Can anything knock the king of e-bikes off its throne? Trek Rail is a burly brute of a bike that smashes through everything you throw at it and we know from talking to them that our customers love it. The pretender to the throne is Trek’s Fuel EXe, the first of the new generation of lightweight, natural-feeling e-bikes. Lauded by the cycling press and hailed as a “game-changer” by many, we love it and the way it offers a nimble yet planted ride with just the right amount of assist.
But which is better? What are the differences? Which is right for you? We pitted these two incredible full suspension e-bikes against each other to see which would come out on top.
The Trek Rail is hugely popular and continues to be the weapon of choice for those who want epic days shredding on the trails. Weighing in at around 24kg, it’s a true monster truck, with long travel suspension front and rear, a powerful motor, excellent range and chunky tyres. It gives you confidence on technical sections and helps you handle the rough stuff with ease. This is very much a full fat e-bike.
At around 19kg, depending on spec, the Trek Fuel EXe really is lightweight by comparison. At a glance, it’s not obvious this is an e-bike at all, with the battery and smaller motor integrating nicely into the frame. This bike blurs the lines between assisted and “acoustic” rides, taking the e-bike concept and paring it back a little. The motor is subtle and silent, and the overall experience is of a nimble and sure-footed full suspension bike. It’s lighter, more playful and will reward more technical riders.
Let’s look in more detail at key areas and how the Trek Fuel EXe and Trek Rail compare.
The Trek Rail is powered by a Bosch Performance Line CX motor that provides up to 85 Nm of torque and a battery with 500 to 750 Wh of power, depending on the model. There are four power modes and the range on a full charge is up to six hours, depending on how much assist you’re using. Rail will send you flying up climbs that previously left you gasping for breath, though we know that not everyone wants to feel that power, which is why Trek developed the Fuel EXe.
Fuel EXe delivers mid-level assistance, offering the more natural feel of a traditional mountain bike and feeling very much like its analogue brother, the Fuel EX. It features a TQ harmonic pin ring motor that provides up to 50 Nm of torque and weighs in at only 1.85kg. The 360 Wh battery provides up to five hours of power, though our team are finding that translates to three to four hours of mixed riding: low assist on the flats, medium up the inclines and off on the descents. What’s great about the TQ motor is that it’s virtually silent, so the peace of your forest ride won’t be broken by the whirring noise associated with e-bikes.
Based on Trek’s Slash enduro bike, the Rail has slack geometry and a full suspension set-up with 150mm of rear travel and a 160mm fork. This is a bike that eats up all the trails can throw at it and gives you maximum control on the steepest, gnarliest descents. The downside to that geometry and the big suspension with the Slash is that it affects pedalling efficiency on the climbs and makes it feel like more effort to ride uphill. With the powerful motor on a Rail, that’s obviously not a concern.
The Fuel EXe is almost identical in look and size to the Trek Fuel EX, also having 140mm travel on the rear and 150mm on the front. Its geometry is ideal for most trail centres, and you’ll only reach the limits of its suspension on the biggest jumps and drops. This bike set-up really rewards the accomplished rider who wants to pick their perfect line on a bike that responds fast.
As we’ve said, Trek Rail is about 5kg heavier than the Fuel EXe, depending on the model and specification, because of its larger frame size, bigger motor, battery and extra suspension travel. However, this extra weight is very confidence inspiring when tackling more technical terrain as it provides an anchored feel and better stability. Not everyone likes this planted feel, as it naturally makes the bike a little less responsive or agile but we’ve seen enough massive grins on Rail riders to know that plenty do love it.
For those looking for whips, jumps and superfast handling, the EXe might just be the one for you. This is a bike designed to be lightweight - it’s easily lifted onto your bike rack - and that weight saving translates to a beautifully balanced bike that’s fast turning, flickable and feels just like a non-electric mountain bike. Despite being lighter than the Rail, it does feel nicely anchored when you’re attacking the descents and pushing it into berms.
The Trek Rail 5 500W Gen 2 starts at £4,150 with the range topping out with the Rail 9.9 XX1 AXS Gen 4 at £12,950, with Trek’s best carbon frame, smooth Rockshox suspension and SRAM’s best wireless electronic drivetrain.
The Fuel EXe is available with a carbon frame only. The Shimano Deore equipped 9.5 is the entry point to the range at £6,400 and the top of the range 9.9 XX1 AXS comes in at £13,500 – a price that will see you on the latest bike with the highest available spec of components and the envy of anyone you meet on the trails.
As with most closely fought battles, there is no outright winner here. It’s really about which bike is best for you, your fitness and the kind of riding you do.
The Rail will plough through pretty much anything you throw at it and gives you a lot of confidence on the rough stuff. The full assist powers you up the hills and offers a hefty boost over an extended period of time. If you value this over the feeling of riding a lightweight bike, then Rail is right up your street.
Fuel EXe delivers a natural riding experience and rewards skilled riders with its agile handling. It looks, feels and sounds just like an acoustic bike but offers just enough assist to keep you riding for longer, giving you a great workout but leaving you enough energy to enjoy what you’re doing. If you value a natural feel and more responsive ride over raw power, then Fuel EXe is the bike for you.
Compare Trek Rail and Fuel EXe and test ride them for yourself in our store in Southgate, Pickering.
