Rupert Parker puts his trusty hybrid bike aside as he spends a month e-biking around London’s streets on a Trekker E-Trends Electric Mountain Bike
E-bikes are becoming more and more popular, particularly as the price comes down and battery technology improves. The Trekker E-Trends Electric Mountain Bike costs just under £1200, a good deal for an e-bike and is at the top of the E-Trends range. They also make a city bike and a folding bike, both costing less, but I wanted to try out their mountain version. I discarded my trusty hybrid bike and, over a month, put it through its paces.
First Impressions
Let’s face it electric bikes are heavy and although this is at the lighter end of the spectrum, it still takes a bit of an effort to lift and carry it up and down the steps in front of my house. Still, it looks cool, with its black frame and wide tyres, and the saddle is very comfortable. Also handy is the kickstand which keeps the bike upright when there’s nothing to lean it against.
The first thing to say is that you still have to pedal, and the electric assist is not immediate and only kicks in after a couple of seconds. There are three increasing levels of help, and you can really zip along at a top speed of 25 km/h. Starting on hills is a bit more difficult but, if you get into a low gear, it’s no real problem.
I tested it riding around London and the chunky tyres and suspension coped well with potholes and uneven surfaces that make up the capital’s roads. I also took it off-road on river towpaths but didn’t want to venture too far away from home as the stated range is only 30 miles. However, if you did drain the battery, it’s still fairly easy to pedal unaided, not much more difficult than a normal bike
There’s also a pushing mode, which can be used if you decide to walk, and it moves the bike around at an easy walking pace of 6km/h. I didn’t use this as I was quite happy to ride, even up the steepest of hills, even though I sometimes found it difficult to start again on inclines. However, to be used as an all-terrain mountain bike, it would need a greater range of gears.
Conclusion
Over the month I tried this out, it never let me down, although I made sure it was charged every night. Also, there’s a handy press button LED on the frame which indicates the state of the battery. The electrical assist gave me a great boost in traffic and I was happy to tackle greater distances than I would on my normal bike. I did have to adjust the brakes occasionally, as coming to a stop quickly is even more important when the electrics are speeding you along.
All in all, I became quite attached to the Trekker E-Trends Electric Mountain Bike bike and will find it hard to go back to my trustworthy hybrid. It’s well built and, although probably not as sturdy as more expensive brands, it works well. I did worry about it getting stolen, as it’s a valuable piece of kit, although I always secured it with a Kryptonite lock. If it was mine, I would definitely take out insurance.
Tell Me More About The E-Trends Trekker Mountain Bike
The Trekker E-Trends Electric Mountain Bike costs £1199 with free delivery. Extra batteries are available. Cheaper models are the Fly at £599.99 and the City at £899.99.
Trekker E-Trends Electric Mountain Bike Specifications:
Adjustable leather saddle
7-speed Shimano gears with R:7S Rove shifter and derailleur
Disk brakes
17.7-inch aluminium alloy frame with steel forks
27.5-inch wheels with double wall aluminium alloy rims
Suitable for riders up to 120kgs / 264 lbs
Size: 178cm x 60cm x 108cm / 70″ x 24″ x 43.5″
Weight: 22 kg / 49 lbs
36V, 7.5AH Lithium ion removable/lockable battery
Recharge time of 4-5 hours
250W motor
3 Pedal power-assist modes and 6km/h pushing mode
LED battery display
Range of 30 miles (dependent on terrain, style of riding, weight carried and level of assist)
Assistance provided up to 15.5 mph / 25 km/h
Battery warranty: 2 Years / 700 charges (battery must be fully charged at least once a month).
