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Trek Verve+ 2 Review

Trek Verve Plus 2 Rear Rack Plastic Rear Fender Spanninga Solo Taillight

Trek Verve Plus 2 Low Rise Swept Back Handlebars

Trek Verve Plus 2 Ergonomic Rubber Locking Bontrager Grips Bosch Purion Display

Trek Verve Plus 2 Blendr Compatible Quill Stem

Trek Verve Plus 2 Bontrager H5 Tires Solid Steel Fork

Trek Verve Plus 2 Internally Routed Cabling Bosch Powerpack 400 Battery

Trek Verve Plus 2 Top Tube And Bottom Tube Bottle Cage Bosses

Trek Verve Plus 2 Bontrager Boulevard Saddle With Suspension Seatpost

Trek Verve Plus 2 Bosch Active Line Mid Drive Motor

Trek Verve Plus 2 Rear Mounted Adjustable Length Kickstand

Trek Verve Plus 2 Plastic Full Chain Cover Promax 170mm Crank Arm Bontrager Satellite City Pedal

Trek Verve Plus 2 Shimano Alivio Derailleur 1x9 11 36 Tooth Cassette

Trek Verve Plus 2 Bontrager H5 Tire Hybrid Tread Pattern

Trek Verve Plus 2 Bosch 2amp 1.2lb Compact Charger

Trek Verve Plus 2 Stock High Step Alpine Blue

Trek Verve Plus 2 Stock High Step Gunmetal Grey

Trek Verve Plus 2 Stock Step Thru Gunmetal Grey

Trek Verve Plus 2 Stock Step Thru Magenta

One of Trek's most popular and affordable electric bike models, loaded with accessories and high-quality components, available in a wide range of frame types, styles, and colors, backed by a fantastic warranty, and supported by a large network of dealers and repair shops
An excellent city and commuting Ebike thanks to full plastic fenders, integrated always-on lights, and a rear rack, the Bosch Active Line motor provides smooth and quiet power that pairs well with the top-tier Shimano Alivio groupset and efficient Bontrager H5 tires
An impressively comfortable ride thanks to many small factors such as the suspension seatpost, large 700x45c tires that provide a lower attack angle and more float, ergonomic locking grips, vibration-dampening solid steel fork, and a wide and comfortable saddle
The Active Line is the least powerful of Bosch's motors and caps out at 100 RPM which may not be a good fit for less active riders, the Purion display has only basic features and is not removable, some standard functions such as walk mode are disabled and there are no USB Type-A charging ports

Make:

Trek

Model:

Verve+ 2

Price:

$2,499

Body Position:

Upright, Forward

Suggested Use:

Neighborhood, Urban, Commuting

Electric Bike Class:

Pedal Assist (Class 1)

Learn more about Ebike classes

Warranty:

2 Years Comprehensive, Lifetime Frame

Availability:

United States

Model Year:

2020

Total Weight:

52.2 lbs (23.67 kg)

Battery Weight:

5.4 lbs (2.44 kg)

Motor Weight:

6.39 lbs (2.89 kg)

Frame Material:

Alpha Gold Aluminum Alloy

Frame Sizes:

17.5 in (44.45 cm)19.5 in (49.53 cm)21.5 in (54.61 cm)23.5 in (59.69 cm)

Geometry Measurements:

69.69cm Extra-Large High-Step Measurements: 24" Seat Tube, 27.5" Reach, 32.5" Stand Over Height, 26.5" Width, 74.5" Length

Frame Types:

High-Step, Step-Thru

Frame Colors:

Matte Alpine Blue, Matte Metallic Gunmetal, Magenta

Frame Fork Details:

Verve Solid Steel, 100 mm Hub Spacing, 9 mm Skewer with Quick Release

Frame Rear Details:

135 mm Hub Spacing, 9 mm Skewer with Quick Release

Attachment Points:

Rear Rack Mount, Fender Mounts, Bottle Cage Bosses (High-Step: Seat Post Tube, Top Tube, Low-Step: Top Tube Only)

