May 27, 2021 - The opportunity to test out Trek’s new E-Caliber 9.6 mountain bike was a high point this spring. Touted as their lightest full suspension e-MTB ever, this new electric mountain bike was evidently created with efficiency in mind, featuring the same rear IsoStrut suspension design as Trek’s World Cup proven Supercaliber cross-country race bike.
Featuring an impressive amount of pedal efficiency for the way up, and a surprising amount of capability on the way down, the E-Caliber leans more towards an all-mountain ready rig rather than a racey XC bike like its non-electric twin.
With all six models in the lineup only being available with Trek’s OCLV mountain carbon frame options, the E-Caliber is one of the lighter eMTB options on the market at 40.6 lbs. (size medium) for the 9.6 model we tested (the 9.9 XX1 AXS model is 34lbs.). Rolling on 29x 2.4” Bontrager XR3 Team Issue tubeless ready tires, and featuring a remote lockout to easily switch the suspension on and off, riding on flat or uphill terrain felt nothing short of amazing and is certainly where the bike shines.
When Trek paired the E-Caliber’s superior pedalling efficiency with a lightweight, completely removable, 250-watt, Fazua Evation drivepack, featuring 55Nm of torque, and 250wh battery with 70km range, they delivered one heck of a fun bike.
The E-Caliber is equipped with Fazua’s intelligent Black Pepper software, which allows the motor to respond immediately as you start to pedal, delivers more power over a wider cadence range, and lets you customize the user settings.
With three easily adjustable power modes thanks to the sleek Fazua touchpad remote, and up to 32km/h of pedal-assist power, I found myself eager to tackle climbs, trying new and unique lines, and really pushing it to see what was possible to overcome.
The whole ride experience was way more interesting and engaging with that much confidence, and it was my legs that were first to relish a break, not the battery, which offers 2-4 hours of life.
I was also impressed at how well the bike could also handle technical and fast sections on the way down. When ploughing through chundery, steep, and rocky sections of trail, the bike rarely felt like it was getting bucked or out of control, which essentially sealed the deal on this awesome eMTB.
With a 67.5 degree head angle and 64.8 cm top tube, the bike seems noticeably long and slack for a cross-country bike, and really equated to a sense of stability and confidence on the way down.
With only 60mm of travel on the Trek IsoStrut Fox Performance rear shock and 120mm in the RockShox 35 Gold RL front fork, the lack of suspension bottom out was also impressive. Considering the minimal amount of suspension that the bike is built with, is something of note, for those looking for a bike that they can get a bit rowdy with while tackling some descents.
While the E-Caliber is certainly a cross-country bike, it’s spec’d with Shimano 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes and a TransX dropper post with 100mm of travel, meaning it’s not only designed to go up.
Featuring a 34-tooth front chainring and 1×12-speed Shimano Deore drivetrain, I rarely felt undergunned for the climbs or spinning out on the descents, which further drives home the feeling that the E-Caliber is a well-balanced eMTB ready for just about anything and everything.
Not solely for those looking for a fast and efficient option to get them up the trail, the E-Caliber’s descending capabilities far exceeded my initial expectations after throwing a leg over it. Its lightweight design made for an intensely fun and snappy ride on both climbs and descents.
A cross-country bike at heart, don’t be fooled by the E-Caliber’s minimal suspension and sleek design. This nimble, lightweight and capable eMTB is ready to take on big days and fun descents alike, with a ride quality that’s sure to impress and well worth a good look.
The SRP for the Trek E-Caliber 9.6 is $8,699.99 and for more information pls visit here.
