Trek FX+ 1 Review

That’s right, Trek finally joins the ever so popular Class 2 category of urban electric bikes. The FX+ 1 takes a new direction for the FX+ line of bikes from the brand.

At $1999, the FX+ 1 or FX+ 1S will offer a Class 1 or Class 3 Pedal Assist rating. Both of which or identical bikes just with different maximum assist speeds to help meet your local eBike laws.

The new FX+ 1 comes with more than just a throttle to talk about, there’s a new charger, frame design, and the crucial safety standards that we find necessary to make an urban eBike complete in today’s world.

As mentioned there are two models available, the FX+ 1 and FX+ 1 S. The S indications a Class 3 model.

Both models will be availble in a Stepover or Midstep frame design with your choice of two colors, Dark Star or Juniper. Addtionally, the FX+ 1 has a full size range from Small to X-Large that all sit atop 27.5 x 2.0 tanwall hybrid tires (Bontrager GR Zero Comp).

The FX+ 1 uses the Hyena 500w – 60Nm rear hub motor with a Torque sensor for abundant power and smooth pedaling. Of course, there is a thumb throttle now too making both models Class 2 rated, with throttle assist up to 20mph.

Drivetrain is a Shimano Essa 8-speed drivetrain with 11-45t cassette and a 40t chainring. Whether you’re cruising across town or racing up hills, there are plenty of gears to go around and plenty of power from the drive unit to keep your ride going smoothly.

Rush hydraulic disc brakes with two piston calipers and 180mm rotors provide smooth and consistent braking power. With a cutoff switche integrated into the levers to cut power to the drive unit when braking. Addtionally, that switch will also activate the newly included brake light.

That brake light also acts as a running light while the bike is on, and there are integrated turn signals. Up on the bars next to your right grip is a large, easy to access turn signal switch. Out front is a nice and bright Hermans MR8 180 lumen, 60 lux LED headlight.

The FX+ 1 has an aluminum frame and fork, which now uses a thru-axle design. Catching up to bike standards and offering a pinch of security and more strength to the front wheel.

While the FX+ 1 presents as a rather stripped down urban bike, there are plenty of accessories to kit it out to be the ideal commuter. For now let’s talk about some of the new features of the new FX+ 1 that help make this bike such a cool new offering.

For us there are really two major features to talk about on the new FX+ 1 that we think are worth noting. A new wiring harness with a color coded junction box, and the new Easy Mag charger.

The color coded junction box I think is something a lot of people may skip over as it doesn’t seem like such a big deal on the surface. Taking a step back and looking into the grand arena of eBikes, this is actually a really clever and cool thing to see on this bike, and hopefully more bikes in the future.

The Color Coded Junction box, which you can find nestled under the stem allows individual and techs to quickly and easily add, remove, or debug electrical components. Say you live in an area that Class 2 is allowed, but you want to take this bike on vacation. Well one of those lovely National Parks or rec areas may not allow Class 2 rated bikes and they may prevent you from enjoying a lovely ride in a beatuiful space. With the help of the junction box and one hex wrench, you could quickly remove the throttle from the bike and enjoy your ride. Coming back to install your throttle is made easy by knowing exactly where to plug it in upon return.

The Easy Mag charger is without a doubt the most innovative new feature seen on the FX+ 1. Hopeful of a future of not having to fish around in the dark while reaching over your bike to try and plug it in. The Easy Mag is well an easy, magnet. This magnet puck just locks itslef into place on the frames charge port in any which direction. Just get it close enough and it will handle the rest. The charger itself is a 2.7A, 54.9V charger that has an included wall mount to keep things tidy and your charger in a safe place.

While not necessarily a new feature, but worth mentioning, the FX+ 1 will work the Trek Central App.

This app allows you keep up on your maintence, customize your Pedal Assist modes, track your rides, and see real time range estimations, among many more features.

A solid base for any recreational rider or commuter is who we think is the prime candidate for this new offering from Trek. While it may come rather stripped down, there’s a bit of elegance in a clean bike without a bunch of things hanging off of it.

Not to worr,y though, there are plenty of mounting points and an abundance of accessories available to kit the FX+ 1 out to be the ideal partner for your ride requirements.

The FX+ 1 has an upright riding position with flat bars and a range of sizes to choose from. At 6′ tall, I found myself enjoying rides, on a size Large, from 3 miles on out to 20 miles with the same level of comfort along the way.

While some may be eager for a range extender, we found the 540Wh to be more than adequate with an estimated range of up to 50 miles.

The Safety features of the FX+ 1 take this bike to the next level for commuters and recreational riders. It has a UL 2849 and 2771 certification for frame and electronics, as well as the integrated turn signals and brake light. All of which come together to offer a safe and well-equipped eBike.

Performance. Safety. Price. The FX+ 1 checks all the boxes of looking for your next electric bike. We can’t help but to stress that while there are endless options of electric bikes under $2000 the FX+ 1 is still a standout in our eyes for so many reasons.

Buying in to the Trek world of bikes opens up the doors for finding service and support in nearly every inch of the country. Addtionally, Trek has been around for over 40 years and brings a thing or two to the table as far as understanding what makes a good bike.

On top of these benefits, the FX+ 1 and FX+ 1S give you the option to choose the right class rating for where you live and where you’ll be using it without having to pay more just to get a Class 3 version.

All of this is packaged into a range of sizes to choose from, a quality-built bike, a powerful drive unit, APP connectivity, throttle assist and up to 50 miles of supported ride time. Among many other features, we find the FX+ 1 to be quite the contender for Urban Electric Bikes under $2000.

When it came to riding the FX+ 1 was comfortable and powerful. I found myself riding in Eco most of the time not due to range anxiety, but for truly finding the power to be sufficient most of the time. Kicking things up into High only allowed me to race around even faster and get up those hills at max speed.

What downsides did we find? I can’t say I really found any. I’m sure for some the price will still be of discussion, and maybe that it doesn’t come with fenders or a rack. These details I don’t think take anything away from what the FX+ 1 is and how impressive it is to see one of the largest bike brands in the world be able to do and offer for $2000. 

Price: $1999
Sizes: Small, Medium, Large, X-Large
Weight: ~49lbs
Website: trek.com