Gearing Details:

9 Speed 1x9 Shimano HG200 11-36T Cassette, Shimano Alivio T4000 Derailleur

Shifter Details:

Shimano Alivio M4000 Triggers on Right

Cranks:

Prowheel, Aluminum Alloy, 170 mm Length, 38 Tooth Steel Chainring with Plastic Guard

Pedals:

Bontrager Satellite City, Molded Plastic with Reflectors Steel Core

Headset:

Semi-Integrated, Steel Threaded, 1-1/8" Straight

Stem:

Bontrager Alloy, Quill Style, Adjustable Rise Angle, 31.8 mm Clamp Diameter, Blendr Compatible

Handlebar:

Bontrager Aluminum Alloy, Comfort Sweep Low-Rise, 670 mm Length

Brake Details:

Shimano MT200 Hydraulic Disc with 160mm Rotors, Dual-Piston Calipers, Three-Finger Levers with Adjustable Reach

Grips:

Bontrager Satellite Elite, Rubber, Ergonomic, Lock-On

Saddle:

Bontrager Boulevard

Seat Post:

Verve+ Comfort Suspension, 30mm Travel, Aluminum Alloy with Steel Core, Preload Adjust

Seat Post Length:

300 mm

Seat Post Diameter:

31.6 mm

Rims:

Bontrager Connection, Aluminum Alloy Double Wall, 32 Hole

Spokes:

Stainless Steel, 14 Gauge, Black with Nipples

Tire Brand:

Bontrager H5, 700x45c (45-622)

Wheel Sizes:

28 in (71.12cm)

Tire Details:

60 to 80 PSI, 4.1 to 5.5 BAR, 60 TPI, Hard-Case Ultimate Puncture Protection

Tube Details:

Schrader Valve

Accessories:

Alloy Rear Rack with Pannier Hangers and Standard Gauge Tubing (25kg/55lb Weight Limit), Blendr Compatible Stem, Plastic Fenders with Toe Strike Guard on Front, Black Plastic Slap Guard, Rear-Mounted Adjustable Length Kickstand, Fork-Mounted Hermans H-Black MR4-E Integrated Headlight (120 Lumens), Carrier-Integrated Spanninga SOLO Backlight (35 Lumens)

Other:

Locking Removable Downtube-Mounted Battery Pack, 1.3b lb 2 Amp Compact Charger, Maximum 100 RPM / 250% Motor Support, ABUS Locking Core, KMC X9 Chain, Maximum Total Weight Limit 300 lbs (136 kg)

Motor Brand:

Bosch Active Line Cruise (MY19)

Motor Type:

Mid-Mounted Geared Motor

Learn more about Ebike motors

Motor Nominal Output:

250 watts

Motor Peak Output:

295 watts

Motor Torque:

40 Newton meters (Eco: 30, Tour: 35, Sport: 38, Turbo: 40)

Battery Brand:

Bosch PowerPack 400, Samsung 18650 Cells

Battery Voltage:

36 volts

Battery Amp Hours:

11 ah

Battery Watt Hours:

396 wh

Battery Chemistry:

Lithium-ion

Charge Time:

5.5 hours

Estimated Min Range:

38 miles (61 km)

Estimated Max Range:

88 miles (142 km)

Display Type:

Bosch Purion, Fixed, Backlit LCD Control Panel with Integrated Button Pad, (Hold - to Cycle Through Readouts, Hold - and Press Power to Change Units, Hold + to Activate Lights)

Readouts:

Speed, Assist Level (Eco, Tour, Sport, Turbo), Battery Level (1-5), 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 - Power Output Relative to Pedal Input: Eco 40%, Tour 100%, Sport 170%, Turbo 250%)

Top Speed:

20 mph (32 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

Trusted Advertisers

To run the forums, host the website, and travel, I charge a universal service fee for my reviews. This in-depth review was sponsored by Trek. My goal is to be transparent and unbiased with you, this video and writeup are not meant to be an endorsement of Trek products. I welcome your corrections, additions, and feedback in the comments below and the Trek electric bike forums.

