Trek Lift+ - 2018

Comments:

I bought the Lift+ about 10 months ago, and have been using it as a commuter, errand runner, and around town bike. I live in a very hilly area and I have a bit of arthritis in my knee, so the e-assist was a must for me. It is fairly lightweight (for an e-bike) and the Shimano STEPS mid-drive really works well on the hills. I also like the adjustable stem and comfortable handlebars, which allow you to have a nice, upright riding position, which I prefer. I'm a heavier rider (225+) and I often carry panniers loaded with groceries up the step hills to my house. The mid drive helps me up the hill with no problem. I upgraded mine by adding fenders, lights, and a rear rack, and I've ridden in all conditions (including pouring rain) no problem. I also replaced the seat post collar with a Salsa lip-lock, to prevent seat post slippage. With the 3 levels of assist (or you can ride it like a regular bike with the assist off), you can dial in the assist you need. It lacks suspension, but the wide tires smooth out most of the road bumps and keep overall weight down. The hydraulic disc brakes work very well in wet or dry conditions and give you plenty of stopping power. Overall, this is a very versatile bike that can be kept stripped down or built up with accessories to make it into an excellent city commuter.

Comments:

Took the Lift+ for an 18 mile test ride, through bike trails, roads, hills, flats, traffic and no traffic. Trying to decide between Lift+ and XM700. The Lift+ handles very well, the disc brakes stop the bike quickly and smoothly. Acceleration from a dead stop on a hill is easy in "normal" mode, I found that other than very steep hills I was able to stay in "eco" mode and only used "high" mode to accelerate in traffic from intersections. Pedaling is still required, and you still can get a good workout. This bike would be great for around town, general exercise, commuting and for those that are afraid of too much sweat. After riding for an hour, mostly in "eco" mode and starting with a slightly less than full battery, the range showed I still had enough juice for another 32 miles (I rode 18). Overall, the bike is very nice, well put together, and stable. I wish head and taillights were integrated into the system and that it had shocks, but I highly recommend this bike. Personally, I plan to go for the XM700 as I want the longer distances and higher torque that it will allow. If you want to try an e-bike, stop by your trek store and take a demo ride. You'll be wanting your own within a few minutes.

Comments:

This is the best electric bike available! Most can't even tell that it has the electric assist, but you can as soon as you get on and pedal.