We had a few gripes concerning the Trek Fuel EXe 9.7. During testing we felt Trek's latest offering in the crowded, and ultra-competitive sector that is the best lightweight electric mountain bikes was underpowered compared with the competition, and overpriced with an RRP of over £7,000. At that price, it just didn't cut it when compared to rival brands' offerings. However, it was still MBR's News and Features Editor Jamie Darlow's choice as his Bike of the Year, and with this massive reduction it's now a real value for money buy.
In our review, at full price we scored the Trek Fuel EXe 9.7 accordingly with a 6 out of 10 rating, mostly due to that massive price tag, but its lower power and range were also a factor when it came to the crunch. Saying that there was still a lot to like about the Trek, and it impressed with its modern geometry, solid-feeling yet lightweight full-carbon frame, and the nicely specced Fox suspension set-up, with the ever-reliable Fox Performance Float X, 140mm at the rear, and an equally good Fox Rhythm 36 150mm fork upfront.
It’s almost silent running TQ-HPR50 motor also ticked a lot of boxes too, with 50Nm of torque and up to 300 watts of peak power coming from its 360Wh battery, but did leave the Trek feeling slightly under-cooked when it came to its range. It also meant the Trek only had half the power of the Bosch SX-equipped Whyte E-Lyte 150 RSX, the winner of SL E-bike of the Year in our group test in 2024.
So why buy the Trek, you ask? Well, the reason why is again price, because that brilliant Whyte still costs £7,999, and right now, at Balfes Bikes, you can get the Trek Fuel EXe 9.7 SL for just £3,399. That’s a bonkers £2,601 off, and a 43% reduction on the £6,000 RRP listed at Balfes Bikes. It now makes the Trek a real bargain buy, and a serious contender when it comes to price vs performance.
The Trek Fuel EXe 9.7 lacked a bit of punch climbing, but was still capable enough.
Putting the lower power and less range aside, we still felt (at full price) the Trek Fuel EXe 9.7 was still a pretty good bike, and with the savings made here, at £550, an extra battery is now an option, and instantly puts range anxiety to bed, or there is also an optional 160Wh range extender, but that does add additional weight and costs around the same.
Jamie selected the Trek over the numerous bikes he’d tested in 2024, and reckoned its killer suspension set-up made it one of the quickest bikes he’d ridden for raw speed, and although it’s very much in the best trail bike category, the Trek’s full carbon frame is as stiff and solid as some of the best enduro bikes. The Trek also looks like an analogue bike, and that’s a box ticker for Jamie and me, meaning you’re an e-biker in disguise, and more importantly, it feels like an analogue bike – lightweight, easy to move around like a real trail bike, and its TQ motor is whisper quiet.
Jamie also pointed out some easily made Trek Fuel EXe upgrades that, with the savings made in this e-bike deal, are now worth considering, especially the tyres, and either that extra battery or range extender.
Trek Fuel EXe 9.7 | Save £2,601 at Balfes Bikes
Was £6,000, now £3,399
At full price, we thought the Trek Fuel EXe 9.7 lacked a bit of punch to be a player in the SL E-bike category, but now with this incredible discount, it becomes a different proposition altogether. A lightweight Trek OCLV Mountain Carbon frame (19.15 kg in M), with top-rated Fox suspension, along with its almost silent running TQ-HPR50 motor, are some of the real standouts. You get a dropper post, Shimano gearing and brakes, plus Bontrager wheels, tyres, and finishing kit to complete the build. All this for £3,399, it’s an outstanding purchase. Available in Lava Red, but only M, L and XL sizing.
Read Jamie’s thoughts on the Trek Fuel EXe 9.7.
The 2024 Trek Fuel EXe 9.7 looks more analogue than electric.
Trek Fuel EXe 9.7 Need to know
- E-bike version of the Fuel EX
- Compact TQ-HPR50 motor with 50Nm/300watts
- Removable 360Wh battery
- Full carbon frame with 140mm travel
- 29in wheels, with flip-chip for MX
- Fox Rhythm fork gets 150mm travel
- Optional 160Wh range extender
- Shimano XT/SLX 12-speed drivetrain
- Range: 811m vertical
- Weight 19.66kg (43.34lb)
- Sizes M, L, XL
- Currently discounted to £3,399 at Balfes Bikes
The Trek Fuel EXe 9.7 isn’t going to get left behind on descents.
So, for anyone looking for a first-ever e-bike purchase, or after an electric mountain bike that looks more like an analogue MTB than electric, then you won’t be disappointed in the Trek. The TQ-HPR50 motor delivered a smooth pedalling action, its Enduro-level carbon frame made it a capable climber, and it impressed even more when it came to pointing it downhill. However, the headline really is this price, and at that, we think you won’t go wrong with the Trek Fuel EXe 9.7.
If you prefer another colour, the Smoke Grey version of the Trek Fuel EXe 9.7 is also available, albeit with a smaller discount, priced at £4,649, also at Balfes Bikes.