Observations:

NOTICE: in the comments below, Ron posted “My local Trek dealer told me that the latest Verve+2’s are now shipping with narrow wide chainrings as a fix to the derailing problem. They said if you buy one in stock which doesn’t have the fix they will retrofit.” so that’s great to hear! Thanks Ron :D
Trek is one of the “Big Three” bicycle manufacturers along with Giant and Specialized. Trek started out in 1975 making hand-brazed steel frames, and since then they have grown into a global powerhouse in the cycling industry with distributors in 90 different countries, truly impressive in my opinion!
The original Verve+ was Trek’s most affordable electric bike model in 2018 and the Verve+ 2 still holds that title today, although it’s worth noting that this only includes Ebikes bearing the Trek name brand. Trek also owns Electra which is comprised of even more affordably priced models, but they typically don’t have the premium components and features that we see on Trek branded Ebikes
You will see the Bontrager name on a lot of components in this review, Bontrager is Trek’s in-house component brand and is therefore common on many of Trek’s electric bikes

Pros:

Available in four frame sizes, three color options, and the choice of a high-step or a step-through frame style, supported by a huge network of dealers which allows for fitting and test rides as well as maintenance support, and covered by an outstanding warranty with two years of comprehensive coverage and lifetime coverage for the frame and fork. This warranty is an upgrade and new for Trek in 2020, in previous years the warranty only covered the frame and fork for five years
Fully loaded with great accessories such as integrated lights, fenders, a rear rack, and even a suspension seatpost, the Verve+ 2 is an excellent Ebike for commuting and city use
The rack is a welcome addition and I love that it’s now a standard accessory, whereas on the original Verve+ it was an optional accessory that cost an additional $45. The rack uses standard-gauge tubing and also has the standard 25kg/52lb weight limit and will work great for hanging bags or panniers
The integrated lights have also improved in quality compared to the Verve+, here we have a headlight from Hermans that is brighter with side cutouts for more side visibility, as well as being mounted to the fork so it will turn with the handlebars and better illuminate the road ahead. The new taillight is the SOLO by Spanninga and is carrier-mounted on the rear rack, it’s a solid rear light although I do miss the flashing pattern of the fender-mounted taillight on the Verve+
The fenders still have the same great full coverage with a toe-strike guard on the front and the material used has changed from aluminum alloy to plastic. All fender types have tradeoffs, the upside with plastic is that they weigh less and a bit more resilient and less likely to get bent or dinged, and you don’t have to worry about them getting scratched and rusting
The suspension seatpost only has about 30mm of travel but it works wonders for the ride comfort, this is coil suspension and it is adjustable for preload so you can tighten it up a bit if you are a larger rider. The seatpost has also gotten a bit larger with a diameter of 31.6mm, this provides a bit more strength and sturdiness compared to the 27.2mm seatpost of the Verve+
Other positive ride comfort factors include the Bontrager Boulevard saddle, a fairly wide saddle with a ventilation gap in the center, I found this saddle very comfortable even on some longer rides and I also appreciate the locking ergonomic grips (also from Bontrager). The fork has also changed from alloy to solid steel which adds some vibration dampening qualities, the large diameter and greater width of the 700x45c tires means a lower attack angle for smoothing out bumps as well as extra air cushion… There’s a lot of small comfort-oriented details here, and together they make the Verve+ 2 a surprisingly comfortable bike considering the minimal suspension
Stopping power is solid thanks to the Shimano hydraulic disc brakes, two-finger levers are extremely easy to actuate, and there are dual-piston calipers and 160mm rotors in both the front and rear. In addition to being much easier to actuate and having no delay, hydraulic brakes also require less regular maintenance than mechanical brakes
We still have the same derailleur here with the Shimano Alivio, this is one of Shimano’s top-tier derailleurs and it performs flawlessly as expected. This is a 1×9 setup with a range of 11-36 on the rear cassette, a fairly large range that works great for city riding. I love that Trek has added a full plastic chain guard to protect the chain itself as well as protecting the rider’s pant legs, this is a nice upgrade from the original Verve+ that had only an alloy bash guard
The tires are the same excellent Bontrager H5s which have a hybrid tread pattern that is smooth and efficient in the middle, and larger and more grippy on the edges for better traction and control while turning. These tires also have Hardcase Ultimate puncture protection which is some of the best you can get, definitely a welcome feature in places like Colorado where goat-heads are always a cycling hazard
The electrical system is another area where nothing has changed since the Verve+, we’ve still got the Bosch Active Line mid-drive motor powered by a PowerPack 400 and controlled by the Purion display. This combo works well on the Verve+ 2 which is geared for riders who like to be a bit more active not get as much help from the motor, the motor itself is very quiet and you can get 80 or more miles of range riding in Eco, great for commuters who don’t want to have to charge the battery at work before riding home. The Purion is an older display from Bosch, it’s their smallest display with basic features and a grayscale LCD that is backlit and very easy to see in any lighting as well as swiveling so that you can avoid glare
The quill stem is also Blendr compatible, Blendr is a mounting platform that allows you to mount all manner of accessories to the top and/or bottom of the stem such as GPS units, phone mounts, cycle computers, additional lights, and much more
The included kickstand is adjustable for length without needing tools, and I appreciate that it is rear-mounted which prevents “pedal lock” which occurs when the left crank arm collides and locks with a mid-mounted kickstand, being mounted in the rear also provides more stability especially when carrying cargo on the rear rack

