Name: Trek Super Commuter+ 8S Review
Item: Trek Super Commuter+ 8S
Author: Court Rye

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Trek Super Commuter+ 8S Review

Trek Super Commuter Plus 8s Electric Bike Review

Trek Super Commuter Plus 8s Bosch Performance Line Speed Center Motor

Trek Super Commuter Plus 8s Downtube Integrated Bosch Powerpack 500

Trek Super Commuter Plus 8s Bosch Purion Display Panel Ergonomic Grips

Trek Super Commuter Plus 8s Supernova M99 Pure Plus Headlight

Trek Super Commuter Plus 8s Back Supernova E3 Tail Light

Trek Super Commuter Plus 8s Carbon Fiber Fork Quick Release 15 Mm Maxle Qr

Trek Super Commuter Plus 8s Bosch Powerpack Downtube Slot

Trek Super Commuter Plus 8s Alloy Motor Armor Skid Plate

Trek Super Commuter Plus 8s Shimano Deore Slx Shadow Plus 11 Speed

Trek Super Commuter Plus 8s Horizontal Rear Dropout One Piece Racktime Alloy Fender And Pannier Rack

Trek Super Commuter Plus 8s Bosch 4 Amp E Bike Charger

A streamlined, feature-complete, commuter style electric bike with Class 3 high-speed operation (up to 28 mph), available through a wide network of dealers
11-speed Shimano SLX drivetrain offers plenty of range for comfortable pedaling at low and high speeds, Shadow Plus one-way clutch keeps your chain tight
Integrated 1,000-watt Supernova M99+ headlight and 3-LED rear light help you see and be seen, large Bosch Powerpack 500 takes you further and is removable
Sturdy 15 mm thru-axle, strong tapered head tube, stable Schwalbe Super Moto-X 2.4" wide tires, lightweight carbon fork dampens vibration, available in four frame sizes

Make:

Trek

Model:

Super Commuter+ 8S

Price:

$4,999

Body Position:

Forward

Suggested Use:

Urban, Commuting

Electric Bike Class:

Speed Pedelec (Class 3)

Learn more about Ebike classes

Warranty:

2 Years Comprehensive, Lifetime Frame

Availability:

United States

Model Year:

2017

Total Weight:

52.3 lbs (23.72 kg)

Battery Weight:

5.7 lbs (2.58 kg)

Motor Weight:

8.8 lbs (3.99 kg)

Frame Material:

Aluminum Alloy

Frame Sizes:

17.72 in (45 cm)19.69 in (50.01 cm)21.65 in (54.99 cm)23.62 in (59.99 cm)

Geometry Measurements:

Medium 50 cm: 21.75" Reach, 30.5" Stand Over Height, 24.5" Width, 72" Length

Frame Types:

High-Step

Frame Colors:

Viper Red with Black Accents

Frame Fork Details:

Rigid Carbon, 100 mm / 15 mm Thru Axle with Quick Release Maxle

Frame Rear Details:

135 mm x 9 mm Skewer with Allen Key

Attachment Points:

Rear Rack Bosses, Fender Bosses, Bottle Cage Bosses

Gearing Details:

11 Speed 1x11 Shimano Deore SLX Shadow Plus Derailleur with One-Way Clutch, Shimano SLX CS-M7000 Cassette 11-42T

Shifter Details:

Shimano SLX SL-M7000-R Rapid Fire Triggers on Right

Cranks:

Miranda Delta Alloy, 170 mm Length, 20T Chainring with Miranda Alloy Guard, ISIS Splined Bottom Bracket

Pedals:

Wellgo Alloy M-21 Platform

Headset:

FSA IS-2/42E/ACB, E2, Integrated, 36 mm Inner / 45 mm Outer Chamfer, Black

Stem:

Bontrager Elite Stem, 90 mm Reach, 7 Degree Rise, 31.8 mm Clamp Diameter, Custom Faceplate for Supernova Light, One 20 mm Spacer, One 10 mm Spacer

Handlebar:

Bontrager Lowriser, 620mm Length, 31.8 mm Clamp Diameter, 15 mm Rise, Black

Brake Details:

Shimano Deore M615 Hydraulic Disc with 180 mm Rotors, Resin Brake Pads, Shimano 3-Finger Adjustable Reach Levers

Grips:

Bontrager Satellite Elite, lock-On, Ergonomic

Saddle:

Bontrager Nebula H1

Seat Post:

Bontrager Alloy, 8 mm Offset

Seat Post Length:

330 mm

Seat Post Diameter:

31.6 mm

Rims:

Alex Volar, Alloy, Double Wall, 32 Hole, Reinforcement Eyelets, Formula Sealed Bearing Hubs

Spokes:

Stainless Steel, 14G, Black with Nipples

Tire Brand:

Schwalbe Super Moto-X, 27.5" x 2.4" (62-584)

Wheel Sizes:

27.5 in (69.85cm)

Tire Details:

GreenGuard Puncture Protection, 30 to 55 PSI

Tube Details:

Presta Valve

Accessories:

Top and Bottom Extra-Long 217 mm Rubber Slap Guards, Alloy "Motor Armor" Skid Plate, Integrated Supernova M99 Pure+ Headlight (1,000 Lumen, Light Sensor Mode Control), Integrated Supernova E3 3-LED Backlight, Racktime Tubular Alloy Fenders with Plastic Ends, Racktime One Piece Rear Rack, Widek Decibel L-XXL Flick Bell, Alloy Derailleur Guard, Atran Rex-DV Kickstand (18 mm Chainstay Mount)

Other:

Locking Removable Battery Pack, 1.7 lb 4 Amp Charger, Maximum Total Weight Limit 300 lbs (136 kg), Model 1367000-2017, Shimano CN-HG601 Chain, Abus Downtube Frame Lock

Motor Brand:

Bosch Performance Line Speed

Motor Type:

Mid-Mounted Geared Motor

Learn more about Ebike motors

Motor Nominal Output:

250 watts

Motor Peak Output:

570 watts

Motor Torque:

60 Newton meters

Battery Voltage:

36 volts

Battery Amp Hours:

13.4 ah

Battery Watt Hours:

482.4 wh

Battery Chemistry:

Lithium-ion

Charge Time:

4.5 hours

Estimated Min Range:

18 miles (29 km)

Estimated Max Range:

92 miles (148 km)

Display Type:

Bosch Purion, Fixed, Backlit, Grayscale LCD Display with Integrated Button Pad, Buttons: Power, +, -, Walk, (Hold + to Activate Lights, Hold - to Cycle Through Readouts, Hold - and Press Power to Change Units, Hold - and + to Clear Trip Distance)

Readouts:

Speed, Assist Level (Eco, Tour, Sport, Turbo), Battery Level (5 Bars), Trip Distance, Total Distance, Estimated Range, Lights

Display Accessories:

Micro-USB Port for Diagnostics and Software Updates Only

Drive Mode:

Advanced Pedal Assist (Measures Rear Wheel Speed, Pedal Cadence, and Pedal Torque 1,000 Times Per Second - Power Output Relative to Pedal Input: Eco 50% 40 Nm, Tour 120% 50 Nm, Sport 190% 55 Nm, Turbo 275% 63 Nm)

Top Speed:

28 mph (45 kph)

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Make or Model

Model Year

Body Position

Suggested Use

Frame Type

Drive Mode

Availability

Price Range

$0 (0 €)$18,000 (16,920 €)

Total Weight

0 lbs (0 kg)227 lbs (103 kg)

Top Speed

0 mph (0.0 km/hr)50 mph (80.5 km/hr)

Battery Watt Hrs

0 watt3,456 watt

Frame Size

0 in (0.00 cm)432 in (1,097.28 cm)

Motor Power

0 Newton meters250 Nm

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Trek is following in the footsteps of other premium high-speed electric assist manufacturers like Stromer and Specialized with their new Super Commuter+ 8S. It’s a well balanced, stiff, and stable e-bike available in eye-catching Viper Red with black accents… including the Bosch battery and motor hardware. It just looks great, and the attention to detail holds up when you really start to dig in, there’s a high level of quality that justifies the $5k price point. You can get the Supercommuter in four frame sizes to maximize comfort and control and it’s available through one of the largest networks of bicycle dealers in the USA. This is Trek after all, a the leaders in bicycle innovation and distribution. They have produced some of the earliest electric bicycles I have seen and reviewed here in the States. But unlike the early FX+ and Transport+ pedelec models, I feel like the Super Commuter is going to resonate with a larger audience really shine. Those early models incorporated rear mounted hub motors and battery packs that created frame flex and weren’t nearly as efficient (for long distance riding) or fast (for quick commutes) as this new generation. With the Super Commuter+ 8S you get an all-Aluminum frame with a rigid Carbon fork, a sturdy tapered head tube, and a rigid 15 mm thru axle for maximum stiffness and power transfer. Comfort and stability become important as speed increases so I was happy to see wider 2.4″ Schwalbe Super Moto-X tires and ergonomic Bontrager grips. If you’re just riding for fun or prefer a messenger bag or backpack, the black tubular fenders and one-piece rear rack+fender setup is sleek and quiet… but it’s easy to clip on panniers and turn this thing into a speedy commuting platform. Large hydraulic disc brakes offer smooth, easy stops and ultra-bright integrated lights keep you visible day or night. Because this is a Class 3 electric bike, the lights stay active at all times and the Supernova M99 Pure+ has an automatic day to night switch. It’s aimable and I’d recommend mounting it below the handlebar vs. above as shown with the demo bike. This will allow you to aim the light down and avoid blinding oncoming cyclists and automobiles. In short, the Supercommuter accomplishes everything that other Bosch Performance Line Speed ebikes does but manages to integrate the battery in such a way that it looks nicer, provides room for two bottle cage mounts, and improves stability and handling with lower weight positioning. The only question mark is comfort, and you can address this by swapping the fork for a suspension setup, adding a seat post suspension, and slightly lowering tire pressure.

