northtexas

I've been riding Trek bikes for over thirty years and currently have a Trek 7.5 FX Hybrid and average around 1500 miles a year but I'm now 70 and find hills and 20+ wind really wear me out and limit my riding so I'm thinking about going electric.

I've narrowed it down to two bikes:

Trek Conduit 2016: Trek Conduit+ - Bicycles, Inc Hurst Fort Worth Arlington Southlake, Texas

GenZe e101 Sport: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=AYO2A0LW2WOWG

The Trek at $3000 cost twice as much as the GeeZe but is it really twice as good?

The Trek advantages:

1. Purchase locally at Bicycles Inc. which would be handy for repairs and warranty
2. Better fit and finish.
3. 5 pounds lighter in weight...42 lbs/with battery compared to 47 lb for the GenZee.
4. Mid motor instead of rear wheel motor...don't know if this is really an advantage.
5. Probably a little faster with longer range then the GenZe.

But is that worth an extra $1500?

NoPhart

IMHO they are two completely different animals. Although I have no experience with the Trek (didn't even know they made eBikes), i have ridden the Raleigh Misceo iE which uses the Shimano STePS system combined with an 8spd Alfine internally geared electric shifting hub. That system worked wonderfully, but it was the electric shifting that I really liked. The Trek doesn't appear to have that. The Raleigh Misceo iE retails for $3,200, but can easily be had for $2,700 OTD. Personally I like the mid-drive setup best and you get the advantage of the gears with it.

If you are set on only those two, I'd say try to cut a deal on the Trek. I will say that those range estimates look very optimistic and I didn't see a watt hour rating for the battery. If all STePS are the same it's probably 400Wh, so 20-40 miles range would be my best guess.

I doubt you would be unhappy with the Trek. The other may end up disappointing and then where will you be?

northtexas

Thanks for the input. I am leaning toward the Trek but will look into the Raleigh you mentioned since it has a similar setup.
I really want a pedal assist not a twist and go so I will be able to maintain the same type of biking I currently enjoy with my hybrid bike without the stress of hill climbing into a 25 mph headwind.

350htrr

I got my wife a Trek 8.5 DS 2 summers ago, and put a BionX 350 rear hub motor on it and she loves it... She had a bike for around 4 years before that, and she put about 350KM on it over the 4 years she had it... Last year she put over 1,000Km on it and the year before she put 1,200Km on it... You don't really need a new bike to go E-Assist, you just need the right bike with the right setup...

NoPhart

One really neat feature about the Shimano STePS mid-drive system combined with the Shimano Alfine 8spd Di2 electric shifting is you can set the gear you want the system to return to when you stop. So after you stop at a light or for any reason, the system automatically shifts the bike back into say 3rd gear for you to start riding again from a stop. Also the STePS computer displays very useful information like "range left" in miles based on the type of riding you are doing; it constantly recalculates it. This is very useful information. if you know you have 20 miles left to ride and you are on a high setting stating you have 15 miles left, all you have to do is reduce the assist level to gain extra mile range. By contrast most systems just display battery power left in bars or lights. Plus you get a Shmimano backed product.

I was impressed enough with this STePS with Alfine IGH all electric that it will likely be on my next road bike and my current MTB will become a dedicated off-roader down the line.

ADDED:
Here's a video review from last year of the Raleigh Misceo iE. I just watched it again. Cort points out many of the wonderful features, but I didn't notice any of the noise in the video coming from the motor when I road one. Maybe it's just that the mic amplifies noises it picks up (?).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?featur...&v=Z0PT2OGQNU4

Oh yeah, it has speed, cadence AND torque sensors...

2frmMI

You may want to check out Specialized. They are closing out last years model Turbo X for ca. $2500 (MSRP $4000), and it is a very well spec'ed, purpose-built, pedal assist. I looked at a number of options and considered this out of range for the original price, but at $2500 it is a steal given all the extras. I posted about it in this thread Specialized Turbo X closeout deal.
p.s. I've been riding trek bikes since my very first model 710 purchased in 1980. So nothing in particular against Trek.

speedy25

I rode a couple of Treks at the San Diego show. I was unimpressed. Sorry I cant remember exactly what I didnt like but the rideability had some kind of quirk(s) that was annoying. The brand I liked best was e-motion. I rode a Raleigh auto shift at my LBS and was impressed. I rode some more Raleighs at the show and didnt like them. I dont know anything about GenZe.

-SP

northtexas

I've read reports that the Trek hesitates going up hills which would be a deal breaker for me. Do you remember which e-motion model you rode?
This one looks interesting at half the Treks price and at 33.5 lbs. the lightest e-bike I've seen yet but haven't found any reviews so I don't know how well it performs.
BHBIKES

Well after posting I did find a review for the easy go race and it only has one gear which would make hill climbing problematic.

15rms

Would consider buying a new bike around $800 and then putting a new Bionx system on it. Best peddle assist hub motor on the market.

ollo_ollo

I checked out & did a test ride on the GenZe, haven't ridden the Trek but if you research you will find GenZe is made by Mahindra. Mahindra makes tractors, Trek has been making good quality bicycles for a long time. My impression of the GenZe was that it is sturdy, but very basic and doesn't come with any extras, like fenders, lights, a nice saddle etc. You can add these but that ups the price. Without looking at & riding one, I would still expect the Trek to be more refined and ultimately be a better bicycle. Don

northtexas

I purchased the GenZe last month from Amazon and just love it. Although it's rather generic and may not suit most folks needs it's been near perfect for me. I had no interests in fenders, lights and most other accessories so that was no problem plus it cost half as much as the Trek. I did buy new Continental Country Plus tires and switched out the saddle with a spare Terry Fly Tri Gel I had removed and stored from a previous bike but that's been pretty much it.
Performance has been as advertised with a 18-20 mile range using the pedal assist mode and getting a top assist speed of around 17 mph. Since I ride primarily on paved trails and park roads this is good enough for me. Even after 18 miles it still shows I have around 40% battery life remaining. My primary reasons for buying an e-bike was for hill climbing and winds in excess of 25 mph and it has exceeded my expectations with both. I realize it's Texas not Colorado but it has handled every hill even with headwinds with ease.
Out of the box I only had to attach the front tire and adjust the disc brakes and shimano gears then it was ready to go. I had no problem contacting GenZe with a few questions I had including the price of a second battery ($325) and the 18 mo. warranty.

Finally it weighs around 40 lbs without the battery so it's been easy to load in the back of my SUV using a pet ramp.

2old

Good job; looks like a solid deal; can't refuse when nine of eleven owners give it five stars. Update from time to time.

ollo_ollo

Glad you like the bike. There is something out there that works for everyone.

My introduction to e-bikes in general & the GenZe bike came about through our church. 1 of our deacons has emphysema, which severely limiting activity, but he was introduced to cycling through a bike ministry (NW HUB) we operate and found that even though he can only walk short distances, an ordinary bicycle restored his mobility. His lung capacity is down below 20% now, & even the bike is a challenge, so he tried out a GenZe and liked the pedal assist mode. We checked out other makes though, and eventually settled on one of these: RadWagon Electric Cargo Bike - Rad Power Bikes , sold by a co. in Ballard (Seattle) WA. They offer for $1600 right now & we found an electric bike shop in Portland, OR with a few pre-production models(same bike but no labeling) for $1499. For general mobility, a low income/a car free life style, they really work, but only available in 1 size (Med) and 1 color (Orange), but come with a lot of extras.

I am now shopping for an e-bike, since I am 75 y.o., I will eventually not be able to do justice to my fleet of vintage road bikes & pedal assist sounds pretty good. Don