Cons:

Torque-sensing motors require you to put more force against the pedals in order to receive more help from the motor, and the Bosch Active Line only provides assistance up to a max pedal cadence of 100 RPM. This may sound like a lot but it’s actually pretty easy to pass this limit if you ride fast while in a lower gear, so this is not an ideal setup for riders with knee sensitivity who prefer to use a lower gear and cycle the cranks at a higher cadence with less force
There are some features of the Purion display that Trek disables, one of which is the Walk Mode. There is a dedicated button for walk mode on the bottom of the display but it doesn’t do anything on the Verve+ 2 or on any of Trek’s Ebikes, I’m not sure what the exact reason for this might be but it seems related to the wide range of local laws in different areas for Ebikes, and in some areas walk mode could be interpreted as a sort of a throttle. Another disabled function is the ability to turn the lights off, they are on by default and the normal method of holding down the + button on the Purion display does not turn them off. Presumably, this is a safety feature since lights make you more visible as a rider in the daytime, but it can be frustrating if you want to turn them off to conserve battery or for any other reason, keep in mind that the Active Line motor is very efficient so there is at least plenty of battery to spare for the lights
As I mentioned earlier all fender types have their tradeoffs and the downside for plastic fenders is that they tend to rattle more than metal fenders, fortunately for the Verve+ 2 they are securely mounted and I didn’t notice any rattling during any of my test rides
There is no reflective striping on the sidewalls of the tires, I would love to see this since it greatly improves side visibility which is important for safety, I do appreciate that the Hermans integrated headlight has nice big side cut-outs to help with that side visibility
The Verve+ 2 really is amazingly comfortable when you consider that the only suspension is in the seatpost, but the lack of front suspension may not work for riders that have hand or wrist sensitivity, for such riders I recommend a suspension stem to help reduce jarring bumps and vibrations
One feature missing here is the ability to charge additional electronic devices, there are no USB Type-A ports on the display or the battery itself. There is a micro-USB port on the Purion display, but this is only for diagnostics and firmware updates and doesn’t work for charging other devices
I like the new solid steel fork because it is stronger and has vibration dampening qualities, but be aware that steel is vulnerable to getting scratched or dinged and then rusting, if yours gets damaged you can cover the area with clear tape as a temporary fix until you are able to add touch-up paint. Fortunately, since Trek dealers are plentiful they will be able to help you out with the right shade of touch-up paint
While I personally prefer the Purion display because it’s minimalist and out of the way, it is lacking in features and not removable which leaves it exposed to weather and physical damage when parked at a bike rack, whereas Bosch’s other displays (Intuvia and Kiox) are removable and more feature-rich. It is possible to have a shop upgrade your Ebike to a more powerful display, in addition, Bosch also has a new Smartphone Hub that allows you to use your smartphone as a control display with a lot of cool features such as navigation and reminders for maintenance tasks