Driving the Super Commuter Plus 8S is a Bosch Performance Line Speed mid-motor rated at 250 watts nominal with peak torque rated at 60 Newton meters. I believe this motor can reach 570 watts but the torque rating is more interesting because it combines with the eleven-speed cassette to help you reach high speeds quickly. The bike feels zippy and allows you to shift smoothly with motor controller shift detection, so you don’t mash gears and wear the chain down. The chainring is a 20 tooth design which spins 2.5 times for every crank arm revolution. This requires an internal gearbox and I was told by Bosch that the smaller ring allows the chainring to grab pull more securely. In my own experience, the chainring starts and stops extremely quickly, making the Bosch Performance Line one of the most responsive motors on the market. I love that it can assist up to 120 RPM because I tend to enjoy spinning and revving to reach high speeds vs. shifting down and lumbering along. The motor controller measures rear wheel speed, pedal cadence, and pedal torque 1,000 times per second and you can really tell it’s working on a bike that costs so efficiently. The bike feels smooth and fast, but the motor does produce a noticeable wine at the higher RPMs when riding in the upper levels of assist. On some ebikes, mostly mountain models, the whine is masked by knobby tires and the sounds of gravel and organic material along the trail, but you really hear it on smooth pavement and that might annoy some people. I definitely appreciate how compact the motor is, how it’s mounted up and into the frame, and that Trek designed a smooth alloy skid plate that they call “Motor Armor” to protect it from any tall curbs or other urban obstacles you might encounter out in the real world. This motor combined with the Shimano SLX, which I would consider higher end, produces a great riding experience and you get access to an adjustable one-way clutch to tighten the chain for bumpy terrain. This feature is usually reserved for mountain bikes but makes sense on a high speed model. Note also, the upper and lower slap guards to keep that lovely red paint from getting banged up.

High-speed riding translates into decreased range because air resistance produces drag, above 20 mph especially, you will see an exponential drop in efficiency. You can get a sleeker helmet, wear tighter clothing, shave your arms and legs, or get a larger battery pack! And that’s what Trek opted for with the Bosch PowerPack 500. It’s the highest capacity battery made by Bosch for electric bicycles at the time of this review and yet it fits into the same form factor as the Bosch Powerpack 400 and only weighs 0.3 lbs more. This pack is great because it uses the same charging port when mounted or being charged off the frame and has a plastic handle design at the top for safe, easy lifting. It locks to the frame securely but does require a strong push to click into place, and I noticed that the locking core was not spring loaded, so you have to turn the key back to locked while pushing the battery down or lock and remove the key before clicking the pack into place. I demonstrate the latter approach in the video and you can hear the pack really click down. Just be careful, because there was a cable in there that seemed to float into the mounting path and could get squished or bent (or just prevent a secure click in). If you take off on the bike while the battery is not completely secure, it could tumble out and cost you $900 to replace. Bummer. As mentioned earlier, you can streamline your body a little bit with clothing but the stem position is another point of consideration. The Super Commuter has an inverted seven-degree stem that sits on a 20 mm and 10 mm riser. If you put the stem on first and then slide the risers down on top, it will lower the handlebars by 30 mm and give your body a more forward, aerodynamic position. this is similar to a road bike setup where the bar has a flat, hood, and drop position. Lowering the bars here puts you into more of a hood or drop position.

Powering the bike on is a very simple process once the battery is charged and mounted… and the pack should fill relatively quickly because the Bosch charger pushes four amps vs. just two on most other ebike systems. You operate the bike using the compact Bosch Purion display panel which is mounted within thumb’s reach of the left grip. First, press the power button along the top, then click the plus or minus keys to raise or lower assist power. It’s really that simple, and you don’t even need to look down in order to hear and feel a click and know that you’ve made a change. I do not like the Purion as much as it’s big brother, the Intuvia, because this display is not removable, does not have a Micro-USB charging port (just a diagnostics port), and doesn’t show as many menus and readouts. Frankly, the buttons don’t feel as reliable or solid either. It’s nice to have such a compact display, especially because it frees up the center of the bars for that massive light, but my grips here are only in comparison to one of, if not the best, display panel/control pad systems out there. I guess you’ve got to make some trade-offs for that size. So here’s the secret, in order to navigate through menus on the Purion you just hold the minus key for a second (this shows odometer, trip meter, range, and assist level) and if you want to change from miles to kilometers you just hold the minus key and tap the power button (though it sometimes didn’t work and really confused me), and if you want to clear your trip meter, just hold the minus key when in the trip readout and then hold the plus button until you see RESET. It seems simple now, but when you’re out there on the path, it can become a little confusing… especially if the bike keeps shutting off with that minus and power combination. Trek has also purposefully disabled walk mode on their electric bikes, so the walk button at the base of the display just does nothing. This could disappoint some people who want the extra help pushing the bike while carrying groceries or ascending hills aside walking friends while conversing etc.

