The XDURO Trekking RX is Haibike at its best. Originally known for producing powerful and sturdy off-road electric bikes like the AMT PRO, this bike is a pioneer in the touring and commuting category. You get nearly every accessory needed to deal with cargo transport, nighttime riding and damp weather conditions. There’s even a little hand-pump attached to the rear rack and dealing with flats is a breez on this and other centerdrive ebikes because the wheels are just like a normal bicycle. At $4K this bike is priced in line with other high end touring systems and the four frame sizes offered make for a better fit (something that has traditionally been harder to come by in the electric bicycle world). With incredible range, climbing ability and support provided by Currie Technologies in the US this is an impressive product.
Powering the Haibike Trekking RX is the Gen2 Bosch centerdrive motor now offering 350 watts of power. It keeps motor weight low and center on the bike frame (right where you want it for balance) and leverages 29 speeds for the most efficient electric drive of all ebikes in the Haibike range at this time. The rear hub is a Sram Dual Drive with three internal gears and there’s a nine speed cassette next to it that uses a regular bicycle chain. One of the neat things about this and other mid-drive ebikes is that maintenance and service on the wheels is handle just like a regular bike. The motor is smart enough to sense when you’re switching gears and that means you won’t experience as much wear or mashing on the chain and cassette. While the motor is a bit louder than some gearless hub designs (producing a soft high pitched whine shown in the video review) it’s not as loud as some and depending on the surroundings and riding terrain it’s not something that bothered me.
The battery pack used with this system is a 36 volt 11 amp hour Lithium-ion configuration that’s light weight and long lasting. It’s removable for easy charging or multiple pack use on those long distance rides. Even though the official specs say 25 to 35 miles my experience is that it can go much further. By leveraging the gears on this bike and always using pedal assist (there’s no throttle mode) you get excellent range. The battery has a nice LED indicator on the side that displays battery level even without turning the bike on which is nice. The pack is low and center, just like the motor, but does take up the space where a bottle cage might have otherwise mounted. I feel like they could have added bosses to the seat tube for a cage mount but it’s not the end of the world. There are some cool handlebar bottle bags, pannier bags and CamelBak solutions that can work here.
I like the Bosch display unit and extended button panel used on the Trekking. You get a large, backlit screen that shows speed, distance and assist level but don’t have to take your hand off the grip to interact with it. On the left bar there’s a small plastic button pad with up, down and info selectors. The other neat thing about the display is that you can either lock it to the mount with a set screw or remove the screw and take the panel with you (to prevent tampering and vandalism). I’m a fan of taking it with me during work commute trips where the bike will be left in a garage or public place. It’s nice that they give you the choice here though I’ve heard that removing screens too often can allow for dirt and debris to build up and weaken the electronic connection… just clean it every once in a while ;)
The Trekking RX is an electric bike capable of going the distance, hauling gear and staying comfortable with fenders, lights and suspension. The front fork offers lockout and 63mm of travel but doesn’t add much weight to the overall system. This bike weighs in at ~51 pounds which is average for ebikes but impressive here considering all of the options and accessories. It’s like an electric bike for non-ebikers who love riding but might be struggling with hills or longer distances. As with the eMountain Bike niche that Haibike first introduced and now dominates, this is another space that I feel is on the verge of adoption. The Trekking wold make an excellent touring bike, commuter or light trail bike. It has efficient tires, a unique frame with sloping top-tube for easier standing and hydraulic disc brakes that keep your hands from getting tired but provide plenty of stopping power even with a full load.
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Bike_on
10 years agoThe Bosch Display looks very refined and solid. It blows away the Falco dsiplay unit I have, and offers something Optibike doesn’t have.
ReplyBike_on
10 years agoNice review Court! This bike does seem to have it all – except the H2O mount. :)
One long term thought is the rear SRAM 3/9 speed drive. My first bike was a Giant Lite, 250W mid drive. I upgraded from a NExus 4 speed to an SRAM 7 speed internal hub, to increase my speed. What I found is that the wear and torque of the 250W mid drive motor took it’s toll on the internal hubs. I had to replace parts after 2 years of hard riding.
I think a cassette design is fine. Just change the cassette/chain, as needed. The mid drives will have chain wear and tooth wear. It’s a part of life for mid drives. But the internal hubs have smaller moving parts.
The internal hubs are convenient and more sleek, but unproven, in my mind, when used with a motor. The one exception may be the Rohloff 14 speed system, which I think has a torque rating of around 100nm. The Optibike systems, M55 Terminus and Outrider use it.
ReplyDave Brown
10 years agoIt is definitely a beautiful, well integrated machine. I would love to know more about the efficiency of the motor in this configuration in a controlled test as it relates to the range of the bike. The motor does seem to be a bit noisier than the Bafang 8fun middrive that I have installed a Surly Ogre for similar duty. The audible wine from the drivetrain under power would definitely gather more annoyed looks on the bike path. Thank you for another interesting review.