Useful Resources:

Official Trek Website
Bosch Purion Ebike Display Settings
EBR Shop Directory to find a Trek dealer near you for fitting and test rides
Head-to-Head Comparison of the Verve+ 2 with the original Verve+
Bosch eBike Systems Motor Comparison

January 29, 2024 (11 months ago)

Court

5 years ago

Hmm, thanks for that feedback, Chris! Is the issue with the rear fender that it’s not long enough or not wide enough on the sides? Trek sells the Bontrager accessories, and they have some awesome little square lights… is that what you got for the handlebar, or something else? I like Blackburn a lot too ;)

Chris

5 years ago

Hi Court, the fender is plenty wide. The fender isn’t long enough to cover spray coming off back of the tire. The Bontrager fenders on my road bike are clearly the right length and I’ve never had this issue with them. The bike shop said they’d replace the fenders with full Bontragers, for the cost of parts and labor. Hey Trek: having to essentially buy two sets of fenders to get the right one is not my idea of an honest business model. The handlebar light is a 2014 Cygolite. Plenty bright and it still gets me through two full commutes, or about 3.5 hours.

Court

5 years ago

Hmm, that looks very interesting. Thanks for the feedback, Rick! Yeah, I hope to cover many more Trek models in 2020. The Alliant 7 looks great with fenders, rack, lights, AND suspension fork! It looks almost like a cruiser style ebike with that taller sweeping top tube.

Rick

5 years ago

Thanks for response: I Have learned an enormous amount from Your YouTube channel and written reviews, which I can appreciate more than most might. I am Involved in producing video content for two totally not-related to E-Bikes channels. I doubt there are many who understand all the leg work Involved just to get to the point of making the Video review, plus you are traveling all over to boot.

Not only are the reviews detailed and the information easy to absorb, you seem to have a great future in front and behind the camera. Your success is well deserved!

Thanks again

Rick

5 years ago

MORE DETAILS Alliant +7 Sport https://electricbikereview.website/forums/threads/trek-alliant-7-sport-with-6-detailed-colored-pictures-class-3.31726/

Tyson Roehrkasse

5 years ago

Hey David, thanks for the great comment! I’m glad to hear you are enjoying your Verve+ 2, although that is definitely disappointing to hear about the chain derailing issue. I like that they upgraded to a full plastic guard, but unfortunately, that doesn’t help to keep the chain in place (as you have discovered). Having a narrow-wide chainring will definitely help with that, as would having a chain guide… but there may not be room for a guide underneath that plastic cover.

Chris

5 years ago

Can confirm the chain derailing & jamming problem. It’s happened twice to me. The first time was on the road and somehow wrenched it free. Fortunately the second time I was at home and able to loosen the chain guard enough to get in and dislodge the well and truly stuck chain.

Court

5 years ago

Thanks for the feedback here, Chris! It really helps to draw attention to the issue and I hope they resolve this in future models.

Ron Mayer

5 years ago

My local Trek dealer told me that the latest Verve+2’s are now shipping with narrow wide chainrings as a fix to the derailing problem. They said if you buy one in stock which doesn’t have the fix they will retrofit.

Court

5 years ago

Wow! Sweet feedback here, Ron. Thank you so much! I’ll add a note to the review :)

BillA

4 years ago

Ron, did the new narrow wide chain stop the chain from coming off? I a buying one of these for the wife, picking it up on Thursday. I called Trek, they said the bike I am buying shipped April 14, 2020 to the dealer I am buying from. Do you think the new chain ring is in this bike?