All things considered, I think the Trek Super Commuter+ 8S is awesome because it looks great, is easy to find and buy, and rides well. Those wide tires provide stability and comfort, that tucked in battery stays out of the way but is going to be easier to replace than some proprietary pack design, those lights might save your life, and the solid alloy pedals will keep you dry without bouncing all around making noise. It’s great to have frame size choices and part of me wishes there were also color choices or maybe a step-thru or mid-step frame for people who aren’t as tall. Maybe a future version will have a 12 mm thru-axle in the rear to create even more stiffness? Trek has a unique horizontal dropout system to keep their chains tight and keep the frame intact for that “lifetime warranty” compared to some other models. There’s even a derailleur guard that’s curved and nice looking vs. the standard tube style ones I see on cheap folding bikes all the time. A lot of thought went into this e-bike and as someone who appreciates the way the Bosch drive system feels but not always how it looks, this design really speaks to me. By the way, the 8S apparently stands for the spec level (eight being high and nine being the highest, usually in Carbon fiber vs. Aluminum here, and the s being for speed). I appreciate that Trek only produced one model here vs. the Specialized Turbo Vado which comes in four specs (two low-speed 20 mph and two high-speed 28 mph) because this is clearly a commuting platform meant to be efficient and most riders top 20 mph on pedal power alone. I would love to see a suspension fork option in the future for an additional $200 or something, an aerodynamic air fork please! Until then, consider the Lauf carbon fork that fits tapered head tubes and works with 15 mm thru axles :D

Pros:

One of the best looking Bosch Powerpack battery integrations I have seen, it’s sunk into the downtube but still easy to get off for charging, they even left enough room for two sets of bosses for a bottle cage and folding lock!
Beautiful wire integration and nice paint job, I like how they used the red sections of frame to intersect the black battery and motor to make the downtube look slimmer, I also appreciate how tucked and streamlined the motor casing is here
Surprisingly comfortable considering it’s built around an all Aluminum frame with rigid fork, the carbon fiber materials of the fork dampen vibration and the larger Schwalbe Supermoto-X tires can be deflated slightly to absorb bumps and deep cracks
The tubular fenders and rear rack are tight and sturdy, they didn’t rattle at all during my test ride, I didn’t kick the front fender when turning, and they just look awesome
Nice alloy motor skid plate and chainring guard, they should provide more than enough protection against curbs and urban obstacles, this is almost mountain bike level armor
Despite the stock photo only showing a top side chainstay slap guard, the demo model I tested had a lower slap guard as well, this combines with the Shadow Plus clutch to keep the chain tight and avoid chips along the right chainstay
Very sturdy rims, they’re alloy, double wall, 32 hole, and have reinforcement eyelets to handle the high forces of ~28 mph speed-pedelec riding, I don’t know the max weight of the bike but would estimate 300 lbs based on similar models, the rack also didn’t have a weight rating but I’d guess up to 40 lbs
The Trek Super Commuter is available in four frame sizes, so even though they are all diamond high-step style, you should be able to dial in fit and ride comfortably, since the rear rack is so slim and doesn’t have a flat top, you should be able to swing your leg up and over comfortably
Awesome hydraulic disc brakes from Shimano, full 180 mm rotors front and rear provide plenty of smooth stopping power, I like the adjustable reach levers for people who wear gloves or have smaller (or larger) hands
The Shimano Deore SLX derailleur and 11-speed cassette provide plenty of comfortable pedaling options at a wide range of speed… and you can do multi-gear shifts (like three at a time) when going from high to low gears
Premium integrated lights from Supernova, the headlight produces 1,000 lumens and is aimable (I’d suggest mounting it below the bar vs. above so you can point it down and not blind cars and other cyclists), the lights automatically come on whenever the bike is on but the headlight has a sensor to only go bright when it’s dark out
The ergonomic grips felt surprisingly comfortable and the narrow handlebar felt safe for riding in between cars and other tight spaces, I would consider swapping the 31.6 mm seat post with a suspension post from Body Float with a shim, Thudbuster, or SR Suntour
Sturdy tapered head tube, 15 mm thru-axle with Maxle style quick release provides the kind of power transfer and precision control that you want at high speed… the quick release is useful for transporting the bike, I like that the battery pack is easily removable as well, to reduce weight
Awesome derailleur guard (curved piece of black metal designed to protect it from side swipes or if the bike tips), I hadn’t seen this design before and it looks great
Wide-open diamond frames like this are extra stiff, offering better power transfer and lower weight to strength ratio, it’s easier to lift and hang on some bike racks
I love that the battery pack can be charged on or off the bike and uses the same plug port design so you don’t need any extra adapters (like with the Shimano drive system and charger on some other Trek models), the plug cover on the left side of the bike is also very secure and tight to keep dust and water out while riding
I can’t confirm this but the detailed specs said that the locking core for the battery pack is made by ABUS (though the key I had said AXA), sometimes you can get the key code for the battery and get a matched ABUS folding lock like this
The Bosch Performance Line motors can support up to 120 RPM pedal rotation which allows riders who like to spin fast a way to ride comfortably while still getting support, I have noticed some other motors drop out at lower RPM and then require you to shift to a higher gear to raise speed

Cons:

Clicking the battery into place was a little finicky, I made sure to pull the key out (so that the locking core was ready to catch) and pressed down firmly to hear it click, it seemed line one of the wires inside the downtube near the top of the mount was getting in the way so I also made sure to push it down before each insertion
Only one color choice… and it’s quite loud! For those who prefer professional black, classy silver, or standard white, you may be disappointed for now
The stock photo shows a larger adjustable-length kickstand but the demo model I actually tested had a non-adjustable alloy stand that let the bike tip pretty far to the left, this is a minor gripe but it wasn’t my favorite stand
The headlight looks awesome, feels very sturdy, has a cool daytime running mode to conserve power, but wouldn’t aim down when mounted above the handlebar… and this could blind oncoming traffic or cyclists… so consider mounting it below the bar by flipping the stem clamp as shown in the stock photo vs. the photos I took of the demo bike
The Bosch Purion display panel is compact and provides plenty of space for the large Supernova headlight, but it isn’t removable, doesn’t have a 5 Volt Micro-USB charging port, and doesn’t show power output or shift recommendation (but you can replace this with the Intuvia display panel if you pay extra and have it installed)
This is definitely one of the more expensive electric bikes but you get premium hardware and a broad network of dealers to take test rides and get service, solid two-year comprehensive warranty with lifetime warranty on the frame
My feet aren’t huge but I do appreciate wider pedals and would probably swap the narrow Wellgo M-21 cages with something like these Wellgo BMX magnesium pedals with adjustable pins, you can get them in black, red, silver, or white to match or customize the bike
The current generation of Bosch centerdrive motors use an internal gearbox that spins the chainring at 2.5x per crank arm revolution and this creates a bit of resistance (very, very little) but also some noise, even when riding without power, and when it is powered up, you get a distinct high pitch whine, especially at higher RPMs

Resources:

Official Site: https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/bikes/hybrid-bikes/electric-bikes/super-commuter/super-commuter-8s/p/1367000-2017/?colorCode=red
More Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/gyjC8RYjgGcARW6e9

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A light weight, efficient and more upright city style electric bike with a two year warranty, features an adjustable stem and is available in both high-step and step-thru frame styles in four sizes for improved fit. Leverages the Shimano STePs drive system keeping weight low and centered across the frame, the…...

2011 Trek FX+ Review

MSRP: $2,679
MODEL YEAR: 2010, 2011

An efficient road-style electric bike with narrow slick tires and carbon fiber fork available in five frame sizes. Integrated LED lights run off the main battery pack, lots of additional mounting points for…...

2011 Trek Transport+ Review

MSRP: $2,679
MODEL YEAR: 2011

One of the earliest mass produced electric cargo bikes in the US (available in 2011) offered a purpose built frame with lots of attachment points (front basket, rear rack, running boards and included cargo bag). High-end drive system from BionX, rebranded as "Electric Propulsion Systems" EPS by Trek offering smooth,…...

Tommi Stough

7 years ago

Very impressive riding assisted biking machine. Love the looks and the road-race style, the brakes, etc. Even though this is a review of a pretty high-end bike that is supposed to warrant the costs, I’m wondering, as a high-end buyer, even in the short time that I’ve owned an e-bike, if the prices of these things might be getting out of hand. This bike is much more expensive than mine and, like I said, even though I’m impressed with it, why why why… where does the price come from? Oh wait. I bet we all own iPhones, too.

Here’s a review of my über-expensive bike that’s actually cheaper than this one. Rant and ride-safe on.

-tbone

Court Rye

Hi Tbone, I wonder about the high prices at times as well but have seen them dropping steadily. It’s promising to see big companies like Trek, Giant, and Specialized entering the space and with this kind of competition, the prices will surely become more and more competitive over time. I think one of the factors is just sales numbers, as more people get into ebikes, the volume will go up and the costs will come down even further. Thanks for sharing your review! Ride on :)

roadrash

Just picked up my bike today, the bosch motor does have a little bit of a whine to it, but so far i love it. I had a issue with the fork where it looked like it was damaged and attempted to be painted up by the factory, not impressed. Trek offered money or a replacement fork, i took the new carbon replacement fork. The bike was delivered with the headlight in the down lower position that Court said he thought it should be, glad cause that was going to be the first thing i asked them to change, but it showed up perfect.

Awesome, glad to hear the light was setup correctly and Trek took care of the fork. That’s a way better experience than getting something in a huge box with a scrape or something and having to deal on your own. I hope you like it! Please share your thoughts again someday after some time riding with it, I’d love to hear how it holds up and if the comfort works for you or if you upgrade anything

James

Love your reviews. I ended up getting the 9s version of this bike, in my opinion better looking in matt black, but the deal breaker is the fitted Nuvinci rear hub system, which is superb, the power transfer is seem-less and a thrill to ride. I live in New Zealand, so ended up getting the bike sent to me from the Netherlands after finding out about, and falling in love with this bike online. Trek has been amazing in product support even after bringing it in myself from overseas. Everyday I wake up, I can’t wait to get riding.