ReplyIan
10 years agoDoes this Bosch system have regenerative braking?
ReplyCourt Rye
10 years agoHello Ian, no this system does not offer regenerative braking. In fact, I’m not aware of any mid-drive systems that do. The most common setup for regen is to use a gearless rear hub motor setup in a direct drive configuration. Bikes like the Specialized Turbo offer it as well as the Focus Jarifa Offroad and all of the BionX kits.
ReplyMichael
10 years agoEverything looks excellent about this bike. I don’t know if European buyers are generally more affluent than folks in the US, but the $4,000 would seem to be too large hurdle for most of us, especially given many nearly as good choices at closer to a $2,000 price point….which already feels high. Does anyone else have thoughts on this?
ReplyCourt Rye
10 years agoHi Michael! You’re right that this bike feels expensive and that Europeans might be more conditioned to ebikes (which would make the price more palatable). This is just my opinion but the Bosch drive system is at the very top end in terms of quality, durability and efficiency. You can literally get 70 miles per charge (depending on which assist level you choose) and the low centered weight, ease of repairing wheels/tires and extras like the dynamo powered LED’s, attached pump, fenders and rack really set it apart. Here’s a comparable ebike from another German company called Kalkhoff that offers a similar experience and goes for a slightly higher price. If you’re going to uses an electric bike to replace your car, these are the best choice but they do cost a pretty penny ;)
ReplyJim Silva
10 years agoIs there a date when the Trekking RX will be available for delivery. I test rode the RX version this weekend as was impressed with the control. Thanks
ReplyCourt Rye
10 years agoGreat question Jim, I’d contact your nearest Currie Technologies dealer (eZip, IZIP and Haibike) to ask if they can order you one. I think some of these were selling out and have been backordered but I cannot say for sure. I haven’t seen this bike at any shops yet but have seen a few other Haibikes like the 29er.
ReplyJim Silva
10 years agoThanks, I actually purchased the RX version at an opening in SF this weekend, figuring I would add a rack and fenders and then saw on their local website the Trekking versions. I have changed the order tentatively as the local guy is trying to find out a date also. I thought maybe you had other info??!
ReplyJeff Petersen
10 years agoThis looks like the best integrated electric assist commuter bike on the market. Living on a hill, it will allow my wife to be comfortable climbing the hills to the bike path and home. We have two of these bikes on order and should receive them in a few weeks. We have enjoyed the first generation Giant Twisp bikes (now discontinued) at our seasonal home and am looking forward to the same at our permanent home.
ReplyCourt Rye
10 years agoI’m not sure what other information you’re thinking of? Currie is preparing their 2015 models which are similar. The Trekking does come with fenders and a rack, it sounds like that might be what you want?
ReplyCourt Rye
10 years agoHi Jeff, sounds like you two live in a beautiful place! I’m glad to hear ebikes have made riding more enjoyable and am excited for you with the Haibike Trekking (it’s a great design). Feel free to share your thoughts once you guys test it out either here or in the forums.
ReplyGreg Harm
10 years agoIt’s nice to see that Bosch is beginning to sell bikes in the US. Unfortunately, Bosch’s website, while it references a number of domestic bikes, such as Trek, Giant and others that are supposed to have Bosch motors on them, my attempts to learn more about these domestically available bikes came up short.
Am anxious to find more Bosch bikes, and hopefully, ones that don’t require a $4,000 investment. Please keep us posted on these new units as they become available.
ReplyCourt Rye
10 years agoWill do Greg, I think this drive system will be very popular on the ebikes we see here in the US for 2015. Yamaha is also coming out with a mid-drive system and IZIP has one for the E3 Peak. I think the Bosch systems are more premium so you’ll probably always be paying $3,000+ but that’s just a guess :)
ReplyBen Harapat
10 years agoCourt, what is the top speed on this bike? I just had a look at one at a local dealer and he said that there is a chip that overides the top limit to generate 50kms an hour assist (30mph). Wondering if this is true and accurate. Love your reviews.