Court

5 years ago

Hey Nick, I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed the bike… and EBR! Thanks for your wonderful comment :)

Tyson Roehrkasse

5 years ago

Yes, that’s the plan! Not sure when we’ll get to it as we want to cover some of their other models before circling back to the Verve :)

Court

5 years ago

Awesome! Thanks for the feedback, Ron. I hope you get lots of fun rides this Spring! Sounds like you’ve got a good dealer there :)

Tyson Roehrkasse

5 years ago

Wonderful to hear the dealer was able to customize that stuff for you – definitely one of the perks of getting a Trek! Wishing you safe and happy rides, hope you check back here, later on, to let us know how you’re liking the bikes :)

jean

5 years ago

I’m reaching out because you indicated you are an “older” rider. I have been researching and test riding several low step through styles and before i make a decision, i need to know that the bike is safe. I am 5’1” and 100lbs so are the tires wide to ofer more stability? anything you can provide would be so help. thank you kindly, jean

Dargo

5 years ago

Sorry about not replying. I haven’t been to this site for awhile. You probably have bought your bike. We have over 350 miles on the bikes and they work well on pavement and gravel bike trails. They are very stable. My wife weighs 130 lbs and is 5′ 4″ tall. She is registering about 95 miles on the Eco mode when we ride. I weigh about 230 lbs and am 5′ 10″ tall. I register about 75 miles on Eco mode. Just got back from a midweek camp trip, and rode back to back 33 mile day and 32 mile day. We could never do that on standard bikes. The great thing about the Bike, is the “quality over quantity” of the ride is what makes it so fun.

Tyson Roehrkasse

5 years ago

Hi Cal, great question!

I believe the frame is bigger and stronger to account for the placement of the motor, as well as being able to handle the extra stress from being an Ebike. Looking at pictures of the non-electric Verve it looks like the frame is quite a bit more narrow – especially the downtube where the battery is mounted. The electric version also has a lot of extra frame around the bottom bracket area to incorporate the motor.

The tires on the electric version also come with Hardcase Ultimate protection and double the thread count at 60TPI. I didn’t go through all the components, but I’d wager that there’s a few more on the electric version that are more durable components (that will weigh more).

Lastly, the bike I used for my review was an XL frame. If you’re going for a smaller frame size, that will definitely save some weight!

Court

4 years ago

Hi Bill! This is Court, I am not the one who reviewed this ebike in the video… but I am very familiar with Trek electric bicycles. I really don’t think that the chain is going to fall off if you and your wife are mostly riding on streets and sidewalks. The metal support arms that hold the plastic chain cover act as a guide, and there isn’t much clearance on either side of the chainring for the Bosch Active Line motors with this setup. Yes, a narrow-wide chainring would help with retention, and that is why many full suspension mountain bikes use them. However, 90%+ city ebikes that I cover do not use them. Same thing with chain guides, it’s nice to have, but they opted for a chain cover to keep your pants or dress ends clean here. I really think you’ll be just fine, and it’s probably going to be difficult to find a NW chainring or a chain guide that will work with this ebike without removing the chain cover. I’d trust that this ebike will be just fine in almost all use cases that it was designed for. Even if you did go off-road on a very bumpy section, it should hold up just fine. Trek dealers should be able to help if there ever was a drop or chain break, and that’s part of what you pay for with these products, a great network of friendly dealers ;) good luck!

BillA

4 years ago

Thanks Court, that makes me feel a lot better. There are a few owners who did get the NW chainring, interesting to see if working OK, but I guess I agree with your assessment, we should be OK. My wife is the rider of the bike, and she only goes on streets and paved trails. Thanks again!

Brian

4 years ago

I wish I had found this site a year ago when I bought my Verve +2; great info to be learned here overall on this model but many other bikes as well. Personally, I have had two separate chain issues while riding on flat city streets/sidewalks or flat asphalt/cinder bike paths.

