March 17, 2021 - With the popularity of e-road bikes hitting the tarmac I was excited to test the Trek Domane+ ALR and get more acquainted with this growing craze. The Fazua Evation equipped Trek was like a 2-wheel fountain of youth making the ride experience feel like I was 20 years younger and 10 pounds lighter.
The comfort designed Domane platform has been in the Trek family since 2012, making this endurance ready-laid back geometry bike extremely versatile. Trek’s premium 300 Series Alpha aluminum frame provides a stiff, lightweight ride while the fender mounted equipped Domain+ carbon fork helps smooth out the ride and provides an all-weather ride option. The stock rear mounts can easily handle a rear rack installation for panniers so you’ll be ready for a perfect weekend getaway. Add an additional Fazua battery pack and you may never come home.
The Domane+ ALR is powered by the German-engineered Fazua Evation. This uniquely designed drive system is the perfect compliment for someone seeking a traditional road experience in an electric-assist bike. The Evation provides a maximum of 250 watts of assist and 55Nm of torque with total disengagement of power once the speed exceeds 32km per hour – then it’s all human power. The drive system can be fully customized to each rider’s preferences through their Black Pepper firmware.
The top tube integrated Remote FX features a sensitive touch controller that makes changing assist levels with winter gloves easy, while clearly displaying your battery level status.
The motor is housed in an aluminum downtube sleeve along with the 252Wh battery in a 3.3 kg package. This sleeve is easily removed to allow for charging the battery and can be re-connected to the frame without the motor and battery turning your ride back into a traditional road bike. The now empty sleeve can be used to stow additional gear that’s secured in place by an Abus lock.
The Domane+ ALR comes stock with wide tires, compact crank and 34-tooth rear cog, a common trend these days even in the traditional road bike scene. The 32-inch wide Bontrager R1 Hard-Case Light tires provide stability, great high speed cornering control and can run with slightly lower tire pressure to help smooth out the ride. The generous space between the front forks and rear stays permits even wider, more aggressive treaded tires, to transform your Domane+ ALR into a gravel machine.
A 50×34 FSA crank and 11-34 rear cassette is a great set-up to get you up and over hills. With Shimano’s 105 reliable 11-speed drivetrain and 160mm hydraulic disc brakes this bike is dialed for long-haul precise shifting and maximal control when braking.
I took a minimalist approach on my first ride. With the battery at about 80%, I headed out to see how long I could go on minimal assist setting. The ride included head winds, a long gravel climb, with some rollers along the way. Using the 100-watt Green Breeze setting gave me the sense of riding in a draft. Once the battery indicated it was on life-support, I went to no assist and continued on without power, saving the last bit of juice for the few remaining climbs. Although the weight of the 34-pound bike was more noticeable without the assist, it was reassuring to know that the majority of my 3.5 hour 80km ride was Evation supported.
For my next ride it was all about using more assist. I easily cruised along in the 210-watt Blue River mode over flats and short hills then maxed out on the 250-watt Rocket Pink mode for harder climbs. This ride also allowed for more riding above the 32 kph threshold where the motor disengaged.
I found the drive unit to be a quiet, engaging, and intuitive. Accelerations felt normal, especially standing on climbs, or starting from a stop. The Evation does not overpower the ride but adds just enough assist to enhance the experience.
While I’m still capable of riding my traditional carbon road bike, I can see the benefits of an e-road bike like the Trek Domane+ ALR in my future as father time creeps along. And when that time comes, it is comforting to know that I will still be able to join my current Sunday road ride, and although I may not be winning any finish-line sprints, I’ll be there for the post-ride coffee.
The SRP is $5,999.99… for more information click here.