ReplyCourt Rye
10 years agoHi Ben, the stock maximum speed for the Trekking RX is 20 mph (~32 kph) but some Bosch powered electric bikes are capable of reaching 28 mph including the Race and Superrace from Haibike. There is a speed dongle out there which tricks the low-speed Bosch bikes into going faster by altering the speed signal going from the rear magnet readout into thinking the bike is always going half of the actual speed. I’ve been told this dongle voids the warranty but do not have hands on experience myself. Maybe in the future we’ll see more speed-pedelec Haibikes and you won’t have to mess with it aftermarket :)
ReplySandy
10 years agoI just bought the Haibike Trekking RX this weekend and I am overjoyed with my purchase! I have exercise-induced asthma which greatly impacts my ability to handle hills without making my asthma kick in. My husband is a very accomplished cyclist and even though I’m fit and in good shape, the asthma really hinders my performance and I’m either left in the back every time we cycle together or I feel as though I’m holding back the group which is really embarrassing. I feel like I’m constantly making excuses for not being able to keep up and it’s really been discouraging me from wanting to get into cycling more often. After riding my Haibike this weekend, my experience was truly exceptional. At one point my 15 year old son who is very fit and strong had to ask me to slow down! What?! This never would have happened before getting the Haibike. My belief is that this bike essentially neutralizes hills when you’re riding. You still feel as though you’ve gotten a workout however you no longer feel like you’re having to kill yourself to complete your ride. We did 12.5 miles on Sunday after purchasing the bike and I never would have enjoyed my ride the way that I did had I been on my regular Trek bike. It’s not cheap but if you read the manual, removing the battery and not keeping it on the charge all the time helps to extend it’s life, as does keeping it in a ~ 70 degree environment. I’m hoping to enjoy my bike for a long time to come. I’ve already started looking for a small bike trailer for our Havanese dog so that she can join us on rides. :)
ReplyCourt Rye
10 years agoThat is awesome Sandy! I experienced the challenges of exercise induced asthma as a young man while participating in recreational soccer (I barely made the team despite being fit, agile and interested). I’m so glad the Haibike has helped you overcome the discomfort of short breath and wheezing and coughing. It sounds like your Son likes it and the dog trailer is an awesome idea! I’d love to see some pics of that once it’s complete :D
ReplyAlan
9 years ago29 speeds? 3 x 9 = ??
ReplyCourt Rye
9 years agoWow! Thanks for the heads up, I’ve changed each mention of “29 speeds” to the accurate 27 which is indeed what 3*9= :)
ReplyGene Stacy
9 years agoI live in Fussen Germany 6 months out of the year and mile from me is a Haibike dealer. They have the Sduro model which is a little cheaper than the X model. £2,599 but you can purchase the Xduro for £ 3,199
Replyfred braakman
8 years agoWhat is the difference between the XDURO Trekking Pro and the XDURO Trekking RX?
ReplyCourt Rye
8 years agoHi Fred! I’ve been scanning the catalog trying to eek out an answer for you but all I’m seeing are two Trekking RX high step models (with one having an S designation) and two RX low-step along with the Yamaha powered SDURO models which it didn’t seem like you were asking about. So I don’t see an XDURO Pro for 2016… the big difference I see right now between the standard RX and S is that the S is a speed pedelec capable of hitting ~28 mph vs. just 20 mph. I also see a different component group with XT ont he standard and Deore on the speed version. I hope this helps! In my opinion the extra speed could be worth it if you enjoy going fast and the terrain isn’t too bumpy. Note that the higher speeds do tend to sap the battery quicker :)
ReplyAl Jimenez
8 years agoI rode one of these and was disappointed in the Bosch behavior once the bike reaches 20mph and on flat terrain. If one wants to pedal to ride above 20mph, the Bosch stops assisting, as expected, but it has quite a drag on the bike and this is unexpected. Is this the behavior of these Bosch drives, or is there some adjustment that needs to be done?
ReplyCourt Rye
8 years agoHi Al, I didn’t notice any kind of motor drag behavior during my test rides but I did notice how much harder it was to pedal unassisted above 20 mph due to wind resistance and the added weight of an ebike vs. traditional. Have you pedaled around with a Bosch ebike turned off completely? I feel like that would be a good indicator for how much resistance the motor creates in the 2:1 step down they use with the smaller sprocket.
ReplyAl Jimenez
8 years agoAfter further testing I do not see any drag after a few seconds. I think when turning the motor off, it takes a few seconds for the clutches to get out of the way is my guess as to what I saw the first time. I agree about the wind resistance fooling me too when going above 20mph.
Brian
8 years agoCourt, are you planning to review the 2015 and 2016 versions of this bike? Would love to get a better understanding of the differences. The 2015 is on deep discount in some stores and the 2016 seems to be arriving at stores now / soon.
ReplyCourt Rye
8 years agoHi Brian! I may get an opportunity to do this test but stock seems to be limited on some Haibike models and they didn’t have as many when I visited the HQ earlier this year. Also… there are so many different versions, I’m just not sure I’ll be able to get to them all like last year :)
ReplyCheri
7 years agoHow does this bike compare to the Lacuba Evo E45. We plan to use on packed gravel, pavement with numerous climbs. We are both 60 and weight 200-250.
ReplyCourt Rye
7 years agoThey have a lot in common but I believe the Lacuba Evo E45 is a speed pedelec and the Haibike I reviewed here is not, so you’d be limited to ~20 mph vs. ~28 mph… which isn’t so bad because it will help you go further for each charger. I haven’t reviewed the Haibike Trekking models for a while, hoping to dig more into them in 2018. Both companies are reputable, so it might come down to price or having a local dealer who can assist with fitting and post-purchase maintenance etc.
Reply