I bought my Verve +2 at the end of July 2020 & rode the bike 250 miles within two months. The chain came off the front sprocket three times. My dealer encouraged me to ride slower and in Eco or off mode until the recall to fix this came to Ohio. I had another 250 miles by mid-Nov when the chain came off for fourth/final time. The recall was installed in mi-Dec. In the first two months of 2021, I have ridden an additional 750 miles proving that particular chain issue was resolved.
In mid January, having only ridden 575 miles total on the bike, I was presented with a different chain issue. The chain started to skip in 9th gear regardless of the pedal assist level. I called my home store and after sharing with the store manager the recall was performed I was advised the chain may need to be replaced. He continued saying Trek didn’t have any chains available anywhere across the country and it was ok to keep riding until it arrived. By the time I arrived back in Ohio in early March I had more than 1200 miles total on the bike. Neither 8th & 9th gears were available at any pedal assist level. Trek Supply Chain still was unable to identify a single chain in the country for my bike. Additionally, when they inspected my bike for a tune-up; they advised me that my rear cassette was had pencil point gear teeth and needed to be replaced. They attributed the damage to the elongated chain. They have now had my bike for nearly four weeks and today at the end of March, still no chain in their Supply Chain network. My question to this forum is: was this chain the odd data point (poor material properties on the batch level) or do I really need to replace my chain every 500 or so miles due to a faulty chain design (inadequate material specification)?

Brian

4 years ago

An additional point I neglected to include on my previous point. I do recognize the global supply chain for the biking sector as well as nearly every hard good supplier has been disrupted. My previous post may have implied a short-sided or an entitled perspective from me. That is far from the truth. I only wanted to share my observations and learnings I had experienced.

Thanks again for this opportunity to learn.

Zolt

3 years ago

If your chain is skipping, especially on the smaller sprocket gears on back wheel, it might be because the chain got bent sideways. It can happen if the chain comes off track at the chainring, it can put a side kink or bend in your chain. To fix it, I usually place bike upside down onto handle bar and seat, then crank the pedals, watch chain go past rear shifter, and look for where a kink or bend in the chain is located. Once I find the suspected bent links in the chain, I use two pairs of pliers to wiggle the two links to loosen them up. Use back and forth, and side to side motions with pliers. You should be able to get more use from this chain now. Of course, you can also get a new chain to solve the problem.

Court

3 years ago

HI Zolt! Thanks for sharing these insights and your methodology for a fix. This is actually new to me, I always thought that a skipping chain was due to the derailleur being bent, or one of the rear sprockets having a tooth that is a little bent. Your explanation makes sense, and the chain links are probably much easier to bend than the sprockets. Great feedback :)

Court

4 years ago

Hi Lou! Yes, this is a confusing topic because there is more to it than just the nominal watt rating. Bosch makes a line of five motors right now, and they are all rated at “250 watts” but the Active Line is their weakest, with low pedal RPM support. Since this is a mid-drive motor system, it can be surprisingly effective if you pedal using a low gear. If you’re okay pedaling and are going to be on mostly flat, paved, mild neighborhood conditions… it is probably enough. I personally prefer the Active Line Plus or Performance Line motors because they provide more torque and “zip” but in general, all Bosch motors are very good and capable if you shift gears thoughtfully or just maintain some speed going into a climb :)

Thomas

4 years ago

I have a question: Can the motor of this bike be upgraded to, say, a Bosch Performance Line later?

Tyson Roehrkasse

4 years ago

Hi Sarah, you are correct that some versions of the Verve+ 2 don’t come with the bottle cage bosses. I’m not sure which ones have it and don’t, but I think it was the two smaller sizes of the step-through version that don’t. There are still bottle cages that can mount without the bosses but they may not secure as well or require some adhesive to stay in place.

Court

4 years ago

Thanks for the clarification, Charlie! I think you’re correct… though I have seen some older Trek models that had walk mode disabled by default, maybe we missed the detail on this review or just got it wrong. Being able to get a software update from the local shop is awesome, and get their help learning how to use the bike systems better. Cheers!

