The frame design of the new Powerfly is not as bulky as that of many other e-mountainbikes. According to Fabienne Gilleron (Marketing Trek), however, this is just one of the bike's highlights. The bike also scores points with the specially developed "Knock Block", which protects the fork from damage to the frame. The motor is also fitted with a robust aluminum protective shield. Special mention should be made of the fact that the frame is available in five sizes and is therefore suitable for riders from 153 centimetres tall. Thanks to flip-chip technology, the geometry can be changed in just a few minutes.

Equipment

The tested version has Rock Shox suspension: a Yari fork with 160 millimetres of travel at the front and a Deluxe RL rear shock with 150 millimetres of travel at the rear. The wheels are from the in-house brand Bontrager and are matched to the 2.8-inch Plus tires with rims with an inner width of 4o millimetres. The gears are Shimano XT and SLX. The brakes also come from the Japanese manufacturer. An inexpensive but solid model. The Bosch motor is controlled by the discreet Purion display. This makes the cockpit look nice and tidy.

Motor / battery

Bosch Performance CX / power tube battery
Power: 250 watts
Torque: 75 Newton meters
Battery capacity: 500 watt hours

Processing & details

The frame is beautifully finished and the subtle color scheme is pleasing. Only the battery cover is not fully waterproof. Dirt residue can be found in the battery compartment after repeated hosing down.

On the plane

You sit centrally and rather compactly on the Powerfly. Thanks to the steep seat angle, pedaling is very comfortable. In Bosch's E-MTB mode - our favorite - the acceleration is powerful, but not as brute as with other manufacturers. The suspension smoothes out even the smallest bumps efficiently.

Up the mountain

The long chainstays allow you to tackle even the steepest climbs with ease. If you pedal with all your might, you can get up the mountain with a lot of "gusto". It takes a lot for the front wheel to climb. For the active suspension - paired with Bontragers Plus tires - the ground can't be exposed enough. You almost can't get enough uphill with this bike.

Downhill

The "Powerfly LT 7 Plus" sits firmly on the ground, the long suspension travel has a positive effect. You get good feedback from the ground and the bike is easy to control. Due to the long chainstays, it's not exactly the most agile weasel. It takes a bit of physical effort to maneuver the bike in tight terrain. On the other hand, it likes long bends, and you can whizz through them like a commuter train. The Trek rides rather calmly, which is not a disadvantage. It likes speed and, despite the steep steering angle, doesn't really get nervous. We recommend setting the flip-chip to "low", as it rides noticeably better.

Conclusion

Trek's "Powerfly LT 7 Plus" is a solid E-MTB. It features many parts from the Bontrager own brand, which are robust and well-chosen. The bike impresses with its discreet and sophisticated design and high build quality.

Recommendation

The bike is particularly suitable for anyone who likes to ride uphill on challenging trails and wants carefree biking, but also wants to take on a little more weight.

Specifications

Manufacturer/distributor

www.trekbikes.com

Test report published in issue 01/2019 of Ride Magazine.