I Am Superman: The Trek EXe Mountain Electric Bike, Reviewed

Enlarge / The Fuel EXe 9.9 XX1 AXS. Trek Bikes

I rediscovered my bike after a few weeks of confinement. At first, I was just pedaling my cheap steel-framed bike around the neighborhood. After a few rides, I realized it was a mountain bike! So I took it to my nearest trail.

That exhilarating first race is forever etched in my memory. The early morning sun breaking through the trees as the deer sped away, the sound of tires on dirt, and the stupid smile on my face as I drove fast, flirting on the brink of disaster - or at least pain - with my inexperience on the trails. I was hooked to the point of cycling in the ground, taking perverse pleasure whenever something broke and improving it. I finally upgraded to a Trek Fuel EX 7, and I love it.

The Fuel EX is Trek's family of full-suspension mountain bikes designed for a variety of terrains, from the looser to the more technical. Like all models in the Trek range, it is available in a wide range of trim levels, including aluminum and carbon frames. (My EX 7 has an alloy frame.)

Currently the EXe version is only available for the top spec 9.x bikes with carbon frames, but it is hoped there will be an aluminum frame option in the near future.

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Trek's rich gear history is on display at its offices in Waterloo, Wis. Sheldon Waite

Trek has miles of fun, flowing trails that they use to test bikes and as a benefit to employees. Sheldon Waite

To get your hands on the Fuel EXe 9.9 XX1 AXS, it took a two-hour drive to Trek's headquarters in Waterloo, Wisconsin. There, I not only had the chance to speak with members of the team that developed the Trek Fuel EXe, but I also got to ride Trek's private trails.

With the Fuel Exe, Trek targets the single-track mountain biker who rides for fun, fitness and the outdoor experience. To achieve the look, feel and even sound of a traditional mountain bike, Trek partnered with German technology company TQ. TQ's patented harmonic pin drive can deliver 50Nm of torque in a small package that fits snugly behind the platter.

The motor delivers this low-end torque because it achieves a large gear reduction in one step. Its movement is similar to a Wankel rotary engine. With the battery hidden in the downtube and minimalist controls, the entire battery-motor combo adds just 8.6 lbs to the weight, an incredibly light addition in exchange for real power. My EX 7 weighs just under 32 lbs; the EXe weighs 38.5 lbs. Pedal assist reaches 20 mph.

Electronic functionality is well integrated into the EXe. The display is simple and easy to read at a glance on the track. Its handlebar controls are simple and intuitive while allowing quick cycling between the three assist modes, Eco, Mid and High.

Customization is done through Trek's new phone app, which allows you to customize the three e-bike modes by tailoring maximum power, level of assistance and pedal response. The app defaults for these modes each move up through Eco, Mid, High. A few weeks into my experience with the EXe, I tweaked the medium settings to give me full power with medium-high assist, but in a gradual and controlled way. With these settings, I found my riding experience to mimic my analog bike very closely, just easier.

i am superman