How Much Power Do You Really Need? | Mid Weight Vs Full Power EMTBs

The Trek Fuel EXe and the Rail are as different as an XC bike is to a downhill bike, and it's really important to understand this distinction. However whilst a DH bike can't climb as a cross-country bike can, both the Fuel EXe and the rail are similar in so many ways. They both love singletrack, have similar amounts of travel, and can both descend tough terrain at a similar speed. So what exactly is the difference? In this comparison, Steve Jones explains his views on the difference between the two bikes.

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What do you think of the mid-weight Trek Fuel EXe vs the full-powered Rail? 🤔 Let us know 👇

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[janwilson]

Who you ride with is important too. As a smaller woman, I thought I wanted a lighter weight e-bike. That was until I tried a Rise. To keep up with my friends, I had to ride in higher settings than them and I ran out of battery before the end of the ride. It doesn’t feel light at all when your riding it with a dead battery.

[syscmp]

Just switched from a full fat ebike to a light emtb, absolutely love it. Never needed the whole range or power of my previous bike. But both are great choices.

[neilbower]

I've had a Trek Rail 9.8 since seeing your review on tis earlier in the year & my fave bit of advice between getting a new one or last year's, you said, "Just spend the money & get one & get on with your life" best things I've ever spent money on & that includes my son :)

[MaherIbrahim]

I have the Trek Rail 9.8XT and it’s absolutely a blast to ride. It almost made me ride it every day ❤so yea big power is an essential to enjoy biking everyday.

[borjastick]

In July this year I ventured over to the dark side by ditching my normal pedal power bike and buying a Specialized Turbo Levo SL Comp. It is a lower power output motor and in the decision making process I had to think long and hard about full fat or semi skimmed.

I am fit and ride twice a week if I can. I get bored easily as I ride on my own and there's only such much talking to myself I can stand but hey that's how it is here in SW France. But I ride for an hour or a bit more and do mainly hills, hills and back lanes with the odd off road track for good measure. Here's the rub. I almost never use the Turbo setting, sit mainly in the middle setting and never ever wish I had more power! It is an amazing piece of kit and I enjoy everything about it apart from the fact that the dropper post cable snapped inside two days and the on/off button is getting harder to press.

I love the way it rewards my pedal input and always surprises me with my hill climbing efforts and torque. It's also very comfy and the grips are odd to look at but feel great.

[peterreece]

That’s a good view of Buttermere and Crummock Water one of my favourite valleys. Mind I live about 10 miles from that view.

[rgd]

I like the idea of these mid power bikes because they look more like a normal bike and are quieter than a FF.
However I love my full fat ebike, I’m wrecked before the battery is flat, it goes wherever I’m capable of riding and I’m fit enough the next day to do it all over again.
I don’t really see any disadvantages of the extra 3kg of weight, I’ve got no intention of carrying it anywhere.

[paulmesser]

I could see why you might want the lighter bike up until the point you recommended getting a spare (£800?) battery for it - almost completely negating the weight difference between the two while you have a spare battery in your backpack…
I maxed out my cycle to work voucher and bought a tank - Cube Hybrid Reaction Race 625wh. 23.4kg before me or accessories, with wide 2.6’’ tyres. Not as manourable as the exe here, but just never runs out of gears and grunt uphill, tackles chunky downhills better than I do. Full power - max weight - max grunt all the way for me. Does 50-60km in turbo. Love it.

[rohankilby]

Just come off a fuel Ex 9.8 to a fuel Exe 9.7 it’s 34 degrees and 80 percent humidity at the moment in far North Queensland and wow I’m riding when I should be cowering in air con, I’d say proof of concept.
Yup it’s quiet and has enough power for me, if I wanted more power I’d just buy a 300 Exe KTM and be done with it.
Collide with badness all day love it 😁🤙

[nelami]

There has never been a bad bike? All the bikes is always on top. Unlike car comparisons you never have winner/loser. When batteries are 700 wh its perfect. When its 320wh its perfect. 85 nm perfect. 50 nm perfect. Heavier bike more stable lighter bike more nimble. We all get that. Starting to feel you just do advertising for the bike companies

[Tefloncoated]

Just bought a Orbea rise M10 and also got cube stereo hybrid. Quite different bikes in power and spec. I can see a acoustic MTB rider enjoying the 60nm more as its closer to a none assisted bike in feel. Full power is good for longer ride but to me either power motors is better than blowing out your arse up the hills!

[stujm]

Another amazing Steve Jones video, he truly is the best mtb journalist around. I love his style and presentation. The bikes aren’t bad too…

[memories-MZ]

Please can you let me know where this was filmed. Stunning views. I’m guessing Lake District? But where exactly?

[MrDomestosWC]

I feel the sweet spot would be in the middle of these two motors. That's why I opted for Bosch performance line with 65Nm motor. I don't feel like I need the full power of 85Nm, and I was afraid that 50Nm would not be enough for me.

[FINNdeischgut]

Bosch CX vs Bosch SX vs TQ HPR 50 would be really nice.

Full Power Motor vs Powerful Light Motor vs Weak Light Motor. If possible, with similarly sized batteries and then a range comparison with the highest level and a range comparison when all motors have been throttled to the TQ HPR 50 performance. And of course an uphill sprint test.

[tomg]

full power all day ... 3kg difference is nothing really for an e-bike

[ndrdst]

2:00 to skip the wittering and get to the matter at hand

[kayakutah]

I'm 70, currently on a Giant Trance 29 in Utah in the Wasatch range. Our rides start at 6800 feet and climb, over 7 or 8 miles to around 10, 000 feet - or various iterations, but it's a ridgeline ride. I don't imagine I put out much torque or power and really want an e-bike so that I can keep my heart rate at a suitable level! I'm not looking to ride an escalator up to come racing down. For me, I think something like a Pivot SL would be perfect. I expect I could get 30+ miles and 4000+ feet out of it in a lower assist mode. Does that sound about right? I don't think the Exe would have enough range.
The other thing I notice is that most of these rear suspension designs are essentially single pivot (regarding rear axle path). I'm so used to DW, Maestro, etc. for climbing comfort that I'm pretty much looking at Giant (too heavy) and a few others and once again ended up on Pivot's DW.

I suppose if I were a buffed out 35 year old expert downhiller, lots of power/weight would be perfect. I could use it as a downhill shuttle - boy, THOSE days are gone! It's a bit counterintuitive, but for an older rider, less power could be more appropriate. So in answer to "How much power do I need" I guess the answer for me is, not much - just range.

[ruralpestcontrol]

I was having a good look at the fuel exe at a local demo day this weekend, and they really do look the bee's knees but I think I'll stick with my focus sam2 6.8 👍 for now

[jonnybrown]

whilst I like Trek and looked at their options, I went with the Specialized Kenevo SL Expert. It only has 35NM of torque so feels like you still get a workout riding but the power more than enough to assist me getting up hills. changing the bars, cranks and wheels (in Mullet mode) to carbon means my expert only weighs in at 18.7KG with pedals!! so I have a long travel enduro bike with a small weight penalty VS an analogue.... i call it my sem-E-Bike :-)