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 Powerfly 8 FS
Trek Powerfly 8 FS | BOSCH | 22.99 kg | € 4,999

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!

“It’s no surprise that the TREK is a true climbing devil making even the tougher climbs feel effortless.”
Trek Powerfly 8 FS Trek Powerfly 8 FS
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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.

Trek Powerfly 8 FS
Helmet Troy Lee A1 | Jersey ION TEE SS SCRUB_AMP | Backpack USWE AIRBORNE 15 | Shorts ION BIKESHORT SCRUB_AMP

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

Trek Powerfly 8 FS
Bulky
DThe big Intuvia-Display sitting on the stem is very exposed and likely to get damaged in the case of a crash. The more compact Purion-option would be a better choice.
Trek Powerfly 8 FS
Superior
The RockShox Deluxe shock works a treat and makes the Yari up-front look outdated, soaking up all sorts of knocks effortlessly.
Trek Powerfly 8 FS
Surprise
Surprisingly the Bontrager tires offer loads of grip on dry and hard surfaces, but once the ground turns softer, it’s a different story. A model with a bigger profile would be better.
Trek Powerfly 8 FS
Cheap
The transition from battery to motor is covered by some piece of hard plastic which doesn’t look and feel on par with the rest of the bikes quality.
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Geometry
Trek Powerfly 8 FS

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 8.0CENTURION 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 HybridSCOTT E-Genius 720 Plus | Specialized Turbo Levo FSR 6FATTIE


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