That’s fantastic James, so glad the site helped you narrow down and yeah… the black looks sleek and NuVinci is the smoothest, most versatile drivetrain I know of. I hope it holds up well for you and you get many amazing days of fun riding. Report back anytime about how it’s doing! I think Trek really nailed it with their Super Commuter models this year :D

Bay Area Commuter

Some comments on this bikes range. I demoed it this weekend to simulate what my actual commute would look like, which is 35 miles over hilly Bay Area terrain. As a road bike rider i can usually expect to average close to 20 mph and my hope was to average with this bike closer to 25 and reduce my commute time. Unfortunately i got only about 30 miles out of the full charge in mostly Sport and Tour modes. After that i pedaled this 50+ lb beast the rest of the way without battery assist. The last 5 miles felt like the super commuter transformed into a banana seat Schwinn in all its heavy ugliness. Maybe a second battery would have helped me make my goal. But paying for another for an already expensive bike does not seem worth it to me. Certainly you can get more range from Eco and Tour modes but then you are as fast or slower than a traditional road bike.

Great feedback, and very valid! There’s a huge range estimate in my reviews for this very reason… it depends on the terrain, speed, rider weight, wind etc. and additional batteries are VERY expensive. I still ride my non electric bike regularly because of how light and fun it is. I hope you find a solution or are able to return the Super Commuter, thanks for sharing your experience so constructively, I think it’s important for people to know the truth about range and get different perspectives.

Kwil

I was also concerned about Trek Super Commuter +8s range and whether or not I could cover my 33 mile hilly commute in Austin TX. I made it both ways with 2/5 bars left on the battery and averaged 22 mph using 80/20 Tour/Eco modes. Only used Sport and/or Turbo for a couple short steep hills. Tour felt like an enthused fan was pushing from behind. I think as my fitness increases I could cover both directions on one charge. As a comparison, I currently ride only 15-25 miles 0-3 times per week and average 17 mph on a conventional road bike. I am now optimistic that I can actually commute to work by bike again. Also, tried the Specialized Vado, but burned through more of the battery (1/6 bars left).

BobTheBikerNY

Court, Any authorized Bosch dealer can change how the light reacts when the bike is powered up. There are three settings in the Bosch diagnostic software for system powered lights: never on, always on, or switched. I’ve set mine to switched so I can turn it off on bike paths.

Nice, thanks for this feedback Bob! I have heard that depending on which country you’re in, dealers do have some control over how the lights work. Chris Nolte from Propel told me about this but I consider him to be a leader in the space of ebikes so I’m glad to hear that any authorized Bosch dealer should be equipped for it.

eric w

thinking of updating my 2014 izip e3 peak mid drive which i really like for this bike but it seem my peak 28mph bike seems to have a lot more power than this bike. will this compare to the peak power wise?

Hi Eric! I enjoyed our chat this evening and wanted to reply here as well. I think the Bosch motor is going to feel smoother and put less strain on the chain, sprockets, and derailleur than this TranzX drive, but it might not have that same powerful zip feeling. It relies on more sensors to provide a smoother acceleration and may only just get you to 28 mph while some of these other motors can get there faster and stay easier… but also take more battery power. I hope this helps, it’s great if you can try electric bikes back to back… I’d love to hear what you think if/when you are able to test the Super Commuter+ sometime again an feel like sharing :)

Regarding the trek super commuter 8, I bought the bike 5 days ago with 72 miles on it. Compared to my izip E3 peak it’s like a Ferrari versus a 1972 Ford Mustang. Twice the range and shifting is fantastic and on the flats it’s beyond fantastic on the hills that’s not so fantastic but adequate. 35 miles on it today and I’m in love with the bike. More of a workout on this vs. the peak and a lot more fun to ride. Thanks again for your help and keep up the good work with your reviews.

Eric

Mark H

Do you think the lack of a rear thru axle is a big negative, this review is the only one I’ve found that mentions this?

No, it’s probably fine given the on-road focus of the Super Commuter+ model. Thru-axles provide stiffness and strength, which is great for faster riding on heavier platforms… specifically for steering. The rear skewer is probably fine and won’t experience as much force. I trust Trek in general, just noticed the hardware upgrade in the front and not the back.

Mike

Hey Court, Love your reviews! So thorough, we can ride vicariously through you! I’m riding a Japanese version with slightly different specs (battery, seat, motor class) from the Verve+ you reviewed. The Trek Verve+ (just released here, finally a nice Bosch Active Line Plus in Japan motor system). Just a quick correction, I believe the light (as described in the summary at the top) is 1000 lumens, not 1000 watts ;-)
– Mike

Good catch! Thanks for your compliments and help making this review more correct Mike. I will make the fix right now :D

KWIL

6 years ago

I purchased a TREK SUPER COMMUTER 8S after test riding in May. Here are my initial thoughts:

PRICE: What were they thinking? Who pays that kind of money for a bike? This was a hard pill to swallow and my wife still doesn’t get it. As a car replacement it begins to make sense. I estimate 2-3 year payback when I let go of my car. Fitness, being outside (rain or shine), and mental health (grin factor and sharpness) equals priceless. I commuted for 15 years by bike before health issues derailed me for 10 years. It is so good to be back at it.
RANGE: I ride 31 miles each way (1600’/1500′ ascent/descent and visa versa). Mixing ECO and TOUR modes consumes 2 to 3 bars of the 5 bar battery. I am confident I will be able to do round trip on one charge when my fitness improves. All TOUR mode consumes 4/5 bars.
INCONCEIVABLE: Within 3 weeks I have ramped to 3 days or 180 miles per week. How many years has it been since I rode that many miles in one week? Climbing like a pro, and passing cars stuck in traffic is fun!

