We liked the Trek Powerfly from the day it was released back in 2015. Then, in June last year the American manufacturer launched an updated version. What has this € 4,999 bike to offer?
Trek has literally nailed it in this test while utterly exhausting the budget. For five grand you take home a fancy frame with exciting details and cleverly chosen components. For starters it comes with a complete Shimano XT drive train, Deore brakes, a reliable Bosch Performance CX motor and a RockShox suspension combo that includes a Yari fork and a Deluxe shock – both with 130 mm travel. If we wanted to be picky we would point out the cheap looking finish of the battery and motor cover, the long-ish 70 mm stem and the bulky Bosch Intuvia display. The headset-integrated Knock Block, which prevents the handlebar from knocking against the top tube, doesn’t bother us on the trail but can be a pain in other situations, like when loading the bike into the car. The massive Skid Plate protects the motor but most importantly has an integrated bottle opener. Cheers!
Once we sit on the Trek Powerfly 8 we get an immediate urge to push hard into the pedals. The reason for this is the stretched riding position, which transfers loads of traction to the front wheel. It’s no surprise that the TREK is a true climbing devil making even the tougher climbs feel effortless. We are actually really surprised by the amount of grip the Bontrager Chupacabra tires generate on both climbs and descents, but only in dry conditions. The geometry of the Powerfly is very balanced also on downhills. There’s a lot of weight transferred onto the handlebar, which doesn’t feel particularly safe, mainly on steep terrain. A fork with 140 mm travel would have definitely been a better match, especially because the rear shock soaks up pretty much everything it comes across. The bike loves fast corners but feels slightly lazy on narrow sections.
The Trek Powerfly 8 FS in detail
Fork RockShox Yari RL 130 mm
Rear shock RockShox Deluxe RL 130 mm
Motor / Battery Bosch Performance CX / 500 Wh
Brakes Shimano Deore
Drivetrain Shimano XT
Seatpost KS eThirty Integra
Stem Bontrager Rhythm Comp 70 mm
Handlebar Bontrager 750 mm
Tires Bontrager Chupacabra 2,8″
Rims / Hubs SUN Ringle Duroc 40 / Bontrager
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a sporty E-Mountainbike that climbs well and offers a good level of support, the Trek Powerfly 8 FS might just be the bike you’re looking for. Unfortunately, on downhills the low-profiled tires and the fork limit the potential of the bike.
Strengths
– Good propulsion
– Great climber
– Plush rear end
Weaknesses
– The fork limits the bikes potential
– Tires lack grip in wet conditions
For more Information head to: trekbikes.com
For an overview of the test fleet head to the main article: 11 E-MTBs under € 5,000 in Comparison
All bikes in test: Bergamont E-Trailster 8.0 | CENTURION No Pogo E2000 27+ | FOCUS JAM² 29 | Giant Full-E+0 Pro | Haibike SDURO AllMtn 7.0 | KTM MACINA Kapoho LT 273 | MERIDA eONE-SIXTY 800 | NOX Bike EDT 5.1 Hybrid | SCOTT E-Genius 720 Plus | Specialized Turbo Levo FSR 6FATTIE
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