.

Yes Trek and Bion X have joined forces all there bikes the Valencia the FX AND THE 7200 ALL HAVE BION X 350 WATT MOTORS ON THEM LITHUEM BATTERYS STANDARD CONTROLLER NO THROTTLE THAT NOT A PLUS Any one interested in just kits <advert link deleted by moderator>

It's funny what lines marketing departments think up; clearly Trek's doesn't have many e-bike users to come up with the line "it looks like a bike." Most e-bikes these days look like bikes. Heck, many, many e-bikes are regular bikes modded by owners who've bought conversion kits.

What I would like to see is an in-depth review of the Toshiba SCIB battery. With a commercial charger, that Lithium ION battery can be fully recharged in 10 minutes, which would be awesome if it's got good life and performance. I think efficient battery technology with fast recharging may become the most important distinguishing factor in e-bike offerings. Let's face it, the vast majority of e-bike components (including bike frames) are all manufactured in China. I would suspect many different brands may be built in the same factory and simply have different branding.

When the electric bikes went up on Trek's website the first day, I think they actually referenced the BionX system. Now they're referred to as "Silent Drive 350 watt rear hub/motor" and BionX isn't referenced anywhere.

When the electric bikes went up on Trek's website the first day, I think they actually referenced the BionX system. Now they're referred to as "Silent Drive 350 watt rear hub/motor" and BionX isn't referenced anywhere.

I'm sure they removed the reference to BIONX because they didn't want people to realize they took a TREK bicycle and just added a kit that anyone can purchase. Not only could it hurt sales since some people might just go out and buy a Bionx kit themselves (which would be cheaper), but it also makes it obvious Trek didn't design their own drive system.

It's all about marketing! Coming up with a fancy name like a "Silent Drive" rear hub/motor makes it look like they've got something special and worth paying extra $$$ for, when in fact it's an existing system anyone can buy.

I'm sure they removed the reference to BIONX because they didn't want people to realize they took a TREK bicycle and just added a kit that anyone can purchase. Not only could it hurt sales since some people might just go out and buy a Bionx kit themselves (which would be cheaper), but it also makes it obvious Trek didn't design their own drive system.

It's all about marketing! Coming up with a fancy name like a "Silent Drive" rear hub/motor makes it look like they've got something special and worth paying extra $$$ for, when in fact it's an existing system anyone can buy.

They partnered with BionX in this venture, contracting the parts. BionX acted as the manufacturing vendor in this case. Smart of Trek to buy into an existing, proven system in order to immediately jump into the e-bike market, instead of spending years of research on their own to reinvent the wheel.

Trek Valencia model Ride+ MSRP: $2599

Trek Valencia bike: $800
BionX PL350 conversion kit: $1700
Total: $2500

Get the BionX system and you get a thumb throttle to go along with the pedal assist. Cheaper, especially if you have an existing bike.

Trek Ride+, you get regenerative braking and a battery enclosed in the rear rack. No assembly required. LBS service and warranty support, with large dealer network.

For some, the DIY conversion will be the answer; for the wider acceptance Trek is gambling on, a completely off the shelf solution might be the answer for others. Even at a $100-200 premium over the BionX conversion.

God I wish someone would partner with Panasonic and start bringing their drive systems to the US again.

God I wish someone would partner with Panasonic and start bringing their drive systems to the US again.

Allen

The Kalkhoff ProConnect S is now available in the US. It uses the Panasonic system. See thread http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=450751

Don

Nice. Thanks. I love the chain drive on my Giant and the bottom bracket throttle is really nice too.

A few weeks ago Trek had the prices for the 3 models of ebikes at 2309 for the 7200
2519.99 for the Valencia and 2679.99 for the FX

Since then i have found pricing of 2509 2899 and 3099 for those models what ! is going on here i wonder

Best just to buy your own bike and put a kit on

Nice. Thanks. I love the chain drive on my Giant and the bottom bracket throttle is really nice too.

Allen

I've been wondering about the response time of the torsion sensor. Does it respond quickly enough so that if a foot were to slip off the pedal = Torque provided by rider gone, the system stops the motor from flailing the pedals?

Don

watch for price increases for Bion X in 2010 up 30% across the board even for replacement parts

starting to get to pricey let them know

Price increases for kits up 30% even for replacement parts battreys etc . in 2010

If you don't like it let them know