Court

3 years ago

Hi Dave! This is Court replying to you and I am not the one who filmed this review (Tyson was). I have experienced the Active Line Cruise motor (most basic from Bosch) and agree that there seems to be minimal assistance increase from the lower to higher levels. The torque rating is lower than the other Bosch mid-motors (up to 40nm max). In my experience, pedal RPM is a small part of what increases motor output, pedal force seems to be the bigger driver. I don’t think there is something wrong with the motor, it’s just meant for lighter neighborhood use and is not as dynamic as the Active Line Plus or Performance motors that provide higher pedal rate support (105 and 120 RPM vs. just 100 RPM for your motor) and up to 50nm or 65nm and then 85nm for the Performance Line CX, Cargo, and Speed. That’s a very big difference. Your motor is quieter, uses less energy, and weighs a bit less, but it offers more limited output in my experience. I hope this helps!

Tyson Roehrkasse

3 years ago

Hi Tony, for the chainring you would need to make sure it has the narrow-wide chainring. You could ask one of the reps at the shop, or visually inspect it yourself – the teeth should alternate in size narrow-wide-narrow-wide (and so on). If the bike doesn’t already have the right chainring the shop should swap it at no cost to you.

I think it would do well on light dirt trails, but that really depends on personal preference and comfort level. I normally ride a road bike with no suspension at all, so bikes like the Verve+ 2 feel very comfy to me, what with the bigger tires and suspension seatpost.

James E

3 years ago

I bought my 2021 Verve 2 in Sept 2021. First off, I LOVE the bike, I love the seat, the suspension seatpost, the adjustable height handlebar post, and the assist is great, it surprises other riders and motorists as well. I commute 20 miles plus each day. I probably have well over 3,000 miles on it.

Now for the ugly:
I had regular and constant derailing issues. Trek put in a guide, which kept the chain from continuing to get wedged between motor and sprocket which leaves me stranded because the chain guide prevents me from pulling the chain back out. Then the only derails I had would fall on the outside of the sprocket, which are easy to get back onto the chainring. Then I purchased a narrow wide chainring from the local trek dealer and had them install it and a new chain and a new cassette (I ride lots of miles and chain and rear cassette were worn). ZERO derailing issues since.

Next, I am a fairly big guy and I’m certain my pannier and I at times will exceed the 300lb design load for my bike. Combine that with the horrible, cracked up roads, and this bike takes a bit of abuse, which is certainly not Trek’s issue.

I have never popped a spoke on a bike before, so when I popped my first spoke, I did not know what it was, and when the second spoke on the same wheel popped, the bike was unrideable! Ended up the wheel had to be trashed because I had cracked it. I bought 2 new bontrager (Trek) wheels so I would have spares. I popped spokes on both of them just 2 weeks ago! I have a third spare that I pulled off of my other 700c bike that is fairing much better. I think the bontrager wheels have alloy spokes and they have been popping right at the nipples.

The wheel from my other bike is a cheaper wheel that has stainless steel spokes, and it seems to be holding up much better.

I see the new Treks coming in and they appear to have the wider, stouter wheel design. I will be working with the dealer to see if those wheels can be retrofit to my Verve 2.

Again, I love my Verve 2!

Court

3 years ago

Great feedback James! It sounds like you have a good attitude and are finding solutions. The tip about switching to a narrow-wide chainring is awesome, so glad to hear that helped your chain stay on track. I’ve experienced chain drops many times when reviewing ebikes and have become a big fan of guides and the NW setup.

Hopefully the new wheelset will resolve your spoke issues. I’ve heard about spoke loosening and breaking on some bikes based on the weight being carried or the use (like off-road or the rough roads you described). Thanks again for sharing :)

Court

3 years ago

Hmm, hopefully they make the manuals easier to find in the future! I’ve been able to get help from the local Trek store when issues came up, which is nice. Glad you’re loving the bike itself :D

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