No mountain is too steep for the Trek Powerfly 9 LT Plus! In our group test, it was one of the most capable climbers. But would the Trek also cut as fine a figure on descents and in everyday riding situations?
For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best eMTB of 2018 – 12 dream bikes go head to head
The Trek Powerfly 9 LT got a facelift last year; the focus was mainly on the appearance and spec of the bike. For example, the Bosch PowerPack battery has been partially integrated into the newly designed downtube. The geometry of the bike remains unchanged – and that’s a good thing. For the Powerfly, Trek relies on a Bosch Performance CX motor and a minimalist Purion display. Further componentry includes a number of parts designed for use on eMTBs, such as the reliable SRAM Guide RE brakes, sturdy Bontrager Powerline wheels, and the SRAM EX1 drivetrain. The latter offers a good range of gears and lots of durability, but depending on your riding style, the steps between gears will be too big for some riders. Trek equips the € 5,999 bike with a FOX 36 Performance fork with 150 mm of travel; while it is not their top-of-the-range model, it is still convincing on the trail. The Powerfly 9 LT was criticised for the cheap Performance variant of the Schwalbe Nobby Nic tyres it came fitted with. Not only do they lack grip (especially in wet conditions), but they also offer little in the way of puncture protection. They should be replaced with something better before you even leave the shop.
Super composed! Nothing rattles the Powerfly.
The Trek Powerfly 9 LT Plus knows how to impress on the uphills. Because of the steep seat tube angle and the long chainstays, the rider sits very centrally on the bike, and even if you have long legs, you never get the impression that you’re sitting too far behind the rear wheel. This pays off, particularly in steep, technical sections, which become a piece of cake thanks to the Bosch’s easy controllability in eMTB mode and the large drivetrain bandwidth. The lockout lever on the shock is never needed; in fact, the bike climbs very efficiently without it while offering more comfort and traction.
Descending, the Powerfly 9 LT Plus shines above all with the high amount of line confidence it inspires due to the long geometry. The suspension works very sensitively and provides a lot of comfort. However, it is advisable to close the compression lever of the FOX 36 by a third. This will decrease the fork’s sag, keeping the cockpit high and diving less in steep terrain or during hard braking. Through tight turns, the Trek demands a courageous and active riding style, since it isn’t what we’d call agile. If you’re looking for an agile bike, you should, in doubt, always go for a smaller size than you usually would.
The Trek Powerfly 9 LT Plus in detail
Fork FOX 36 FLOAT Performance 150 mm
Shock RockShox Deluxe RT3 150 mm
Motor/battery Bosch Performance CX 500 Wh PowerPack
Drivetrain SRAM EX1 Brakes SRAM Guide RE
Seatpost Bontrager Drop Line 150 mm
Stem Bontrager Line Knock Block 75 mm
Handlebar Bontrager Line 760 mm
Wheelset Bontrager Powerline Comp
Tires Schwalbe Nobby Nic Performance 2.8″
The semi-integrated battery blends in well with the overall look of the bike.
The fork’s compression lever should be closed by about one third, even when descending.
The KnockBlock limits the steering angle and thus prevents the suspension fork from hitting the frame. It does, however, interfere when you want to load the bike into your car.
The Powerfly’s rear end scores with small-bump sensitivity and good feedback.
The geometry of the Trek Powerfly 9 LT Plus
| Size | XS | S | M | L | XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat tube | 394 mm | 419 mm | 445 mm | 470 mm | 521 mm |
| Top tube | 570 mm | 600 mm | 620 mm | 634 mm | 662 mm |
| Head tube | 100 mm | 100 mm | 105 mm | 110 mm | 125 mm |
| Head angle | 66.5° | 66.5° | 66.5° | 66.5° | 66.5° |
| Seat angle | 72° | 72° | 72° | 72° | 72° |
| Chainstays | 474 mm | 474 mm | 474 mm | 474 mm | 474 mm |
| BB Drop | 16 mm | 16 mm | 16 mm | 16 mm | 16 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1182 mm | 1212 mm | 1233 mm | 1247 mm | 1277 mm |
| Reach | 399 mm | 430 mm | 449 mm | 461 mm | 485 mm |
| Stack | 594 mm | 594 mm | 598 mm | 598 mm | 616 mm |
Conclusion
The Trek Powerfly 9 LT Plus is a mature bike with solid spec. It not only climbs very well, but also descends with a lot of confidence and composure. However, there are weaknesses regarding agility and tyres.
Pros
– climbs very confidently
– very good rear suspension performance
– tried and trusted technology
Cons
– tyres offer little grip and puncture protection
– cumbersome
Uphill | Downhill | Stability | Agility | Value for money
For more info head to: trekbikes.com
The testfleet
For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best eMTB of 2018 – 12 dream bikes go head to head
All bikes in test: BMC Trailfox AMP LTD | BULLS E-CORE EVO EN Di2 | FANTIC XF1 Integra Enduro 160 | FOCUS SAM² PRO | Giant Full-E+ 0 SX Pro | Haibike XDURO Nduro 10.0 | Moustache Samedi Race 11 | ROTWILD R.E+ ULTRA | SCOTT E-Genius 700 Tuned | Specialized Turbo Levo S-Works Carbon | Thömus Lightrider E1 – Team Di2
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Words: Photos: Christoph Bayer, Valentin Rühl