JUST DO IT!

court

Wonderful! Reading through your comment put a bit smile on my face, thanks for sharing KWIL. I hope the Super Commuter continues to bring smiles and that your health and strength continue to grow :)

Follow up thoughts now that I have ridden 2000 miles and in the winter months:

Enjoying my SC8S and on pace for 6000+ miles this year.
Upgraded several touch points, including:
1. Time Attack pedals< br />2. WTB Pure saddle
3. Kinekt suspension seat post because the SC8 is a stiff frame and I ride a mix of less than ideal roads, gravel paths, and sidewalks during my commute.
Added accessories, including:
1. Ortlieb back Roller Classic black panniers (for laptop, cycling layers, office clothing, lunch, charger, flat repair, etc.)
2. Cygolite Metro 700 and Hotshot 100 for flashing lights front and rear. The Metro can also shine further down the road when traveling high speed at night.
Range: Colder battery = less range. This is a limitation of how batteries operate. Especially, noticeable between 30-60F (AUS TX). Riding 70/30 Eco/Tour in the winter to make the 31 mile hilly commute, whereas, in the warmer weather I ride 80/20 Tour/Eco and summer can do 100% Tour. Longest ride in summer was 60 miles in Eco mode on hilly terrain.
Roadies give me the look like “Oh, one of those guys,” but when we chat at lights and they hear about my commute, then they get it.
I’ve seen a few signs banning electric scooters and ebikes in specific neighborhood paths so let’s be respectful and courteous out there.

Court

Thanks for the feedback and details about what you’ve added to your Trek Super Commuter, Kwil :D

Dave

Great reviews! Very helpful. Just bought a Trek Super Commuter + 8s today – so we’ll see how it goes. The information here and commentary gave me the confidence to take the plunge. Appreciate the in depth information!

Wonderful! I hope the bike works out great for you, Dave. I welcome any future comments and updates as you get some time in the saddle and test in more environments :D

Wow, great bike! Have put about 600 miles on it so far. Range in my experience is about 65 miles. Have ridden mostly on country roads, but have experimented on quite a few trails as well. This bike is a beast. Love it. For what it’s worth, I took the fenders off of mine as I like to mix it up.

Comfortable; really takes to the road. No issues. Was torn between this and one of the Powerfly models. For us, this was a great choice. Great for roads, rough roads, and trails. Have taken it on unimproved trails over rocks, stumps, etc. – and in the woods, the ride is a little rough, but take a little air out of the tires and the bike is pretty amazing.

For sure, it’s not a mountain bike, but for hitting the road, unimproved surfaces, curbs, pot holes roughing it up a bit; it’s amazing. It will get you where you need to go!

Awesome! Sounds like you’ve had a few adventures with this thing, thanks for the range estimate Dave. Hope it holds up well and provides many more miles of fun rides :D

Robin

Purchased this bike for an amazing closeout deal at a Trek store in Sacramento, California. In less than 2 weeks I’ve already put 300 miles on it, as my commute is 25+ miles round trip. I have basically not driven my car since purchasing this bike. I went in there with the intention of getting the Super Commuter 7, as I thought that’s all I could afford, but when they had my size (an XL) for such a great deal, I knew it was meant to be. I am so glad I got the faster model, as I regularly ride around 23-25mph, even just on Tour mode. My experience, on flat surfaces with a decent amount of pedaling effort, maintaining at least 70-90 pedal cadence, is that you can cruise at about 18-20 in Eco, 20-23 in Tour, 23-25 in Sport and 25-27 in Turbo. In my experience, it starts to cut out once you hit 27–I can’t cruise at 28–it feels like the brakes are being engaged (just a heavy bike as I also have panniers attached and full). I plan to talk to Trek about this–I expected it to cruise at least at 27.9 mph :). I have been charging it with 20%/80% rule, based on battery health research I’ve done. I use about 50-60% of the battery to do a fairly aggressive 12 mile commute mostly on Tour and Sport, plus the 4 mile round trip bike trailer towing I do with two toddlers before work. I purchased the smaller cheaper compact charger so I have one at the office, making it easier to manage the 20/80 charging (don’t let it get below about 20% and don’t charge it much past 80%). Also, this small charger would be good to bring along for a several day tour. I love towing the child trailer btw, and the kids love the speed!

The experience of riding this bike has been a revelation. It just feels like the ideal way to ride around town (pretty flat out here, but good bike lanes and respectful drivers for the most part). You definitely stick out a bit with the bright red, the speed, and the lighting/batteries, but I feel almost like a green trend setter, as I tell people this is my car. I wish more people would switch over to ebiking.

I appreciate your extensive reviews and write-ups–I learned a great deal from all your videos. I HIGHLY recommend this bike, especially with a 12 month 0% through Trek. I have a high-end mountain bike, road bike, and commuter (which I have no desire to ride anymore!) and I still consider the niney spent on this bike to be well worth it, considering the performance, the quality parts, and the beautiful design. I have yet to see anyone else in Sacramento with one, despite the 60+ miles of beautiful river trails out here.

Wonderful update! Thanks for sharing your experience with the Trek Super Commuter+ so far, Robin. Glad to hear the website helped, your feedback will probably help others, and that’s awesome! I agree that the high speed is worth it, especially for longer rides. These bikes seem to be very reliable, but yeah… all Bosch mid-motors seem to cut off around 27.5ish vs 28mph. I’ll be more clear about that in the future. It seems like ebikes are indeed catching on, and you are a green trendsetter out there on that awesome looking bike! Ride safe, chime in again anytime :)

Bob

4 years ago

I’d like details about the “smaller, lighter battery charger you purchased. Thanks!

Hi Bob! Bosch sells a compact travel charger that puts out 2 amps and is 0.3lbs lighter. They include it with many of their more affordable drive systems (such as Active and Active Line Plus). I think you could ask the Trek dealer (or any Bosch dealer) to special order it for you :)

Klaus

Thank you for a very helpful review and video and to all you guys for sharing your experiences. I discovered this bike today and I am heading for a demo in Copenhagen monday morning.

Wonderful! I hope you enjoy it, Klaus. It has been one of my favorite models recently (Trek is doing a good job across the board). Have fun :)

Pully

After suffering the common ailments of a Specialzed Turbo, I upgraded to the SC8S. I’ve been riding mine now for a month and came upon this review after my purchase. Excellent review. I smiled as I read about the battery not clicking in smoothly, as I noticed this on my first effort installing the battery after charging.

Thank you Trek for spec’ing Shimano!!!, the clutch derailleur, excellent gearing selection, and the comfy grips. As many have mentioned, the headlight is simply amazing and deserves all the kudos it gets. With my old bike, I had to run two lights for the coverage of the M99.

You (Trek) missed on a couple of things though. The stock handlebars are very narrow, I changed them wider before my first real ride (the parking lot test ride convinced me of this). They should be wide with the option of the user modifying narrow as desired. For a bike this expensive, a carbon seatpost would not be an unreasonable ask. I changed this too.

It’s almost a shame how expensive this bike it. Because, if more people could afford it, then more people would reap the benefits. Yes, it’s that good.

Thanks for the feedback! I enjoyed reading your thoughts about the bike and ways that it could be improved. Hope it continues to work well for you :)

YoEddy

Hello, I am from Switzerland and considering to buy an TSC+8S. So please excuse my poor English. Has anyone of you experience with intruding water by rain into the battery socket. It looks like as it can easily enter in to the frame. I am looking for award to your answers.

Hi YoEddy! My experience with Bosch motor, battery, and display systems has been great. They are designed to be water resistant, but some bike frames may gather water and mud more than others. Trek is a leader in the space, with great dealer support, so my guess is that the bike will work well and be covered by warranty if you don’t submerge it or do anything outside of normal use… it should hold up :)

Ken

YoEddy,

This bike was made to handle rain. The fenders work better than any I previously experienced. Feet still get wet, but not much else. I have ridden in the rain including a heavy down pour and had no issues with water getting into the battery. I wouldn’t submerge it, but I am not afraid of ridding in the rain.

John C Osborne

I’m really appreciating your thorough analysis of the pros and cons of the Trek Supercommuter… I am also considering the Specialized Turbo. Do you ever do comparisons between two models? Both have their pros and cons and I’m a little frozen in my final choice… Any advice? I’m 66 years old and plan on using this for longer rides for exercise and good health… Thanks for any advice you can offer.

Hi John! In situations like this, where both products are made by awesome companies and offer a similar experience… I will think about which brand has a dealer that’s closer or friendlier to work with and I might also consider the style. In my opinion, Trek is doing an awesome job right now and is one of my favorite companies in the ebike space.

brian

On the inside of the rear rack near the bottom non drive side, it says max load 15kg (converts to 33lbs). From 2019 Super Commuter 8s+.

Sweet!! I must have missed that detail. Thank you so much for chiming in with the max weight and location of the indicator. That’s a great help Brian :)

Andrew Lawrence

2 years ago

Just want to give a shout out to the quality of this bike. Have owned it for over 5 years now, and it performs like new and looks almost new. It was $5k five years ago. Thank you Trek for giving me what I paid for!

That is awesome! Thanks for taking a moment to pay it forward with your quick review. Both Trek and Bosch are some of my favorite, most trusted brands in the space right now because people like you (and shops) tell me that their products are reliable. I have noticed that both companies are responsive when I have questions too. Rock on!